by Lara Lacombe
The Jeep slowed to navigate a particularly tricky curve. Logan leaned over to peer out the window. “Are those monkeys in the trees?” He sounded incredulous and a little bit excited.
Olivia leaned over, as well. “Yep,” she confirmed, seeing the familiar auburn shapes. “Howlers. You’ll hear them in the morning—that’s when they’re really chatty.”
A look of wonder crossed his face. “That’s so cool.”
She laughed. “You think that now. But trust me, they’re like an alarm clock you can’t turn off.”
The driver, having evidently picked up on their conversation, chose that moment to let out a loud wail that was a halfway decent impersonation of the monkey’s famous cry. Logan and Olivia both jumped, and the man grinned at them in the rearview mirror.
“Bulla, sí?” he asked with a wink.
Olivia nodded. “Sí,” she replied, then turned to Logan. “He said they’re noisy.”
“So I gathered,” he replied drily. “My Spanish isn’t that bad, you know.”
“If I were you, I’d keep that to myself,” she advised quietly. “People tend to be freer with their words if they think you can’t understand them, and since you are a stereotypical gringo, you just might overhear something interesting.”
“Good idea,” he said, leaning over to press a quick kiss against her temple. “We might make an agent out of you yet,” he whispered.
His breath was hot in her ear and the intimacy of it made her shudder slightly. Logan felt the tremor of her body, but apparently mistook its meaning. “Don’t worry,” he teased. “I’ll still be your backup.”
“That’s good,” she said, striving to keep her tone light. “I need all the help I can get.”
They spent the rest of the drive making small talk and marveling at the plants and wildlife visible from the Jeep as they bumped along the road. As they got closer to the village, Olivia’s anticipation grew, fizzing in her stomach and making her feel a little giddy. She looked forward to this trip all year long, and she was determined not to let Carlos and the specter of the cartel steal her joy. Even though they were making her do an evil thing, she was here to changes lives for the better. It was a humbling task, but one she was proud and grateful to take on.
The density of the jungle began to thin, and eventually they entered a clearing in the thick growth. Their driver slowed as they approached the village, and a group of children who had been playing nearby abandoned their game to run after them as they entered the village proper.
“It’s bigger than I expected,” Logan remarked, leaning over to get a better look out the window.
Olivia thought back to her first trip here and how her stomach had quivered with a combination of excitement and fear when she’d caught sight of the white adobe buildings that lined the streets. The town was postcard-picture worthy with its cobblestone streets, clay tile roofs and brightly painted doors. But the beautiful facade hid a bone-crushing poverty that prevented many people from having access to health care. And although she was only one woman, she was able to change dozens of lives in the time she spent here every year. It never felt like enough, but it was better than nothing.
“The medical charity chose this town as our home base because it has a fairly stable connection to the power grid.”
“That makes sense. I imagine it’s kind of hard to do surgery without electricity.”
She shuddered, thinking back to the operation she’d told him about before. “It’s definitely not my idea of a good time.”
“Do all your patients live here?”
“No. Some of them are local, but some of them come from miles away. I’ve been making this trip for several years now, so word has gotten out that I’m here during this time of year. There are always a few patients who have traveled long distances to get here, hoping I can help.”
“And do you?” There was no judgment in his tone, only curiosity.
“I try my best.” But there were some people she couldn’t help, and it always broke her heart. That was the downside of coming here—there were limits to her abilities, and she couldn’t save everyone.
They pulled up to the hospital, a large two-story building on the corner of a block. A bright blue stripe was painted along the bottom half of the walls and served to set the building apart from its surroundings. In case that didn’t make it distinctive enough, a large blue cross decorated each wall, proclaiming to all that this was a place of healing.
Olivia climbed out of the Jeep and stretched, enjoying the pleasant ache brought on by moving muscles that had been still for too long. She glanced over to find Logan doing the same thing and smiled. Due to his size the trip had probably been more uncomfortable for him, but he hadn’t complained once. She appreciated his stoicism. Nothing made a long trip seem even more endless than a whiny travel companion. Maybe I’ll share that chocolate after all...
A series of thumps made her turn, and she saw their driver was busy unloading their luggage onto the sidewalk. He appeared to be in a hurry, if his speed was anything to go by, and Olivia quickly walked over to intercede. Although she had mailed most of her supplies to the hospital well in advance, she had packed some things that were too fragile or too important to trust to the Colombian postal system. It would be a shame to make it here only to have them broken on the steps of the hospital.
She reached for a bag, grabbing it just before the driver. He gestured for her to hand it over, but she shook her head, smiling to soften her refusal. “This one is very fragile,” she explained.
He nodded. “As you wish.” A moment later, the rest of the luggage was on the pavement. “Do you need help getting everything inside?” the driver asked, his hand already on the door handle of the Jeep. It was clear he had somewhere else he’d rather be, and Olivia couldn’t help but wonder if he was one of the spies Carlos had mentioned. Was he running off to report they had arrived?
“No, thank you,” she said, tipping him for his service.
“Perhaps he can help you,” the man said, nodding his head at Logan. “He looks strong enough.”
Logan snorted softly but otherwise gave no indication he’d understood. Olivia smiled politely. “Thank you. I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
The man climbed in and drove off without further comment, stirring up a faint cloud of dust in his wake. Olivia watched him go, frowning slightly.
“What’s wrong?” Logan asked, his voice low and close.
She turned to find him standing next to her, his expression pleasant but his eyes intense. “I just think it’s strange our driver was so quick to leave. In my experience, they’re usually all too happy to offer additional assistance in the hopes of raising their tip. Do you think he might be on their payroll?” She didn’t have to specify who “they” were—Logan knew the cartel was never far from her mind.
“It’s possible,” he said. “Or perhaps he had another fare to pick up.”
“Maybe.” But she couldn’t shake the feeling the man was more than he had seemed. “I don’t think we said anything revealing on the ride here...”
“We didn’t.” Logan’s confidence washed over her and she felt her muscles relax a bit. “So even if the man does work for the bad guys, the only thing he can tell them is that we’re here. Not exactly newsworthy, if you ask me.”
“I suppose you’re right.” She offered him a halfhearted smile, feeling a little foolish for having overreacted. “I guess I’m just being overly paranoid.”
“That’s not a bad thing to be right now.” Logan squeezed her shoulder, triggering a wave of warmth down her arm. “Keep your eyes and ears open, but try not to let your vigilance get in the way of why you’re really here.” He nodded at the hospital. “You can’t help people if you’re afraid they’re going to betray you at the first opportunity.”
“That’s true,” she said, knowing he was right. She couldn’t give her patients the attention they deserved if half her brain was busy worrying that they were spies for the cartel.
His offer was reassuring, and Olivia knew he meant what he said. Even though she hadn’t known him long, something told her he was more than capable of following through on his words, a fact that was even more encouraging.
“I’ll try to remember that,” she said. It would be difficult to let go of her fears, but she had to trust Logan. Just because Scott had turned out to be a disappointment didn’t mean all men were. Logan hadn’t done anything to deserve her doubt—not yet anyway. She had to stop thinking of him as a man she was attracted to and remember that he was her lifeline. The two of them had to function as a team if they wanted to survive.
It was their only chance.
CHAPTER 8
Logan shifted his grip on the boxes, craning his head to see around them while he walked. Olivia led the way into the hospital, her arms similarly laden with their luggage. He didn’t know what she’d packed, but if the weight of the parcels was any indication, she’d brought a lot of it.
“Almost there,” she called back. He grunted in reply as she led him down a long hallway. The hospital hadn’t looked very large from the outside, but now that he was carrying what felt like a metric ton of medical supplies the corridor seemed endless. On the bright side though, he was so distracted by the burning sensation in his arms and lower back he wasn’t able to fully appreciate the view of Olivia’s very fine backside. It was an unorthodox way of avoiding temptation, but it worked.
Kissing her in the Jeep had been a mistake. Even though he’d only pressed his lips to the side of her head, once his mouth had made contact with her soft skin he’d immediately wanted more. He’d spent too much time wondering how her lips would feel against his and too little time paying attention to their surroundings. It was the kind of distraction that could ruin this operation, and he needed to shore up his self-control where she was concerned.
That was easier said than done, though, especially since the job required regular physical contact between them.
But only in public, he reminded himself. He didn’t have any excuses to touch her when they were alone, and he’d do well to remember it.
They rounded a corner and a few feet later, Olivia ducked through a doorway. He followed and was rewarded by the sight of several chairs and a low table—a waiting area, he realized. She led him through a set of double doors and into a small room, where she set her bags down. He followed suit, letting out an involuntary sigh as he straightened back up.
She smiled at him sympathetically. “Thanks for carrying all that. I know it was really heavy, but I didn’t want to risk making multiple trips. Things can disappear around here if you turn your back for even a moment.” She tightened her grip on the strap of her backpack, which he noticed she hadn’t set down. They had to find a safe location for the cartel’s money—there was no way she could carry it around with her until it was time to make the exchange.
He opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak a loud squeal of excitement rang in the air.
“Olivia!” A small dark-haired woman shot through the doorway and grabbed Olivia, clinging to her like a human barnacle. The new arrival let out a stream of rapid-fire Spanish punctuated with smiles and the occasional laugh. Logan only managed to catch every third word or so, but it was clear this was one of the nurses and she was overjoyed to see Olivia.
The feeling was mutual, if Olivia’s expression was anything to go by. A wide grin split her face, and she hugged the woman back with equal ferocity. The two chatted over each other in that curious way of women, each one apparently hearing and understanding the other even though they both spoke simultaneously. Finally, the nurse pulled back and Olivia gestured to Logan.
“This is Logan,” she said, reaching out to pull him closer. “His company is thinking about investing in our work, and he’s here to check out what we do.”
The nurse eyed him up and down, her gaze zeroing in on their linked hands. “I see,” she said in Spanish. “Is that the only reason he followed you?” Her tone was teasing, and twin spots of color appeared on Olivia’s cheeks. Logan kept his expression neutral, pretending he hadn’t understood.
“A lady never tells,” Olivia replied, earning a belly laugh from her friend.
“This is Daniela,” she said, this time in English.
Logan stuck out his hand and the smaller woman stared at it for a beat. “He’s very direct,” she murmured to Olivia. Then she placed her own hand in his.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, making it a point to speak in a formal, stilted way that suggested limited fluency in Spanish. She returned his greeting politely and shot Olivia an amused glance.
“Where is everyone else?” Olivia asked. “I’ve brought gifts.” She rummaged in her backpack and withdrew a small, brightly wrapped package, which she extended to Daniela. The other woman took it with a smile.
“You shouldn’t have. You know the only gift we need is your presence.” She examined the wrapping paper, tracing her finger over the scrolled print.
“I like to spoil you,” Olivia said. A teasing note entered her voice. “Consider it a bribe.”
Daniela laughed at that. “Working with you is all the reward we need. Stay here—I will find the others. It’s been a slow day, so it shouldn’t take me long.” She nodded at Logan and left the room.
Olivia waited a few seconds, then turned to face him. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“What?” he asked, pretending not to understand.
The corner of her mouth curved up. “You know it’s not customary here for a man to initiate a handshake with a woman he’s meeting for the first time.”
“Really?” He tried to sound innocent. “I must have forgotten that.”
Olivia laughed softly. “Hardly. You’ve only just met Daniela, and you’ve already got her convinced you’re another one of those brash Americans. I’m sure she’s telling the rest of the staff as we speak.” She cocked her head to the side, a speculative gleam entering her eyes. “But that’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
Logan inclined his head in a nod. “Like you said, if they think of me as a harmless presence they won’t censor themselves. We might learn something.”
Her delicate brows drew together in a small frown and she shuddered. He took a step closer and touched her arm. “Like I said before, let me worry about the unpleasant details. Just focus on your patients.”
“I know.” She pressed her lips together, clearly unhappy at the thought. “Still, I can’t help but hope the nurses are innocent.”
He hoped so, too, for her sake. It was bad enough the cartel was manipulating her like this. If she found out the people she’d worked with for years, whom she clearly considered friends, were also involved? It would hurt her deeply and cast a pall over her work here.
Logan wanted to reassure her that she had nothing to worry about, that the people she worked with and trusted were not doing business with the cartel. But he didn’t know them and he couldn’t bring himself to voice what might turn out to be a lie.
In any event, he was saved from having to make a reply by the sound of people moving closer. Olivia heard it, too, and her face brightened with anticipation. She straightened, and he could practically feel the vibration of excitement coming off her body. She moved toward the door and poked her head out into the hall, triggering a collective squeal of delight from the approaching group. In the next instant she was gone, stepping out into the hall with her arms spread wide.
Logan hung back, wanting to give her a moment to reunite with the group without worrying about making introductions. He leaned against the doorjamb and watched while Olivia was surrounded by women in brightly colored scrubs. They took turns embracing her, and he could tell by the look on her face she was genuinely happy to see them. They flitted around Olivia, each one talking over the next in their excitement. The swirls of color and chatter made him think of a flock of ex
otic birds, and he couldn’t help but smile.
For her part, Olivia greeted each woman in turn, pausing to exchange words before turning to the next. It was obvious she cared for these people, and he marveled at the change in her. For a moment, the shadow of the cartel lifted from her face, and she relaxed in the presence of her friends. She was truly beautiful when she smiled, and he could feel the warmth in her gaze from here.
As the group continued to chatter, a young man approached from the opposite end of the hall. He was of medium height and build, and his dark hair was a little on the longish side. His face lit up when he saw Olivia, and he rushed forward, reaching through the crowd to touch her shoulder.
“Olivia!” he cried. “You made it!”
She turned and smiled. “Juan Pablo! So good to see you!” She enfolded him in a hug that the young man returned enthusiastically. When she moved to pull away, he kept his hands on her shoulders and leaned in, clearly intending to kiss her.
Logan pushed off the doorjamb and was halfway down the hall before he realized he was moving. He didn’t know who Juan Pablo was, but he didn’t like the way he looked at Olivia as if she was a tasty dessert he couldn’t wait to sample.
Out of the corner of his eye, Logan saw Daniela nudge the nurse next to her, a knowing smile on her face. He realized he was acting like a jealous boyfriend, but wasn’t that exactly who he was supposed to be?
“Care to introduce me to your friends, darling?”
Juan Pablo glanced past Olivia and frowned at him. Good. He didn’t want the young man getting any ideas where Olivia was concerned.
“Logan!” She reached for him and drew him into the circle, linking her arm with his. It was a definite signal, and as he glanced around the group he noticed the small smiles and murmurs that made it clear the women had understood. Olivia rattled off names and he did his best to memorize faces, but he knew it would take a few encounters before he learned who each person was.