Jamie (27 page)

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Authors: Lori Foster

BOOK: Jamie
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Eyes flaring wide, Alyx took a step back. Scott followed, curling his hands over her shoulders to keep her in place. Now that he'd said it, he wanted to say it again. Loud. All over Visitation.
“I love you. But I don't want to live with you—not without marriage.”
Her breasts rose on a sharp breath and she choked out,
“Marriage?”
She sounded far from thrilled with his proposal. But so what? If she had reservations about tying herself permanently to him, he'd find a way to convince her. “Damn right. All or nothing.”
She nodded, but said, “You bought me a ring.”
Did she have to torture him? “Yeah, I heard you tell Willow that you'd never gotten a ring from a guy.” He cleared his throat. “You like it?”
“I love it.”
A good start. “Do you love me?”
Her smile bloomed, bright as the sunshine. “Yes.”
Thank God. “Will you marry me?”
“I ... yes.”
She looked a little less shell-shocked now, which pleased Scott. But he wanted no misunderstandings. “I'm proud of you, Alyx. For more reasons than I have time to list right now, but I promise, later tonight, if we can get alone, I'll spell it all out. Just know that I respect your capabilities.”
Her chin tucked in. “My ... ?”
“Capabilities. I honestly believe you could do anything you set your mind to, and that includes slugging it out with a drunk.” Now that he'd started, Scott couldn't seem to reign himself in. “But it was damn wrong of you to trail Becky without telling me.”
“I took the dog to the neighbors after she left Knute. ”
“I see.”
“I was going to tell you all about her, Scott. I swear. But then you told me you didn't want to live with me, and ... I was too hurt.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I'll do my best never to hurt you again.”
Alyx smiled.
“But even though you'll be a Royal after we marry, you were still born a Winston, so I have no doubt we'll have our fair share of fights.”
“Yeah, you're probably right.”
God, he adored her sass. “Do you really love me?”
“If you have to ask, then maybe I've been too subtle about my feelings.”
Scott laughed out loud. From day one, Alyx had been tackling him, tormenting him, and making him insane with lust. “No one would ever call you subtle, sweetheart. Not with a straight face.”
“Are you complaining?”
Scott shook his head. “Are you kidding? I adore your lack of subtlety.”
“In that case, yes, I really do love you.” Suddenly she blanched. “Oh, no.”
“What is it?”
“It just occurred to me. I followed Becky, but when she went around a bend, I lost her. I figured she'd be here.” Her eyes searched his. “But she's not.”
“Shit.” Scott released her and headed for the cruiser. “Jamie said he was worried. He said he felt threatened. And if Becky kept going instead of pulling in here...”
Alyx shot past him before Scott even realized what she intended.
“Alyx, no. ”
With her long legs taking her quickly to her car, Alyx yelled over her shoulder, “I'm the only one who knows where he lives. Please trust me, Scott. I'll be careful.” And then she was in her Mazda, gunning the motor and pulling away in a roar.
“Damn it.” Scott jerked Lamar to his feet and shoved him into the cruiser, then raced around to the driver's door.
One thing was certain—being married to Alyx would keep him on his toes.
Then he, too, stepped on the gas.
 
 
Jamie had no idea why Joe insisted on detaining him. He wanted to get back to his cabin, where he could keep Faith safe. He wanted to be alone with her. The sense of time slipping away, combined with the looming threat, left Jamie unsettled.
But once Luna spotted him, Joe had no choice except to pull his truck to the side of the road and stop. It had been a very awkward half hour since then, starting with Luna's strange behavior. She'd jumped from the cab, approached Jamie wide-eyed, and circled him twice in shock.
Jamie had stood there, letting her get it out of her system. But when Luna blurted, “Good God, Jamie, you're
gorgeous,”
he thought Joe would expire.
Before Jamie could react to the outrageous compliment, Joe had snatched his wife back to his side and scowled at Jamie as if he'd somehow wrung the words from Luna.
Luna laughed and excused her reaction as shock, but plenty of time had passed and she
still
kept staring. Not an impolite stare, but one of disbelief.
She introduced herself to Faith—but stared at Jamie.
She shared all the latest news—and stared at Jamie.
She apologized to Joe, who growled something about her pushing her luck, and yet she stared at Jamie.
Rubbing a hand over his face, Jamie groaned. If all the women reacted that way...
Faith touched his arm and said into his ear, “I told you that you were a hunk. You might as well get used to it.”
But Joe heard her. “The hell he will. I'm going to buy a burlap sack to cover his mug until he can grow that damn beard again.”
“Oh, no,” Luna said, finally dragging her gaze away from Jamie. “That'd be a crime. Besides, I can't wait till Shay and Cyn and Julie see him.” She pulled out her cell phone. “As soon as I get some reception, I'm going to call and see if one of them can bring a camera.”
Heat crawled up the back of Jamie's neck. He cleared his throat. “That'll have to wait.” He caught Faith's hand. “We need to get going—”
“Stupid phone.” Luna said, interrupting Jamie's excuses while tossing the cell phone inside the truck. “So Faith, how long have you known Jamie?”
Faith's fingers tightened on his own. “I knew him long ago.”
Luna waited, her eyebrows raised in interest.
Laughing, Joe hugged her into his side. “Let it go for now, baby. Jamie can explain all that later.”
Jamie thought Joe's consideration would give him a chance to escape, but he was wrong. Undaunted, Luna launched into inane, polite conversation about the weather, about Julie's upcoming nuptials, about... everything under the sun.
And since Faith was a chatterbox too, the women were soon gabbing it up like old friends.
Giving Jamie an apologetic look, Joe opened the tailgate on his truck. “You ladies might as well get comfortable.” He lifted Luna up to sit.
When he turned to Faith, she sidestepped him but looked at Jamie in expectation.
Thinking that social mingling was a regular pain in the ass, Jamie dutifully lifted Faith to the gate.
She smiled. “Thank you.”
The sunlight on Faith's hair left a halo around her head. Long lashes shaded her dark blue eyes. Her smile was relaxed and happy.
She looked incredibly appealing, and Jamie wanted to be alone with her, damn it, not wasting time visiting on the side of the road. His body burned with a never-ending need to make love to her.
“Now that's an expression I'm familiar with,” Joe said around a laugh. Both women gave him questioning looks, but Joe shook his head. “You two visit all you want. Jamie and I'll leave you to it.”
He put his arm around Jamie and steered him off to the side.
“You could just leave,” Jamie told him, and he didn't care if he sounded rude.
Given Joe's grin, he hadn't taken offense. “I could. Not that dragging Luna away would be easy, but hey, you know I'm always up for a challenge. It keeps me young.”
Jamie said, “Great. So how soon can you leave?”
It was not an easy thing to insult the inimitable Joe Winston. More often than not, he just laughed—as he did now.
He also retaliated by thwacking Jamie on the back hard enough to knock him off his feet. “Sorry I can't accommodate you.” He held out both arms. “I'm your backup.”
“My backup for
what?”
“Scott claims you're expecting trouble.”
“Scott called you?” He couldn't have mentioned the trouble with Alyx. If Joe had even a clue, he'd be blazing a trail to Knute's right now. “What did he say?”
Joe shrugged. “I didn't talk with Scott. He's off checking out some other problem. But he did call Clint, who called me, because he's handling a three-car mishap. No serious injuries, but plenty of reports to fill out.”
“I see.”
“So what's the problem?” Joe rubbed his hands together. “I'd prefer not to have Luna involved. Is there time for me to take her home, or should we stick around until the others get here?”
Jamie closed his eyes. “The others?”
With a shrug in his tone, Joe said, “Yeah, sure. Bryan is coming. And so will Clint and Scott when they finish up.”
Jamie doubted that Scott would be done anytime soon. He started to tell Joe to leave, that he could handle things on his own—and the sense of menace mushroomed. Gunshots echoed in his head, and pain exploded in his chest.
Grunting without realizing it, Jamie's brows snapped down in a grimace and his hands fisted over his chest.
“Jesus,” Joe said. “What is it?”
Bile burning his throat, Jamie whispered, “Delayna. ”
“She's here? In Visitation? You're sure of it?”
Turning to stare at Faith, Jamie said, “No.” Was Faith involved? Had she led Delayna to him? She'd admitted to knowing Delayna. Maybe they'd been more than employer and employee. Maybe, instead of Delayna's giving Faith his files to destroy, she'd given them to Faith for safekeeping.
No. Jamie couldn't even begin to consider that possibility.
“So what's going to happen?”
Shaking his head, Jamie said, “I don't know.”
Joe drew himself up. “What the hell do you mean, you don't know? You know all kinds of shit. Every damn thing I don't want you to know, you know.”
“I don't know this,” Jamie snapped right back. He put his hands to his head and paced away, trying to think, to gather the information. But his gaze kept slipping back to Faith, and no matter what he wanted to tell himself, he knew she'd somehow be involved.
“Is it going to get dangerous?” Joe demanded.
Shaking his head, Jamie lied, “No.” If he told Joe about the gunshot, he'd never get him to leave. “I think I have time.”
“Fuck this,” Joe said, and he grabbed Jamie's arm. “I'm taking you both back to my place.”
Wracking his brain for a way to dissuade Joe, Jamie allowed himself to be dragged a few feet. They'd just gained the attention of the women when the sound of another car engine disturbed the air.
“Get in the cab,” Joe barked to Luna, and she didn't argue. She did, however, tug Faith along with her.
The balisong knife, a weapon Joe always carried, appeared in his hand with the blade exposed. His posture changed; his gait became stealthy.
In the blink of an eye, Joe transformed from family man to warrior. No matter what happened, Joe was always prepared. Nothing intimidated him.
Which meant Jamie might have to resort to extreme measures to regain his privacy. Joe wouldn't like it. Hell, neither would Luna. But he'd do what he had to.
And when he got Faith alone, he'd tell her that Delayna was in Visitation. If she'd betrayed him...
Jamie shook his head. He really had no idea what he'd do. But he would never again let a woman hurt him.
Chapter Sixteen
Jamie put a hand to Joe's shoulder, relieved that he still had time. “It's only Bryan and Shay.”
Joe didn't relax. “You're sure?”
“Yes.” At least about some things.
Chagrined, Joe flipped the knife to cover the blade and slid it back into his jeans pocket. “Coulda said so sooner, damn it.” He started toward his truck. “Give me something to work with here, Jamie. I don't want Luna at risk.”
“I don't either.” And using that as an opening, Jamie said, “It'd be best if you took her home.”
“And leave you on your own—the way you prefer it?” Joe snorted. “Luna would have my ass.”
“Don't tell her there's a problem.”
“I already told her, ”Joe reminded him. “When I explained why you shaved and got a haircut.”
“So tell her I've worked everything out.”
“Yeah, right. Somehow, she always knows. I swear it's uncanny, but I can't lie to her worth a damn. The woman is almost as psychic as you.”
“She's wise to you, that's all.” Jamie offered a workable solution. “I'll tell her everything is fine. She'll believe me.”
“Don't count on it.”
At that moment, Luna rolled down the driver's window and scowled at her husband. “Is there a reason I'm cowering in the truck with Faith while you and Jamie chew the fat?”
Joe strode up to her window, leaned in, and took her mouth in a firm, lingering kiss. When he straightened away, leaving Luna a bit glazed, he said, “Yeah.” He pointed to Bryan's car as it appeared. “Wasn't sure who that was.” His hand cupped her cheek, gently stroking, and his voice dropped. “I don't take chances with my valuables.”
Luna accepted that explanation with a dreamy smile and climbed out of the truck. “And you're worried because?”
“Because I'm the cautious sort.”
Tone firm, she said, “Joe?”
Giving Jamie a didn't-I-tell-you look, Joe said, “Jamie's a little jumpy, that's all.”
Luna turned big eyes on him. “You're jumpy? Like right now?” She glanced around the area. “Is something about to happen?”
“No.” Unlike Joe, Jamie had no obligation for further explanations, and appeasing Luna wasn't the main thing on his mind.
Reading Faith took priority.
As she left the truck, Jamie delved into her mind, prepared for anything. He detected Faith's confusion and worry over his current mood, and her speculation on what it might represent. She feared for her daughter, and for Jamie.
But he perceived no signs of deception.
His gaze locked with Faith's, Jamie said, “We need to get going.”
Luna rushed over to latch on to his arm, forcing him to take his attention away from Faith. “You can't leave yet,” Luna insisted. “Shay and Bryan are here.”
Jamie considered that the best reason of all for retreating. Large gatherings always made him uneasy, but more than ever before, he had reason to seek out his cabin.
It would afford more quiet time alone with Faith, and he knew they'd be in bed within minutes.
But Bryan and Shay didn't give him a chance to sneak off. They both strode to him, gaping as if he had two heads, instead of one with a clean shave and a haircut.
Faith's sympathy washed over Jamie. She understood how awkward he felt being the center of attention. To assist him, she came to his side, hugged his arm, and leaned into him. “Introduce me to your friends, Jamie.”
He didn't want to. But Shay didn't wait for him anyway. She thrust out her hand and took care of the matter on her own. “It's so nice to meet you, Faith. I can't wait to hear about your history with Jamie.”
Bryan laughed. “Very subtle, Shay.” And he took Faith's hand. “I'm sorry, but the wives have all been bursting with curiosity.”
“I don't mind sharing,” Faith assured them. “I met Jamie long ago, when we both... worked for a parapsychology lab.”
Shay indicated Jamie with a nod of her head. “And he looked like that? It's a wonder you were able to get any work done.”
Bryan turned to frown at his wife. Joe commiserated with him. And Jamie just wanted to escape.
The women ignored their husbands; they even ignored Jamie finally, to crowd around Faith, befriending her. With Faith's being such a chatterbox, and with all her recent isolation, she seemed happy with the company.
Bryan turned to Joe and shook his head in disgust. “It's enough to make a man jealous.”
Propping his hands on his hips, Joe eyed Jamie. “Think we should rub some mud on his face or something, so he's not so pretty?”
“Yeah. Or maybe he needs a scar or two,” Bryan joked. “A broken nose would blunt those good looks a little.”
Out of the blue and totally unexpected, Luna's fist connected with Joe's shoulder. “Leave him alone. Can't you tell he doesn't like teasing?”
Like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar, Joe blanched. “Damn, woman, I didn't think you were listening.”
“I hear everything you say, Joe Winston. Remember that.”
Bryan hooted, but only until Shay began tapping her foot. “What?” he said. “I didn't do anything. It was all Joe.”
It wasn't easy for Jamie to witness the love and friendship they all shared. And now their open-armed acceptance included him, leaving him exposed and overwhelmed. Feeling out of control, Jamie opened his mouth to announce he was leaving despite any protests they might give—and instead he groaned.
Faith immediately moved back to his side, proving that, while she chatted with the women, she'd still been attuned to him. “What is it?”
“More people.”
“Here we go again,” Joe said, then demanded, “Good people or bad people?”
“Preacher people.”
“My brother?” Bryan shielded his eyes with a hand, and sure enough, an aged station wagon, driven by his twin brother, Bruce, came into view.
Giving up, Jamie moved to sit on a large rock. He put his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.
Half laughing, Faith followed him. “Poor Jamie. You're not used to crowds, are you?”
“This is more like a swarm,” he said without looking up. “They can act as cavalier as they want, but they're all trying to protect me.” He dropped his hands and turned his head to see Faith. “Do I really seem that damn pathetic?”
Her fingers sifted into his hair, and her face shone with admiration. “Not pathetic at all. Just well loved. ”
Jamie jerked upright.
“And with good reason, I'd say.” Putting her hands on his shoulders, Faith knelt down to kiss him. “You're a very special man, and they all know it.”
When Faith would have moved away, Jamie kept her close. “I'm on the ragged edge here, Faith. If you kiss me like that again, I'm carrying you home, and that's that.”
“Home.” She beamed at him. “I like the sound of that.”
Jamie realized what he'd said too late to take it back. And what the hell? The cabin did feel more like home with Faith in it. Not that she could ever live there. And what about Cory... ?
Joe shouted, “Hey, you two. Break it up. There's a preacher present.”
Shaking off ridiculous musings about any sort of future with Faith, Jamie led her back to the gathering. “Let's get this over with.” He leaned down near her ear. “The sooner they get their curiosity appeased, the sooner I can get you alone.”
Faith always reacted to his suggestive comments, and now was no different. She took a few deep breaths, pulled away, and went to stand by Shay and Luna—where she probably thought it'd be safer.
“It's nice that you'll get to meet most everyone at once,” Luna told her. “Of course, there's still Clint and Julie, and Scott and Alyx.”
“I've met Alyx,” Faith explained. “She came up to the cabin for a nice visit. I like her.”
Joe stiffened. “My sister's been hiking in that damn mountain again?” He rounded on Jamie. “Why the hell didn't you tell me?”
Seeing that warm flush that remained on Faith's face, Jamie considered putting her over his shoulder and just walking away. One look at Joe told him that wouldn't work. He sighed. “Alyx is an adult. If she wanted you to know, she'd tell you.”
Bruce saved Joe from finding an adequate reply to that truism. “Hello.” He held out a hand to Faith. “I'm Bruce Kelly, Bryan's brother.”
It was Faith's turn to be stunned. “You look exactly alike.”
“Luckily,” Cyn said, smiling at Faith, “Shay and I can tell them apart.”
Bryan sent his wife a slanted look. “Most of the time anyway.” And Shay turned bright red.
In a carrying stage whisper, Cyn leaned forward to confide to Faith. “Shay got a little bit confused once and kissed the wrong man. That was before she married Bryan and before I married Bruce, but Bryan does like to tease her about it every now and then.”
Fascinated, Faith said, “I can see how that could happen.”
“It doesn't happen.” Bryan hauled his wife close to his side. “Not anymore.”
“So,” Cyn said, and she faced off with Jamie. “What's going on? What's wrong?”
From the first, Jamie had recognized a special bond with Cyn. She always seemed to be one step ahead of him, making it impossible for him to separate himself from her. Fooling her wouldn't be easy. “Nothing's wrong. I'm fine.”
She looked between Faith and Jamie, and then Bryan and Joe. “Uh-huh. That's why these two hulks are here, just to pass the time on the side of the road?”
Bruce lifted his shoulders in apology. “I'm sorry, Jamie. I had no idea you'd all be here. We were on our way into town.”
Cyn stared up at Jamie, then began to fret. “Bruce told me everything that you shared with Joe. All about your past involvement and Faith's daughter and what happened at the Farmington Research Institute. But I didn't realize that specific things would happen today.”
“Institute?” Luna asked. “Shay, did you know anything about this?”
Shay straightened to her full, impressive height. “No, I didn't.”
Sending a mean glare at Joe, Luna said, “So this is something you've kept from me?”
Perplexed, Bruce looked at Joe and Bryan. “You didn't tell your wives?”
Together they growled,
“No.”
Rather than let the men take the heat, Jamie stepped forward and gave a very brief explanation about his time at Farmington. He explained about Cory, how Faith had raised her, and how the little girl had abilities that mirrored his own.
When he finished, both Luna and Shay looked amazed.
“Wow,” Shay said. “This is fascinating.”
“Did Cory's mother have psychic ability?” Luna asked. “Did she inherit it, do you think?”
The innocent question brought a strange reaction from Faith. She slammed the door on her thoughts and shot a guilty look at Jamie.
What did she have to hide?
Even with her thoughts closed off to him, Jamie could see a thousand emotions in Faith's eyes. And the longer he studied her, the more ill at ease he felt. Something monumental was about to take place. He just didn't know what.
Faith licked her lips. “I don't think it's ever been proven that paranormal ability is inherited.”
“But you must have known her mother,” Cyn persisted. “Did she have the talent?”
“No.” Faith stared down at her feet. “She didn't.”
Joe grew thoughtful. “Any idea who the dad might be? Maybe he was the psychic. Or someone in his family.”
Swallowing hard, Faith brought her gaze back up to Jamie, and the pleading in her eyes staggered him.
He needed a distraction and fast.
Taking a step forward, he shielded Faith with his body. Blood rushed hot through his veins, and a pulse pounded in his temple. He felt Faith knot his shirt in her hands, felt her face press into his back.
Breathing became difficult. “This isn't an inquisition.” One by one, Jamie met the gazes of his friends. “You all have plenty of your own business to contend with, without butting into mine.”
Bryan shot him a look of incredulity. “You've got to be kidding.”
“We only want to help,” Luna added, her expression worried.
Nodding, Cyn reached out to touch his forearm. “Jamie, it's easy to see that you care for Faith, and we don't want to make her uncomfortable.”
“Then go home.”
“Not a chance,” Joe stated in flat denial. “Something's going on here. You said so yourself. I'm not accusing anyone, least of all Faith. But if you won't protect yourself, we'll do it for you.”
They all nodded.
Jamie hesitated, but he saw that none of them would relent. Deciding he had no choice, he dropped an emotional bombshell. “Luna's pregnant. ”
Joe's eyebrows shot up, and he stumbled back a step. “What?”
Luna wailed,
“Ja-mie!”
Joe jerked around to face his wife. He swallowed twice. “You're... ?”
With a furious glare at Jamie, Luna folded her arms and nodded. “Yes.”
Joe bent his knees to look her in the eyes. “You're...
We're
having a baby? Really?”
A smile teased her mouth. Her voice dropped to a happy whisper. “Really.”
“Holy shit.” Stacking both hands on top of his head, Joe turned a circle to look at everyone, then let out a whoop and grabbed Luna into his arms, holding her high against his chest and kissing her. She laughed, hanging on to him, kissing him back. They seemed to forget about their audience.

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