Reckless Abandon (Phantom Protector Book 1) (6 page)

She retreated behind the bathroom door. Her
heart raced, as she thought of the mouthwatering picture Max made when he was
wet. She fanned her face and swiped the beads of sweat from her forehead,
either from her overactive imagination or the steam he’d left in the closed
bathroom. Probably both.

****

Briggs grinned as he watched Jamie practically run
from the room. Heat had risen to her cheeks the longer she’d stayed and stared
at his body. It was evident she liked what she saw. He’d walked out of the
bathroom and found her half-clad, lying on the bed, and it had taken everything
he had not to drop his towel and go to her. His idea of staying away from the
brunette was a lost cause in such close quarters. He needed to find her answers
and get the heck away from her.

Briggs dropped the towel and pulled on a pair of
lounge pants. He normally liked to sleep in the nude but didn’t think that
Jamie would appreciate it. He threw on a shirt and stuffed one of his guns in
the waist of his pants, shoved his wallet in his pocket, threw on his shoes,
and grabbed the keycard from the dresser. He’d noticed the all-night diner just
across the street, and he was guessing that the goddess was hungry.

This time of night he didn’t have to wait long
for his order. He dropped some bills on the counter and returned to the room
ten minutes later, carrying the bag full of Styrofoam containers and drinks.

He placed them on the small table and strolled
over to the door. He could hear her humming from behind the wood. He wrapped
his knuckles lightly on the door. “Jamie.”

The water splashed, and he heard the shower
curtain slide across the bar. “Yeah?”

“I brought you some dinner. It’s out here when
you’re ready to eat.”

She was quiet.

“Did you hear me?”

“Sorry… I’ll be out in a few minutes. I just
need to finish shaving my legs.”

Max shrugged and walked over to the table. “I’m
starved. I hope you didn’t want me to wait,” he called out as he pulled the
container out of the bag.

He heard her muffled reply. “Go right ahead.”

Briggs thought about waiting but was unsure how
long it would take her to finish shaving her legs. His stomach growled over the
sound of the television. That made his mind up for him. He pulled out a chair
and lifted the lid. The scent of freshly made French fries drifted to his nose.
Max lifted the bun on his cheeseburger, checking to make sure they had made it
to his specifications. He took a huge bite of the burger. The juices and
ketchup slid down from the corner of his mouth. He reached for a napkin and
wiped his mouth as he continued to devour the cheeseburger in five bites. He
took the lid off his cola and gulped down the drink. He picked up the empty
container, and discarded the Styrofoam in the small trash bin by the bed. He
glanced down at his watch before he remembered he’d given it to Jamie. He shook
his head. His was exhausted and ready to drop on his feet. The bed called to
him, the soft mattress enticing him to lie down and get some sleep. He kicked
off his shoes, emptied his pockets, and reached behind his head, pulling the
cotton T-shirt from his body. He pulled back the covers and climbed into bed.

“You okay in there?”

“Yep. Just finishing up.”

****

Jamie finished changing into her nightclothes
and pulled the door open. Max lay sleeping on his back. He turned and snuggled
into the pillow. A smile pulled on Jamie’s lips. He looked a lot less
threatening. The lines on his face were softened and a slight snore filled the
room. She laid her bag by the bed and walked over to the cartons and drink he’d
left her. Brody had hit the nail on the proverbial head when he’d mentioned
that Max wouldn’t be stopping for food. She lifted the container and grinned.
Briggs had gotten her an assortment of food. French fries and cheeseburger with
a side of fruit would do more than fill her up. She lifted the lid off her
drink and sipped the soda he’d brought her. She would have preferred a coffee,
but she was thankful for what he’d done. She sat in silence, and the slight
snore coming from Max drifted to her ears. She couldn’t finish her meal. She
popped a slice of cantaloupe in her mouth and pushed from the table. She walked
around to her side of the bed, reached under the pillow, checking to see that
her security was still in its place, and slid into the bed next to Max. She
closed her eyes and let sleep take her again.

Jamie blinked her eyes open. Her arm lay across Max,
and her head rested against his shoulder. He’d wrapped an arm around her
sometime in the middle of the night. She didn’t move. She liked the feel of him
in her arms and wanted to savor it, even if for just a few minutes more.

“Good morning.” His baritone voice vibrated
through her body. “Did you sleep well?”

Jamie lifted her head and noticed that his eyes
were open. A smile graced his lips. She slid back to her side of the bed. She felt
the heat traveling to her cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”

 
 
His hazel eyes were unreadable as he watched
her. His silence made the butterflies flutter hesitantly in her stomach.

“I’m not. That was the best sleep I’ve had in a
long time.” He reached for her and pulled her back into his arms.

She lay unmoving. the muscles in her body
tensing more the longer she stayed by his side. Not that she didn’t like the
feel of being in his arms. She’d known the man for months and had admired him
from afar. He wasn’t gifted like the rest of her colleagues, but there was just
something about him. Something she’d yet to figure out. It felt like heaven,
something that she was starting to miss more and more being around him.

“This isn’t right, Max.”

He leaned over and placed a tiny kiss on her
brow. “We didn’t do anything wrong. I promise I never touched you.”

She propped up on her elbow. “That’s not what I
meant. I know you’d never take advantage of me like that. I just don’t want
this to ruin our working relationship.”

She thought she saw a flicker of disappointment
cross his face before it was quickly masked. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

He slid from the bed. “I’m just going to change,
and we’ll be on our way.”

Chapter
6

They’d both made quick work of getting dressed, him
in the bathroom and her in the room. They’d packed their bags and were headed
the last hundred miles to start searching for answers she’d wanted all of her
life. They slid into the SUV and settled down into another two-hour drive.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. They made
small talk, she was aware of the elephant riding with them. Damn, she wished
the assignment was over, and she could go back to the life she’d grown
accustomed to—a life without him and the nervous energy he made her feel.

Max pulled into the parking lot of the orphanage
and glanced over at Jamie, his expression unreadable. The old brick building
hadn’t changed and still stood out like a sore thumb. The tough exterior
reminded her of the challenges she’d endured. She closed her eyes and released
a breath as the memories tried to pierce her mind. Every time one of her
friends was adopted and whisked away, they took a piece of her heart with them.
Eventually she didn’t care that they never chose her. No one had wanted her,
and she’d turned out just fine.

“Are you ready or do you need another minute?”
Max asked, his voice breaking through the haze of memories.

“You know, growing up…” She swallowed around the
lump in her throat and blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. “I made
it a point to avoid this place. I did everything right as a kid. I figured out
early what the families needed, so I pretended, hoping they’d pick me. All I
ever wanted was to be loved.”

Max reached for her hand and squeezed. “If you
want to stay here, then I’ll go in and see what information they’ll give me.”

She shook her head. It was time to face her
demons, good, bad, or indifferent. She could conquer this just like she’d
mastered using her gift. “There’s no time like the present.”

She pushed her door open and waited for Max to
meet her on the sidewalk. The big brown door with a stainless window at the top
loomed before her. Max placed his palm on the small of her back and steered her
up the three concrete steps. She reached up and knocked.

The pitter-patter of small feet and giggling
could be heard as children ran by the other side of the door. She heard the
click of heels as someone approached. The door opened. A woman with short brown
hair and sad eyes opened the door. “Can I help you?”

Max held out his hand. “I’m Maxwell Briggs.” He
turned. “And this is Jamie Bloom.” The woman nodded. “We would like to speak to
whoever is in charge of this establishment.”

The woman stepped back and let them enter. “Why?
Is something wrong?”

Jamie placed her palm on the woman’s arm and
sent her a calming vibration, something that would alleviate her concern. “I
grew up here, and I’m looking for information about the night I was given up.”

The woman lowered her lashes. “I’m sorry.” She
walked down the hall. “Follow me. I’m not sure Mrs. Evans will be able to tell
you anything, but she’d be the one you need to speak with.”

A breath hitched in Jamie’s throat. She leaned
into Max. “She worked here during my stay.”

Max nodded.

The short-haired woman opened the office door
and gestured to two empty chairs in the small office. “Please have a seat and
I’ll let her know you’re here.”

Jamie ran her hand over the old oak desk as she
moved to sit down. “I can remember playing hide and seek in this room.”

Max sat beside her and crossed an ankle over his
knee.

“As I recall, your favorite place to hide was
underneath my desk,” a woman with gray hair replied as she walked into the room
and up to Jamie.

Jamie rose.

“We couldn’t keep you out of here.” Mrs. Evans
reached for Jamie’s hands and squeezed as she looked at her like a mother
would. “It’s good to see you again, Jamie.” She held Jamie’s arms out to the
side. “It’s hard to believe you’re all grown up.”

Jamie could feel her cheeks redden. “It’s nice
to see you too.” Jamie sat down in her seat as Mrs. Evans rounded the oak desk.
“Although I never thought I’d ever come back here.”

Mrs. Evans gave a slight smile and placed her
wrinkled elbows on the desk. “You all do at some point, dear. In the forty
years I’ve been here, there have been a countless number that have returned. I
believe there is an undying need in all of us to know where we came from.” She
held out her hand to Max. “I’m Mrs. Evans. And you are?”

Max reached for her hand and glanced at Jamie
with a brow raised. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He leaned down and placed a
kiss on her top of her palm. “I’m Maxwell Briggs.”

Mrs. Evans’ cheeks turned a slight shade of pink
as she pulled back her hand. “It’s nice to see you found a man with manners.”

Jamie chuckled. “Max is just a friend. He’s
helping me try to locate my parents that left me.” Jamie cleared her throat.
“That’s why we’re here.”

Mrs. Evans frowned. “Jamie, nothing’s changed. I
still can’t give you the answers you need. Those documents are sealed and out
of my hands. I’m sorry, but there is nothing I can do.”

Max leaned back in his chair and crossed one
ankle over his knee. “Do you remember when Jamie was brought in?”

Mrs. Evans smiled. “Mr. Briggs, Jamie was left
on our doorstep in a bassinet. She was dressed in an old pink jumper with a key
dangling from a chain around her neck. I remember every young soul who comes
through these doors.”

Max placed both feet on the ground and sat
forward. He placed his elbows on his knees. “Do you still have it?”

“Have what, dear? The key?”

“No, Jamie has her key. Do you still have the
items she was dropped off in?”

Mrs. Evans grinned. “Oh I see.” She stood.
“After thirty years we moved some of the older items into storage, but I
believe we still have the things you arrived with” She walked over to the door,
and Jamie and Max followed. Mrs. Evans hugged Jamie. “He sure is a smart one
and handsome too.”

Jamie’s heart fluttered. Her pulse quickened.

“Those things are
yours
after all.” She walked back over to her desk and scribbled
the name of the storage place on the back of one of her business cards and
handed it to her. “Have them call me if they have any problem. It is stored
under your name, so they shouldn’t have any problems as long as you have your
ID. They’re closed today, so you’re going to have to wait until tomorrow. I
hope that isn’t a problem.”

Jamie couldn’t believe that she hadn’t ever
thought of looking at things from her past. Her key had plagued her mind for so
long. It was a good thing that Max was with her. Even if they didn’t find
anything, he was giving her a broader look at things she might have overlooked.
“That’s not a problem. I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to
speak with us.”