The Protector (Game of Chance, #1)(49)

“I know,” Chappy said with a nod. “We’ll stick close to the cabin until the risk has passed.”

“You’re cutting it a bit close for comfort,” Cal said. “You’d be safer if you came back down to Newton.”

Chappy knew that. But he wasn’t ready. It was hard enough to share Carlise with his friends for a short visit. He was enjoying being alone with her. He didn’t want to think about taking her to town just yet. He was being selfish, but for once, he didn’t care. “We’ll be okay here. The cabin’s not in the danger zone from any slides on the higher grades of the mountain.”

“If nothing else, a slide could mean they’re trapped here even longer,” Bob joked.

Chappy’s lips quirked upward.

“And he seems perfectly okay with that,” Cal said. “Just be careful,” he said, sobering.

“I will.”

“With the weather and with her,” Cal warned.

“Not you too,” Chappy said with a sigh.

“What do you really know about her? About her family? Her background? Her financial situation? She could be seeing you as a convenient way out of some problem she has.”

Chappy didn’t like that his friends were so cynical. And distrusting. But those feelings warred with the satisfaction he felt that they gave a shit. And he couldn’t deny, he’d have wondered all the same things just a week ago, had his friends been in his shoes.

“She is hiding something,” he finally admitted.

Bob’s and Cal’s brows rose in unison at his admission. He went on before they could comment.

“She’s mentioned an abusive ex. She hasn’t told me how she ended up on my road, except to say she got lost. She was headed for Bangor from Cleveland. She’s close with her mom and her best friend, but other than that, I don’t think she has many people she can depend on. I’m trying not to rush her. She’ll tell me more as we get to know each other. I’m not worried about how she ended up here, though. She doesn’t have a dishonest bone in her body, guys. I’m sure of it.”

“She on the run?” Cal asked.

“Did her ex hurt her?” Bob growled.

This. This was why he put up with his friends’ nosiness and overprotectiveness. They hated to hear about anyone being abused or hurt as much as he did.

“I’m not completely sure. She’s not the kind of person to quit when life gets hard. But in this case, I think she’s scared of something . . . or someone.”

“You need anything, you let us know,” Cal said in a low tone.

“Yeah, we might be washed-up military bums, but we’re more than capable of protecting one of our own,” Bob agreed.

Warmth spread through Chappy. These men were his best friends, like brothers. They’d fought together and saved each other’s lives more times than he could count. Their willingness to go to bat for Carlise, a woman they didn’t even know, meant the world to him.

“Thanks,” he told them. “When I find out more, and with her permission, I’ll share, and we can figure out a game plan, if that turns out to be necessary.”

Both Bob and Cal nodded.

“You guys look serious over there. Everything okay?” Carlise asked nervously from her seat on the couch.

“We’re good,” Chappy said immediately, wanting to reassure her.

“Yeah, we’re just talking about which one of us is going to Old Man Smith’s house tomorrow.”

“Old Man Smith?” Carlise asked.

“He’s not that old,” April said with a sigh. “And he’s not that bad.”

“Last time I was there, he insisted I stay for lunch and served some sort of meat that he’d probably had in his freezer for twenty-five years,” JJ said. “He also insisted there are people watching him, and that someone’s out to get him because he was a government spy forty years ago.”

“Was he?” Carlise asked with wide eyes.

“No,” JJ said with an amused shake of his head.

“He’s lonely,” April insisted. “And it’s no big deal for you to sit with him for an hour or so after you reassure him the trees in his yard aren’t going to fall on the house.”

Looking chastised, JJ nodded.

“Now that we’ve seen for ourselves that Chappy isn’t at death’s door, I need to get back to Newton,” Bob announced suddenly.

“Yeah, there’s a show on the telly I’ve been meaning to watch,” Cal agreed.

“And since Chappy didn’t feed me, and I’m starving, we might as well go,” JJ added.

Chappy didn’t argue with his friends. Didn’t try to get them to stay longer. In fact, he’d owe Bob big time for being the first to suggest they leave. He might not fully understand or trust what was going on between Chappy and Carlise, but Bob trusted him enough to get out of his hair and let him do his thing.

“Oh, but I’m sure we could make something for everyone,” Carlise protested as she stood.

“Nope, we wouldn’t want to put you guys out. Besides, we know Chappy likes his solitude. It’s why he comes up here, to hide out and be alone,” Bob said.

Chappy saw Carlise frown, and he could’ve kicked his friend for not knowing when to shut up. It was obvious she was now worrying about intruding—again.