16
As disappointed as Ryan Mattson was, he was gracious about Jamie’s sunburn and her no touching policy because of it. She gathered up their plates from the chocolate cake quite pleased with her gastronomic attempts. It was hard to mess up a steak, salad, and a baked potato.
Ryan seemed impressed with her cooking skills.
She hoped her stare was mistaken for longing by him. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I got this horrible sunburn. I was just stupid to forget the sunblocker today.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s my fault, too. If I’d told you sooner where we were going you could have been better prepared.”
“Oh, I’m not worried. More like disappointed.” She sighed. “Let me wash these few dishes and then you can take me back to the motel.”
“You can stay here tonight if you want. I promise to be good.” His smile was more of a leer. “No touching.”
Yeah, right. She giggled. “No way. That would be cruel and unusual punishment. For me. I can just imagine what I’m missing.”
“More than you can imagine.” He arched a brow and laughed.
Jamie finished the dishes, and then they left the house.
“I need to stop for some gas,” he said, once they were in the car.
“Sure, no problem.”
“Can I borrow your phone? Mine’s dead. I forgot to plug it in last night. I need to call my mom for my weekly check in.”
“Your mom? Really?”
“I know. I know. But I promised her.”
“Sure.” He handed it to her as he stepped out of the car. She put the phone to her ear and moved her mouth pretending to talk as Ryan pulled out the gas nozzle. She turned to the front as she continued the charade.
When Ryan walked passed her window he pointed at the station. “Want anything?”
“No thanks.”
She could buy a little more time if he bought a few things for her. As he walked in, she called back. “Maybe a diet cola for the room. The pop machine at the motel’s broken. And a candy bar.”
“What kind?”
“Anything chocolate works for me.”
“That chocolate cake wasn’t enough?”
“You can never have too much chocolate.” Jamie scrolled through the stored numbers, glancing between them and the gas station door. No Michael. No Zinkleman. None that seemed the last bit suspicious. All of them had the same area code as Columbus.
She looked up from the phone. Ryan was in line waiting to pay. Three people were in front of him. Good. More time.
She scrolled through his recent calls.
And there it was.
A number with a different area code. It wasn’t much, but it might be Michael. Her gaze moved back to the station. Ryan was handing the clerk the money.
Back to the number. She repeated each digit several times before hitting the button to return to the home screen. She set the phone on the seat beside her, and then laid her head back as if resting.
Ryan hopped in and handed her a bag. “Two cans of soda and four candy bars.”
“Four?”
“I’m beginning to know how much you like chocolate.” He turned the ignition.
“Thanks. You are much sweeter than you look. I think it has something to do with that scary tattoo on your arm.”
“Yeah, not the best idea I ever had.”
Remembering their earlier conversation, she said, “Well, God doesn’t care about tattoos.”
“Oh, sure. Can you imagine what the little, old blue-haired church ladies would do if I walked into their nice little church on Sunday morning with this showing?” He touched the snake tattoo that looked as if it was slithering up his arm.
“If it’s the right church they’ll say hello, glad to see you here.”
“You really think so?”
“No, I know so.”
“Mmm. Gives me something to think about.”
Funny, she’d never been much of an evangelizer, but with Ryan, she had this overwhelming desire for him to find God’s love. It was clear to her that he was searching.
And she wanted him to find the answers.
****
He shouldn’t have left the woman he loved alone with Ryan Mattson. If something happened, it would be his fault. He was her partner, and it was his job to protect her. Enrique wanted so much more than a superficial relationship with Jamie. He wanted to take care of her for the rest of her life. But she wouldn’t give him a second chance. He heard a vehicle approaching and lifted the curtain.
Ryan’s car.
He dropped the curtain and jumped into the closet just in case Mattson came in. He doubted Jamie would invite him in, but Mattson was a man. And Jamie was so beautiful.
The closet smelled like mothballs. He kept quiet only his breath moving the air.
****
Jamie’s mind sifted through the possibilities. Should she make the break with Ryan now in the hopes the number she found would lead to Andrew? But if she left, she wouldn’t have a second chance at getting information on Zinkleman’s location. She sighed and reached over to touch Ryan’s hand resting between them. “I got bad news when I talked with my mom. I’m going to have to leave.”
“You’re kidding me. You just got here.”
“I know, but it can’t be helped.”
“What’s the problem?”
“It’s my grandmother. She broke her hip and needs some help. Mama wants me to come home and stay with her for a while.”
“But I thought you hated that place.”
“I do, but I love my grandmother.” She gave a philosophical shrug. “Besides, family is family.”
“I suppose.” He pulled in the drive and stopped. “So, what? This is it?”
“My mother’s sending me the money to get a ticket. I’m going to take the bus home tomorrow. I’m sorry it worked out this way, Ryan. But you never know. I really like Columbus. When my grandmother’s better…well, you never know.”
“Columbus, or me? “ He leaned over to kiss her, but she turned her cheek. “Call me if you decide to come back.”
“Oh, most definitely.” She patted his hand and stepped out of the car.
“Hey, don’t forget your candy bars.”
“Hold on a minute. I want to give you something, too.” Before he could ask what, she ran to the motel door, unlocked it and slipped in. A moment later, she ran back out. She handed him the black book in her hand. “It’s the Bible.”
His eyes widened.
“First read John 3:16, and then Romans 10:9. If you need some more information, go to the concordance and look up the verses about God’s love and salvation. It will give you the answers you’re searching for, Ryan. I’m sure of it.”
He stared down at the book. “I...I...I’m shocked. I don’t know what to say. Nobody ever gave me a Bible before.”
“You don’t have to say anything. Just read it. I pray you find the answers you’re searching for.”
“How do you know I’m searching for anything?”
“It takes one to know one.” She smiled as she picked up the bag of candy bars and soda.
“But it seems a little suspicious to me.”
Her heart dropped. She needed him to believe her story about going back home to help out her grandmother. “What does?’
“You won’t drink beer because of the calories, but it doesn’t stop you from eating chocolate in any form.”
She almost sighed with relief. Instead, she smiled and gave him a wink. “That’s because you’re not a woman.”