Captive

Chapter Nineteen

After the crisp air of Canada, the heat of the Texas sun hit her hard as they stepped out of the airport. Though Juliet had been on planes plenty of times she had only ever been to Calgary outside of the UK. The flight had been unusual for her in that usually she travelled alone, spent her time at the airport people watching or reading but this time she was surrounded by the Hart Foundation, all except Jim who had remained behind to tend his bar. Davey had ensured he was sat by her and chatted up a storm which Bret allowed because while she was with Davey some of the anxiety seemed to leave her eyes, she would even occasionally smile. His brother in law was an easy going man and maybe him being English like her helped as well, gave her some comfort to hear his accent, to hear him talk about things that were familiar and spoke of home. She was a little warier of Brian and Owen, finding Owen in particular an enigma as she hadn't spent any time in his company after signing the contract. It was Owen who had seen to a lot of that and she was aware of that fact; she knew he held quite a lot of resentment for what her father had done still and automatically kept her distance from him. Brian she was more at ease with but he wasn't someone she felt overly comfortable with. Bret knew that was deliberate from his friend though. Brian had never allowed himself to get close to Juliet the way Jim or even Davey had because he saw his role as an enforcer first and if ever she ran he would be the one to bring her back. 

Bret observed her with Davey and felt the stirrings of envy in his chest, seeing how relaxed she was around him. He even saw her laugh once at a tale Davey was telling her about some rib he'd performed on Jim one time at Stampede before the older man had retired and taken on the bar. Pushing the jealousy aside he allowed himself to relax a little, to see it for what it was, her enjoying the company of someone who didn't make her feel anxious or wary and he found himself wishing that he was that man. Wishing that he could put that expression on her face again the way he had when they were younger, before he let his unreasonable anger with her due to her father's actions come between them.

He reached across to take her hand as they exited the plane and was relieved when she allowed it, though he noticed she kept her grip on him loose as if she didn't want to be latched onto him for too long. Again he allowed it because at least she wasn't pulling away or flinching at his touch the way she once had. They passed through security without any bother and collected their bags then headed out to the hire vehicle Brian had secured for them. It was a six seater jeep with plenty of room for them all and their bags. Davey climbed into the back of the vehicle though she immediately offered as there was less leg room there but he said he was fine, as Owen took the passenger seat beside Brian who was driving and Bret slid in beside her. She kept her hands folded neatly in her lap and fixed her gaze on the window watching the scenery drift past but she was more relaxed than he had seen her in months and he realised that bringing her away from the house for a time had been a good shout. They were all tired and ready for showers and something to eat when they pulled up at the hotel and Bret suggested they have a couple of hours in their rooms to freshen up and then met up to go for a meal in the hotel restaurant later on.

The concierge came out to take their luggage while they checked in and then they were shown their rooms. Juliet was relieved to see that the room she was sharing with Bret was a suite with a large master bedroom, a small single one and a large living space which included a dining table with six chairs so that they could all eat together if they chose to. He saw the relief on her face when she realised she wouldn't have to share a bedroom with him and accepted it, though it hurt a little. He knew his hurt was unreasonable though. Juliet gave no indication that she felt that way for him any more if ever she had. She kept the barriers between them firm and he was hoping that being here she might start to see him as the boy she had once known instead of the man who had frightened and hurt her.

"Do you want to take a shower first?" he asked. "I need to call the home and see how Dad is doing."

"Thank you," she said, going through to her bedroom to take out a change of clothes. He'd supplied her with shorts, figuring she'd be too hot in jeans all the time but when she emerged from the bathroom she was wearing her usual jeans and long sleeved T-shirt combination, her hands worrying at her wrists. Bret watched her and sighed.