Chapter 10

Jamison

Iglance at my phone as it rings Friday afternoon. I don't really want to answer it, for anything to interrupt Natalie and me right now. It's been the most amazing day and a half. The time up to Wednesday night was incredible but having held Natalie's naked body next to mine for the last two nights, the majority of the last day and half…nothing could top that.

Last thing I want is the real world interrupting this cocoon we've been living in since then, but there are a few things that would have to take precedence over staying in bed with Natalie all day. The most urgent would be if Craig discovered where we are.

I answer seeing Jasmine's name on the screen, hoping everything's okay. If Craig went after her to try and get to Natalie, I'll kill the bastard.

"Hey Jas, what's up?" I ask as Natalie lifts her head off my chest, her eyes meeting mine with a bit of worry. I drop a kiss onto her forehead, smiling as her eyes glaze over with desire in return.

"I just wanted to let you know that Carly's at the hospital," my sister says, and I smile more, while also chuckling a bit.

"Johnnie losing his shit yet?" I ask.

"Carly sounded like he was on edge when we talked. I'm at home with the girls until Adam can get here, but I thought I'd run by to make sure they're okay. Julie and Serena were on list for today to help with the kids if she went into labor, so they're at their house and Mom's at the hospital with them."

"Thanks for letting me know, I'll try to get home tonight, tomorrow at the latest," I tell her, before hanging up to let Natalie know.

"Carly's at the hospital," she says before I can say a word and I nod. "You want to go by to see them?"

"Check up on them and meet the newest member of the family," I tell her, stroking her cheek gently as a dozen emotions slip through her eyes. "I know we'd talked about me being here until Sunday afternoon since I have to be at work on Monday."

"But it's your family and they're important to you. I get it, really," Natalie says giving me a grin. "I'm sure if it were me, Nick and Nanci would want to come see us. I just…I'm going to miss you."

"Miss me? Why?" I state staring at her in shock.

"Because you'll be in Oak Grove, and I'll be…"

"There with me," I tell her, making her eyes widen in surprise. "Did you think I meant for you to stay here Sunday when I headed back?"

"Well, I…I don't know," she admits, her eyes full of hope that completely wrecks me to think she ever imagined I didn't want her next to me for one single moment.

"With me, baby girl. Where I go, you go and where you go, I go—for the most part. I'm not going to drag you to some of the jobs out of town since my only goal there is to get done as soon as possible to get home," I add, making her grin a bit. "As soon as we hit town, Doug's men will meet up with us, so I know you're safe. They'll be posted outside the house so you can relax there as easily as you can here, I promise, baby. He won't get near you again."

"You really want me there with you?" she asks, and I can't stop the laugh that falls, which only makes her eyes widen in surprise once more.

"I want you with me always, baby. Even if I just hold you at night that way I did the last week and a half, I want you in bed next to me. I'd never get any work done if you stayed out here. I'd be back in a heartbeat to make sure you were safe. I want you to meet my family as well. If you're not ready to do that today, I'll drop you at the house then go by the hospital, but I'd hoped to bring you to family dinner with me on Sunday," I explain, relaxing when she gives me a full smile and kiss that I really want to take further. I don't because I need to get her stuff packed up, so we don't leave the cabin a mess.

I packed my tools away Wednesday once the countertops were in, the stain on the butcherblock the perfect match to the countertop Nick chose, and there was nothing left to do. I packed up my dirty clothes, the pans the food Mom and Jackie sent were disposable ones, so they're all in the trash which I'll take with us when we leave as well. Which leaves the rest of my stuff and Natalie's to get together.

One of her bags is mostly dirty clothes so that one's easy enough to deal with, and I let her pack up the other and the bathroom stuff, while I put all of the remaining cold food items in the cooler, and make sure the living room is picked up.

Natalie looks gorgeous in a pair of lace shorts with a thin long-sleeve button-up shirt. The top is a soft blue that makes her hair dazzle as she looks herself up and down in question. "Is this alright? Too much?"

"You look incredible, baby. You could wear sweats and I'd still think so, and my family wouldn't care as long as you look at me the way you do. I called Doug while putting the last of our things into the truck. I don't want you driving yourself back just in case Craig's around," I explain when her eyes widen in shock my way. "He'll send a couple of his guys up here tomorrow or Monday to pick it up, bring it to town. He'll have his guys meet us at the gas station on Route 5, if you just want to go to my place, they'll follow us there."

"I…I'd like to go with you if you're sure," she says and I drop a kiss onto her lips, showing her how sure I am about it.

"In that case, they'll meet us there with my SUV, take the truck back to my house and put the cold stuff up, while we head to the hospital then," I suggest and she nods, settling in with me with ease, after putting the hide-a-key away telling me how she got into the cabin since I have Nick's keys.

"Do you want to listen to music or something?" Natalie asks once we're back on the main road, her book on her lap. "I was going to read but I don't have to."

"If you want music on that's fine, and you can read if you want. I enjoy having you next to me any way I can get it, so you do whatever makes you happiest while in the car, okay?"

"Whatever?" she teases, a twinkle in her eyes and I stifle a groan dropping a quick kiss onto her lips.

"Within reason I suppose so that'd mean, no riding around naked. No getting yourself off while making me watch unable to touch you. No trying to get me off because I won't risk your safety just to come. No telling other guys you love them. And no sitting with your feet up on the dash, risking your pretty legs and the rest of you if there's an accident," I state, letting out a little grunt when she undoes her seatbelt.

"Hold on," she says with a laugh, moving to the spot next to me, before buckling the belt there calming me. "I never go anywhere without a seatbelt on. My mom wasn't wearing one and was ejected when they crashed. My brother and sister wouldn't let me see her after Nick lost it when he had to confirm their identities," she adds, hurting my heart for what she's been through.

"I'm sorry, baby. I'm sure they were just trying to protect you," I state, and she nods, resting her head against my shoulder and I slip an arm around her, glad the drive is fairly straight from here to home. It's the complete opposite of the drive up to the cabin that Dad built for Mom. It's in the mountains and that drive I'd need two hands for. I definitely like this one better.

I smile when instead of reading, Natalie just rests against me, her eyes closing after ten minutes, and I don't wake her until we're pulling into the gas station. Her eyes widen in surprise, and I give her a soft kiss, getting her out on my side of the truck to meet Doug.

"That's definitely the Cartwright look there," Doug says, shaking my hand before looking to Natalie with a gentle smile. "I'm glad that Jamison found you, Natalie, and trust me, we're going to keep you safe—both of you."

"Thank you," she says, relaxing a hint after Doug assures her he meant both of us. "I'm going to follow you to the hospital with Drew, he'll be your primary," he adds motioning towards the hulking giant standing next to a car.

He's likely taller than even Jordan, who's six-six, and has to outweigh me by a hundred pounds. My neck tenses thinking of him anywhere near my girl, because she's mine and I don't want anyone that close to her except me.

"He's a big teddy bear," Doug says giving Natalie another smile as she looks as uncomfortable with it as I am. "He's also married to a gorgeous brunette that's six-one herself, if that makes it easier on you, Jamison."

"Definitely," I admit, dropping a kiss onto Natalie's lips. "I want you safe more than anything else, so I'll deal with it."

"Okay," she agrees, giving me a nod, and I let Stuart take my truck while I move Natalie to my SUV.

At the hospital, Drew follows us inside while Doug stays in the lobby, wanting us to get used to the other man being there. The nurses at the desk on the maternity ward aren't shocked by me bringing Drew with us. They're well aware of our family's wealth and understanding that we may need protection with us. As long as it doesn't disturb their work, they don't really care how many of us show up. That might be thanks to the fact that it is the Cartwright Maternity Ward as well though.

We move through the doors into the waiting room, and I slip my hand onto Natalie's waist, when several eyes immediately turn our way in shock. I give my dad a nod, while Jaime and Jillian both let out little gasps, but it's Jasmine's response I zero in on with relief as she smiles from ear to ear.

"So did you really go to Nick's cabin to build him cabinets or did you just want to get away with your girlfriend that you conveniently didn't tell your twin sister anything about?" she teases, her smile keeping Natalie from running it seems, as she lets out a little giggle.

"If I recall correctly, you didn't tell me anything about you and Adam until you were ready to say yes to marrying the man," I return. "I didn't leave town with Natalie or to intentionally meet her. She happened to be staying at her brother's cabin to keep her ex from finding her, and I just happened to be headed there to do some work for him while taking a vacation from the office."

"Wait, oh my god, you're Nick's sister?" Jasmine asks Natalie and she nods, her smile growing even deeper as she laughs softly. "Leave it to the brother that was so adamant that guys not date his sister to fall for his friend's little sister. I swear, all you guys are exactly like Dad."

"I couldn't help it," I state knowing what she means, because hell, Dad met Mom thanks to Uncle Aaron bringing her to his house when he needed to drop some stuff off to Dad. Uncle Aaron worked for Dad, was a friend as well, and Dad fell for his little sister in a heartbeat. Just like I fell for Natalie.

I glance down at Natalie, enjoying the flush that hits her cheeks as I add, "I walked into the place and first thing I saw was her gorgeousness coming out of the bathroom. Once I knew she was twenty, it didn't make me feel like an ass to want her instantly. When I found out why she was there, I just wanted to keep her safe from her ex."

"Safe from the ex how?" Jesse says, surprising me as he comes in behind us. "I saw Doug downstairs, I take it you're the reason he and Drew are here?"

"Yeah, he's been stalking and threatening Natalie since they broke up in February. His father's some bigshot at police headquarters so the cops didn't want to help her out. We got a restraining order filed and they're digging into his past to find anything that might keep him away from Nat. She's coming home with me and will have Drew and others with her if she wants to go out anywhere," I explain before making the introductions to the group there, as Jesse hands over a car seat to Dad.

"It's nice to meet you, Natalie," Jesse says, giving her a smile while patting my shoulder. "We've got you covered now. If you ever get tired of being at Jamison's all day, let us know. I'll be home with Maddie for the next few weeks anyway."

That sends my brow upward in surprise, putting a smirk onto Jesse's face as he adds, "She's pregnant."

"What?" Jaime and Jillian half-shout together as Mom comes into the space hushing them.

"Shh, my goodness what's with the yelling in here? Did Johnnie already text Cammie's photo?" Mom asks, before turning my way, her eyes widening in shock seeing Natalie with me. "Natalie?!"

"Wait, you know her?" Jillian asks, looking from us to Mom and back again as Jesse chuckles a bit when Mom comes to wrap us up in a hug.

"Oh, I'm so glad to know you're okay, sweetheart. Jake and I have been trying to get in touch with you for the last week to make sure you were safe," Mom says, looking to me curiously. "Where on earth did you find her?"

"I don't mean to interrupt, but I need to get home to Maddie," Jesse says, stopping me from answering just yet. "You'll have another grandbaby in about seven months."

"And you brought the car seat Johnnie forgot," Mom says, cupping his cheeks with a huge smile at him. "Alright, go on, we'll see you all Sunday, yes?"

"We'll do our best to make it. Maddie's had an episode already, so Dr. Miller suggested she take iron injections. I'm staying home with her mostly to make sure she does okay with them," Jesse explains, and I give him a nod so he can head home after he pokes his head in to see Johnnie and Carly.

Jasmine slips back to sit with Carly with him and Johnnie joins us, getting hugs all around before grabbing up the car seat with a smile our way. "You'll have to bring your girl back to meet Carly before you go home. Hopefully we'll be out of here tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Natalie says in surprise.

"Mom will be at the house with us, there's plenty of aunts and uncle to help out as well, and Carly prefers to be at home in her own bed if the baby's doing well. I don't argue over that part as long as she doesn't argue about making sure we're at the hospital for the birth," Johnnie explains before he heads back towards their room.

"Sorry, I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Jamison has a girl with him, let alone one that you know Mom," Jillian says pulling Mom's attention back towards us.

"What's going on?" Jaime adds as I sit down, pulling Natalie onto my lap. "Does it have to do with the ex and Mr. Jumbo over there?"

"This is Drew, he works for Doug, and will be Natalie's primary security until her ex is dealt with," I tell Mom.

"Good, we were trying to get the school to release the incident reports to us when we couldn't find Natalie this last week," Mom states, surprising all of the girls, Natalie included.

"Why?" Natalie asks her, looking at Dad, then back to Mom when he drops a kiss onto Mom's temple, a hint of a smile on her her lips seeing the gentle affection between them.

"We received a letter from the school Monday, saying you were being suspended due to poor academic achievement this semester. We'd seen copies of your grades, and it didn't seem at all possible that you would fail your last semester of general education courses when you'd excelled in all of them since you started at Presley last year," Mom explains, surprising both my sisters it seems. "We went down there and when they showed us the file, I was livid that they didn't do anything to stop the harassment. The fact that it was happening on their campus should have had them doing more to protect you. When we learnt you hadn't been seen since Thursday the week before, we tried to reach out to you, to make sure you were okay, as well as assure you that you weren't going to be suspended no matter what type of letter you may have been sent. That we arranged for you to retake your finals when the summer courses have them. We wanted to make sure you knew that we'd do whatever necessary to give you time to review and prepare for them without being interrupted or harassed."

"We were ready to call Doug when all our calls went to voicemail this past week," Dad adds, squeezing Mom's shoulder gently calming her fury. "We were hesitant to leave a message in case the guy harassing you could get to it and hoped that one of the emails we'd sent would be responded to, so we could get you somewhere safe if you weren't."

"Natalie is Nick's little sister," I tell them, putting a smile on Mom's lips, her eyes twinkling as understanding hits her. "She left early Friday morning before everyone woke to get out of town unnoticed and was at the cabin all weekend alone until I got there Monday afternoon. I got in touch with Doug that night after she told me what was happening, that the police wouldn't listen to her because his father is Lieutenant Commander of the police department.

"Chief Davidson sent one of his detectives out to the cabin to get her signature on some paperwork and Kayla came with him, then went to the courthouse to represent her regarding a restraining order. We finished the cabinets Wednesday and spent the last two days relaxing, getting to know each other better before I needed to get back for work on Monday. I hoped to bring Natalie to dinner with me Sunday, introduce her to everyone then. Explain the situation with her scholarship and the school if they'd done anything about her grades."

"Good, you keep her safe and leave Presley to me and your father. They won't like what I have to say to them if they refused to do anything about that boy simply because of his father," Mom states and I can't help but smile, knowing her wrath is worse than anything you might see when it comes to her babies, and as of now, Natalie most certainly is hers because she's all mine.