Chapter 11

Natalie

Ilet out a yawn as I shut my textbook, my eyes barely staying open. It's hard to believe it's been three weeks since we came back to Oak Grove. I haven't left the house too much since then, but the times I have I've definitely enjoyed.

I spent an entire day with Maddie, Jesse and their kids, and Jamison was so right when he said Jesse was a beast when it came to family. He was livid when he heard that the cops let Craig off with a warning when he was discovered sitting outside of Jamison's house a few days prior to that. They claimed he wasn't violating the order because he wasn't supposed to be within five hundred feet of me, and since he was in his car outside the gate for Jamison's house, he was clearly further than that.

I really like all of Jamison's family, which is why I've also spent several days at Jake and Annie's with Jaime and Jillian. Jaime's been quizzing me with my Gen Ed stuff, helping me get ready for my make-up exams. God bless Annie for bullying the school into allowing it, while also ordering them to write me an official apology for not protecting me. She threatened them with legal action if they didn't trespass Craig from the campus, and amazingly, they did, which means when I go to take the exams at the end of July, he can't be there to bother me.

Jamison and I spent all of last Saturday with Jasmine, Adam, and their girls. I've really been questioning my decision to wait to have a baby until I finish school, but that's likely because between Faye and Cammie, I've gotten to enjoy some serious baby snuggles.

It was Jasmine that assured me I was making the right choice by waiting. Telling me that if I wasn't a hundred percent certain I'd be happy carrying, having, and raising a baby while dealing with school since I insisted I wanted to finish my degree, then I should wait. I love Jamison's sister, for her honesty, for her love for him, but also for making him the man he is, even more so than his parents, because holy cow, Annie and Jake are awesome.

I can't say I don't like a single one of Jamison's siblings that I've met, which includes all of them except Jennie, well and Jordan in person. Jennie apparently only comes to the mandatory Sunday dinners which we'll have one next week for the June birthdays.

While Jordan's been deep in his press commitments since the Mountaineers won the championship at the beginning of the month. He's supposed to be home sometime at the end of this one or next once all their press stuff finishes. We've talked to him over Skype and FaceTime since we've been home, and he seems happy for Jamison so I don't think there will be any issues with him.

I curl up on the couch, letting my eyes fall shut, and when they open, it's to the sweetest kiss in the world. Jamison's callused hand is cupping my face, and I smile beneath the kiss. "Mmm, now that's the best wake up call ever."

"Get used to it, baby girl. Don't expect me to do anything different when I get home to find you curled up wearing my shirt, napping on the couch with a smile on your lips," he says, making me smile more.

"I was thinking about you," I muse, wrapping an arm around his neck when he settles me over his lap. "Coming home, kissing me, touching me, touching you," I add, undoing the buttons on his shirt to slip my fingers against his skin. I rake a nail over his nipple, pulling a groan from him, as his cock pushes up against my ass.

"You're playing with fire, baby girl," he warns.

I lean in, nibbling on his earlobe, before telling him, "Show me."

A little squeal falls from my lips when he pulls me over his shoulder, carrying me straight up to his room in this magnificent house. There's not a single thing about it I discovered I'd want to change. Every room has custom built cabinets or shelves, and the bathroom…it's absolutely perfect. I had to thank Jasmine for making him put in a huge tub because he was tempted to skip it originally and simply have the shower.

I know I'm not the only one enjoying it now, and I giggle when instead of stopping in the bedroom, Jamison takes us straight to the bathroom. He reaches in, turning on the shower, before setting me onto my feet. His hands skim my shirt off, dropping the shorts as his mouth comes down on my uncovered breast.

He teases it, then the other, before dropping to his knees, parting my thighs. My knees begin to buckle, and I let out another little squeal when he lifts me back up, kicking off his pants and walks us into the water. My thighs rub together so close to the edge that the tiniest push would get me there, and I wrap my hand around Jamison's thickness, whining when he instantly removes it.

"Daddy," I cry putting a smile on his lips, and another whine dies on my lips when he lifts me once more, turning my back to the wall, and fills me with a single thrust. It sends me straight into oblivion, and I linger there, as he continues to pound away after filling me with his first round of sweet, yummy cum.

"I missed you today, angel," he grunts, as my legs squeeze him tighter, my pussy pulsing so ready to come again.

"I missed you too, daddy," I cry, my body arching, attempting to push me towards the end even faster. "Please, make me come, daddy. Let me give it to you."

"Oh my sweet girl, come, come for daddy," he groans, his breathing deepening, and his thumb strums my clit, sending me straight into heaven with him.

I smile as he washes me while I sit on his lap on the huge bench in the shower. It's honestly big enough to lay out on while the two rain showerheads drown you with water. We've spent some lazy time relaxing on it as well as in the tub, and I love them both.

Jamison pulls another of his shirts over my head when we're done, using a towel to mop up the extra water from my hair, before taking us back downstairs cooking us dinner. We've had fajitas almost every week since we've been home, and I smile happily as the heat builds in my mouth.

The smile fades some when his phone goes off, a deep frown forming on his lips, and I wait for him to tell me what's wrong. He doesn't, and I reach out, grabbing his hand. "What was that about?"

"He's back at it," Jamison tells me, and I don't need to ask what he means by that.

Craig hasn't gotten close to me since he discovered I was back in town, but he's spent several nights outside the house here, just staring at it. The few times he's been taken in hasn't done anything. His father's managed to push it to ADA's and judges that uphold their stupid argument that he's not in violation of the restraining order and not trespassing by sitting on public property, even though the only thing on the road out here this far is Jamison's house.

"He can't get in here, you've seen to that, and Doug's overnight team is in the guest house," I state, reminding us both that there's also protection on the other side of his driveway.

The house has six bedrooms, but there's also an in-law suite, guest house, apartment whatever you want to call it that's completely separate from the main house he had built. His reasoning for adding it was in case whoever he married had family—parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, that wanted to come visit. They could use the space without interrupting the household. Or, in case any of his nieces or nephews ever needed somewhere to stay when they were adults, if they were fighting with their parents or with a significant other they lived with, and they didn't want Annie involved.

That'd made me laugh because I can't imagine not wanting Annie involved. She's been amazing to me since we got here. She's become a mom to me, and I seriously don't want to ever lose this family. They've all embraced me, and I hope Nick's as accepting when he learns that we're together.

It seems that Craig's left him alone, so I haven't told him what's been going on, not wanting to drag him into this mess. He's safer outside it.

Jamison holds me the rest of the evening, playing with my hair as I read an actual book, rather than force myself back into my textbooks. He's got a baseball game playing on the TV quietly, and it's the perfect night—well, other than the nagging in the back of my head that Craig won't just disappear and let us be happy.

We spend a lazy morning in bed, getting up around nine to have breakfast, and I can't help but smile when Jamison asks if I want to go to the farmer's market. I don't even hesitate to say yes, beyond excited to get some more peppers. We're completely out after last night and the best Sunday breakfast is breakfast burritos with all the spices to last us the rest of the day until family dinner.

I happily walk through the area with Jamison's arm around me, stopping at our favorite booth. The woman there instantly recognizes us, and she shows me her best green and red peppers, along with the jalapenos, chili, and habaneros that she also has this week.

"I'm going to go to the bathroom really quickly," Jamison says, giving me a soft kiss. "Get whatever you want. I'll be right back. Drew will stay with you. I love you, angel."

"Love you too," I tell him, smiling in return at the woman who just sighs watching him move away from us.

"You picked a good one with that man," Donna says, and I nod as she bags up all the goodies I picked out, including some white onions that looked ten times better than the ones we picked up at the grocery store last week.

Jamison's back before I finish paying, or before I finish using his card to pay. He put me on his account first thing Monday morning when we got back to town, and I admitted I only had a few dollars left after having to get gas. I usually worked back in Johnsonville, either at the salon where Nanci did helping with the front desk, sweeping hair, or whatnot, or else I was waitressing or babysitting to make money to spend outside of campus since my scholarship covered everything there.

We grab some homemade bread and jams then pick up a watermelon, cantaloupe, some honeydew, and strawberries from a few other tables. We drop it all off in the car before making our way towards the food market. I like it better than the regular grocery store, even if some of the prices are a bit higher. Their quality seems much better, especially with their meat.

We move through the door and grab a cart, making our way towards the produce section to grab cilantro and potatoes. I didn't find any rosemary or thyme in the farmer's market, so I know I need them as well. My mind is filling in the rest of the grocery list, but I'm jarred out of it by a huge shout from a voice I know all too well.

"Get your damn ass over here you stupid, cheating bitch!" Craig shouts, and my heart races when I see the gun pointed at us. Jamison steps up in front of me, so Craig can't see me, and he shouts again, making my entire body flare with panic.

More voices fill in with shouts and commands, but all I see is Jamison's back. All I feel beyond the panic is Jamison's hand on my hip, keeping me from moving anywhere, and my hand grips the back of his shirt tight, as I almost drop.

"Put down the gun, son," a new voice orders, penetrating the haze surrounding me as Jamison rubs my hip gently. My eyes slip up to the mirror in the corner, and I see several police officers behind Craig while Drew and three more of Doug's men are in front of him. "If you even think about shooting, you'll find yourself with a bullet of your own."

"You can't fucking touch me! I'll kill her if you try," Craig shouts, and I pray no one in the store is near this.

"You won't ever get near her. Try and I'll put you down," Jamison warns, filling my heart with joy at how strong and sure his tone is, but also absolute fear because I wouldn't put anything past Craig now. Not if he's still holding a gun when there are cops everywhere.

"Get over here, Natalie, unless you want him dead at your feet," Craig demands, making my heart stutter.

"She's not going anywhere with you. You can back off, right now. You know you're not allowed within five hundred feet of her and right now, you're less than ten away from me," Jamison reminds him, and he lets out a shout that makes me shake.

"Then I'll just kill you and take her!" he rages, and a cry slips from my throat when a gun goes off. It's followed quickly by a second shot, but I can't begin to look up as Jamison falters, falling backwards a bit, and a scream rips free from me.

My feet tangle up beneath me, and I start to go down. I don't hit the ground as Drew's hands catch me, and all my attention is on Jamison, my hands flying to his chest, tears streaming down my face as he groans.

"Shh, it's okay, baby girl," he says, his hands cupping my face and I look up finding his eyes on me. There's a bit of pain in them, but nowhere close to what I'd expect after getting shot.

"You good there, Jamison?" a man asks. The voice the same one that told Craig to put down the gun earlier, warned him that if he shot, he'd be shot in return.

"I'm okay, good's another story," Jamison says, and my eyes fly up to his, my hands still pressed against his chest. There's only that hint of pain still and it hits me that his chest feels different.

"Get her out of here and you need to be checked out by a medic. Vests might stop the bullet, but they can still do some damage," the other man states and the air leaves my chest realizing why Jamison's chest didn't feel right now.

"Come on, baby girl, let's go," Jamison says, and we follow Detective Taylor out of the space, towards a waiting ambulance.

"Is she okay?" a woman asks, and my head spins a bit as Jamison's hands guide me down to sit.

"Shock most likely," Detective Taylor answers, as buzzing fills my ears.

Nothing really makes sense until we're at Jamison's, the smells familiar, and I finally stop shaking as he wraps me up in a tight hold. Tears fall hard and fast, and I wrap myself around him, never wanting to lose this, lose him.

"Shh, I'm sorry, baby," Jamison says sometime later, his fingers brushing the tears away from my eyes, and I see so much more knowledge in his eyes than I have, and it worries me.

"What happened?" I ask, groaning when his phone goes off, followed by mine.

His is his parents and he assures them we're fine, while I debate the sanity of answering my brother right now. It seems the shooting was on the news, and I let out a sigh, certain Nick's put the name together with my boyfriend of the same name, even if he never saw Craig from what I'm aware of.

Jamison gets off the phone with his parents, then answers Jasmine's call, assuring her we're both safe as well, while Nick tries calling me again. He drops a kiss on my lips, then calls Nick, suggesting he come by for some burgers he"s grilling, and my stomach tightens with worry hearing him say yes.

"Stop worrying baby girl. I'll handle this," he promises, before getting things ready for the grill.

I feel gross after everything that happened, and go upstairs, taking a long shower. I wish Jamison had joined me but when I get downstairs to find him calming my brother down, I understand why he didn't.

"Natalie!" Nick shouts, coming over to me with a tight hug. "What the hell happened? It's one thing not telling me that you hooked up with my friend, it's another to not tell me your ex-boyfriend was stalking you!"

"I told him how we met, baby," Jamison says, pulling a strangled sound from Nick's throat and it makes me smile. It grows further when Jamison wraps me up in his arms, holding me tightly as the front door opens.

"Let me have some," Annie says, giving me a hug after she gives Jamison one that brings tears to my eyes.

"I'm glad you're okay, but what were you thinking?" Jasmine demands of her brother. "You could have been killed."

"Which is why I was wearing the vest," Jamison says, pulling me onto his lap as we settle in, Jamison introducing Nick to the others as he continues to stare at us.

"I don't understand why you did it either," I tell him, shaking my head his way. "If you knew he was there, if Doug's guys knew, why risk the confrontation and not just have us come home?" I question, pulling another sound from my brother at calling Jamison's place home.

"Last night, Doug's message was more than that he was outside watching," Jamison says, shocking me that he held something back.

He glances at Adam, motioning to Cleo with a shake of his head, and my heart races with worry. Adam suggests that Cleo take Daisy to get the cup of water she asked for, and when she's out of earshot, Jamison adds, "Doug had his men watching Craig. He bought what they could only describe as a kidnapping kit, including chloroform. Add in that they discovered the body of another girl he'd dated that went missing…"

"What?!" Nick shouts as my breath stalls.

"In their tracking of him, they discovered a spot that he went quite regularly. Digging into his background they learnt one of his ex-girlfriends had gone missing. She'd filed a restraining order against him in her hometown, so the police there thought he was behind the disappearance. Detective Taylor found the remains out there yesterday afternoon, they confirmed it was her with dental records this morning. He and his father were going to be brought in for questioning about it, but we were worried that he'd do something reckless before the judge would approve the warrant. Because of his father's position with the department, they felt it best to get the DA to sign off on everything and get the arrest warrant for Craig, so his father couldn't step in and help, muddy the water by planting new evidence, or messing with the evidence they already had. He'd be put on leave until he was either cleared or charged after Craig's arrest.

"When Russ spotted him trailing us at the market, we knew he'd either discovered the body was found, or he'd snapped," Jamison adds, making my breath stall. "Either way, we'd likely find him coming after us. So, I put on the vest, and we called the cops. Doug's guys cleared out the market before we went inside, and Chief Davidson knew if it came down to it, he'd be the one that would have to take the shot. Anyone else and HQ would be all over it."

"Why didn't you tell me what was going on?" I demand, shaking again at the thought of losing him, let alone the idea of Craig putting his nasty hands on me, taking me from Jamison.

"I was worried you'd have a panic attack if you knew what he was plotting if he showed, and I needed you safe. I didn't tell you about the vest because if you knew I was wearing it and somehow you weren't behind me, if you weren't as worried because of it, he'd take a shot at you instead of me," Jamison admits, and I curl up in his arms further needing his hold more than anything else right now.

"We're glad you're safe," Adam says getting up, patting Jamison's shoulder. "I'll go check the grill since it smells like you've got something on it and check on the girls."

"Thanks," Jamison tells him, and Jake follows with Faye, leaving me, Jamison, Annie and Jasmine with Nick.

"I still don't get why you didn't tell me, Natalie," Nick says, shaking his head at us. "If I'd known he was stalking you…"

"You'd have gone after him and he probably would have killed you to get you out of the way," I finish for him, and he lets out a low sigh unable to argue that much.

"And this thing between you two?" Nick asks, giving Jamison a little glare as his hand rests on my thigh, bare beneath my shorts.

"Is real, I'm all in," Jamison states, making me smile. "I love her entirely and always will. I'll always keep her safe. You know me, Nick. I don't play with girls. Not with their emotions or their bodies."

"You'd better not, or you'll deal with me," Nick threatens, and I relax further into Jamison's arms, smiling as he presses kisses to my temple.

"So when are you two going to make it official and get married?" Jasmine asks, pulling a little hint of a snort from Nick.

"Well, since pretty much everyone we'd likely invite is family, we figured we'd just do something small, simple," Jamison says pulling a huff from Annie.

"If you're telling me you took her to the courthouse like yours brothers did…"

"No Mom, you didn't miss the wedding and we weren't thinking of doing it at the courthouse," Jamison assures her with a laugh. "We were hoping to do it at the house, say…August first."

"Oh my god, you already proposed?" Jasmine asks excitedly looking between us.

"It was more of a gentle ask if I'd given any more thought to marrying him Tuesday night," I admit, smiling when Jasmine hugs us both. "I didn't want Craig getting in the way of living my life, and suggested we just do something small, quiet before I went back to school this year. It'll be after my final repeats, but before the new semester begins."

"Sounds perfect," Annie says, and a little over a month later, it definitely felt that way as I got dressed.

"Oh my gosh, you look beautiful," Nanci says, giving me a big hug. "You look so much like Mom."

"Thankfully Jamison's nothing like Dad though," I state, relieved to finally have the truth out of my siblings about our parents' relationship. To know that it really wasn't as loving as I'd glorified it to be all those years.

"Absolutely," she agrees, laughing softly, because I swear, she's a little in love with my soon-to-be husband. She loves Mike with all her heart, but she's definitely in awe of Jamison and the family I get to be part of.

"Dang girl, are you wearing a push up or did that boy knock you up despite those pills you're taking?" Greg asks as he comes back in to finish helping me get ready. He did my makeup, and it looks absolutely incredible.

"It's a padded top," I tell the group, shaking my head. "We've decided to wait until after I graduate to have a baby. Spend a little time just the two of us with work and school to deal with on a daily basis."

"That's smart," Nanci says, giving me a hug. "I know you'll be an amazing mom, but there's no rush. I know Jamison has plenty of money to take care of you if you did have one, but you should live your life first, so you don't regret anything."

"True," Jasmine agrees. "So I think it's time to get you to take the next step and marry my brother, don't you?"

"Well, first I have something for you all," I tell them with a huge grin, grabbing the bags with the little things, taking them over to where the bigger box sits. "These are from Jamison and me, so no arguing, okay?"

"Ooohh, what's this?" Jillian asks, before opening the box with the jewelry set she was sighing over when we were looking at dress ideas last month. "No way, I love it, Nat."

"This one is for Jasmine," I tell her, and she laughs seeing the coupon booklet we made up for babysitting the girls.

"This is absolutely the best thing ever and I will definitely be using it," Jasmine warns.

"That was the idea," I tease her before motioning to the box. "Jaime, this one is yours. It's a little heavy."

"No way, oh, they're perfect," Jaime gushes when she opens the brand-new box set special edition of her favorite series. "I can't wait to read them all over again now."

"I couldn't forget my sister," I tell Nanci, letting her open the envelope that was in her bag. Her eyes widen and I laugh when she just stares at me in shock. "For your salon you want to open. Jamison and company also said that any maintenance needs are covered for life so don't be stingy."

"Are you kidding me? This is way too much, Natalie," Nanci says, shaking her head as her hand shakes.

"It was Jamison's way of saying thanks for letting me stay with you and Mike and also showing me that being in love doesn't require massive displays or fighting to be true. So, you're going to take that building and finally open your own place. Get away from that manager you hate and be your own boss."

"And if you need any help with the bookkeeping and such, I know a great company to use," Jasmine tells her, giving her a hug as well.

"I don't even know what to say," Nanci states, and I hug her again before giving Greg a smile.

"What's that grin about? You didn't have to get me anything, honey," Greg says, and I smile deeper as Annie comes over with the last bag.

"Well, this one is from me and Momma Annie," I tell him, handing him the bag. He takes out the papers, looking at them in confusion and I add, "This is the transfer of the Cartwright Endowment for Early Childhood Education from me to you."

"Natalie told us that you were the only one that stayed by her side when everything happened at school and that you've been working on your degree for five years but still have three semesters to go," Annie says pulling a nod from him. "Since it's our endowment and Jamison is covering Natalie's schooling costs, rather than not have someone utilize the award, we're giving it to you along with funding your continuing pursuit of your master's degree in psychology as well."

"Are you kidding me? You're seriously giving me…seriously?" Greg splutters and I hug him with a nod.

"Seriously, and so you're aware, it means room and board so no more living with five roommates and working all the time, all textbooks, and a car," I add, handing over the set of keys for the new one that we chose last weekend.

"Okay, there is no way I'm letting you walk away from that man now, so let's get you moving up that aisle, honey," Greg states and I don't argue in the least.

I'm marrying the most amazing man ever and gaining an incredible family. I thought if I could just get Craig out of my life things would be good. No way did I ever expect any of this…not in a million years.