Remember Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #3)(66)



Resting my head on his shoulder, I squeezed him back—though I had to be careful not to hurt him—and breathed in deeply, memorizing his scent. My mother started sobbing again, and I turned just in time to see her drown Ryan in motherly affection. She was squeezing him just as hard as she’d clung to me, and though she was whispering quietly, I had no problem hearing her weepy expressions of gratitude. “You promised me you’d find her, and you did. You brought my daughter back to me.”

“Of course I did,” Ryan whispered back. “I couldn’t live without her any more than you could.”

“I know, sweetheart, I know.”

The soft way they spoke to one another made me feel guilty for eavesdropping on their private moment, but I couldn’t pull myself away from the conversation. My mother clearly loved Ryan. Though, I wasn’t the least bit surprised by that. Who didn’t love Ryan Miller?

“And don’t worry about her memories,” my mom said, once again regaining control of her emotions. “We’re not going to let her forget you. You’re a part of her as much as we are.”

For once Ryan didn’t joke. He didn’t even crack a smile. His face was as serious as I’d ever seen it when he replied, “I’m not worried about that, Linda. I didn’t find her just to lose her.”

My mom gave Ryan a watery smile and then kissed his cheek and hugged him again.

My father squeezed me, snapping my attention back to him, and he smiled down at me with a teasing glint in his eyes. “I bet he’s been a little overwhelming, huh?”

Surprised, I snorted a laugh. “Just a bit.” But then I watched him hug my mom again and I sighed. “Believe it or not, I think he has tried to restrain himself. But he’s not very good at it.”

My dad chuckled. “Go easy on him, sweetheart. I’m sure he’s trying. He loves you as much as we do.”

“Yes, he does,” my mom agreed, she and Ryan joining us once again.

Ryan gave me a cheesy grin that I simply had to roll my eyes at. He enjoyed being championed by my parents a little too much.

Major Wilks broke up the family reunion. “I know you haven’t had much time together, but it’s best if we get moving.”

I nodded, and Dr. Rajeet finally stepped forward to greet me. After a quick introduction, we were escorted through the ominous locked doors to some kind of operating room that had an observation window above it. Behind the window were a few rows of seats. Dr. Rajeet pointed to the glass. “That room is usually for medical students to observe different procedures. Your family and military escort are welcome to watch everything we do from there. They will also be able to hear us.”

Before I could say anything, Major Wilks stepped in to argue. “I want at least two of my men in the same room as Miss Baker at all times, Doctor.”

After a wary once-over of my small band of armed escorts, Dr. Rajeet forced a smile and nodded. “With the tests we plan to do today, that shouldn’t be a problem.”

My heart sped up at the dreaded T word. “What kind of tests do you plan to do?”

Um, yeah, my anxiety was obvious. My dad squeezed me tight, and Dr. Rajeet’s face softened, his eyes conveying understanding and sympathy. His soft-spoken and gentle nature was very comforting. If I didn’t fear lab testing so much, I’d probably like the man. “Because of your unique brain activity and tissue damage, we would like to do an extensive neurological examination. We want to make sure that the abnormal amount of electrical impulses in your brain isn’t what caused the tissue damage. We want to make sure you don’t end up with any more.”

Wow. I hadn’t considered that possibility. I didn’t think that was the case considering I’d been fine before the explosion, and I didn’t seem to be getting worse. But if it was possible that my electricity was capable of frying my brain without having to pull in the nuclear amount I’d used to blow up Visticorp, then I wanted to know. Still, an extensive examination sounded bad.

“What does a neurological examination involve? Like what kinds of tests are we talking about?”

Dr. Rajeet smiled again. “All risk-free and painless tests, for the most part. Some of the neurological tests may cause a bit of discomfort, but nothing painful. And you can have your parents—or whomever you trust the most—with you if it will ease some of your apprehension.”

“I want Ryan to stay with me.”

The words flew out of my mouth before I’d even thought them—blurted so fast that every single person in the room smirked or laughed. Ryan’s chuckle was soft, but the cockiness in it was unmistakable. I met his smirk with my angriest glare, but his confidence never wavered. “You’re acting like a girlfriend right now, Jamie. You know that, right?”

He was relentless. And frustrating. And so right. Finally willing to admit to the inevitability of a future with Ryan, I gave in. I was tired of fighting it. But my pride wouldn’t allow me to take my defeat gracefully. “Ugh, fine! Call yourself my boyfriend, if you must. Just come with me and make sure I don’t freak out in there.”

A cheer rang out around us as all the ACEs hooted, cheered, clapped, and whistled. So much for them keeping a professional demeanor while on assignment. I reached new levels of embarrassment.

I waited for Ryan to gloat, but his arrogance disappeared for once. When he tugged me away from my father and pulled my face into his hands, he was all gentleness. The only thing I saw in his expression was joy. “That’s my girl,” he whispered, and then gave me a short, soft, sweet kiss. “You’ll be fine today. I promise.”

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