Page 63 of Too Guarded to Love

Olivia drank in the sun’s warmth as she slipped out of the SUV. Only two days underground and she already felt like a vampire. She probably looked like one too, from the lack of sunlight and stress overload. At least she had on her beloved boots and wasn’t dirty like a hobbit.

With a backward glance, she watched the SUV pull away from the curb. She had no idea where the vehicle carrying Tessa, Hudson, and Linc was. The instructions had been not to even look for Tessa, let alone look at her, while in the coffee shop.

“Don’t worry, we’ll have eyes on you the whole time.”

She jumped at Nic’s voice in her ear. “I’m not worried,” she muttered as she opened the door to the shop. It only took a second to spot Jonathan at a table next to the window.

He stood as she approached and handed her a large cup. “You’re favorite. Dark roast with a hint of sugar and cream.”

She inhaled. The coffee in Level Black wasn’t bad, but this smelled divine. “Thank you.”

As he pulled out her chair, she made a show of taking the lid off the coffee and sticking her finger in the whipped cream so she could study him. He looked the same in a button-down blue shirt and pressed khakis, but his eyes that she once found bright now appeared dim.

Jonathan leaned across the table and reached for her fingers. “You look beautiful, Olivia. Did you do something different with your hair?”

She pulled her hand back and placed it in her lap. “Thank you, and yes. I’m in a big-hair phase now.”

Jonathan curled his fingers into a fist. “I wish you would start a new phase of your life with me here in DC. Since you got my message through the Department of Defense, I assume you’re staying with your brother while you take time to come to your senses.”

Olivia squeezed her cup so hard the cardboard creased. “Where I’m staying is none of your business, and I came to my senses back in Atlanta.”

“I get it, darling. You just need more time. You’ve been through a lot.” He pinned his gaze on her shoulder. “I came to the hospital after your accident. Did anyone tell you?”

“Yes, and I don’t appreciate you saying I was your fiancée. How did you know I was in an accident and where to find me?” And how did he know she’d injured her shoulder? She wasn’t wearing her sling, and thanks to whatever Patience shot her up with this morning, she could move her arm with minimal pain.

“When I couldn’t get in touch with you, I feared you’d gotten into a car crash because of the storm and checked the hospitals. I was so worried.”

Sure you were. She didn’t bother to ask why he hadn’t fought harder to see her. His quick desertion didn’t sting any longer. “Do you have information about Harlee?”

“Yes. I spoke with her.”

Relief flowed through Olivia along with the caffeine. She worried about Harlee spiraling into depression again. Losing her husband had decimated her, but she’d been working hard to rebuild her mental strength, body, and career, one day at a time. “How is she?”

“She’s good, but worried you won’t be able to perform this last surgery. I told her you were taking a new position at the downtown hospital here in DC.”

Olivia fought to keep her cool. Is that what Harlee needed to share? That Jonathan was spreading rumors about her career? “I most certainly am not taking a new job.”

“Don’t discount until you hear what I have to say. Harlee said she’d be willing to move here so you could be her surgeon. Isn’t that great?”

“What?” Although Harlee was close with her family on the East Coast, she would never leave her husband’s family in Atlanta.

“Think about it. You’d be near your brother, and you could follow through with your promise to get Harlee back to competitive racing. And you told me you never really liked Atlanta anyway.”

“True. There is a lot of drug use in the city. I read the other day that Atlanta is a distribution hub for the Mexican cartels.” Holding her breath, she studied his expression. He didn’t so much as blink at the mention of his alleged associates. “Then again, DC probably isn’t much better.”

“I had no idea you were so concerned. Maybe your brother’s fiancée can get you a position on an advocacy board.” He leaned closer. “I’m really looking forward to getting to know your family.”

Olivia bit the inside of her cheek. Telling Jonathan that wouldn’t happen was like running in a circle. “Do you know where Harlee is? I need to talk to her.” She wouldn’t risk telling Jonathan they’d already been in contact. She wouldn’t put it past him to report the violation to her director, but her concern mounted with each hour Harlee didn’t call back.

“Harlee is afraid of getting you in trouble, but I told her I could set up a secure call from my apartment. Come.” He held out his hand. “I’ll take you there.”

“Can’t we do a call right here?”

“It needs to be secure so the hospital can’t trace it if they take their investigation into your case to the next level. You know that.”

“What about the phone for your special patients? That’s secure, right?”

He reached behind him and patted his pocket. “It is, but that’s not a good option.”