Guarding Camille. Judy Christenberry
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wardrobe.
Camille began a discussion with Anna, but a thin wail stopped her almost at once. “Oh, Jamie—”
“I’ll get him. Finish up with Anna.”
He fled the room. He’d much rather deal with a newborn baby than continue this conversation.
The baby was kicking his legs and waving his arms, his face puckering as he yelled. Jake sighed. He was learning how insistent a newborn could be. The first thing to do was check his diaper. Jake knew that much.
After changing him, Jake eased his big hand under the baby’s body and lifted him to his shoulder. “Now, listen, Jamie, Mom’s kind of busy, so you need to stop that yelling.”
Much to Jake’s surprise, the baby quietened. For a minute. Then little whimpers began to build. Panic filled Jake. What was he supposed to do? He drew a deep breath, determined not to be bested by a seven-pound infant. Even if he was a cute one. He cradled Jamie in his arms, then tucked the baby’s small fist into his tiny mouth, hoping he could fool the baby into believing he was being fed.
The sucking noises were a dead giveaway. The kid wanted to eat. Jake was proud of himself for correctly assessing the situation, but he knew he didn’t have the equipment for a successful resolution. Which, of course, brought his mind back to Camille’s breasts.
Man, he needed some distance from his two captives! He left the nursery and returned to the living area, where Camille was on the phone.
It didn’t take Jamie long to realize that his fist wasn’t providing satisfaction. Just as Jake came into the room, the baby let out another wail.
“Oh, Anna,” Camille said when she saw him, “thank you so much, but I have to feed the baby now. Oh. Yes, of course.”
She handed the phone to Jake. He transferred the baby to her arms, surprised by his reluctance to give up the warm bundle. Then he spoke to Anna.
“So we get to meet the mystery woman now?” Anna asked softly.
“Yeah, Mom insisted. But it’s important that no one talk about her, especially to that pest Chelsea. Too many people know about Camille already.” In the past year his family had been besieged by Chelsea Markum, a television reporter for a gossip show called Tattle Today TV. There was no way he wanted her to do a news item on Camille being guarded by the Maitlands’ youngest son.
“You know we wouldn’t tell her anything,” Anna protested indignantly.
“I know, Anna, but this is a matter of life and death.” He turned to stare at Camille, who’d begun nursing Jamie. Her eyes were shuttered, but her lips had tightened with fierce protectiveness. He regretted his words. But damn it, he’d only spoken the truth.
Anna made her promises and then asked him to bring Camille to Garrett’s at four that afternoon.
“You can take care of it by then?”
“Good heavens, Jake, that’s six hours away. I’m not going to hand sew the clothes, just buy them.”
“Yeah, okay.”
When he’d hung up the phone, he turned to Camille. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I know.”
“I’ll keep you safe.”
“Yes.” She looked at her child, running her hand up and down his back in a soothing motion. Then, for the first time, she asked Jake about his care of her. “Jake, why did we come here alone? Why don’t you have a partner?”
This was the question he’d dreaded. He sat beside her. “Because I think someone is leaking information to Vince.”
“Someone with the FBI?” she asked, sounding shocked.
“Maybe. You never told Vince you were pregnant, but he found out before you were even showing.”
“Yes,” she said, frowning. “I wondered how, but—but I guessed that he’d tailed me to the doctor’s office.”
“Maybe, but I was tailing you, and I didn’t see anyone else.”
“You were? Why? I had already agreed to cooperate.”
“I know, but we thought you might need a little protection.”
“I had already asked for protection,” she protested indignantly, “and was denied!”
“I know, but my partner and I figured we’d offer a little extra, just in case. Nothing official.” He didn’t look at her. He didn’t want her to know that her gentle beauty had already been tugging at his heart way back then.
He could feel her gaze on him, but he kept staring at his hands clasped between his knees.
“At least here I have people I can trust—my family, our friends the Lords.”
“I hate the fact that I’m putting your entire family in danger!” Camille exclaimed. “Maybe I should just leave.”
“You’re not going anywhere. And my family’s not in danger. Neither are you.”
“But, Jake—”
“Enough! You need to think about the baby—Jamie. We’ve got to keep Jamie safe.”
Her arms tightened on her little son, causing him to whimper in protest.
“Easy, there, you don’t want to squeeze the stuffing out of him,” Jake cautioned, grinning.
“No, no, I don’t.” She looked at the baby, then at Jake. “I have to change sides. I’ll go to the bedroom.”
He nodded, standing. As she left the room, he called, “Take a nap after you put Jamie back in his bed. You’ll need your strength to deal with Anna this afternoon.”
Camille paused and stared at him. “She sounded very nice on the phone.”
“Oh, she’s nice. But she’s a whirlwind. She’ll wear you out.”
Camille gave him a faint smile and disappeared.
Jake picked up the phone again. This time he called Max Jamison. “Max, Anna is bringing some things to the ranch house at four today. Could you tail her, make sure no one else is doing the same thing? And plan on staying until she leaves? Great. I’ll see you then.”
While Max kept an eye on the ladies, Jake could drive into Austin and contact his boss from a pay phone. He suspected whoever was feeding Vince his information was keeping track of calls, too. Jake didn’t want to lead Vince to the ranch.
Until the man was caught and placed behind bars, Jake couldn’t distance himself from Camille.
Like a punch to the gut, the thought of Camille leaving, taking Jamie and disappearing from his life made Jake catch his breath. What was wrong with him? Of course she’d leave. Probably go back to Washington, D.C.
Where he lived.
When he’d left home, he’d sought power. His rounds with his father had left him feeling weak. He’d needed the discipline of the FBI, the authority…and the validation of being the good guy. Those early years, he’d felt he’d made the right decision. But he’d matured, and now he wasn’t so sure.
He’d missed his family, his home, Texas. In particular, he’d missed his mother. While Megan Maitland was still young in spirit, still strong, she was getting older.
When he’d brought Camille to Texas, he’d noticed the wrinkles at the corners of his mother’s eyes for the first time. And, for the first time, he’d thought about the future.
About leaving the FBI.
IN SPITE OF HERSELF, Camille began to grow excited about new clothes. She hated the maternity clothes she’d worn for so long. When she and Jake had disappeared in the middle of the night, she’d only been allowed one bag.