The Protector (Game of Chance, #1)(50)



“Maybe I should—”

“I’m going to write down my number for you,” April interrupted. “I’ll give you the number to Jack’s Lumber, as well. The service up here is nonexistent, but I’m sure you could use Chappy’s satellite phone. You need anything, just give me a yell. I’ll get one of the guys to bring it to you. Or if you just want to chat . . . you know, hear a friendly female voice . . . I’m just a phone call away.”

“Oh . . . thanks,” Carlise said. “I’ll give you mine too.”

Thankful to April for the distraction, Chappy sighed as the guys went to grab their coats off the rack by the door. He hovered behind April and Carlise as they exchanged info. He wasn’t surprised when Carlise leaned in and hugged the other woman. April looked surprised for a moment, but then a smile took over her face.

Chappy liked April, always had. She was the glue that held their business together, and he usually thought of her as one of the guys. But now he realized he didn’t know all that much about the woman. Anything about her family, how she spent her free time, if she had friends.

He’d always just assumed she had people to hang out with when she wasn’t at the office. But seeing how quickly she and Carlise had clicked, and her obvious pleasure over a simple hug, he wondered if he’d assumed incorrectly.

But he didn’t have time to do much more than smile at her before she was striding out the front door behind the guys. JJ was holding the door open, standing between them and Baxter. The dog seemed content to stay huddled in his nest, keeping his eyes on all the strangers.

At one point, April slipped on the snow and would’ve fallen on her ass, but JJ was close enough to catch her. He pulled her close, holding her against his side until she had her feet under her again.

As he observed his friend holding April, Chappy had the sudden realization that JJ was looking at their assistant the way Chappy probably looked at Carlise. As if she were the sun and the moon at the same time.

As he watched, JJ’s face cleared of all expression, and he stepped away from April. “You good?”

She blushed but nodded. “I’m clumsy. I could trip over air.”

JJ didn’t comment, but Chappy noticed that he stayed close to April as they continued toward the truck.

He stood on the porch as the group got into the truck. Everyone rolled down their windows as they prepared to pull away. The sun was out, but it wasn’t doing much to cut the chill in the air. The upcoming week would bring warmer weather, but for now, it was still quite cold.

Without thought, Chappy moved behind Carlise and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his chest to keep her warm.

“Glad you aren’t dead,” Bob called out.

April shook her head and smacked him on the arm. “That was rude,” she scolded loudly from the back seat.

Bob merely grinned, not sorry in the least for his macabre humor.

“Call if you need anything,” JJ ordered.

“We’ll be in touch if we hear anything about the avalanche warnings,” Cal added.

Chappy felt Carlise stiffen against him, and he frowned at his friend.

“But I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Cal added belatedly, prompted by Chappy’s unhappy look.

“If you need help with her car, let us know,” JJ told them. “We’ll come back up.”

“Thanks!” Chappy called.

He and Carlise watched as Bob pulled his truck around and they made their way back toward the road. The big plow pushing snow out of the way as they went made it all the more obvious how much they’d gotten in the storm. Even with a plow, it had to be difficult making it to his cabin, though Chappy wasn’t too surprised. His friends were stubborn as hell, and there was no way they were letting a bit of snow get in the way of having his back.

“Come on, let’s get you inside,” Chappy said, turning Carlise toward the door.

To his surprise, Baxter had come out from his spot against the house and was sitting next to them. So close he could reach out and almost touch the dog’s head.

“Oh! Hi, Baxter. You want to come inside too?” Carlise asked in the same singsong voice she’d used earlier. “It’s nice and warm in there. I’ll make you a comfy bed next to the fire. You’ll love it. I promise.”

She opened the door—and to Chappy’s shock, Baxter walked in as if he’d spent his entire life as a house dog.

“Riggs! Look! He’s inside!” Carlise breathed.

“I see, sweetheart.”

“I’m so . . .” She trailed off, then quickly turned to him and buried her face in his chest.

Chappy got them both inside and the door shut, then wrapped his arms around her and let her cry against him.

She got herself under control in minutes, raising her head to look at him with bloodshot eyes. “I’m so happy,” she whispered.

He chuckled. “Forgive me for saying so, but you don’t look it.”

She gave him a lopsided smile. “I am.” She wiped her eyes with her hands, then rested them on his chest and leaned into him. “Have you ever been so happy that it freaks you out because you’re waiting for things to go to hell again?”

Chappy frowned and tightened his arms around her. “Yeah.”

She nodded. “I just . . . You. Baxter. My job . . . Everything’s so perfect right now. And I’m scared to death that it’s all going to disappear in a puff of smoke. Like maybe I’m dreaming or something. That I’ll wake up and it’ll all be gone. Different.”

Susan Stoker's Books