The implication sent a thrill through her—knowledge that he’d already thought about this, about them, beyond just tonight.
“Not casual for me either,” she managed.
“And if it doesn’t work out…” His expression grew serious.“Shiloh Springs is your home.You’ve lived there your whole life.Your family is the lifeblood of the town.I’m the newbie, still gaining my feet and the trust of the people who are under my care.It’s another reason I’m leery about taking this step, because if we don’t work out, I’m afraid I’ll be the one having to leave Shiloh Springs.And your father’s care comes first, no matter what happens between us.”
“Agreed,” she said without hesitation.“Gabe, there are no guarantees in any relationship.I’m coming into this with my eyes wide open.I promise, if we try and fail, nobody is going to force you to leave town, especially not my overgrown, overprotective brothers.”
Gabe studied her face for a long moment, then slowly reached across the table.His fingers brushed hers, warm and sure.Not taking her hand completely, just a touch—testing, questioning.
Nica turned her palm upward, wrapping her hand around his, taking a deep breath as his hand engulfed hers, strong and certain.
“I didn’t come to College Station looking for this,” he said softly.“But from the moment I saw you again, standing in that hospital hallway…”
“I know,” Nica whispered.“Me too.”
The restaurant around her faded into background noise.In that moment, as rain streaked the windows and thunder rumbled in the distance, something irrevocable shifted between them.A boundary crossed, a decision made.
As the memory faded, Nica thought about everything that had happened in the past few days.The threats to Gabe’s career, the mysterious letter sent to her, Gabe revealing everything that happened at Stanford, and the threatening phone calls he’d been getting.Anonymous calls from somebody who knew about them, about their marriage.Their folly, their fate from their tentative liaison now led to dangerous decisions, ones that felt right when you made them.Add in the threat of exposure, and the fact they still hadn’t discussed the WHO offer, which she knew would have to happen soon, because they’d be wanting an answer.When had life become so complicated?
Neither of them could have known then how that simple touch would exacerbate everything—the dangers lurking in Shiloh Springs’ shadows, the secrets that might eventually force them both to choose between truth and safety.
But that night, with the storm gathering outside the restaurant, and Gabe’s hand warm in hers, all Nica felt was the intoxicating rush of beginning something forbidden, something that felt inevitable, as if they’d been moving toward this moment from the first time they’d locked eyes.Right now, she wouldn’t change a thing, except keeping their wedding, their marriage, a secret.
Because secrets had a way of coming to light at the worst possible time, and she found herself praying that she would be able to convince her family she’d kept this one for a good reason.
Shaking her head, she knew that she was deluding herself.The longer she held onto the truth, the easier it was for someone to torment Gabe with exposure.No, it was time, past time, to tell her momma and dad everything.
She only hoped Shiloh Springs was ready for the explosion sure to come when they found out.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The anonymous callcame at 2:17a.m.
Gabe had been staring at the ceiling for hours, sleep evading him like it had for the past several nights, pretty much ever since the calls had started.The anxiety of getting the calls at work every couple of days was taking a toll on his nerves.It had helped talking to Nica about everything, even telling her dad, but that didn’t keep the mechanical, anonymous voice’s taunts from playing in his head repeatedly, like a bad movie soundtrack.
He didn’t jump when the phone vibrated on his nightstand, he’d been waiting for it.Beside him, Nica slept peacefully, her blonde hair spilled across the pillow, one hand tucked beneath her cheek.Three months of marriage and shifting between his apartment and hers—because they still hadn’t told anybody about their elopement, and he still couldn’t believe she was his.That he had the right to sleep beside her every night, holding her, letting her simple presence keep the nightmares at bay.He still couldn’t believe someone so vibrant and full of life had chosen him, broken pieces and all.
He slipped from the bed and padded barefoot to the bathroom, closing the door before answering.
“Dr.Summers.”His voice was steady, clinical, masking all emotion.If it was the person who’d been calling the clinic, he didn’t want to give them the satisfaction of showing their taunts were having their desired effect.Instead, he kept things unemotional, using the voice he used to deliver bad news to patients.
“Hello, Gabriel.”The electronically distorted voice slithered through the phone, raising chill bumps along his skin.“Trouble sleeping?Guilty conscience keeping you up?”
Gabe leaned against the cool tile wall, forcing himself to breathe evenly.“What do you want?”
“Just checking in on Shiloh Springs’ favorite new doctor.How’s small-town medicine treating you?Quite a step down from Stanford, isn’t it?”
His jaw tightened, and he took a moment to force himself to take a couple of deep breaths before responding.“If you have something to say, say it.”
“Rebecca Fontaine.Ring any bells?”
The name hit him like a physical blow.A thirty-two-year-old mother.Stage three breast cancer.She’d responded well to treatment initially, then developed complications, and he’d been called in for a cardiovascular consultation.Her attending physician wanted him to check out what he thought might be a heart murmur.
“Of course I remember her.”
“You recommended an angiogram and a CT scan with contrast, followed by a cardiac bypass.She died eight days later.”
“Her cancer was aggressive.We discussed all her options, the risks—”
