“I agree with you, but I am curious why you didn’t just tell Doug the guard’s name so he could be dealt with, while keeping the rest of us from going through the circus that descended on us.”

  She didn’t know everything that had been shared, but Doug made it seem mysterious. Lizzie hadn’t come up with a guard she thought responsible, but she realized after looking at a full staff list that there were half a dozen names she didn’t know.

  “There are a lot of things you don’t know about this place. You’re lucky that you’re still new, because they’re going to be focusing on the people who have been here for more than a year.”

  “What do you mean?” Lizzie hadn’t been watching everyone’s interactions with the inspectors, but she figured the nurses all went through the same process.

  How long have you worked here? Describe a normal shift. Have you noticed anything suspicious? They seemed like pretty simple questions to Lizzie.

  “I’m not sure you want to hear the truth, but it’s going to come out anyway. There’s a good chance Dr. Hanson won’t be working here much longer.” She curled a strand of her hair around her finger as she considered her next words. “About a month after I made this my temporary home, I started a very physical relationship with the good doctor, one I’m sure his wife wouldn’t approve of. I was happy with the arrangement until I came to him with my little night visitor problem and he thought I shouldn’t hinder the creep from doing whatever he wanted.”

  Lizzie felt the color drain from her face as she listened. Whether it was consensual or not, there was a huge problem with one of the doctors sleeping with a patient. Lizzie wasn’t even comfortable letting a coworker take her out to dinner. She couldn’t fathom a doctor breaking that kind of ethical code.

  “You were having sex with your doctor?” Lizzie had heard her, but she wanted to believe she’d imagined the words.

  “You wouldn’t know it by looking at him, but Mikey has phenomenal stamina, and it sounds like Mrs. Hanson just can’t keep up with his needs.” She was starting to sound like Maddie, and Lizzie felt sick hearing about it.

  “Okay, let’s just leave it at that. So you’re paying him back, which I understand, even if I can’t understand what was going on in the first place, but I have to ask if you’re doing anything about your late night visitor. Or is all the hubbub to get Dr. Hanson fired?”

  The whole situation sounded strange, and wasn’t good for anyone involved. The doctor could try to claim Stephanie was making it all up, which given that she was in the hospital to begin with could go a long way. Even if that didn’t work out, Stephanie wasn’t going to come up smelling of roses.

  “Don’t worry, I went to Mikey because I wanted to see the guy fired. The dog and pony show should get that done. Like I said, they’ve already mentioned moving me, but I may be willing to stick around if my annoyances are dealt with. After all, it’s close to my brother and I’d get to live vicariously through you as you get to know Doug better.”

  If Lizzie’s head could spontaneously combust, it would have after hearing the manipulation she heard in Stephanie’s voice. The idea of her sharing any details of her life was preposterous.

  “I guess it’s good you admit you’re not ready to go back to your life, because what you just said terrifies me.”

  Stephanie smiled at her and there seemed to be something almost sinister to it. Lizzie actually felt bad for Doug and Nelson, because she’d appeared to be doing better, but Lizzie could tell whatever caused her to end up there was still simmering under the surface.

  “Hey, now. I didn’t try to stab anyone, so I’d say I’m making progress. I also didn’t tell Doug the whole story, because I knew he’d be more inclined to do something if he didn’t hear I had a lover on the inside. Just because I manipulated the situation, doesn’t mean I’m crazy.”

  Lizzie wasn’t going to touch any of the chaos spewing from the other woman’s lips. If Stephanie didn’t think she was crazy, they had a very different definition of the word.

  She looked around the room, wishing there was something she could focus on. She’d thought she was going to learn a little more about Doug and the mess she’d gotten herself in, but Stephanie wasn’t going to help with that cause, and if she could, Lizzie didn’t think she could believe a word she said.

  She wasn’t sure how much time she’d wasted, but it had to be close to six. All she wanted to do was pick up Ben and cuddle with him the rest of the night. There was a fight ahead to make that happen, but she was up for it.

  “I’ll let you get back to your plotting. I’m hoping I stay out of those plots, please and thank you.” Chances were the request wouldn’t help, but it didn’t hurt to ask.

  “Have fun playing house. I’d watch your back, though. Reality has a way of rearing its ugly head when you least expect it.” She cocked her head to one side before she continued. “Don’t look at me like I just threatened you. I’m merely speaking from personal experience. I thought everything was falling in place between Dylan and me, but it was my imagination.”

  Lizzie wasn’t aware she’d made a face. She didn’t doubt it, though. Out of all the times she’d spoken to Stephanie before, there had never been a conversation that had given her goosebumps. Whether Stephanie was threatening her or not, she suddenly felt like she needed extra protection.

  “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, unless of course they decide to move you somewhere else for your own safety.”

  Stephanie gave another big smile and waved. Lizzie didn’t bother sticking around. She quickly made it out of the room and headed towards her locker. She knew her steps could be considered sprinting, but she wanted to get out of the hospital as soon as possible.

  Maddie’s voice could be heard from twenty feet away as Lizzie got closer. If her keys weren’t hiding in her locker, she would’ve gone straight to her car and left her troubles behind for at least the night. She took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

  She spotted Maddie by her locker with her phone to her ear. Judging by the conversation, it was her sex stallion on the other end, and they were already working on foreplay. Lizzie remained as quiet as she could as she grabbed her purse and hightailed it back to the door. She almost made it, but Maddie stopped mid-sentence to bring Lizzie to a halt.

  “Don’t think you’re going to get away with skipping out on the details. I know you have to get home to your boyfriend and kid, but I’m going to find you tomorrow and you’re going to tell me everything.”

  Lizzie let out the breath it felt like she’d been holding since she walked in the room. She never thought she’d think it, but thank god for the sex stallion. She didn’t say anything as she turned her arm around and waved without looking back.

  She suddenly felt a case of food poisoning coming on, and with Doug and Ben supposedly making dinner, there was a chance she wouldn’t have to lie about it. When she’d heard the dinner plans, she’d originally hoped Doug had some canned ravioli on hand, something she ate roughly once a week. Seeing how the man was in the running for the perfect male, he’d probably come up with a five-course dinner, complete with candlelight and soft music.

  She shook her head, trying to get the image she painted to dissolve. She needed to quit thinking of him as the ideal guy. He had to have flaws like any other man.

  Lizzie distracted herself all the way through security and to her car. She kind of wished it was Doug’s car out there waiting. It had been exciting to taste what it was like to have that kind of power at her disposal. Along with everything else that had happened in a day and a half, it made her wish things could be different. Not that she was interested in learning how to live in Doug’s fancy house while driving around in fancy car. She just wished she felt she could actually live.

  As she got to her car, she felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, and she felt the smile that had become a trained response spread across her face. Every time she got a new text, it was some cute picture of Ben and Doug, sharing how they were spending their day. She’d felt bad about forgetting to leave the car seat, but it seemed like they were getting along fine without it.

  Lizzie waited until she was in the car and had it running before she checked the message. Her brows furrowed as she realized it wasn’t from Doug, but rather a number that wasn’t in her phone book. Random wrong number texts didn’t happen often, but it wouldn’t have been the first time someone had sent something to her by mistake.

  She was going to put the phone down on the seat next to her when a second text came in from the same number. The first one she hadn’t bothered reading the few words on the screen, but the second one was hard to ignore.

  READ THE TEXT!

  Lizzie’s eyes darted up and she looked around the parking lot. It could’ve still been a random text, but it was weird timing that the second one happened right when she was putting the phone down. Over the years, Lizzie had learned coincidences didn’t happen often in her life.

  There were over a dozen cars in the parking lot, not all of which were easy to check for passengers because of the way they were facing. A quick scan didn’t reveal anyone in them, so she looked towards the building, curious if someone was looking out one of the windows. The constant paranoia that followed her around was kicking into high gear.

  Her phone vibrated again and panic really set in, even before she glanced down to see what had come in. It could’ve been the sender apologizing for the text, but she knew it wouldn’t be.

  If I wanted you to find me, I would’ve been waiting in your car.

  The message went on to tell her to read the first text again. The tone told her all she needed to know about the sender. Speaking about him had somehow manifested her worse nightmare.

  She slid the first text over to see what horror he’d brought with him. If he was watching her, tearing out of the driveway to pick up Ben and head out of town would be a little difficult. She knew that, but it was all she really wanted to do.

  You can’t honestly believe I’d let you welcome another man into my wife’s life. Not to mention my son’s. Go pick Ben up and go home. It took me a while to find you, but rest assured that I’m still committed to making our marriage work.

  He was delusional. Knowing that, Lizzie found her chest tightening and a chill working its way through her body. He hadn’t really contested the divorce, and she’d hoped over the years he’d move on. Even when she spent half of her time looking over her shoulder, she’d secretly hoped he’d given up.

  She should’ve known better. When Thomas Wheaton said you were his wife forever, he meant it. It didn’t matter that he had a funny way of maintaining the vows they’d exchanged.

  Lizzie stared at the phone for a few moments, trying to rack her brain for an exit strategy that would work. With him supposedly watching, there wasn’t a lot she could do. The second she left, he’d follow. At least she figured he would. Maybe he’d think he’d put enough fear in her that she had to follow the directions.

  There was no problem in her mind going and picking up Ben. It was the going home part that vexed her. Would he be waiting for them? And what would he do to her if they were somewhere alone? They were probably the only two people in the parking lot, if he was really watching her from the shadows, but it was a public place. Behind the closed doors of her house wasn’t.

  She put down the phone and took a few deep breaths. Was it better to deal with his wrath without Ben around? She felt Doug could probably protect Ben better than she could. He had money and she was fairly certain he’d beat Tommy in a brawl. With cash, he’d be able to hire the best lawyers and do a better job than she had about making sure Tommy couldn’t get to her baby. Once Ben was away from Doug, he was more vulnerable, which wasn’t easy to admit.

  With the formation of a plan in her mind, Lizzie put the car in gear. Tommy expected her to do exactly as he said, because during their marriage, she’d done just that, but she had changed after spending years running from him. She still felt like the timid wife who let him rule her life. That didn’t mean she hadn’t found other options.

  As she made her way through traffic, she spent more time looking behind her than ahead. Just when she thought she found a car following her, it would turn. It’d been two years since she’d seen Tommy, so she had no idea what he was driving, which made her task of finding him a little difficult.

  She kept telling herself that Doug was her option, and he was a big enough unknown to both her and Tommy that she hoped she wasn’t putting all her eggs in the wrong basket. Her life and Ben’s both depended on it.

  Chapter Nine

  Doug knew something was wrong the second he saw Lizzie pull in his driveway. The way her eyes kept darting into the rearview mirror told him something had happened, so did the lack of any color in her face as she made it up the walk. He was worried she was going to fall down, but he let her make it to him without running out to sweep her in his arms.

  “What happened?” Doug held the door open as she hurried inside, refusing to make eye contact as she did.

  Lizzie ignored the question while she made her way over to the couch where Ben had fallen asleep. The little tyke had been so excited to help Doug all day that he’d worn himself out. Doug thought about moving him to his bed, but he was worried it would wake him up. There was also the fact that his bed sat higher off the floor than the couch and he was worried Ben would roll around and end up on the floor.

  Doug almost warned her not to disturb Ben as she scooped him and Turtle up in her arms. As soon as the stuffed animal was called for, Doug knew their fun was in for a little break. They’d played with almost every other toy in the bags Lizzie had brought along, but anytime Doug suggested they play with Turtle, Ben emphatically shook his head.

  Focusing in on what was presently going on in his living room, Doug knew whatever it was that had shaken Lizzie, it was important for her to hold him. One arm squeezed him tight as the other cradled his head. With a deep inhale of breath she seemed to take in the light scent of baby powder Doug had decided Ben smelled like.

  “I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but what happened? Did something go wrong with the inspection? I thought they’d just ask some questions and be out of your hair.”

  He’d been certain Lizzie wouldn’t get wrapped up in what ended up being more chaotic than he’d thought it would be. Nels had called to give Doug a few updates, but nothing seemed concrete, other than Steph had been right about things being fishy there. Through whatever channels Nelson had, he’d heard about three or four people losing their jobs.

  Nels also shared that Steph had used Doug for a bigger agenda. It was hard to hear that kind of stuff, but he was used to being a means to an ends for a woman. If it kept her safe in the end, it was worth it. He just wished he could remove whatever had been tattooed on him that indicated he was a sucker for a damsel in distress.

  “I should have left yesterday. Once my day started going bad, I should’ve known it was time to move on.” Lizzie’s words were barely more than breaths.

  Doug had to strain to hear her and half the words he had to guess. It didn’t help that he’d momentarily been distracted thinking about Steph’s issues. He had a new damsel in distress right in front of him, and he was still trying to figure out what had happened to the last one.

  “What are you talking about?” Doug didn’t know what to do. He was immobile, standing a few feet from the couch as he tried to make sense of the problem. She hadn’t grabbed Ben and run, which was the only good thing he could find in her fear.

  “Tommy found us.” There was a hitch in her voice, which made Doug move around so he could see her face.

  Tears were pouring down her cheeks. Doug was surprised how quiet her crying was. It broke his heart to think it was that way because she had years of practice. Seeing how devastated she was, he didn’t need to have her clarify who Tommy was. He didn’t know much about her, but he assumed there was only one man in her past who could cause the tears.

  “What does that mean?” Doug was trying to figure out if there’d been some kind of confrontation. Lizzie hadn’t shown she was hurt, but like the crying, she was probably good about hiding that kind of thing. He held his breath waiting for her to respond, hoping she hadn’t had to deal with meeting her ex face-to-face.

  “He sent me a text, and it was pretty clear he was watching me. He said I need to pick up Ben and get as far away from you as possible. For some deranged reason, he believes we’re going to be a family again.”

  Doug felt his jaw drop slightly as he took in her expression. She wouldn’t look up at him. Instead she studied the couch as she rocked Ben back and forth. It was surprising the baby was still asleep. Doug wondered how in the world the guy had gotten her number, since he figured she’d changed it at some point over the years, but that wasn’t the question that came out of his mouth.

  “Did you call the cops?”

  The question caused her eyes to dart up to him, and the expression on her face made him wonder if he’d grown a second head. He thought the question was an obvious one. If someone was bothering you, and they had a history of hurting you, it only made sense to get the police involved.

  Doug was close enough that he bent down a little so he could wipe some of the tears off her face. Her face had turned red as the crying went on, but she was still strikingly beautiful. She didn’t have a lick of makeup on, which was probably good because of the tears, and frankly she didn’t need it. Doug had witnessed women who caked layers of the stuff on, and not one of them compared to the woman sitting in front of him.