The Protector (Game of Chance, #1)(40)

Without thought, Carlise did as he asked.

“Stay here. Keep your hand on this tree. And no peeking, no matter what you hear. Okay?”

She was getting more and more intrigued. They’d been walking through the woods, and everything around her looked the same. She wasn’t sure how Riggs knew where they were going, but he was obviously in his element out here. She had no doubt in his navigation skills.

“Okay,” she belatedly reassured him.

He left her side, and it was actually harder than she thought it would be to keep her eyes shut. The second he stepped away, it felt as if she was alone out here in the wilderness. She could hear his subtle sounds nearby, but it somehow wasn’t enough.

“Riggs?” she called out, hating that her voice wobbled.

She heard his footsteps as he came closer.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

The second his gloved hands touched her face, Carlise relaxed. And immediately felt stupid. “Sorry. It’s nothing.”

“Look at me,” he ordered.

She opened her eyes. He’d tilted her head up so when her lids lifted, all she saw was him.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

“I just . . . got worried for a second.”

“About what?”

“That you’d leave me here. That you might think it was funny to play a joke or something.”

In response, Riggs’s jaw tightened as he inched closer. “I’d never do that. That wouldn’t be funny in the least.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“Why would you even think something like that?”

Now that her eyes were open and she saw how affected Riggs was by her thoughts, Carlise felt awful. “I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do,” he countered. “Talk to me, sweetheart.”

“My ex . . . he thought it was funny to scare me. He’d jump out from around corners and behind doors, just to hear me scream. Tell me he needed to grab something from another aisle in a store, then go outside and move the car, making me think he’d left me. He loved to prank me by calling late at night and not saying anything when I answered, just breathing heavily.” She shook her head, trying to dislodge all the thoughts of Tommy. “Leaving me standing here while he went and hid is something he would’ve gotten a huge kick out of. He always said I couldn’t take a joke.”

“None of that’s funny,” Riggs said tightly. “Scaring people isn’t something I do as a prank, and it’s not cool. I’d never do anything like that to you. Ever.”

Carlise’s muscles relaxed at his response, both his verbal one and the way his entire body seemed to go taut with anger. But it wasn’t aimed at her. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”

“Don’t be,” Riggs said with a shake of his head. “We’re still getting to know each other. And your past has taught you to be wary. But you can lower your shield around me, Carlise. I hope to show you in time that I can be your shield. I can protect you from the assholes in the world. From the crap life likes to throw at people from time to time.”

His words were everything. Carlise was used to no one standing up for her. Starting with her mom when she was a kid, unable to protect Carlise from her father. Riggs vowing to protect her didn’t automatically make the past go away, but looking into his serious gaze, she felt the wall around her heart crack a bit.

It took a moment, but eventually, Riggs relaxed. She felt his thumb caress the underside of her jaw. “You okay now?”

She nodded. “I think so.”

“Would it make you feel better to keep your eyes open, but to turn your back to me instead?”

More relief flowed through Carlise. “Yeah.”

“Okay.” He moved his hands so they were on her shoulders and physically turned her around. But he didn’t let go. Instead, Riggs leaned in and rested his chin on her shoulder. Their faces were a hairbreadth apart, and if she turned, their lips would touch.

One hand moved to her hip, and he held her against him for a moment. “Look at Baxter. He’s having a ball.”

Carlise immediately saw the black pit bull against the snowy wonderland of the woods. He was throwing a stick in the air, then pouncing on it when it landed, throwing snow up all around him as he played.

She grinned at the joy the dog was expressing.

“He knew you were upset, you know,” Riggs told her.

“What?” Carlise asked.

“He was waiting to see what I’d do. Standing close enough that he could protect you from me if he needed to. But when you relaxed, so did he.”

Carlise stared at the dog playing in front of her. “I didn’t see him.”

“I know. You only saw me.”

He wasn’t wrong. When she was looking into Riggs’s eyes, he was the only thing she could think about. He filled her senses, in a good way.

“I’ll be right back. I won’t be long, and you’ll be in my sight the entire time. You’re safe with me, Carlise. I give you my word.”

She nodded, knowing she couldn’t say anything at that moment if she tried.

Riggs moved away from her, and she felt the cold wind blowing around her once more. She hugged herself and leaned against the tree Riggs had left her beside. She watched as Baxter played in the snow as if he hadn’t a care in the world. The dog had been starved, abused, and abandoned, and yet after a bit of love, he couldn’t be happier.