Cassie braced herself before turning her full attention to Devon. Her heart knocked against her ribs and her breath froze as his emerald eyes seared into her. He was sitting casually in the chair; his cards were held loosely in his long fingered hand, his long legs stretched before him. Though his posture was one of relaxation she could feel the tension vibrating through him. There was a hum of power in him that was out of place with a normal human, but she couldn’t resist it.

“Cassie.” She loved the sound of his voice, the melodic flow of it. It did not wipe away the awful events of the night, but it helped to soothe some of the raw hurt, guilt, and fear that had taken up residence in her soul.

“I told you she’d be home before ten, that’s when the library closes.” Her grandma threw a card onto the table, reaching forward she moved some pegs on the cribbage board. “Your dinner is still warming in the oven dear, why don’t you grab it while I finish beating your friend in cribbage.”

Cassie’s eyes flew back to Devon, widening in surprise. He was playing her grandma in cribbage? She stared at him in disbelief as he grinned back at her. “She thinks she’s going to beat me, but she’s wrong.”

“Oh, but I will.”

Cassie shook her head, turning slowly away. The whole night had been surreal, but this part of it seemed absolutely ludicrous. The object of her obsession, solace, and turmoil was sitting at her dining room table playing cribbage with her grandmother for crying out loud! She wondered if she had somehow managed to fall asleep in the cemetery, she felt that would make more sense than this.

Though she was no longer hungry, she robotically gathered the warm plate of chicken from the oven. The extra plate still sitting there, waiting for Chris, caused a tug at her heart. Her gaze darted to the window, but nothing had changed across the street. Turning stiffly away, she gathered silverware and napkins. She was reaching for a glass when she felt him against her. She started slightly, for he had been as silent as a ghost, but the feel of him was instantly soothing to her raw nerves. His chest pressed lightly against her shoulder, his hand reached slowly around her to grab two glasses from the cabinet.

Cassie instinctively melted against him, needing the strength of his body to wash away the ragged wounds of the night. Seeming to sense her fierce need, he brushed her hair gently back; his long fingers caressed her neck as he kissed her temple gently. “How did studying go?”

She had been so lost in his touch that the question took her by surprise. “Huh? Oh ah, fine, it was fine.”

“That’s good. Your grandmother would like a ginger ale.”

Cassie took the glasses from him. Turning she met his fierce, heated gaze. Ripples of pleasure shot through her. It took all she had not to throw her arms around him, bury herself in his embrace and forget all the worries of the world. But she couldn’t do it. Not with her grandmother in the next room, not with Chris across the street wounded and broken, and not with some monster hunting their town.

“Ok.” She moved reluctantly away from him, opening the fridge she removed the ginger ale and root beer. “How long have you been here for?”

“Not long. I wanted to check on you after today, maybe take you for a walk.”

Cassie shuddered at the thought of being outside again, exposed to that evil, vulnerable to it. “That would have been nice, little late now,” she mumbled in response.

“Hm.” He was studying her intently when she turned back around. Before she knew what he was doing, he reached forward and plucked a blade of grass from the arm of the coat she had forgotten to take off. His eyebrows lifted questioningly as he held it up.

“Gym,” she lied poorly.

He smiled softly, but she had the feeling that he didn’t believe her for a second. “Didn’t realize it was that cold out today,” he said softly.

“I chill easily.”

His smile widened as he took the glasses from her. “I’ll have to keep you warm then.” Cassie’s mouth went dry, her toes curled at the promise in his husky words. “Come watch me whoop your grandmother in cribbage.”

Cassie swallowed heavily, managing a small nod. Settling down at the dining room table, her nose involuntarily wrinkled at the sight of the board. Try as she might, she had never caught onto cribbage. It was a fact that her grandma found very disappointing, as she loved the game and always wanted Cassie to play with her. “Thank you Devon, very kind of you.”

Her grandma shot her a pointed look; there was a suggestive tilt to her eyebrows as she took her glass from him. Cassie fought against the fierce blush creeping up her cheeks. Focusing on her plate, she picked absently at the pieces of chicken and mashed potatoes. She watched silently as they continued the game, trading quips and laughing softly as their pieces progressed around the board. Cassie didn’t have the foggiest idea who was winning, but from the smile on her grandma’s face she assumed it was her.

With a cry of joy, her grandma moved her peg again and leaned victoriously back in her chair. “I believe that is game.”

Devon grinned at her, his black hair fell boyishly across his forehead. Cassie’s heart warmed and melted, her fingers itched to brush it back for him. “And a very good one, I wouldn’t mind a rematch some time.”

“That would be nice. My cribbage team only plays every two weeks, and I wouldn’t mind a few practice games in between.”

Devon turned his charming grin on Cassie. “Don’t you play?”

Cassie shook her head as she pushed her plate away. “Cassie has never liked cribbage,” her grandma explained.

“Truly? It is a very interesting game, when played right.”

Cassie frowned over his words, they sounded so grown up, so outdated. Who said truly anymore? Her doubts reared back to painful life, crushing any of the small bliss she had found in the last hour. Her fingers clenched around her glass as she tried to rid herself of the nagging, awful suspicions lurking in her mind.

“I never really grasped it,” she admitted slowly, searching his gaze, looking for answers that she knew weren’t there.

“Then I’ll have to teach you one day.” Though he grinned at her, his eyes were darker, more intense. “You’ll enjoy it once you learn.”

“I’ve tried, but it’s not my game.”

“But if you want a rousing hand of rummy, poker, or spades, Cassie is your girl,” her grandma chimed in merrily, apparently unaware of the sudden tension in the room.

“Interesting,” Devon replied, his gaze never leaving Cassie’s. “Spades and Faro are two of my favorite games.”

Her grandma perked up. “You know how to play Faro?”

Devon turned slowly away. Cassie found herself able to breathe again as she inhaled sharply. She hadn’t even realized that she had stopped breathing until her lungs greedily gulped down air. “Yes, my grandfather taught me.”

“How fascinating, I love Faro! Though, I know almost no one that can play it.”

“I have the same problem, it’s a lost game.”

Cassie couldn’t stop herself from wondering how lost it was. She had never played the game, never even heard of it before. Who was this man sitting in her dining room with her and her grandmother? Her gaze darted to her grandma, fear turned through her as she realized that she may have also put her grandma’s life in danger by allowing this stranger into their lives.

The thought was ridiculous, she knew that. He had never done anything but prove himself to her. Yet here she was, suddenly very suspicious, and slightly frightened of him. It was absolutely ludicrous, he had never hurt her before, and he’d had plenty of opportunities to do so. In fact, he had protected her today, kept her safe from Mark’s anger, put himself in between her and Mark’s crazed advance. He had risked his own safety in order to keep her protected.

She was being unfair, she knew that, but she couldn’t stop her doubts and worries. No matter how hard she tried, they would not shut off.

“But a very interesting, entertaining one!” her grandma said brightly. “We must play sometime, I’m sure Cassie would love it. She enjoys all of the gambling games, and she’s very good at them.”

“I would like that. A card shark huh?” His intense, penetrating gaze swung back to Cassie. “Wonders never cease.”

“Just lucky,” she mumbled.

“Exceptionally lucky. If she ever hits Vegas, she’ll break the place.”

“Let’s test that luck.” Devon grabbed hold of the deck of cards, his long fingers shuffled so swiftly through them that Cassie could hardly see the cards flashing by. He was amazingly talented with them. “What do you want to play? Three hand spades? Seven card? Dealer’s choice?”

“Dealer’s choice,” her grandma piped up. “I’ll get the pennies.”

Her grandma leapt gracefully to her feet, heading into the kitchen where she kept the jar of pennies they used when they played cards. There had been many nights when Chris would join them, and almost as many, when Luther and Melissa would come over. Those nights had become few and far between over the past year, a fact that Cassie hadn’t realized until now.

A stab of guilt hit her as she realized just how distant she had grown from her grandma over the past year. She turned toward Devon, thankful for giving her this opportunity to spend time with her grandmother, especially now, with the danger and death that lurked around them. There may not be many of these nights left to share with each other.

She met his gaze, her doubts slipping away as she found herself charmed by the small smile he gave her. “Are you feeling lucky tonight?” he inquired softly.

Her toes curled, her face flamed. She hadn’t been feeling lucky at all, not until now, that is. “Maybe,” she responded with a teasing grin.

His eyes twinkled merrily in the light. “I hope so.”

Her mouth went dry, her fingers clenched at the innuendo beneath his smooth tone. “Here we are.”

Her grandma arrived again, happily slapping the jar of pennies down in front of Cassie. “Count them out dear, a dollar each.” Cassie dove at the pennies, grateful for the distraction they offered from the man sitting beside her. “Maybe Chris would like to play with us.”

Cassie shook her head, pausing at twenty three to look at her grandma. “He’s staying home tonight, he’s tired.”

A knowing, sad gleam came into her grandmother’s eyes as she leaned back in her chair. “I see.”

Cassie couldn’t stop herself from glancing back at Devon. He was smiling knowingly at her, a promising gleam in his eyes as he leaned forward. “Get those pennies counted.”

She swallowed heavily, her heart hammering with the knowledge that he would return to her room tonight. She thought her head would explode from the blood pounding rapidly through it. Anticipation filled her, causing her fingers to shake as she returned to counting the copper mound before her. She had to recount them three times as she kept losing her concentration, but finally she was able to get one dollar together.

Devon took mercy on her, taking the jar away to count out the remaining two dollars. When he was done, he leaned elegantly back in his chair, dealing the cards swiftly out to them. “Five card stud, penny ante.”

Cassie took hold of her cards, but her thoughts were not on the suits before her. She didn’t think she would ever be able to concentrate on anything when he was near. He squashed any reasonable thoughts that filled her mind; instead it was filled completely with him, and his presence.

After a little while Cassie found herself relaxing, laughing and joking with them both. The horrifying events from the night were not forgotten, but they did not burn as brightly inside her. The comforting company of the people beside her helped to ease the wounds and pain that the night had inflicted. She hadn’t realized how badly she needed to have a relaxing, easy night, until now.

They played for almost two hours, until somehow Cassie managed to win all of the pennies. Tossing in the last hand, Devon leaned forward as Cassie happily scooped up her winnings, which would be returned to the jar. “I guess you are lucky,” he remarked, his eyebrows lifted boyishly.

Cassie grinned back at him. “I suppose so.”

“Well kids, it is getting late, don’t forget that you have school tomorrow,” her grandma said gently.

Cassie shook her head. “Subtle grandma.”

“I try dear,” she replied brightly. “Devon it was a pleasure to meet you.” She extended her hand to him, grasping tightly hold of his. “You must come by more often. We will get everyone together to play next time. Perhaps we’ll teach them Faro, maybe it will be the one game that Cassie can’t win.”

“I doubt it.” He flashed the beautiful smile Cassie was sure had melted many female hearts before, and her grandmother appeared to be no exception. “But it will be fun to see if we could beat her.”