Montana Fire (9 page)

She let out a large breath. “Thank you. Ever since yesterday, I’ve not been myself.”

“I understand.” He really did. Except he’d been out of sorts for years instead of
days. Being able to help someone was like having a small hole in a fogged window wiped
clean.

She handed him the ignition key, and then followed him to his SUV. He held open her
door, and while the women he dated enjoyed the chivalry, he never had the sense they
really cared one way or the other. With Jamie, he bet she’d like it. The woman had
principles.

After meeting her in the hallway, and then watching her try to fix her car, Max was
looking forward to finding out what made Jamie Henderson tick.

*     *     *

Seeing Jonathan so injured had been torture enough, but having Grayson breakdown set
Jamie’s nerves on edge. She settled back in Max’s car, crossed her arms, and rested
her elbows on her purse. “If I’d had more time, I would have been able to fix my beloved
car, you know.”

He chuckled. “You couldn’t have fixed a starter, Miss Car Expert.”

“Oh, yeah?” Flirting with a man like Max was kind of fun. He’d been too serious at
the wedding, but when he’d watched her work, there was something easy about him that
she liked. She’d love to prove him wrong, but she had a feeling he was right about
her car. That grinding noise did sound like a bad starter. Crap.

“Yeah.” His smile widened.

“Does seeing someone in trouble always bring you such joy?” She kept her tone light,
so he could tell she was teasing.

He pointed to his chest as if she were accusing him of some terrible deed. “No joy
on my part. You looked like you had everything under control. I was there as backup.”

“I know. I appreciate your faith in my talents.” She would have been really late if
he hadn’t offered to wait around for the tow.

“Ever think of getting a new car?” Max asked as casually as could be.

She twisted so her back was against the door. He’d touched on a sore spot. “My car
has another one or two hundred thousand miles left on him.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “That might be, but at what cost? First it’s the starter
then it’s the timing belt, new tires, and new brakes. And don’t forget the clutch,
assuming it’s a stick shift.”

His concern had merit. Of late, Grayson had become more and more temperamental. But
new cars cost money. “It is, but I’ll take my chances.”

He drummed his fingers on the wheel for a moment. “Why is this car so important to
you?”

Max was good. Intuitive. He really seemed to listen, and to understand. “The car belonged
to my dad before he died.”

Like a cloud passing over the sun, his face darkened. Darn. Max might still have issues
of his own, but she never intended to remind him of his own loss.
Way to go
. He had been so nice driving to the hospital before work to check on Jonathan, and
then offering his aid. She needed to think before she spoke.

Max’s gaze remained unerringly on the road ahead, even when they’d stopped at a light.
Talk to him
. “Did the ER doc tell you anything about what happened to Jonathan?” That was a safe
topic.

His jaw tightened, as if he was debating how much to reveal. “Yes. Sorry. I meant
to tell you, but I got distracted. Dr. Carstead confirmed that a burning board landed
on your friend’s shoulder. He also said someone hit him in the back of the head, which
knocked him out.” Max glanced over at her.

“Oh, my God. That was why they cut his hair. To clean the wound. It also explains
why he didn’t run out of the warehouse when it caught fire.”

“I thought the same thing. Did Jonathan ever say if someone wanted to harm him?”

“No. We didn’t talk much about personal issues.” She looked out the window, trying
to figure out if Jonathan’s ramblings referred to what happened to him. “Do you think
the owner of the building tried to evict him?”

“Doubtful. We interviewed him, and he kind of freaked when we told him about Jonathan’s
injuries.”

“Oh.”

With nothing more to say, she kept quiet, trying to decide if Jonathan’s strange words
had been important. She never remembered anyone mentioning numbers in their sleep.
What could forty-seven refer to?

Before she could come with even up one possibility, they approached the clinic. Only
then did she realize she was still wearing Max’s coat. She peeled it off and set it
between them. The leather was old, but well loved. It even had some burn marks on
the sleeve. “Looks like someone else likes to keep things for a long time.” Two could
play at the game.

“My wife gave that to me.” The tension in his voice was as taught as a steel wire.

Fuck. Now she’d done it. “It was really, ah, warm. Thank you.”

Admit it.
I suck at interacting with someone new.
Not that she was looking to date Max in particular, but she was tired of putting
her life on hold. After the incident with the break-in, she wanted to be more proactive.
Too bad the whole idea of starting again was not only unsettling, it was downright
scary.

Chapter Seven

M
ax stopped right in front of the clinic, and put the car in park. “You should consider
wearing something more substantial next time. Your jacket looks thin.”

Max reminded her of her dad. Every time she went out to play in the snow, her father
would insist she wear her mittens and hat.

“I was in a hurry this morning and didn’t think about the forecast. I do have warmer
gear.”

“Bundle up tomorrow. There’s supposed to be a storm coming.”

“I will, thanks.” Max was a kind man. And a considerate one, too. He was also really
good looking, and the combination of compassion and physical appeal had her senses
reeling.

Max nodded. “Once I make sure your vehicle has been taken care of, I’ll give you a
call when it’s on its way to the shop.”

“Thanks, again.” This Max Gruden was different from the man at the wedding. This side
of him she liked. A lot.

The tension across his face eased. “I’ll also let you know when I hear what’s wrong
with Grayson.”

His use of the Subaru’s nickname spiked her pulse for a second. “I appreciate it.”

She should be calling the shop, but since she didn’t know where her car would end
up, she’d let Max help one more time.

Jamie pushed open the car door and hurried into the clinic before he had the chance
to set up a time to pick her up. If she could find someone else to take her home,
she wouldn’t have to inconvenience him. Hell, she probably should just call a cab,
but the fifteen-dollar fare would eat into her budget. The free clinic didn’t pay
like the hospital did.

As soon as Jamie stepped into the waiting room, the familiar surroundings brought
her some peace. With a quick glance at the few patients who were waiting, she headed
into the back, and tried to push aside thoughts of the enigmatic, but intriguing Max
Gruden.

Her first patient needed some blood work, the second antibiotics for an infected toe,
and the third a few eardrops. The simple chores helped center her again.

The rest of the morning continued as usual, for which she was grateful. Max had called
around eleven, but she’d been with a patient and hadn’t been able to talk. His voice
message said her car was at Richardson’s Automotive, and that they’d have an estimate
by the close of today. She had hoped they would have repaired her car by then, but
she wasn’t holding her breath.

Around one, she finally had the chance to take lunch. She was halfway to the door
when she remembered she didn’t have her car. Crap. She blew out a breath and spun
around.

Her coworker, Sasha Langley, was standing there, purse in hand. She raised a brow.
“Forgot you don’t have Grayson?”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“I’m on my way to lunch. I can drive.”

“That would be great.”

They managed to get the same lunch hour about twice a week and usually ate together.
Jamie had wanted some solitude to think about the break-in, the terrible fire, her
broken car, and Max Gruden, but she’d have to put that off until tonight. Jamie would
have suggested a drive through, but when Sasha was on one of her diets—which she was
right now—she refused to stop at one. “Where do you want to go?”

“Valley Café?”

“Sure.” Jamie loved the place. They left, hustled across the street, and slipped into
Sasha’s car that she’d parked in front of the recently shut down bookstore. “Valley
Café will be crowded, you know.”

Sasha shrugged. “Every good place will be.”

Jamie was about to suggest Italiano’s until she remembered Zoey had said that was
where Max liked to dine. Running into him might look like she was chasing him, which
she most definitely was not. “Valley Café it is.”

There wasn’t much traffic until they reached town, where finding a parking spot was
harder than walking on ice in heels. The best Sasha could do was find a spot a few
blocks away. By the time they reached the inside of the restaurant, Jamie’s hands
and feet were nearly frozen. “Brr. I thought spring was on its way.”

“It was, until a big cold front decided to visit us from Canada.”

That was what Max had said. “Great. Snow’s pretty to look at, great to play in, but
horrible to walk in when you’re not bundled up.”

“This is Montana, girl. Get used to it.”

They snagged the last available booth. Once they ordered drinks, Sasha dropped her
napkin on her lap. “How’s your friend Jonathan doing?”

They hadn’t had a chance to catch up today. “Not so good. He’s heavily sedated, but
at least he’s not intubated anymore.”

Sasha reached out a hand and clasped Jamie’s. “I’m sorry. I read the paper this morning,
but I didn’t see any news about whether they caught anyone.”

“I haven’t heard, but I doubt they have.” If they had a suspect, Max probably would
have mentioned it. “Finding an arsonist within twenty-four hours of the blaze is unreasonable,
unless the person is trying to get caught.”

The waitress delivered their drinks, and Sasha ordered a chicken Caesar salad, while
Jamie went with an old-fashioned hamburger.

“Not that I was spying or anything,” Sasha said, wrapping her hands around her steaming
mug, “but I happen to glance out the window this morning, and saw some total hottie
pull up in front of the clinic in a black SUV. Wasn’t I surprised when you jumped
out.” She sighed. “You get all the luck. I mean—” Her eyes widened, then immediately
drew in a breath.

“It’s okay. I’m good. And Max is not my boyfriend.”

It drove her crazy that everyone walked on eggshells around her. Benny had been a
good person until he cracked. In his warped mind, he was only trying to take away
her pain. Somehow, he never seemed to realize that even if the victims were close
to death, it was still murder.

“Tell me about this handsome non-boyfriend.” Sasha gave her that don’t-deny-me-the
pleasure-of-living-vicariously-through-you look.

That made Jamie smile. “Not much to tell. Max Gruden is the town’s new fire marshal
and arson investigator.”

“Two jobs in one. Impressive.” She glanced to side. “Max Gruden. I like that name.
It’s strong, aggressive, powerful sounding.”

Jamie agreed. “He can be aggressive and strong, but he’s nice, too.”

His boisterous laugh when she’d done her bad Al Pacino imitation rang in her head.
The sound was as deep as it was rich, which Sasha would no doubt label sexy as hell.

“But he drove you to work.” Sasha winked. “Don’t tell me you were coming from his
place this morning.”

“Ah, no.” Jamie was too dumbfounded to explain.

“You can tell me. I’m happy that you have a new beau.” Sasha placed a hand over her
heart. “About time, too.”

Jamie tilted her head. “You are so off the mark. Max was at the hospital this morning
and happened to be checking up on Jonathan the same time I was. He stopped to speak
with a doctor, and when he came out, he saw my car hood up. I couldn’t get Grayson
started, so he offered to drive me to work then wait for the tow truck. End of story.”