Page 12 of James (Big Northwest #6)

CHAPTER TWELVE

PHILLIP

H E WAS A fucking idiot.

An idiot who wanted nothing more than to go back into that room and find every way possible to get closer to the woman inside.

Well. Maybe not nothing more. He wanted plenty more where James was concerned. Her personality was a collection of contrasts, all of them appealing. She was sweet and kind and thoughtful and warm. The type he kept telling himself would be enough. The sort who would be what he needed even though she’d never be what he wanted.

And that’s where this shit got complicated, because James was every bit what he wanted too. She was exciting and interesting and dangerous and infuriating. The kind of woman he’d been trying to leave behind—along with the more troublesome parts of himself.

It didn’t seem to be working. Admitting he was still there even though her sisters’ money ran out drove home just how fucked he was. What he’d done didn’t make any sense. Not even to him. He’d hidden it behind the guise of helping an old friend out. A debt of appreciation owed.

But that wasn’t why he was there. Not really.

He’d been working this job on his own dime for longer than he’d gotten paid for it. The travel. The hours his team spent tracking down every little breadcrumb James accidentally left. His own time and effort. He’d been eating it all for months.

Because he needed this. Needed the excitement it brought. The challenge it posed.

And then he met James’s sisters face-to-face and his obsession with finding her only got worse. He lied to everyone—himself included—when he assured them James wasn’t his type.

He didn’t want her to be. But fuck if he could get it together around her.

Stalking down the hall, putting more distance between them, hoping it would ease the turmoil simmering under his skin, he pushed through the door leading to the stairwell, needing to exert some of the restlessness spending every minute next to her was creating.

Rushing down the floors, he still fought the urge to turn around. To go back to her. To make sure she was safe. That no one found their room and tried to take her from him. The odds of that happening were slim to none. They’d made it across most of Utah and were closing in on Colorado. No one should have any clue where she was.

But still.

Reaching the first floor, he didn’t slow down as he hit the bar on the door leading out of the stairwell. Striding through the lobby, Phillip went for the entrance to the building, hoping fresh air and a few minutes alone would help him reset. Help him refocus on what he was supposed to be doing—keeping James safe while his team figured out who was after her.

Once he knew who the problem was, he’d arrange for them to be dealt with so he could deliver James to her sisters and she could move on with her life. And he could move on with his.

Except his life hadn’t moved in a long damn time.

But that was how it had to be. What had to be done. He’d figure it out. Find a way to be satisfied. Find a way to be fulfilled. It’s what had to happen. And the sooner he could get there, the better off they’d both be.

Pulling out his phone, he dialed a number he hadn’t used in years. Never expected to need again. It was one more piece of his past he’d left behind by design, thinking it was what was best for his future. For his survival.

But living and surviving were turning out to be two different things.

“Phillip Foster.” Pierce’s familiar voice carried a hint of a smile, along with the formality that often came with possessing an insane amount of money. “Never thought I’d hear from you again.” A babbling noise that sounded a lot like a baby carried on in the background. “How have you been?”

His feet stopped, halted by surprise. “Do you have a kid?”

Pierce chuckled. “My daughter has found her voice recently. Give me a second.” The phone’s speaker muffled, smothering out most of the baby yelling. When Pierce came back on the line it was noticeably quieter. “Better?”

It would take a lot more than a quiet phone line to make him better, but that’s why he was calling Pierce in the first place. “Sure.”

“It’s been a long time.” Pierce sounded as friendly as he remembered.

In spite of the wedge between them.

“It has.” Phillip scowled out at the parking lot. He’d been the one to make this call, but the whole baby thing had thrown him off. He came into this conversation expecting it to be all business and that went out the window before they’d even started. “How’s the life of a family man?”

“There’s a surprising amount of shit and vomit.” Pierce chuckled. “But all around, better than anything in the world.”

Huh. He’d never pictured his old friend as a father. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

“I am.” Pierce paused, just long enough to make him dread what was coming. “What about you? Are you happier now?”

Even though he expected it, the question still hit him like a ton of bricks. Because he wasn’t happy. Not by a long shot. “Happy enough.”

“Funny, I don’t remember that being the goal when you left my company to start your own.” A hint of the disappointment Pierce showed when he walked away from Alaskan Security crept into his voice.

“The goal was to live on my own terms instead of chasing bad men across the country for you.” Among other things.

“Is that not what you’re doing now?” Pierce snorted. “Chasing bad men across the country?”

“No.” It wasn’t a lie. “Right now, I’m avoiding bad men as much as humanly possible.” Unfortunately, he wouldn’t be able to do that forever. “That’s why I’m calling. I’m evading them for now, but at some point, they’re going to find me, and I’ll have to make some tough decisions.”

“You’ve made tough decisions before. I wouldn’t think this should be any different.”

It shouldn’t be, but it was. “I won’t let anyone get their hands on my client. Whatever it takes to keep her safe, I’ll do.” It was yet another fact he’d been avoiding. Of course he would try his best to keep all his clients safe and protected. But his best normally had limits. Limits that kept him well within the law.

As with everything else, those particular limits didn’t exist when it came to James.

“Interesting.” Pierce sounded smug. “It’s a predicament I understand. I’m assuming that’s why you’ve called me. You’re expecting to go to substantial lengths to keep this client safe.”

Phillip raked one hand through his hair. “Unfortunately, the people coming after her won’t be open to reasonable conversation.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “And eliminating them will be a problem. I don’t expect them to be the sort who will disappear easily.”

That’s where Pierce fit into this whole equation. His company—Alaskan Security—worked closely with the government. Both known divisions and the sectors everyone would deny existed, including the people who worked there.

If he had to take down a drug kingpin or Mafia boss, Pierce was the only way he and James would be able to survive it. He just had to convince his former boss—and former friend—to put aside their differences and offer his assistance.

“I understand your situation is a problematic one, but you were very clear to me when you said you no longer had any interest in being connected to Alaskan Security.”

Phillip gritted his teeth. He knew this was coming. Knew Pierce would throw his own words back in his face. Pierce hadn’t been happy when he walked away. Alaskan Security had just been finding its footing, and losing him was a significant blow to Pierce’s workforce.

“You know damn well why I left Alaskan Security. It wasn’t personal.” He snorted. “And don’t act like the company crumbled without me. I know for a fact it’s fucking thriving.”

“For a fact, huh?” Pierce’s smugness was back. “Glad to know you’ve been keeping tabs on me.”

Is that what he thought? That he’d been keeping tabs on him? “I hate to break it to you, but it was more about making sure Alaskan Security was a place I could send my clients when they needed a little extra oversight.” Over the years he’d sent a number of people Pierce’s way. A single mom on the west coast who was being threatened by her ex-boyfriend. A pop star who discovered her manager was doing everything except looking out for her best interest. Even a victim of domestic violence in Nashville whose ex-husband got them into a bigger mess than she ever could have guessed.

“Don’t get upset about it. I’ve been keeping tabs on you too.” Pierce was as calm and collected as ever. “Contrary to what you obviously believe, I wish the best for you. You’re a good man, even if our goals don’t align.”

Phillip squinted back at the hotel, looking and listening for any sign of trouble. “Does that mean you’d be willing to help me clean up a mess if I make one?”

“I guess that depends. Will you be as willing to help me if I’m ever the one in need?”

“Yes.” It was a deal he would readily make. Keeping James safe was worth putting himself back in Pierce’s gravitational pull.

“Excellent. Then let me know if and when I can be of assistance.”

Phillip let out a breath, relaxing a little now that he knew Pierce—and consequently Alaskan Security—was in his corner. “Same for you.” He started to disconnect the call. “And congratulations on your baby.”

“I appreciate it.” There was a smile in Pierce’s voice. “Maybe someday you and your client can come meet her and my wife.”

That stopped him short. Had him closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Pierce wasn’t even in the same state as him and the man still saw right through the bullshit. Still correctly identified the biggest problem he was facing.

“My client will be back home where she belongs, but I appreciate the invite.” He ground the words out between clenched teeth. “I’ll be in touch.”

He was pissed. Pissed at himself for being unable to walk away. Pissed at Pierce for still knowing him so well after all this time.

Pissed at James for being so fucking irresistible.

“Are you just gonna stay out here all night?”

The sound of her voice had his spine snapping straight and sent him spinning to face her. She scowled at him, the expression just as enticing as the sexiest of smiles.

Possibly more.

He slid his phone into the pocket of his pants, standing tall under her glare. “You were supposed to stay in the room.”

“You were supposed to be right back.” She crossed both arms over her chest, the curl of her lips turning to a snarl. “I thought someone found us and you were dead.”

“ So you left the room ?” He moved toward her, forgetting his earlier decision to stay as far from her as he could. “That was the worst possible thing you could do if someone was here.” And it had his skin crawling. “Then they would have you and there’d be nothing I could do about it.” There was no missing the edge of panic in his voice as the potential reality of the scenario hit home.

“Yeah. Cause you’d be dead.” James dropped her arms, coming to stand toe-to-toe with him. “And for the record, if you end up dead over this, I’m going to fucking kill you.” Her voice barely caught and emotion swirled in her beautiful blue eyes.

Hell. This was why she was such a goddamned problem. The woman was the most fucked up combination of openly hostile and heart wrenchingly sweet. She was impossible not to want. Not to need.

“No one’s going to kill me.” He reached for her. Unable—unwilling—to stop himself as he pulled her close, wrapping her up in his arms. “I’m a lot harder to get rid of than you seem to think.”

She snorted against his chest. “You better be.” Tipping her head back, she rested her chin against his sternum as her eyes found his face. “Who were you talking to on the phone?”

“An old friend.” He kept the explanation vague. He didn’t fully know what James was hiding from him, but she also didn’t know the true scope of what he was hiding from her.

Maybe not hiding so much as omitting.

James angled a brow at him. “Didn’t seem like a super friendly conversation.”

He sighed, letting his head fall back. “Are there any other special abilities you have I should know about? Or is being able to listen in on all my phone calls the last of it?” He didn’t expect an answer, so her silence wasn’t shocking. Releasing his hold on her, he dug the fob for the SUV from his pocket. “We should get some food.”

Leading her to the rental, Phillip opened the passenger door, holding it as she climbed in. As James settled into the seat, he closed her in. After rounding the front of the vehicle, he climbed in beside her and started the engine.

“I have really good vision too.” Her eyes peeked his way. “And I can run faster than anyone I know.” Her lips quirked. “Stilettos slow me down a little though.”

He backed out of the spot and aimed for the row of restaurants lining the street leading to the hotel. “You should probably stick with sneakers until this is all over then.”

James snorted. “I think I’m going to stick with sneakers indefinitely.” She slumped a little in her seat. “It’s probably better if I just stay in Shadow Pine and figure out something to do with my life that won’t get me abducted.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Shadow Pine was a cute little town. The sisters had built it into their own sort of utopia. “I thought you wanted to go back there.”

“I want to be able to go back there.” James fiddled with the hem of the white T-shirt she still wore. “But living there forever never appealed to me the way it did to everyone else.”

“I’m not sure you’re cut out to live anywhere else.” He hated to be the bearer of bad news, but James was a loose cannon. A beautiful, dangerous creature men wouldn’t be able to help but infuriate. “Not without a handler.”

She snorted, lips curving in a smile. “I don’t know many people who’d be interested in a job like that.” She sighed, head falling back against the rest. “It doesn’t matter anyway. Not unless your friend can magically make whoever’s after me leave me alone.”

If that’s the gist she got, James must not have heard as much of his conversation with Pierce as he thought. “My friend is pretty magical.”

If you called running an empire of assassins magical.

James perked up a little, like Pierce’s involvement gave her hope. “Well if he makes it happen, I’ll bake him some cookies.” She smirked. “Or give him a lap dance.”

Like fuck she would.

Phillip forced his eyes to stay on the road, the threat in his voice hinting at what he’d once been. “You aren’t giving Pierce shit.”