Rocky Mountain Rescue, Elle James [rooftoppers .TXT] 📗

Jake took RJ’s hand. “Feel like a cup of hot cocoa? Maybe even a foot rub?”

RJ sighed. “You are a man after my own heart.”

“I certainly hope so.” He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the backs of her knuckles. “They say the way to a woman’s heart is through her feet.”

RJ laughed. “Whoever they are, they’re right.”

Jake and RJ walked away, leaning into each other and holding hands.

Once again, JoJo felt her heart ache with the sight of the love the two had found in each other.

“I’m headed to bed,” Gunny said, breaking into JoJo’s thoughts. “Got an early morning. Before I go, JoJo, do you want me to follow you into town and make sure Roy doesn’t give you any trouble?”

JoJo shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine.”

Gunny nodded. “Let me know. Give me a call when you get in, so I know you got in safe.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Max said. “I’ll follow her into town and see that she makes it to her door.”

JoJo frowned. “I can make it on my own. You don’t need to follow me.”

He shook his head. “I’m going that way anyway. I need to stop by the grocery store and pick up a few things.”

Her frown deepened. “You’re not just saying that?”

He shook his head. “No, actually, I hate to admit it, but I have a sweet tooth, and I’m all out of my peppermint candies that I love. And I know that I don’t need the sugar,” he patted his flat stomach, “or need the calories, but life wouldn’t be worth living if you couldn’t indulge every once in a while.”

She laughed, imagining this big Special Forces guy sucking on a peppermint candy. “Fine. You can follow me to town, but you don’t have to follow me all the way to my apartment. Once we get to town, you can go off to the grocery store. It’s in the opposite direction.”

His lips pressed together tightly. “What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t make sure that you made it to your door?”

JoJo cocked one eyebrow. “One that’s not nearly as irritating as you are?”

He grinned. “Ha, but I think deep down you like that I’m irritating.”

Her lips twisted. “It has to be because you’re cute. Otherwise, people wouldn’t put up with you.”

His grin broadened. “Oh, so you think I’m cute?” He puffed out his chest. “And all my friends told me I had a face only a mother could love.”

JoJo rolled her eyes. “Liar. You’re too handsome for your own good. Lucky you didn’t land on your face in that fall.”

He nodded. “Yes, I was. Fortunately, I was wearing a helmet, which probably saved my brain from being scrambled. I guess that’s one more thing to be thankful for.” He grinned. “Look, I promise not to walk you up to your door. However, I would like to see you make it into your apartment before I go to the grocery store.”

JoJo’s eyes narrowed. “Why do you care?”

“I guess I feel like I’m responsible for your wellbeing after rescuing you from Roy’s lap.” He winked. “I promise you chivalry is not dead.” He raised his hands in surrender. “It’s not like I’m asking for anything in return. I just want to know you’re safe getting in your own apartment.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine. But I don’t need somebody looking out for me. I can take care of myself.”

He rubbed the back of his head. “I realize that.”

Her lips twisted into a wry grin. “You’re not going to let me forget that are you?”

He shook his head. “Nope. And I’m not likely to forget it either.”

JoJo hit the unlock button on her car. Before she could reach for the door handle, Max was there opening the door for her. She frowned but said a grudging thank you as she climbed into her car and closed the door.

Chapter 5

Max limped to his truck, tired after a day on his feet. He hated that the limp was even more pronounced, and he hated that JoJo saw it. Why he should be so concerned about what she thought of him, he didn’t know. He kind of liked the spitfire. She didn’t take any guff from anybody, including him.

Max followed JoJo into Fool’s Gold. When he was supposed to turn right to go to the grocery store, he instead turned left and followed her. After three or four blocks, she turned to the right and drove another block to a small apartment complex. He hung back, giving her room until she drove into a space in the parking lot.

When she got out of her vehicle and started up to her apartment on the second floor, Max pulled into the parking lot with the intention of turning around. He paused and waited to see that she made it into the apartment and closed the door behind her, locking it, he hoped.

Her light came on inside.

Max sighed, backed out of the parking lot, and pulled out onto the road.

As punchy as she’d been when she’d flipped him over in the barn, he was almost certain that she had experienced some kind of attack. And based on her reaction to Roy pulling her down into his lap, she’d probably been attacked by a man.

Max pressed his foot to the accelerator, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel. As he drove away from the apartment complex, a dark, four-door sedan passed him going the opposite direction. He slowed and watched as the vehicle pulled into the parking lot. For all he knew, it could be another resident of JoJo’s building.

He started to drive away, but something tugged at his gut. Instead, he circled the block and came back to the apartment complex. The dark sedan stood in the parking lot, someone still in the driver’s seat. He’d backed into a position across from JoJo’s door.

Max frowned. He took another turn around the block and came back.

The same vehicle remained,