Lift You Up (Rivers Brothers 1)

"Thank you, King. I didn't know where to go."

"You came to the right place," I assured her, making myself a promise to prove that statement true.

"Could you, ah, bring me back to my car?" she asked, draining the last of her coffee.

"Sweetheart, no. You can't go back to your car. Or your place for that matter," I added, shaking my head when her gaze shot to mine, panic shining through.

I could see the thoughts racing around, trying to figure out where she could go. Her family - just her mom and dad, really - were retired down in Florida, Savea being their only daughter, a very late in life child who had been on her own for long enough that they felt it was okay to pack up and leave her all on her own in her hometown.

She had a network of friends - Peyton and Jamie most especially. Then she had my brother-in-law's family that would all let her stay if she wanted to.

And she could do that.

If she wanted.

If she was more comfortable with that.

But not until I was sure it was safe to head out.

So not tonight.

"You can crash here, Savvs," I told her, waving a hand toward the bedroom. "For tonight or as long as you need. We can't leave right now. I don't know if the guys know you came in here. It's not safe until morning."

"Oh, ah. Okay. You're... I don't know how to thank you," she said.

"You don't need to thank me," I told her, taking the mug from her hands. "Come on. Let's get you settled in bed. You've got to be exhausted."

I knew from the conversations I'd overheard that she got up at the crack of dawn every morning to get to work, that she often closed the place down more than fifteen hours later. She had to be running on fumes, a sensation I was intimately acquainted with.

Clicking followed us as we moved down the hall, a certain four-legged friend seeming to sense the presence of someone who would let him sleep in bed with them whereas I tended to instruct him to sleep on one of his giant, fluffy, expensive beds, knowing Padfoot was an epic shedder, and not wanting to have to change the sheets every damn night.

"You coming to snuggle me?" Savea asked, voice tripping into that high and honey-sweet voice women always used with animals. "You're a good boy. But I get the pillows," she added, sitting off the edge of the bed, patting the space beside her.

I won't deny I had less than normal thoughts right then.

Namely, Lucky bastard.

"Are there enough blankets? It's a little cold in here."

"Oh, this is nothing," she said, pulling the blankets up over her body. "I swear my place is insulated with newspapers. You can see your breath in the mornings from October to March. King, thanks again," she told me, taking a deep breath, offering me a weak smile with tired eyes.

"Don't mention it, sweetheart. Get some sleep, okay? We'll talk in the morning," I assured her, moving out into the hallway, watching her roll onto her side, resting her face in Padfoot's thick fur, seeking comfort I found myself wanting to give.

But only because she was a close family friend.

No other reason.

Of course.

"Goodnight, King," she called, voice already sleepy as I moved toward the kitchen.

"Goodnight," I called back, settling myself down on the couch, already knowing there wasn't a chance of sleep in my future.

So I got to work.

Made calls.

Sent out texts.

Trying to put feelers out, see if any of the major players in town had any idea what Harry was into, who might be willing to beat him and chase an innocent girl through the streets.

By the time I heard Savvy moving around in the bedroom - just after sunup as was her custom - I had heard back from everyone, getting me nowhere.

Her fingers were freeing the braids out of her hair as her bare feet slid across the floor, Padfoot walking behind her, dropping down into a stretch and impressive yawn, not used to being up quite so early.

"Oh, hey," she said, stopping short at seeing me. "I never find anyone who gets up earlier than me," she told me with a head shake that allowed all her hair to tumble free, some strands still looking wet even from hours before. "Do you want me to take Paddy for a walk?" she asked, smiling down at him as he rushed up to greet me, tail working fast enough to knock my laptop off the coffee table.

"Hey, bud. No, I got it. It will give me a chance to look around while you caffeinate and have something to eat. There are eggs or oatmeal. Granola bars if you aren't a breakfast person," I told her as I found Padfoot's leash. "Oh, and Nixon is on his way over," I added, watching as she nearly gave herself whiplash she spun so fast, eyes big, lips parted.