Chase wrapped an arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him. "It'll be okay. We'll do our best to make sure it works out the way you want, but I won't promise you anything. Not when there's a chance I can't keep it."
She looked into his eyes and smiled. "Thank you, but how the hell am I going to afford you?"
He laughed and heat filled his eyes. She blushed and looked at Jesse soberly. "Seriously, I'm sure you guys charge way more than I make. How's this going to work?"
Jesse looked at Chase and there seemed to be some sort of silent conversation. "Don't worry. We'll figure something out. I don't want you to stress. You need to take care of your back and keep it from getting an infection. We don't charge as much as you might think, plus we have payment plans. We got you, sweetheart."
She glared. "I already told Chase I don't take handouts."
"It's not a hand out."
She bit her tongue and decided it would be a battle for another day. The medication clouded her mind and she could barely keep her eyes open. "Fine, but only because the pill you gave me is kicking my ass."
Chase laughed and pulled her against him more. "I'll take her to the cabin while you get with Shawn and the others. Let them know what's going on."
"Sure thing, bro. Take her home to pack first. We don't know how long you'll need to be gone."
"I can hear you, you know."
She might have been hawked up on medication, but she was still aware that something else was going on. She had questions of her own that she would be asking. Right at the moment, she was quite happy where she was.
"Skye, is that all right?"
"Yeah, sure. Let's go before I pass out though. I don't need you packing for me. Who knows what I'd end up with."
She felt his laughter deep in his chest, but he didn't deny it. She'd probably end up with all the things she kept hidden in her closet.
Chapter 4
By the time they reached her house, Skye was in and out. Chase pulled in front of her house and helped her out of his truck.
"Let's get you inside and packed as fast as possible. Only bring what you can't live without for at least two weeks, okay?"
She nodded and pulled from the comfort of his arms. She pushed open her door and gasped. Her house was torn apart.
Chase went to grab her but she yanked away from him and walked through the tornado that had hit inside. Papers were everywhere, shelves were knocked over, and furniture was overturned. Someone was looking for something, but she didn't have anything of value, not really.
Tears pooled in her eyes. All the things she did have she worked her ass off for. It hadn't come easy. "Why would someone do this?"
Chase's eyes were narrowed on her closed door. "What's in there?"
"My room."
He nodded and strode to the door and pushed it open slowly. She followed behind him as he checked inside. Nothing was there, but the room was an even bigger mess than the rest of her house. "Someone was looking for something. What do you have of value?"
"Nothing."
He glanced at her, unbelieving.
"Really, I have nothing of value." She could see he still wasn't convinced.
"Okay, well let's get you packed, and don't forget something of your brother's."
"In the other room, in the closet, are all his things."
Chase left the room and she reached under her bed, pulling out her bag. Opening her dresser, she started shoving things in the bag. It didn't matter anymore. Seeing her house showed her she really wasn't safe and all, because Joey decided to run out on his responsibilities. She'd never been more disappointed in him than she was at that moment.
Chase came back as she was zipping her bag. "Almost done?" Something strange was in his tone and eyes. He had a faraway look that Skye had learned was not a good look on the male species.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head. "Nothing, I just want to get you safe."
Partial lie.
Instead of arguing, she nodded. "I have to get some things out of the bathroom, and then I'm good to go."
"Okay, good."
She slid past him and when her body brushed against his, she shivered. She wouldn't lie, she wanted him fiercely, but as much as she wanted him, she wasn't sure what to make of him.
The bathroom was the only room untouched, and for that she was grateful. She wasn't lying when she said she had nothing of value, but she had managed to save up a couple thousand dollars. It wasn't a lot, but it was her nest egg, and she hid it in her bathroom, hoping no one would think to look there. She reached behind the counter and sighed in relief when she pulled out the envelope. She shoved it in her bag and grabbed her necessities.
She was ready to go and nodded at Chase. "I'm good now. Let's go."
He glanced around the house and turned to leave. She followed behind him and shut and locked her door. It wasn't as if anyone would come back. They'd already searched her house. She had a huge mess to deal with once everything was over.
Skye took Chase's hand to help lift her into his monster truck. When he got inside, she looked at him. He was a little too quiet and that worried her.
"Is everything okay? I mean, besides the obvious?"
"I'm not sure yet. I'll let you know when I figure it out." At least he didn't lie.
"I guess that's better than lying. It's not good though. I can see it in your face. You're worried about something."
Chase nodded and grasped her knee. Lust shot through her body and she couldn't hold back her gasp. He rubbed his thumb across her thigh and she glanced at him.
"I'll keep you safe," he promised, and she knew he would.
Their gazes stayed locked together until a horn blasted on the street. Chase started the truck and pulled out of the driveway. Skye's heart beat wildly, and she wondered why she was feeling so much lust for a near stranger. It wasn't often she was attracted to a man anyways, but the amount of need filling her body was unnatural.
Chase kept both hands on the wheel, gripping it tightly. Skye worried about what he hadn't told her. Now she was able to study him. He was a little rugged with a beard and shaggy hair, but it didn't take away from his good looks. He was tall and bulky, and she knew he was strong because he carried her around like she weighed nothing at all.
He glanced at her and she blushed before looking out the window. At her age, she should have already been married, or at least in a relationship heading towards marriage, but she'd never found anyone she trusted or loved enough. The few she would have liked to stick around left because of Joey.
She watched civilization pass by and couldn't stand the silence. "Where are we going?"
"I'm taking you to our safe house."
"In the middle of nowhere?"
"Yes, it's a large cabin and well-hidden. I think you'll like it."
"What do you normally use it for?"
"Meetings mostly."
"What kind of meetings."
Chase chuckled. "Are you trying to figure me out?"
"Yes. I know there's something big you're not telling me."
"You're not ready for my secret."
"How do you know?"
He glanced at her and she was serious. He didn't know, and she could handle more than people gave her credit for.
"Okay, maybe I'm not ready. What if it makes you run the opposite direction?"
She shrugged. "It doesn't really matter what I think, does it? I'm your client and you're helping me until this shit is done with, right?"
His mouth curled up and he growled. "You're more than that and you know that."
"I don't know what I am."
He sighed and turned down a dirt road and slowed the truck. "You can't tell that I feel something for you?"
"I thought so, but I don't know. My judgment has been a bit off."
"You're not wrong, baby. I'll tell you my big secret, but I need you to be open-minded."
"I can be open-minded," she whispered.
"Good, but not yet. Let's get you to the cabin and settled first, okay?"
"Okay, but you're telling me soon. It's driving me crazy."
"I hope not," he muttered.
She let him drive the rest of the way in silence. The dirt road went on forever, but then she saw the cabin. It was gigantic. She sat up and looked around. "Holy shit, this place is huge."
He chuckled. "I told you."
She glared at him and stuck her tongue out. She'd never seen a house this big, better yet a cabin. Who the hell needed such a huge cabin deep in the woods? She looked at Chase and shivered. Apparently the man next to her did.
Chapter 5
She stepped inside the most beautiful and spacious house she'd ever seen. There were really no words to explain it. Chase led her into the large and open kitchen and set her bags down.