Chapter 45

I watch them shake hands, Houston and Devin holding on longer than they should measuring each other up seeing who would give in first. You could tell they still didn't trust each other but for Star's sake they were putting their feelings aside. Houston's arm pulled me closer as Devin looked down at me and winked. He let go and turned around to talk to his friend.

I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath. I leaned in closer to Houston wanting to absorb some of his strength. It was going to be a long night. But with him holding me, like he was, it made me feel everything was going to be okay.

I could feel the tension in his body and I knew he was upset with me and I wondered if he would forgive me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and he squeezed me tighter.

Neither of us spoke. But I knew his mind was analyzing everything that had happened today. I knew he wanted to be angry with me but he also wanted to know if I was okay.

Devin wasn't helping being openly flirtatious with me. The man must have a death wish, Houston must be wondering what had happened before he came in. I knew he saw me over his shoulder and trying to get him to put me down. When I saw him come through that door, I knew I was saved and I whispered his name. Too Mean called me his girl and the way Houston turned and looked at him wanting to say something but had a struggling Momma trying to get away. What did he want to say? Maybe I imagined it.

I couldn't look at him. I couldn't face the disappointment that was in his eyes. I really did damage to our friendship and whatever was brewing between us. I closed my eyes trying to center myself like Dr. Ryan taught me. I was tired. All I wanted was to go home crawl into my bed and pull the covers over me and if I were to ask would Houston join me?

"Hey Beautiful if you want to take a nap? I have a couch in my office. I can show you the way, make you comfortable."

My eyes open and Devin is looking at me with a smile that would take any woman's breath away. I heard a growl and looked up.

Houston was not happy.

"Houston you promised Star come on." I put my hand on his cheek and he takes it and kisses it while staring down Devin.

"Thanks Devin but I want to be in this meeting."

He shrugs his shoulders and walks over to where Momma G and Star were.

"Devin? How do you know him CJ? Because he seems to be very familiar with you, I don't like him. He's too cocky for his own good. He might need an attitude adjustment and I will be more than happy to give it to him. Oh and don't think you are in the clear yet Parsons we will be having a long uninterrupted conversation just you and me as soon as we are done here. We need to clear the air and see where we stand. Do you understand? I already have been given the word of our family that they will not butt in if they do I might have to shoot them." Houston whispered in my ear.

He still cared.

I smiled to myself, he gave me my hope back. Maybe this wasn't such a lost situation so I teased him, "Green is not a good color on you Houston, and yeah we need to talk let me start by saying I'm sorry and I have one important question. Am I still your best friend?"

He pulled back and tilted my chin up to him, "When it comes to you, and some bozo trying to take what's…" He stops.

What's what? He didn't finish. Maureen and Carol stood in front of us.

Maureen looked puzzled, "take what cowboy?"

He let me go. I looked at Maureen and Carol and rolled my eyes. I wanted my answer but he walked away.

"Looks like we have some bad timing, sorry sis. But we are not happy with you. We should have never told you what had happened to Star. You coming here on your own has to be one of the biggest bonehead moves you've ever made. You are not indestructible missy. I swear if I have any gray hairs because of this I will be sending you my hairstylist bill."

She took my hands. "You should have waited for one of us, and what is this crap about being a burden? You need to stop saying that. How can you think you are a burden? It's ridiculous you are my sister from another mister and I want you safe."

I didn't know what to say. I'd disappointed them all.

"I'm sorry. I think I lost my mind for a minute, it was just so much to process and then thinking I had failed Jake, it was too much and yes I know I should have leaned on my family but I wasn't thinking rationally. I blew it with all of you. Especially Houston if he hadn't kept his cool we would have lost our chance to take care of Jake. He was the level headed one I was the loose cannon and it just shows me that he's changed and he's growing. I'm just hoping he forgives me for calling him a liar. He didn't lie he just used better judgment, that's usually my job i'm the one bailing him out and making him see reason. I asked him a question before you two barged in on us. I'm afraid of what his answer will be."

They each hugged me and said that I had nothing to worry about that Houston had been out of his mind with worry that something had happened to me and felt bad for lying to me but only did it to show Ms. Bloom that we were serious about helping Jake.

Carol kept looking towards the bar and asked, "what is going on with tall dark and moody I swear I thought Houston was going to shoot first and ask questions later. He seemed very friendly with you sis? What happened before we came in. Oh and what about that Blonde hunk he can put me over his shoulder anytime."

I shook my head, Really Carol? He was very intimidating and is too cocky for his own good. I came in and found out he owns this place and tried to get more information but he had his guard up and started to ask me too many questions. When I tried to leave things got physical on my part, he wasn't expecting it and that's how he got that black eye."

They both laughed out loud while looking over to the man in question. He knew we were talking about him and he came over.

"Want to let me in on what you and your friends are laughing about, beautiful?"

"Her name is CJ, not beautiful and she was telling us how you got that shiner, never underestimate your opponent or you might get burned."

He smiled and touched his eye, "Yeah I didn't know the kitten was really a tiger, maybe I'll change your name from beautiful to spitfire…nah I like beautiful because that's what you are."

I could feel my cheeks burning. This guy was too much. He was not shy and I knew he just wanted to get a reaction from me but I ignored him. Carol groaned and Maureen snorted. "Well trying to flatter her is not getting you anywhere so why don't you go back to your friend and learn from him he seems friendlier and has manners more than you."

I felt an arm around my shoulder and knew it was Houston.

"Yeah why don't you stop while you're ahead and her name is CJ just like Carol said, easy to remember since it's just two letters? Or I can tattoo it to your hand with my knife."

Houston let me go and stood toe to toe with Devin.

I stood between them, "Please stop, we don't need this right now this isn't about us but Star so let's put our differences aside. I was taught a valuable lesson today and that's to keep cool and don't lose track of what is your goal. Our goal is to keep this young girl out of harm's way so let's start there, my family knows what's happened to me these last few months and what's happen these last few days have put a strain on all of us especially me and Houston, so you baiting him Devin is not helping, please stop. I'm sorry for hitting you and Houston I'm sorry for calling you a liar."

"Since I can't call you beautiful, sweetness I'd never lie to you and I'm thinking this love tap here as foreplay."

He was a dead man and I wasn't going to stop Houston this time.

"Keep poking the bear and see what happens Popeye, I'm not gonna give you what I so desperately want to do to you. I'm going to listen to my better half here."

Momma G came up to Devin. "Okay you are coming with me no fighting allowed we are at a truce and I will not have you upset that little girl. Do you hear me Devin?"

"Yes ma'am I'll talk to you later CJ."

Houston watched him walk towards his friends and went over to Will. Carol chuckled.

"Well you got them to step back which is great. We are still not over you coming here on your own. Houston was so mad at us for not telling him what we had discussed with you earlier. It was not a pretty sight. I mumbled sorry and felt his hand on my shoulder. I turned around.

"She's right, when they told me what had happened earlier and you came here alone to confront these men, I almost lost it."

"Almost? Ha! Nope you did lose it Cowboy you read us the riot act, trapped us in an elevator till we spilled the beans and then threatened us not to interfere once you were safe so yeah we will be keeping our mouths shut while you two figure what's brewing between you two. CJ you never told us about this dark side of his. He can make anyone shake in their boots." Carol chimed in as she looked at both of us. I felt sick. I had put them in harm's way for my inability to reign in my feelings.

"I'm sorry for causing all of you so much worry. I'll try not to do it again."

Tears were forming and I tried to blink them away. I sniffed and he looked down at me. He wiped the tears that fell. I grabbed his hand and placed it on my heart. "I asked you a question earlier you still haven't answered. Am I still your best friend?"

I held my breath. Was he just acting jealous because of Devin? He did this whenever someone new came around but once he got to know them he'd back down. I knew he was trying to figure out how big of a threat he was and I couldn't deal with that right now. Not to say he wasn't handsome but he didn't fit in my plans right now. If it had been at a different time before Jake and Star or even before Elizabeth, and the abduction it might have been a different story. Right now I needed to know if Houston still considered me his friend and if fate had given me a chance with the man I had been in love with since the time he sat next to me and shared his chocolate bar with me by the pond.

"No."

I couldn't breath I pulled back like I had been slapped. I needed to run. He saw my face and grabbed my hand pulled me towards him and kissed me.

When he let me up for air he whispered, "I want more CJ. I can't just be your best friend any longer but we will talk. Oh we will talk."

I couldn't think he put his arm around my shoulder and I looked up to see everyone looking.

Uncle Roy, Carol and Maureen were smiling. Will mumbled to get a room jeez.

I laughed. Which caught Star's attention. She pulled Momma G towards us.

"What's going on, why is Boss Man giving you mouth to mouth Boss Lady," she was giggling while Momma G shook her head.

"She's incorrigible. I am sorry and I want to apologize for earlier, I literally just got off a plane and came right over. When they told me she had not showed up at all yesterday when I had specifically told her she needed to be here to help out the boys I knew something was wrong. She's a good girl and she should have come with me to Sacramento to see my sister. She had a hip replacement and I've been gone for a couple of weeks. She has not missed a day and has always helped me in the kitchen. Thank you for keeping her out of trouble. She told me a little about what she's doing with you. Star, you need to tell the boys, they will have a better understanding. Mr. Houston my boys might be rough on the outside but they all have hearts of gold. When it comes to women and children they do not tolerate anyone harming them."

She pulled Star closer to her and Star towered over her but still managed to put her head on Momma's shoulder.

"Okay let's get this pow wow going let's put these tables together, sit down and Star I want the whole truth nothing half ass everything the good the bad and ugly. We will sort it out and get a game plan together. Okay?"

She nodded.

Too Mean and Tiny pulled one of the tables, Will and Uncle Roy pulled another and Luca and Popeye pulled the last one over.

Luca came up to Maureen and Carol, "would you lovely ladies like anything to drink, I apologize my friend here only has beer and shots. He doesn't understand if he wants to get gorgeous ladies like you to come to his establishment he needs to offer drinks like sex on the beach or cosmopolitans."

I snorted. Houston held me close but I knew my sisters, they could navigate through cheesy lines and flirty men.

Carol batted her eyelashes, "Oh that's okay sweetheart, I would love a beer and a shot of tequila. I'm not the fro foo drinking type of girl like my whiskey too. CJ want anything, how about you Maureen?"

Luca's eyes twinkled, "you sound like a handful Red, but I always like a challenge."

Maureen shook her head and headed over to Will and Uncle Roy. "Then you better buckle up, you are in for a bumpy ride."

Devin growled. "Luca, why are you giving away my liquor? I don't think we should be drinking, we should be clear headed when we hear Star's story."

Tiny spoke up, "Would anyone like to eat something? We have some leftover pulled pork and tri tip. I can make sandwiches for everyone if you all want."

"Now you are giving away the food Jesus, how are we supposed to make a profit if we start giving everything away? Momma talk to them please." Popeye threw up his hands.

Houston pulled out his wallet and handed Popeye a hundred dollar bill. He shook his head.

"Nope not taking your money Cowboy I was just…"

"Being a jackass again? Come on Popeye let's get some food and sit with Stars other family they got her to open up and I am grateful so stop being grumpy okay." Momma told Luca to pour the beers and Tiny to make sandwiches, Too Mean and Will volunteered to help him out and Carol said she'd help Luca which made him smile from ear to ear.

Houston left me to talk to Uncle Roy. I stood there lost in thought wondering what else Star hadn't mentioned about her past.

"Are you okay, beautiful? You look lost and your boyfriend hasn't given me a chance to talk to you alone and apologize."

"You have nothing to apologize for and he's not my boyfriend, well not technically but… It's complicated."

Devin smiled, "Not from where I'm standing if he's not your boyfriend then can I ask you out to dinner tomorrow or the next day. Never know we might even make it to breakfast the next day…"

He was trouble and I saw Houston looking at us talking. I had to defuse this now.

"Thanks but no I won't be going out with you. Houston and I are talking after this we have a lot of unresolved issues and we've known each other our whole lives. He is my best friend but I think we both want more so thanks but no thanks."

Devin smiled and crossed his arms around his chest.

"He's been your best friend for how long and hasn't made you his? Wow I thought I was dense but I think I found someone dumber than me. Beautiful if you were my best friend we'd be married and have a half dozen kids by now. So it just gives me hope that he might screw this up. I'll wait."

Houston stood behind me and put both his arms around me. "It's going to be a long wait buddy. The lady's spoken for and I will let that one comment from you pass but get one thing straight she's with me."

Luca handed Devin a beer and started to pull him towards the bar. He smirked and winked at me again.

I grabbed both of Houston's hands. "Don't. You have nothing to worry about".

I turned to face him and cupped his face and touched his bruise and his cut lip. I kissed him tenderly and whispered, "Can't wait for our talk."

He looked down at me. "Yeah it's been long overdue and we have to talk about everything. Deal?

I kissed him again, "Deal."