Doctor's Orders Box Set (Babies in the Bargain, Right Name, Wrong Man, No More Lies)

by Risk, Mona

  “A chocolate mille-feuilles, maybe?” Luc asked, delighted to see her mind off the blistering subject.

  She shot him a surprised look.

  As if he could ever forget their midnight strolls to the all-night bakery. A coffee and one of those scrumptious mille-feuilles gave Olivia a study break before the board exams. Of course, Luc always looked for a reason to be with her.

  “Yes, I love Napoleons.”

  “I will have the same,” he told the waitress exactly as he used to say ten years ago. Same pastry, same woman. Luc turned his head toward her and gave her a rapid wink. “I am faithful to my tastes.” Olivia’s smile brightened her lovely features.

  “I see.” Her lips puckered as if she tried to suppress an urge to chuckle. He could swear she’d followed the train of his thoughts and engaged in a secret conversation with him while their two companions were busy choosing their desserts.

  “Are you?” He clasped the hand she had dropped in her lap. “Faithful too?” he whispered as he leaned toward her and picked up the napkin that had slid to the floor.

  “Luc!” Her gaze flicked from his face to her daughter and Tony.

  He took a bite of his mille-feuilles and savored the creamy taste, his eyes fixed on hers. “Delicieux. As I knew it would be.” He licked his lips and squeezed her hand under the table. Her eyes rounded at his suggestive motion. She was adorable, all rattled up, her cheeks reddening by the second. If only he could get rid of Tony and the teenager.

  “Don’t worry about Jeremy,” he whispered to appease her anxiety.

  A gasp escaped her, and her jaw fell.

  Melissa had finally pointed to a fruit torte. Luc released Olivia’s hand. “How about you, Tony? What are you having?”

  “Tony doesn’t eat sweets,” Olivia said as she motioned the waitress to take the cart away.

  “I’m diabetic.” Tony shook his head sadly. “Olivia always reminds me of my diet.”

  Luc frowned, certainly not expecting Tony to be a sick man and Olivia to play the caring friend. What kind of relationship was that?

  Granted the psychologist was nice, cheerful, attentive to Olivia’s needs, affectionate to Melissa, but he simply wasn’t Olivia’s type. Too big, too loud, too...wrong. Except for the chaste kiss Tony had placed on Olivia’s cheek, he hadn’t struck Luc as a besotted lover. Luc was tempted to stop worrying about Tony as a rival.

  When they finished their lunches and walked toward the exit, Melissa touched his arm and murmured, “Please Luc, I want you to call the DOD and inquire about my father. I already tried to ask Tony, but he won’t help. I’m counting on you. Please, help me.”

  Merde alors. How did he get involved in such a mess? No wonder Tony was so nervous during lunch. He knew Melissa wouldn’t give up easily.

  Luc gently patted Melissa’s hand. “We will do our best,” he said, automatically reverting to the no-commitment promise he gave to his patients suffering from incurable disorders.

  But what else could he say in desperate cases? He would never lie and make false promises, knowing firsthand the damage lies caused. He vowed that when the time came, he would help Melissa face the truth.

  As he raised his head, Luc caught Olivia’s questioning gaze and swallowed hard. He’d been able to distract her for a moment. A sweet moment, unfortunately too short. And now?

  Had she finally realized her white lie had morphed into quicksand threatening to engulf her? Could he help Melissa discover the truth about her father without hurting her mother—the woman he’d give anything to protect?

  ****

  “I’ll drive Melissa home. Don’t worry about coming back to get her,” Olivia said to Tony as they walked out of the restaurant and waited for the valet to bring her car around. A few feet ahead of them, Luc and Melissa chatted and laughed.

  “Be patient with her.” Tony put a soothing hand on Olivia’s arm. “Last night she asked me to call the DOD for her.”

  Olivia swiveled toward him. “Oh my God.”

  “You can’t wait till she’s twenty-five.” Tony sighed and blinked several times. “You may have to tell her sooner.”

  Olivia’s stomach churned, the dormant ulcer resurrected by the new stress. “I’ve been thinking about it all morning.” Actually the thought had pounded her brain like an out of control gong. “But how can I do it, now?”

  Tony shook his head. “You have to. The sooner, the better. If you need help I’ll be around.” He glanced sideways toward Luc and Melissa. “And I have a feeling your French visitor is more than ready to lend a hand too.”

  “He’s been very helpful.” Olivia turned her head to where her daughter was standing with Luc.

  “And he couldn’t take his eyes off you during lunch.” Tony chuckled. “Except when he glared at me. If looks could kill...”

  “Come on, Tony. Don’t exaggerate.” Heat crept into Olivia’s cheeks.

  “I’m certainly not. The man is jealous of me, and that’s a fact.” Tony shook his wrist. “He almost snapped my arm with his handshaking. Seriously, you should tell him not to worry about our friendship. Unless, he just wants to fool around with you, in which case I’ll deal with him.”

  “Oh Tony, you’re so sweet.” Olivia took a step forward and opened her arms to hug him.

  Tony took a step backward and raised his hands. “Stop there, sweetheart. Your French knight is looking. This time he’d snap my neck, even though it’s quite thick. There’s a lot of strength under his polished exterior.” Tony burst out laughing. “I definitely see how he can make a female heart melt.”

  “Bug off, Tony. My heart is safe and too cold to melt. Besides, it belongs to Melissa entirely.”

  “Another mistake, sweetheart. Maybe it’s time to change a few things around here.”

  The valet brought the van around and the four of them settled in. Olivia drove in silence, ruminating over her conversation with Tony. She ground her teeth to avoid screaming at his intolerable advice.

  To tell Melissa!

  Tell her what? That her father had abused her mother and ordered her to abort. Tell her that her mother had lied to her.

  Damn you, Jeremy. After sixteen years, he still inflicted suffering on his victims.

  Luc’s throaty laughter echoed Melissa’s high-pitched giggle from the rear seat and pulled Olivia out of her depressing thoughts. Luc had won her daughter’s trust in record time. No surprise there. As usual, his blatant charm worked wonders around female hearts. With an invitation to visit his chateau in France, Melissa would soon adore him.

  So far, Luc hadn’t extended his invitation to Olivia. Did he still resent her? He’d been so busy all morning extracting more information out of her. By now, he’d probably figured out that Jeremy was Melissa’s father. Olivia hadn’t missed the somber looks he’d shot her when she’d entered her office and found him there. Tony’s presence had complicated matters even more.

  When they arrived at the university, Olivia parked her car in her allotted spot at the end of the parking lot. While her passengers got out of the van, she clenched her fingers around the steering wheel, then forced them open and exhaled quietly. She closed her eyes for a couple of seconds.

  Considering her jumbled thoughts and churning stomach, they were lucky to have reached CUH without incident. Where was her neatly organized timetable? The to-do list she typed every morning on her computer?

  Luc had interfered in every aspect of her life. Somehow he’d touched and affected her daughter, her best friend, and her patients, not to mention her own calm.

  She snorted. How could she resent him when she hadn’t been able to forget him or replace him? Hadn’t he just gone against his own beliefs of the truth-above-all to support her? Or had she misunderstood his meaning?

  Now that he knew about Jeremy, wouldn’t he understand her reluctance to destroy her daughter’s peace of mind? Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel as her recurrent nightmare played behind her closed eyelids. Jeremy meeting Melissa and hurt
ing them both. Or Melissa discovering the truth—and the lies—and resenting her loving mother.

  The driver’s door opened. Luc extended his hand to help her out. His gaze caressed her face and rested on her mouth. She pressed her lips together to still a quiver.

  “Problems again, chérie?” His large palm closed over her hand. Heat suffused her arms and throat.

  “Unexpected complications.” Innumerable ones. She shrugged, willing her body to ignore him, to stop secretly begging for his touch.

  “I promised you once that I would help you. I always keep my promises.”

  “I know.” She lowered her lashes, unable to bear the tenderness in his gaze without unveiling her own emotions, feelings she had to sort through and study. “Thank you for distracting Melissa.” She craned her neck to watch Tony and her daughter at the other end of the parking lot, already ambling up the stairs leading to the School of Medicine.

  “Olivia, you will have to tell Melissa soon.”

  Tony had said the same thing. She raised her head toward Luc, pleading for his understanding. “I can’t. Don’t you see? It will destroy us in the process.”

  His hand cradled her cheek. The tension ebbed with the brush of his fingertips along the line of her jaw.

  “Trust me, Olivia. I will be here to help you.”

  She leaned into the warmth of his palm to savor his touch and extract comfort from his calm strength. He eased her forward and bent over her.

  Linking her fingers behind his nape, she molded her lips to his and shut her problems out of her mind. He invaded her mouth, played with her tongue, and stole her breath with his passion. How had she lived for so many years without Luc, without his kisses and his strength?

  He rubbed her back, pressing her against him. She felt his arousal and wished they weren’t in a parking lot, even a deserted one at this time of the afternoon. She pulled her mouth away to breathe and tucked her head in the hollow of his neck.

  “Mon trésor, ma chérie, tu m’as manqué. I missed you,” he whispered the endearments against her hair.

  She missed him too, but didn’t dare voice her regret for the time lost. She sighed and bit her inner lip hard, tasting blood. Why was life so complicated? Why couldn’t she grab the second chance fate handed her?

  Because she still had to protect Melissa, make up for her past mistake until Melissa turned twenty-five.

  Kissing Luc wasn’t helping.

  “Luc, I have a class in an hour. Let’s go.”

  The wind ruffled her hair around her face. Luc reached out and tucked a wayward strand behind her ear. He kissed her again, a deep kiss that dazed her. Her knees weak, she clung to his shoulders and moaned into his mouth. “Please.” She didn’t know if she was begging him to stop or to make her forget the world with more passion.

  “Olivia, I could tell you not to worry, but—”

  “But what? Tell me.” She didn’t like his hesitation.

  “Melissa asked me to call the DOD and get her a picture.”

  “You too?” Olivia stepped back and stared at him. “What are you going to do?”

  He shook his head. “I told her I will do my best. I can procrastinate for some time, but I will not lie to her.”

  “No!” Her breath caught in her chest as she shook her head.

  “I told her that dealing with the DOD would take time. But not forever.”

  “What do you mean? What do you plan to do? You’re not going to betray me?”

  “Olivia, listen to me—”

  “Damn it. Luc, you’re still the inflexible, holier-than-thou perfectionist.” She couldn’t help shouting as she grabbed his arms. “You can’t tell her. I’ll never forgive you, Luc. Never, if you say a single word. You don’t have the right.”

  “You are correct. I do not have the right to dictate. I am not her relative or yours.” Sadness clouded his eyes, quickly replaced by a harshness she’d never seen before. “But you have the right to do it, Olivia. The right and the duty.”

  The September breeze cooled her skin. Olivia hugged herself. “I will tell her about her father. At the right time.”

  “The right time?” He shook his head, disapproval in his gaze. “You know Walter Scott was right when he said that when we hide the truth we cannot get out of the mess.”

  Taken aback, she frowned. “He didn’t say that.”

  “Something about deceit and webs of lies.”

  Her scowl deepened, and then she pinched her lips and shrugged. “You mean, Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. Thanks a lot, Luc.”

  Turning around, she hastened toward the school building. Would there ever be a right time to destroy her daughter’s life?

  Her eyes blurred, and she tripped as she took the steps two at a time. Luc held her elbow and helped her regain her balance. “Careful.”

  Would he always be at her side when she needed him? Would she compare to his string of beautiful French mistresses who didn’t come with baggage and a complicated past?

  Luc kept up with her as she rushed toward her office, her sanity on the brink of collapse. When would this craziness end?

  Olivia halted at the sight of Melissa talking to an older man in the hallway. Her daughter turned toward her, a sympathetic smile on her face. “Mom, this is Mr. Rutherford. He’s waiting for Dean McMillan.”

  Jeremy’s grandfather.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Her feet glued to the floor, Olivia considered the man responsible for Jeremy’s reappearance in her life. Tall, rather skinny with white hair and blue eyes, a daunting figure in an elegant suit. He was talking to her daughter.

  His great-granddaughter.

  For a second the hallway rotated like a kaleidoscope of shadow and light in front of Olivia. She brought her hand to her head, willing her dizziness to fade.

  Luc immediately moved next to her and murmured, “Don’t worry.” He faced the visitor. “May I help you, sir?”

  The old man smiled. “As this young lady said, I’m waiting for Dr. McMillan. I am Thomas Rutherford.”

  “Monsieur Rutherford.” Luc extended his hand to the distinguished visitor. “I am Dr. Lucien de Toulon-Chatel, visiting physician at CUH. And this is Dr. Crane, our acting chairman. Dr. McMillan is not here today. Did you have an appointment, sir?

  “No. I just stopped to share some more information about my grandson with Dr. McMillan before he leaves on his sabbatical. But Dr. Crane, I have heard about you. Dr. McMillan mentioned you would be handling my grandson’s case.”

  No, no, no. The words lodged in Olivia’s throat, strangling her.

  She felt Luc’s gaze on her. He stepped forward as if to shield her from an invisible blow. “Monsieur Rutherford, after careful consideration of the file you provided, Dr. McMillan and Dr. Crane have asked me to study this case.” Self-confidence underlined the polite rebuttal.

  Bless you, Luc. He wouldn’t allow the old man a chance to discuss their decision.

  “Thank you, doctor. I trust you must be an expert in your field.” Rutherford nodded his appreciation.

  Olivia sent Luc a grateful look, convinced that the Rutherford grandfather sensed the aura of calm authority emanating from her French colleague.

  Now what? In spite of her hatred for anything bearing the loathsome name, she couldn’t turn her back and walk away. Doc would never forgive her for mistreating an important benefactor of the department.

  “This way, Monsieur Rutherford. Dr. McMillan has been kind enough to allow me to use his office in his absence.” Luc opened Doc’s office and stepped back to let Rutherford enter.

  Olivia paused at the door. Seeing her hesitation, Luc waved his hand. “Après toi, Olivia. After you.”

  “I assume Mr. Rutherford would appreciate a private discussion. Melissa and I will be in my office.” Olivia didn’t want to be here, in Rutherford’s presence, and she couldn’t bear to see her daughter next to him.

  Not now. Not ever.

  She grabbed M
elissa’s hand and backed away from the door.

  Luc touched her arm. “I would like you to stay.”

  She spun toward him. Damn it, why was he forcing her to listen to details she wanted to ignore?

  “Please, Olivia,” he lowered his voice for her ears only while his guest surveyed the office. “It may be helpful to you.” He raised his voice. “Melissa, can you wait in the office of your maman, please?”

  Melissa nodded. “Bye, Mr. Rutherford. I hope your grandson feels better.”

  “Thank you, Melissa.”

  Luc closed the door behind her and held a chair for Olivia, while he glanced at the grandfather. “Have a seat, sir.”

  “What a charming daughter you have, Dr. Crane.” The old man gazed out of the window, lost in his thoughts. Luc and Olivia respected his silence. “Yes, she’s a lovely girl. She reminds me of...” He breathed heavily.

  Olivia jerked forward, grasping the arms of her chair with both hands.

  “She reminds me of my granddaughter. In fact she’s her spitting image.” His lips curved down in a bitter line. “Jennie died in a car accident at fifteen. A stupid, reckless accident.” His fingers tightened into a fist.

  Unable to breathe, Olivia tried to remember. Jeremy had never mentioned a sister.

  “Was she driving?” Luc asked with gentle concern.

  “No.” Rutherford fixed his gaze on Luc, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “Her brother was.” He lowered his head. Pain furrowed deep lines in his dry skin.

  Olivia winced, hit by an unexpected pang of sympathy for the grandfather. “Oh.”

  “He didn’t have his driver’s license yet. We hid this fact to protect him. I wouldn’t tell you this if you were anyone else but the doctors who are going to treat him,” he added, a noticeable warning in his voice.

  So Jeremy had always managed to stay out of trouble. Even when he was responsible for his sister’s death. His grandfather had protected him, knowing the teenager had been driving without a license. What little compassion Olivia felt a moment ago flew out the window.

  Rutherford Senior and Doc expected her to help Jeremy? Why should she do it? Why would Luc burden himself with this case? Let the man pay for the hurt he’d inflicted. Let him rot in a jail. No word of sympathy passed her lips.