Page 4 of A Diagnosis Dark & Deadly

Chapter3

Olivia letMason in once they reached her apartment. It was a couple of blocks from the hospital, and when it wasn’t raining, Olivia opted to walk rather than drive. She was somewhat subconscious about her apartment; it wasn’t messy or anything, but it was hers, and now Dr. Hadley was going to scrutinize it, like some detective looking for clues at the scene of the crime.

Her apartment was like any other apartment; it was a little more spacey however. She decided to pay the extra money for a bigger apartment that had a guest bedroom in case any one of her friends decided to spend the night. She never believed Hadley would be here, although she’d be lying if she said she had never thought about it. Maybe thought was the wrong word; fantasized seemed to be a betterfit.

Olivia didn’t have a crush or anything on her boss, but she wasn’t blind; he was definitely attractive in a rough-around-the-edges kind of way. He was six foot one, with short, light brown hair that was going slightly grey. He had a long face, and a constant five o’clock shadow that normally clashed with his sharp suits. He had the clearest blue eyes Olivia had ever seen, and was quite fit for his age, which Olivia guessed to be around late forties. Owen had seen Hadley a couple of times, and even he seemed threatened by the older doctor.

Olivia locked the door behind them, and when she turned, she nearly ran into Hadley. Her eyes first saw his suit, a sharp beige number with a silk white shirt and a matching tie. For whatever reason, instead of wearing loafers, he wore tattered tennis shoes.

“Your suit,” she said, not noticing the intense stare he was looking at her with. She looked up at him, meeting his eyes. “It’swet.”

“Funny thing about rain,” he said in his low, gruff voice, “it gets thingswet.”

Olivia rolled her eyes and walked around him and into the living room. “Make yourself at home,” she told him. “I’m going to get you some dry clothes you can changeinto.”

“I see you’ve prepared for this exact moment,” he called after her, watching her retreat into where he assumed her bedroomwas.

While she was gone, he took a seat on her couch and glanced around. It was definitely a nice, kept apartment. The walls were somewhat bare. There was a television in front of him, and coffee table mere inches away from his legs. A couple of photos were sitting on the clear, glass table, and he couldn’t help but lean forward and study them. He rarely ever saw Olivia in casual clothing, but even then, she wore somewhat baggy clothes, hiding her figure. She wasn’t fat or anything; he wondered what she was ashamed about.

She was standing next to her new ex-boyfriend. He definitely wasn’t someone to brag about. His dark brown hair was military-style short with a prominent widow’s peak. Mason couldn’t make out the color of his eyes, but if he had to guess, they were definitely a form of brown. He was about five foot ten, and slightly overweight. For the most part, he was clean shaven, but a dark goatee was plastered over his chin. He was smiling, and while it was obvious he didn’t have braces, his teeth weren’t noticeably crooked.

Mason’s eyes drifted back over to Olivia. Her smile was big and maybe even sincere, but it didn’t reach her eyes. The thought troubled him; what had she seen inhim?

“I wasn’t planning on doing it today,” a voice explained quietly.

Mason wasn’t startled and looked at the picture a moment longer before placing it on the coffee table. He looked at her, studying her. She didn’t seem sad, maybe just numb. She reached for the photo, and he handed it toher.

“Ah, yes,” she said, a memory formulating on her full lips. “The Space Needle. Wasn’t exactly the kind of anniversary date I was planning on, actually.” She handed the clothes she brought Mason to him, and as she opened the frame to take out the photo, said, “Those are my brother’s. He’s about as tall as you are.” After slipping the paper from its confines, she set the frame back on the coffee table and ripped the photo apart. She took the pieces and walked into her kitchen to throw themaway.

The act surprised Mason. Most women who broke up with their boyfriends of two years needed time to grieve, to fully accept the fact that things were over before disposing of sentimental items. When Olivia threw away the photo, it seemed almost easy for her to do. He didn’t know if that was exactly healthy ornot.

“I’m going to take a shower,” she announced. “I’ll grab you a towel so you can dry off and you can change in the guest bedroom if you want.” She walked over to him as he stood, clothes in his arm. “I’ll show you theway.”

As he followed her, he studied the back of her. The damp clothes naturally seemed to cling tighter to her body. Whatever she was hiding, he noticed, was nothing to be embarrassed about. She stopped abruptly and bent down to open a hallway cupboard before grabbing two towels. She handed one to him and kept the other one for herself.

“The guest bedroom is down that way,” she said, pointing down the hall. “When you’re finished, there’s coffee and tea in the kitchen. I’m sure you know how to make coffee or tea?” She arched an eyebrow at him, her smile revealing her teasing nature.

“I might have forgotten,” he said shrugging. “You know Hayes gets into work early just to make the coffee exactly the way he likesit.”

Olivia smiled at the comment about her fellow team member. “That’s true,” she said, before reaching up and patting him on the shoulder. “I’m sure you know how to follow directions. Well, reading directions at least.”

He smiled and nodded. She headed back down the opposite way and into her bathroom. Before long, Mason could hear running water and figured Olivia was in the shower. He padded down the hallway and into the guest bedroom. When he entered, he shut the door. As he began to run the towel over his hair, his eyes scanned the bedroom. Like the apartment, it was normal.

What did he expect tofind?

He was trying to figure her out, trying to see if her apartment could tell him anything about her. He had never expected to be in her apartment, although there were many pleasant dreams he had envisioned of being there. After slipping out of his wet clothes, he tugged on a grey t-shirt and blue pajama bottoms. Olivia was good in her assertation of his size; the clothes fit comfortably.

But what to do with his wet clothes? He couldn’t actually use the dryer without having her offer it first. While he was rude at times, he wasn’t completely obnoxious… most of the time. Maybe she had a hamper in herroom…?

That was his excuse, his reason to be in her room. Maybe the apartment itself would not reveal who Olivia was, but her room had to. Cautiously, he knocked lightly on the slightly ajar door. When he heard no response, he stepped inside. The water was still running, so she must still be in the shower. Instead of trying to look for a hamper, his eyes drifted around the room. Her bed was covered in a sage green bedspread. Blinds were drawn from a nearby window, overlooking the city. Raindrops slowly rolled down the glass. A dresser was across from the bed, with pictures on it. Before he could closely examine them, the door to the connected bathroom opened abruptly. Mason quickly turned around, his eyes meeting Olivia, clad in nothing but a white towel.

No, whatever she was hiding definitely was not something she should be ashamedof.

Her eyes looked inquisitive, but when he opened his mouth to try to explain, no words came out. Instead, he opted for blatantly staring at her. Her shoulders were slender, her neck long and feminine. She had a peachy color to her skin tone, but it seemed to get paler concerning the skin that was always hidden. The towel stopped just above her knees, revealing toned calves. Her curves rivaled those of an hourglass, and her long hair was damp and softly waved down her back, much like it had when it was exposed to the rain. She was… beautiful. He knew that; that was easy to decipher, but seeing her like this… he was surprised.

Olivia was uncomfortable under his gaze and yet excited at the same time. She was frozen, nearly completely vulnerable under his thorough eyes. He never missed anything, and like everyone, she had her own set of flaws. She didn’t want him to see her this way. She never actually said she was perfect, but she didn’t want him to see her imperfections. After a long moment, she got frustrated and opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by his lips touchinghers.

She was surprised at such a forward action, and then silently wondered why she had been. Dr. Hadley was nothing if not forward. She had frozen once again underneath his touch, as though she suddenly forgot how to kiss. The towel that had seemed once so thick as she wrapped it around herself seemed to nearly transparent now. His lips were gentle and yet prodding; he wanted a response out of her. His whiskers tickled her smooth cheeks, and slowly, she felt herself slip underneath the spell he was casting on her. She began to kiss himback.