Remember Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #3)(19)
Ryan let out a loud puff of air that somehow sounded tired. “Jamie is…delicate.”
I wanted to scoff. I was hardly a fragile little girl in need of a big, strong man to take care of me. But, then again, I had just fallen apart in front of them all, so maybe he had a point—a small one—as much as I hated to admit it.
“She’s emotional. She’s so tough, but she needs a lot of TLC at the same time. She needs a while to freak out over everything she’s been through today, and she should be able to do that without the guys seeing it. Not to mention she’s still a civilian, sir. She’s independent, untrusting, and has always had a problem with authority. She won’t like it if you try to force any rules on her, even if it’s for her own safety. Offer her protection and she’ll come to you, but try to force it on her, and you’ll lose her.”
Who needed a personality notebook when I had a living Jamie Baker encyclopedia? Man, he was scarily accurate with his assessment of me. Dead on.
There was silence for a minute, and then the major grumbled. “That is…inconvenient.”
Ryan chuckled. “Jamie is anything but convenient. But she’s worth the trouble, sir, I promise. Trust me, if you want her to work with you, you’ll have to give her plenty of freedom, and time to be a girl when she needs it. Right now, she needs it.”
The major paused again and then reluctantly said, “What do you propose?”
“Leave, and give her the option to follow you. Prove to her that you really aren’t trying to simply take her. Respect her freedom. Give her time to settle down and process everything privately. She’ll come to you when she’s ready.”
The microwave beeped again, informing the world that its contents were nice and hot. “And if she doesn’t?”
I held my breath for Ryan’s answer. “Then that’s her choice. No one can force Jamie to do anything she doesn’t want to do. You’d only make an enemy of her if you tried.”
“And you?” Major Wilks asked. “What would you do in that case? If she takes off, do I lose you as well?”
“That would be up to Jamie. She’s got a strong head on her shoulders. She’s temperamental, but she always thinks long and hard about her decisions. If she tells me she needs time away, then I’ll trust that. If she asks me to leave, I’ll give her my number and pray she calls. But if she lets me stay with her… Sir, you’ve always known my position there. I respect your organization very much, but Jamie comes first. Always.”
His loyalty and devotion confused me. It was flattering, but it was so intense that it was scary. He was a complete stranger. Granted, a very kind and good-looking stranger, but a stranger all the same. This was exactly how it had all started with Tony. He knew everything, had all the answers, and flattered me with his feelings. But with all of that support came expectations. Ryan would be the same. Sure, he’d be patient, understanding Mr. Incredible right now, but when I didn’t fall for him? When I needed a friend and nothing more? What happened then? I couldn’t go through that twice.
The sound of someone taking whatever it was out of the microwave pulled me from my thoughts just in time to hear Ryan say, “I’ll try. She’s always wanted to help people. It’s why she became Chelsea’s Angel. But she’s also always feared and mistrusted the government. She’s got to be feeling extremely vulnerable right now, and she hates that. She needs to regain control over her life, and feeling like she’s being caged in or manipulated by the ACEs will have the opposite effect. Unless she comes to you on her terms, she won’t feel protected; she’ll feel threatened.”
“You’re sure about this?”
“Positive, sir. Giving her freedom and trusting her decisions is the only chance you have.”
Major Wilks sighed heavily. “All right. But be safe, Romeo. Stay down in that bunker and lock that door while you’re here. I doubt even the supersoldiers could rip that thing off its hinges. And get out of here as quickly as you can; even if Angel doesn’t want to come with us, I’d hate to see either of you hurt or fall into Donovan’s hands. And keep me posted.”
“I will. Thank you, sir.”
They actually left. I was stunned. The U.S. military found me and then they left. They didn’t even say good-bye. It was obvious that the major really didn’t like the idea, but he trusted Ryan and gave me my freedom. And I was free. I had several identities that they didn’t know about and more money attached to each than I could ever spend. I could take off right now and disappear forever.
I was so surprised by their conversation and the major’s departure that I’d completely calmed down by the time Ryan rejoined me in the basement. He shut and secured the hatch door at the top of the stairs as he’d promised the major, and then entered the room wearing a smile much too confident considering the awkwardness of this situation. He moved across the room to me with so much ease that it was as if he didn’t have a care in the world. How did he do that?
“Hey,” he said as he sat down next to me on the couch. I still had my knees tucked up under my chin, so he couldn’t sit exactly right next to me, but he did sit just inches away from my feet. The guy didn’t seem to need a lot of personal space.
I didn’t return the greeting, but my eyes tracked his every movement. Something about him unsettled me and gave me hope all at once.