Fallon's Flame

Chapter Eleven

Olivia gnawed her lower lip. “My aunt used to tell stories about you, you know.” Mrs. Sharpe didn't answer, not that Olivia had thought she would. Ever since Olivia had remembered where she'd seen the woman, Mrs. Sharpe had internally shut down.

“You're not going to talk about this, are you?”

“No.”

Olivia huffed. “But don't I owe Jesse the truth? If he learns the navy has nothing to do with my being Circ, if he learns what I really am, he'll—”

“What? Love you any less? Why are you so determined to end this relationship before it can begin? Do you know how much you've already helped him? His migraines haven't returned.

He's both mentally and physically stronger. He broadcasts now. Call out to him and see. He'll answer.”

“Jesse, are you okay? Any sign of Kisho?”

He answered immediately. “We think we may have found him. I'll let you know when I can.

Stay safe.”

She blinked. “He thinks they may have found Kisho. He'll let us know.”

“Good.” Mrs. Sharpe didn't look surprised.

“You knew they'd find him.”

“Now, Olivia, how would I know that?”

The look Olivia gave her caused the woman to chuckle. “Well, there is that, isn't there?

Come now. I'm here for a reason. And so are you.”

Olivia didn't like feeling manipulated, and right now she felt like a puppet on strings.

“Why didn't you ask me to come down here? Why the subterfuge? Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because it had to happen like this. And like Kisho will tell you, nothing is set in stone.

We each have our own choices to make. Jesse fell in love with you.”

“His choice or hormones?” Olivia asked drily, wishing she didn't feel such a thrill from his devotion. Wishing she could believe in it.

“Does it matter?”

“Yes, it does. How do I know what I feel for him isn't just a Circ need to bond or something?”

“Then why don't you feel it for Jules or Gunnar or Kisho?”

“Because I—” She had no explanation. No one but Jesse felt right, and Olivia believed in her feelings.

“Exactly. What you feel, what Jesse feels, are true emotions, Olivia. Unlike you, Jesse won't shy from the truth. It's not in his character. He'll always meet life head-on, even when it doesn't make sense.”

“Mrs. Sharpe, Jesse and I just met. How can I love someone when I don't even know his middle name? Where he grew up? What he likes and dislikes?”

“Love is what love is. All the rest is immaterial, isn't it? Or are you trying to say you don't love him? If he runs into trouble looking for his friend, if he dies out there, will you care?”

“Of course I'll care! How can you say that?” Olivia fumed. “I might not know him as well as I'd like, but I know he'd give his life for his friends or those he considers his to protect.” Like her. “He's a good man.”

“The best.”

“He would never hurt me. He wants to have babies with me, you know.”

“Do tell?”

Olivia sighed. “I love him, and it makes no sense. How do I know this isn't just like all my other failed relationships? I have a lousy track record with guys.”

“Only because you've been looking for someone who's not out there, he's here. Honestly you don't know that this will work out. Just because you and Jesse share the same basic nature doesn't mean you'll have a happily ever after.

“You have to take a risk, Olivia. Stand on your own two feet and make a decision. You know, instinctively, that what you feel for Jesse is very different from anything you've ever experienced. Circ mating is powerful. It's primal. And because you're both psychically gifted, your bond with one another will be stronger than anything you could ever share with a normal man.”

“But is it real?”

“Do you want it to be?”

That was the problem, because as much as Olivia tried to deny it, she desperately wanted a life with Jesse. What scared her more than anything was the possibility he might one day not love her anymore. That he might turn out to be less than the man she'd fallen in love with.

“There's your answer, Olivia. I know this is all new. Being a Circ is a scary thing, but falling in love is even scarier.” Mrs. Sharpe settled a gentle smile on her. “Now do me a favor and find Ava for me. I need her.”

Dismissed, Olivia left the study and sought the younger woman. She found Ava sniping at Jack about men in general in the doorway of the large downstairs storage room. The minute she saw Olivia, she turned and stalked toward her.

“And you,” she started.

“Thank God. I have work to do. If Mrs. Sharpe asks, I'm on my way to the airport to pick up Doc.” Jack disappeared from the storage room in a run.

“What's wrong with you?” Olivia asked.

“I'm tired of men. Tired of women who look like you taking all the good ones.”

“Women who look like me? Have you looked into a mirror lately? You're worlds prettier than I'll ever be.”

Ava snorted. “Sure. I'm so pretty, three sexy Circs ignored me in favor of you the other night.”

Olivia flushed, all too aware of Ava's pique. “Look. I'm not sure what you think you know, but there are reasons for the things that happened. Um, Circ reasons you couldn't possibly understand.”

Ava glared. “Oh, and you can?” She rose to her full height and still met Olivia's breastbone.

“Yes, unfortunately, or fortunately, depending upon how you look at it. I'm like the guys.” Ava blinked. “What? How?”

Olivia thought she knew. And that she'd never expected, not in a million years. She hedged. “Ah, my father was in the navy a long time ago. I'm wondering if maybe they fed him some experimental drugs, the same way they tampered with the current Circs.”

“Oh. Wow. That's…um…wow.” Ava's ire died a quick death. “Man. I guess that does explain your sudden loose morals.”

“Hell, Ava. How the hell do you know so much?” A horrific thought occurred. “There aren't cameras in the rooms, are there?” She didn't like anyone knowing what she'd done with not just Jesse, but Jules and Tersch. Bad enough she wanted to bury her head in the sand, but if they had a video of it, she'd die of embarrassment.

Ava scowled. “Of course not. I'm just good at my job, and it's my job to know everything that happens around here.”

“Okay, I'm officially uncomfortable now. Look. Jesse and I have something going.

Gunnar's all yours.”

“I didn't say I wanted Gunnar.” Her lips firmed in a mutinous line.

“Sure, whatever. In case you're curious, they think they found Kisho.”

“Yes! Oh, man. I need to get the lab prepped.”

“Lab?”

“Our own version of Circ medicine. We've been without a medical staff for a while, but Mrs. S. said she's going to fix that. For now we're waiting on Doc to fly in.” The Circ expert, Doctor Evan Dennis. Olivia nodded.

Ava turned to leave, then paused. “I'm sorry that I've been snappish lately.” Olivia's cheeks burned. “Don't worry about it.”

“No, I owe you an apology. What you do, what any of you do, isn't my business. It's not as if I've declared my intentions or anything.”

Olivia swore she could feel the unspoken yet lingering between them. “Right. So all's forgiven?”

Ava sighed. “Yeah. Besides, I have too much to do to worry about Circ love lives.

Between you and me, I think we have some security issues at the mansion. Someone in the higher circles isn't playing for our team.”

Olivia stared. “Are you serious? How do you know?”

“I'm pretty good at putting patterns together. What are the odds the team went in to clear out top secret biodrugs and the lab is empty except for dead bodies? Montaña's men vanished into thin air; then they're in the States? No, someone knew we were going in. I can feel it in my bones.”

“You've shared this with Mrs. Sharpe?”

“Sure did. The old lady's looking into things. And then with Kisho kidnapped—well, I think it's time to batten down the hatches, right?'

“Um, okay.”

“Circle the wagons, up our defenses. You're a software expert, you should help.”

“I know intelligence systems, not security measures.”

“But Jack does. Melissa can write code, though she pretends she's forgotten how. Between the three of you, you could install a new security system only we can decode. I'll talk to the boss lady about it. In the meantime, Mrs. S. mentioned you're going to stay on as our own intelligence expert. So I thought it best if we started fresh.” Ava smiled, her swift change in subject mind-boggling. “It really is nice to have another woman around.”

“I haven't exactly decided to stay.” Or been asked.

Ava raised a brow in question, the expression an eerie mirror of Mrs. Sharpe.

“Maybe I'm thinking about it.”

“Right. Congrats anyway. And I want to be in the wedding.” Ava left Olivia standing with her mouth agape.

Melissa found her like that and laughed. “Ava strikes again. Come on. You can help me freshen up Kisho's room for his return. I found some flowers and a few books I think he'll like.”

Olivia let out a loud breath. “That I can do. So tell me. What's it like living around so much testosterone and Ava?”

Melissa grinned. “I thought Jack was bad. But the guys are a hoot. Slobs who curse like sailors.” She chuckled. “But I never feel as safe anywhere else but here. And poker nights are a blast.”

“Hmm.”

Melissa nodded to the hallway. “Come on. Help me bring some things up to Kisho's room.

There's never even so much as a speck of dust up there. Jesse's the only other one who's so neat, but he's dusty. I keep hoping Kisho will rub off on Gunnar and Jules, or heaven help me, Jack, but no such luck.” She paused. “I only know what the guys' rooms look like because I help Jack's nieces clean when they come.”

“Sure,” Olivia teased.

Melissa flushed. “Are you kidding me? Jack is pretty aggressive. He couldn't care less how the Circs are. One of them even looks at me funny, and he's in their face. You should have seen him and Gunnar go at it at first. Gunnar was just teasing, but Jack doesn't play.” She smiled.

“Unless it's with me.”

Olivia laughed and walked with Melissa.

Ava had a point. It was nice to be around women for a change.