Page 7 of Finding Carly
“Okay,” she blurted.
The smile that spread across Jag’s lips was all the reward she needed for agreeing to stepwayoutside her comfort zone.
Jag lifted a hand and cupped her cheek. Carly held her breath as the warmth from his skin seeped into her own. She tilted her head into his hand.
“It’s going to be all right, angel,” he soothed.
Carly believed him. She nodded.
He leaned in and kissed her forehead tenderly before turning and climbing out of her bed. Carly watched as he grabbed the same shirt he’d had on last night and pulled it over his head. The muscles in his stomach flexed and her fingers curled into fists. The visceral reaction to seeing him was surprising. As was the way her thighs clenched together under the sheet.
Jagger Bennett was one hell of a sexy man, and last night she’d been plastered against his side. If she was a swooning kind of woman, she definitely would’ve swooned right then and there.
“Get up, lazy bones,” he teased as he leaned over to put on his shoes and socks. “I’m starving. And you, my friend, need a shower in the worst way.”
Carly couldn’t help but laugh. This Jag was a surprise. She’d never heard him kid around before. Not with his friends and definitely not with her. She scooted over and stood up.
“Here, use this,” Jag said, stepping into the closet and pulling out the large suitcase Carly had brought with her when she’d moved to Hawaii. It had sat unused since then in the back of her closet. He’d obviously seen it at one point or another, because he hadn’t hesitated to grab it.
“That’s way too big, Jag. I’ve got a smaller bag I can use to throw together a change of clothes and some toiletries.”
He met her gaze and shook his head. “No. Pack as much as will fit in here. You’re gonna be at my place until we figure out your situation.”
Carly stared at him in surprise. “Jag, we have no idea how long that will take. It’s been months as it is.”
He didn’t comment, merely lifted an eyebrow at her, then walked over to the bed with her suitcase in hand. He laid it down and unzipped it. “Fill it,” he ordered, then, ignoring her gaping, turned and walked out of the room.
Butterflies swam in Carly’s stomach as she stared at the extra-large suitcase. She was so conflicted. She wanted to protest. But at the same time, a part of her was jumping up and down like an excited kid on Christmas Day. Her apartment had so many bad memories.
Every moment she’d hid in her room with a knife in her hand, because she thought she’d heard someone trying to break in. Every sleepless night. Every day she’d spent filled with despair over how horrible her life had become.
But move in with Jag? Could she do that?
Her phone vibrating on the table next to the bed made Carly jump. She walked over and picked it up, and saw a text from Kenna.
Kenna: The guys are back! And Marshall said Jag went over to your place. You can trust Jag, he’s a good guy. You know that. I know we don’t talk as much as we used to, but I miss you, Carly. Work isn’t the same without you. If you need anything, I’m just a phone call away. But then again, you’ve got Jag. Do what he says. Even if it seems crazy and you have no idea what the hell he’s thinking. Our SEALs know what they’re doing. Promise.
It was the nudge Carly needed. Hadn’t she just decided to do whatever she needed to do in order to move on with her life? And staying with Jag for a while would definitely rip her out of her comfort zone and get her back on a path to normal.
She put the phone down and headed for her closet. Jag was hungry and she needed a shower. She wanted to pack quickly so they could get out of here. The upcoming talk he insisted on having would be uncomfortable, not to mention the visit with the detective assigned to her case, but she’d wanted Jag’s help, and it looked like she was getting it.
Carly knew she had to be open and honest with him. Doing so might end any chance she had of becoming more than friends with the man…but so be it.
Carly was done being a coward. Even if it was easier said than done, she was moving on. Shawn Keyes had taken enough from her. It was time to put everything that had happened behind her and take back her life.
She wasn’t an idiot, she knew she could still be in danger. Luke was still out there somewhere, probably waiting for the perfect time to take his revenge for his father’s death, but determination rose within her. Somehow, with Jag by her side, she felt as if she could take on the world.
But with baby steps. First step, put the toxic environment of her apartment behind her for a while. Second step, shower and eat something besides ramen noodles. Third step…well, time would tell what that would be. But it wouldn’t be cowering in her apartment anymore.
With renewed determination, Carly continued to fill the suitcase.
* * *
Shawn’s accomplice stared out a window in his condo and scowled at the beautiful day. It wasn’t the sun he was pissed at, it washer. Carly Stewart.
Shawn had died because of that bitch. And she needed to pay for his death.
He’d been watching her, waiting for an opportunity for months. But she never left her fucking apartment.
