Jake forced his own smile. It was getting harder and harder to control his fury, but he would. The last thing Olivia needed was him to go all caveman on her right now.
“When I was finished, my clothes were gone and that dress was hanging on the door. My guard was walking me back to my tent when another man told him the auction was being held tomorrow morning, and I was to be moved tonight.”
She looked up at him, the moonlight reflecting in her sad, tired eyes. “That’s why it had to be today. I can only imagine what the bidders at that auction had in store for me. There was no way in hell I was going to stick around for that.”
Jake ran his free hand across his jaw, pulling upon a strength he didn’t even know existed to keep Olivia from seeing the effect her words had on him. The attack on her group hadn’t been about drugs, as authorities suspected. Not that he’d bought any of that shit, anyway.
No, they’d been targeted for a very different reason. More specifically, it sounded as ifOliviahad been targeted. With great effort—and it took a hell of a lot—Jake put those thoughts on the back-burner.
“Did you notice anything unusual while you were working with the volunteer group? Any suspicious activity or anyone who looked out of place?”
She let out a sarcastic laugh. “Everyone looked out of place, Jake. I mean, theywere. The people we helped had just lost their homes. Family members. No one looked like they belonged there, because truthfully, they didn’t.” Olivia sighed. “So, no. I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.” She thought for a moment and then, “I just hope that what happened to us won’t keep people from coming to places like this in the future. Those poor people needed us more than I ever realized.”
Jake watched as she closed her eyes and sat back. She let her head fall against the trunk of the tree again.
Jesus, this woman was something. She’d gone through hell—was still smack fucking dab in the middle of it—and the wellbeing of others still weighed on her mind. His heart swelled with pride, and a whole lot more.
He noticed Olivia shiver. “You cold?”
She kept her eyes closed but nodded. “A little. I’m fine, though.”
Jake couldn’t help but smile. “Come here, tough girl.”
She glanced over at him, her brows raised in question.
He released her hand and lifted his arm as an invitation, motioning with his head. “It can get pretty chilly out here at night.”
“I know.”
“So, come. Here,” he repeated more emphatically. “I don’t bite, Liv.”Although, I sure as hell would if you asked me to.
Scooting the extra couple of inches it took for their bodies to be in contact, she rested her head against his chest and wrapped an arm around his waist. Jake held her close, gently rubbing her upper arm to help warm her.
Olivia fit perfectly against him. It was the best feeling, as if having her in his arms was...right. He closed his eyes and wondered what it would be like to be able to hold her like this whenever he wanted.
If he had anything to say about it, that would happen. He’d made a promise to God, and had every intention of seeing it through. Jake had been granted his miracle, so he would tell her how he felt, along with everything else. Just not right now.
Olivia had been through enough. No way would he unload that shit on her tonight. Later, when she was back home and away from the danger. After she’d had some time to recover from everything. That’s when he’d tell her. For now, his job was to make sure she actually got home.
