“A fellow medical professional, huh? Well, I’ll let you take a look, but not until after I’ve had a shower.
Three of the men chuckled at that. Grant kept stoically quiet, and Olivia was struck with an odd sense of sadness for a man she didn’t even know. Something had happened to make him this hardened warrior, and Olivia found herself hoping one day, she’d get the chance to see him smile.
The next hour passed by in a blur. They finally reached the helicopter, and not a minute too soon. Jake strapped her in before taking the seat beside her. She couldn’t keep from moaning at the glorious feeling of sitting down on an actual cushioned seat. Within minutes, they were airborne.
Staring out the opening on the helicopter’s side, Olivia knew she’d never been happier to leave a place behind. She’d just leaned her head back against the padded seat and closed her eyes when Jake’s strong, calloused hand found hers. He rested their joined hands on his thigh, and they sat like that for the remainder of their trip.
Jake had given her a set of headphones after they’d taken off, and she half-listened as he finished filling his team in on everything. Well, almost everything. Thankfully, he left out the specifics about what they were doing when those two men found them in the cave.
The steady thump, thump, thump of the helicopter’s motor was oddly soothing, and soon, Olivia started to doze. She still managed to pick up bits and pieces of the guys’ conversation, like the part about their teammate who’d been injured.
Coop had been shot in the leg, but had already been treated back in the States for the through and through. He was recuperating at home with their other teammate, Mac, there to help.
When Trevor told Jake that Mac was making sure Coop followed doctor’s orders, Olivia heard a few low chuckles. She wondered what that was all about, but was too exhausted to ask.
A while later, the chopper bounced, startling her awake. Jake squeezed her hand a little tighter, and she turned to find him looking at her as if she were about to shatter.
“Okay?”
She stared at him a moment longer before turning her head toward his team. Derek was at the controls, Grant was in the other front seat, and Trevor sat across from Jake. “I will be,” she looked back to Jake. “Thanks to all of you.”
He brought her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips against it. That whole, heart-skipping-a-beat cliché? Turns out it’s not a cliché after all. Their eyes locked, and Olivia knew she was staring into her future.
A short time later, the chopper landed in a small field. When Jake helped her climb out, she saw a white, van waiting for them on a gravel road just a few yards away. She didn’t bother to ask where it came from.
A man who appeared to be local drove. Grant sat in the front passenger seat, and Olivia was nestled snugly between Trevor and Jake in the middle seat. Derek sat in the center of the third row with his arms stretched out to his sides.
He looked relaxed, as if they were on a Sunday drive, but she knew better. No one actually came out and said it, but from the way she was surrounded, Olivia suspected they were all still very much in protective mode.
The driver spoke up, his Hispanic accent thick. “The motel you will be staying at is not far, now.”
To Jake, Olivia asked, “We aren’t staying at the one you told me about?”
“Senior Ryker instructed me to make other arrangements for you,” the driver answered for him. “He did not want the men returning to the same place as before. So as not to draw attention to yourselves. Also, the rooms are accessible from the outside, just as he requested. Will make it easier to get the woman in and out without being seen.”
Apparently, this was a good thing because Jake nodded his approval. Olivia tilted her head up to him, her question showing in her eyes.
“The world still thinks you’re dead, sweetheart. For the time being, we’d like to keep it that way. At least until we’re stateside.”
She must not have done a very good job at hiding her concern, because he ran the knuckles of his free hand down her cheek and said, “It’s just a precaution.”
Their driver pulled next to a small store and stopped. Olivia glanced out one of the tinted windows. There was a square building with a handful of freestanding clothes racks positioned along the front walkway. From what she could see through the propped-open door, the place had a little bit of everything.
Trevor turned to her and asked, “What size are you?”
Unlike most women, Olivia wasn’t worried about what the men might think. She was healthy and toned, with curves she wasn’t ashamed of. She knew she’d never be a size two, and was perfectly fine with that.
“Six. Sometimes an eight, depending on how it’s made.”
Trevor gave her a once-over. “I’m guessing you may have dropped a size since coming here. We’ll get you something to sleep in and a change of clothes. His eyes found her still-bound feet. “What about shoes? I’m guessing you’re a seven?”
She couldn’t help but grin. “And a half. Impressive.” He patted her knee in a big-brother sort of way. “I don’t know what sort of selection they’ll have, but I’m sure I can find you something more comfortable than Jake’s ratty clothes.”
Olivia scoffed, “As long as I have access to running water and an actual bed, I’ll sleep naked for all I care.”
The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, and the look on the men’s faces sent a rush of blood to her cheeks. Derek, who was now leaning over the back of her seat between her shoulder and Jake’s, gave her a smile that would make most women’s mouths water.
Trevor tried to hide his smirk as he shifted toward the door, and Jake...Jake’s brows shot up with a look of surprise, which was quickly replaced with something more. Olivia found it impossible to tear her eyes away from his.
