Her lips curved slightly as her fingers returned the gesture. “It’s fine, Jake. I’m fine.”
She was far from fine, and he was getting damn tired of those smiles that weren’t really smiles. Olivia seemed to actually want to talk now, but Jake felt torn between duty and his protective instincts. Any intel she could share was valuable, but damn it, he’d heard about all he could stand to for one day.
“A man came to my tent this morning,” she continued. “He took me to a building at the other end of the camp and ordered me to take a shower. To make myself presentable.” She made that cute-as-fuck snorting sound again. “I wanted to tell him to go to hell, but the idea of a shower was too good to pass up.”
Jake forced his own smile. It was getting harder and harder to control his fury, but he would. The last thing Olivia needed was him to go all caveman on her right now.
“When I was finished, my clothes were gone and that dress was hanging on the door. My guard was walking me back to my tent when another man told him the auction was being held tomorrow morning, and I was to be moved tonight.”
She looked up at him, the moonlight reflecting in her sad, tired eyes. “That’s why it had to be today. I can only imagine what the bidders at that auction had in store for me. There was no way in hell I was going to stick around for that.”
Jake ran his free hand across his jaw, pulling upon a strength he didn’t even know existed to keep Olivia from seeing the effect her words had on him. The attack on her group hadn’t been about drugs, as authorities suspected. Not that he’d bought any of that shit, anyway.
No, they’d been targeted for a very different reason. More specifically, it sounded as if Olivia had been targeted. With great effort—and it took a hell of a lot—Jake put those thoughts on the back-burner.
“Did you notice anything unusual while you were working with the volunteer group? Any suspicious activity or anyone who looked out of place?”
She let out a sarcastic laugh. “Everyone looked out of place, Jake. I mean, they were. The people we helped had just lost their homes. Family members. No one looked like they belonged there, because truthfully, they didn’t.” Olivia sighed. “So, no. I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.” She thought for a moment and then, “I just hope that what happened to us won’t keep people from coming to places like this in the future. Those poor people needed us more than I ever realized.”
Jake watched as she closed her eyes and sat back. She let her head fall against the trunk of the tree again.
Jesus, this woman was something. She’d gone through hell—was still smack fucking dab in the middle of it—and the wellbeing of others still weighed on her mind. His heart swelled with pride, and a whole lot more.
He noticed Olivia shiver. “You cold?”
She kept her eyes closed but nodded. “A little. I’m fine, though.”
Jake couldn’t help but smile. “Come here, tough girl.”
She glanced over at him, her brows raised in question.
He released her hand and lifted his arm as an invitation, motioning with his head. “It can get pretty chilly out here at night.”
“I know.”
“So, come. Here,” he repeated more emphatically. “I don’t bite, Liv.” Although, I sure as hell would if you asked me to.
Scooting the extra couple of inches it took for their bodies to be in contact, she rested her head against his chest and wrapped an arm around his waist. Jake held her close, gently rubbing her upper arm to help warm her.
Olivia fit perfectly against him. It was the best feeling, as if having her in his arms was...right. He closed his eyes and wondered what it would be like to be able to hold her like this whenever he wanted.
If he had anything to say about it, that would happen. He’d made a promise to God, and had every intention of seeing it through. Jake had been granted his miracle, so he would tell her how he felt, along with everything else. Just not right now.
Olivia had been through enough. No way would he unload that shit on her tonight. Later, when she was back home and away from the danger. After she’d had some time to recover from everything. That’s when he’d tell her. For now, his job was to make sure she actually got home.
Chapter 9
This is dangerous. Olivia nearly laughed aloud at the thought, considering everything she’d been through. Nevertheless, it was true. Being this close to Jake was dangerous, yet she couldn’t find the strength to resist.
When he opened his arms and offered to hold her...how could she turn that down? In her mind, she knew it was stupid, but her body had moved right on over, as if it was the most wonderful idea in the world.
Her hand rested against the hard Kevlar covering his shirt. She didn’t need to feel each ripple of his six pack to know they were there, but it was his beating heart that grabbed her attention more. Even through the protective vest, it pounded hard and fast against her cheek, nearly matching the rhythm of her own.
Olivia wondered if their somewhat intimate embrace was making him uncomfortable. He’d asked her to come to him, but only to help keep her warm.
Needing to say something so Jake wouldn’t feel so awkward, Olivia spoke against his chest. “Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Can’t have you coming back to life with a cold, now, can we?” he teased.
She almost smiled. “I meant for all of it.” She worked hard to keep her voice from cracking, but in the end it didn’t work. At least their position hid her face from his. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there today.” That last sentence
