“Wouldyoutrust yourself?” Anya countered. “Let’s say I’ve been gone for three hours. You haven’t heard anything. No one is keeping you updated on the situation because you’re supposed to be resting and recovering. But you’re antsy because you think I’m in over my head.” Even though Jaime wasn’t showing it, Anya knew Jaime agreed. She didn’t know how to sit still. Not at all. “But, hey! I told you where all of this was going down, so all you have to do is show up to make sure everything is hunky-dory or save the day. So, you slip past the nurses—thatwould piss Zoe off—and make your way to where I am. Meanwhile, you’re in pain, in a hospital gown, probably tearing open some sutures, and now I’m worried about you instead of focused on my mission.”
Jaime slowly sank down into the bed. “Yeah, I wouldn’t tell me either.”
“Right?”
“And who the hell is Zoe?” Jaime blinked repeatedly, her brain just about ready to explode. It had been a long day, and she’d only been awake for an hour… at the most. She stared at Anya, a soft smile curling on her lips when Jaime realised that really, none of it mattered. She got to call this woman hers, and that was the most important thing in the world to Jaime. “Is this what it’s going to be like being in love with a psychiatrist?”
“Forensic and criminal psychol—” Anya paused. Had she heard Jaime right? “What did you just say?”
“You heard me, Doc. Are you going to win every argument we ever have?”
Anya was stunned. Of course, Jaime didn’t repeat what she’d said, but Anya was quickly coming to realize that when it came to Jaime Baros, words wouldn’t come easy or often. But when they were said, they would be from the heart.
“Yes, probably.” Anya’s phone chimed. “The team is here and ready.” She sighed as she stood up, discreetly pressing the call button. “I’m going to grab Max and fill him in.”
Jaime gritted her teeth. “It should be me out there with you. It should be me…”
“Hey. It’sbecauseof you that we know who it is.” Anya bent over the railing of the bed and kissed Jaime, lingering as she gazed into her eyes. “You put yourself in danger for me. It’s my turn to return the favor.”
The door opened suddenly. “Oh! I’m sorry to interrupt! You must’ve hit the call button by accident.”
“No, Zoe, come in.” Anya smoothed her thumb over Jaime’s lips. “I need you to do me a favor, please.”
“Sure!”
“Watch this one carefully. I have to do something she considers dangerous, so she’s going to be worried. Make sure she stays in that bed.”
Zoe saluted. “On it!”
Anya looked at Jaime. “Try to rest.”
“I-I did what you asked,” Jaime said, her voice breaking. “You said I couldn’t make you fall for me and then leave you. Y-you asked me to give us more time.” Fighting back her emotions, Jaime swallowed and pinned Anya with her stare. “Now I’m asking you the same thing.”
“Jaime.”
“You can’t make me fall for you and then leave me, Anya. We still need more time. Please?”
Anya feathered her fingertips across Jaime’s cheek and smiled. “Iwillbe back, Jaime. We’ll get our time.”
Anya walked away before she crumbled, smiling to herself as she closed the door and heard Jaime say, “So,you’reZoe.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Anya losther smile as soon as she saw Max pacing the corridor.Time to get down to business.“Max, you’re with me.” She slipped her arm through his and dragged him with her as he glanced behind him toward Jaime’s room, confusion written all over his face.
“H-how pissed off at me is she?”
Anya raised a brow as she eyed Max. “You should be more worried about me. You really didn’t tell heranything?”
Max turned away like a guilty puppy who had just been caught chewing his owner’s favorite pair of shoes. “I tried, but I…” He mumbled something incoherent as he scrubbed his stubbled chin. “I thought it would be better coming from you.”
Anya pressed the elevator call button and turned to stare Max down as they waited. “In my field, we call that weaponized incompetence. Or cowardice. Which do you prefer?”
“Is there a third option?” Max grumbled.
“Nope.”
“C’mon, Doc! The woman just woke up from getting shot. How the hell was I supposed to tell her she was shot with the same gun that killed her fiancée?”
