Page 36 of Her Noble Protector

“Really. He’s a man. This is in the sisterhood.”

Lisa turned on her bed so she could see Raiden staring through the window, then she turned back and hunched over to whisper into the phone. “Hurry, okay?”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

11

Raiden smiled as he slouched over the large Wal-Mart shopping cart in the outskirts of Tempe Arizona. His eyes flicked down to the shopping list again. Cami sure had loaded him up. He would have never guessed she’d behave like his mother, but she was showing signs of a Sato woman. The only difference was that his mother would have had him inside cleaning. He hated the fact that he wasn’t. Instead, he was here, picking up supplies.

Cami’s and Lisa’s reunion had been a sight to behold. He hadn’t been able to get Cami to jump the fence and take her out to the patio, so it had to be on the front porch. He wasn’t sure that Lisa would open the door, but she had. Just the tiniest little bit, then she’d wormed her way out onto the stoop. Even though it was evening and it had cooled down, Lisa was sweating, and Raiden knew it was nerves. Cami had been good—she didn’t make any sudden moves, didn’t go in for a hug, even though Raiden knew that she was dying to.

Lisa was wearing the same thing she had worn the night before for dinner—the short set and the cardigan. Her hair had looked limp, and she looked scared as hell, but then she looked up and gave Cami a half-smile.

“You’re dating a Navy SEAL, huh?”

She about knocked him over.

My girl is teasing Cami. Halle-fucking-lujah!

Cami immediately went with it. “I absolutely am. His name is Nicolas Hale. He was my high school sweetheart, then he showed up as part of the rescue party in Mexico, do you believe it?”

Lisa’s eyes got wide, but it seemed that she’d spent her shot. She just nodded, wasn’t able to say anything in return, but Cami was patient with her.

“I’m so glad you invited me here, Lisa,” Cami said softly.

Lisa nodded.

“Can I come in?”

Lisa froze. She straight up froze. Then she gave a wild shake of her head.

“Lisa,” Raiden said in a calming voice. “Would it be possible for you to go get the key to the back fence padlock and bring it to the patio door? That way Cami can come to the patio. She hasn’t been trained to jump fences like I have.”

Raiden watched her hands clenching and unclenching by her side. That was when he also noticed that the knuckles on her right hand were bruised and raw. That explained the sounds he’d heard this morning.

Dammit!

“I’m not sure.” Lisa stumbled over the words.

Huh? What was she not sure of?

Raiden shook his head and got focused. “Lisa, honey, don’t you want Cami to visit out on the patio?” he asked softly.

Her head jerked up to him and she gave him a confused look, then she seemed to gather herself and she nodded. “Uhm, yeah.” She turned back to Cami. “I’m really glad you came.” Then Raiden was blown away when he saw her reach out and touch Cami’s right hand with her left. “Thank you.”

Lisa quickly turned and slipped back into her house.

That had been three hours ago. After that Raiden had gotten to watch miracles. Lisa had brought out the key and he’d opened the back fence to let Cami into the backyard. He had watched as two women bonded like they really were long-lost sisters. It had been a beautiful sight to behold. Then they’d snuck into Lisa’s house, and twenty minutes later, Cami had come out with a list of supplies and he’d been sent on his way. Who knew that Wal-Mart was open until eleven o’clock at night?

* * *

“I’m telling you, I work at a university. This has nothing on college dorm rooms, let alone fraternity houses,” Camilla said with a smile.

Lisa watched as Camilla pulled out a load of laundry and tossed it in the dryer, then tossed in the sheets, added some soap, and started the machine.

“Camilla—”

“You can call me Cami, all of Nic’s friends do,” Camilla said for the fourth time. She casually put her arm around Lisa then led her toward the dining room table that was divested of all the clutter and positioned her down into a seat. “You better sit down before you fall down.”