by Cassie Miles
In his mind, he filled his own name into that blank. He was the boss. He was pretty sure she felt the same way about herself.
Chapter Seven
Olivia felt a twinge of guilt about using her pregnancy to trick a law enforcement officer into escorting them. She didn’t like lying, especially not to a nice policeman who had offered to deliver her baby at curbside. Still, the end result was worth a fib. They’d gotten away from the bad guys.
On their escorted ride into town, Troy had called his brother, who worked in the emergency room at St. Luke’s when he wasn’t at the clinic. Alex had met them at the E.R. with a wheelchair, pretending to be her doctor. After he dismissed the officer and pretended to handle the paperwork, the three of them sneaked out of the hospital. They stood on the sidewalk beside the Range Rover.
Alex grumbled, “Every time you two get together, things get crazy.”
“Crazy in a good way,” Troy said. “You’re happy about your nephew, right?”
“Don’t change the subject. Tell me, what the hell is going on?”
It was easy to see that these two men were brothers. They were both tall and lean. Both had brown eyes and black hair. Troy had a darker complexion, and his features were weathered and craggy. Alex wore his hair longer, and his face was thinner. Though she couldn’t say why, other than his blue scrubs, she thought Alex looked like a doctor. His expression seemed questioning, sincere and concerned. Troy radiated sheer masculine confidence.
“Long story short,” Troy said. “Olivia is in danger, and I’m protecting her.”
“From what?”
“Don’t know for sure.”
Alex scoffed. “That’s a cover. It’s what you always say.”
“How about if I tell you that she might be the target of a Rwandan terrorist cell working for a master spy?”
“Yeah, sure.” Alex turned his attention to her. “How are you feeling when you’re not faking labor?”
“I’m great, ready to pop. My real labor could be starting any time now. Until then I’d like to stay active. Is it okay for me to stop by the clinic while I’m in town?”
“That’s a great idea. Some of the women have been asking about you.” He cocked his head to one side. “And there’s somebody I want you to talk to.”
“Who’s that?”
“Carol Rainer.”
Olivia cringed inside. Carol Rainer was a former client, not someone she wanted to see again but someone she couldn’t ignore. “How did you run into Carol?”
“She’s working at the clinic as a receptionist.”
Olivia never would have expected the very wealthy Mrs. Rainer to be involved with the homeless. “How did that happen?”
“Because of you,” he said. “You mentioned the clinic, and she stopped by to check us out. At first, she was planning to make a donation and move on, but we were busy that day. She got swept up in the action and decided she liked it.”
Of all the people in the world, Carol had the most reason to hate Olivia. They’d been through hell together. “Is she happy?”
“Seems to be.”
“And her husband?”
“He’s not in the picture anymore.” Alex glanced back at his brother. “Are you staying at my house?”
“Probably not. Olivia’s parents are in town, and I hope to stay with her sister.”
“You should join us for dinner,” she said. “I can’t believe I haven’t introduced you to Bianca. She’s single. A lawyer.”
As soon as she spoke, she regretted the invitation. Olivia knew better than to set up her sister on blind dates. Bianca hated being manipulated as much as she did.
“We should go,” Troy said.
“Hold on.” His brother exhaled a long-suffering sigh. “Call me if you need anything. You’re both nuts, but I want you to know that I’m here for you. And for my nephew. I have a feeling that the kid is going to need a sane, stable presence in his life.”
Troy grinned. “Every boy needs a stodgy, boring uncle.”
“Have you picked out a name?”
The question made her nervous. There were so many decisions she’d been putting off. It had taken her a week to choose the shade of blue she used to paint the nursery, which she was reconsidering even now. Blue for a boy seemed too mundane. “I’ve been thinking about names. Nothing seems right. I guess I’ll know when I see him for the first time.”
“Please tell me you’re not going to look out a window and name him after the first thing you see. I don’t want my nephew to be named Cloudy Sky or Lodgepole Pine.”
“I promise,” she said.
After hugging Alex, she got into the car and they headed toward her sister’s house in south Denver. She had a lot to think about, starting with Carol Rainer, who used to live in a fabulous home in Dillon. Now she was in Denver? Taking care of the homeless? Olivia actually wasn’t too surprised that she’d split from her husband who was an aggressive, loud, arrogant businessman. Carol was way too good for him.
It would be painful to see Carol after what had happened eight and a half months ago. Olivia absently stroked her belly. This might not be the best time. Carol had lost her baby.
Olivia realized that neither she nor Troy had spoken for several blocks. She glanced over at him. “You’re being awfully quiet.”
“Thinking,” he said. “I can’t help wondering how they located us. We didn’t stop for gas, and we weren’t followed when we were driving over the pass. They couldn’t have planted a tracking device on the Range Rover.”
“You said that you noticed them near Evergreen,” she said. “They must have been waiting and watching.”
“I changed cars. They didn’t know what we were driving. Sure, there are traffic cams along the highway, but it’s unlikely that they could check out every vehicle.”
“Does it matter?”
He stopped at a red light and turned toward her. “They had to be using some kind of GPS tracking device. If it’s not on the car, it’s with you.”
Before they’d left her cabin, he’d gone through her things to make sure the bad guys hadn’t planted a bug or a locating device. “You searched my stuff. You even took my cell phone apart to deactivate the GPS.”
“I must have missed it.”
From his tone, she could tell that he was angry. Not at her but at himself. She tried to reassure him. “It’s okay. We’ll find it.”
“They could be tracking us right now, watching from street corners, following from a few blocks behind.”
The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. She didn’t like the idea that she was under surveillance. “If that’s true, we’re leading them straight to my sister’s house.”
“I’m sure they’ve already got that location,” he said. “They might have stolen a snapshot of your family to see what they look like, but it’s no secret that you have a sister in Denver. Finding her address is child’s play.”
“Will they be watching us at her house?”
“Count on it.”
A shudder went through her. She wasn’t scared but apprehensive. Like the feeling she had when hiking through a cattle pasture, sooner or later she was going to step into something stinky. But this misstep was far more dangerous than a cow pie.
They continued driving south, passing the gold steeple of the Ritchie Center at the University of Denver. She realized that she’d felt this sort of apprehension before. After she and her mom had been kidnapped, Olivia had been constantly vigilant. Every person she encountered seemed suspicious. She was always waiting for the moment when somebody would step from the shadows and grab her. “I don’t like this.”
“Me, neither.” His jaw tensed. “I’m on my way to meet a legendary spy couple, and the first thing I have to tell them was that I couldn’t find a lousy GPS locator.”
“What?”
“Your dad can find what I missed. He probably travels with a sweeper to check for bugs and other devices.”
“And that’s what you’re
worried about?”
“Well, yeah. I want to make a good first impression.”
“As a spy?” Never mind her fear or the danger to her and the baby or the development of their relationship. “You want my father to think you’re as good as he is.”
“I just don’t want him to see me as a total incompetent.”
Hot rage flashed through her. She was a furnace, burning with fiery embers. “What about me? And the baby? Don’t you care about us?”
“Why are you angry?” He had the audacity to look surprised. “You’re my number one concern. You know that.”
“Do I?”
“You and our son are the center of my world. It kills me that I screwed up and put you in danger.”
“And my father?”
“Nobody else’s opinion is as important to me as yours. Understand? Nobody else.”
Her anger began to subside. “You better remember that.”
He reached over to touch her arm. “Are you okay? Your face is kind of red.”
“Hormones,” she snapped, even though she knew her anger was more than a hormonal response. She hadn’t expected to be taking Troy to meet her parents, hadn’t planned on being thrust into danger. “Alex might be right. When we’re together, things get crazy.”
“In a good way.” His smile was gentle and consoling. “Together, we created a miracle.”
“Yes, we did.” Her hand rested on her belly. She couldn’t stay angry at Troy when he said something so right.
* * *
HER SISTER ANSWERED before the doorbell finished chiming the opening bars to “Camelot.” Olivia had her guard up. She sailed into the entryway with a suitable grand gesture. “Troy, this is Bianca, and this is her starter mansion. Apart from the marble foyer, the Waterford Crystal chandelier and the grand staircase, it’s not too flashy. Only four bedrooms plus office but the neighborhood is top-notch.”
Bianca shook his hand. “I’m so happy to meet the man who lured my hermit sister out of her cave. Tell me, did you use raw meat or did you just club her over the head and drag her out by her hair?”
Though his posture was military and erect, his grin came easy. “To tell the truth, Olivia was the one who did the clubbing and dragging.”
“Never thought my sister had such good taste.” She leaned down to talk to Olivia’s belly. “And how’s my little nephew? I haven’t seen you for a month. He’s gotten huge.”
“And active,” she said. “Go ahead. You can touch.”
Her sister placed both hands on her bulge. When she felt a kick, she gasped. “Oh, my God, Olivia. We’re going to have a baby.”
When Bianca threw both arms around her neck and hugged, Olivia felt glad tears welling behind her eyelids. This was the way family was supposed to be—happy and sharing in the joy of a new life. Through the years, she and her sister had their differences, but they were still close.
Before her tears could spill, she saw her parents. Her tall, slim father wore a navy blazer with gold buttons. His white hair was swept back from his high forehead. Her mom was dressed in beige jersey slacks and a matching sleeveless top with a gold belt. They looked like a portrait of royalty from a bygone era, but her mother’s face was animated as she rushed to join in the hug.
She whispered, “I’ve been so worried. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“I can’t believe this is happening to you.”
“Again,” Olivia said.
Her mother pulled away sharply. Her blue eyes—the same azure-blue as both of her daughters—confronted her directly. As a rule, they never discussed her childhood kidnapping. It simply wasn’t something they talked about. Olivia couldn’t imagine their relationship without the veil of secrecy that had always kept her mom at a distance.
Her mom’s mouth fell into a prim smile. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your young man?”
Troy and her dad had already clasped hands and introduced themselves. The two men regarded each other suspiciously, each taking the measure of the other. Olivia had the distinct impression that they were friendly but also adversarial.
“Troy, this is my mom.”
“Please call me Sharon,” she said as she clasped his hand in both of hers. “Can I offer you coffee? We could all sit down at the table. Lunch is almost ready.”
“Pleased to meet you both,” Troy said. “Before we do anything else, we need to talk about the attempted abduction. Olivia and I were followed on our way into Denver. We should take protective measures.”
“Really?” Bianca’s eyes went wide.
“There’s a definite threat,” Troy said.
Her parents exchanged a glance, clearly uncomfortable with this topic. Olivia couldn’t have been more pleased with the way Troy slashed through the aura of civility and got down to business. “Bianca, what kind of security do you have?”
“The best,” her sister assured her. “It’s a sensor system that alerts us to any disturbance from a broken window to somebody jiggling a doorknob.”
“Dead bolt on the door,” Troy noted. He looked toward the long windows on either side of the door. “Triple-
pane windows?”
“All through the house,” Bianca said. “I had them installed for insulation but they’re also bulletproof.”
“What about the fence?” Troy asked.
“The back fence is wired, but I never use the system. It gets triggered too easily. The alarm goes off if the neighbor’s dog pees against it or if the wind blows a tree branch too close.”
“Now would be a good time to activate that alarm.” Troy looked toward her parents. “I’m guessing that you’re armed.”
“Yes,” her dad said tersely.
Olivia noticed that her mother gave an almost imperceptible nod. “Mom? Are you packing heat?”
“No way,” Bianca said.
With her prim smile firmly fixed in place, Sharon Laughton lifted her beige jersey pant leg to show a holster strapped to her slender ankle. “Your father and I need to discuss the situation with Troy. You girls should go into the kitchen and finish the preparations for lunch.”
“You can’t brush us out of the way,” Olivia said. “The intruder at my house took a snapshot of all of us. Whether you like it or not, Bianca and I are both involved.”
“My dear,” her dad said, “it’s not appropriate.”
“I insist. I want to hear what’s going on.”
“Not appropriate,” her mother echoed. Though she was still smiling, there was a ring of steel in her voice. “Olivia, I’m sure you understand.”
“Not really. This threat could be because of some sleeper spy you knew back in the day. Bianca and I have a right to know.”
“That’s not exactly true,” Bianca said. “You and I don’t have authorization to hear what they’re talking about. It’s a matter of security clearance.”
Olivia would not be brushed aside. “It’s a matter of trust. Our family has been threatened. Your grandson.”
“I agree.” Troy’s voice was deep and steady. “In order to protect Olivia, she needs to know what to watch for. I suggest we start with our luggage. I don’t have the equipment to check for bugs or GPS location devices.”
Richard arched an eyebrow. His eyes were a light blue, almost opaque, and his gaze was intense.
Olivia had no idea how her dad would react. Very few people stood up to him, but Troy’s attitude made it clear that he had no intention of backing down. Either these two would be on the same page or they’d be at each other’s throats.
“I have the necessary equipment upstairs,” Richard said. “Troy and I will go out to the car and check the luggage to make sure we take care of the bugs. Then we’ll join you ladies in the dining room for lunch. At that time, we’ll discuss our current situation. Is that satisfactory to everyone?”
He was looking directly at her. Olivia gave a nod. “Fine with me.”
She watched as the two men ascended the sweeping staircase to
the second-floor bedrooms. She was gratified by the way Troy had taken her side. Having him with her changed the family dynamic. She wasn’t alone anymore.
Chapter Eight
In the kitchen, Olivia wasn’t surprised to see five perfect quiches sitting in a row on the shining black marble surface of a long counter that separated the cooking area from a casual dining area and family room. Quiche was her sister’s specialty—one of the few dishes this busy lawyer knew how to cook.
Bianca pivoted and confronted her. “Wow.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said wow. Does he have a brother?”
“As a matter of fact, he does.”
A smile played on Bianca’s lips. She was a few inches shorter than Olivia and slender as a greyhound. Her blond hair was expertly streaked and professionally tousled in a chin-length bob. “Is this brother also tall, dark and handsome?”
“You bet, and he’s a doctor.”
“Perfect.” She looked toward their mom, who had gone straight to the refrigerator and was taking out veggies for a green salad. “What do you think, Mom? Should I meet this handsome doctor?”
“Why ask me? You girls haven’t paid the least bit of attention to my advice on boyfriends since you packed away your teddy bears.”
“That doesn’t mean we don’t care about your opinion,” Bianca said. “I think Troy is amazing, don’t you?”
Holding her breath, Olivia waited for the response. Her mom wasn’t the sort of woman who lavished praise on anyone or anything. She could scrutinize a ten-carat diamond and see only the flaw. Cool and reserved, Sharon Laughton arrayed the veggies on the countertop beside the stainless steel sink and took a paring knife from a drawer.
Without turning around, she said, “Troy seems to be a man who knows what he wants.”
Olivia stared at the back of her mother’s head, trying to discern the underlying meaning in her words. “Could be his Marine Corps training.”
“He asked you to marry him, didn’t he?”
“Yes.”
She sliced open an avocado and removed the pit. “Why did you turn down his proposal?”
“Because I hardly know him.” Last night had been a step in the right direction, but she still couldn’t say that Troy was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Olivia hoisted herself onto a tall, wrought-iron stool on the opposite side of the marble-topped counter. “Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean we’re meant to be together forever.”
