The Protector (Game of Chance, #1)

“Two days ago, I was working on a translation and had lost track of time, like usual. The next thing I knew, Riggs placed a plate with a sandwich on it next to me. Then he kissed the top of my head and walked away. Tommy always got irritated when I worked when he was around. He didn’t like not being the center of attention—and he never, not once, made me something to eat.

“Another time, we were in the kitchen cooking dinner—together—and I dropped a fork on the floor. I leaned over to pick it up, and when I stood, I noticed he’d moved and put his hand over the corner of the counter. I asked what he was doing, and he just shrugged and said he wanted to make sure I didn’t hit my head on the corner when I stood up.

“I could give you twenty more stories like that, Susie. Situations where Riggs has looked out for me, done sweet things solely for my well-being, or when he could’ve gotten upset for one reason or another but didn’t. And all of it in just the week since his fever broke. I’ve never met a man like Riggs. The more I’m around him, the more I want to be around him.”

“I love that he’s treating you so well, but don’t all men do that when they first start dating? I don’t like that your mom and I don’t know this guy or where he’s keeping you,” Susie said. “Tell me where his cabin is. What towns are nearby. At least give us a chance to find you if you suddenly drop off the radar again. He could murder you tonight and bury you in the wilderness, and no one would ever find your body!”

With a deep sigh, she finished, “I’m your best friend, Car. I wouldn’t be a very good one if I wasn’t trying to be the voice of reason here.”

Without hesitation, Carlise said, “The closest town is Newton. I’m told it’s pretty small. I was on State Route 2, headed toward Bangor, and I guess I pulled off at the wrong exit and headed north on a smaller road called 26. The next thing I knew, I was seeing signs for Baldpate Mountain, and I took some other road. It was storming really hard, and I knew I needed to turn around, but there wasn’t a good place. And then I ran off the road, and Baxter found me . . . and led me to Riggs.”

There was silence for an uncomfortably long moment.

“God, I don’t like this,” Susie said.

Carlise sighed in frustration. “I want you to be happy for me. Is that so hard?”

“Honestly? Yes. Remember, I was with you when you first met Tommy, and you said similar things to what you’re saying now. You gushed over how great he was and everything he did for you. Then things turned bad, and now you have a stalker. Wait—have you gotten any notes or messages from him since you’ve been there?”

“There’s no cell service here and the Wi-Fi is buggy, but Riggs checked my phone and said that yes, he’s still leaving me awful messages.”

“Wait, wait, wait! You haven’t seen them for yourself? Seriously? Car, you’re being extremely dumb right now!”

Susie sounded pissed, and Carlise wasn’t sure why. “I trust him, Susie.”

“It’s been a week and a half! You don’t even know him!” she yelled.

“I do!” Carlise retorted, her own voice rising.

“You’ve fucked him, haven’t you?” she asked abruptly, as if just realizing that was a possibility. “That’s why you’re acting like this. He’s mesmerized you with his magic cock, and you’re in some sex haze.”

Now Carlise was pissed. “I have. And it was awesome. The best I’ve ever had. He actually cares about my pleasure—unlike Tommy, who only wanted to stick his dick inside me and get off, then go to sleep. I’ve never been with a man who wants me as much as Riggs does.”

“Of course he does. He’s living in the middle of nowhere. How many women just show up on his doorstep during a storm? Seems awfully convenient that you’re stuck there if you ask me. God, he could have an STD or something.”

“Now you’re just being a bitch,” Carlise seethed.

“And you’re being reckless and ridiculous. You need to come home. Now. Before he manages to drain your bank account or convince you that he wants to get married and have fourteen babies.”

Carlise’s stomach tightened, and she put a hand on her belly. Babies with Riggs. That sounded heavenly.

She knew Susie was trying to shock her into seeing the situation from the outside, but she’d actually achieved the opposite. Carlise longed to give Riggs children. They could come up to the cabin in the summers, and their kids could run around safely to their hearts’ content. They’d sit by the fire at night and read books and simply enjoy spending time together as a family.

“Carlise? Are you listening to me?”

“No,” she told her best friend calmly. “When you meet Riggs, you’ll see how wrong you are. He’s one of the good guys, Suz. I promise.”

She sighed heavily. “What are you doing about your stalker then? Have you even read my emails? You know I’ve been getting weird gifts, right? Since he can’t find you, he’s apparently trying to get to you through me.”

“Oh no,” Carlise breathed, her stomach now twisting for a different reason. Tears pricked her eyes. “Suz, you need to be careful.”

“No shit,” she retorted. “What I need is for you to get back here and make this stop.”

“And how do I do that?” Carlise asked, completely seriously.

“I don’t know! But hiding out in Maine and pretending you’re in love with this Riggs person isn’t helping.”

“I know running didn’t help anything,” Carlise said with a sigh. “But I’m not pretending. I really do love him.”

“You’re killin’ me,” Susie said sadly. “I miss you, Car. I miss talking to you, laughing, having my best friend around to tell all my good news to.”

“I miss you too,” Carlise reassured her. “And good news?” she asked, wanting to lighten the mood of the call.

“Yeah. I have a new boyfriend.”

“You do? That’s awesome! Who is it? Someone I know? Where’d you meet him?”

“Yeah,” she said, sounding almost shy. “He’s great. Loves me so much that he hates when someone looks at me wrong. He’s possessive but in a good way.”

Carlise wasn’t sure she liked the sound of that. Tommy had been possessive, too, and at first, she’d thought it was flattering. It soon turned stifling, and he was scary when he confronted people who’d simply said hello to her.

But after finally calming her friend, she was unwilling to upset her again or rain on her parade.

“I’m happy for you,” Carlise said. And she really was.

“Thanks. I’m happy too . . . except for my best friend not telling me where she was going or not being able to get in touch with her for the last week and a half.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll be better at staying in touch from here on out.”

“Good. I really do appreciate you calling, Car. And I’m sorry I flipped out. Will I talk to you again soon?”

“Yeah, you will,” Carlise reassured her. “And please don’t be mad at me,” she pleaded. She was uncomfortable with a lot of their conversation, but Susie was still her best friend. Things would calm down, and she’d realize once she met Riggs that she had nothing to worry about.

“I’m not,” Susie said with a sigh. “I’m just worried about you.”

“I’m good. I promise,” Carlise said.

“How would you feel about me coming out there to see for myself?” Susie asked.

“Seriously? Yes!” Carlise exclaimed.

“I want to meet this Riggs character and make sure he’s good enough for my best friend.”

“I’d love that. I promise to keep in touch better than I have, and we’ll figure out a good time for you to come. I mean, Newton isn’t exactly on the beaten path, so I’ll have to give you specific directions,” she teased with a laugh.

“Okay. Stay safe,” Susie said softly.

“You too. If you see Tommy anywhere around, just go in the other direction. Riggs said he was going to help me end this stalker stuff. He’s going to get his friends involved and the local Newton police.”

“That’s a relief, at least,” Susie said.

“Yeah.”

“Okay, I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Love you, Suz.”

“Love you too. Bye.”

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