John jumped to his feet. “Then you pick something. Just get it done.”
MADDIE RECHARGED BY THE TIME Adam drove through the thick metal gate surrounding the beat-up beige warehouse. The thought of being locked inside the premises sent a rush of panic through every cell and pore in her body. Her innate tendency to run to safety and ask questions later kicked into gear. It took all her control to sit there and let Adam usher her into the unknown.
She figured if he wanted her dead he would have killed her by now. She repeated the refrain until it took hold and she started to believe it.
“I don’t want to kill you,” Adam said in what could only be described as a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding tone.
She had to smile. “I guess I said that out loud, huh?”
He threw her a sidelong glance. “Yeah.”
“Can you blame me?”
“No.”
She expected him to defend his position and argue his case. By agreeing, he sucked the heat right out of her. Still, she needed to follow protocol. Her handlers had drummed the plan into her head until it played in her dreams. Get to a safe place and call. She couldn’t promise on the first, but she could make the second happen.
Let Adam explain to the U.S. Marshals Service why she was safer with him when they broke down the doors to rescue her. She just needed to stay safe. She’d fought too hard, sacrificed too much, to risk it all over a sexy man with an even sexier dimple.
Adam parked and nearly broke a speed record coming around to her side of the truck to open the door. He likely thought she would bolt. Since he’d driven into a secure and brightly lit garage, a place with few obvious exits, he didn’t have to worry. Even she wouldn’t try to break her way through a metal wall.
“How are you feeling?” His voice dipped low as he asked the question.
The sexy vibration made her insides jump around in excitement. “Fine.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Maddie.”
She rolled her eyes. “The shoulder and the back hurt.”
“We can get you some medical attention.”
“You won’t call the police but you’ll call an ambulance?”
“I think he means me.” A guy slipped in behind Adam. “Hey, man. Have a nice time in West Virginia?”
She tensed but Adam smiled. “Maddie, this is Caleb Mattern.”
“I work with Adam,” Caleb explained as he held out his hand toward her.
She shook the man’s hand and then pulled hers back fast. She wasn’t even out of the truck and she had to battle two of them.
And what exactly did these guys eat? Caleb stood over six feet, with broad shoulders, light brown hair and the most soothing blue-green eyes she’d ever seen. He had that handsome mussed look that reminded her of blue jeans and football on Sunday afternoons. The relaxed style matched his welcoming smile. The only surprise was the shiny gold wedding band.
Attractive or not, she didn’t trust Caleb one inch more than she trusted Adam. Well, that wasn’t true. She reluctantly believed Adam wanted to help her. She didn’t know why or if her radar was off, but she was willing to go along for now. But only with Adam.
“I hear you got banged up,” Caleb said.
She’d been with Adam every single minute since the attackers came. He hadn’t made a call. She’d know, since she’d been watching for a cell phone so she could steal it. “Who told you that?”
“It’s on the radio.” Adam frowned at her in a way that said he thought she was clueless. “How do you think? I did.”
“When?”
Adam waved her off then reached up to drag her out of the truck. “Don’t worry about it.”
She wasn’t in the mood to be placated or manhandled. She pulled out of his reach and ignored Caleb’s half cough, half laugh as she did. “You want me to trust you but you’re keeping information from me. How is that fair?”
Caleb crossed his arms over his chest. “She’s got you there, man.”
“Don’t help.”
Caleb’s smile grew wider. “Can’t seem to stop.”
“She can fight her own battles.”
Caleb nodded. “I get it. I’ve been there.”
“Where?” Maddie asked.
Adam glared as his teammate for about ten seconds before turning back to her. “I used my watch.”
Maddie didn’t follow. Maybe she did need a bed and an aspirin before she could function again. “What does that mean?”
Adam held out his wrist to her. “It works like a telephone only better.”
The black face looked like most other watches but bigger. She could see a series of buttons and when Adam hit one, the face switched to an image of the garage.
Caleb pointed around the space. “Cameras. You’re almost never alone here.”
She was more interested in the phone part. “Where can I get one of those?”
“Adam designed this one. We all wear them.”
With all the gunfire and running, she’d almost forgotten about the other side of him. “So, the computer-geek thing is real.”
“I prefer the word genius.”
Adam exhaled. “I’m sure you do.”
Caleb didn’t try to hide his laugh that time. “Let’s take this discussion inside.”
He reached in the cab to bring her out. Instinctively, she shrank back, wedging her body into the seat. When Caleb stared at her with a she’s-nuts-and-getting-crazier-by-the-second look all men did so well, she sat back up.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
Caleb winked. “It takes more than that to offend me, but I do want to make sure you’re okay.”
She didn’t want to like them, either of them. Caleb made her feel comfortable. Adam made her all tingly. She didn’t care for either reaction.
“You’re a doctor?” she asked.
“I’m the forensics and science guy on the team. We all have emergency training, but mine is a bit more extensive.”
Yeah, no, thanks. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t have a choice, Maddie. I insist.”
When Adam said things like that, got all dictatorial and grumpy, she didn’t like him much at all. “Insist?”
“We are done running and hiding, and you need someone to look you over. It can either be Caleb or me. Choose.”
She dug her nails into her palms. “Oh, really.”
“You’re safe here, and that’s the last time I’m going to tell you that.”
Caleb cleared his throat. “It might be more believable if you weren’t yelling at her.”
Adam’s voice got louder. “I tried being nice—”
That was news to her. “When?”
“We have questions and she’s going to answer them.” Adam put his hand under her elbow. The gentle touch contrasted with his gruff words.
She slid out of the seat and glanced up at Caleb’s smiling face. “Do you have another team member