Rocky Mountain Rescue by Elle James (urban books to read TXT) 📕

hit her like a tsunami, and a sob rose up her throat. A soft knock sounded at the door. JoJo scrubbed the tears from her face and swallowed hard on the lump lodged in her throat. She turned to open the door, expecting to see RJ standing there with a handful of clothes. Instead, it was Max.

“Hey,” he said, “are you all right?”

She tried to keep it together, but she couldn’t. The tears welling in her eyes spilled down her cheeks.

He opened his arms. “I’m not pushing this, but if you want me to hold you…”

JoJo fell into his arms and buried her cheek against his chest. She sobbed quietly, standing there in the hallway barely aware of when RJ stepped around them to put clothes inside on the counter in the bathroom. She didn’t say a word but disappeared. JoJo stood in the shelter of Max’s arms for how long she didn’t know. All she did know was that was the only place where she felt safe.

When her sobs subsided, he tipped her chin up with his finger and brushed a thumb across her cheek, wiping away some of the tears.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” JoJo said. “I never cry. It seems I’ve cried more in these last couple of days than I have my entire life. Even after I woke up in the dirt in the desert, I didn’t cry this much.”

“There’s no shame in tears,” he said. “Maybe it’s your body’s way of letting go of the hurt and anger. In that case, cry all you can.”

She shook her head. “I need the anger. It’s the fuel I need to find the man who did this to me. Now, it seems I need to find the man who destroyed my apartment tonight.” She looked up through her tear-washed eyes and into Max’s. “Could they be the same person?”

Max frowned. “The same person as who?”

JoJo went on as if he hadn’t asked a question. “The people who were on that base where I was deployed to have to be back in the States by now. It’s a scary thought, but it could be the same person.” JoJo’s jaw hardened and her eyes narrowed. “I hope the hell it is.”

Max’s frown deepened. “Not sure what you’re talking about, JoJo.”

She continued. “If it is him, I hope he comes after me again. It might be the only way to find him.”

“Whoever it is seems pretty determined to get to you. I mean, if he tried to get into your apartment and couldn’t, and then came back and did…he’s persistent.” He frowned down at her. “Promise me something.”

“What?” she asked.

He swept a strand of her hair back from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear. “Promise me you won’t go anywhere without me.”

She laughed. “I can’t tie up all of your time chasing after me. You have a life. Potentially, you’ll have other assignments. We have no idea how long this will go on.”

“To hell with my life and assignments. I’m worried about your life.” He brushed another tear with his thumb and lowered that same thumb to brush it across her lips. “I’m worried about you.” He frowned and started to pull his hand away. “But maybe, that’s not what you want to hear.”

JoJo caught his wrist and turned her face to press her lips into his palm. His hands were so strong and yet so gentle. After the attack that had left her nearly dead, she’d thought she’d never want another man to touch her. But then she hadn’t known Max.

He kissed her forehead. “Get your shower. Gunny’s got some hot chocolate ready for you downstairs. I’m going to get a shower after you.”

She nodded and stepped away, feeling very bereft without his strong arms around her. JoJo entered the bathroom, closed the door and turned on the shower. She stripped out of her clothes and studied herself in the mirror. Other than a few cuts and scrapes, she was all right. They were just surface wounds. It was the wounds in her mind and heart she struggled with most.

The gentleness of Max’s kiss on her forehead gave her hope.

JoJo climbed into the shower and rinsed the dust and grit from her body. She washed her hair, applied conditioner and rinsed quickly. Knowing Max would be in there next, she didn’t take too long.

RJ had left pajamas, a robe and a cute pair of lacy pink underwear on the counter. JoJo stepped into the items and smiled at her reflection in the mirror. RJ was a good five or six inches taller than JoJo. The legs and arms of the pajamas were too long, but JoJo was glad to have them.

She rolled up the sleeves and the pantlegs, slipped the robe over her shoulders and tied it around her waist. The ever-thoughtful RJ had left a brush on the counter as well. JoJo eased the tangles out of her hair. When she was done, she felt a little closer to normal. She stepped out of the bathroom and found Max leaning against the wall, his shaving kit in his hand.

JoJo smiled. “It’s all yours.”

“Thanks. I’ll be down in a minute.” He frowned. “Unless you want to wait in your room until I’m done and can go down with you.”

With a twisted grin, she shook her head. “I think I’ll be fine by myself in the lodge. I’ll see you downstairs.” JoJo carried her dirty clothes down the stairs to the laundry room near the kitchen, dropping her clothes in a basket. She entered the kitchen to find Gunny, RJ, Jake and Cage Weaver busy making sandwiches and hot chocolate.

She smiled. “Glad I found the party.”

“You’re just in time,” Gunny said. He poured hot cocoa from a pan into a mug. “Careful, it’s hot.” He pointed to some bowls on the counter. “Put what you want in it.”

JoJo grinned. “It’s like old times, isn’t it?”

RJ smiled. “Gunny always knows how to make hot chocolate interesting, doesn’t he?”

JoJo