Chapter 7

I was dreaming again.

This was one of my favorites, Houston telling me his true feelings and telling me he loved me before sealing it with a kiss. I would always wake up with a smile then disappointment knowing what had just thought happen really didn't only in my mind.

I love that dream.

This time it was a little different. This time I could actually hear what he was saying, it made me feel loved to hear those word and then his lips on mine.

It was just a light kiss. But I wanted more. I pulled him down for a much deeper kiss and he didn't object. The longer the kiss the more daring I got. It was a dream after all.

"Matlock, what the heck are you doing in the backseat with CJ? There's no time for that now we need to get going."

Uncle Roy was never in my dreams.

I opened my eyes only to be staring up at Houston with my arms around his neck and a smile on his face.

"Houston what's going on? Why are you kissing me in the backseat of your car?"

I pulled my arms down he was hovering above me and he was still smiling, "Ah no ma'am I was waking sleeping beauty up when you decided to take matters into your own hands. I just reciprocated. So CJ what were you dreaming about and who did you think you were kissing? Because that kiss left me breathless."

He waggled his eyebrows and I wanted the back seat to swallow me up. If he only knew it was him that I had been dreaming about. I tried to push him off but he wouldn't budge. I needed to change the subject quickly.

"Houston, are we home? I'm hungry, can we go in please."

I batted my eyelashes at him trying to get him to move, but still he would. I looked away. I knew I was turning a lovely shade of pink and couldn't speak in fear I'd say something that would continue this discussion that I wanted no part of.

He paused and smiled. Carefully getting off of me and offering his hand. I took it but he didn't let go once he closed the car door. Uncle Roy shook his head and put his arm around me.

"We have to hurry. Will said there were a bunch of reporters out front who seemed to want to talk to the woman who saved the baby's life."

I faltered and Houston squeezed my hand, "Don't worry if you don't want to talk to any of them I won't let them get close okay."

I nodded and kept walking with my head down. After my abduction I wanted nothing to do with reporters. They had tried every trick in the book to try and get me to make a comment to the point that they got very aggressive to get a photo exclusive with me at the hospital.

Houston had to hire private security after a reporter had gotten into my room in the middle of the night. I shudder remembering how he was hovering above me ready to take a picture and I screamed.

Houston had gone to get some air and ran right into him as he tried to sneak out. I ran trying to find a safe place. The nurses found me in a bathroom and no amount of coaxing could get me out. I was in a corner cowering and telling them to get back I had somehow picked up a scalpel and was trying to protect myself. Houston came in and talked to me and I handed him the scalpel and he picked me up and took me back to my room where he slept in my bed while I cried all night telling him my fears of not feeling safe anymore.

He never left my side after that.

I was deep in thought when Houston asked, "So back to that dream CJ who was in it and why did you have that smile? It must have been pleasant because you stopped snoring. So counselor, who were you lip locking with?"

I could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks and kept my head down not wanting to answer him if he knew the truth. I'd never hear the end of it and I die of total embarrassment.

"Leave it be boy, the lady said she was hungry and we are going to get her fed, then rested up. She has a hot date tonight with her new man."

I leaned my head into Uncle Roy's shoulder and whispered a thank you only he could hear.

We got to the house and I made a beeline to the kitchen commenting on what smelled so good Carol was making breakfast and handed me a cup of tea and I sat down on the counter Houston followed.

"Hey Doc, can I have a cup? I'm in need of some caffeine oh and did your friend tell you she ravished me in the backseat of my car. I need that to recover. It was breathtaking and she won't fess up to who she was dreaming about, maybe you can get her to spill the beans."

Carol almost dropped the cup she was pouring for Houston, handed it to him and had that mischief smile that I knew was nothing but trouble.

"Really is that why she's wearing your sweater? Did she undress you too? This sounds interesting. But this shouldn't be new to you Cowboy aren't you the one that's usually undressed? Sis here told me about your hot tub attire or lack of. Hmm what else was happening in that backseat Sis? Oh and I'm sure you weren't an innocent bystander Mr. Houston your reputation precedes you. So you're saying this kiss took your breath away, interesting… So what were you dreaming about sis? Inquiring minds want to know." She stopped what she was doing and stood across from me with that smile. I knew she would not let up.

I felt trapped and mouthed traitor and rolled my eyes at her only making her laugh out loud.

Houston was enjoying this way too much, "In my defense I was only trying to wake sleeping beauty up. She had this serene smile, and in my defense she had been warned if she fell asleep how she was going to be woken up and yeah Doc I am innocent in this. She pulled me down and my defenses were lowered and she took advantage of me in a good way of course. I only want to know who she was dreaming about, like you said inquiring minds want to know."

Before it got out of hand the front door opened and Beast and Will came barreling in, "quick close the damn door before those piranhas come in."

Houston ran down the steps and slammed the door. I got up to see if he was okay as did Carol and Uncle Roy.

"They are not going to leave till they talk to you CJ. I tried but they know you were the one that saved the baby's life and want to talk to you. I know how you feel about this but just hear me out. If you talk to only one then maybe they'll leave you alone. I told Dad and Houston this story is going nationwide and the quicker we nip it in the bud the better. I don't want them following you to the Hospital it might make helping Jake out a little difficult and I don't want them to deny you helping the lil guy out because of the media circus."

I turned around and headed back to the kitchen. I didn't want to face this right now. I sat on the stool and felt Beast follow me and he put his head on my lap. I petted him and felt Houston standing behind me putting his hands on my shoulders, Beast started to growl and Houston growled back.

I started to giggle and it turned into a laugh and I looked up at him and started to cry. He pulled me up into his arms and held me. I knew I wasn't facing this alone but I was being forced to do something I didn't want to do. There were consequences this time and I would lose either way.

"Do you think they are going to stop me from taking care of Jake because I won't talk to the press? I don't like the limelight. I'm happy to be in the background. I should have never given them my name when I called 911. I wasn't thinking and now…"

I cried harder thinking I had really done it now. Would the hospital still want me to help with the circus that would follow me once they found out I was helping Jake out.

Carol came back to the kitchen. Will and Uncle Roy followed her.

I was tired and told them I had lost my appetite.

"Oh no I know that look sis. Nope you are going to sit right there and eat. You need to have your strength if you are going to help out your new man. We'll worry about the piranhas later right now you are going to eat. Will cut up a bunch of veggies for omelets so sit your behind right there and you are not leaving till the plate is empty."

"You heard the Doc. You are not leaving till you clean your plate. So sit darling. I'll get you some juice, we need to get nourishment in that body and rest. If we are going to help out little man. Also you still haven't told us who you were dreaming about. I'm still wanting to know, as does Doc."

I looked down damn I thought he had forgotten but it still was up for discussion and I in no way was going to let him know who I had been dreaming about and I thank God it was the one with kissing not the other ones that I had woken up gasping for breath and shuddering thinking what his hands could do to me.

"She's smiling again. Okay lady spill or we will start to play 20 questions and get it out of you that way. You know I am the queen of that game. I can get you to reveal enough details with 5 questions."

I gasped remembering how good Carol was at reading people and if I looked up this charade would be over and I couldn't face rejection again from Houston.

Beast came back to my lap and I asked Will "Did you get any information from the police about Jake? Any witnesses come forward?"

Before Will got to answer Houston said, "20 questions is a great way to spend breakfast so I think we should have Carol start and we'll follow along and get to the bottom of who CJ was dreaming about."

I was about to tell him to let it go when I looked up and turned away and pointed towards the balcony, the media had gotten ladders and were attempting to take pictures through the glass doors.

Carol grabbed me and pulled me to the living room while the Houston men went to deal with the circus.

"Okay you got 2 minutes to spill the beans, who were you dreaming about and why is Houston not letting this go? What did you do to him that got him all hot and bothered? Has something changed between you two? You haven't said a word and I want to know all the details so did you two do the Texas two-step in the bedroom or a lot of groping in the backseat tell me or else."

She was smiling and I whispered I had been having very vivid dreams of my best friend that would make anyone blush and would no longer make us best friends but best friends with benefits.

She squealed and I shushed her, "Carol I can't let him know it was him I was dreaming about. I can't take the rejection again. Remember how long it took me to get over confessing my love for him last time. It hurt. It's a lesson I won't forget. I don't want to go through that again. He's just wanting me to forget about what's happened to me and this is his way of lightening the mood. I can't fall through that hole of what ifs again I don't think my heart can take it."

Tears started to fall and she grabbed me and held me.

"CJ what's wrong? Carol, why is she crying?"

I tried to pull back but she didn't let me, "This is taking its toll on my friend. Why don't you take her upstairs and she can have breakfast in bed before going to bed. I think that's what she needs as do you so both of you upstairs and into your PJ's Doctor's orders Will and Uncle Roy will help me out with breakfast."

She let me go and Houston held out his hand, I took it and he pulled me up and put his arm around my shoulder "come on let's go to bed, maybe will start up where we left off in the car."

Carol laughed, "I know who she was dreaming about when you two lipped locked in the back seat. Told you I'd get it out of her."

I gasped, "Carol no please don't say it." I pushed Houston's arm off me seeing where I was going to run to after my friend's betrayal and I'd have to move to a new state to live down my humiliation.

"What's going on? I feel like I came in the middle of something. CJ why does Matt have that look on his face and what is Carol talking about. You two were kissing in the backseat? Dad, did you see them lip locking? Okay someone get me up to speed."

Carol gave Will the short version and he smiled, "So Carol who was CJ's mystery man?"

"I'm doing this for your own good Sis."

I covered my face with my hands as I waited for my life to be over.

"I think that's enough. CJ, go upstairs, get into bed and you three stop ganging up on her. She's had a very long day and doesn't need to be dealing with these games." Uncle Roy took me to the stairs and motioned me up.

Carol sighed, "Okay Houston if you stop hounding my friend I'll tell you. It was Bruce she was thinking of. Everyone happy I got the name out of her. Wait, did you think it was you cowboy that she was dreaming about? You two are just friends, remember. I've heard the story so many times I know it by heart. That you two are nothing but best friends nothing more right Houston?"

I stopped and turned around looking at Carol who gave me a wink and Houston just staring at me with his mouth wide open.

"Hey Cuz you're gonna catch flies like that," quipped Will.

"Who the hell is Bruce and why are you dreaming about kissing him like that? Well CJ I think I deserve an answer."

I turned around and kept walking up the stairs hearing him come up behind. I took off and ran into my room and closed the door before he had a chance to question me some more.