Finding Carly (SEAL Team Hawaii #5)(5)

Carly had never been so glad to see anyone in her entire life. Making the decision to try to move on with her life wasn’t easy. She was petrified. But the second Jag pulled her into his embrace, she felt as if she could breathe for the first time since…well, since the last time she’d seen him at Kenna’s wedding.

Her hands clutched the material of Jag’s shirt at his back and she rested her cheek on his chest. His hair had gotten longer since she’d seen him last, almost hanging into his eyes. He had a scruffy almost-beard on his face, and his eyes were bloodshot…but Carly had never seen anyone as handsome in her entire life.

Jag wasn’t a talkative man. She’d noticed that about him the first time she’d met him at Duke’s. He was content to let conversation flow around him. But she didn’t need words. She just needed his strength. His competence. He made her feel protected simply by being near. It was a mistake to fall for this man, Carly knew it, but she had a feeling it was too late.

Kenna had told her once that Jag was extremely mysterious. That Aleck had mentioned no one knew much about his childhood or his life before joining the SEALs. But she didn’t care if he was raised by a pack of wolves in Siberia…the man he’d grown into was honorable and trustworthy. Maybe even a bit scary, but frightening only in the sense that Carly knew he wouldn’t hesitate to do harm to anyone who dared hurt someone he cared about. And that was what Carly needed right now. To feel safe. Jag did that for her.

She felt him shuffling them backward, but she didn’t let go, didn’t lift her head from his chest, wasn’t sure she could. All of a sudden, her sleepless nights seemed to catch up with her. She had no idea what time it was, but she knew it was late…or early. Time had ceased to have meaning for her. She muddled through her days and nights trying not to think about what Luke would do when he finally got his hands on her.

When she did fall asleep, her dreams were full of terror. Of Shawn yelling at her, telling her she was pathetic and useless. Of blood, as father and son tortured her with knives and laughed as she begged for her life. Needless to say, she hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in a very long time.

Jag moved them into her room and took hold of her shoulders, forcing her away from his body. Carly shivered at the loss of contact.

“You need to use the bathroom?” he asked.

Carly wanted to smile at how blunt he was. But she didn’t have it in her. She shook her head.

“I do. It’s been a long day and night for me. Climb in. I’ll be back in a moment.”

Carly swallowed a protest and nodded, reminding herself that she’d made a decision to stop being so damn cowardly.

But Jag seemed to read her mind. He leaned down and rested his forehead on hers. He kept his hands on her shoulders, and Carly couldn’t help but grab hold of his shirt at his sides. They stood like that for at least a minute or two before she took a deep breath.

“I’m okay,” she whispered.

Jag lifted his head and studied her. In return, Carly took her own long, hard look at him, as well. She knew she looked rough, but he looked absolutely shattered. She could see the strain around his eyes. His clothes were wrinkled, and he actually swayed in front of her slightly.

“How long has it been since you’ve slept?” she blurted.

His lips quirked. “What day is today?” he asked.

Which answered her question. For the first time in a long time, something shifted deep inside her. She wanted to take care of him, which was kind of ridiculous because Jag was obviously a man who could take care of himself, and everyone around him. But it didn’t stop her from wanting to do it.

Forcing herself to let go of his shirt, she took a step backward. “Go,” she ordered, gesturing toward her small bathroom with her head. “If you want to shower, feel free.”

Jag shook his head. “Would take too long,” he muttered. “I’ll be out in a minute or so.”

He waited until she took a step toward her bed before heading for the bathroom.

Carly’s heart beat hard and fast in her chest as she pulled back the sheet and climbed onto her bed. She lay back and stared at the mostly shut door across the room. She heard the toilet flush and the water in the sink come on. The unmistakable sound of Jag brushing his teeth met her ears. He’d obviously found the unopened toothbrush she’d gotten the last time she’d been to the dentist and hadn’t used yet…at least she hoped he had. She liked Jag, but the thought of him using her toothbrush was kind of gross.

But she had no time to think about it anymore when the door opened and the light from the bathroom shut off. Jag reappeared, striding over to the wall next to the entrance and turning off the overhead light.

Carly blinked in the sudden darkness. She’d been sleeping with the light on, because the dark seemed to overwhelm her. Just when she was about to tell Jag to turn the light back on, he left the room, then she saw a soft glow coming from the hallway. Jag had turned on a light in her living room. When he returned, he kept her bedroom door open, letting just enough light in to make her feel more comfortable.

To her surprise, he then reached for his shirt. He peeled it off over his head and leaned down to untie his boots.

“Um, Jag?”

“Yeah?”

“What are you doing?”

He stopped mid-stoop and looked up at her. He slowly straightened. “Getting ready for bed.”