Town of Chance: Sweet Caroline (The Dare 5)

“Hey, what’s with you?”

“What do you mean?” York asked, turning toward his brother, holding his keys for the patrol car and looking back toward the diner. C.J. could tell he was biting his inner cheek as his jaw tensed and his eyes darted back toward the diner. He was interested in Caroline. C.J. was, too.

“She’s a very attractive young woman.”

“She’s young, C.J.,” he said, immediately looking at him and sounding like he knew what C.J. was getting at. They hadn’t dated anyone or fooled around with anyone in months. Since Hunter retired, things were a bit off-kilter at home, but they were making progress. In fact, Hunter was supposed to go out to Spencer’s next week to listen to their friend’s band perform on stage there.

C.J. looked back that way and kept his hand on his holster to lean on. “Never seen such gorgeous eyes, or that platinum-blonde hair. She’s petite, too.”

He stared at him a moment. C.J. could tell that his brother was attracted to Caroline, but he had questions.

“She could be trouble.”

“Then it’s our job as law enforcement to ensure the safety of this community and its residents.”

York shook his head and smirked. “And if she’s wanted for something criminal?”

“I’ve got no qualms about taking her in for questioning,” he said and smirked.

“We don’t hardly know her, but I get the feeling she’s hiding something.”

“I do, too. It’s our job to protect the women of Chance.”

“But it’s also risky business giving one woman too much attention either, C.J.”

C.J. felt his face blush. He knew what his brother was hinting at. Marie. She had been a really cute little brunette who kept getting into little messes and playing it up. She would ask C.J. for rides and for help and say that suspicious men were bothering her at Spencer’s and that she didn’t feel safe going home alone. She turned out to be a liar and a manipulator. Nearly got him in trouble with the sheriff and his brothers, too. Marie was after a good time, and when things went wrong and he told her he couldn’t help her anymore, she threatened to lie and say he forced himself on her. Thank goodness she said it so loudly that people heard. So when she did make the false accusation, those witnesses stepped forward and saved his ass.

“You had to bring up Marie?”

“Hey, I’m just sayin’, that some women have agendas. Whether that be a good time, an easy scam to get into your wallet, or just try to trap you into marriage or something.”

“I think we all learned a lot from that experience. We’ll keep this professional and keep our eyes on Caroline. And Shelby.”

“Shelby is Kenneth, Bender, and Sam’s responsibility.”

C.J. chuckled.

“Not in Shelby’s eyes. She hasn’t even a clue that they’ve been staking a claim on her for months.”

“Because they think she’s hiding something, too, and is fearful. They’ll work it out.”

C.J. felt his chest tighten with concern. He hoped that Caroline wasn’t in danger or in trouble. The thought of her broken arm and cast and how shy and petite she was alerted some inner instinct inside of him. He felt the need to be protective.

“We’ll keep it on the low and see what we find out in getting to know her.”

Let’s just do our jobs. The last thing we need is some bullshit and trouble or another Marie.”

C.J. agreed and they said good-bye and went on their way. He couldn’t help but to look back toward the diner. He would continue to wonder about Caroline. There was nothing he could do about it. She was just that interesting.

* * * *

“It’s so nice to finally meet you, Caroline. Shelby told us you were moving here,” Eliza Grace said as Shelby introduced her.

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Caroline said.

“This is Missy Ann. She just moved here about a month ago,” Shelby added, introducing her to her friend. The two women joined them at the table in Rita’s.

Both women were very attractive and sort of shy like Caroline.