Page 79 of Hard Pursuit
Jolie directed a lock of hair behind one ear. “Um…thank you for all of this. But my luggage I left here…”
“I packed up your belongings and stored your suitcase in the back. I’ll have someone bring it to your room.”
She jabbed a finger at Archer. “You get her to her room while I call the diner. They make the best grilled cheese on homemade bread, and the tomato soup is pure comfort in a bowl. Don’t you worry—it’s on the house and I’ll deliver it right to your room.”
Jolie blinked. “That’s very kind.”
She beamed at her. “I’ll bring you fresh towels and more blankets too. These mountain nights creep into your bones.” She handed Archer the key and bustled away, muttering about people never thinking of blankets.
Archer and Jolie faced each other for a long heartbeat. Then they left the office and walked in silence down the front of the motel until they reached room twelve.
The room was small and clean, overheated and covered in floral patterns violent enough to count as décor warfare. The blinds were closed, but snow pressed at the edges of the window.
“One more thing.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out her phone that Cannon returned to him.
He held it out, and she took it, fingers cool on his.
“Now you can call your family.”
“Yes.” She didn’t seem to be in a hurry.
“It’s stripped of location data.” He pulled out another object.
“My camera.” Her throat sounded thick.
The woman returned with fresh towels stacked in her arms. “Here we are. I’ll be back with those blankets.” She dropped them at the foot of the bed and looked between Archer and Jolie with the sharp, knowing gaze of a woman who had seen every kind of goodbye.
Before she could formulate questions neither of them could answer, he spoke. “Keep an eye on her. She’s…special.”
His gaze locked with Jolie’s, and hers swam with tears. Her chin trembled, and he jerked his stare away, clearing his throat.
The older woman’s expression turned gentle. “You can count on me.” She headed back out. “Soup in fifteen. I’ll be back with those blankets too. Holler if you need anything, all right, dear?”
“Thank you,” Jolie called to her back, but the woman was already gone.
When she left, silence rushed back in. Jolie looked at him with damp eyes.
He closed the distance between them and took her hand. The moment his fingers closed around hers, pain lanced through him. Leaving after everything felt like peeling skin off live flesh.
He squeezed her fingers once. Just once. “I’ll call you later tonight to kick off our routine.”
Her smile was a mix of sadness and hope. “You’d better.”
He smiled because if he didn’t, he’d shatter.
He wanted to kiss her so badly he ached with it. Instead, he forced himself to release her hand and step away.
At the threshold he looked back.
She stood in the lamplight, arms folded across her chest like armor.
It was the last image of her that he’d carry with him.
* * * * *
Since the day she ended up on that military base, the only thing that mattered to Jolie was to get back to her life.
At least, she’d thought so.
