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 exotic 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.
Except for Juan Pablo. The young man was staring daggers at Logan, his dislike plain for all to see. “Who is he to you?” he asked in Spanish. “You are too good for him.”
Olivia shot him a quelling look. “You go too far. It is not your concern.”
Juan Pablo held up his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “I just worry about you,” he said, his tone soothing. He flicked a glance at Logan before turning back to Olivia. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Nice try, Logan thought. He wanted so badly to tell this guy off, but he wasn’t about to compromise their mission over a jealous puppy of a man.
“You’re a good friend,” Olivia responded, putting a slight emphasis on the word friend. Logan almost smiled at the subtle reprimand, but kept his expression neutral.
Juan Pablo apparently decided not to press his point, but his pursed lips communicated his displeasure. Logan felt an immature spurt of satisfaction that he quickly tried to quash. He wasn’t here to antagonize the nursing staff or complicate Olivia’s friendships. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a little smug over the fact that he’d gotten the girl.
Even though it was all an act.
“Why don’t I take you to your apartment?” Daniela suggested, speaking English for Logan’s benefit. “I’m sure we can get something set up for Logan, as well.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he replied smoothly. “Olivia and I will share her apartment.” Take that, “friend.”
A shocked murmur rose from the group, and Juan Pablo sucked in an outraged breath. Daniela raised her eyebrows and looked at Olivia, silently asking if this was true.
Olivia’s grip tightened on his arm, but she gave no other outward sign that she was surprised by his statement. She offered a shy smile, ducking her head slightly. “It’s true,” she said. “I should have mentioned it before, but I got so busy I forgot to say anything.”
Daniela merely nodded. “Very well,” she said. “Come with me and I’ll show you both to the apartment.”
Olivia quickly said goodbye to her friends, and Logan smiled and nodded his way through the farewells. The women were nice enough, although he did hear a few giggles as they walked away. Juan Pablo merely nodded once, his eyes bright with anger as he looked at Logan. When Olivia turned to acknowledge him, his expression shifted to one of concern and he opened his mouth, clearly intending to say something. But she didn’t give him a chance, turning away before he could speak.
Logan linked hands with Olivia as they followed Daniela. What had he just done? His stomach churned as the implications sank in. He’d just made his job a hundred times harder, thanks to an impulsive declaration made in a fit of annoyance. Why had he let Juan Pablo’s behavior get under his skin like that?
More important, could he really keep a professional distance from Olivia if they were living together?
He caught a whiff of her scent as she moved in front of him to pass through a door. Strawberries and cream. His mouth watered, and he found himself wondering if her skin would taste as sweet as it smelled.
Too bad he wasn’t going to find out.
* * *
Olivia managed to keep smiling until the door closed behind Daniela. Then she whirled to face Logan.
“Are you crazy?” she hissed, careful to keep her voice down. The walls were thin, and she didn’t want Daniela or anyone else to hear her.
Logan held up a finger and dug into his backpack, withdrawing a small black device she recognized as an electronic bug detector. He turned it on and moved through the small apartment, returning to stand in front of her.
“No,” he said, turning off the detector and putting it back in his pack. “We’re supposed to be dating, remember?”
“Dating, yes,” she replied. “But this isn’t the US. Colombian couples generally don’t live together before they’re married—it’s considered scandalous.”
“Sorry about that,” he replied, his tone suggesting he was anything but apologetic. “But we need to stick together, and this seemed like the best way to ensure we weren’t separated at night.”
“I don’t think there’s any danger of that,” she remarked drily, casting a meaningful look at the small bed in the corner of the room. He followed the direction of her gaze, and the tips of his ears turned pink.
“Ah. Well, don’t worry. We don’t have to stay that close.”
She should have found his words reassuring, but a tiny spark of disappointment flared in her chest. “And where are you going to sleep?”
He glanced around the efficiency-size apartment, clearly looking for a sofa or recliner. When none appeared, he shrugged. “I’ll bunk on the floor.”
Olivia winced. “Not a good idea.”
“Why?”
“You’re close to the jungle. Bugs come out at night.” When he didn’t look impressed, she continued. “Big ones.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
She shook her head. “No. If you sleep on the floor you’ll be an all-you-can-eat buffet. It won’t go well for you.”
Logan cocked his head to the side and regarded her with a half smile. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you actually wanted me to share your bed.” He took a step closer, and something dangerous glinted in his eyes. “Am I wrong?”
No, whispered a traitorous voice in her head. She swallowed hard, pushing aside an image of the two of them in the small bed, limbs tangled and skin flushed. What would it feel like to have his tall, powerful frame pressed against her body? To feel the strength of his arms as he held her?
She met his gaze, determined to keep things on a professional level. That was why they were here after all. Fantasizing about things that weren’t going to happen was a waste of time. “All I’m saying is that it’s dangerous for you to sleep on the floor.”
He frowned slightly. “What do you suggest I do then? Can we have them bring in another bed?”
Olivia shook her head. “I don’t think that’s an option. There probably isn’t one, and even if there were, don’t you think it would look a little strange? After all, we’re dating, right?” She couldn’t resist teasing him just a little, especially since it was his rash announcement that had gotten them into this situation.
“I guess there’s no help for it then,” Logan said. “We’ll just have to share.”
Olivia glanced at the small bed and then at his broad shoulders. She bit her lip as a lesson from a long-ago physics class echoed in her mind: Two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time...
Her skepticism must have shown on her face, because Logan grinned broadly. “Don’t worry, it won’t be so bad. I sleep on my side. You’ll have plenty of room.”
Olivia let out a sigh, accepting her fate. “I hope you don’t snore.”
He held up his right hand as if making a pledge. “You won’t even know I’m here.”
She choked back a laugh. Yeah, right. It had been a long time since she’d shared a bed with a man, especially for any length of time. And while she’d signed on to play the role of the doting girlfriend, she hadn’t thought it would be necessary to stay in character behind closed doors.
Maybe that was the crux of the problem. She had to act the part without reaping any of the benefits. Lying next to Logan every night, hearing him breathe and feeling the bed shift with his every movement—it was going to be pure torture.
There’s always sleeping pills. Perhaps a little help was in order to ensure she wasn’t spending the nights staring at the ceiling, trying to ignore the man next to her. But no, that wasn’t a good solution. The few times she’d taken a sleeping pill, she’d woken groggy and it had taken hours to clear the mental fog from her brain. She couldn’t afford to feel that way while she was here—too many people depended on her to help them, and she couldn’t do that if her head felt like it was stuffed with cotton balls.
She was just going to have to suck it up. They were both adults after all. Surely they could share a bed without any problems.
Logan stretched out on the mattress and crossed his ankles. He was so tall his feet hung off the end, but that didn’t seem to bother him. He patted the space next to him and grinned, looking every inch the smug, satisfied male. “Wanna break it in with me? I could use a nap.”
It was going to be a long month.