Page 30 of Save Me

“Ashley took it.” Quinn is staring at me, waiting for more of an explanation. “My boyfriend.”

He nods. “I didn’t know you’d even met someone until mom called to tell me you were here and I wasn’t to come up and interrupt your romantic getaway.” I try not to wince at the hurt in his voice.

“I met him on an assignment about a year ago. We crossed paths frequently over a few months and we really clicked.” The memory of how Ash drew me to him, how desperately I fought to keep a professional distance because it would have been completely inappropriate to act on any of my feelings, makes me blush. Thankfully, I think it’s too dark for Quinn to tell. “But he was only in the area temporarily. When he left, I thought that was it.”

“I’m assuming wherever he went back to was far away? And you didn’t want to try long distance?” There’s no judgment in Quinn’s voice, just concern, and honest interest.

I shake my head, although he can’t really see it in the dark. “Too far away, too crazy a work schedule for a relationship work, and neither of us was interested in a short-term thing.”

Quinn turns his head toward me, but keeps his eyes on the road. “And now something’s changed?”

I let out a huge breath. Just thinking about how much has changed in the last few days makes me grin like an idiot. And then I remember Ash is heading into danger, and my gut clenches and my smile fades. “Yeah. A lot. He’s thinking about moving back to Seattle.” I don’t think about what the Marshals will tell my family if Ash survives tonight. I’ve made my choice and I don’t regret it.

“Moving back for you?” The teasing tone isn’t lost on me, and I consider how I want to respond. Fuck it. I deserve a little ego stroke in this truly fucked-up scenario. I grin and shrug. “Maybe that’s a part of it. But he also knows other people in the area.”

Quinn gives my shoulder a little shove. “He totally moved here for you. Congrats, man! That’s really great!”

“Anyway, Ash came back into town and contacted me, wanting to reconnect. We had a lot to talk about, so I suggested we come up here. It was very last-minute. Then last night he got some bad news about a family member and he had to go back to Seattle. I told him to take the car and go.” My family’s first impression of Ash would not be that he stole my car and left me stranded two hours from home, no matter if it was the truth or how worried I am about him. “It was going to take too long to pack up and load the Rover, and I knew I could get someone to come pick me up. I’d have waited until later today, but he’s really upset, and I need to be there for him if I can.”

Quinn glances over at me. Maybe it was something in my voice, but the scrutiny is intense. “Wow. You’rereallyserious about this guy.”

“Yeah. I am.” I drag my fingers through my hair and stare out the window. “It may seem fast, but it’s really not.”

Quinn grabs my shoulder and squeezes. “Jamie, of all the MacDougalls, you are the least impulsive. I have no doubt that you’ve given this serious thought over a long time.”

“I have.” It’s a relief to hear him say it. I hadn’t even realized I was worried about that. “This whole past year I’ve been thinking about how stupid we were to give up without even trying. When he called me, and I heard his voice…” Now, I could lose him again and it’s too overwhelming to think about. My eyes fill with tears. “He’s incredible, Quinn. He’s gorgeous, smart, funny.”

Quinn glances at me and grins. “Oh my god, look at you. Dude, you got it baaaaaad.”

“Did you just call me dude?” I laugh and wipe my face. “Yeah. I really do.”

He squeezes my shoulder gently. “Good for you. I’m happy for you.” Quinn moves his hand back on the steering wheel and groans. “I suppose this means I’ll have Ma’s undivided matchmaking attention.”

“Fuck.” As someone who’s been on the receiving end of that attention, I empathize. “I’ll do what I can to distract her, but she wants to see all of us happy.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not like I wouldn’t love to find my own guy. It’s just a little difficult when work is so crazy. One of the Senior Architects left the company and there are six of us vying for the spot. If I’m going to have a shot at getting that promotion, I need to put all my efforts into wowing the higher-ups and the clients. Plus, I’m not exactly a social butterfly when I’m not working eighty-hour weeks.”

The frustration in Quinn’s voice makes me wince. “Well, I’m living proof that it will eventually happen when you least expect it.”

“Here’s hoping I don’t have to wait until I’m old, like you.”

I punch his arm. “Hey! Now I’m not helping you with Ma. You’re on your own.”

“Sorry! You’re not old! I was just teasing.”

I laugh and squeeze his shoulder. “Okay, I won’t make you suffer.”

We spend the drive catching up on family gossip and what’s going on in Quinn’s life outside of work. When we finally pull into my driveway, we’re both talked out and dead tired. It takes fifteen minutes to unload the gear onto my patio, where I have the room to sort through everything without cluttering up my tiny living space. I walk Quinn back to his vehicle, and he pulls me into a tight hug. “I’m happy for you, Jamie. And I can’t wait to meet Ash.”

I hug him back just as tightly. “I’ll bring him around soon. I promise.” My worry for Ash grows and I hope I can actually make good on my word. First, he needs to stay alive.

11

Ash

It takes two hours to get to Seattle, and another twenty minutes to Oliver’s. Carefully I do a drive-by and scope out the surroundings, but I see nothing out of the ordinary. I’m not foolish enough to assume I’d notice if anything was slightly amiss, so I drive around the block one more time and pull up to the gate, praying they have not changed the code. Relief rushes through me as the gates swing open. When the gap is wide enough to fit the Rover, I pull through, gun the engine and shoot down the long driveway, pulling around to the back of the house.

It’s almost four in the morning and there aren’t any lights on, but I don’t need them. I could maneuver through the place blindfolded if necessary. Hell, I’d done it shit-faced drunk so many times it amounted to the same thing. I get out of the vehicle and walk around to the kitchen entrance, reaching inside the downspout for the spare key that used to be kept there, and let out my held breath once my fingers wrap around it. With great care I let myself in the back door, then tiptoe across the ceramic tile floor, breathing easier only when I reach the dining room and the wall-to-wall carpeting. I’d forgotten how difficult it is to be stealthy in boots. I hurry through to the main hall, which has parquet flooring and requires another feat of silent maneuvering to reach the steps and the quietness of the oriental runner.

---