Standby (Open Skies Book 4) by Becca Jameson (popular e readers .TXT) 📕

as he cleaned her up. He was glad she was comfortable with her body—notwithstanding the current bruising. She didn’t balk at him wiping away the evidence of their lovemaking.

He grabbed a clean T-shirt from his drawer next and returned. “Sit up for me, sweetheart,” he whispered.

She groaned as she rose to her butt, and then he removed her bra and pulled the T-shirt over her head. He’d rather have her naked, but he knew she didn’t want him staring at her battered breasts, so he would make a few concessions until the bruising faded. He crawled back onto the bed behind her, spooned her against his chest, and tugged the covers over them.

He kissed her temple. “How about a nap, and then we’re doing that again.”

She giggled and squirmed against him. “You won’t get any argument from me,” she murmured.

A peaceful contentment consumed him for the first time in weeks, and he easily fell asleep with her sweet body nestled in his arms.

A ringing broke the silence in the room, jarring Jake from his sleep. He opened his eyes and glanced at the clock. They’d been resting for over an hour. It took a moment to realize that sound was his phone, and he groaned as he rolled to one side and reached over to grab it from the bedside table.

The caller ID said Seattle PD, which forced him to more fully wake as he answered it. “Hello?” He glanced at Shayla as she rolled toward him, blinking awake.

“Jake Robinson?”

“Yes. This is Jake.”

“This is Mark Jarvis with the Seattle police.”

“Right. I remember you.”

“I’ve been trying to call Ms. Cosman’s phone, but she hasn’t answered.”

“She’s with me.” He glanced down at her and put the phone on speaker. “You’re on speaker now.”

“Good. Ms. Cosman?”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but Hawke Richman was released on bond yesterday. Someone messed up the paperwork and I wasn’t informed until just now.”

Jake jerked upright. “What? Tell me you’re kidding.”

“I wish I could. I’m sorry. You have a restraining order, but obviously, that didn’t do any good the first time. He’s not permitted to leave the state of Washington, of course, but again, you and I both know that’s a crapshoot. I’ve got to be honest with you, I don’t like it. If I’d been in charge, I would have tried to stop it, but I wasn’t there. He must have had an amazing sweet-talking lawyer.”

“Fuck.” Jake ran a hand over his head. “Thank you for letting us know.” He ended the call and glanced at Shayla. She wasn’t moving or blinking. She looked pale and shocked.

Jake set the phone aside and pulled her into his arms, facing her. “Take a breath, sweetheart.”

“Please tell me I misunderstood.”

“I wish I could. You’re safe. I’ll make a few calls and see what I can find out, okay?”

She nodded. Jake slid from the bed, tucked her in as she curled into a ball, and kissed her temple. “Stay here. Go back to sleep. You haven’t slept much in several days.”

She nodded, not meeting his gaze. He knew she was freaking out. He was too, but he wouldn’t let her see it.

Jake grabbed a pair of jeans and shrugged into them. After shutting the door to the bedroom, he padded down the hallway, his phone already open in his hand.

Hatch picked up on the first ring. “Tank?”

“Fucking judge released Richman on bond yesterday.”

“Yesterday? And you’re just now finding out?”

“Fucking mix-up. Yes.”

“Shit. Okay. I’ll give the rest of the guys the heads up and come over there now.”

“Thanks, man. Appreciate it.” Jake ended the call and busied himself pulling food out of the fridge. Neither of them had eaten yet and it was after two. Hopefully, he could convince Shayla to eat a sandwich. She would be panicked now.

The shuffling of feet made him glance up to see her coming into the kitchen. She was still in his T-shirt, her arms wrapped around her. “I couldn’t go back to sleep.”

He reached for her and pulled her against his side. “Not surprised. Also, you must be starving. I’m making sandwiches.”

“Not sure I can eat.”

“You need to try. Have you had anything besides coffee today?”

She smiled at him. “Of course.”

He frowned. “What?”

“Creamer.”

He chuckled. “She’s a comedian. Hey, Jason is coming over.”

She pursed her lips.

“It’s just a precaution. I prefer there be two of us here.”

“Hawke has never come here. Maybe he doesn’t know where I am. Plus, we don’t know he left Washington.”

Jake slapped turkey on the bread and then reached for the cheese. He didn’t need to tell her that Hawke was volatile and not to be trusted. There was little doubt in Jake’s mind that Hawke was already in Dallas.

“I need to call Raeann,” Shayla murmured.

“Shit.” Jake slapped a palm to his forehead. “My mind is running in ten directions. I forgot about her. Yes. Do that now. Find out where she is.”

Shayla found her phone in her purse and opened it. “Six missed calls from Mark Jarvis.”

“Yeah. He said he tried you first.”

She squinted as she glanced up and to the left, thinking. “Raeann is on a flight. It was out and back. I’ll leave her a message for when she lands.”

“I’ll get one of the guys to pick her up at the airport. I don’t want her going back to your condo.”

“Okay.”

Jake hated that Shayla wasn’t even arguing with him. She knew this was serious. He watched as she fired off a text and then she set the phone down. “I told her I’d let her know who would be there to pick her up.”

“Good. She can just leave her car in the parking garage for now. I don’t even like the idea of her driving alone. Overkill I’m sure, but I don’t want her near your condo.”

“I get it. I agree.”

Jake finished making the sandwiches, put them on plates, and slid one over to Shayla.

“That’s going to taste like cardboard.”

“Come on. My cooking isn’t that bad,” he teased.

She rolled her eyes. “You know what I