Free Jamie by Lori Foster Page B

legs. “You deserve it for coming down the ladder like that. You should have left when I told you to. You shouldn’t have followed me, dogging my heels, giving me orders. You shouldn’t have—”
    â€œCared?”
    His jaw flexed. “Don’t expect any sympathy from me. As soon as possible, you’re leaving here.” The dark scowl and growled words contrasted with the careful way he touched her leg, prodding, checking for damage.
    Faith hissed in pain.
    Mouth going flat, Jamie demanded, “Can you wiggle your toes?”
    She closed her eyes ... and wiggled.
    â€œGood. How about flexing your knee?”
    He helped, wrapping his long, hard fingers around her ankle and lifting her leg. Even as Faith managed it, pain sank in and she curled her fingers tight in resistance.
    Jamie winced, lowered her leg, and pried her hand from his forearm. Her short nails left deep grooves in his skin, and shame struck her.
    â€œOh God, Jamie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize—”
    â€œForget it.” He ignored her apology, refusing to look at her. “I don’t think it’s broken.”
    â€œIt hurts really bad.”
    Jamie shrugged.
    Determined to get through to him, Faith insisted, “No way can I walk on it.”
    Palpable frustration rose off him. Even through his contained expression, Faith could see his blistering ire. She wouldn’t be surprised if his beard caught on fire.
    So much heat, she decided, was preferable to his icy distance any day.
    â€œWe need to get you off the damn floor. Can you stand?”
    So he could toss her out? In a rush, Faith reached for him, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding on tight when he would have pushed her back. She’d break both her legs if it’d give her a chance to fulfill her purpose.
    Jamie caught a fistful of her hair and pried her head back. The gentleness, apparently, was long gone.
    â€œOwn.!”
    Fierceness shone from the depths of his obsidian eyes. “Did you do it on purpose, then?”
    Blank-brained, Faith blinked at him. She wasn’t afraid of Jamie, but she didn’t like his antagonism at all. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œDid you throw yourself off the ladder on purpose?”
    Of all the harebrained ... That deserved a slap, and she landed one on his hard, sleek shoulder. Not that he seemed to notice. “Don’t be such an ass.”
    Surprise at her waspish tone replaced the animosity.
    Nose to nose with him, Faith pointed out, “I could have broken my damn neck, you know.”
    â€œFrom an eight-foot drop?”
    â€œI had no way of knowing you’d catch me after you just threatened to throw me down the mountain.” Perturbed, she tossed her hair and glared at him. “For all I knew, you might have let me land on my head.”
    â€œI probably should have.” Jamie’s eyes narrowed again. “Who’d ever know, Faith? I could claim I never saw you.”
    But Faith knew most of the anger had drained out of him and she now had to deal with weary cynicism. She didn’t know which was worse. “You’re not going to hurt me, Jamie, and we both know it.” She stroked his neck, the shoulder she’d just smacked. “You’re a caregiver. A healer and a helper.”
    â€œYou must not have been around when I left the institute.”
    â€œI was there.” She cupped her hand over his jaw, the feel of his beard warm and rough on her palm. “You tore the lab apart, and you almost tore Professor Kline apart. But you were justified.”
    â€œI wanted to find the files they’d kept on me. I wanted them destroyed.”
    Faith hugged herself close to him. “I had them.” She leaned back and gave him what reassurance she could. “But you don’t have to worry. They’re gone now.”
    After a long, frustrated stare, Jamie pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered