Montana Fire (13 page)

“That would be fantastic.” While she would enjoy seeing Max again, he deserved a break.

They said their goodbyes and left. It seemed as if the other women wanted to hang
out for a while, so the timing worked for her. Zoey pointed to her car at the end
of the block. “So, how’s it really going with Max?”

Jamie had wondered if she’d bring up that topic. “He asked me out to dinner tomorrow
night.”

Zoey’s face lit up. “And?”

“I said yes.”

Zoey stopped and gave her a hug. “I’m proud of you.”

Jamie chuckled. “I finally got it through my thick skull that I needed to move on.”

“I’m happy for you.”

“Me, too.”

Zoey dropped her home and wished her luck with Max tomorrow. It was getting late,
and Jamie wanted nothing more than to soak in the tub and think positive thoughts.
She’d snacked on a ton of the pita chips and mozzarella sticks so she wasn’t really
hungry.

Once inside, she headed into the bedroom. She lifted her top over her head, and was
about to toss it in the dirty clothes bin, when her cell rang.

“Ugh. Who’s calling me?”

Not that she didn’t like to chat, but now wasn’t a good time. She bet it was Max,
checking to see if she needed a ride home. Jamie smiled. He was one of a kind. She
prayed she didn’t blow it at dinner tomorrow.

Jamie grabbed a bathrobe and slipped her arms in the sleeves as she raced to the kitchen
to retrieve her cell from her purse. It was Becky. Disappointment raced through her.

She slid her thumb over the screen. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“Oh, Jamie. Can I come over?” Her voice cracked.

A ton of adrenaline blasted her. Jamie pulled out a chair and sat. “What’s wrong,
hon?”

“A man. He was wearing a baseball cap. Like the one after you. He followed me down
the street. If I hadn’t parked so close. Oh, my God. I think he might have caught
me.” Her words whooshed out in spurts.

The image of the men chasing Jamie toward the clinic slammed into her mind. “Was he
tall with brown hair?”

“No. Blond. My height, maybe.”

If Jamie had a car, she would have driven to town. Road noise made it hard to hear.
“Are you in your car?”

“Yes.” Poor girl sounded scared to death.

“Did you call the police?”

“No.”

“Are you positive he was following you?” The thought gave Jamie the creeps.

“Yes. As soon as I got in my car, he stopped. In my rearview mirror, I saw him call
someone. I’m totally shaken.” A horn sounded.

“Had you ever seen this man before?” Now she sounded like Trent.

“No. Never.”

Jamie searched her mind for the right thing to say. “I don’t need you talking on the
phone and driving. I’ll be waiting for you.”

“Okay.”

As soon as Becky hung up, Jamie rushed back into the bedroom to change. She couldn’t
help but compare her near attack to what happened to Becky. Jamie needed to call someone.
If she knew Trent, she would have contacted him, and while Max was no longer with
the department, he might be willing to call his friend for her.

There were cameras on every corner in Rock Hard, which might mean the cops would be
able to identify the man. Scaring women to death should be illegal.

As Jamie drew on her jeans and a warm top, she tried to put herself in Becky’s place.
When Thad and Trent had showed up at the clinic, she was glad to have the support.
Becky sounded quite upset. Being able to tell her story to a professional would help
calm her. Jamie was sure of it.

Damn. Zoey said that she, Pete, and Thad were going out to dinner, and Jamie didn’t
want to disturb them. She rushed back to the kitchen and called Max. Jamie paced,
waiting for him to pick up.

“Jamie? You okay?”

Why did he have to assume the worst? Was it because she was a magnet for trouble?
“I’m fine, but my friend isn’t.” She explained about Becky walking toward her car
and some guy in a cap following her.

“Could it have been one of the men who followed you?”

She’d thought that, too, until Becky described them. “No. The man after Becky had
blond hair and was rather short. The men after me were both tall. Unless Becky stole
some drugs from the hospital and was waving them around, this guy was after something
else.” In the background she heard an engine start.

“I’ll be over there in ten minutes,” Max said. “And I don’t want you saying you have
everything under control.”

He knew her well. “Okay, but why not call Trent?” She had to admit that just knowing
Max was coming to the rescue evened out her racing pulse.

“I’ll listen to what Becky has to say and if need be, I’ll contact him.”

“Thank you.” In the short time she’d known Max, she’d come to rely on him. He’d become
her sounding board, her friend. She prayed she wasn’t making a mistake by opening
her heart.

Chapter Ten

W
ith the few minutes Jamie had left before Becky and Max arrived, she threw a bag of
popcorn into the microwave. She found finger food comforted a person, especially when
the anxiety level was off the charts.

Becky arrived just as the microwaved dinged. She immediately threw herself into Jamie’s
arms. For the first time in a long time, she was able to give support, instead of
receiving it. The sensation was wonderful.

“Come and sit down. I made some popcorn.”

Becky’s eyes were red and her breathing ragged. Her friend fortunately didn’t reek
of alcohol. The girls were good about not overdoing it.

Becky hiccupped. “That’s awesome. Can I have a glass of water, too?”

“Sure, hon.” Jamie dumped the popcorn in a bowl and filled two glasses with water.
Since Max might want coffee, she prepared a pot.

Jamie entered the living room carrying a tray of their snacks and drinks. “Can you
start from the beginning?”

The briefest of smiles formed. “That’s what I always say.”

“I know. By the way, I called Max. He insisted on coming over.”

“Why?”

“If this guy scared you that bad, it must be serious. Don’t you want to know who he
is?”

“Can Max help?”

“He has friends in the department. He used to be a cop. I know Banner’s has security
cameras, so the police could check them, too.”

“Okay. Do you really think those surveillance cameras are good enough to get an identification?”

“I don’t know. If, as you said, this stalker had his cap low enough, no, but we have
to let the police do their job.”

Becky stabbed her hand in the bowl of popcorn. “They’ll think I either made it up,
or tell me they can do nothing because the man didn’t harm me.”

“Possibly, but if this guy does the same thing to another woman, there might be a
record of him being a stalker.”

Becky stuffed the popcorn in her mouth. “You’re right.”

“So, tell me again what happened.” Becky’s story over the phone had been quite disjointed.
Before her friend could tell her tale, tires grated on the drive. “Hold on. That must
be Max.”

Jamie jumped up and peered out the window. When she spotted his car, she let out a
long held breath. While Becky didn’t know Max that well, they had been introduced
at the wedding.

Before he rang the bell, Jamie opened the door. “Thanks for coming.”

She had this urge to hug the man, but refrained. If Becky hadn’t been there, she might
have.

Max looked frazzled, like he feared this person had followed Becky there. “Hope I
can help.” He stepped over to the sofa and sat next to Becky. “You want to tell me
what happened?” Max had a way with making a person at ease.

“I made coffee,” Jamie said. “It’s decaf. You want some?”

He looked over at her and smiled, the connection between them strong. “Sure.”

“Becky, how about you?” Jamie asked.

“Yes, please.”

Jamie ducked into the kitchen for the drinks, but she could hear the conversation.
She hadn’t expected the rush of excitement at having Max here. The more time she spent
with him, the more comfortable she became. By the time she filled the cups and carried
them out, Becky seemed a bit more composed.

Max turned toward Becky. “If Trent can pull up some mug shots, do you think you could
identify him?”

“Maybe. Do you think he’ll come after me again?” The fear in Becky’s voice caused
Jamie’s gut to twist.

Max shrugged. “I want to say no, that you were some random, pretty woman that this
man targeted, but I can’t be sure. If I had to guess, he might have been debating
asking you for a ride. Once he got you alone, there was no telling what he might have
done.”

Becky visibly shivered. “I would never give a stranger a ride.”

“I’m glad.”

They each picked up their coffee mugs and sipped their drinks. Becky placed a hand
on Max’s arm. “Thank you for coming out here. You didn’t have to.”

Jamie hoped Becky wouldn’t say something to embarrass her—like how lucky Jamie was
to be with Max.

“I’m always happy to help.”

For the next half hour, Max asked Becky and Jamie questions, and they did their best
to answer.

Jamie set down her cup. “Could there be a correlation between the clinic break-in
and Becky’s stalker?” Jamie asked.

Max shook her head. “The only similarity is the fact all the men had caps covering
their faces.”

Damn.

Becky wiped her hands on her napkin. “Jamie, we might be friends, but that doesn’t
mean anyone would know that. We no longer work at the same place, which would make
our connection even more tenuous.”

“You’re right.”

Max leaned back and tapped his leg. “Are you ladies positive this man wasn’t some
jilted boyfriend of yours?”

Jamie sat up straighter. “I’m sure. He wasn’t Benny, and I haven’t dated anyone else.”

Max took another sip of the coffee then set it back down. “We must be missing something.
Becky, can you go through it one more time. Leave nothing out. Not even the slightest
detail.”

Jamie guessed his request was to see if there were any inconsistencies. Max had definitely
been in his element, asking intelligent questions and never badgering Becky.

After an hour, Becky’s energy began to wane.

Max slapped his thighs. “I think I’ve picked your brain enough. I’m glad you called
Jamie. I’ll follow up with Trent, and let you know if the police find out anything.”
He stood.

Becky’s smile was weak, but she no longer appeared to be as scared. “Thank you. Jamie
is right. You are a good man.”

Max’s face turned a dull red. She was happy Becky said that. If Jamie had more courage,
she would have told him she liked him.

Max helped Becky up. “Get some rest. For the next few days, make sure you ask the
security guard at the hospital to escort you to your car.”

Becky nodded. “Trust me, I will.”

Jamie got up and hugged Becky goodbye. “The cops will find the guy. Don’t worry.”

“I hope.”

Max pulled on his coat. “Do you want me to follow you home?”

Becky looked over at Jamie as if she needed her permission. If Jamie were in Becky’s
position, she’d feel better knowing some creep hadn’t found out where she lived. Jamie
nodded.

“I’d like that.”

Jamie walked them to the door. Once more, Max had come to her rescue. This time she
wrapped her arms around him without hesitation. She expected him to stiffen, but he
didn’t. He hugged her right back. His warmth seeped deep into her. “I don’t know how
I can repay you.”

He smiled down at her. “You know I don’t do things to get something in return.”

He’d shown that side of him time and time again. “I know. I agree with what Becky
said. You’re a good man, Max Gruden.”

He tapped her nose. “So are you. A good woman, I mean. See you tomorrow.”

She smiled. “You bet.”

What that man did to her body should be outlawed. Tomorrow was going to be an exciting
day.

*     *     *

Jamie had a hard time waking up the next morning because she’d barely slept. Not only
did she relive the delicious feeling of hugging Max, but she’d stayed up late doing
some research on the Monster Truck Rally coming to Rock Hard, as well as on
concut
. What she found made no sense. Tomorrow on their date, she’d have to ask Max what
his take on it might be. She decided not to mention her find during her morning ride,
since there wouldn’t be enough time to discuss it in detail.