Maverick Read online

  Here at the In-Side Inn, she wasn’t expecting the same type of men. Not if Dr. Bob was running a back-door pharmacy behind the bar.

  It’s a job, Mag—Jenna. You’re not doing this for yourself anyway. She listened to Bob’s sketchy orientation. Melissa would be safe, as long as she stayed out of sight. The In-Side Inn was about as far from visible as she could get. Wallpaper would be easy here, once the patrons got used to a new face.

  She changed the water in the sink, picked up a worn cloth and started to clean. Twelve hours later, she rinsed out that same cloth. Her wrist throbbed, the fingers poking out of the end of the brace so swollen they crowded against each other. Doctor Bob watched her set the cloth down and turn to him. He’d spelled her unexpectedly during the long evening—sending her back to tend bar. His thoughtfulness was the only reason she’d lasted the night. Unfortunately, she worried it was less thoughtfulness and more a fervent hope he’d get lucky if he was kind to her.

  “Sure you don’t want to take me up on my offer?”

  She shook her head. “Anything else I need to do tonight?” She shoved the unfamiliar glasses back up her nose for the umpteenth time. “Get some sleep.”

  “What time tomorrow?”

  “Four.” He handed her a folded wad of cash, and watched her stick the money in the front pocket of her jeans. She smiled for the first time in hours. Cash. And no requests for identity. “You’re a good worker, Jenna.”

  “Thanks. And thanks for spelling me.”

  “You seeing anybody?”

  Jenna kept her smile firmly in place. She was rarely wrong, but sometimes she wanted to be. “He’s waiting actually. I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Want a ride?”

  She did, but definitely not from him. “It’s just down the street. Thanks anyway.”

  Outside in the cool, early-morning air, she stopped and pulled in a shaky breath. One night down. One less she had to live through. Tomorrow morning she’d take the bus to the library and see if she could find news of the arrest of one Kevin Cormack. Tonight, she cradled her injured arm against her chest and thought of Melissa.

  Back in the smelly hotel room, she stepped into the shower. At least the water was clean, even if the walls of the old shower stall weren’t. Her thoughts strayed to her tub. Hot tears stung her eyes.

  Not the tub. She washed them away with the miserly spray from the shower head. Not Jack. Just think of Melissa. And Kevin.

  She managed to get the tub out of her mind, once she was clean and dry. The rest of it was hopeless. The pull was too strong. She folded his shirt around her like a prayer and closed her eyes with a sigh. Once she went to sleep, he’d be there anyway—as real and strong as that last night at the cabin.

  She pulled out her picture of Melissa, but even her sister reminded her of Jack now. Funny how natural and normal to wake from a bad dream and have him there. She hadn’t felt a bit strange when he’d snuggled her close. She refused to think about making love with him. Those memories just hurt too much.

  But she could remember sleeping on his shoulder. Just as if she hadn’t a problem in the world. Just as if he weren’t half the problems she had in the world.

  She curled up with her mother’s locket and the picture of Melissa that reminded her of Jack. Maybe there’d be news tomorrow. Maybe Kevin was already in custody.

  Maybe someday Jack would forgive her. . .

  Maggie fell asleep with the memories. She was curved around them on the bed with her left hand still clutching her mother’s locket. A hand covered her mouth. Instantly awake, struggling furiously, she did the first thing she thought of. She bit the hand, ran her fingers blindly up a muscular arm to rake nails down a face she couldn’t see and rolled off the bed. He followed, tackling her, laying over her, lifting her elbows—both her elbows—high over her head. The pain from her wrist immobilized her, but he sat on her thighs anyway to keep from being kicked.

  “Maggie, it’s Jack.”

  “I know who the hell you are.” What did he expect? That she’d fall at his feet? Do you think I don’t taste you, smell you, feel you every day?

  She didn’t say the words—had enough sense to clamp her lips into a firm line before they tumbled out—but it was close. So close that when he released her, she scrambled to her feet and turned her back. Bitter tears of defeat stung at her eyes. How had he found her? Had she slipped up? Left a clue somewhere? It just wasn’t possible he could be here so quickly. Three days. . .

  “So what now, Lieutenant?” She made the title a sneer. “Handcuffs again?” “If I need them.”

  “You will,” she snapped back. She heard his sigh, felt the unwelcome tug of it on her heart. “How did you find me?” “Does it matter?”

  It did. Desperately. “Yes.”

  “Why? So you can fix it so I can’t find you next time?”

  Exactly.

  “Don’t worry about it, darlin’. There ain’t gonna be a next time.”

  The cold anger in his voice hurt.

  Don’t let him get to you. Don’t let him know how hard this is.

  The stern orders didn’t help. And he wasn’t finished yelling at her.

  “Damn you, Maggie. Are you out of your mind? Look at this place. Do you know how long it took me to break in here?” His flat hand smacked the wall by the door and she jumped. “Ten seconds.”

  Rage boiled up over the hurt, so suddenly intense she shook with it. “Get out.” Her voice was too quiet for the emotion the words imparted. “Not without you.”

  “I’m not leaving.” She faced him, one arm crossed protectively over her breasts.

  Jack clenched his hands into fists. It was the only way he knew to keep from kissing her. Did she think he’d hurt her? “Not yet, no.” The inference was clear. “You can hate me later.” He fumbled for the switch on the room’s only light, a lamp on a rickety table beside the bed. “Right now I need this.” He scooped up her briefcase, dumping its meager contents onto the rumpled bed, bracing himself for the fight. “Where’s the original?”

  Maggie wrapped her shirt closer around her. “What original?” “The note. The one you left me with is a copy. The only fingerprints on the damn thing are yours. Same with the bearer bonds. What are you? Nuts? I nearly turned that stuff in. The only person it would implicate is you.”

  That hadn’t occurred to her. “I—it’s safe.” “Damn it, Maggie.” Jack rifled through the jumble on her bed one more time. He couldn’t explain why he’d run the prints himself—what had stopped him from just turning in the pouch—but she should be damn glad. He turned to look at her, and all his irritation vanished. He sighed. “Cute hair.” It wasn’t. It was terrible—not even a hint of her soft curls—and he was just getting used to those. Her hair wasn’t all he saw though—his eyes devoured her. Was it years since he’d seen her—held her—since he’d known she was safe? Seemed like it. She was wearing his shirt—the one she’d stolen right off his back. His smile was speculative before her words wiped it away.

  “Haven’t found him yet?” she sneered and swung to face him.

  “I didn’t say that.” He leveled that cool, amused stare at her. “Nice shirt.”

  She flushed with color. He decided he could live with the blond hair. It made her eyes huge, and so warm and dark he thought he could drown in them. “It’s warm,” she murmured.

  “Yeah, it was.” Maggie couldn’t believe he even recognized his shirt. She’d worn it—days and nights—when she needed to—for the last two years. The stupid thing wasn’t even the same color now. Why in the world had she worn it tonight? He just stood there, staring at her. The stare that turned her insides crazy.

  When he didn’t move, she grabbed up the briefcase and tossed her things back inside—surprised when he didn’t stop her. She hugged the soft vinyl to her chest and sank down on the far corner of the bed with her back to him. Too much to hope—that he’d actually caught up with Kevin—that maybe the running was over. He didn’t elaborate on his cryptic statement and sh
e hated him for making her ask. “Did you?”

  “Find him? No.”

  “Who’s with Melissa?” “Derek.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “She remembered how good he is—whatever that means. She’s not real pleased with you either. That’s just how she said it, by the way: you-tell-her-I’m-not-real-pleased-with-her.”

  Maggie cringed at the wave of longing to see her sister that rushed through her. It shouldn’t be this hard. To hide the hurt and the tears that waited to fall, she lashed out. “She trusts you.”

  “I know. She’s a smart girl.” She felt him move closer, although there wasn’t a sound to give him away. “I thought you trusted me, too.”

  “That’s what I wanted you to think.” She wouldn’t give an inch. And she spoke only the truth.

  “Yeah, well, it worked. But only once.” He was angry. And warning her. “Can’t you just leave me alone? Go do what you’re supposed to do—find Kevin. There’s no reason for you to come after me.”

  “You’ve got the evidence.” He was right next to the bed now, just around the corner from her. She got to her feet.

  “You know I’ll turn it in once you’ve caught him. I’ll turn myself in once you’ve caught him. You’ve got to know me well enough to trust me to do that.” “Hell, Maggie.” He sounded almost defeated now. She stiffened her shoulders. She shouldn’t listen to him—shouldn’t let him say another word. Her heart wasn’t in any shape to hear his sweet talk. “The evidence isn’t the only reason. You’d know that if you’d quit running long enough to listen.” His voice was soft, sliding inside—behind her defenses.

  She fought the pull of his sweet murmur. “Listen to you?”

  “Or listen to yourself. Sooner or later that heart of yours is going to get really tired of being ignored.”

  Her eyes burned again.

  “I didn’t come for the damn evidence, Maggie. I came for you. But obviously, you’re too dense, or too blind or just too cussed stupid to see.” “See what?” She clung to her anger. Without it she was lost.

  “That I care about you.”

  “No.” She couldn’t let him go on.

  He ignored her outburst. “You’re in danger.” He moved up behind her. She took one step; which carried her to the wall. There wasn’t anywhere else to go. He closed the distance behind them again, hands gliding down her arms, gently banishing her anger. “Every bit as much danger as Melissa. Probably more.” He turned her. She let him. “I can’t stand you being in danger, my Maggie.” His voice was whisper soft, thrumming through her. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart sobbed.

  She kept her eyes on the third button down his shirt, until he lifted her face. Then she met his eyes. Hers glittered with tears she wouldn’t shed. “We’re out of options, sweetheart. You’re out of options.” He pulled the briefcase from her fingers, tossing it uncaringly on the bed behind him. He kept hold of her hand though, twining her fingers with his, making the statement she wouldn’t let him say out loud.

  She believed he cared. She didn’t have a choice as it was all there in his eyes—the warmth that pulled at her. There was still nothing he could say that would convince her. Melissa’s safety mattered above all else. She watched his fingers and hers—entangled. Dangerous. She didn’t speak.

  “Why do you believe that being in Denver will keep Melissa safe?”

  Melissa. Good topic. She straightened her shoulders. Her smile was cold. “As long as they don’t know where I am, Melissa is safe.” “So you just keep moving?”

  She tried to hang onto her smile. She couldn’t.

  “For how long?” Her eyes drifted away from his. He dropped her hand and his fingers curled over her shoulders. “Damn it, Maggie. Don’t you go there. I told you—” Memories of the cabin assailed her. Maggie shook her head. The cabin—her time with Jack—that wasn’t real. Not anymore. Real was the In-Side Inn. She had to be back at work in eleven hours. That was real. She just had to get Jack to accept reality.

  “I keep moving.” She met his eyes again, with a quietly desperate plea. He didn’t look angry now. But he didn’t look dejected, either. His voice was gentle. “I’m not going to let you keep moving, darlin’. We’re going to stop this. Now. Together.” He pulled her into his arms and she gave in with a soft cry, allowing him to guide her head to his shoulder.

  His offer sounded so good. Sweet. To be done with the running. To be Maggie Chambers again. To put down roots in a town like New Castle. To walk through town and not look over her shoulder. To never have to enter a place like the In-Side Inn again.

  To be back in his arms. . . Then she saw Melissa, with that big gun behind her, and Kevin’s nervous finger on the trigger. She shook her head, a quick little movement of fearful denial, and stepped away. He let her go, but didn’t release her hand.

  “I can stop him, Maggie. We can stop him. With your evidence, Kevin doesn’t have a chance. All the running can be over. You don’t have to be afraid of him.” The fear claimed victory, churning, growing, stealing the color from her cheeks. She nearly choked on it before she closed her eyes with a muffled sob. “It’s not that simple.” She pulled her hand free and skirted the bed—the only escape he allowed her. For now her only escape, she reminded herself, watching him warily. Just for now. He was calm, but just as upset as she was under that cool veneer. He’d make a mistake and she’d disappear. All over again.

  Except he didn’t look calm and cool any longer. Anger boiled in his eyes and erupted in his voice. “Nathan Mitchell is dead. You said yourself he was the only restraint Kevin had. Kevin’s on his way to New Castle. If he’s not already there.”

  “How do you know? He doesn’t know where I was.” A trick. He’s trying to keep you upset. Don’t let him get to you. Her eyes narrowed. “You’re just guessing he’d come to Colorado. He doesn’t know where Melissa is.”

  “Yeah, he does.” His voice was cold and flat now.

  She ignored the tear that escaped to slide down her cheek. “You don’t know that.” It was a plea.

  Jack shook his head. “Melissa’s friend Emily—she’s in the hospital, Maggie. Kevin put her there. She’s in a coma. And she knew the phone number for Shipwrecks.” Maggie stiffened at the words, then melted, sinking into the room’s only chair, eyes wide and staring. “When?” “Last week. Her boyfriend found her at Melissa’s apartment.” Jack didn’t move. Suddenly she wanted him to—to pull her close. . . “She was there to water Melissa’s plants. Kevin was waiting for her.”

  “Is she—will she be all right?” Horrible shudders wracked her.

  “They don’t know.”

  “He was waiting—waiting for Melissa?” Jack didn’t answer. That told her all she needed to know. “How long have you known?” “Since Tuesday. Frank told me when I called to give him grief about the talk show.” “I—I’ve got to call Melissa. She’s got to get out of New Castle—“

  “You don’t need to call her—we’ll go get her. There’s a flight at seven.” He erased the distance between them again and touched her cheek. “You trust Derek to take care of her, don’t you?”

  She remembered the determined look in Derek’s eyes when he’d thought Jack was the one he had to get rid of. She nodded. Derek would keep Melissa safe. She’d be safe as long as Maggie kept running—as long as she kept the evidence and her sister separated. Why couldn’t Jack understand that?

  Jack sat down on the bed next to her chair, so close their knees were touching. “Who’s going to take care of you, Maggie?”

  Her chin snapped up. “I can take care of myself.” He touched her wrist. She winced—she couldn’t stop herself in time. “Pneumonia on the mesa. A concussion in the mountains. And a wrist that won’t get better without some rest and proper care.” He smiled at her glare. “You’re not doing a very good job, darlin’. How about you let me help for a while?”

  *** In the end, Jack used the handcuffs. He hadn’t been able to coax her out of the chair until it was nearly time to leave for th
e airport. Then she’d suddenly turned as malleable as a wet dish rag. Just like she’d been on the trip from Derek’s cabin to Grand Junction. He wasn’t about to fall for that twice.

  So, in the cab, on the way to the airport, he reached over and clamped the cuffs on her left wrist while she stared out the window. He fastened the other end around his right arm. He didn’t give her time to object. Or the opportunity to talk him out of it. Jack flashed his badge at the airport and they bypassed the metal detectors. He made small talk with the security guards who ran hand-held sweeps over them. Everyone, including Jack, ignored Maggie like a diseased creature. Her cheeks were bright red by the time they boarded the plane.

  “Everyone’s staring,” she hissed. “Yeah.” He actually had the nerve to grin at her. “They usually stare at you anyway, don’t they? Even with blond frizz for hair. Don’t worry though. I told them you embezzled. Strictly white-collar stuff. Otherwise I would have had to get us our own plane. Imagine if they knew the infamous Maggie Chambers was actually on the plane with them? And there’s always the chance the other passengers are wondering which one of us is the bad guy—I look nearly as banged up as you do. Just act like an agent—keep ‘em guessing.”

  Her lips folded into a thin line. The plane backed away from the gate. Jack smiled serenely. She turned to stare out the window. Damn but she hated to fly. Jack kept up a constant, unusual stream of chatter—talking over the pilot and the flight attendants. As he spoke directly in her ear, it was impossible to completely ignore him, but she gave it a good try. Seated next to the window, she didn’t have much choice. The jet rolled down the runway, joining a long line of even bigger airliners. The pilot throttled the engines and she tensed. Jack’s fingers pried hers from the armrest. He tucked her left hand inside both his own.

  “Look at me, Maggie.” Just like before, he spoke the words directly into her ear. She tried to pull her hand away. He tugged it closer. She wanted to slap him. Except the only hand she could use was fastened to his own by a short chain. And wrapped up tight in his. Frustration and tension soared. “Maggie.”