A Warrior Wedding (The Protectors #7)(48)

Greeting a few people, she made her way to the food, but spotted Steve near the cake. “Don’t you dare,” she scolded, watching as he discreetly lifted a finger toward the beautiful three-tiered cake.

“I know.” Steve spun around, his eyes wide with guilt. “It’s a sickness. I crave icing so badly, have since I was little and can’t keep from doing one swipe of the finger so I can taste it.”

Caroline really tried not to smile at his confession. In truth, she was the exact same way and wanted more than anything to do just that. “Step away from the cake, Steve.” She used the cop voice she had heard Lana use.

Steve raised his hands in the air, stepping away from the cake, then smiled before turning toward the food table.

Caroline laughed, but her eyes went to the cake, her fingers itching to take a swipe. “Don’t do it.” She told herself, forcing her feet to move away.

“So what are you doing after this eating thing?” Hunter asked one of the pretty caterers, holding up the line.

Caroline knew the poor girl was a goner when she stared at Hunter in awed fascination. Stepping up beside Hunter, Caroline grabbed a plate. She knew she was cutting, but she had the job of saving this poor girl from the big bad wolf. “Hey.”

Hunter growled at his flirting being interrupted. “Hey.”

Caroline placed three meatballs on her plate as she nodded toward the female bartender across the clearing. “She wanted me to let you know she’s off duty in a couple of hours and to meet her on the trail.”

Hunter fully turned to Caroline, a ‘that was so not cool’ expression on his face. “Really.”

Caroline knew he wasn’t asking a question, but she pretended he had. “Yeah, really.” She nodded with wide-eyed innocence.

They both glanced at the pretty caterer whose furious glare indicated she was no longer interested. Hunter huffed, moving down the line and Caroline followed, putting a few more tasty treats on her plate. When they were away from the table, Hunter gave her a hurt look.

“That was mean.” He plopped a meatball in his mouth.

“You were holding up the line and that girl was too innocent for you.” Caroline raised her eyebrow at him.

Hunter chewed thoughtfully for a minute before glancing at the bartender. “So did you really talk to the bartender?”

“Seriously, Hunter?!” Caroline’s head snapped back as she walked away from him. “You are too much.”

“That’s what they all say,” Hunter called after her, plopping another meatball in his mouth, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

Shaking her head, Caroline swiped a beer from the bartender then headed for one of the tables further back in the clearing. Sitting down, she toed off her high heels with a relieved sigh of pleasure. As she ate, she watched everyone and was pleased to see no problems. Sid and Lana were on the dance floor slow dancing. She could practically feel the heat from where she was sitting. They made a beautiful couple. They all made beautiful couples. Her eyes landed on Blaze who was talking with a pretty red head. Caroline really didn’t know Katrina very well, but she seemed sweet.

Taking a long swig of beer, Caroline leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes for a few seconds, wiggling her bare toes in the cool grass. She was wiped out.

“Care to dance?”

Caroline knew by the voice it wasn’t the man she really wanted to dance with, but she smiled and opened her eyes. “So the great and powerful Sloan dances?”

“I’ve been known to tear up a dance floor or two.” He grinned, holding out his hand.

She took another drink of beer before letting him pull her from the chair. “Oh, I bet you have.”

******

Jax stood in the shadows watching Sloan approach Caroline and then lead her out to dance. The low growl building in his chest escaped when Sloan pulled her close saying something that made Caroline laugh.

“I think it would be really bad for you to kill your boss.” Hunter had appeared at his side, a beer in one hand and a shot glass in the other. “Here, you need this more than me.”

Looking down at the shot, Jax grabbed it and downed it in a second flat. “Thanks.”

“Welcome.” Hunter gave a short nod. “Yeah, your sweet little Caroline pretty much ruined my night.”

Jax looked away from Caroline for a split second. “How so?”

Hunter told Jax what Caroline had done, all the while a small grin of respect curved his lips. “So now all the pretty ladies here think I’m a player.”

“Aren’t you?” Jax raised an eyebrow.

“Ah, yeah.” Hunter snorted. “But it was a secret until your girl blabbed.”

“Caroline is not my girl.” Jax wished he had another shot of whiskey.

“They have a history?” Hunter pointed his beer toward Sloan and Caroline.

“No,” he answered, but then realized he wasn’t really sure.

“Then you better make a move my friend, before they do.” Hunter gave him a parting look before walking off.

“You’re still on the job,” Jax called out after him. “You need to worry about that instead of playing matchmaker.”

Hunter just threw up his hand in a wave, indicating he heard him loud and clear.

“Asshole,” Jax grumbled, his eyes focused back on Caroline who was walking back to her table, alone. Jax headed her way. He’d be damned if he left without dancing with her at least once.