Chapter 12

Sleep came easy after I closed my eyes. Having CJ in my arms just made it easier.

It seemed like I slept for hours when I felt someone whispering and recognized the voice.

"Hey Cowboy its time to get up, I'm sorry you both look so comfortable but you did say to wake you up by 3:45 at it's almost that time. Tell CJ I'm going to make her a sandwich."

I looked up and Carol smiled. "Okay thanks will be right down can you make me a sandwich too, I'm kind of hungry myself."

She smiled, "No problem, I have to pay you back for letting me stay the night in Casa Houston I'm cancelling my date with Aaron I thought I'd hang around and Will said he'd stay with me. We were thinking of barbeque for dinner tonight if that's okay with you, I promise to make my famous Lemon Cake with homemade frosting for dessert. What do you say?"

I whispered, "sounds like a plan, didn't CJ have a date tonight also with what's his name."

I knew his name I just didn't want to repeat it.

Carol shook her head, "Bruce came by and asked to speak to her but I asked if he had heard about the commotion down at the beach and he had. I told him CJ was involved and I didn't think she was up to going out tonight, he left his number so it's up to her, he's persistent though brought her flowers and they are beautiful."

I was tempted to ask her to throw them out but I had to remember I had no right to interfere. She waited for my response but I smiled and nodded.

She left, I looked down at CJ she still hadn't woken up she was smiling and I could only imagine what she was thinking or who she was dreaming about.

Wait she was asleep and she was warned if she ever fell asleep in my presences how she would be woken up. I smiled and tilted her chin up and kissed her.

She didn't respond at first but once she felt my lips she started to lean into me and I could feel her come closer and put her arms around my neck and kiss me back willingly. This was nice I could get use to waking up to her every day just like this but with less clothes.

I pulled back and she mumbled, "Don't stop."

As much as I wanted to continue this I knew we had to get up.

"Hey sleeping beauty time to get up we have to get ready to go to the hospital. Mr. Jake is waiting."

She opened her eyes and still had her arms around my neck and mine were around her waist.

"What time is it and did you kiss me again."

"Yes ma'am I told you I'd be kissing you awake, you were warned and I'm starting to like this so go back to sleep for a minute so we can continue." I wagged my eyebrows at her and she rolled her eyes and started to pull away.

"As much as you enjoyed that I have to remind you I am asleep when you kiss me and I don't have any recollection of actually kissing you."

She started to get out of bed and I pulled her arm and she fell back into bed and I pulled her to me and said, "Well let me refresh your memory a little."

I put my hand on her neck and pulled her in for a kiss and she didn't pull away.

Once we stop, she was breathless.

"Houston, don't do that again."

I whispered, "Do what?" And proceeded to kiss her again.

This time it lasted longer and she finally pushed off of me and jumped off the bed.

"That don't do that again, what's got into you. I'm going to the bathroom I suggest you get ready or I'm leaving without you. Please don't do that again."

She ran to the bathroom and locked the door.

I got up and went to the bathroom door, "Why are you running CJ? I'm right here I'm not going anywhere and I bet Bruce never kissed you like that. Give me 10 minutes and Carol has lunch for us so shake a leg."

I smiled and was proud that I had rattled her. She would be thinking of that kiss for the rest of the night not some stranger or his flowers.

I went to my room got ready and went downstairs and saw the monstrosity Mr. Bruce had sent.

"Yellow roses how original. What time did these get here?"

Will smiled, "It's a really funny story and I hope time permits. But I have a question did you pay Star to say she was CJ's daughter? Beast didn't like him, poor guy almost dropped the flowers and Carol had to explain why Beast was very overprotective of Star. Carol did you ever tell him Star wasn't CJ's daughter?"

Before I got to answer CJ walked down the stairs and asked, "I was asleep for a couple of hours and now I have a daughter named Star? Who is Star and whose roses. They are beautiful."

Carol smiled, "Sit right her missy and I will fill you in, Oh and I want you to see the stuff I bought for Jake you are going to love them. That means you too Cowboy you need to eat also and while you're at it want to tell CJ about Star?"

I sat on a stool and Carol put a ham sandwich in front of me and a turkey sandwich in front of CJ. I pretended I didn't hear her. Maybe she wouldn't bring it up.

CJ was looking at the flowers and I started to eat when she asked, "Whose Star and why does Bruce think she's my daughter?"

I almost choked as I tried to swallow my sandwich Carol handed me some water but I couldn't drink I was coughing and trying to no choke to death having been surprised by the question. Will smacked me in the back and I thanked him. I finally swallowed and drank some water.

"First of all I didn't tell Star to say she was CJ's daughter, second Star is helping us in our investigation I found her following me and Beast down by the beach, she knows people around here since she hangs out and stays around. They will be more receptive to her inquires then the police or us."

"Is she's homeless? How old is she Houston? You're having a homeless person help us out in finding information about Jake?"

She waited for me to answer, "you should eat your sandwich we need to get going and yes I did hire her to get information but I was mostly curious as to what she wanted. I thought maybe she was the mom at first but she told me and showed me that she wasn't Jake's mom."

She was about to ask another question when the front door opened and in came Beast running straight to CJ.

"Hi there handsome where did you come from."

The door slammed, "Beast! Christ on a Cracker where did you go."

Will shook his head, "I think the Honeymoon's over she might resign thanks to the hound from hell."

Star walked up the stairs with leash in hand and wet.

I got up and went to the laundry room and grabbed some towels and handed them to Star.

"Do I even want to ask? What did the mongrel do to you?"

"He thought it would be cute to chase the seagulls by the water and he went too far in and I had to go in the ocean to save him. Will does he even know how to swim?"

We all looked at Will, he shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know we haven't tried swimming yet. I'm barely getting use to walking him not him walking me."

CJ looked up and smiled at Star.

"Wow you're just as pretty as Carol. You must be CJ. I'm Star. Boss man here hired me as a freelancer to get some information about baby Jake that you saved, I had a brother named Jake but, that's another story and I'm rambling again sorry it must be from all the salt water I swallowed. Oh Beast you owe me big time, I got sand in places I didn't know sand could be."

Beast tried to hide behind CJ and let out a whimper.

CJ laughed "Hi Star thanks for the compliment but I think Carol is much prettier than me. I'm CJ and thank you for your help we appreciate any information you can gather, I've been out of it most of the day and we will be leaving in a bit but I'm glad I got to meet you. I just have one question. Why did you tell Bruce you where my daughter?"

Her eyes grew wide and she stepped back. "I'm sorry but he was snooping around and had these flowers with him. Beast had just gotten up from his nap and Roy asked me if I could take him out to do his business. Well the guy Bruce was a little pushy and came over to me and asked if I knew CJ Parsons and I thought he was a reporter, I had overheard Will and Roy talking about the pushy reporters from the morning and how they wanted to protect you from them. So Beast started to growl and scared the guy he almost drop the vase of flowers and Beast started to bark because he started to curse and I blurted out why he wanted to talk to my mother."

I groaned and covered my face, waiting to be accused of something I was innocent of.

"So Houston didn't put you up to saying this you did it on your own?" CJ asked.

Star looked at me, "Why would he do that? Boss man wasn't around and I just blurted it out I was going to apologize to him and explain, but Will and Carol came out and me and Beast went back inside so I just assumed they got it all cleared up. Did you Carol, Will?"

"Don't worry Sis I did, he left his number you should call him to thank him for the flowers. Did Houston tell you our plans for tonight?"

I finished my sandwich and got up to wash the plate Carol pointed me back to the stool and I handed her my plate.

"I didn't get a chance, to tell her of what we were gonna do for dinner. Star since you're already soaked do you want to shower and dry your clothes off in the dryer. I don't want you to catch a cold."

She had wrapped her hair in one of the towels and thought about it.

Carol chimed in, "Star I have some extra sweats in my bedroom you can borrow them till your clothes dry."

She shook her head, "I don't want to be a bother it's just water it'll dry. Boss man I need to give you an update on what I found today and the leads I'll be working on tomorrow."

I looked at my watch and it was getting close to 5:00. CJ finished her sandwich and handed her plate to Carol and Carol handed her a bag which she started to look in and started to pull out baby clothes.

"Oh my God Carol these are adorable and so soft he's going to love them look Houston they have little horses on them and this one has sheep."

She held them up and the smile on her face was worth more to me than all the gold in Fort Knox.

Star stood next to me and said, "Those are real cute wow and is that a cowboy outfit."

CJ held it up and started to laugh, "Carol where did you find this, Houston he's going to be a little buckaroo look it says buckaroo on the pocket."

CJ handed me the bag and the last item was a stuffed horse that played music.

I looked at it and vowed that we would protect Jake and make sure he had everything he would ever need always.

"Jake's a lucky kid he hit the Jackpot when you guys found him. Like I said maybe it was for the best that you found him maybe his momma doesn't want him."

I got up, "that's what I want to find out and with your help hopefully we can get these answers sooner than later. We need to go CJ I need to fill out those forms and I don't want to be late. Star we are barbequing for dinner it's going to be late so you are more than welcomed to join us. Really why don't you just shower and hang out. Carol is going to make her lemon cake with homemade frosting you don't want to miss out on that do you. "

CJ took the stuffed horse from me and put it back in the bag, "Did you say Carol's going to make her famous Lemon Cake? Oh Star you have to stay for dinner that cake is a religious experience. You don't understand there will be no leftovers since I have been known to eat the whole thing and not feel guilty about it. So stay have dinner with us and then you can give us all an update but first go clean up I was in your shoes yesterday and being wet and dragged by Beast is no fun."

She thought about it and asked what where we barbequing.

Will piped in, "Well I know my cousin has steaks in the freezer and I cleaned and fillet the fish we caught yesterday so that and some bake potatoes and maybe a salad how does that sound."

Star mulled it over and shook her head looking down and whispered, "No its okay I'll talk to you tomorrow I don't want to intrude."

She pulled off the towel from her head and turned quickly and ran down the stairs and out the door. CJ got up and followed as did I.

"Star, wait please."

She kept walking with her hands in her pockets and walking faster. I passed CJ and caught up to her and pulled her by her arm to make her stop she looked up with tears in her eyes.

"What is up with you people, can't you just leave me alone I'm going to do this job and that's it I don't need you to feel sorry for me and try to make me part of your happy family. Let go of me boss man and you know what forget it I don't want to help you out after all I was only doing it for a hot meal and I got one off of you."

She yanked her arm from my grip and started to walk away when CJ stood in front of her and she tried to walk around her and CJ wasn't having it.

"I thought you wanted to help? Jake needs all of us to help him find his mother. So I don't understand you changing your mind. If we came on too strong we are sorry but there is no hidden agenda here we all want the same thing Jake to be safe and healthy. So I am asking you not Houston or anybody else please help me find out information if you want to keep us at arm's length that's fine. But you have to forgive Houston and me. We are from Texas and we treat all our friends like family and if Houston brought you into our fold then that's all I needed to know I consider you a friend so hence you are family now."

Star burst into tears and CJ took her into her arms and soothed her. She stood with her like that for a while and once her tears stopped we walked back to the house with CJ's arm around Star's waist.

"You guys must think I'm a crazy person, did boss man here tell you what I did to him at the café? Same performance just a tad different, like I told him I find it very hard to trust people I have been on my own for a while and I'm not use to people wanting me around. It's like people see me but don't want to see me or avoid me. Just because I don't have fancy dudes on I'm below them I try so hard to blend into the background and be invisible. But, sometimes it just feels lonely, I try not to let it bother me but it does and then to have people actually acknowledge me and want my help it's a little much. I'd understand if you terminate our contract boss man. I would."

I shook my head, "nope a deals a deal you're stuck with me and the rowdy bunch inside okay and I want you to go shower and get some rest we will be back and you can update us on what you found out when we get back okay?"

Carol, Will and Beast were outside waiting, "So are you back? Because Beast was about to drag me down the boardwalk to catch you, as soon as you ran he did too but Matt closed the door before he could get out. Cuz, you might have to do some repairs on that front door of yours. Sorry."

She nodded and Carol put her arm around Star and took her in telling her she was going to let her use her shampoo and conditioner and then help her comb out her hair.

Will handed CJ Jakes bag and we walked to the car.

CJ turned and smiled at me, "You're a softy when it comes to kids Houston I'm glad you asked her to help maybe we can help her she's what 14 maybe 15 what about parents?"

I shook my head, "From what she told me her mother and brother Jake are dead. Her stepfather wanted her to take the mothers place in all areas if you know what I mean. And yes I will be finding out who this father of the year is and having a conversation with him. That's all I know. Not sure about a biological father or any other relatives, she was mad thinking I wanted something else from her when I took her to breakfast and I told her I was insulted that she would think that of me and she backed down. I understand her not trusting people, it's unfortunately the world we live in now."

I open the car door for CJ and she got in. I looked at my watch and knew we had to hurry I wanted to at least get CJ there on time and I'd miss some of my time with Jake but this was important and couldn't wait.

I got in and started to drive towards the hospital. CJ took my hand and squeezed it, "Poor Star, and I'd like to go with you when you have that conversation with her stepfather I have a couple of things I'd like to discuss with him also. Houston promise me you will help me keep Jake and now Star safe. I just want to protect both of them they need us."

I picked up her hand and kissed it. "I will do anything you ask CJ we will keep both of them safe that's a promise."