Montana Fire (12 page)

T
he next morning, Max picked her up at precisely seven thirty. Not wanting to make
him late for his job, Jamie had waited by her window. As soon as she’d spotted his
SUV, she’d dashed outside. Before he even had a chance to open her door, she’d jumped
in his car.

He slid back into the driver’s seat. “You’re mighty energetic this morning.”

“Didn’t want to keep you waiting, that’s all.”

“Appreciate it.”

Max twisted around to back out of her drive, and the muscles around his collarbone
bulged. It was an impressive sight. The man was all strength and sinew.

He faced front again. “Spoke with Trent yesterday about Charlotte Rambler.”

That was good news. She waited for him to continue, but he turned onto Nugget Road
without another word. “And? What did he say?”

“Not much other than he’d try to locate her. It’s going to be tough without more to
go on.”

“I imagine it will be, but thank him for me for trying.”

“Will do. If you remember anything Jonathan said about his daughter, even it’s the
color of her hair or what she liked to do on weekends, let me know.”

Max really seemed to want to find this woman. “I’ll keep thinking.”

For the next few minutes, he remained silent either because he was legally bound not
to discuss the progress of the warehouse investigation, or because he had nothing
to say to her. Yesterday, when he’d driven her home, they’d chatted so easily. Perhaps
he’d had as little sleep as she had. She’d spent hours searching for clues about what
Jonathan’s words might have meant. She had no idea why she thought they were clues,
but her sixth sense told her she needed to look.

“By any chance, did you give anymore thought to Jonathan’s enigmatic words?” she asked.
Max seemed like the type of person to check out everything. “I thought maybe he knew
who’d set the fire and was reliving it.”

“I did check, but I couldn’t find anything.” A slight tic manifested itself on the
side of his mouth. Did that mean he was lying or that he was fatigued?

Couldn’t be a lie. Max was too honest.

He glanced at her. “I know he wasn’t conscious, but did he seem agitated or calm when
he spoke?”

“I should have mentioned that. He was quite agitated, thrashing about, and groaning.”

“Interesting.”

She waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. From the way his lips were slightly
moving, he was thinking. After a few minutes of silence, she decided to change the
subject. “Amber texted me and said their honeymoon in Hawaii is amazing.”

His grip on the wheel loosened, as if he were glad for something to talk about besides
the case. “I’m happy for them. I’ve never been. Have you?” He seemed interested.

“Once, when I was younger.”
Before my father died
.

“Did you like it?” His level of enthusiasm increased.

“I liked the island of Kauai the best. Oahu was too crowded for me, but the scenery
and water were incredible.”

“I’ve never been outside North America.”

The heaviness in his voice saddened her. “Does that mean you’ve been out of Montana?”

He laughed. “Yes. Do I come across as being a country bumpkin?”

Fortunately, he didn’t seem offended. “No.”

The lines around his eyes softened. “My family didn’t travel a lot when I was a kid,
but Marie, my wife, and I liked to drive across the country. I loved seeing all that
America has to offer.”

They talked about her favorite states, and then he gave his list. Before he finished
telling her about his trip to Canada the year Maria found out they were expecting
their first child, Max pulled up to the clinic door.

“You’re spoiling me.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I don’t have to walk the four blocks from the parking lot to the clinic in
the chilly morning air.”

He smiled. “I’ll pick you up at five.”

Those dimpled cheeks transformed his face, but Jamie dismissed the funny feeling in
her stomach. It wouldn’t do to think about him all day.

“Uh-oh. It’s Thursday. In the chaos, I forgot it’s my weekly girls’ night out. I could
cancel.” She didn’t know why she said that. He’d be happy not to be her transportation.

“No. You should go. Be with your friends. Remember when I told how much of a difference
it made for me when I reconnected with my pals?”

“Yes. You’re right. I guess I won’t be needing a lift home then. I’ll hitch a ride
with one of my friends.”

“You sure? I can pick you up and drive you home if need be.”

Max was too nice. She placed a hand on his wrist, and she swore sparks burst on her
palm. She left go quickly. “I’ll be fine.”

“Friday morning, then?”

“Perfect.” She met his gaze. “If I haven’t said it enough, I really appreciate you
going out of your way to help.”

“No need to thank me. I enjoy being with you, Jamie.”

Her stomach flipped. Heat flooded her face at his admission, and she scooted out before
he had to the chance to open his door.

Once Jamie stepped inside the clinic, she turned to watch him drive away. The man
was sexy as hell. There was more depth to him than what she first thought. Despite
all of the emotional setbacks life had thrown his way, Max Gruden had figured out
a way to move on. She wanted to believe she was on her way to healing, too.

Her first patient arrived, and she led the gentleman into an exam room. Trying to
figure out how to help those in need with the limited supplies the city provided made
her day go by fast. For the most part, poor nutrition and lack of funds to buy their
medications were what sent them to her in the first place.

A few hours later, Sasha tapped the office door where Jamie was catching up on her
paperwork. Her friend had a devilish glint on her eye. “Is Mr. Wonderful picking you
up again this evening?”

“Not tonight. It’s Thursday. I’m heading over to Banner’s for happy hour. I wish you
could come.”

“Me, too, but it’s my bowling league tonight.”

Jamie smiled. “You know you’re always welcome.”

“I appreciate that. As soon as the league finishes, I’ll join you. I don’t need to
be at bowling until seven if you want me to drop you off at the bar on my way.”

That was so nice of her to offer. “That would be great.”

Sasha smiled, leaned against the doorframe, and crossed her feet at the ankles. “You
know, if you want to pay me back for my generosity, you can always see if Max has
a brother or a hotter-than-sin cousin for me to go out with. Hell, I’ll just take
a sexy fireman.”

Jamie laughed. “I’ll have to ask if he has any brothers. He said he had siblings,
but I never asked their sex, age, or marital status.”

“You do that.” Sasha pushed off from the doorjamb and went back to work.

For the rest of the day, Jamie tried to kick Max out of her head, but she failed miserably.
She was falling for him. No man, Benny included, seemed to put her needs ahead of
his. For a split second, she debated cancelling the date with the girls so she could
see him, but Max wouldn’t approve. Sharing her terrible week with her friends would
help her cope.

Jamie snapped her fingers. She had to remember to give Becky the present she’d found
for her last week. It was a pin of a bear dressed in nurse’s garb. Becky was crazy
about bears, whether they were stuffed bears, real bears, or even fictional bear-shifters.
As long as it had fur, she was in heaven. Jamie had spotted the small piece of jewelry
at one of the shops along First Street, and knew she had to get it for her friend.
If Jamie had been thinking straight, she would have given it to Becky yesterday when
Jamie had visited Jonathan, but she’d been a bit preoccupied.

Close to six, Sasha found Jamie in the break room stuffing her change of clothes in
a bag.

“Ready to be chauffeured?”

“Absolutely.” Jamie grabbed her purse and gear, said goodnight to the women on the
late shift, and followed Sasha out.

The guard who’d been escorting the girls to and from their cars was there. He walked
at a discreet distance behind them, probably to afford them some privacy. Once they
were in the car, he waved, and headed back to the clinic. What had the city come to?
She hoped they found those goons soon.

“What are you going to wear to dinner tomorrow night?” Sasha asked.

Jamie had been tempted to dress up, but she was undecided. “You don’t think it will
be a little strange if I walk out of the clinic all dolled up, do you?”

“Hell, no. A date is a date.”

“I’m not sure I have anything that really fits.”

Sasha smiled. “You can’t get out of it with that excuse.”

Jamie chuckled. “Fine. I’ll try my best.”

“That a girl.”

Sasha pulled a half a block from the bar, as there were no spaces in front. “Say ‘hi’
to your friends for me. I will make it soon.”

“Will do. See you tomorrow.”

Jamie got out of the car and headed toward the bar. When she spotted two black vans,
the muscles in her stomach tightened. She thought she’d conquered her fears from the
attack, but apparently she hadn’t. It was dusk, and lots of people were around. Nothing
was going to happen.

She hoped.

Jamie inhaled and walked faster, seeking the safety of the bar. Before she reached
her destination, another black van drove down the opposite side of the street, causing
the hairs on her neck to rise. Why did every vehicle seem to be a black freaking van?
Her imagination was out of control. She couldn’t help it. As she reached for the door
to Banner’s, she turned to see who was driving that van. It was a man wearing a baseball
cap. Shit.

Stop it
. She couldn’t let her imagination run wild or she would lose her mind. Most men around
here wore caps. It was damn cold out. Yeesh. It had been bad enough when she thought
everyone in the hospital was a killer. She didn’t need another few months of nightmares.

Just as Jamie was about to step inside, a shout sounded behind her. She spun around.
It was Becky, and the tension in Jamie’s shoulders released. Perfect timing. Handing
the small gift to her friend in front of the other girls would be tacky. Jamie dug
her hand into her pocket and extracted the gift.

“Hey, girlfriend,” Becky said as she gave Jamie a hug. “I stopped in to see your friend
before I came over, and he’s resting peacefully.”

“That was so sweet of you to check. Above the call of duty, actually.” Jamie held
out the gift. “For you.”

Becky’s eyes widened. “For me? Why?”

“Because you’re a wonderful friend. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to get it for
you.” Jamie spotted Lydia Sayers, the owner of Naughty Desires, head their way. All
of the girls had suggested she join them, and Jamie was happy Lydia was finally able
to make it.

Their friend was a bit out of breath when she arrived. “Phew. I actually got away
from the store on time.”

“Awesome,” Jamie said.

Becky pocketed her gift without opening it. She, too, must have realized unwrapping
the present in front of others wouldn’t be cool.

“Ready for some fun?” Jamie put as much enthusiasm into her tone as possible.

“You bet,” Lydia answered.

Jamie pushed aside her anxiety and yanked open the door. While the inside smelled
of beer mixed with the tangy scent of peanuts, Jamie basked in the familiarity. She
glanced to their usual spot. “Melissa and Zoey are here.”

As soon as they reached the table, both women stood and gave Jamie a hug. Zoey pressed
her lips together. “How are you holding up, sweetie? I heard about your car.”

“Car?” Becky asked.

Jamie loved Becky, but when it came to gossip, the girl never seemed to be on the
receiving end. “Let me get a drink and I will tell you all. My life has been anything
but dull.”

Just as Jamie and the girls pulled out chairs and sat down, their waitress, Abby,
rushed over. “What can I get you, ladies?” They each ordered, and Abby hustled to
the bar.

“Start from the beginning.” Melissa said.

Jamie retold the story of the break-in, the tale of the horrible fire and finding
out that her friend had been seriously burned, before ending with her car breaking
down.

“Oh, my God. Who did you piss off?” Melissa asked.

That brought a smile to Jamie’s face. “I keep asking myself the same question.”

Zoey sipped her drink. “You know the old saying. What doesn’t kill you, makes you
stronger.”

“If that’s true, you’ll be able to call me ‘Iron Girl’ pretty soon.”

They all laughed.

“How are you getting around?” Melissa asked. She was a nurse at the hospital where
Jamie used to work.

“Remember Max Gruden, the tall man, from Amber’s wedding?” Jamie asked. Melissa nodded.
“He’s been driving me to and from work. He lives near me.”

Everyone smiled. She knew if she told them of her date tomorrow, the girls would fuss
too much.

Becky, the romantic, leaned forward. “He really seemed taken with you at Amber’s wedding.”

“He’s a very nice man. He even gave me some pointers on survival.”

Becky’s eyes sparkled. “He’s not just nice, he’s freaking hot. Doesn’t he get your
motor revving? I know mine would be if I were around him.”

Jamie laughed. “It’s too soon to tell, but I’m keeping my options open. End of story.”

Becky grinned, acting as if she’d gotten more information than she’d hoped for. “Good
for you.”

Zoey stared at her for a moment, acting as if a miracle had occurred. She then directed
a question at Lydia. After all, this was Lydia’s first time at their happy hour.

It didn’t take long before everyone turned their focus to the newcomer, asking her
about her business, and what was new in her love life. Happy hour seemed to be geared
toward making sure everyone was on the right path to true love. That was one of the
many things Jamie liked about meeting with her friends. They were all so supportive.

After they all filled up on finger food, and shared more gossip, Zoey pushed back
her chair. “If you’ll excuse me, ladies. I have a dinner date with Pete and Thad.
Jamie, can I give you a lift home?”