Vortex (SAI Book 1) (11 page)

“Thank you, son.” 

The men sat silently as they thought about the new piece of information. Not only was the clinic in the crosshairs of a neighborhood gang war, it was also in the sights of two opposing criminal crews from outside the state. Now someone thought that Vivi had seen something or knew something.

“What a shit show,” Dane huffed. “I say we just fly the girls back to Florida and close down the clinic. There is no way to keep them safe with this many people gunning for them. Even if they no longer offer prescription drugs, they’re still in danger.”

“I agree,” Ben stated flatly. “Ruby needs to come home with me.”

“Hold your horses, young man,” Buck said. “Those three girls are not going to pull up stakes and abandon the dream they have of helping the people of Algiers. I suggest you work out a strategy that gives them a better alternative. Or better yet, let them believe that the whole thing was their idea. Vivi is as stubborn as a mule, and she worked hard to get this thing up and running. She isn’t going to walk away without a real good fight.”

“Let me talk to her tonight and run the information past her. Ultimately, it’s up to her, and I want her to have the opportunity to come up with a solution.”

“And if that doesn’t work?” Gideon inquired.

Rubbing his hand over his head, Joel smiled. “Then I hog-tie her and take her the hell out of the state and out of danger.” He noticed Ben signaling to him to stop, and he spun in time to see Vivi step up behind him.

“What evil plans are you all hatching over here? It looks like you’re planning on overthrowing a small country.”

Standing, Joel took Vivi’s hand and tried to appear innocent. “Just talking about the game.”

“Sure. I believe you.”

“Hey, you haven’t shown me the pool yet. I heard you have a great pool slide.” Winking, he led her away from the group toward the back patio.

Stepping out into the humid air, Joel peeled his shirt away from his back and looked around.

“What in the world is going on with you?” Vivi stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. “You are acting awfully strange.”

“No, I’m not. I just wanted to see the pool.”

“If you want to kiss me like Timmy Budrow did back when I was twelve, why don’t you just say it? All this subterfuge about pool slides isn’t entertaining.”

Before she could say more, Joel stepped up to her, wrapped his arms around her, and brought her flush against his body. “What are you doing?” Vivi squeaked.

Lowering his head slowly, he rested his head against hers. “I’m going to kiss you, Viv.”

Before she knew what was happening, the rough scrape of his stubble moved against her cheek as he pressed his lips to hers. An atom bomb went off in her head as he gently sealed their mouths together. Sweet Lord, have mercy. It had been such a long time since she had kissed a man that she forgot how delicious it was. And to have a man like Joel be the one…was a blessing and a curse. Before she was ready for the kiss to end, he lifted his mouth away. Stumbling toward him, she tried to steady herself. “You kiss a lot better than Timmy Budrow.”

“I plan on doing it a lot when we’re not in your parents’ backyard.” Dipping his head, he dropped a sweet kiss and then straightened up. “Did I say a lot more? Because that’s what I meant.”

Moving her hair off her neck, she twirled it into a bun. “My goodness, it’s warm. I think I need something cool to drink.” Yes, they definitely needed to do that some more. Kissing was a much better alternative to fighting. It had been true when she was twelve, and it was true now that she was thirty-five. It was good to know that some things never changed. Lord, he smelled good. What the hell did men do to make themselves so appealing?

Stepping into the kitchen, they were greeted by Essie. She handed them each a tall glass of iced tea. “It looks like you two could use something cool to drink.”

Before Vivi could respond, Essie strolled out of the kitchen. “She always knows what were up to. It never fails.”

Taking a large gulp of tea, Joel grinned. “I guess we shouldn’t kiss at your parents’ house anymore.”

“Probably a good idea.” Vivi drained her tea and rolled the cool glass against her head. Sliding her eyes over, she noticed Joel starting to chuckle. “Be a smart man and don’t laugh at me.”

“Yes, Vivi.” Looking around quickly, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I look forward to kissing you later on.”

Mama came into the kitchen and studied them both. “What’s going to happen later on?”

Dragging Joel by the arm, Vivi moved out of the kitchen. “Nothing, Mama. We’re going to watch the game.” As they searched for an empty seat, Vivi swore she heard laughter from the kitchen. “I think Mama is laughing at us.”

Glancing down at her, Joel shrugged. “I know your mama is laughing at us. It was bound to happen. We just got it out of the way sooner than we thought.” He kissed her head and tugged her over to the love seat. The time for duplicity had passed.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Joel sat in the car as Vivi drove them to the clinic. He didn’t enjoy being a passenger, but Vivi had insisted, and he didn’t want to fight with her anymore. In fact, he wanted to do the opposite.

There was a need boiling in him to have her beneath him…or on top of him. Either would be great. The point was…that he needed to sate himself on the scent, feel, and taste of her.

She was like Pandora’s Box. The moment he admitted his attraction, it was all-consuming. Glancing over, he realized there was going to be no way to close the lid. His desire was out there, and it would probably devour him whole before all was said and done.

“Do you have a lot of patients scheduled today?” That was it…talk about something safe.

“I’m not sure what we have today. I don’t know if people are afraid to come in because of what’s been going on.”

“Have you thought about what we discussed on Saturday?”

“I have, and I don’t like any of the options you’ve given me. The prescription drug shipment is due this afternoon, and I guess it will be our last.”

“That might’ve been helpful to know.” Pulling his phone out, he texted Dane and Ben and gave them a heads-up. If something happened this afternoon, the truck was fully loaded, so they could operate if they had to. “I’m going to give Gideon a heads-up.”

“Is it that bad?”

Putting his hand on her leg, he nodded. “Honey, this is a no-win situation. Too many people are interested in what you have. I don’t know how to provide you and your patients a safe place.”

“It’s almost like being in Somalia again. I thought having a small neighborhood clinic would be so easy and almost relaxing.”

Joel noticed her hands gripping the wheel tightly. “We just have to come up with another way to accomplish your goal.”

Glancing over, she gave him a small smile. “I’m embarrassed to admit that this has really discouraged me. I’m tired, Joel.”

“No shame in admitting that.” Glancing out the window as they crossed the bridge, he studied the water. “Sometimes taking a break and reassessing your options is the best choice available. It takes a strong person to step back and reevaluate.”

“It doesn’t feel strong, it feels crappy.”

“I know, honey.” His phone buzzed with an incoming text, and he read the message from Gideon. It seemed like they were going to be on their own for a while. The famous NOPD officer shortage was going to make getting officers out there almost impossible. They had to wait for something to happen before they could request backup. The situation reminded him of his first days in the Anbar Province. Who knew what was in store for them today.

“Maybe you can come down to Florida and stay with me for a while. Take a little break and rest.”

Sliding her eyes over, she smirked. “Are you offering me a vacation so that you can get at me?”

“Absolutely, Vivi. I want to get at you ten ways from Sunday, and I’m praying that you might think that’s a good idea.”

Laughing, she held the wheel tighter. “I was only thinking about seven ways from Sunday. But I might be interested in what the extra three entail.”

“I would love nothing more than to give you a full demonstration. I want you, Vivi.” He watched her face become red and noticed her hands trembling slightly. “Does that scare you?”

“Of course it does.”

“Why?”

Moving her hair off her neck, she sighed. “Five days ago, we didn’t even like one another. So this is a big change.”

“It is. No way around it.” Straightening his glasses, he flipped his phone over again and again. “My mom used to say that it was hard not to like someone when you knew their story. When you told me about what happened to you when you were in Somalia, it made me realize that all my reasons for resisting you were ridiculous. You are a smart, generous, kind woman, and I was an idiot for thinking anything else.”

“What did you think I was?”

“I thought you were a rich, stuck-up woman who would never like me. When I met you at the engagement party, you barely said a word.”

Running his hand over his phone, he wondered what she was going to do with the information. Probably tell him to get lost.

“I had been home for about a month when I went to that party. I was having a hard time transitioning. It was hard for me to be back in the States after three years abroad. I didn’t know how to talk to anyone. Also, I had met with Matt’s parents the day before, and I had to relive the experience of how he was killed. It was a horrible time for me, and I probably shouldn’t have tried to be at a party. But I missed my family, and I wanted to be there to help Ronnie and Chase celebrate.”

“Now I feel like a bigger ass. I’m sorry, Vivi.”

Moving her hand, she covered his. And with that small gesture, he fell for Dr. Vivi DuMond. He had been a jerk, and she was trying to comfort him.

“You had no way of knowing. I was probably being a pill. So I could see how you could get that impression.” Shrugging, she turned off the bridge toward the clinic. “It took me a long time to feel relaxed again. I redecorated my house from top to bottom in an attempt to make myself comfortable.”

“You did an amazing job. Your house is beautiful.”

“Thanks, Joel.” Tapping her fingers against her leg, she breathed heavily.

Glancing over, he grinned. “Remember when I told you that you stirred up things inside me and I didn’t like it?”

“Yes. Has something changed?”

“Everything has changed.” Glancing out the window, he saw the clinic and noticed a small crowd gathered two blocks away. “I tried to run from the feelings you churned up in me, and it worked for a while.”

“But…?” Vivi asked.

“The longer you run from something, the harder it will hurt when it catches you. And it always catches you,” Joel replied.

“Attraction isn’t supposed to hurt. Hopefully, it’s the opposite.”

“I’m not hurting, Vivi. Now that I’ve given in to it, it feels pretty good.” He studied the crowd again and noticed it growing. “What the hell is going on?”

Vivi glanced over and shrugged. “Maybe they’re just getting ready for Fat Tuesday. There are a ton of block parties planned all over the city.”

Shaking his head, he studied the crowd. Something wasn’t right, and had no idea what it was. “I’ll check it out when Dane and Ben arrive.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing.” Pulling into the back of the clinic, she parked her car and stepped out. “It’s going to be a good day, Joel.”

“I hope so,” he replied. “I hope so.”

***

Joel checked his phone again and confirmed Ben and Dane’s ETA. Staring out the front window, he noticed the cluster of people growing, along with the hum of anticipation. He’d seen it a hundred times when he was deployed, and it never turned out well. Something was happening out there, and he had a bad feeling about it. Fifteen years had proven his intuition was usually spot-on.

Striding through the clinic, he checked the cameras to make sure they were operational, as well as the locks and sensors that had been placed on the doors. The old building was concrete, which was good news for them because it meant a bullet would have a hard time coming through. They were going to end up in a confrontation before this was all over, and there was no way around it. Turning, he stared at Vivi and wished he’d already taken her back to Florida, out of danger. Then he could focus on what was happening between them and not on the bullshit happening on the streets.

“You sure are a knockout, Vivi.” Taking long strides, he was at her side in a second. “Sometimes you take my breath away.”

He watched her smooth her scrubs down and then smile. “I’m going to remember that pink scrubs with balloons… makes you like me.” She stood and leaned over the counter. “Kiss me quickly, before everyone shows up.”

“My pleasure.” Slowly, he lowered his head and tried to control his urge to consume her. She was so damn soft all over. Soft hair, soft skin, and soft lips. His chest felt suddenly tight again, and his muscles tensed as he fought against the effect she had on him. The need to kiss her, to eat her alive, was growing stronger each day. He wanted her to become a part of him so that he could relax.

It was crazy, but he couldn’t make any of it stop. Pressing their lips together, he devoured her mouth. He hadn’t meant to let the kiss get out of control. But all it took was her responding, and he was off the freaking leash before he knew it.

Their time was coming, and the sooner it happened, the better. Releasing her mouth, he tipped his head against hers. “Good thing you said quickly.”

Breathing heavily, she let out a small laugh. “What would’ve happened if I said slowly?” The back door opened, and they both straightened up. Joel watched Vivi run her finger over her mouth, and he almost groaned. Time to get his head together. He had to deal with what was happening outside, not with his growing desire for the woman in front of him.

Dane and Trinity entered along with Ben and Ruby. “Gang’s all here.” he said.

Trinity stood in front of the desk and let her gaze bounce between the two of them. Joel attempted to look innocent as Vivi studied the arrangement of pens on the desk. “You two were smooching and seconds away from going into an exam room.” Shaking her head, she smiled. “Too bad we didn’t stop for breakfast. You all might’ve had enough time.”