Page 17 of Protective Assignment
“How about I start wearing a bell?”he joked.“That way, you’ll always hear me coming.”
She let out a giggle and brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear.The way her fingers skimmed across herskin was far too distracting, but he did his best to push that out of his mind.He was here for a reason, not just to check her out.Xavier had asked him to do a job and he was going to be as helpful as he could during his stay at the lodge.
“Sounds like a plan to me,” she replied with a small smile.“Hannah said you needed to talk to me.Do you want to go sit?”
He grinned back at her and shook his head, then held up the credit card he’d been given.
“Actually, I’ve been tasked with heading down to the town to pick up some supplies,” he explained.“And they want us to start going in groups, so I’m supposed to take you with me.I thought we could talk on the way.”
Her face lit up.“Oh, great,” she replied as she reached into her pocket.“I actually have a list of stuff I need to get so I can work on mending clothes and stock up on supplies.”She held the list out to Cade.“You think we’ll be able to get all of this stuff in town?”
“I think so,” he replied, taking it from her and looking it over.
It looked pretty easy to him, nothing too extreme—basic fabrics and a few glues and needles to make her work a little easier.He was a little surprised that she seemed so eager to go to town with him, given how nervous she had been about being seen outside this place.Maybe she was beginning to feel more comfortable and had realized that nobody would come looking for her in a place like this.
She screwed the cap onto her thermos and smiled up at him.“Then we should get going before it gets too late.”
She had the prettiest smile when she let herself relax and Cade was mesmerized.He was really glad to see she wasstarting to let her guard down, especially with him.Maybe this was the start of a healing journey for her, just like Blue Ridge had been for so many others.There was still a long way for her to go, but even the small change he’d seen in her since yesterday felt huge.
“Great.I’ll bring the truck around,” he told her.“Meet me outside the front entrance in five minutes?”
“I will,” she replied, and she gazed up at him for a moment like she was trying to puzzle something out.
For a split second, Cade was rooted to the spot, looking back at her.
But then, he remembered they were not alone and he had a job to do.He quickly broke the eye contact and turned to go get the truck.She had just gotten out of an abusive relationship.The last thing she needed was him drooling over her like a hormonal teenage boy.
He was trying to help this woman, that was it.
That was all it could be.
He had his own life to sort out.
Chapter Ten
River rolled down the window as they pulled away from the lodge.It was a cool, clear day, the sky was blue above them, and the air smelled fresh and clean from the recent rain.She stuck her hand out of the opening and swam it in the air as they made their way down the winding road that led to the town at the bottom of the mountain.A smile spread over her face as she tipped it up toward the sun.
Even though her time at the lodge was just beginning, she was starting to actually believe she had something good here.A safe place to stay, new friends, a job of her own where she’d make her own money.It almost felt like a dream.
“You sleep well?”His voice suddenly broke their peaceful ride.
She glanced toward him and nodded.“Actually, I did.”
It was the truth.For the first time in a while, she had actually slept through the night instead of jumping up every five minutes to check that nobody was following her or she wasn’t being watched.And she had actually slept in the bed instead of sitting on the edge of it, dozing off clutching her knife in her hand.She wasn’t sure how much longer thisnewfound confidence was going to last, but she wanted to enjoy every moment of it while she could.
“Good, that’s good,” he murmured, and she glanced over at him.He had one arm leaning on the window, and his eyes on the road, but she could tell his attention was on her.“Speaking of that, there’s something we need to discuss.I actually just found out this morning.”
River couldn’t help but tense a little at his odd-sounding tone and clench her fingers in her lap.Did something happen concerning her?She wasn’t sure she wanted to know, but the mood in the truck suddenly shifted.Instead of asking, she waited silently for Cade to continue.
“So, apparently, there’s going to be some sort of event happening at the lodge and it’s booked out to capacity.”He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, suddenly nervous.“I, ah, was told that we’re going to be sharing my cabin for a while.”
“Oh.”River couldn’t help the anxious energy that washed over her at his words.She wasn’t sure what else to say.She was hoping to have her own space and sharing with Cade certainly wasn’t ideal—but she didn’t mind too much.She was really curious what he thought of them sharing space but she wasn’t sure how to approach the subject.
“Yeah, ah, Hannah brought your backpack over this morning and thought it’d be easier if we discussed it rather than having a go-between.”He turned to look at her for a moment before concentrating back on the road.“If it’s really uncomfortable for you, I’m sure Xavier can work something else out.She mentioned them holding a couple of other cabins for overfills, but I’m sure they’d consider one for you if it was an issue…”
He sounded about as nervous as she felt.She didn’t know if it was because he didn’t want to room with her or if it was something else.“So, roommates, then.”River darted another glance in his direction before looking down at her lap.So much for her newfound confidence.She was out of her league here.The thought of being alone with this man… No, she wasn’t going there.She’d find a way to make do.Stay away from the cabin as much as possible, if she had to.“I’m sorry to inconvenience you like this.I’ll try to be as quiet as possible.You won’t even know I’m there.”
“I don’t know about that,” she heard him mutter under his breath.Clearing his throat he replied, “Don’t worry about it.I just hope it’s not too uncomfortable for you, what with me basically being a stranger and all.I promise you’re safe with me, though.”River felt a rush a warmth spread through her body as Cade’s steady gaze shifted again to her before turning back to the road.
