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

the driver still behind the wheel. Granted, he could be on the phone talking to someone and didn’t want to get out until he ended the conversation. But why had he backed into the parking place, and why was he sitting right across from JoJo’s door?

Max didn’t think it was Roy. He’d watched Roy leave the bar in a jacked-up truck. Unless Roy had borrowed somebody else’s car, or had a car of his own, and was waiting outside of JoJo’s apartment. What would he hope to gain? Or was it even Roy? The man behind the wheel didn’t look nearly as large as the six-feet-seven Roy.

Or was Max getting punchy like JoJo? He drove around the block again, pulled out his cellphone and called JoJo.

She answered on the third ring. “Hello?”

“Hey, JoJo, this is Max.” He hesitated, not really wanting to get her stirred up if the lurker was just another apartment complex resident. Then again, it didn’t hurt to be overly cautious.

“Did you forget your way to the grocery store?” she asked.

“No, I’m still outside your apartment building. I just wanted to make sure that you’re all right.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he realized how lame they sounded.

She chuckled. “I’m fine like every other night that I come home by myself, but thanks for asking.”

“Do me a favor,” he said.

“What’s that?”

“Without being too obvious, look through your front window. There’s a vehicle backed into a space directly across from your apartment. Do you recognize that a vehicle? Is it a regular in the parking lot?”

“Give me a minute,” she said. “Okay, I’m at my window. I’m peeking through. Are you talking about the dark one that’s backed up against the bushes?”

His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “Yes.”

“I’m not sure I’ve seen that one before, but then again, I don’t really know everybody in the apartment complex or their vehicles. It never dawned on me to watch them.”

His gut knotted. “Well, just for grins, keep an eye on him and keep me on the line for a little while.”

“You really need to go to the grocery store and go home,” JoJo said.

“I agree, but I got you this far. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Thank you for that sentiment. I have a can of mace and a handgun. Just so you know, I’m also licensed to carry.”

“Is that handgun loaded?” he asked.

She didn’t answer immediately. “Maybe.”

“Do me a favor and load it. Have the mace handy, and double check your locks.”

She snorted. “And I thought I was a scaredy cat.”

“You started my paranoia when you flipped me.”

JoJo chuckled. “I told you I was sorry. Or is this payback for landing you flat on your backside?”

“No, not at all,” he said, “I just don’t trust Roy. He doesn’t look like a guy who would take that kind of rejection without retaliating.”

“Well, thank you for caring,” she said, “but you really should go on. You’ve done your job by alerting me. I can take it from here.”

“Okay, but you have my number. If you need anything, you call me. I’ll still be in town for a few minutes more to make that run to the grocery store.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, and thank you for caring,” she said.

“I’ll see you in the morning, if I don’t see you sooner,” he said. “I’m looking forward to our ATV trip.”

“Goodnight, Max.”

Max ended the call and drove around the block one more time. The guy was still there in the parking lot. Instead of driving past, he pulled in and parked right next to the guy. From what he could see through the darkened windows, the man was not on his cellphone, and it didn’t sound like his radio was on. So why he was sitting there staring up at the apartment building?

Max couldn’t find a good reason. So, he sat there until the driver next to him cranked up his engine and drove away.

Max’s cellphone rang. It was JoJo’s number.

“You don’t give up, do you?” JoJo said.

Max chuckled. “No, I don’t.”

“Well, that car’s gone now,” she said. “I think it’s safe to say that you can go to the grocery store.”

“You’ll let me know if he comes back?” Max asked.

“You’ll be the first on my phone tree,” she said. “Goodnight, Max.”

“Goodnight, JoJo. See ya tomorrow.”

He drove to the grocery store, picked up what he needed, and then drove out to the ranch, half-expecting a phone call from JoJo at any moment. When he didn’t get one, he sighed. Yeah, he was probably just making it all up in his head.

He’d had gut feelings before, but maybe his gut had it wrong this time. The day he’d fallen from the cliff, his intuition had told him it was a bad day to be out there. He’d ignored it, and he’d paid the price.

Max’s gut told him that the man sitting in the car had a nefarious purpose. Was it aimed toward JoJo? Max couldn’t be certain. Hopefully, the guy hadn’t gone back to the apartment building after Max had left.

JoJo peeked around the edge of the blinds and watched as the car Max had identified remained in the parking lot. Even though Max had said he was leaving, he’d come back and parked next to that car.

JoJo smiled. The man didn’t give up.

Max’s truck sat next to the sedan until that driver decided he’d had enough and left. If it were anybody else, JoJo might have accused Max of lurking himself. But he left after the other vehicle left.

JoJo’s heart swelled.

Once both vehicles had gone, she left her vigil at the window and headed for the shower. In the bathroom, she stripped out of her clothes, turned on the shower faucet to hot and stepped beneath the spray.

JoJo tipped back her head, letting water run down her face over her shoulders and down over her breasts. That heat that she’d felt at her core, earlier with Max, built again. She closed her eyes and