Chapter Eight
The call to Lauren had been quick. Her boss knew Oscar Baccarin well and was already aware of the highly classified facial recognition program, none of which surprised Olivia. Lauren believed she could persuade the deputy director to assist.
Now, they had to wait until they got a hit on Audrey or Kevin. If they were as close as Maben had suggested, then they’d most likely be hiding out together.
The Carters were going to be careful since authorities were looking for them. Since Montana lacked a robust CCTV system, which the facial recognition program relied on, finding them might take longer than they hoped.
Eli pulled up to the entrance of the Second Home Lodge and stopped. Since they were a three-hour drive from his house
and the investigation’s path was uncertain, they decided to remain in High Country County.
Olivia stared at the budget motel. “I was thinking a Westin or Four Seasons. Aegis is footing the bill, remember.”
“Their suites come equipped with a full kitchen,” he said, and she doubted the lodge’s definition of a suite was the same as hers. “I need to be able to cook.”
“Need? I thought it was simply something you enjoyed. Like a hobby.”
“Cooking is a form of therapy for me. Helps me focus and relax.”
“I didn’t know that.” After five years, there was probably a lot she still needed to learn about him. “How did you get into it?”
It was a basic skill, but one she didn’t possess.
“When my mom had cancer, it was just the two of us. I learned to cook for her from watching the Food Network.”
His mother had suffered for four years. “You said you were only eleven when she was diagnosed.”
“Yeah.”
“Awfully young to handle that level of responsibility.”
Eli shrugged like it was nothing. “There was no one else to do it.”
“What about your aunt?”
“She lived an eight-hour drive away and had her own family to take care of. I stepped up and did what was needed. It wasn’t a big deal.”
But it was. Olivia reached for his hand.
He moved it away, grabbing his phone. “I’d prefer us to share a room, but if you’d rather have your own, like at the resort, then I understand.”
“Two rooms fit our cover. I didn’t want to give the impression I was sleeping with my supposed assistant,” she said, and his shoulders relaxed. She put her hand on his thigh. An electric current slid through her down to her core. “Business as usual. One suite. Okay.”
Uncertainty lingered in his eyes. Finally nodding, he hopped out of the truck and hurried inside.
After less than two songs on the radio, he was back. “That was quick.”
“I’d already booked the room while you were waiting in line at the pharmacy.”
The doctor was concerned about her iron levels and thought a prescription prenatal vitamin with a higher concentration would be best.
“I’ll email you the receipt for your expense report.” Eli drove to the side of the building. He parked and handed her the key for room 221. “I’ll grab everything. You can go up.”
She headed to the exterior staircase. On the second floor, their room was a few doors down. She unlocked the door and switched on the lights.
The decor was outdated and run-down, but it didn’t smell musty. Stepping inside and passing through the kitchen area with a table and chairs, she noticed two queen beds.
Uncertain what to think or feel, she faced him when he came in, hauling the luggage and groceries. “Did they have any with a king-size bed?”
“I requested a room away from any others that were occupied, a kitchen, and two beds. Figured more space was better.” He put her suitcase on one bed and his on the other, closest to the door. “I’ll take this one.”
More sand shifted around her, and she suddenly felt nauseous.
“Are you okay?” He came up beside her. “Maybe you haven’t been drinking enough water.”
At Maben’s, they’d stayed for hours with her only drinking water while the others enjoyed coffee. “I’m just hungry and tired.” She stepped away from him, unzipped her bag, grabbed toiletries, and clothes. “I’m going to clean up.”
In the bathroom, Olivia took her time in the shower. She slid a palm over her stomach, wondering when she’d start to show. Now that Eli knew, she needed to tell her parents.
Her mother became suspicious after Olivia quit drinking alcohol and stopped eating sushi.
Telling them wasn’t going to be easy. Raised in a conservative Indian-American home, she grew up with traditional values.
The only thing worse than Olivia being nearly forty and alone was being unmarried and having a child alone.
Her parents were going to be disappointed in her, their only child.
Nonetheless, they’d support her. As always.
The same way they did when she joined the military instead of going to medical school.
Olivia dreaded getting out of the shower. Ever since she told Eli, things had been weird between them. They couldn’t tiptoe around each other. Too much of a distraction from work. They needed to find a new rhythm and make the mission the priority.
She turned off the shower faucet, dried off, ran the towel over her hair, slipped on pajama shorts and a tank top.
Not bothering to blow-dry her hair, she left the bathroom.
As soon as the aroma of food hit her nose, her stomach growled.
She set her toiletries on the countertop of the vanity area near the closet.
“Go ahead and eat.” He grabbed a towel and ducked into the bathroom. “Don’t wait for me.”
A bowl of spaghetti and a plate of steaks and green beans sat on the table. How long did she take in the shower?
Doing as he suggested, she sat down and practically inhaled her food.
Even though she was craving carbs, the steak tasted the best. She went to the sink and washed her dishes.
The shower shut off in the bathroom.
“The steak was incredible,” she called out. “Just what I needed.”
“Because you’re low in iron. It’s the reason I got the rib eyes.”
Why did he have to be so thoughtful? Such a good person. And hot.
Things would’ve been simpler if he was a jerk, considered a protein shake a meal, and was a lousy lover.
Like the ex she dumped right before she met him.
Eli was only supposed to be a rebound lover. At the time, she wasn’t looking for a lifelong commitment. Only mutual respect and fun. He’d given her plenty of both.
Somewhere along the way, she got hooked on him. Kept going back for more. Even though she contemplated seeing other men, having a real relationship, no one compared to him. Or rather, she never gave anyone else a chance.
“The spaghetti was great, too,” she said. “Perfectly al dente.”
“It’s even better when I make the pasta from scratch.”
From scratch?
Her mouth watered in anticipation of that meal.
She dried her hands and turned around as the bathroom door opened. Eli came out in nothing except a towel wrapped around his hips, with steam trailing behind him.
Everything inside Olivia tightened, nerves humming.
Whenever she saw him without clothes, it still took her breath away.
Broad shoulders. A well-defined muscular chest. Narrow waist. Taut abs.
Several old scars added to his appeal, reminding her what kind of man he was—one who endeavored to protect people regardless of the cost to himself.
It occurred to her how to erase the awkwardness. They needed to do what came instinctively to them. Give in. Have sex.
What could be more natural?
Eli went to his bag and rummaged through it. “Sorry. Forgot to take a change of clothes in there.”
“No need to apologize.” Ignoring the odd ache in her chest, she crossed the room. “I’ve seen you naked plenty of times.”
Holding clothes in his hands, he looked at her. His eyes darkened, but his jaw hardened.
Only inches separating them, she stood there, unbearably aware of her heart pounding in her ears. She placed her hand on his warm, bare chest and slid her palm slowly down his abdomen. Tingles rushed under the surface of her skin.
He didn’t touch her, but she felt the strain in his body from holding back. She wanted to release some of the tension of
the past twenty-four hours for them both. Wanted to satisfy the craving she had for this man.
“This isn’t a good idea,” he said, a new edge to his voice.
She pulled her tank top off, tossing it behind her, and shimmied out of her shorts, but his gaze never left her face.
“Why?” She rose on the balls of her feet and brushed her mouth over his light as a feather. “What’s the worst that can happen?” She nipped his bottom lip, and he groaned. Running her fingers along the line of damp hair from his navel downward, she tugged off his towel. “I’m already pregnant.”
When she touched the length of him, felt how hard he was for her, he shuddered in response, and she knew he was still hers.
At least, for now.
His eyes flashed with heat, his gaze burning into hers. Without warning, he dropped the clothes and brought her flush against him. Then his mouth was on hers. Something between them ignited.
The hot-and-hungry kiss drove all the breath from her lungs. Diving her fingers into his hair, she held him closer, devouring him right back. She trembled in his arms, her body pulsing with sudden wild need she didn’t understand, yearning for what was about to come next.
He shoved his bag to the floor. Holding her pinned to him, he took her down to the bed. She was a quivering bundle of need. Need for him. Then he was inside her.
Together, with nothing between them, it was like they were lost in their own bubble. Pure heat. All-consuming. Connected as one.
The next morning, Eli disentangled himself from Liv and eased out of bed, careful not to wake her. He went to the window, pulled back the curtain, and stared out at the darkness. Dawn hadn’t come yet.
Everything was still and quiet. He was glad he got a room away from any other occupants. He’d parked the Ram under a lamppost, where he could easily keep an eye on it from the room.
Crossing his arms, he had no clue what to do. Making love to Olivia only made him more confused. More torn.