My Biker Bodyguard (18 page)

"What–"
He cut her off with a shush and whispered, "Someone's
out there."
Her grip tightened on the back strap of his holster, but she
remained quiet. Eyes focused on the gaps between the trees
lining the path, he waited. Hurried footsteps sounded over the
mulched walkway and he calmed himself. Anyone foolhardy
enough to run in plain sight of the guards, in broad daylight,
couldn't be an enemy. Jared appeared and Mitch released the
breath he'd been holding.
"Mitch! Jess!" Jared hollered, waving. "The hospital
called." He took the stairs in one leap. "Beth's awake!"

"She's awake?" Riding the wave of euphoria Mitch had
evoked in her, Jess bounded out from behind him so quickly,
she forgot to let go of his shoulder holster and pulled him
sideways. She ignored his grunt of surprise and released him,
grabbing both of Jared's hands instead. "She's awake?"

Jared nodded vigorously, his smile bright. "She's finally
come around. They want us to come right away."
"Mitch," Jess turned, her own happiness and Jared's
elation washing away any trepidation she might have felt. "My
mother's awake."
Mitch caught her in a bear hug and kissed her hair. She
couldn't contain herself. All this was too much for a simple
Brew-City gal to take. The small, ever forgiving girl living
deep in her soul grinned large.
"It's great news, Jess." His wide smile was filled with
warmth and a tenderness that melted over her like caramel over
an apple. She blushed. Not a thought she should be having at
the moment.
"Let's go, right now." She grabbed his hand and turned to
Jared. "Are you ready?"
Jared nodded, rocking on his heels as if eager to get
moving. "I've been ready for weeks."
Mitch squeezed her hand and led her down the porch.
Jared stepped aside, his stare on their interlaced fingers. Jess
wondered fleetingly if he disapproved of her and Mitch
together, then the thought vanished as it hit her again.
Mitch is coming home with me, and my mother's awake
.

Her excitement wouldn't let her hold onto one worry, one
concern. In the limo, with Mike back behind the wheel,
however, her nerves had a chance to settle–and then take an
entirely new direction.

Beside Mitch, with Jared across from her, the happy
anticipation was palpable in the air. Jared's fidgeting and
sudden smiles, Mitch's bouncing knee and the rough way his
hand worked over hers, and her giddy see-sawing emotions
made the drive take forever.

Will she like me?
Will she approve of Mitch and me together?
Will she be happy to see me?
"If you don't mind me asking," Jared said, breaking the not

Mitch nodded. "I'll be leaving for Milwaukee when Jess
returns home."
Jess explained, "Mitch's gonna set up shop out by me and
we're gonna see how it goes."
"That's great." Jared slapped his hands on his knees.
"We'll have to give you a big send-off, for all you've done for
the family, Mitch."
Mitch grimaced and his hold on her hand tightened. "It's
not necessary. If I'd done a better job, we wouldn't be visiting
Beth in the hospital at all."
"Nonsense," Jared waved a hand dismissively. "I'll have
Beth brought home and if she's strong enough, we'll plan a
festive meal, at the very least."
Jess sighed. "It will be great to see her. I mean awake
and all."
"This will be the first time you've really met her, since she
left, won't it?" Jared asked.
Jess nodded and frowned. It was a stinging reminder that
her fantasy reunion came with a lot of unresolved luggage.
Forget if her mother would like her or not, the real worry was
whether or not she believed Jess refused her letters and held a
grudge.
Mitch must have sensed the weight of her thoughts
because he gentled his hold on her hand, rubbing it tenderly
with his thumb. "Don't worry, it's gonna be all right,
Buttercup. You'll see."
"I know." Jess packed up the past, taped it closed, and
shoved it to the back of the attic. Turning, she winked at
Mitch. "And don't call me buttercup."
The limo stopped before Mitch finished laughing.
Jared, smiling along, though obviously not sure what was
so funny, said, "We're here."
Gooseflesh broke out on Jess's arms as she stepped out of
the limo. Her gaze roved the area, searching every navy-blue
vehicle for tinted windows. Of course it wouldn't be the same
car if killers were waiting. Once they'd caught the thug from
the last time, the FBI had said the majority of the threat was
over. It didn't matter though, the danger of this place was
ingrained in her skin.
Mitch put an arm behind her, his hand pressing the small
of her back as he guided her to the front door. Jared walked on
her other side. Mitch leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"You're trembling. Take a deep breath."
She inhaled as Jared opened the door, and exhaled as they
followed him inside. The queasy feeling dissipated, partly by
Mitch's reassuring presence, and partly from getting out of the
open. When the door swung closed behind them, the fear eased
from her neck and shoulders.
Once again they followed the opulent hallway, their
footfalls echoing on the high-polished floors. The
overwhelming fear she'd experienced before had been replaced
with a sensation of impending miracles. Her dreams were all
coming true. Dreams she hadn't dare acknowledge back home.
A life of her own, a life where a mother existed, a life where
her hopes and fears were shared with a handsome lover who
would die to keep her safe.
"I can't believe it," Jess whispered. "After all this time."
Jared smiled. "She'll be so happy to see you."
They finally reached Beth's new room, distinguishable
from the others by the police officer who still held vigil outside
the door.
Mitch spoke quietly with the officer for a few moments,
then they were waved inside. Jess found herself hiding behind
the broad shoulders of Mitch, buying a few more seconds of
time before she came face to face with the woman she'd longed
for all her life.
"Oh Beth," Jared cried as he went to her, bending and
hugging the woman who sat propped against the raised
mattress. Obscured from view, Jess only caught her mother's
feeble attempt to embrace him back. "We've been so worried.
I'm so glad to see you awake."
Beth's voice was harsh, not much more than crackling
whisper. "It's good to see you too, Jared."
"We've brought someone." Jared glanced over his
shoulder and Jess finally had a glimpse of her mother. Green
eyes, slightly more hazel than her own, stared back from above
purple shadows and a wan complexion. "It's your daughter,
Jessica."
Jess wouldn't have believed it was possible, but Beth
paled further for a moment, then twin spots of color bloomed
across the high, protruding cheekbones. "Jessica?"
Mitch gave her a nudge forward and she stepped to the
edge of the bed. Jess nodded. "They call me Jess."
Beth's eyes filled with tears and she glanced at Jared who
nodded, and then back at Jess, who nodded too.
Jess couldn't speak, her throat had closed. Moments
flitted through memory, the tiny images she couldn't be sure
weren't dreams. Her mother laughing, hair wild and free as
they played in the muddy sand by Lake Michigan. The press of
lips against her forehead to ease the pain of a skinned knee.
Little loving moments Jess treasured, heart secrets no one else
would care about. Now, the only thing she could see clearly
were her mother's outstretched arms.
Stumbling, embarrassed by an audience, and not caring at
the same time, Jess fell into her mother's arms.
"My baby." Beth whispered, her arms holding Jess more
tightly than she would have thought possible. "Oh my sweet
baby girl."
Jess cried. Her heart both breaking and soaring. Not in all
her imaginings had it been this wonderful and terrible.
Wonderful to be smelling the faint scent she recalled so clearly
now–that mixture of skin and honey, a personal scent that no
perfume could imitate. Wonderful to feel the love of a mother,
and terrible grief for all the years she had gone without it. Jess
cried and didn't bother trying to hide her tears. There wasn't
any way she could have.
Beth's chest hitched. "I've missed you so much."
Jess straightened and eased to the side of the bed. "I've
missed you too."
They held hands, Jess careful of the IV line protruding
from the back of her mother's. With her free hand, Jess
accepted a tissue from Mitch and wiped her eyes. Jared took
another and mopped Beth's face.
"Mitch," Beth said, her smile fragile. "You found her, you
kept her safe. Thank you."
Mitch shrugged. "I only wish I could have protected you
better."
Her eyes clouded and she glanced at Jess. "What's been
happening? Did they find Grady yet?"
Mitch shook his head. "Not yet, but we're drawing close.
They'll have him in custody in no time."
Jess couldn't take her eyes off her mother, or stop listening
to the lilt of her hoarse voice. Every word, every gesture, every
flick of an eyelash or twitch of muscle brought back more and
more memories of what it had been like to be the daughter of
this woman.
"Do you remember anything?" Jared asked.
Startled, Jess thought he'd asked her for a moment, then
realized he was speaking to Beth.
She shook her head. "I remember we were in the dining
room and I remember the alarms, but I don't recall much past
that."
"Don't worry, Beth. Just focus on getting better." Mitch
frowned. "But if you do remember, you'll call either me or
Detective Larson, won't you?"
"Of course, Mitch." Beth gave him a curious look. "Is it
that important? Do you need my testimony to lock away
Grady?"
"No, no," Jared said, kissing the back of Beth's hand.
"Don't trouble yourself with this now. Do as Mitch said, focus
on getting back on your feet so you can come home."
"All right," she didn't smile. "Could you gentleman give
me a moment alone with my daughter?"
My daughter.
Jess's breath caught in her throat. Staring
anywhere but at her mother, her gaze traveled the well
appointed but bare room. She hadn't noticed before, but there
weren't any flowers, no cards, no balloons. Strange. When
J.D. had gotten banged up in a motorcycle accident, you could
hardly find the big biker behind all the get-well gifts. Maybe
L.A. was different.
Mitch bent and kissed Jess on the cheek, bringing her out
of her thoughts. "I'll be right outside the door."
Jared stood slowly, his reluctance apparent. "You need
anything at all, just ask and I'll see that you get it."
"Thank you." Beth fell back against the pillows as the
men vacated and closed the door behind them. "Now we can
talk properly."
But Jess saw the weary look in her mother's eyes and
knew that even the few minutes they'd visited, she was already
worn out. "We have a lifetime to talk. Mom. Don't tire
yourself too much."
"Mom." Beth smiled wistfully. "It's been so very long
since I've been called that. You don't know how much I've
longed to see you, to know you, to hear about your life."
Jess did know, she'd lived with those questions as long as
she could remember. "I never wanted to keep you away, it was
just how…things worked out. I want you to know that
whatever happened before is over for me. I'd like us to start
fresh, y'know? On new ground?"
Beth nodded and closed her eyes. When she opened them
again, they held both exhaustion and joy. "I'm so happy to see
you. You've grown into such a beautiful young woman. I can't
imagine you fixing old motorcycles and giving people tattoos."
Jess cringed a little. This wasn't the first time, and it
certainly wouldn't be the last, someone put down her lifestyle–
but coming from her mother, it hurt all the more. "It's a
respectable profession."
Beth squeezed her hand. "I didn't mean to criticize you,
Jess. I'm sorry if that came out wrong."
"That's okay." Jess smiled to put her mother at ease.
There was bound to be some miscommunication as they
learned more about each other. After all, Jess had thought her
mother was nothing more than an addict who'd been whoring
around for the last fifteen years.
The silence filled with unspoken questions and unable to
stand it any longer, Jess said, "I've been staying at your house.
It's very beautiful there. Did you do the painting over the
fireplace? The one of the back of the property?"
Beth nodded. "When I first came home, I took a lot of
classes to keep my mind off…all the horrible things I'd done.
I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry for leaving you like that."
Her mother broke down fully, covering her eyes with one
hand and for an awkward moment, Jess sat there, not knowing
what to do. Here was the apology she'd wanted all her life, the
truth of her mother's pain, the memory of her own pain.
Breaking free from her fears, from the hell of her childhood,
Jess leaned across the bed and hugged her mother, offering her
forgiveness.
Beth patted her hair, and sobbing, said, "I love you
sweetheart, I love you so much."
"I love you too, Mom." Jess cried all over again. "I
always loved you."
* * *
Mitch leaned against the wall and watched Jared. Since
they'd been relegated to the hall, Jared had paced back and
forth, his hands deep in his pockets, pausing occasionally when
the voices inside rose loud enough to be heard, but not enough
to distinguish words. The officer, with Mitch at the door and
Jared making a nuisance of himself, had grabbed the chance to
fetch himself coffee.
"I wonder what they're talking about," Jared said for the
fourth time.
"Probably just catching up," Mitch replied.
What is up
with Jared? He acts like he doesn't want Beth and Jess talking
behind his back
. "Why don't you take the chair until the cop
comes back. You'll pace a rut in the floor, you keep that up."
Jared laughed, but the sound was hollow. "No, thanks.
I'm fine." He exhaled hugely and ran a hand over the back of
his neck. "Guess I'm just afraid she'll fall back into…the coma
and I won't have a chance to really talk to her."
Mitch grunted his understanding but that's not what he
saw. He saw anger in Jared's posture, in the set of his jaw, in
the way he kept fisting his hands. This was a man who was
used to coming first and that same feeling of something not
quite right burned in Mitch's belly. "Beth'll be fine."
"I hope so." Jared turned as footfalls echoed toward them.
A tall man in trousers, a white coat, and carrying a clipboard
headed straight to them. Dr. Presberg. Mitch had met him
twice before he'd left for Milwaukee. A good guy, and the best
doc money could buy.
"Mr. Kramer, good to see you," Dr. Presberg held out a
hand and after Jared shook it, the doc held it out to Mitch.
"And you too, Mitch."
"Same here, doc." Mitch shook his hand.
"Have you been in to see her yet?" he asked them both.
They nodded. "Good, good. Who's in with her now?"
Mitch said, "Her daughter, Jess. She flew in from
Milwaukee."
"Excellent. The more family around her, the better."
Jared shoved his hands back in his pockets. "Will there be
any lasting damage?"
Presberg transferred the clipboard to his other hand. "It's
too early to tell, but she seems to be rebounding very well.
She's got full motor function, a bit weak, but that's to be
expected. Her speech and vision seem to be intact. The only
exception that we've been able to discover so far are the events
surrounding her injury. Again, that's fairly typical in these
cases. I suggest giving her time. She may never recall exactly
what happened to her, or she may suddenly remember
tomorrow, a year from now, or ten years from now."
Mitch grimaced. Every instinct inside him demanded to
know what she'd seen that night. The last part of the equation,
the sum total of all that had happened.
"But she's not…lost her intellect? I mean, she won't need
to learn how to write and read and all that?" Jared asked, his
gaze bore into the doctor, as if he expected to catch Presberg in
a lie.
"We haven't tested her fully yet, but normally when
someone awakes functioning at this level, we rarely find there's
a need to relearn anything. What she needs most is rest and a
chance to build up her strength."
"Thanks, doc." Mitch held out a hand and Presberg shook
it. "We appreciate all you've done for her. Any idea when
she'll be released?"
"Yes," Jared interjected, as if remembering his one and
only goal over the last few days. "When can I bring her
home?"
Presberg shrugged. "Maybe in a few days. We'll want to
keep an eye on her, make sure she's strong enough to handle
the transfer. After that, I think she'll not only be ready, but
eager to get back home."
He chuckled and held up his clipboard. "I've got some
rounds to make. I'll leave you to visit until I get back, then
you'll have to let her rest for a while."