by Aliyah Burke
He sliced his blue gaze to her as he moved in her direction. “The week after I return from here.”
Nine days from now, as I’ve been obsessing that’s he is only here for two more days.
He stood in front of her and she plucked at his waistband, avoiding eye contact, afraid of what it would expose. “For how long?”
“Two months.”
Damn. Damn. Fucking god dammit! “I see.” Eva was proud her voice didn’t waver even in the slightest.
He gripped her upper arms and drew her in closer. “I want this to work out between us, Eva.”
Splaying her hands on his chest, she pursed her lips then met his gaze. “Long-distance relationships are difficult, anyway. Add to that both our—” Her words fell away when he covered her mouth with one large palm. She experienced the sweetest urge to flick her tongue along his palm, if only to distract him from this talk.
“Don’t give us reasons we can’t work out.”
“I’m being logical.” She pushed the words out from behind his hand. I’m trying desperately to protect my heart. Begin pulling away now so when you learn I can’t have children your leaving doesn’t hurt me as much as it will if I allow you to continue getting closer to my heart.
He stepped away with a growl of frustration. “Nothing about our relationship has been logical from the jump, Eva. Meeting in a hotel in Mexico and having it carry over from the sex there. Most people have flings and leave, forgetting and not seeing that other person ever again. But not us.” He raked a hand through his hair. “We did. You were there for me when my father died. I’m here now, visiting you. That alone proves there’s more there.” A shrug. “Here, whatever.”
“The Congo seems so far away.”
“It is. I didn’t say it would be easy, Eva. Relationships take work. But I’m willing to try if you are.”
Eva didn’t have faith in relationships. At least not for her. They hadn’t ended well so far. She exhaled slowly and stared at the man lounging before her, arms crossed over his chest as he waited.
Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she shrugged. “So how do you communicate while over in the Congo? Phone calls? Skype?”
“I have Skype on my laptop, yes. That would work fine. It’s rural, yes, but we have good gear when we head over there.”
“And the time difference?”
He stepped close again, running his fingers down the side of her face. “We’ll figure it out, Eva. Stop trying to find reasons it won’t. Allow us the chance to make it work out.”
“Okay.”
His smile did wicked things to her lady parts and she fought the urge to squirm. She just wanted to go back to bed with him and forget the rest of the outside world existed. Wrap up in his arms and just be with this man.
Why the hell am I refusing to push him away?
From the look in his eyes, he had the same idea. They’d gotten three steps when her cell rang.
“Shit,” she muttered before diverting her direction to where she’d left it on the counter. “Dr. Monroe.”
“Dr. Eva Monroe?”
“Yes. Who is this?”
“My name is Detective Coleman and I’m with Major Crime.”
She stepped back from Grant and crossed her arms, confused. “Why are you calling my phone, Detective?”
“I’m calling about your sister, Tara.”
Dread slammed into her and her limbs shook. “Tara?”
Grant moved up behind her, acting as her support as her legs were close to giving out. She leaned into him grateful he was there. “What happened to my sister?”
“She’s at Trinity Methodist Hospital. She’s been shot.”
Her legs did give away and she would have hit the floor if not for Grant’s arms around her, keeping her anchored to his strong body. “I’m on my way.” She took Grant’s hand before she dashed for her bedroom and shoved into clothing without paying much attention. The detective was on the phone explaining the situation and she responded with grunts. “I’ll see you when I get there, Detective.”
“I can have a car bring you.”
“No time. I’m on my way out the door now. Thanks for the call.”
Grant matched her step for step as she hurried. “Do you want me to drive?” His question came as they neared her car.
“No.”
“Very well.” He didn’t argue with her just slid into the passenger seat.
Eva called Shai on the way. “Did you hear about Tara?” Her question fell in lieu of any greeting.
Her sister grunted before a not so muted swear filled the line. “Some Detective Coleman is on the other line, he said he has someone going to pick up Mom and Dad. Where are you?”
“Speeding to the hospital. You?”
“Same. Talk there.”
Tears burned her eyes and she blinked them away with furious determination. “Yes.” Wiping the traitorous ones that escaped, she focused on the road and wove around people, like they were standing still.
Screeching into a parking spot, she hurried from the car and ran for the doors, Grant on her heels. Once inside, the smells from the hospital slammed her and she stopped as if she’d hit a brick wall.
“Eva?” His deep voice slid around her like a warm, velvety blanket.
She held up a hand and took a moment to gather herself. Then she walked to the counter where a harried woman worked. “Yes?” she asked.
“I received a call my sister had been shot and brought in. Her name is Tara Monroe. Could you please tell me where she’s at right now?”
“Surgery. Fifth floor, the doctor will be out to tell you what he knows when he can.”
Biting back her snippy response, Eva nodded. “Thank you.”
As they walked to the elevator, Grant slid his hand in hers and she gratefully accepted his strength.
“You handled that well.”
“I work in a hospital. I know it’s not the best way to get information by yelling and screaming at them. They work hard, too.”
“I know but a lot of people wouldn’t have cared.” He gathered her close once they were in the elevator.
“Honestly, I don’t think I would have but the smell snapped me out of my daze and reminded me where I was.”
The silver doors slid open and they stepped out onto the floor. She glanced around the waiting room and sighed. She was the first to arrive so she picked a spot on one of the couches.
Grant sat next to her, his arm along the back, fingers caressing her shoulder.
A few moments later, Shai hurried in, her heels clacking on the floor.
Eva stood and rushed to hug her sister.
“Any news?” Shai questioned as she accepted a hug from Grant as well. “Tell me what you know.” Shai’s tone was demanding.
Eva understood her anxiety. This was their sister in there. “Nothing yet. I just got here a minute ago.”
Tensions were high and ratcheted up further when their parents arrived. Sourness filled her gut as she saw the strain on everyone’s face. She offered to get coffee and she left before anyone could say no.
Grant accompanied her. “You hanging in there?”
“I hate not knowing. I want to go in and demand answers. It’s so damn different when it’s someone else in there that’s not my family.”
He draped an arm around her shoulders and dropped a swift kiss to her temple. “I know.”
Yes, she understood he knew, given what he’d recently gone through with his own father. “I want to make it better for them, be able to tell them in layman’s terms what’s going on with her. Her prognosis and just—everything.” Her voice broke on that last bit and she clamped her mouth shut.
Grant didn’t speak, but nodded. He left her there and put in the order for coffee, giving her a moment to get herself together.
While she waited, she prayed that her sister would be fine.
In the back of her mind, Eva realized she had to keep her focus on her family and not men who would come and go.<
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While it wasn’t a fair to this guy with her to lump him in to all the others who had a Y chromosome, but life wasn’t fair.
* * * *
Congo
Grant wiped his hand across the gathered sweat on his forehead, smearing it along his skin. Patience hadn’t ever been his strong suit and now as he watched time tick away, he wanted to push it along until he could call Eva. He’d been here for a week and wanted nothing more than to talk to her and hear her sexy voice in his ear. It was the next best thing aside from having her with touching distance. He’d never met a woman he wanted to be more tactile with than her. And he had no desire to look for another.
She’d left him a text informing him that her sister was doing better but it wasn’t enough. It never was until her voice rang in his ear. He strode across the compound to his room, determined to get directly out of this oppressive humid subtropical heat, at least for a little bit.
He snagged a bottle of water and after uncapping it, downed over half with a satisfied groan. Rolling his shoulders, he walked to the chair by the window and sank to the holey cushion. He wasn’t about to complain there were holes in it. Hell, he was happy he had an extra chair in his room. It didn’t always happen that way. So he would take it. Feet stretched out in front of him, he closed his eyes.
The buzzing of his phone jolted him awake and he scrambled for it as he shook off the sleep that had snuck up and claimed him. “Dr. Harrison.”
“Did I interrupt something important? You sound out of breath.”
“Eva, no, dear God no. I dozed off. You’re not interrupting anything. How are you? It’s good to hear your voice. How is Tara doing?” He didn’t have any way to explain the warm fuzzies that coursed through him at the mere sound of her voice. Honestly, he didn’t believe he needed one either. This was just how it was, this woman was the one for him.
“I’m fine, staying busy. Good to hear your voice as well and Tara is recuperating. Never knew how damn difficult it was to keep an adult in bed.”
He cocked a brow at her comment. Seconds later, her laughter had him smiling.
“Shit, not how I meant for that to have sounded. I mean, the children, we tell them they have to stay and they do. With Tara, Christ, I’d kill her if she were my patient. I mean just today, I caught her on her way out the door, bitch actually thought she was going sneak out to head into work.”
He reached for his water and drank while she ranted about her sister.
It took a few moments for her to take a deep breath and continue with, “I’m sorry, you don’t need to hear this crap.”
“No, I love it, truly. It’s nice to hear things from home.”
Silence lingered between them for a moment.
“How are things there?” Her question came on a thread of voice huskier than usual.
“Hot, humid. Busy, unfortunately. But going well, considering we’re in a developing country that has many issues with government and warlords.”
“Are you in any danger, Grant?” This time, her words were lined with fear.
It ate at his gut to hear this emotion in her voice. “I would be lying if I said no, because there is always going to be some danger in these poor countries. So, I won’t lie. I will say that there is a large group of us and we take every precaution we can to stay safe.”
Her silence damned. He cleared his throat.
“I’m glad you’re staying safe. Are you with a good group?”
He nodded and spoke as he realized she wasn’t right there with him. “I am. Most I’ve been out with before, there are only a few new people. We’ve got some specialists, dentists and surgeons here, so we’re a well-rounded bunch of people.”
“And people hook up?”
Grant knew where this conversation was heading and rubbed his temple. “Eva, I told you. I wanted a relationship with you. Not anyone here. I don’t care if we’re over seven thousand miles apart. No one here has anything I want, could want, or will want.”
“If you’re sure.”
“You’re going to have to trust me on that, baby.” He hated the uncertainty in her voice, but she was going to have to trust him.
“Right.”
While part of him wanted to push that there were eligible men where she was and ask if anyone was interesting to her, he dropped it. That wouldn’t help this issue fade, but push it to the forefront of her mind. He finished off his water and crossed his ankles. “Tell me what’s going on over there. How’s the weather because it’s hot as fuck over here. I’m sure I’m losing weight just by being here.”
“Cool right now. We took the kids who could go out to the garden area and brought in some therapy dogs to visit them. A good day for many.”
“And those who couldn’t go out?”
“Dogs were also visiting inside. We get a lot of volunteers to bring their animals by for these children to see and pet, or cuddle and hug. Does wonders for their morale and by that token, it also assists the parents who aren’t used to seeing their children smiling and laughing.”
There it was. The love in her voice. The proof she was going to be one hell of a mother and dote on her children. If she was so giving with her time for the children of other people. He closed his eyes and instantly an image of a pregnant Eva popped into his mind.
The gentle swell of her belly as she rested her hand on it. Wearing one of his oversized shirts, so he was covering both his women. It would be a girl. The first one at least. He wanted three. Seemed like it would be a great number.
“How are your parents doing?”
“Mom wants Tara to quit the DA’s office since she got shot because of who she was prosecuting.” A sharp bark of laughter. “Like that’s going to happen, Tara isn’t going anywhere. She refuses to be scared by something like that.”
He sat forward. “It was due to a case?” He’d had to head over here before they found out as to why she’d been shot. However, that detective was hard on the case. It was big news when an ADA was shot.
“Yes, she’s in the middle of prosecuting a corrupt owner of a construction company who has ties to the mob. Turns out he had a hit put out on her. So now, all of us have protection following us around. Good for my parents because it puts their mind at ease but annoying for myself and Shai. She doesn’t like having anyone over her shoulder at work and it’s really hard to convince a family to trust me with the life of their child when I have some hulking cop behind me. They don’t exactly smile a lot.”
“So you have a guy on you?”
“I wouldn’t exactly put it that way, there’s no guy on me, but yes, I do have a detail shadowing me. Tara insisted the family be protected.”
“Then it’s a woman.”
“Now, you sound jealous, Grant. The one shadowing me is a man but he’s happily married with five children. And the one who replaces him, if he is unable to be there right then in the middle of the night and I have to go, is a rookie who is young. Point being, I know I have to trust you, but that street goes both ways.”
Duly chastised, he grunted. “Point taken.” He rose and lumbered to the window where he peered out over the scenery he had. No denying his impressive view. Off in the distance, he could see the fog moving over the hills toward them along the Lualaba River. The rich variations of greens a striking difference than what he was accustomed to living in Arizona. The sights were well worth the humidity he had to endure. “I can’t wait to show you the pictures I’ve taken, Eva. It’s stunning here.”
“Is this the last trip you’re taking this year?”
“I’m not sure. I have the opportunity to go to South America later on. Haven’t thought about it all yet. Was going to be making a decision while I was here. Why?”
“Was just curious what you were going to be doing for Christmas this year.”
“Something you were planning?” He hoped she was, for he would love to see her and the sooner the better.
“Was thinking it would be nice to be with you at least part of the t
ime. I know that you need to be there for your mother given what happened with your father this year.”
“I’d like to see you too.”
Noises exploded behind her and for a moment, he didn’t hear her until the click of a door shut it all out.
“What’s going on?”
“Mindy’s birthday. We doctors know how to party but we get loud.” Some light laughter. “You know how it is.”
He agreed with that. “Don’t you need to be with them?”
“It’ll still be her birthday when I am off the phone with you. And she has the full day. It’s only six in the morning here.”
Which explained why he was so damn hot, it was noon in the Congo. “Did your shift change?”
She laughed and he smiled again, warmed just by that simple act.
Grant propped a shoulder against the window and stared out over the peaceful view as he listened to Eva talk. He may be unable to be with her, but this wasn’t bad. Her voice in his ear and this stunning visual display to overlook. So long as no conflicts broke out, he was happy.
I’d be happier if she was here with me.
Until he could hold her again in person, Grant would relish these moments of connecting with Eva on the phone.
Chapter Ten
“So you’re not coming for Christmas?” Eva struggled to control her temper as she paced before the blazing fire in her hearth.
“I’m sorry, Eva. I can’t. I’m…” Grant cleared his throat. “Not in the country.”
She ground her jaw and took several deep breaths. “I’m sorry, what? Where are you?”
“Uruguay.”
She had the strangest urge to reach around to her back and pull out the blade sunk between her shoulder blades. There had to be one there for she sure as shitting felt the pain caused by his betrayal. It wasn’t a feeling that she enjoyed in the slightest.
Flicking her tongue along her lower lip, she ambled to the window and stared out at the falling snow. The thick fat flakes dropped at a rapid rate, accumulating on the ground.