Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll (18 page)

Both men followed Rachel inside until the
orderly stopped in front of a set of metal doors. “Sorry,
gentlemen, you’ll have to wait out here. The administrator is on
her way to take you to the lounge.”

Hawke opened his mouth to argue when he felt
Max’s hand grip his shoulder. “Thank you.”

Hawke backed up against a wall and ran a hand
across his forehead. “Can this day get any worse?”

A rush of wind swept down the hallway when
the entrance doors opened and Cameron blew inside.

“Yes,” Max growled. “Your agent is dead
meat.”

Dressed to the nines as usual, Cameron swayed
toward them, the click-clack of her stilettos announcing her
arrival.

“What happened? Groupie attack?” Her eyes
traveled the distance of Hawke’s upper body. “I don’t see any
scratches.”

The same wind that followed Cameron inside
tickled the surface of his chest and then Hawke understood. Until
that moment, he’d forgotten he was naked from the waist up.

“Did you get the tube?” Max barked.

Her blond curls whipped the air as she shook
her head. “Yes, I did. Funny how you’re more concerned about design
plans than Rachel.”

“Relax, short stuff, the bullet just grazed
her thigh.”

She flicked Max an irritated glare then
turned her attention back to Hawke. “Good grief, Hawke, maybe you
and Rachel should move into the new hospital wing.”

Hawke winced. What a way to start a
relationship.

Cameron squinted one eye and tilted her head
to the side. “You couldn’t convince the nurses to let you
back?”

Hawke shook his head.

“Really?” she pressed, “Even undressed?”

Hawke glared in response, hoping she’d drop
the subject. Instead, she turned on Max.

“Let me see what you’ve got.”

Max peered over his Aviators. “Excuse
me?”

“Take off your shirt, maybe you’ll have more
luck.”

Max gave a low snicker. “You wish.”

Cameron shrugged. “Well, lucky me. I have
rock star status. I’ll let you know what I find out.”

When Cameron disappeared behind the set of
metal doors, Hawke released a rough breath. “Is it just me or does
she just wait for an opportunity to make us look like idiots?”

Max pushed himself off the wall. “I think
there’s more to it.”

“Like what?”

“Seems to me blood runs deep between her and
Rachel. She’s like a lioness protecting her cub and her mouth is
her weapon. Problem is, she doesn’t know when to shut it.”

“You think she’s that way with
everybody?”

“Can’t be. Bitchiness doesn’t usually breed
success.”

Hawke folded his arms across his chest and
propped himself against the sterile wall with one hip. “Ever wonder
what she’s like under all that mouth?”

“Don’t know, don’t care. Do you?”

“Hell no. She’s definitely not my type.”

“What makes you think she’s mine?”

Hawke raised an eyebrow. Max’s quick retort
confirmed what he suspected all along. But he knew better than to
point that out. “Didn’t say she was.”

“Let it go, Hawke,” Max growled.

Hawke pushed off the wall and looked over
Max’s shoulder. “We have company.”

“Tall, curvy redhead?”

Hawke nodded.

Max smirked. “Hospital administrator.”

Max turned and leaned back against the wall
as she stopped in front of them, gave a big smile, and handed Hawke
a surgical shirt. “Nice to meet you, gentlemen, I’m Kimberly
Scott.”

Hawke eased the shirt over his head and
shoulders then stuffed his arms through the sleeves. “When can I
see her?”

“The doctor is with her now.” She handed Max
a white, plastic card. “We thought you’d be more comfortable in our
VIP lounge. If you’ll follow me, the card opens the elevator at the
end of the hall.”

Hawke frowned when they stopped in front of
the elevator, irritated that she hadn’t answered his question. “Ms.
Scott, we appreciate your assistance, but I’d like to see
Rachel.”

That same, professional smile never wavered
from her lips. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hawke, it is hospital policy to
limit visitors in the Emergency Room. As soon as the doctor
completes her exam, he will visit you in the lounge.”

Undeniable rage began to consume him. “Either
you take me to her or I’ll find someone who will.”

Kim raised both eyebrows and her face paled.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hawke, I didn’t realize—”

“Just show us the lounge,” Max interrupted.
He shoved Hawke inside the elevator. “Can it, Hawke.” He gestured
for her to follow. Once all three of them were on board, she pushed
the button to close the doors. The elevator gave a slight jolt and
then climbed the floors.

Hawke swallowed hard as a wave of nausea
rolled through his gut. Suddenly the walls closed in and the
numbers just wouldn’t flash quickly enough. He wanted to be
downstairs with Rachel, not tucked away behind closed doors.
Finally, the car stopped and the doors opened. Kim stepped off
first into an elaborate suite. Two oversized recliners rested on
each side of a full-sized leather sofa. All three sat directly in
front of a flat screen TV stretched the length of the wall. Nothing
close to a simple waiting area.

“We ask that you refrain from cell phone use
while in the hospital. We provide a telephone for your convenience.
Is there anyone else expected to arrive?”

“Devil in the miniskirt,” Max mumbled.

Kim frowned, obviously confused by Max’s
remark.

Hawke smirked. “Cameron Tremaine.”

“Of course.” The smile was back. “Cameron is
in the exam room with her. Shall I send her up?”

“Yes,” Hawke answered.

“No,” Max said at the same time.

Kim cleared her throat. “Which is it
gentlemen, yes or no?”

Hawke shot Max an irritated glare. “Yes,
please, Ms. Scott.”

She tossed Hawke a remote control. “No one up
or down without a key or an escort.” She turned to offer Max a
square white card. “Make yourselves comfortable and call me if you
need anything further.”

She boarded the elevator and Max tucked the
card in his pocket.

Hawke waited until the doors closed before he
threw the remote on the sofa. “This is ridiculous. I need to be
downstairs. Make it happen, Max.”

“No way in hell.”

Anger bubbled Hawke’s blood. “You’ll just
have to beat my ass to a bloody pulp then. I’m going.”

Max curled his upper lip. “Your call.”

Hawke squeezed the back of a chair until his
knuckles were white. Words refused to come.

Max lowered himself to the sofa, palmed the
remote, and clicked channels. “You know as well as I do, you’d only
make things worse, Hawke.”

“How?”

“You’re a chick magnet. I’m good but even I
can’t take on a whole Emergency Room full of women.”

Despite his anger, Hawke had to agree with
Max. But still … “In my current state of mind, I’d be willing to
help.”

Max snickered and settled on ESPN. “I realize
you have a plan but I’m not convinced it’s going to play out the
way you want.”

I don’t have a choice, Max. I have to tell
her about the mission.”

Max’s eyes didn’t waver from the screen.
“Agreed. I’m now convinced she’s an unwilling participant.”

“You think Diego knows we have the
evidence?”

“Positive. The decoy was delivered this
morning. Shadow found a flash drive hidden in the layers of the
cardboard of the original one.”

“Weapons?”

Max nodded. “The tube Rachel was after is
probably packaged the same way.”

“You think the sorry bastard is here?”

“Hard to say, but someone wants her
extinguished. You’re going to have to step up your game.”

“I’ve got her hooked. It won’t take
long.”

“No way can we keep this quiet. My suggestion
is the two of you stay in for awhile.”

“We’ll have more privacy at her house.”

Max nodded. “That’s probably doable. The
neighborhood is exclusive. I’ll have to beef up the alarm system.
You gonna move in?”

“Hell yeah.” He gave Max a twisted grin. “We
were interrupted.“

“No details, Hawke. I get it. But now she
really can’t be alone.”

“You told Cameron I wouldn’t leave her alone,
remember?”

“I’ll put Steele on her.”

“Hell no.”

Max ran a hand across the surface of his
head. “What did you just say?”

“No freaking way. Steele’s twice the smooth
talker I am. I’ll ask Cameron.”

“We need a Rottweiler, not a Chihuahua.”

“Gee-zus, Max! What is it with the two of
you? Can’t you just ignore each other?”

Max’s expression didn’t change. “Okay, here’s
what’s gonna happen. We put everyone in Rachel’s house, Motor Mouth
included. Twenty four hour security is the only option we
have.”

Even with desperation kicking him in the ass,
Hawke knew Captain Sterling was right. Diego was pissed and out for
blood. None of them were safe.

“I suggest you tell Rachel immediately. This
whole thing will get ugly fast.”

“What about Cameron?”

“What about her?”

“Some prick shot her best friend. We have to
tell her something and she won’t accept some half-assed
explanation.”

“There’s media crawling all over the place.
We’ll just play it off as an ongoing investigation for now.”

Hawke glanced at the elevator, the red light
above the double doors shining like a beacon. “Well Captain, here’s
your chance.”

Hawke took a deep breath and prepared to face
the firing squad. The chrome doors slid open and Cameron stepped
from the elevator, barefoot with her hooker heals hung on two
fingers. Hawke’s eyes widened and he clenched his jaw to keep it
from falling open. Her normal, bright glittering eyes appeared
dull. Her shoulders slumped.

She eased herself into a vacant chair.
“They’re keeping her.”

Hawke frowned. “Why?”

“Apparently, there’s quite a bit of muscle
damage.”

“Can I see her?”

Cameron gave a half smile. “She put up quite
an argument. The doctor finally sedated her. She’s out like a
light. I’ll stay the night.”

Max smirked. “Don’t they have a no pets
policy?”

Hawke squeezed his eyes closed, pinched the
bridge of his nose, and waited for Cameron’s wrath. Instead, the
sound of the television was the only conversation in the room. He
opened his eyes in time to catch Cameron’s small, weak shrug. He
glanced at Max and glared.

Max cleared his throat. “You need anything,
short stuff?”

Cameron shook her now-flattened curls. “No,
thank you. Have you heard anything from the police?”

Tension built in Hawk’s shoulders. He hoped
like hell she accepted Max’s answer.

Max spit out the lie as planned. “Not yet.
Maybe tomorrow.”

Cameron stood. “They won’t let us in the
building.” She glanced at Max. “Rachel’s tube is downstairs in my
car. Would you mind dropping it by her house? She’ll want it when
she gets home.”

Max nodded. “Keys?”

“It’s unlocked.”

“You left your car unlocked with her package
inside?”

Hawke raised an eyebrow at Max’s question,
not quite sure how he would cover up that slip.

Cameron rolled her eyes. “What’s the big
deal? They’re sketches, not diamonds.”

“Safety 101. If someone has access to your
car, they have access to you.”

“You’ve been Hawke’s bodyguard way too long.
This is Diablo, Arizona, not Hollywood.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Cameron stood and headed to the elevator.
“I’m too tired to argue. Just get the tube and we’ll see you
tomorrow.”

Hawke waited for the elevator doors to close
before he spoke. “Somebody has to stay and watch the room.”

Max nodded and dialed his cell. Hawke shook
his head. So much for hospital policy.

“Shadow’s on his way.”

“Think he can dodge Cameron?”

“Shouldn’t be too hard. He got lucky. Looks
like she’s dead on her feet.”

Hawke agreed. In fact, this side of Cameron
was almost tolerable.

Max snickered as they stepped inside the
elevator. “Don’t worry, she’ll be back in true form tomorrow.”

Hawke stood in the middle of Rachel’s living
room watching the activity around him. Someone, most likely him,
would have hell to pay when Rachel saw this. He scrubbed a hand
across his jaw. Damn it to hell. Since when had he become such a
pantywaist? He knew going in his life would never be the same.
Hell, super stardom had a way of doing that to people. It had been
perfectly clear that there was no escape from Jaydon Hawke. And
since that persona provided pretty much everything he wanted, there
hadn’t been a problem. Until Rachel.

He’d be a lying fool if he said he hadn’t
wanted her from the minute he saw her. Her beauty alone reeled him
in, but that he could work around. Her calm, peaceful, reasonable,
compassionate nature, though, well, that sucker punched him right
in the gut. And now he would have to throw a few punches of his
own. Right to her heart.

“You gonna stand there all day or help us
catch this prick?”

Hawke glanced at Captain Sterling. “Thought
I’d check her e-mail.” He forced guilt to the back of his mind and
reminded himself this was all for her safety. Without it, she’d die
at the hands of Manuel Diego.

He sat down in front of the laptop computer
and punched keys to hack into Rachel’s e-mail account. Within
seconds, he broke her password and messages lined up on the
screen.

“Sonuvabitch,” he muttered.

“Find something?” Max twisted two wires
together then shoved them back into a panel in the wall.

“He sent another package, this time by
private courier.”

“When?”

Hawke glanced at the date again, just to be
sure. He looked back at Max. “Yesterday.”

Activity stopped around him as all four
soldiers digested the meaning of what he’d just said.