Chapter 287
[ 499 words ]
Chapter 287:
He issued strict, non-negotiable orders. She was to stay in the penthouse, use only the armored SUV, and absolutely not engage with Cornelia under any circumstances.
Caroline nodded. She swallowed the thick lump forming in her throat. She promised him she would be careful and wait for his safe return.
He lifted his left hand and cupped the side of her face, his rough thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone. His right arm remained still at his side as he leaned in and kissed her one last time. It was fierce and desperate, leaving her lips bruised and tingling with the force of it.
Jarrod grabbed his heavy gear bag with his left hand. He turned on his heel and strode out of the bedroom without looking back. He knew hesitation in his line of work was fatal.
The heavy front door of the penthouse thudded shut. The sound echoed hollowly in the massive, empty space.
Caroline stood alone in the middle of the room. The sudden silence was deafening. She rubbed her arms against the sudden, biting chill in the air.
She looked at the empty side of the bed. The indentation of his heavy body was still clearly visible on the rumpled sheets.
𝖱𝗈𝗺аnce novе𝗹s 𝘰n 𝗀𝗮𝗹𝘯𝘰vеl𝗌.c𝗼𝘮
For the first time since she met him, Caroline realized she wasn’t relieved by his absence. She was absolutely terrified of losing him.
Caroline forced herself out of the empty bed. The absolute silence of the penthouse pressed heavily against her eardrums, amplifying her anxiety.
She went through her morning routine mechanically. She threw on her standard blue hospital scrubs and tied her hair back into a tight, practical ponytail.
K.C. Bell was waiting downstairs with the armored SUV. His demeanor was strictly professional. He offered no updates on the Colonel’s location or status.
The drive to Washington United Medical Center was a blur. Caroline stared blankly out the tinted window. Her mind was thousands of miles away in an active war zone.
She arrived at the ER locker room. She shoved her canvas bag into her metal locker. She tried desperately to mentally shift gears back to being Nurse Thompson.
Caroline walked out to the nurses’ station. The ER was already bustling with the usual morning chaos of minor traumas and seasonal flu symptoms.
Across the busy floor, she saw Brenna laughing at something Dr. Julian Croft had just said. He had his arm casually draped around Brenna’s shoulders, and he leaned down to hand her a steaming cup of coffee, placing a quick kiss on her temple. They looked happy, comfortable, and completely absorbed in their own world.
Brenna spotted Caroline and her face lit up. She waved her over enthusiastically. “Caroline! Perfect timing. Julian brought me coffee from that place you love, and he got you one, too.”
Julian turned, his smile warm and friendly. He held out the second cup. “Brenna mentioned you were on shift. Thought you could use the caffeine boost. You look tired.” His concern was purely professional, the kind a senior doctor shows to a hardworking nurse.
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