“Any thoughts as to how I can accomplish that?”
“I’ll think of something.”
Jake chuckled and raised the hand he was still holding to his mouth for a quick peck. “Oh, I’m sure you will.”
Olivia thought for a moment before asking the question she was afraid to be answered. “So, this meeting. Is it about another job?”
“It is. I’d prefer to let Trevor take my place, but William Cantrell personally requested I be there to oversee the details.”
“William Cantrell,” Olivia repeated the name as if she’d possibly heard it before. It took a few seconds before recognition hit. “Wait a minute. Are you talking about Senator Bill Cantrell?”
“The one and only. Apparently, he wants to hire us for extra security on his campaign trail, which starts in a couple of weeks. I’m meeting with him and the head of his personal security detail.”
“Wow. That has to be good for business. Word of mouth alone from a guy like that could be huge for R.I.S.C.”
“It definitely couldn’t hurt.” Jake turned onto the road leading to the hospital. “I still hate the idea of leaving you.”
“Are you kidding? A freaking United States Senator wants to meet with you, Jake. Of course, you go. Besides, I’ll be around other people all day long. I’ll be fine.” And then, because she couldn’t help but ask, Olivia said, “So, this job. When would you have to leave?”
“I don’t. Hill and Coop will be working this one.”
At first, she was relieved, but then felt selfish. R.I.S.C. was his livelihood, and if they were going to make a go at an actual relationship, Olivia was going to have to get used to him leaving for it.
“Please tell me you aren’t passing up this opportunity because of me.”
Jake flipped on his turn signal before steering the truck into the hospital entrance. “This is a simple protection job, Liv. Hill will take point, but both he and Coop are more than capable of handling it.”
Grant Hill was R.I.S.C.’s demolitions expert. The guy was a mass of muscle and definitely not someone Olivia ever wanted to tick off.
Sean “Coop” Cooper was one of R.I.S.C.’s snipers. He was also the only team member to be injured during her rescue.
A pang of guilt settled in Olivia’s gut. “How is Sean? Are you sure he’s ready to take on something like this?”
“Coop’s leg is fully healed, and he’s been released for full-duty by one of Homeland’s physicians. He’s been chompin’ at the bit to get out and do something, even if it’s just playing bodyguard. Both men volunteered for the duty, and honestly, after what we went through in Venezuela and then the two-month gig after, I’m ready for a break.”
Jake stopped the truck in front of the ER doors. He got out and came around to open her door. Taking her hand in his, Jake helped her step down.
Olivia’s heart did a little somersault. Who says chivalry is dead?
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, but working out the logistics for a job like this will most likely take all day. Just remember what I said. If I’m not here, you don’t leave this hospital without Trevor by your side. For any reason.”
Normally, Olivia would be annoyed by the way he was ordering her around. Given his reasons for it this time, Olivia couldn’t help but think it was sweet.
“I won’t.”
With one hand cupping her face, Jake spoke softer. “I’m serious, Liv. Be aware of your surroundings, even inside the hospital, and stick to Trevor like glue when you leave.”
Grabbing his wrist, Olivia gave him a reassuring smile. “I promise.”
Jake looked like he wanted to say more. Instead, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. All too quickly, he pulled away.
“You’d better get in there before I decide to throw you back into that truck and drive away.”
Giggling, Olivia rose on her tiptoes and gave him another quick peck. “Drive carefully.”
“I will.”
She stepped around him, squealing when he swatted her on her ass.
Smiling, Jake said, “I’ll see you soon. And remember...like glue.”
Rubbing her rear, Olivia hollered out a sarcastic, “Yes, Dad!” before turning and walking through the ER’s automatic doors. And for the first time in months, she couldn’t wait for her shift to be over.
****
“Someone had better be dying.”
Jake grinned as he drove away from the hospital. Derek never had been a morning person. “Hey, D. It’s me.”
A few seconds of sheets rustling and padded footsteps filled his ears. One cleared throat later, Derek sounded a bit more awake. “Boss?”
“Did I wake you?” Jake asked, even though he already knew he had.
“It’s all good. What’s up?”
“I need a favor. It’s for Olivia.”
“How is our girl?” D’s southern drawl was more prominent now that he was relaxed.
“Our girl?”
“You nearly died trying to protect her. Coop caught a bullet for her, and we’ve all spent the last two months away from home so we could get the bastard who tried to buy her. Not to mention, I now have two assholes thanks to the new one Ryker ripped into us for going to bum-fuck Venezuela in the first place. So, hell yeah, she’s our girl.”
Though his words were in true Derek form, Jake found himself brushing off an unexpected wave of emotion that they had caused.
“Duly noted.”
“Good. Now, are you gonna tell me why you called me at the ass-crack of dawn, on my day off, or are you waitin’ for me to guess?”
“What’s the matter? Did I interrupt play time? Let me guess...it’s the blonde. No, wait. The redhead.”
Jake could hear the man’s smile through the phone. “What can I say? Unlike you, the rest of us haven’t been lucky enough to find the one. And you know me. I like to collect as much data as I can before making a final decision. Especially somethin’ that important. Consider this research.”
To that, Jake had no response. He loved Olivia, and there would never be another woman for him. She was, without a doubt, the one
