Page 70 of Love on the Run

“If I remember correctly,” she cut into Quinn’s tirade, “the only requirement was I be with an officer of the law, and Detective Holt is certainly that.So what exactly are you saying?” Callie had drawn herself to her full height, and used every trick she knew to radiate imperiousness.As long as this man didn’t realize that Ty’s arrival was completely unexpected, he couldn’t accuse Jake of neglecting his duty.

“Well…” Quinn started to say. He frowned, knowing thatsomethingwas wrong in this scenario. But Callie simply stared him down, daring him to call her a liar. “I suppose,” he finally said.

At that moment, a nurse entered.She gave them an indifferent glance as she ordered them out of the room.“This patient needs rest now.You have to go.”

“I’m a federal agent,” Quinn objected.

“Do you have a medical degree?”The nurse glared at him.She took his surprise for a negative.“No?Then kindly allow me to do my job.Out.”

Cowed by her, they hastened out.Callie gave Ty’s hand a last squeeze.“Thanks for everything.See you soon.”

“Count on it,” he said, a sleepy grin on his face.

Quinn didn’t let the nurse’s attitude slow him down for long. In the hallway, while Jake took a few steps away, Quinn turned to Callie. “The LAPD has expressed a certain eagerness to talk to you regarding Foster’s activities. I understand they are interested in what you may know about some police contacts he had on his payroll.” Quinn’s normally expressionless face wavered for a moment. “Since Mr. Foster will not be able to personally commit any more federal crimes, I’ve agreed to let the LAPD talk to you first, a favor they’d better be grateful for.” He looked like he had his doubts. “You’ll be heading back to LA at the first opportunity.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Callie agreed, with such alacrity Jake had to stop himself from wincing. Her eagerness to get back to her own life couldn’t be clearer. He’d been delusional to think she’d want to stay anyway. What could he offer her?

“Right.” Quinn nodded. “I have to make some calls. Nobody leave. I’ll be back.” He walked off, leaving Jake and Callie standing alone in the corridor. Jake didn’t meet her eyes, but looked back into Ty’s room. Callie, not trusting herself to speak, could see how tense his body was, and knew he was still angry with her. But she didn’t know what she could do to stop it. Her first impulse, to wrap her arms around him, seemed like it wouldn’t be appreciated anymore.

The nurse emerged from Ty’s room, closing the door behind her.

Callie stared out the windows, despite the pitch-black darkness outside. She couldn’t understand how everything had changed in the space of a few hours. That morning—was it really the same day?—Jake had looked at her like she meant something to him, and she found herself dreaming of a new life, a possibility she would have laughed at a week ago. When Malcolm held a gun to her head, she couldn’t think of anything but staying alive long enough to see Jake again. And somehow, she never doubted he’d find her.

But ever since he did, she wondered why he bothered. Jake hadn’t so much as touched her since she’d been rescued. He was angry with her. Or perhaps he’d reconsidered how he felt. But Callie felt heartbroken and lost. Seeing her own reflection in the glass, at her pale expression, she got angry with herself. This was what she did, after all. She ran headlong from one bad relationship to another. So Jake wasn’t as bad as Malcolm…but she’d obviously misread his attitude toward her. And she had pushed for an intimacy he didn’t feel, simply because she was feeling vulnerable. That had been a terrible idea, one it would take her a very long time to forget. Because she had been happy.

When Quinn told her she would have to return to LA as soon as possible, she had agreed because she wanted it to be over. The sooner she could talk to the police and tell them everything she knew, the better. Her whole life was a sham, a hollow set-up that she pretended gave her some meaning. It wasn’t any great passion that lead her into acting, only the knowledge that she was very capable. And pretty enough to have a shot in Hollywood. But it only took a few days outside that bubble for her to realize how little the culture meant to her. Stardom had been Malcolm’s dream, not hers. She felt she could stay in Montana forever and be content. The mountains, the wide-open landscape, the unpretentious lifestyle…and someone to share it with. But she’d been wrong.

* * * *

Jake watched Callie out of the corner of his eye. He wished he could put her out of his mind. Or his heart. She’d certainly been able to shake off any feelings she might have had, and it was obvious she regretted everything she had done the night before. Jake leaned against the corridor wall, wondering where he’d gone wrong. A few days ago, he’d told himself there would never be a way to keep someone like Callie. Then he managed to trick himself into thinking otherwise. Now he was paying for his stupidity.

“Alright,” a voice broke the heavy silence. Quinn was back, shooting them both a brief, quizzical glance before he went on. If he noticed any strangeness in their attitudes, he said nothing. Absently, he opened the door to Ty’s room, but then remained in the hall. “I have a flight arranged in a few hours. Unfortunately, I have to stay here to wrap up some details, and to give a statement to the coroner. Brand, can you get Miss Reed to the airport? She needs to be chaperoned till she gets on the plane.”

“I have to take my dog back home,” Jake said flatly, in no mood to accommodate the agent’s high-handed orders.

“And all my stuff is at the house,” Callie added unexpectedly. “My ID, credit cards, everything. I wasn’t exactly given time to pack.”

“Fine, skip the free ride,” Quinn said, visibly irritated.“Go back to Petticoat Junction, and take care of whatever.No rush. It’s not like anything important just happened.” He glared at Callie. “Would it be too much trouble to ask your highness to stop by LA in the next couple of days?”

“I think we can manage to get her there,” Jake said quietly, not caring for Quinn’s attitude.“I won’t let her run away.”

“I’m not going to run away,” Callie protested. “And I’m right here. Feel free to talk to me and not about me.”

“I’ll have plenty to say in a minute,” Jake warned her.

“Oh, great,” she snapped back. “That sounds like fun.”

“Sooner you get moving, the sooner you’ll be in LA, Miss Reed,” Quinn said pointedly. He turned to Jake. “And as far as I’m concerned, it’s your responsibility to get her there. Try not to lose her this time.” When Jake didn’t move, Quinn narrowed his eyes. “No time like the present."

“We’re going,” Jake said. He began stalking down the hall to the exit, with Callie following as quickly as she could with her injured leg.Even so, her long stride almost matched his.

After they left, Quinn waited a moment, then stepped into Ty’s room again.“So, did you hear all that?” he asked, in a considerably calmer mood than he had displayed in the hallway.

The other man opened his eyes. “Yeah, pretty much. Nicely done.”

“I bent a lot of rules right then. I should have put her on a plane tonight.”

“Jake will get her to LA, don’t worry. He takes these things seriously.” Ty paused. “Even if he is a little distracted.”

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