by Vella Day
The car slowed and Jamie jerked her attention to her surroundings. “Why are we pulling off? I thought your cabin was north of here.” The sign they’d just passed said Kalispell was another twenty miles up the road. Had he spotted something?
“Easy there. My place is east of here. It’s at the base of a smaller mountain range. I tell people it’s near Kalispell because no one has heard of Marie, Montana.”
“Oh.” Jamie sank back against the seat, letting the adrenaline ebb. One thing seemed clear to her, she’d lost her ability to keep things in perspective. The town must be small. “Can you see any neighbors from your cabin?”
He’d said it was remote, but remote to one person might mean something else to another.
“Not unless their house lights are on, and the trees have lost their leaves. Most of us own ten to twenty acres.” She didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. Max reached out and squeezed her arm. “Don’t worry, honey, I won’t let anyone get near you. Just so you know, I love to hunt and fish. That means I have several guns and rifles for game at the cabin. I also have a ton of fishing poles, but they won’t do us much good in a standoff.”
If he was trying to cheer her up, it didn’t work. “These men are terrorists. They could have rocket launchers.” All sorts of horrible images filled her mind, causing her stomach to sour.
“Jamie. A word to the wise. If you think about something too much, it might come true. You’ll have to trust me when I say, I won’t let them near you.”
He sounded confident, but he was only one man. “Are you saying I’m supposed to think of this as a vacation and not worry about these bad men?”
He chuckled. “If you can, that would be great.”
Like that was ever going to happen. Jamie grasped onto the seatbelt for some support and attempted to push aside the danger, but she couldn’t.
Seconds after exiting the main road, he entered a vacant parking lot in front of a closed general store. “Why are you stopping here? They’re not open.”
“Not yet.” He withdrew his phone from his pocket and called someone. “Hey, Hank. It’s Max. Need a favor.”
Chapter Eighteen
Max explained to this friend that he was on a mission for the FBI and needed not only supplies, but a lookout man. “Good. We’re parked in front now.” Max disconnected the call. “Hank will open up in a minute.”
“Was it wise to mention the FBI? You didn’t even tell your own assistant the truth when you asked him to send you report over to Chuck Forbes.”
“Didn’t have to. Rich is smart. He’ll figure out something’s up by the email address.”
Max did seem to have thought of everything. He, too, used the same family emergency excuse to explain why he’d be away for a few days, and while she’d only heard Max’s side of the conversation, Rich didn’t question him much.
“Hank, on the other hand, is a different matter. If I want his help, I needed to tell him something. Note, I didn’t mention anything about terrorists.”
Once more, Max’s logic prevailed. “I’ve never known a store owner to open up after hours.”
“The town’s small. We help each other.”
Coming from near Los Angeles, Rock Hard was small to her. “How small is small?”
“I’d say maybe four hundred residents in the summer, but only a handful in the winter. Marie picked this place because of its name.” Max looked out his window as if the memory was bittersweet.
Jamie could understand. “She sounds like someone I would have liked.”
Max looked back over at her. “Yeah, you would have.” The lights inside the store clicked on. “That’s our cue. Come on.”
A shot of adrenaline coursed through her. “Are you sure you can trust him?” Had she been the only person in the world to be fooled by others?
“I’ve known Hank for a long time. I trust him with my life.”
She hoped he didn’t have to test his faith. Max eased out then came over to her side. Jamie had already decided to wait until Max opened the door before getting out. More than ever, she had to remain vigilant.
He clasped her elbow to guide her down. “Watch your step.” The parking lot was mostly gravel.
The inside of the store was bigger than what appeared from the outside. The shelving was at least six feet tall, and the aisles were rather close together. Only half the overhead lights were on, casting eerie shadows on the floor. Given the owner had just unlocked the place, she didn’t expect anyone to be in hiding inside, but she studied her surroundings nonetheless. Not only were the shelves stocked with food, there was a section for ammunition, sporting equipment, and camping gear. It seemed to be a one-stop shop.
“Max!” Hank rushed over to them.
The owner looked to be in his sixties. He sported a barrel chest, thick forearms, and long, gray hair tied in a neat ponytail. The two men hugged.
Max glanced at the large man’s belly. “Hank, you old dog. Need to get some exercise.” While he sounded cheery, his tone seemed forced, as if he didn’t want Hank to know the severity of the situation.
His friend laughed. “That’s what the missus keeps saying. If she’d quit making her pies and all, I wouldn’t have this problem.” He looked over at her. “Who’s this pretty thing?”
Jamie probably looked closer to a drowned rat who’d been left outside to dry than someone who was attractive, but she appreciated the compliment.
“This is Amelia Langford.”
The breath she’d been about to inhale never went in as her mind raced. Why give a fake name if he trusted Hank with his life? What was going on? After giving the concept some thought, Max must not have wanted Hank to have to lie in case anyone came looking for her.
She relaxed, then held out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” He glanced back at Max. “She part of this FBI thing?”
“She is. Do me a favor. If anyone comes here asking for me, or us, give me a shout. I’d appreciate it if you don’t mention I’m with a woman.”
“They bad?”
“The worst. Amelia was an innocent victim, and I’m here to protect her.”
Hank held up his left palm, and placed the other on his chest. “My lips are sealed. No one will take you by surprise. Want me to let Sheriff Duncan know?”
“Wouldn’t hurt. Tell him there was a fire in Rock Hard, and the arsonists are looking for a way to keep the evidence from seeing the light of day. That is the truth.”
“You got it.” Hank sounded proud to be part of something important. She hoped he didn’t ask why the FBI would be involved in a local arson case.
Max looked down at her. “I haven’t been up to the cabin in a while, so we’ll need food. Let’s grab a cart and find what we need.”
“Thought you said you were coming up last weekend,” Hank said.
“Planned to. Got a bit delayed. The arson case kicked my butt.”
She snagged one of the three available carts, and they went up and down each aisle, stocking up on staples. The normalcy of their actions wasn’t lost on her, and she could almost picture herself shopping with Max all the time.
He stood in front of one of the refrigerator doors. “Do you drink milk in the morning or orange juice?”
They’d had coffee this morning. “Orange juice.”
He grabbed a carton and moved down a few feet. “Eggs and bacon?”
“Please.” Jamie had forgotten how nice it was to be with someone again, even if it was just for doing simple chores. She warned herself not to romanticize any of this. Her life was in danger, and that was what was important.
“Need some ammo?” Hank called from behind a shelf.
“I can always use more,” Max answered. “How about a box of 9 mm hollow point for my Glock, and two boxes of 12 gauge shotgun shells?”
“You got it.”
Max faced her. “I know all of this is hard.”
“I don’t like violence, but I know it’s necessary.”
He wrapped his arms around her for a second then kissed her forehead. “You’re a real trooper.”
“It’s not like I have much choice.”
He chuckled. “Got that right.” Hank came over and handed him the ammunition. Max waved one of the boxes at her. “If this had been a few months ago, I could have caught us a deer or an elk for dinner.” Max smiled, and suddenly her troubles seemed more distant.
“That’s okay. Packaged food’s fine with me.” Benny wasn’t into sports or anything else remotely manly, but Jamie liked knowing Max was so capable.
His lips quirked up. “Come on. Let’s check out. It’s getting late.”
Jamie tried to pay for half the groceries since she didn’t like being a burden, but Max wouldn’t hear of it. “You wouldn’t have bought so much stuff if I wasn’t with you.”
He laughed. “You eat like a bird.”
That was true, but she should still contribute. “I want to help.”
“Perfect. You can do all the cooking.”
Now he’d stepped over the line. “You want to starve?” This time, they both chuckled.
Hank helped Max stack the groceries in the back of the SUV. “Be careful, now. We’re expecting a bad storm tonight.”
“I heard,” Max replied. “We’ll be ready.”
That might have been why he’d purchased a ton of water jugs. He must think they might be holed up in the cabin for quite some time. In her dreams, she’d pictured being with Max. When they’d been almost naked in his bed, when he was kissing her, and sucking on her tits, she’d been in heaven. Jaime had never experienced anything like that before. Max had been gentle, but aggressive at the same time. No fumbling for this man. Now that they’d be together for days, excitement skated over her skin. Only this time, she wanted the intimacy.
As the men said goodbye, she jumped in the SUV. Not only didn’t she want to be a target, it was damned cold outside. Max slid in and started the engine.
Jamie ran her palms up and down her arms. “How far is it to your cabin?”
“Fifteen minutes, maybe.” He turned the heat on high. “It’ll warm up in a sec.”
In what seemed like no time, Max turned down a dirt road. Several hundred feet deep into the woods, his headlights illuminated a cute cabin.
“Home, sweet, home,” he said with enthusiasm.
She hoped he wouldn’t insist on sitting by the window, waiting for trouble. Jamie wanted to share in creating the meals, talking to him, and then exploring his body.
* * *
“Wait here while I check things out. I don’t want to assume we’re safe,” Max said. “I’ll leave the engine running so you can keep warm.”
“Thank you.” Jamie crossed her arms over her chest and sat up straighter, as if she expected trouble.
Damn. He probably shouldn’t have been so blunt, but when he was in protection mode, his instincts took over, leaving his tact behind. Even though Jamie seemed to understand the severity of the situation, he didn’t want her taking any chances.
While the padlock on the front door was still closed, a good soldier would know how to break in without making it obvious. Not that Max thought anyone would be in the house, but with Jamie in his care, he had to do whatever it took to make sure she remained unharmed.
At least he didn’t have to worry about someone cutting the line to the power grid. He wasn’t hooked up to it. He ran his house on solar energy. If the weather didn’t cooperate, the cabin had a back-up generator.
Max unlocked the cabin door and turned on the light. So far, so good. Nothing appeared disturbed, but that didn’t mean his location hadn’t been compromised. His rookie year, he’d walked into a crime scene and been surprised by a thief. Max had never made that mistake again.
He had no doubt the terrorists had figured out that Jamie was probably with him. If they followed her to the clinic, they would have seen him pick her up every day this week, which meant they probably had his license plate number, name, and who knew what else.
After he checked to see the windows were still locked and that no one was hidden in a closet, he rushed back to her. Max yanked open her car door. “All good. Go on in. I’ll bring in the groceries.”
“I can help.”
Damn. He kept forgetting about her caregiving nature. “Great.”
From the back, he handed her the two lightest bags. Max gathered what he could and followed right behind her. The porch lamp shed enough light on the path, so she shouldn’t trip. When she reached the front door, Max leaned around her, pressed on the door handle, and pushed it open. His arm brushed hers and unwanted heat shot through him. God, but he wanted to make love with her. He had to remember that Jamie would need time.
Seeing her house trashed then having the FBI step in, he bet she was too scared to let go and trust someone again.
Jamie rushed inside and glanced around. “I love it. The pine walls make it so rustic.”
Until she’d squealed her delight, he hadn’t realized he’d been waiting for her approval. “I love it here, too. The heat comes from a wood-burning stove in the corner over there, and the appliances won’t quite be what you’re used to, but they do the trick. About the only modern convenience I installed was the tankless water heater.”
“It’s more than I could have hoped for.”
He was thrilled she felt comfortable here. “Put the groceries on the counter while I get your bags.”
She spun to face him. “Uh-oh. You never went home to pack your things.”
He was pleased she thought of his needs. “I have a second set of everything. I like that I can leave at a moment’s notice. But thank you for thinking of me.”
As he jogged out to the car, he paid close attention to the sounds of the forest. It was isolated here. Shit. Maybe coming to the cabin hadn’t been the ideal solution he thought it would be. His only other option had been to choose a random town and a random hotel. They’d have to move nightly in order for Jamie to have the needed security.
Max had to go on the assumption that these men were sophisticated technologically, and that they could trace all credit card transactions, which meant he’d have to get cash that didn’t come from a bank. He prayed they could stay put for a few days at least. He didn’t want to go on the run. Jamie would be looking over her shoulder at every turn, and that was no way to live.
Christ. When they were shopping at Hank’s, he should have gotten a burner phone. Then they could communicate without fear of detection. Damn. He wasn’t thinking straight. Max gathered her suitcases and brought them inside. “I’ll put these in your bedroom, then get the fire started.”
She let out a small gasp. “Can’t I sleep with you?”
Chapter Nineteen
Max’s cock hardened at the thought of being next to Jamie all night. He rushed over to her. “Of course, honey. I’d like that. I wanted to give you the choice of where to stay. That’s all. I know this is a trying time for you.”
She smiled, and relief washed through him. “Thank you, you’re a kind man.”
“Just kind? I’m hoping you can come up with a few other adjectives for me later on.” He smiled and turned around just as he caught her eye roll. He loved trying to get her to relax.
Once in his bedroom, he placed her bags on his bed, and then checked to see he’d left the bathroom in good condition. The refrigerator door banged shut, reminding him she was in the main room alone.
He hustled back out. “Find everything?”
“Yes. I like how you’ve organized the food the same way I would have.”
“Good. Let me get started on warming up the place before we freeze.” She hadn’t removed her coat yet.
She looked up at him. “Do you have a specific place you want me to put things?”
“Wherever you like, but how about keeping a few of the non-refrigerated items in a separate pile?”
Her brows pinched. “In case we have to leave in a hurry? For when they find us?”
> There went her cheer. Damn. This uncertainty couldn’t be good for her sense of control. “Yes.” When Jamie’s lip trembled, Max returned to her side and hugged her. “Don’t worry. There’s only one main road up here, and Hank will keep an eye out for us.”
There was a back road, too, but it lead up and over the mountain. He doubted anyone would come that way, as there were numerous switchbacks and pitted roads that could snap an axle if one went too fast.
She looked off to the side. “Terrorists don’t always come in cars, I bet. They’re probably military men who would think to stash their vehicles somewhere, then hike in through the woods.” Jamie’s hands fisted at her side.
She was a smart one. “This isn’t the movies, honey. I don’t think a lot of them are highly trained military operatives who’ve gone to the dark side.” He wanted to tell her everything was going to be okay, but he never was one to lie. “I know you’re scared. Hell, I am, too, but if you think about all of the ‘what ifs’ too much, you won’t sleep. Considering we’re a good eight miles from town, and the undergrowth is next to impossible to get through, I don’t think they’ll come by foot.”
He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. When she moaned, he had to pull away for fear he wouldn’t be able to stop. He tapped the counter next to her. “I’ll leave it up to you how much you want to keep out. Then you need to hit the hay.”
“What about you? I’m not sleeping alone.”
God, but he adored this woman. Jamie was more resilient than any person he’d met. “Trust me. You won’t be.”