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Liz gives me a friendly smile. “Welcome to The Anderson Clinic. Come down for a coffee or a chat during your breaks. I know it can get lonely up there.”
“I will, thank you,” I tell her, glad for the invitation which I’ll definitely take her up on. We say goodbye and leave the fertility clinic.
“Are all the patients in there looking to have babies through sperm donors?” I ask Sarah.
“Most of them,” she says. “They are the bravest women I know. It’s a rigorous process and some women change their minds halfway though. Don’t blame them though.”
I’d give anything to interview such women but that will take time. I’m in no rush. I’m tempted to ask Sarah if mistakes happen but she’d immediately get suspicious and the last thing I want is to have them probe deeper into my identity.
A doctor, complete with a white coat and a stethoscope hanging from his neck slows down to speak to Sarah. He smiles at her, reminding me of Jace Anderson. He has the same neatly arranged teeth and a smile that immediately puts you at ease. He must be my boss’s brother.
“Hi, Doctor Anderson,” Sarah says with a huge smile.
“It’s Dylan,” he says in a teasing tone and then glances at her pregnant belly. “Not long to go now, huh?”
Sarah pats it and lets out a sigh. “Can’t happen soon enough. I’m tired of being pregnant.”
Dylan chuckles. “Less than ten days to go.”
“Yeah,” Sarah says with a nod and then turns to me. “This is Olivia James. She’ll be covering for me while I’m away.”
Dylan smiles and offers his hand. We shake. He exudes warmth and friendliness. Despite his physical similarities to Jace Anderson, there’s a marked difference between them. Dylan is open while Jace has a closed-off look. He’s a mystery. You can’t tell what’s going on in his mind by looking into his eyes. Jace Anderson gives nothing away.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Anderson,” I tell him.
“Please call me Dylan. Dr. Anderson makes me feel like my father and I’m not that old yet.” He winks at me. He’s a charmer all right. His pager goes off and he excuses himself.
Sarah and I return to the office, having finished with the tour. “You’re going to enjoy working for Mr. Anderson,” she says, moving around her desk to sit down.
I take the chair next to hers. “I’m sure I will. Everyone here is so friendly.” I push away the guilt sneaking up on me. I’m on under cover assignment. It’s the same thing that actors do when they take on a role.
“They are,” Sarah says and then suddenly grimaces. She drops her right hand to her belly and rubs circles on it.
“Are you all right?” I ask her. I’ve never been close to a woman who is a week away from giving birth. Is grimacing a normal part of the process? Sarah is making me nervous.
She smiles. “I’m fine. It just gets uncomfortable sometimes but I’m okay.” She clicks on her mouse and the computer screen comes to life.
We go through Mr. Anderson’s schedule. “He likes his coffee at eight on the dot, then most times, he’ll leave to walk around the clinic and have breakfast at the cafeteria downstairs.”
Sarah shows me how to figure out the emails which require Mr. Anderson’s personal attention and which ones don’t. It’s not difficult at all, mostly common sense. My confidence soars. I can do this. At a few minutes to eight, Sarah and I go to the kitchenette next door to make Mr. Anderson’s coffee.
“He likes his coffee black, no sugar, and no cream,” she says.
I cross my fingers that she doesn’t ask me to go into the office with her. I’m not ready to face Jace Anderson.
No such luck.
“Let’s take his coffee in,” Sarah says when the coffee is ready. We head down the hallway where she raps gently on his door and then pushes it open.
I brace myself and follow her in. Mr. Anderson looks up as we enter and his gaze immediately finds mine. I tremble internally as something intense passes between us. I hadn’t imagined my reaction to him or his to mine.
His blue eyes are fixed firmly on me as he addresses Sarah. “Thank you.” He smiles at me and I feel as if I’ll melt into a puddle on the floor. “Good morning, Olivia. How is your first day going?”
I try to talk and fail. Sarah turns to look at me. It’s the kick in the belly I need. I plaster a smile on my face. “God morning. It’s going well, sir.”
“Please call me Jace. We’re not very formal around here,” he says.
He’s freaking gorgeous. Awareness shoots through me as inappropriate thoughts form in my mind. I nod in response, glad that I don’t have to say anything.
