Page 26

Angelica has been lurking around my office and nearby on my rounds, and I’m growing both suspicious and annoyed. She’s caused me problems before, trying to catch me alone and touching me without need. More than flirting. Intent clear.

I had to be firm with her that it was inappropriate.

I’m her boss. Her boss’s boss.

And it’s a line I will not cross. No matter what people are implying about my relationship with Olivia. Whatever labels we have or have not put on that. I have a feeling moving too fast with her isn’t going to serve me well.

Maybe she’s too young for what I want from her. She’s certainly mature enough, but that’s not the same thing.

I rub my face, cursing myself for letting myself be so distracted by her. How much I want her.

I don’t want to get in the way of her studies. Want to derail her career.

But maybe that’s the wrong train of thought. She’s not my ex. I don’t think she’ll resent me for wanting to keep her close. For wanting to help her. For proposing a life I seriously should not be thinking about yet.

We’ve only slept together once. We’ve never been on a date—unless you count the few shared lunches we’ve had in my office.

I don’t. Even if I want to.

Leaving my office, I spot Angelica lingering at the door next to mine. One that’s closed. One that she has no reason to be stopped in front of.

I pause a few feet from her, my arms crossing as I meet her gaze. She sways a little with a smile, fluttering her lashes. It makes it look like she’s got something in her eye.

My frown doesn’t deter her. Of all the people for it not to bother, it had to be this foolish girl. “Do we have a conversation about appropriate behavior again?”

Angelica’s smile falls immediately, eyes going dark. “You’re always letting Olivia hang around, eat lunch in your office.”

My muscles tighten as my hands fist, arms still crossed. I knew she would go there, she’s got no shame or tact. “She is not my employee. You are. Boundaries, Miss Novak. Boundaries.”

She scowls. It’s more unattractive than her saccharine smiles.

“Return to your station.” I do my best not to growl at her, but it’s difficult.

Angelica stomps away, and I know new rumors are going to soar through the center. Gossip spreads too fast in this place.

It’s time for another meeting to remind the staff about appropriate behavior in the workplace, and I will be meeting with her supervisor about keeping a better eye on where she is and what she is doing.

Not a fan of micromanaging, but I do what I must to keep this place running to the best of my ability.

I stop by the nurses’ desk, gesturing to the head nurse for a quick conversation. Britney and Jeremy pass by, shooting me sour looks as I converse with Maddison.

“You understand where I’m coming from and what needs done?”

Maddison is nonplussed by my gruff demeanor and having this conversation—again. “I do, Dr. Rivers. I will have another talk with her. Do I need to officially document this for her file?”

I frown again. “No. Not for this. She hasn’t crossed the line yet, but she is skirting it. Just keep an eye on her, and do your best to keep her in line. I would hate to lose her. She’s a good nurse.”

It’s the only reason I’ve kept her on staff thus far. She’s smart, and she’s good with the patients.

I make my way to the cafeteria to grab lunch and spot Olivia already sitting with Nick, eating. I’m tempted to sit with them. When she sees me, she waves me over, so I approach and stand at the end of their table for a moment.

“Hey, boss man. Why the frowny face?” Nick asks, and it makes me frown deeper. He sits up, more serious. “Uh oh.”

Olivia has big, round eyes too, but her inquiry is softer, more concerned, touching that beating muscle in my chest with such ease and care. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head.

Olivia pats the spot next to her, and I cave, sitting with them and leaning on my forearms.

I clear my throat and share a knowing look with Nick. “How has Britney been this past week?”

Because if her best friend has started acting up again, I can only assume the other two in her trio are also being inappropriate. They never do anything without each other.

Nick clears his throat and looks away. Exactly as I thought.

“What’s going on?” Olivia puts a hand on my arm briefly before taking it back, too aware of where we are and how many people are watching.

I’m reassured by the touch, even if Nick clocks it and leans into the table on his elbows.

“The trio have some issues with being rejected,” he says, and I’m glad I don’t have to explain. I truly hate this part of my job.

Understanding dawns on Olivia’s face. “Wow. Let me guess, Britney has propositioned you?”

Nick laughs darkly. “More than once.”

She turns to me. “And let me guess, Angelica has her eyes set on you?”

I grimace and nod, tucking into my food and eating faster than I should.

“My God. And Jeremy?”

Nick grins at her around his bite of food. “Waylen Wright.”

Olivia snorts, head falling back with a delighted laugh. “Wow. They all have eyes bigger than their stomachs, don’t they?”

“People always want what they can’t have.” By the wink Nick offers Olivia, I’m curious about how close the two of them are.

Should I be jealous? Am I allowed to be jealous?

I don’t like the sinking pressure in my chest. I’m more than a little jealous.

Olivia turns back to me. “I saw that Ivan got a date with Chelsea.”

That teases the tiniest smile out of me. “Yes. He did. Those cupcakes you helped him make worked.”

She beams at me. “Good. He’s a sweet kid. Funnier than I expected. I bet that sealed the deal.”

“I’m glad the two of you think so.”

Her laughter lightens the serious mood that my presence brought to the table. “Making a girl laugh is a big win, especially at that age. I bet Ruby would agree with me too.”

Nick lifts his brow. “She would. And as you know, it’s not easy to make her laugh.”

“No. She’s a serious girl. I get that. Especially at her age.” There’s something more unsaid about her observations of Nick’s daughter, and that jealousy burns bright again.

I didn’t know she’d met his daughter. Spent time with her. How much time has she spent with Nick outside of the classroom or the center?

Is it strange that I haven’t heard any rumors about the two of them?

It must just be my old possessiveness. I need to stop dissecting this, so I excuse myself easily with a nod to them both.

When Olivia checks on me a little later, my jealousy subsides. Her tentative smile has me standing to pull her inside, and I’m happy when I see it widen.

I don’t hesitate to lean her back against the closed door and kiss her.