Town of Chance: Sweet Caroline (The Dare 5)

As he parked the bike and turned off the engine, he noticed a few young women walking out of his mom’s clothing store. They looked right at him, smiling and checking him out, but they were girls, too young, maybe college-aged, and he had no interest in them. His profession had hardened him in so many ways. He was kind of rigid and ornery. He spoke his mind, sometimes seemed condescending, especially to people who didn’t yet have a clue about real life, about violence, about events on a larger scale. The naive youthfulness of a woman only could go as far as the bedroom. He was long past relationships like that. Long past being intimate with a woman for any reason other than to satisfy an itch and ease his mind from the nightmares that rocked his brain and were eternally imbedded in his heart.

He eased off the bike, placed his helmet down, and stretched his legs. His mother mentioned that she had gotten some new dress shirts in. He wasn’t one to shop. Liked to go in, buy what he needed, and leave. He hoped his mother didn’t try to make him try on shit. He cursed under his breath as he walked along the sidewalk. He wondered why the fuck he even came here. He should have ordered online. Then he wouldn’t have to see anyone.

As he opened the door, preparing himself for his mom and her overbearing antics and need to baby him, he looked around and caught sight of something that immediately caught his full attention.

Initially it was the long tanned legs beneath a short black skirt. Then as he glanced upward, he saw the platinum-blonde hair that nearly reached a perfectly round ass, and a dark black cast on an arm trying to pull down some boxes on the highest shelf in the store. The ladder had five rungs to it and the petite young woman couldn’t reach what she wanted. That cast covering what had to be a broken arm didn’t help matters and then he saw her teetering as she stupidly stood on tiptoes and then on one foot, reaching for the top box.

He hurried over, his hands gripping her hips as she gasped and boxes tumbled down on the both of them. She lost complete balance as something hit her hard and he caught her just as he heard his mother scream out.

What he thought was a young teenage or college girl turned out to be a woman with gorgeous sage-green eyes and one hell of a set of breasts that were pouring from the blouse she wore. She was as light as a feather as he held her in his arms, but she didn’t seem pleased that he just saved her and was now holding her against his chest. In fact, he had the feeling if he didn’t put her down she might strike him.

“Let go of me. Who the hell are you?” she yelled at him, shocking the sense back into him as she wiggled her sexy ass and he set her down before he dropped her. Holy shit, he was practically drooling over the woman and she looked scared. Hell, terrified.

/> “Oh God, you’re hurt. Oh my goodness. We need ice. Thank God Hunter was here and caught you. You could have broken something else. Oh my God.” His mother carried on as he set the gorgeous little pixie down on her feet. That was when he noticed not only her pretty sage-green eyes, but the lump on her forehead.

“We need some ice. Come sit down,” he said as he reached for her shoulder and to push the strands of hair from her cheeks so he could see the damage. The woman slapped his hand away.

“I think you did enough,” she said and covered the lump with her hand as she turned to walk and seemed off-kilter.

He reached for her hips to guide her.

“Easy, honey, you took a hell of a hit from those boxes.”

He brought her behind the counter and she sat down, immediately crossing her legs and closing her eyes to exhale.

“Oh my God, please tell me I didn’t break anything,” she said, obviously worried about it.

“Here, Hunter. Help Caroline and hold the ice on her forehead,” his mom said.

Caroline’s eyes popped open just as he knelt in front of her and started to place the ice on her forehead by her temple. Their gazes locked and he couldn’t help but to absorb her plump lips or the fearful expression. He knew he was a big man. His height intimidated a lot of people of average height, but to someone as dainty and feminine as this little thing, he must appear giant like.

“I can do that,” she whispered, her cheeks red, probably embarrassed for falling like she did. He took in the sight of her and licked his lips as their fingers touched and she took the bag of ice from his hand.

“Are you sure, sugar?” he asked, and she gulped as she looked up into his eyes and nodded her head.

God, she’s gorgeous and definitely shy. When he stood up, he watched her eyes widen at his height.

“Don’t worry, Caroline, this is one of my sons, Hunter. Thank goodness he came by today. I told that other girl Liz that she stacked those boxes too high. What a mistake it had been hiring her,” Martha said and exhaled.

“Well, might I suggest moving those things to a more reasonable height, or else your new employee could break something else,” he teased as he looked at her cast. Caroline’s expression changed and she looked about ready to cry as her eyes filled with tears. He felt badly for making fun of her. It was a first for him. He spoke his mind and he never gave a shit about offending anyone or hurting their feelings.

But she quickly looked away.

“I’ll clean it up,” she whispered and then stood up. Martha covered her shoulder with her hand.

“You may need to see Doc Anders,” she told Caroline and Hunter watched Caroline’s body language change. She straightened out her shoulders, set the ice pack down on the counter, and brushed by the two of them.

“That won’t be necessary. I’m fine. Really, Martha. No doctor necessary,” she said and then headed back over to the ladder.

Hunter looked at her go and then at his mom. He could see the concerned expression and then heard his mom exhale.

“She’ll be okay. If she feels dizzy or has any other symptoms then just call over for the doctor. He’ll come here, you know that.”

His mom cleared her throat. “I’m sure it will be fine,” she said and he had a feeling something was bothering his mother, but then as she went behind the counter and took the bag of ice she planted on a smile.

“So, to what do I owe this surprise visit?” she asked.

He looked back at Caroline then to his mom.