Chapter 58

After dessert and a quick Dance Party that was more laughter than dancing, everyone got settled down, sleeping arrangements were made CJ Star would be in my bedroom, Carol and Maureen would be in CJ's room and Chris and Momma in the guest room. Momma said she wouldn't be able to sleep and would keep us company like her boys. She was a night owl.

CJ wanted to help but while everyone was trying to dance she nodded off in my arms. I felt so at peace at that moment.

It felt right. I thought about our future after everything settled down and we could be here in our living room together her in my arms after a long day at work just sitting and nodding off to sleep.

I kissed her temple, "Soon, my darling."

I picked her up and everyone shushed. "I'm taking her upstairs. Star I'm sure you can borrow something from her closet to wear, ladies you are welcome to her stuff too."

"Except the sweater Carol is wearing, she wants that back and said it was her favorite boss man."

Carol threw a pillow at Star, "he didn't have to know that. That would have been my excuse. I'd say Cowboy said we could help ourselves well I helped myself."

"Okay let me rephrase that borrow and bring back better than you took it okay? Guys, I'll be right back and we'll start."

"Mattlock you need to get some sleep, why don't you go take a quick nap? We got this for a couple of hours and Star can sleep with Chris since Momma has decided to keep me company down here."

It sounds so tempting to lay down for an hour would do me wonders and to do it next to CJ yeah it sounded really appealing.

"If you don't want to Cowboy I will be happy to keep beautiful company in your room in the dark. Popeye chimed in.

"Thanks Uncle Roy I will take you up on that wake me in a couple of hours. Ah Carol, Maureen can you help me get her out of her clothes…"

"Really Cowboy don't know how to get a lady out of her clothes jeez no wonder it's taken you this long to realize what you have, like I said I can assist."

Carol pushed me up the stairs and shook her head, "Come on Houston we will get her into her PJ's and Devin stop poking the Bear."

CJ's eyes opened and she didn't know where she was or who was carrying her. For one second I saw the fear in her eyes and she gasped, I needed to let her know she was okay.

"Hey, It's just me, I'm carrying you upstairs to bed. Okay? No need to panic, I'm here CJ."

She looked at me and leaned in and let out the breath she was holding and whispered okay.

When would she be able to wake without fearing she was not where she was supposed to be and now with the threat she was under now, yeah I'd be her shadow she'd go nowhere without me and when the time came that she had to go out and I wasn't around, someone would be with her or following her no way would this happen again on my watch.

"What time is it? How long have I been asleep?" she mumbled.

She rubs her eyes and looks at me. She looks adorable like this and all I want to do is go into my room and shut the world out. To make her feel safe and free without looking over her shoulder.

"Houston?"

"Sorry, darling you've been out a while, you missed the dance party. There are things that I cannot unsee but I'll tell you all about it tomorrow after a good night's sleep."

"Hey sis I didn't see you wake up well we are all bunking here for the night it will make the men folk happy to know we are under one roof but I don't know about tomorrow. Not that I don't like your hospitality Cowboy but I need to get back to my routine. I have a clinic to run and I want to be able to help with Jake and Star."

This was not going to go over well with Luca but I'd tell him when I woke up and we'd have to figure out what we were going to do to keep everyone safe.

CJ tapped my hand, "I think I can walk into the room I want to jump in the shower before going to bed so thanks Houston."

I grabbed her hand, "I'm going to napping for a bit, Uncle Roy's order so if you don't mind can I join you."

CJ's mouth was open. What did I say? Then it hit me.

"No! I meant can I share the bed with you or just you know what I'll go nap on the couch downstairs. I'm sorry. Well not really but you want time, or…"

Maureen shook her head, "Smooth Casanova, what else you got?"

CJ pointed Maureen to her room and then took my hand. "I sleep better with you in the bed with me. So sharing a shower, that's gonna have to wait."

I smiled, "Like maybe a month from now?"

We were in the room and she looked at me but didn't answer, she had left her pj's in here from the other night she picked them up and went to the bathroom but hadn't answered me.

She turned around, "No."

Before I answered her, "Maybe two…"

Now it was time to be shocked, she giggled and went in to shower.

Two months couldn't come fast enough in my mind.

"Hey Cowboy no funny stuff tonight now that you two are kind of together, don't pressure my girl. She might be playing it cool but I know CJ she's probably in there over thinking it. In her mind she doesn't think she deserves your love. That she's not like the other girls you dated and she doesn't think she measures up."

"That's ridiculous, she was the person I measured them to subconsciously none of them could compare. I realize that now, yes I know you don't have to say it. I've heard it all today."

"Good but you have your work cut out for you. You almost getting married really did a number on her. She had a good cry about that and we made it a weekend of burying those feelings for you. Remember that Monday you couldn't find her and she was with me yeah that was the lost weekend."

I did remember that Monday, she hadn't called or showed up for work and I had been running late having had to finalize wedding plans with Elizabeth and wanting to have lunch with my best friend since I felt I had been neglecting her spending all my free time with my fiancé. I went to her house and let myself in and didn't find her calling Will and Uncle Roy and finding out neither of them had heard from her, I wasn't going to panic not yet. I called Carol and was informed she was there and wouldn't be coming in due to food poisoning. I decided to stop and get her some of her favorite tea and a clear chicken broth to drop off at Carol's. Little did I know then that I was the cause for this ailment. No amount of tea or broth would cure a broken heart.

"She was going to leave LA, Houston. Move back to Texas not that I wasn't happy that you found love but I was losing both of you. Her to Texas you to your wife that never really warmed up to any of us."

She was right as much as I tried to include Elizabeth she never liked the family gatherings saying that we, me and her were all the family we needed and that she didn't feel comfortable around my friends she'd say, "They are different we have different tastes, I'd rather have a nice glass of wine they are happy with beer and shots, I like the opera they like comedy clubs or line dancing. We don't have any common ground."

I never wanted her to feel that I was choosing my family over her but sometimes it was hard and little by little she pulled me away from them not wanting to start an argument and keeping her happy became my priorities. But, I didn't have to worry about that any longer. We had decided not to marry. It was hard thinking it was what I wanted but thinking about it now I had almost made the biggest mistake in my life and had to thank the powers that be that life decided to throw this curve and put me on the right path. The path to CJ.

"I'll talk to her, Carol, she is and always will be all I will ever need. I will try everyday these next two months to show her this. I promise to be a gentleman, I just want her to get some sleep. It's going to be a heck of a day tomorrow and I know it's killing her that she can't see Jake. Tell you the truth, I miss the little guy. I just hope he cooperates with the staff, he can be a little stinker especially if he doesn't get his dose of CJ. I know the feeling and it's not something I want to give up either. So what's up with you and Luca?"

I smiled and she rolled her eyes, "He's interesting and yes I am interested. I'm not getting my hopes up but he does seem to care and the way he saved my life and kept me safe. Oh and can that man banter, how can you not fall for a guy like that. He gives as much as he takes which is a pleasant surprise, he's not afraid to tell me what's on his mind. No filter and that's refreshing."

I told her about our walk over here with them and how he called her his girl, his future fiancé and wife.

She shook her head, "He's a flirt I can tell he breaks a woman's defenses down and once the novelty wears out he moves on, just like you. I will see how far this goes. I am in it for the ride and hopefully it will be a glorious one. Good night Cowboy."

Before I got to respond she closed the door. I wanted to say not like me but who was I kidding as soon as the rush of something new left I was looking for a way out of the relationship. But not with CJ. Thinking of my old ways I thought when I dated Ashley. I had really screwed the pooch with her and CJ had paid the price then today with her trying to blackmail me into doing what she wanted, well she got what she deserved and I hope we could put that behind us. I sat on the bed and realized I had so much to make up for. What if I couldn't convince her after two months that I was serious, that I was done playing the field and the only one I wanted was her?

"Houston, bathrooms free if you want to shower."

I looked up she had her hair up in a ponytail and was in her PJ's. I got up and went to her, cupped my hands on her face and kissed her.

"What did Carol threaten you with? I swear didn't you tell them to butt out? I will be having another discussion with them and this time I will threaten her on spilling secrets to Luca, I will remind her I know where all the bodies are buried."

I chuckled, "Care to share."

She shook her head, "If I did then I'd have to kill you and I want to keep you around for at least two months."

I gathered her into my arms and placed my chin on top of her head, "I can't believe you are here in my arms and we've put all our cards on the table. I really want this to work. I want us to build something for the future CJ I am willing to let you set the pace. I just don't want to go back to what we had. Okay?"

She pulled back and smiled, "Okay, tonight we are sleeping. I am so tired and I know you are too, I'm sorry for putting you through Hell today. Let's just hope tomorrow will be a better day and thank you again for keeping me safe and being the voice of reason today, oh and for taking care of Star when all this craziness happen the old Houston would have saved me first and wouldn't bother with anything else, and when you said it's what I would want I held back the tears. Thank you."

She kissed me and I was smiling.

"Now go shower, you've had a long day and those clothes look like they've seen better days. I'll be waiting, hopefully I'll be able to stay awake. If not, I'm sorry."

I took her by the hand and pulled down the covers, had her get in bed and I tucked her in and kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep, we have an infinite amount of tomorrows, tonights and todays in our future. I'm not going anywhere darling."

"I'm counting on it, Cowboy."

She turned to her side and got comfortable and I went to take a shower, when I got out and walked into the bedroom it was dark and before I got to my side of the bed I heard a snore. I looked to see the Hound from Hell was on my side of the bed.

"Oh no buddy, you need to get off that bed, I'm not sharing her tonight. Maybe tomorrow but not tonight so mosey along I want to catch some shut eye with my girl."

Beast grumbled and turned his back to me literally putting his body over CJ.

"Beast honey. Please get off me. I can't breathe, you're so heavy, come sleep on the floor over here so Houston and I can get some sleep."

Beast whimpered and CJ pulled him by his collar. He finally moved and did as she asked. I looked over and saw the blanket that had been downstairs and him making himself comfortable.

"I had wrapped Jake around that blanket. He's been using it to sleep. Star told me about that. He misses him too."

I got in bed, pulled her back to my chest and wrapped my arms around her. "We will worry about that tomorrow okay let's get some much needed rest and we will be ready to tackle anything that they throw at us together."

She kissed my chin and turned around and murmured, "Together we can do anything right?"

I kissed her cheek. "Anything."