Page 76 of The Doctor's Twins

“Of course, you can. I’ll arrange for you to have a few days off at the hospital. Will that help?”

“I can’t ask you to do that. Imagine how the tongues will wag. The other residents will have a pissy fit. It’s bad enough that I’m sleeping with the drop-dead gorgeous ‘boss’. This will really get up their noses.”

“You’re so good for my ego,” Ben chuckled. “They’re adults, darling. They’re just going to have to get over themselves and deal with it. Besides, do you really give a crap what they think?”

“No, I suppose not.”

I bit my lip again.

“You’re worried about Mateo, aren’t you?”

“How can I afford not to? I don’t trust the silence, Ben. I was convinced that he’d be waiting in the wings, hiding somewhere in the shadows, just waiting for me to slip up.”

Ben’s expression changed. It was subtle but I immediately picked up on it. I’d honed my body language reading skills while I was with Mateo. It’s vital to be able to read someone when your rib cage depended on it.

“What aren’t you telling me, Benjamin Forbes?”

“Okay, don’t get mad.”

“Oh, Ben. What did you do?”

“Nothing crazy. Remember when we were at the cabin, I told you I had a contact?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“I called him a few weeks ago.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I explained our situation to him.”

My anxiety levels were through the roof while I waited for Ben to tell me what he’d discussed with his contact.

“His name is Sam. He and I served together in the military. He owns a security and investigations company here in New York. I told him that we’re worried about Mateo, and he called one of his contacts in Mexico who is now surveilling Mateo.”

I got up and went to the open-plan kitchen for a drink of water. My mouth was so dry, it felt as if I had been sucking on cotton balls.

“At least we know where he is now, Peyton.”

I gulped down some water and returned to my seat in the living room.

“You’re saying someone is watching him?”

“Yes. Twenty-four-seven, my love. And Sam promised to keep me in the loop at all times.”

I felt strangely at peace for the first time since I left Mexico. Was it true? Was it time to relax a bit and not worry my ass off from dawn to dusk, looking in the rearview mirror for that face that haunted my dreams?

“Thank you, Ben,” I said softly, more under my breath than out loud.

“I told you he wouldn’t hurt you anymore. I’m here, Peyton. I’m looking out for you and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.”

I threw my arms around my lover’s neck and held him closely.

“So, you see, if you want to go and be with Madison when she gives birth to your niece, you should do so. I’ll hold the fort back here at home. How long do you want to be there?”

“A week should be plenty. Madison is due any day now.”

“Done.”

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