Page 23 of Protected By the Billionaire Ex-SEAL

It’s always Christian’s question whenever I wander around like this, grumpy enough to make noises. I whirl to face him.

“Let’s go out.”

Unperturbed by my restlessness, he tilts his head.

“Where?”

“Dinner. Grocery store. I don’t know. Whatever fun thing you guys do around here.”

He glances at the wall clock. “It’s nine-thirty in the evening.”

“So?”

“Everything’s closed around here or closing. Except for bars, which I wouldn’t recommend.”

I don’t want to go to a bar, either, not after what happened the last time that I went to one. Certainly not with him.

“What about parks?”

“We have lovely parks, but it’s also better to enjoy them during the day.”

I frown at him. “Is it like this for all small towns?”

He shrugs. “Not all. But we’re a very small town with a very small population. Most people don’t even know Sweet Haven exists.”

The perfect hideout, his face says. I bite back a sigh while he examines me, then opens his mouth. But I speak first.

“Well, what’s fun to do around here at nine-thirty in the evening?” Christian raises a brow. I fight off my blush before an idea pops into my head. “Do you have board games or anything like that?”

“Pardon me if I ask, but…cabin fever?”

There’s no point in denying it. “Yes.”

I brace for him to lecture me that that’s part of the program, too. But he doesn’t.

“I have cards.”

My energy surges. “Card games! We can turn it into a drinking one if you have drinks around here.”

Now his brows shoot up. “Really?”

“What? Your entire house is locked up. You said it yourself, we’re safe in here, and you can get as drunk as you want—not that you have to, but…”

“It’s an option.”

Green eyes gleam at the challenge in my tone, and the challenge enters his expression, too.

And silly as it may seem, I feel like I won something when he finally nods.

“Card and drinking game it is.”

* * *

“Truth or dare.”

“Truth.”

I don’t know how we evolved from a simple card game to this, but Christian isn’t backing out. That means I can’t, either. I scrutinize his unreadable expression and ponder my next move.

---