by Danae Little
Her heart hammered, and she was sure her eyes looked as big as saucers.
“It will all be alright, Syd.” He took her shoulders in his large hands, gazing calmly down into her eyes. He was focused and intense, but calm. She didn’t know those emotions could exist at the same time. His lips brushed against her forehead, and then he opened the door. “You get started, Sweetie. I just need to grab something.”
Sydney quickly locked the door behind him before resting her ear against the wood. Adrenaline pricked through her as the small bathroom filled with steam. She could hear doors being slammed open, some rummaging around in the bedroom, and then the sounds of cartridges being clicked into place. Three light knocks sounded on the door.
“It’s me, Syd.”
She quickly unlocked the door and he rushed in, closing it behind him.
“The house is secure for now. Guardian isn’t barking either.”
“Are you sure you saw them?” Her eyes searched his. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe him. She just didn’t want it to be the truth.
“Certain.” His eyes met hers. “Three males. Two medium built. One large.”
“Should we call Wil?” Her nose scrunched up with the thought. It had only been a few hours since he had tried to make a move on her.
“I...” Jameson looked down and then back at her. “Don’t you wonder why these guys showed up when they did?”
It took her a moment to process what Jameson suggested. She took a step back. No. Wil couldn’t be involved in something like this. Sure, he was an adulterous jerk, but organized crime? She shook her head.
“It’s something we have to keep in mind, Syd.” Jameson’s voice gentled, taking on the horse-whispering tone again. A thick finger smoothed a strand of her hair back behind her ears. “We’re going to get through this.”
She nodded, wishing she could think more about the real and dangerous predicament they were in rather than the sensation of electricity ripping through her with Jameson’s every touch.
He pulled his shirt off in one swift motion, leaving her staring at his naked torso. Her mouth hung open. Then he unbuttoned his pants. Reaching past her, he took a towel and wrapped it around his neck. Somehow his eyes never left hers the entire time.
He then looked away long enough to dip his head in the running shower water. When stood in front of her again, he rubbed his wet hair with the towel and little droplets ran down his smooth chest.
Sydney couldn’t breathe. Her heart raced and her mouth went dry. What was he doing? Her body betrayed her as she reached a hand out to touch his rock hard chest. His skin seared her fingers, jolting her back into the situation. Three men lurked outside her house and all because of this man standing shirtless in the steamy bathroom.
Jameson pulled up the hand gun, checked the bullets and cocked it. “Now I look like I rinsed off. You stay here while I do one more sweep.”
She nodded.
Moments later, he knocked on the door and called her name. It had given her the time to get her body back under control.
He reached in and turned the shower off. Then he handed her the shotgun. He held the rifle in his other hand. “The house is still clean.”
“The men?”
“No signs. Guardian is curled up in his normal spot on the porch. There’s no movement indicated.” He searched her eyes and then led her to the couch. “I know this is a lot to take in.”
“Then why do you seem so calm?” she asked him, her eyes narrowing.
He shrugged and ran his hand over his head. “It all feels familiar. Too familiar.”
“You’re a cop.” She nodded, doing her best to believe the statement was true. “I don’t know what type, but definitely some type of cop. The question is, why were you left for dead on the side of the road?”
“That is the million dollar question, isn’t it?” He graced her with a one-sided grin that melted her heart and had her scrambling to remember what they were up against.
~10~
Jameson had insisted that Sydney sleep in her bed rather than the cramped couch as he stood watch in the living room. He had double checked all the windows, drawn the curtains, and walked her to the bedroom. He checked the window, under the bed, and in the closet before telling her goodnight.
He heard her tossing and turning. His stomach clenched. The poor lady was enduring this fear because of him. Eventually, she stilled, and he sighed with relief that she was able to get some rest.
It didn’t last long though. Chills ran down Jameson’s spine as she let out a scream. He was in her room in less than two seconds. Nothing moved in the room besides Syd who quivered in bed, mumbling, and twitching.
“Syd, Syd.” Jameson kept his voice calm and soothing as he brushed the hair from out of her face.
She fought to open her eyes, and when she did, they opened wide. He could see the fear ripping through her as her body shook.
“You screamed,” Jameson soothed her. “It was just a dream. You’re safe.”
She blinked a few times before closing her eyes again and nuzzling into the hand he let rest on her head. Soft light poured in from the hallway. Only a glow from the moon snuck under the curtain. His heart ached to bring her into his arms, to promise her he would keep her safe. Instead, he caressed her hair and murmured soothing sounds.
Once she seemed to calm, he reluctantly pulled his hand away and shifted to stand off the bed. As he moved, Syd’s hand shot out and grasped his arm.
“Please stay. I don’t want to be alone.” Her words were mumbled and her eyes never opened, but her grip didn’t loosen until he agreed and lay on top of the covers next to her. A lesser man would use this for his advantage, but Jameson just felt warmth. Knowing that he made her feel safe meant everything to him.
~*~
The rooster crowed for the second time and Sydney grudgingly opened her eyes. Sunlight eased from under the curtains. She scrunched her eyes tight before stretching. When her hand hit something warm and giving, she froze. A body lay next to her...in her bed. Her heart hammered as memories flooded her.
She quickly pulled the blanket up around her tank top and scooted away from the man. He lay atop the covers, fully dressed. Her eyes followed his socked feet, jeans, untucked shirt, and now bearded face. Why was Jameson in her bed?
“Good morning,” he said even though his eyes still looked closed.
“What are you doing in my bed?”
“You were having nightmares.” He opened his eyes and leaned up on an elbow. “Don’t you remember asking me to stay?”
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to sense any deception. A few blurry memories tried to come together, but all she remembered were Jameson’s soothing words and caresses. Heat filled her cheeks. Maybe she had asked him to stay.
“Now that you’re awake, I’m going to do a perimeter check.” He fled from the room as if it were on fire.
Sydney hastily pulled on a sweatshirt and pants and then snuck into the bathroom. The cool water on her face didn’t ease the heat in her cheeks when she thought of Jameson sleeping next to her. How could she have asked him to stay? Yet, it did show a trustworthiness about him that he hadn’t tried anything, right? She knew the last two losers she dated would have used that excuse in a heartbeat.
Mr. Paws scratched at the door and meowed. Poor kitty had been neglected these last few days with everything going on. She opened the door and gave him a few pets, talking to him until he incessantly meowed his need to be fed.
The morning sounds of the ranch mollified Sydney. It made the situation seem more like some bad television movie rather than real life. After feeding Mr. Paws, she started a pot of coffee. Jameson quietly slipped back into the house and locked the door.
“All clear.” He peeked out the curtains one more time like he didn’t believe it to be true.
“I have to feed.” It was a statement, but said like a question because she had no idea what protocol she should be following. The truth was that she started to
feel annoyed by the hassle the situation added to her peaceful life.
“I need to use the bathroom, and then I’ll head out with you.”
She nodded. Her head swam with so much that she had to shut down in order to not get lost in the whirlwind of emotions and stories playing out in her mind.
Just as she poured coffee into two mugs, Guardian began barking, not his normal, Where you at? I’m hungry bark, but his intruder alert bark. Gravel popping under tires stopped her heart. Could Wil be coming back again? That would be three days in a row, and after yesterday’s altercation, she didn’t think she would see him for some time.
Jameson’s warm breath stirred her hair. He had somehow snuck up behind her without her hearing him. They walked together towards the window, and with his back against the wall, he eased the curtain out just a fraction of an inch. Sydney leaned over him to get a look as well. Parking in the driveway was a dark SUV.
She sucked in a breath and her heart jump-started in a frantic rhythm.
The door of the car opened and a sharply dressed man eased out, scanning her property as if he was just enjoying a stay at a country resort. The man tugged on his jacket and set his eyes on the house. The door to the SUV stood open and movement shifted inside of it.
“Four suspects. Two in back. One in the passenger seat. The other approaching the house.” He had his professional tone again, proving again that he had law enforcement background.
“What are we going to do?” she asked, trepidation lining her voice.
Guardian’s barks turned into a menacing growl. The man froze where he stood.
“You meet him exactly like you met me.” Jameson handed her the shotgun. “I will be right here, my sights aimed on his heart.” He loaded a bullet into the rifle’s chamber and aimed it out the window, not even stirring the curtain.
Sydney tried to swallow as her fingers tightened around the cold steel.
Jameson leaned over and unlocked the door. “Stay inside,” he whispered.
The shotgun settled into the calloused spot against her shoulder, and she stared at the door. A moment of irony distracted her, thinking of how just a few days ago she stood here in the same position, her gun pointed at a stranger on her property. Now she once again had the gun’s sights on a man, this time to keep that first stranger hidden.
Her eyes shot to Jameson quickly. Why was it that he didn’t feel like much of a stranger anymore? Could a few days working together really tell her what kind of man he was?
He nodded as if she had spoken aloud, a look of confidence filling his eyes.
With a deep breath, Sydney swung the door open and glared at the stranger through the screen. “That’s far enough,” she shouted out, doing her best to quell the fear threatening to tremble her voice.
The man’s hand spread out in the universal sign of peace. A smile snaked across his trimmed-bearded face. “I come in peace.” His accent placed him as not from this area, something east coast maybe.
Jameson stiffened beside her, and Sydney fought to keep from glancing at him.
“What for?” she asked, never taking the gun’s sights off of him.
“Now, is this how you greet all of your guests, ma’am?” His condescending tone bristled her ego.
“I don’t get many visitors, and yes, unknown men always get this welcome, every time.”
The man laughed, a genuine belly laugh. “I like your spunk, ma’am.”
“Why are you here?” She took a step closer to the door, causing the gun to push the screen out just enough to let out a squeak. Guardian picked up his menacing growl.
Jameson whispered urgently, “Don’t go out there.”
“Is your husband home?” The man lowered his arms.
Sydney’s mind whirred with responses, but once again the lie popped right out her mouth. “My fiancé is still sleeping.”
“Why, that’s mighty sweet of you, letting him sleep while you are up and working already.”
“I’m a morning person.” She shifted the gun against her shoulder, the weight tiring her arm. “Why do you want him?”
“I’m just looking for an old friend that I heard might be around these parts. I thought maybe your fiancé might have seen him.”
“He’s new around here so I don’t think he can help you. Now if you don’t mind, I would like you to leave.”
“Of course, ma’am.” He nodded. “Maybe we can stop by a little later on, once your fiancé is awake?”
“Like I said, he’s new around here. Why don’t you go talk to Sheriff Whitmore? If anyone can help you find your friend, it’d be him.”
“Sure, Sheriff Whitmore,” he said the name with a smirk that sent a shiver down her spine. “I’ll see you around, ma’am.”
The man ambled back to the SUV, giving a final wave before shutting the door and slowly driving back down the gravel drive. Guardian humphed before lying back down on the porch. The gun fell from her arms, its weight too much to hold a second longer. When the dust had settled, she turned to meet Jameson’s eyes.
Intensity burned under his furrowed brows. He looked as if he were processing something. She wanted to hear that she had done a good job, because she knew she had. Disappointment and resentment filled her when he said nothing. She slammed the door and went back to her coffee which now had to be warmed back up.
Here she was putting herself, her life, her ranch on the line to hide this man, this stranger, and he didn’t even have the decency to tell her good job? A fire burned in her chest and her stomach boiled with resentment, or was she just that hungry?
“I know his voice.” Jameson’s words were said so quietly it took her a moment to fully process them. When she met his eyes again, she realized the importance of what had just transpired. “I remember him, and the memories aren’t good.” A shudder coursed through his body, it rippled across his muscles.
“What do you remember?” She set the coffee cup down and stood next to him, all annoyance forgotten, well, almost.
“A series of fragmented memories, but he’s a ruthless man. He’ll do anything to get what he wants.”
“He wants you.” Her eyes widened.
“I know.” He broke eye contact and watched the floor. “We need to get you out of here.”
“I need to feed my animals.”
“That’s the least of your concerns right now, Syd. Don’t you get it? That man will not hesitate to hurt you to get to me!” He paced across the room, for the first time not seeming in control. “I don’t know if I can take all four, and that’s if there aren’t more.”
The phone rang, interrupting his rant. Her eyes shot to him, and he nodded.
“Hello?” she asked, turning the phone so Jameson could hear as well.
“Hey, Sydney,” Homer said, his voice shaky. “There’s another of them dark SUVs in my drive now. I, uh, should I still come in? I called Sheriff Whitmore and he told me just to stay inside, that all would be fine.”
Jameson met her eyes knowingly.
“Homer, it’s Jameson. Those are not men you want to trifle with. Just grab a gun and sit tight. We’ll get this figured out soon.”
“If you say so, Hotshot. I sure hope you didn’t bring all this trouble down onto to Miss Sydney.”
“I’m afraid I unknowingly did, Homer, but I won’t let anything happen to her. Now sit tight, and we’ll get you out of this soon.”
“Sure thing,” Homer said, not sounding too convinced.
Sydney hung up the phone and stood there staring at it while Jameson paced the living room. An angry energy permeated off of him, guiding her to keep her distance. She had to do something, so she took out some eggs and started breakfast.
“You’re cooking breakfast?” Jameson asked a few minutes later, a wry grin spreading across his face.
“I didn’t know what else to do.” She shrugged, shoving down the emotions that wanted to scream out of her. She couldn’t allow herself to really consider the predicament she was in. It seemed su
rreal, like one of those bad action movies her last boyfriend used to make her watch.
She set a plate full of eggs in front of Jameson who still stood staring at her with a strange expression. What was he thinking?
“Might as well eat. You’ll need your strength,” she said, nodding towards the food.
He remained standing but inhaled the eggs faster than it took to cook them.
“Thank you.” He nodded, that expression still living in his eyes. “I’ll make sure you get out of this, Syd. You have my word.” The seriousness lining his voice filled her, and she met his eyes.
“I know,” she said, simply, and she did. She knew he would do whatever it took to keep her safe.
“I’m going to sneak out the back window. I want you to lock it after me.” He checked the chamber in the hand gun as if he had done it a million times before. “I am going to scout the perimeter and see what our options are.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she asked, her heart pounding with the thought of him out there with those men, and of being alone without him in the house.
“Not much choice.” He locked eyes with her before disappearing over the windows edge and fading off into the forest beyond. Goosebumps raised on her arms. She rubbed them briskly before securing the window and heading back to the kitchen to clean.
~*~
The crisp morning air helped Jameson to focus. That man’s voice played in his mind along with snapshots that he couldn’t quite process, but the emotions he could. Fear laced through him. Not fear for himself, but for Syd. He brought this ruthless man to her doorstep.
He clenched his fists as he rested behind a tree. The urge to punch the rough bark filled him with intensity. With a deep breath, he kept the urge under control. Breaking a hand would do neither of them any good, especially since his injured shoulder was still not at full strength. He had been able to use it, but he didn’t feel he could trust it yet.
Why couldn’t he remember anything? His head still hurt, and he tentatively touched the knot that had started to recede above his ear. It would heal. It had to. He had to find a way to apprehend these criminals, all of them, in order to ensure Syd would be safe.