The Protector (Game of Chance, #1)(27)

“People change,” Riggs said.

Carlise loved how rumbly and deep his voice was. With her cheek on his chest, she could feel his words reverberating throughout her body. “Yeah. She’s still my best friend, and I don’t know what I would’ve done without her these last couple of months.”

Riggs stiffened under her slightly. “Does she know where you are?”

“No. I called my mom before I left Cleveland. Told her I needed to get away for a while, but I didn’t think it was safe to tell anyone else, even my best friend. I was afraid if she knew, she’d demand to come with me. And normally, I’d love a road trip with her. She’s a lot of fun. But I just needed to get away from everything that’s been going on for a while. I was going to call her once I was settled somewhere and safe.”

“I can tell you’re half-asleep. So I’m going to ask you what everything and safe refers to later,” Riggs warned.

Carlise was too comfortable, too warm, too sleepy to protest. “Okay.”

“You need to call either of them to reassure them you’re good? You’ve been here a few days.”

Carlise shook her head. “My phone’s probably dead. And I’m guessing there’s no cell service up here.”

“There isn’t. But I have my satellite phone. And we can charge your phone if you need to look up their numbers.”

“That’s right. I already forgot that JJ called you.”

“He feels bad for jumping down your throat.”

Carlise shrugged. “He was worried about you. I can’t be upset about that.”

“Well, when you want to call either Susie or your mom, just let me know and we’ll get that done.”

“Thanks.”

“What about your job?” Riggs asked.

Carlise’s head felt fuzzy. She was so damn tired. “What about it?”

“You need to call your boss or anything? I don’t know a damn thing about translating books.”

“I’m my own boss,” she said. “I can work from anywhere. Now that I know you have electricity and I can charge my laptop, I should probably get some work done.”

“I’ll go out soon and fire up the generator so you can make sure your phone and laptop are charged. It’ll also be good to shower.”

Carlise perked up at that. “Shower?”

Riggs chuckled. “Yeah, with the generator running, we can have hot water.”

“Oh, that sounds like heaven.”

“You saying I stink?” Riggs joked.

In response, Carlise turned her head and inhaled deeply. He smelled like smoke and man, with a hint of laundry detergent. “No,” she said with a small sigh.

She thought she felt Riggs sniff her hair, but she had to be mistaken. “You’re tired,” he said after a moment. “You should sleep.”

Carlise yawned. “But it’s not even noon yet.”

“So? You’ve had a hard few days.”

“So have you.”

“We can both nap then.”

“Okay.” Carlise started to get up, but Riggs’s arms tightened around her.

“Stay. I’m comfortable,” he said.

Carlise leaned her head back and looked up at him. “I’m not too heavy?”

“No.”

“We’re strangers.”

“No we aren’t,” he said without hesitation. “You do not feel like a stranger to me. Not in any way, shape, or form. But if I’m making you uncomfortable . . .” His voice trailed off.

Carlise immediately shook her head. “No. You feel good. Warm.”

“I remember this,” he said quietly, after she’d put her head back down on his chest.

“What?”

“Holding you. It feels familiar. Right.”

He wasn’t wrong. Carlise sighed again in contentment.

Susie would tell her she was acting way too impulsively and would warn her to be careful, not to let her heart overpower her head. Her mom would probably sigh wistfully and say it was a sign that she and Riggs were meant to be. The truth was probably somewhere between the two opinions.

But at the moment, Carlise couldn’t muster up the energy to think on it further. To suggest that Riggs should nap on his bed while she took the couch. She felt too comfortable right where she was. So she threw caution to the wind and snuggled even closer to the man under her. His arms tightened for a moment, and she felt him lift the blanket she’d been using over her shoulders, covering both of them.

“Sleep, Carlise.”

She could’ve sworn she felt him kiss her temple, but she had to be imagining the tender touch. Before she could dwell on it, her eyes closed, and she was out.





Chapter Six


Chappy puttered around the kitchen, preparing a hearty dinner for himself and his guest. He’d browned some ground beef, added taco seasoning and Ro-Tel tomatoes, and had just dumped some noodles into a second pot. The cheesy taco noodle dish was a favorite of his, and he was sure Carlise would enjoy the warm meal. He hated that she’d been eating PB&J sandwiches for three days, but her no-nonsense attitude about the situation she’d found herself in only increased his admiration for her.

She was still sleeping soundly on his couch. Her blonde hair was in disarray, and she looked exhausted. He’d woken up about an hour after they’d dozed off and couldn’t get back to sleep. He’d been resting for three days, and his body was telling him it was more than enough. So he’d slipped out from under her . . . then simply watched her for an embarrassingly long time.