“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.
She could learn a lot from the dog, Carlise thought. She’d had a tough childhood, and yet she always knew her mom loved her with all her heart, despite being too weak and frightened to get herself and Carlise away from her dad. When Carlise had eventually moved to a new city to start her life over, everything was a bit better. Her neighbors were friendly, she had a job she enjoyed and was very good at, and she’d found a close friend in Susie. Her mom was moving on with her life as well, happy for the first time in years.