Covertly Strong (The Strong Series Book 1) (34 page)

SLOAN PATIENTLY SITS IN DR. Mendez’s waiting room. She checked in with the receptionist upon her arrival and was thankful to find that Dr. Valaquez—
relentless Antonio
—had already put in a good word for her, promptly setting up a morning meeting with the one man who might be the connection she needs to get inside the Arturo compound.

“Dr. Santora.” The young receptionist motions for her towards the open doorway.

Sloan stands up, quickly smoothing the wrinkles from her black pencil skirt with her fingers, and then promptly follows the receptionist’s lead. The woman’s—
more like girl’s
—brown curls bounce with each sashay of her shapely hips. She leads Sloan down a small hallway past a few examining rooms then ushers her inside Dr. Mendez’s office.

“Dr. Mendez, this is Dr. Santora, the ten-o’clock appointment that Dr. Valaquez scheduled.” The quick introduction is tossed out before his office door is shut.

The young—and visibly handsome—Mexican physician stands up from his desk, his hand reaching out to shake Sloan’s hand. She grasps his firm grip and returns the gesture.

“Thank you so much for fitting me in. I’m sure you have a busy schedule, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this,” she adds with a smile.

“Please.” He motions for her take a seat in the leather chair that sits before his desk. His eyes peruse her feminine physique, glinting with masculine approval.

A shiver runs up her spine in response to his brazen once-over. His facial expression shows no signs of guilt for ogling her with such audacity. She shakes off the uncomfortable feeling with a deep breath, promptly putting her game face on. Throughout her career as both a CIA agent and surgeon, she’s dealt with her fair share of men like Dr. Mendez. She knows immediately that he is the type of man who doesn’t take no for an answer. The kind of man who lives a greedy life where he indulges in illegal behavior and always gets what he wants. He is the exact type of man who young girl’s like his impressionable receptionist—who he is most likely fucking—should stay the hell away from.

Before this meeting, Sloan received a plethora of information on Dr. Mendez from a background check Agent Matthews promptly performed. She knows he’s notorious for screwing then firing his receptionists. He has several offshore bank accounts scattered throughout the world. And his current net worth is way too large for a physician of his caliber. Hell, his net worth would give most United States CEO’s a run for their money.

He sits back in his leather chair, his elbows resting on the cushioned arm rests, a lazy grin spread across his deceitful mouth. “So, what can I assist you with Dr. Santora?” He pronounces her name with a seductive purr—one that doesn’t have the intended effect on her, having quite the opposite actually.

“I am currently here on a charitable mission trip with an organization known as Project Smiles. This is an organization that is very near and dear to my heart. Have you heard of us?” she inquires.

“I can’t say that I have,” he answers as his index finger runs across his bottom lip. His gray eyes darken with each passing moment.

“Well, we primarily serve underprivileged populations all across the globe. Our main focus is performing pediatric plastic surgeries on children suffering from facial deformities such as cleft lips and palates, but we also aid in bringing much-needed immunizations to women and children all over the world. This is what I am hoping you can assist me with,” she informs with a straight-to-the-point tone.

He nods in understanding, his fingers inching up towards his face and brushing over the scruff that covers his stark jaw. “Are you going to provide my patients with these immunizations free of charge?”

“Yes. There is no charge. It is all free. We want to provide these immunizations to anyone in Guadalajara and any outlying areas. Our charity receives its funding through donors across the globe who are adamant in improving the health of women and children everywhere.”

“Let’s cut the bullshit. Both you and I know that these anonymous donors most likely reside in the United States,” he voices sharply.

She ignores his attempt at intimidating her, placing a smooth smile across her face. “Of course some of our donors are American, but we have donors all across the globe. China, Italy, Germany, France… It’s a pretty lengthy list, Dr. Mendez.”

He scrutinizes her for an endless moment, gray eyes staring into her russet irises without apology.

She returns his unwavering stare without an ounce of fear obvious in her outward demeanor. Internally, though, she’s a little concerned at his obvious animosity towards the United States. This definitely aids in proving that he has connections with Hector Arturo.

“Look,” she voices into the silent room, her eyes never leaving his. “I have no desire to pressure you into something you feel uncomfortable about. I am merely here—talking physician to physician—for the obvious immunizations that can benefit every single country in the world. If you don’t think your patients would benefit from receiving free medical care from a charitable organization, then, by all means, don’t feel like this is something you have commit to,” she declares with a stern, professional tone.

“Dr. Mendez, you are actually the first physician I have spoken with since my arrival. I have contact information for several other physicians in the area, and I plan on offering this to them as well. I’m not sure if your patients finding out that free immunizations and health screenings are being offered at other offices will affect your practice…” she trails off in an attempt to bait him into agreeing.

Dr. Mendez holds up his hands in a neutral gesture. “Now, I never said I didn’t want that for my patients. I was just asking some questions.” A sly smirk crests his devious mouth. “How long are you here…on this mission?” he questions.

“We will depart within a few days,” she blatantly lies. Her current time in Guadalajara is for an unknown amount of time. The deadline will only be determined once the job is finished.

“Well, consider me sold,
Dr. Santora,”
he announces. “I would love for you to come to my office tomorrow, provide my patients with your charitable services, and then possibly assist me when I visit a small
community
that I am the primary physician for.”

She would lay money on the fact that this small community he speaks of is the exact place she needs to be. “It would be my pleasure, Dr. Mendez. How many patients will we be seeing in your office tomorrow?”

He shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly. “I’d guess around twenty.”

“And what about the small community? How many people should I be prepared to vaccinate?”

“Well, at any given time, there can be as many as two hundred occupants that reside inside the compound—
small community.
”

Was that an intentional error?
Her gut instinct screams for her to recognize that something is off with him… Something just doesn’t feel right.

“Okay. I’ll make sure I get enough staff on hand to ensure that everyone receives prompt treatment. Do you mind letting me know the location of the community we’ll be visiting?” she asks.

“It’s located just outside of Guadalajara’s city limits. The locals know it as the Arturo compound,” he updates with ease.

“Do you mind giving me the address? That way I can update my staff on where they will need to go,” Sloan asks even though she already knows the exact location—GPS coordinates and all—of the Arturo compound.

Dr. Mendez glances at his watch, noting the time. “Just ask my lovely receptionist for the address. If you’ll excuse me, I have an important meeting to attend. Please excuse my rudeness.” He stands up from his desk.

Sloan immediately gets up from the leather chair. “Oh, please. No apology necessary,” she nonchalantly adds with a brush of her hand. “I’m just thankful that you took the time out of your busy schedule to meet with me.” She holds her hand out to him in a friendly gesture—one intended for a simple handshake—but Dr. Mendez takes it one step further.

He pulls her hand to his mouth, placing a kiss to her skin. His eyes dance with inappropriateness as a cunning smirk covers his mouth. “Oh believe me, Dr. Santora. It was my pleasure.”

Bile threatens to rise in her throat at the feel of his touching her skin. Sloan manages to maintain complete composure even though her entire body prickles with unease. She tosses another thanks in his directions and strides out of his office, more than thankful to be out of his unsettling presence.

SLOAN GRASPS THE BURNER PHONE in her hand as her entire body vibrates with anticipation. All day, she could barely contain herself. Her mind was continuously revolving around thoughts of a certain Navy SEAL. His sexy, full lips. His bright, blue eyes. The chiseled jaw covered with golden-brown stubble—the stubble that once left marks on the insides of her thighs.

Just the memory of his talented mouth has her breasts swelling with desire.

She
needs
to hear his voice. She is desperate for it—for
him
.

At promptly 0100 hours, she dials the number to his burner phone, hoping he’s still awake. Sloan lies on her bed, her head resting gently on her pillow. Her brown locks are splayed across the cotton fabric, her wanton body anxious for his voice.

“Baby,” his husky voice purrs into her ear. Her heart stops then frantically restarts at a feverish pace with just one word from his mouth.

“Hi,” she whispers into the receiver like a prayer.

“God, I’ve missed that sexy voice of yours.” His tone is laced with love and adoration yet still dripping with sex.

A nervous rush of air passes through her lungs. “Did I wake you?”

“No, sweetheart. I wasn’t going to sleep until I got that phone call you promised me. I’ve been hard all goddamn day just thinking about it.”

She senses hesitancy in his tone, the worrisome sigh that fills her ears making her aware of where his mind is headed. “It’s safe. Don’t worry, okay?” she urges with a determined tone.

A few moments pass without a response.

“If you’re that worried, I can let you go…” Sloan pauses while silently praying that he stays on the line. Hearing his voice has soothed so many uncomfortable emotions within her soul.

“
No
. Don’t hang up, sweetheart,” he answers quickly. “God, I’ve missed your voice.”

“Just my voice?” A slow grin spreads across her mouth.

His hearty chuckles echo in the receiver. “I’ve missed a lot of fucking things about you.”

Her nipples bead up underneath her camisole from the sound of his husky voice. “I’ve missed you too…
so much
.”

She loves that she can be honest with him.

That honesty with Nix doesn’t make her feel unnerved. It just gives her relief. Relief that he misses her as much as she misses him.
Relief that she didn’t imagine the time she spent with him in San Diego. The time they spent together reconnecting and making promises for the future sometimes feels like it was far too perfect to be reality.

He groans. His voice drops a few octaves, a hint of seduction playing at his vocal cords. “Fuck, baby. I can’t stop thinking about you. I’m hard from just remembering you naked. Naked and ready in my bed. Your creamy thighs spread open for me. Your cheeks flushed pink with desire. ”

“I want you so bad,” she moans as her hand slides down her stomach. Her fingers dance along the edge of her soft, cotton panties.

“What are you wearing right now?” he asks without hesitation. It’s like he needs this just as much as she does.

“A camisole and panties,” she breathes with wantonness. Sloan’s eyes fall shut as her fingers continue to brush back and forth below her belly button.

“Take them off,” he growls into the receiver.

His demand feels like a soft caress against her desperate skin.

After putting the phone on speaker mode, she sets it down on her pillow, sliding the camisole over her head and tossing it to the ground. Her panties are removed in the same quick manner, leaving her naked and uncomfortably aroused. “Okay,” she responds as a shudder of frantic want racks throughout her body.

“Are they off?”

“Yes.”