Page 8 of So I Banged Bigfoot

“What about cell service?” A girl could dream.

He chuckled. “Don’t have a phone.”

I scanned the room, but all I saw was my jacket. “Is my bag here?”

Lars furrowed his brow. “I don’t think so.”

I scooted to the edge of the bed. Lars’ massive body blocked the entire side of it. The stone floor was cold through my socks. I loved that Lars had thought to make me comfortable and taken my boots off.

Maybe he just hadn’t wanted my shoes in his bed. Did giant beasts who lived inside a mountain care about things like that?

My legs were rubber when I rose on them. My head spun, and I grabbed the back of the chair.

“How long was I out?”

“A couple of hours. I was worried you were getting too cold. Body-to-body contact is the best way to help keep someone warm.” He rose from the bed, and he looked even more massive, filling the space. He gripped my arm, like he was afraid I’d pass out again. “Would you like some water?”

I saw two of him. I nodded, which also wasn’t a great idea.

He maneuvered me into the chair like I was a doll, and then put a blanket over me. He ladled water out of a wooden barrel and handed me a cup.

It was probably mountain runoff. It was cool, clean, and pure, and my body came back to life with each sip.

So I was marooned with the world’s fuzziest boy scout. Things could be a lot worse.

“I need to get in touch with Bibi,” I said. “We have plans tonight. She’ll be worried sick if she doesn’t hear from me.”

“You won’t be getting back to the chalet for a while.”

Oh.

Instinctually, I knew that, but hearing his confirmation made my heart skip a beat. “How do you usually touch base with her, when you’re… like this?”

“Hugo comes when he needs me.”

I almost choked on my water. “How often does Hugo need you?”

I assumed that being on the security team was a full-time position.The Mating Gamewas known for drama with creatures who had nefarious intentions, and typically made their home deep in the mountains. They wouldn’t behave because the big guy was stuck in furry mode. Which was why Lars was on payroll in the first place.

Like this giant creature had any reason for a bank account, but maybe I was way off and the beast with sherpa soft fur was a secret gazillionaire.

“Haven’t seen Hugo in a while.” Lars’ deep rumble snapped me out of my spiral. “The snow gets too deep in the winter for wolves to navigate.”

“Are you still working forThe Mating Gamewhen you’re in…this form?” A shiver ran down my spine. Night still fell early this time of year, and the sky had turned pastel with the first hint of it. Chances were I might not survive until the next time Lars and Hugo crossed paths. It was cold up here, and my stomach rumbled, reminding me how long ago I’d had that egg sandwich. “You have to have some way to get in touch with Bibi. I don’t want her to worry about me.”

Seeing her in the lobby this morning seemed like it happened in another lifetime.

“You’re safe with me,” he said simply.

I rose from my chair. Not the best idea. My head was swimming but after the water, I felt a little stronger.

Lars’ hand was on my arm again. Our eyes met. A soft rumble vibrated his body. Not quite a purr. But the sound rumbled through me and made me feel safe, just like he’d promised. It took everything I had not to break eye contact and see what the rest of his body had in store for me. I’d felt it, which made me even more curious. Leave it to me to think of that at a time like this. Totally a defense mechanism because if I let myself realize how much danger I was actually in, I’d lose it.

“What happens if they find my car and all my stuff is left behind? They’ll think I’m—”

I couldn’t finish the sentence. So much for not losing it. I was more than a thousand miles from home, my family had written me off as throwing my life away to be here, and my newfound family were still practically strangers. They might not even care I was…

Lars wrapped his arms around me, swallowing the thought with his warm, fuzzy, purring body.

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