Page 10 of Journey To Sunrise (Protectors of Jasper Creek #6)

Chapter Seven

Zarek

We’d spent the night in Little Rock, and she’d perked up when we’d found a Stuckey’s convenience store. I pulled over for coffee and let Chloe use the restroom. She actually smiled when we got inside, and it warmed my heart.

“What’s got you so excited, Cupcake?”

“Do you remember Tabitha Ryder?”

I vaguely remembered a girl from elementary school. I nodded.

“Her mom took us to Stuckey’s for her birthday one year. She let each of us get our own invisible ink question book and bought us all pecan log roll candy.”

“If it will get you eating, I’ll buy out their inventory.”

“They’re really sweet, I don’t think I could handle too much,” she protested. “I’ll be right back.” She headed toward the back where the bathrooms were. I did a quick tour of the store and had made my purchases by the time Chloe had returned.

“What’s in the bag?”

“Stuff for the road. Come on, we’re burning daylight.

” I caught her hand and headed back out in the heat.

I’d parked close to the entrance so she didn’t have to walk far since I knew her foot was still bothering her.

I’d checked it last night in the hotel and didn’t see any sign of an infection, but she was still favoring her left foot.

Thirty miles later, I grinned when I heard the bag rustle.

“Did I say you could look in there?”

“I want my pecan log roll.”

“Who said I bought one?”

“You’re as transparent as glass, Zarek Post. I want my treat.”

My grin turned into a laugh.

Score!

“Help yourself. I even got some wet naps because I knew you would make a mess.”

I spared a glance from the road and looked at Chloe. She wasn’t even scowling at me for the insult. Instead, she was looking at the caramel pecan candy like it was a slice of heaven. It was the first time I had seen her look truly happy since seeing her yesterday.

I blinked rapidly.

Fuck.

“Zarek, it tastes just like I remembered!” she cried happily.

“That’s good, Chloe. That’s really good,” I said past the lump in my throat.

* * *

Chloe

I ended up sleeping most of the way from Arkansas to Dallas. I woke up at the sound of a dog barking. I realized I was inside a garage. It had to be Zarek’s.

“Friend, Slayer.” I heard Zarek say outside the truck.

Then I heard the bark again. “Quiet, Slayer, you’ll wake her.”

He sounded like a big dog. When the passenger side door opened and paws settled on my seat, a mammoth black dog with intelligent eyes stared deep into my soul. I take that back. It wasn’t a big dog, it was a gargantuan dog. A humongous dog. It was a behemoth.

I glared at Slayer.

He watched me with a gentle look. Dammit, he seemed to be looking at me with love.

I didn’t need one more male who would try to boss me around. Try to get me to come out of my shell. Even if he was big and beautiful.

Slayer let out a small huff.

“Please, I can’t deal.”

He whined.

I looked past the huge animal at Zarek who was standing behind his dog.

Zarek shrugged. “Don’t look at me, this is between you two.”

Slayer laid his curly black head on my thighs. I pushed my fingers through the silk of his fur. I swear that the dog moaned in pleasure.

“I think you’ve just been adopted.” Zarek smiled.

“Which one of us are you talking to?” I asked.

“Both of you. Let’s get you into the house.” Zarek snapped his fingers and Slayer stepped back from the truck and went to his master’s side.

“What kind of dog is he?”

“He’s a Bouvier des Flandres. Very territorial of his house and his people.” Zarek helped me step down from the truck.

“Why was he nice to me?”

“He’s got good instincts.”

“Seriously.”

“I told him you were a friend, and what’s more, you smelled like me.”

He leaned into the back seat of the cab and pulled out the overnight bags. I glanced to the bed of the truck that had more of my things that he had packed the day before yesterday from my house. He saw me looking.

“Is there anything in there that you need tonight, or can it wait for tomorrow to be unloaded?” he asked.

“Tomorrow is fine.”

“Let’s get you inside.”

Instead of waiting for him to assist me, I grabbed my bag of candy and jumped out of the truck, landing wrong on my bad foot, and gasped in pain.

“Dammit, Chloe, can’t you just wait for a second and let someone help you?”

“It’s not that bad,” I said as I gingerly stepped forward. Zarek put his arm around me and guided me toward the door that led into the house. The first thing that struck me was the bouquet of flowers on the kitchen counter. I looked at Zarek in confusion.

“They’re for you.”

“You got me flowers for invading your space? Are you out of your mind?” I moved forward towards them, and he continued to support me, so I didn’t put additional weight onto my foot.

“They’re beautiful. How did you arrange these? Seriously, you’re crazy.” The man got me flowers when I was nothing but deranged burden from his past.

“Luke was dog-sitting for me. I told him to pick up a bouquet of daffodils for you. I pray to God the guest bedroom has clean sheets. He said he would take care of things.”

I touched the flower petals. Zarek was doing things that made me feel. It was exactly what I wanted to avoid. The candy, the flowers, the dog…the man. I whirled on him, flinching when my foot hurt.

“Stop it!”

“Huh?”

“Just back off.”

“Whoa, Chloe, what’s wrong?”

“I need space. I know you want to fix me, just like Trenda and Zoe want. But it’s too much, too soon. Take your damn flowers, candy, and dog and go to hell!” Here I was yelling, and I wanted to cry. So much for an escape.

“Honey, calm down. What can I do for you? Food? Rest? Bathroom? Batting cage?”

“Don’t try to play me, dammit.”

“I’m not, I swear.” But he was. He was watching me intently. It was clear that he planned to counter every one of my complaints or arguments. Or he was going to try to placate me. I needed away from him before I just started crying and let him comfort me again.

“Show me where the guest bedroom is.”

“Chloe, you should eat something besides pecan and caramel candy.”

“I’m a big girl; if I get hungry, I’ll raid your kitchen.” I bit out the words. I needed out of here. Away from him. “Just show me where I’m sleeping,” I requested bitterly.

Zarek must have seen my resolution, because he nodded. He continued to keep his arm around me as he guided me down the hall towards a bedroom decorated in blue and cream.

“The bathroom is across the hall, and my bedroom is at the end of the hallway. I’m going to keep my door open in case you need me.”

“I won’t.”

“Slayer will be up roaming the halls. If you don’t want him to check on you, keep your door closed.”

I watched as Zarek put down my suitcase on the bed. As he was leaving the room, he turned to me. “Do you want the door open or closed?”

“Closed.”

He sighed as he closed the door.

It was an hour later after struggling to go to sleep that I got up from bed and opened the door. I found Slayer right there waiting for me.

“What are you doing?”

The big dog huffed.

Slayer followed me into the room as I went back to bed. He laid down on the floor, his head resting on his paws, looking up at me. If he could talk, I was sure he would be telling me that it was okay for me to go to sleep, he would keep me safe. With that thought in mind, I closed my eyes.