The Protector (Game of Chance, #1)(23)

“Because.”

“That’s not an answer,” she said, rolling her eyes.

God, she was cute. Although Chappy knew better than to call her that to her face. He wasn’t an expert when it came to relationships, but he’d called a woman cute once in his distant past, and she’d made it very clear that she found the adjective offensive. He wasn’t sure why, maybe she’d had some sort of bad experience. He had a feeling it was probably more her problem than an issue for women in general. But he’d been very careful not to use the word to describe future girlfriends.

“Because you’ve been taking care of me for three days,” he said after a short pause. “You didn’t have to. I didn’t expect you to. But you did. If I thought Baxter would react positively to me, I’d ask you to stay inside and let me feed him. But he’s used to you now, and I don’t want to risk him running off if I go out there by myself.

“But . . . I’m a protector, Carlise. It’s who I am. When my friends and I got out of the army, we didn’t want to go into any kind of profession that involved weapons . . . security or bodyguarding, that sort of thing . . . but it’s in my DNA to try to make sure those around me are protected and cared for. I’m uncomfortable with the fact that you had to tend to my every need these last few days, though I’m so very relieved, grateful, and touched that you did.”

Chappy didn’t know where he was going with all this, but he couldn’t seem to shut up.

“You could hurt your hands on the wood. Get a splinter. Hurt your back because some of those logs are damn heavy. And I don’t like to think of you hurting in any way. It’s not a big deal for me to grab the logs because I’ve been doing it for years. And I chopped all of them in the first place.”

Carlise put a hand on his chest and said, “Okay.”

That finally stopped his word vomiting. “Okay?”

She nodded. “Yes. I’d be stupid to argue with you. I mean, you can probably carry more than I could at one time anyway . . . even though you’ve had a fever for three days. But can you try to take them from the far end of the stack, away from where Baxter’s holed up?”

“Of course. When the wind and snow die down, maybe I can make him a proper doghouse.”

Her eyes got wide. “You’d do that?”

“Absolutely. That dog saved you. He got my attention and made me go out in the storm to see what he was so worked up about. If he hadn’t done that, you might not be here right now. I have a feeling I’d do anything for that dog.”

She smiled.

Chappy stood there in his kitchen, his hand on her neck, her own resting on his chest, and simply absorbed the feelings coursing through him. Feelings he couldn’t recall having often. Contentedness. Gratitude.

A rightness that this was where he was supposed to be. Right here with Carlise.

He didn’t want to move, but Baxter needed to be fed. “I’ll start the rice, if you want to get the rest of the food mixed.”

“Okay.”

Neither moved.

Chappy didn’t want to be the first to break their physical contact, but it had to be done. Reluctantly, he dropped his hand and stepped back, surprised when it felt painful to do so.





Chapter Five


“It’s okay. That’s Riggs. I told you about him. He’s good. Remember? You came and got him so he could find me. It’s his food you’ve been eating and his blankets you’re using. They’re warm, huh?”

Carlise spoke calmly and gently to the dog, who was cowering as far back as he could get in his little hidey-hole. While he seemed scared, she was encouraged by the fact that he hadn’t bolted off the porch. He could’ve. He could’ve backed out of his nest and escaped off the side of the porch. But instead, he kept his huge brown eyes peeled on both her and Riggs.

Speaking of the man, he’d insisted she put on two of his long-sleeved shirts, two pairs of his socks, and his galoshes, as well as her coat, hat, scarf, and gloves. She was so bundled up, she felt like Ralphie’s little brother in the movie A Christmas Story.

Then again, he’d come right out and told her he was a protector. That he was concerned about her well-being, so she wasn’t surprised about the excess of clothing. It had been a long time since anyone had cared about her so much. Her thoughts turned to Tommy, but she immediately cut them off. She didn’t want to think about her ex right now. She was safe, and it had been such a relief not to have to deal with any kind of harassment or stalking for the last few days.

She turned and saw Riggs hunkered down on the balls of his feet by the door to the cabin. He’d grabbed some logs earlier and now was simply hovering behind her, watching.

“We have a surprise for you today,” she told Baxter as she slid the bowl of food closer. “Rice. I think you’re gonna like it. It’ll warm you from the inside out. Although I’m not sure you should get used to this kind of gourmet food. Regular dog food probably has a better balance of nutrients for you. Then again, this probably tastes a lot better. But who knows what you’ve been eating before you found us, huh? It’s okay. You can eat. It’s safe. You’re safe.”

She started to scoot back but was stopped by Riggs’s hand on her back.

“Keep talking to him. He needs to get used to your presence. He’ll eat, just give him a moment,” he said softly.