Page 47 of Forbidden Hearts
She crosses her arms and leans back.
Minutes go by, all with her kind of moping while I take it all in. This is where I want to be. In this hospital, helping children just like Olivia. I want to make a difference for families and provide options when it feels like there are none.
A nurse calls Olivia’s name, and I tap her arm.
She signs.“Hi, Liv, pretty shirt.”
Liv shrugs, and I fight back a laugh. She’s never this moody, but it’s kind of adorable.
“I’m Phoebe, her nanny.”
The nurse extends her hand. “I’m Lila, I’ll be taking her back for some testing, and then Dr. King will be in to see you.” She turns to her.“Come on, Liv, we’ll see Phoebe later.”
Olivia looks up at me, gripping my arm with both hands, her eyes pleading, and I step forward. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to come with her. Olivia expressed some anxiety regarding the testing. She said it hurt the last time, and I promised her I’d be here. I know you probably don’t care, but I’ll be starting my second year of school for audiology. I’m aware of the rules, and I’d like to be in the room to support Liv.”
Lila shifts her weight, pulls her lower lip between her teeth, and then sighs. “Well, I . . . you’re acting as a guardian or parent, right?”
“Yes.”
“We can let one parent or guardian in the room, but it’s important the testing remains absolutely silent. Otherwise, the results might not be accurate.”
“I understand,” I assure Lila. “I will just be there to support her. I won’t say a word, and if she lets me know something hurts, I’ll raise my hand.”
Lila nods.
I pat Olivia’s arms and then sign what Lila just said about my going back with her. Her lip wobbles just a little before she pulls me in for a hug.
We’re just turning to follow Lila back to the exam room when a deep voice calls my name. “Phoebe! Wait!”
I turn to see Asher rushing toward us, wearing his uniform. Today is his day off, but he’s on call, so he isn’t really supposed to leave the area.
Something must be wrong.
“What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
Olivia makes a noise and then goes to her father. He holds her tight to his chest and glances at me.“Everything is fine.” His eyes find mine. “I knew she needed me. She started texting me when you left, talking about how scared she was, and I just got in the car.”
Oh, my ovaries have officially exploded. “You left the area . . .”
“Of course I did.” His matter-of-fact tone leaves no room for anything else. His daughter needs him, so here he is. That simple. He stands, coming to his full height, which is an impressive six-foot-three, and smiles that ridiculously sexy grin at Lila.“I’m her father.Sorry I’m late.”
Lila drops her head to the side. “So glad you could make it, Officer Whitlock. It’s great to see a father who is just . . . so concerned for his child. You must care about her very much.”
“Well, Olivia is my world.”
“She’s a very lucky little girl to haveyouas a father.” She bats her long lashes, fluttering them at the end.
For the love of God. This woman has no shame, and I want to rip her eyes out.
Why? Why do I want to do that?
That’s right, I’m a damn mess who wants to hump her boss and hates any woman who looks at him.
I really need to get my shit together.
“I think I’m the lucky one,” Asher says back.
Her giggle is like knives on a chalkboard. “I do hope you won’t get in trouble for leaving work. I can see you must be very important.”
