Chapter Eight
DOC REALIZED HOW much he’d angered Julie, but he couldn’t allow her to tell her friends everything and jeopardize the one advantage they had—surprise. No one would suspect she had personal protection. Yes, he’d likely gone too far by ending her call, but he knew she was about to disclose their location and destination and that he was with her.
He ran a hand through his short hair, trying to maintain his composure. “Look, I’m sorry. I should’ve fully briefed you before you took the call.”
She raised an eyebrow, and her face flushed. “You think?”
Okay, he’d crossed the line. It was important to understand his limits. “I’m sorry. You can only talk about what the news organizations and the hospital say. You can’t reveal that the bomb was in your car or that you’re under a form of protective custody.”
Crossing her arms against her chest and unknowingly pushing out her luscious breasts, Julie huffed. “It’s beginning to sound more like a prison.”
Doc chuckled. “Some say that.” But as reality sank in, his expression turned somber. “But you know what? They’re alive to say that.”
A heavy pang of guilt slammed into his gut like a sledgehammer, the weight of regret almost unbearable. Simon. Simon was gone. Doc’s heart twisted at the thought of his friend’s absence. He should’ve chosen their route differently and spared Simon from the fate that encountered him that horrific night. Doc had navigated that alley countless times without a hitch, yet in that moment, all he could see were the shadows of his failures. He should have protected his friend and not gotten caught up in the reckless bravado of a kid trying to make a name for himself in a gang initiation. The knowledge that he didn’t save Simon clawed at him, leaving a haunting echo in his mind: How could he ever promise to safeguard someone else if he had let his closest buddy down?
As if feeling the tension in his body and recognizing the seriousness of his expression, Julie said, “I’m sorry, Rodney.”
He straightened his posture and cleared his throat. “While it may feel restrictive sometimes, I want to assure you that it’s not a prison sentence. As long as we can maintain safety, you can continue with most aspects of your normal life. Either I or another agent will accompany you during this period.”
“Will I be able to talk to my friends at all?”
Sensing her need to involve her loved ones, Doc decided it wouldn’t hurt to ease her worries. Since she would be out and about, seeing them wouldn’t pose a problem if they could ensure adequate security. “We’ll see,” was his gruff response.
As if on cue, her phone rang insistently, piercing the tense atmosphere. Doc turned his gaze toward Julie, a mix of hope and anxiety swirling in his chest, praying she would make the right decision. He dreaded the thought of ending another call, fearing it would drive a wedge between them and breed resentment in the woman he envisioned could one day stand by his side as his wife. Had he really allowed such thoughts to enter his mind? Marriage? Not at this moment, but he could undeniably picture a future where they were together, forever intertwined. Something about Julie resonated within him. Perhaps it was the intense attraction, that undeniable spark igniting his senses, yet he suspected their connection ran far deeper than lust. There was an unbreakable bond between them, a genuine intimacy he had never encountered with any other woman before.
Julie held his gaze, and while he couldn’t read her emotions, he could’ve sworn he detected a hint of lust from her before she assumed her professional mask. She glanced at her phone, silenced the ringer, and placed it in her purse. Then, she returned her gaze to him with a pained expression that he interpreted as fear and despair. Unlike him, who had just lost a friend, Julie only had her friends on hold, so the despair didn’t fit. Yet he wouldn’t second-guess what he’d seen. He’d figure her out before long.
As if sensing that she needed reassurance, he nodded and turned back to the front. Doc wondered if he should have chosen the safe house in Virginia and not given her a choice instead of his small home. It was big enough for a few people, but the team might make her feel overwhelmed in the house. On the other hand, he would have had to hogtie her to pry her away from her patients, even for her own safety. He loved her unwavering dedication.
Yet, he worried he couldn’t protect her if she went out in public. Sure, they had protected public figures before, but none had recently faced a bomb attached to their vehicle like Julie had. The hospital would be safe, but if someone wanted Julie to pay for something, they would have to follow her home. Coming and going wouldn’t be easy since he lived in an area with street parking and no assigned spaces. They’d be vulnerable for too long if they couldn’t secure parking nearby. He needed to devise a solution because he wouldn’t let anyone hurt Julie.
By a stroke of luck, two spaces were available near his home. After parking, the group from the second vehicle joined them, and the four men did as Doc expected—they formed a tight circle around him and Julie. The only issue was that he and Julie were tall, which might require reconsidering the protection detail. A new agent—about five feet ten inches tall—brought up the rear. This would be his last day on this detail.
When the team entered his home, they did a quick sweep—not that he anticipated any trouble since his security system was still active—to prepare Julie for what lay ahead.
“Will they do this every time?” she asked, nodding toward the two men heading up and down the stairs to check it out.
“Sweetheart, they’ll do this everywhere.”
Her back stiffened, and she narrowed her eyes. “Absolutely not in my patients’ rooms! They won’t tolerate it. I won’t allow it.”
Doc truly appreciated this woman's spirited nature. She was a firecracker, and he anticipated their vibrant banter. “Of course not.”
After entering, Doc showed Julie around and led her to the room where she would sleep. It was across from his, which reassured him. He liked knowing he would be nearby if she needed anything. Of course, he couldn’t imagine what she might need that would require him to leap out of bed to provide. Sex, maybe?
He pushed that thought out of his mind. She was a client, and clients deserve his full attention. Just like Simon should have….
“When will my bags get here? I’d like to shower and change out of these scrubs.”
Just then, a knock echoed at the front door, followed by a dog barking. With a smile, he gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. “I guess that’s them.”
“We’ll order dinner tonight. What are you in the mood for?” he asked, while listening to the men below. It was indeed Pup, Grits, and Casey. Doc was curious if they had found anything at Julie’s home, but he wanted to give her his attention.
“I believe I deserve some comfort food.”
Finally, a woman who confidently expressed her preferences without resorting to dismissive phrases like “I don’t care” or “You choose.” He found someone who understood her thoughts and articulated her desires with clarity and conviction. “I know the perfect place,” he said, his eyes sparkling enthusiastically. “I’ll send you the link with the menu after I grab your clothes.”
He hesitated, reluctant to admit that he found her scrubs particularly endearing. They were a simple shade of blue, the fabric unadorned, yet they hugged her figure in a way that beautifully highlighted her curves, making her look effortlessly polished even in such a casual outfit. He could only hope her regular clothing was as appealing.
After descending the stairs, he updated the men on their dinner choices and took the bag Grits offered. “Is there anything urgent?” he asked, eager to ensure the bag reached Julie promptly. Who was he kidding? He was genuinely looking forward to seeing her again so soon.
Grits shook his head. “Nothing that can’t wait.”
Doc nodded and then went back upstairs to Julie. “I trust they packed everything well. If there are any shortcomings, please make a list, and I’ll ensure they gather those items tomorrow.”
She took the bag from him, smiled, and said, “Thank you,” then shut the door in his face. He chuckled. Oh yeah, getting to know this woman will be quite entertaining.
Back downstairs, Doc and Grits huddled together in the kitchen while the men kept watch or slept in the spare room. He had installed bunk beds in that room for his young nephews’ visits to the big city. Although it didn’t happen often, he wanted them to be as comfortable as possible during their stays.
“Someone tried to break into her house. There are wedge marks on the front and back doors. She has an impressive lock system. She needs a security system to go along with it.” Grits shrugged. “Anyway, that was it. She’s a neat freak. Everything was in order.”
Doc imagined that anyone requiring precision and meticulousness in their work would also be orderly and organized in their personal life. He believed that everything had its designated place, and that was where it belonged.
During dinner, Pup continued his nonstop chatter about dogs. “Did you know this about dogs?” “Did you know that about dogs?” Typically, Doc could put up with it, but tonight, he wanted to talk to Julie more, to engage her in front of the group and observe her reactions. Someone meant to be his wife needed to handle the guys while they were working, not as if they were two different people. One was tough and standoffish, while the other embraced life because they understood it was a gift.
After clearing the disposable dishes, Julie asked, “What time do we leave tomorrow? I need to be at the hospital by five a.m. I have two surgeries scheduled before I do rounds.”
Doc scheduled a time that suited her, and then she nodded and went back upstairs for the rest of the evening. He didn’t like the quiet Julie he’d noticed during dinner and afterward. It felt as if she were accepting this like a prison sentence. Maybe the men had been too aggressive and scared her. Damn Pup and his endless chatter.
They had tomorrow to nurture the deep, meaningful relationship he envisioned. He would also have the chance to observe her skills firsthand, for she would never enter the surgical room, surrounded by others deftly wielding sharp instruments, without his protective presence.
No. Initially, she would resist, but excitement flared within him when Jesse called to inform him that the hospital administrator had permitted him to shadow her throughout the building. The thought danced in his mind, and he couldn’t help but smile, knowing how much she would dislike the surprise. He was determined to find that spirited woman once again. One day, she would look into his eyes and say “Yes” to the question he’d posed during their first meeting.