Chapter 12 Just Be a Nurse
Olive couldn’t speak.
Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Inside her head, everything collided at once.
What did I just do? Why did I shake his hand? Did I completely lose my mind?
She stared at him, frozen—and hated herself for noticing how his smile made her chest feel light. Warm. Almost dangerous.
Addictive.
She shook her head slightly, snapping herself back to reality.
What are you doing, Olive? Are you crazy?
Her thoughts tangled tighter.
If she did regret doing it, or was she just lying to herself, pretending she did?
Because there was a part of her that felt something she didn’t want to name. Curiosity. Attraction. A pull she couldn’t explain. And another part of her was deeply curious about him. About who he really is, because he looks like someone who is hiding something. He is a Mysterious Guy, if you can call him that.
They finished eating.
For a few minutes, neither of them spoke. The plates were cleared, leaving only wine glasses on the table. Olive kept her eyes lowered, her fingers wrapped tightly around the stem of her glass. She felt shy. Awkward. Embarrassed by how quickly she had agreed to something she didn’t understand.
Then Leo spoke again.
“When can I see your beautiful face again?”
Olive stiffened.
Her cheeks burned instantly. Heat rushed up her neck and spread across her face. Panic followed right after. She knew she was blushing—and she hated that he could probably see it clearly.
The words hit harder because they were familiar.
The same words from the card. The same bold confidence. The same intensity.
The same man who had just said he wanted to marry her.
Slowly, Olive lifted her head to face him.
But instead of answering—
She blurted out, “Why did you leave the hospital without telling your doctor?”
The words rushed out before she could stop them.
“Dr. Mateo was really worried,” she continued, her voice gaining speed. “You weren’t fully recovered. Your wounds—your side—your kidney—those injuries weren’t small. How are you now? Did you even get follow-up treatment? You can’t just disappear like that—”
She stopped, breathing hard.
Only then did she realize her tone had changed.
This wasn’t Olive the woman sitting across from a powerful man in an expensive restaurant.
This was Olive the nurse.
And she was looking at him with concern, frustration, and care she hadn’t meant to reveal.
Leo lifted both of his hands slowly, palms up, as if he were surrendering.
“Alright,” he said, letting out a soft chuckle. “I give up.”
Olive stopped mid-sentence.
She blinked, confused.
Then she noticed his shoulders shake slightly.
He was laughing.
Her brows pulled together. “What?” she asked, her voice rising just a little despite herself. “What’s so funny?”
Leo immediately lowered his hands. “Sorry,” he said, though the smile was still there. “I didn’t mean to laugh. I just—” he shook his head lightly, clearly amused, “—I couldn’t stop myself.”
Olive crossed her arms, her posture stiff. “I’m serious,” she said, irritation slipping into her tone.
“I know,” Leo replied without hesitation. His voice softened. “That’s exactly why.”
She looked at him again before she could stop herself.
“The way you check on me like that,” he continued calmly, meeting her eyes, “it’s cute.”
Cute.
The word landed harder than she expected.
Olive’s breath hitched for just a second.
She turned her head away immediately, fixing her gaze on the window, the lights of the city, the table—anywhere but him. Her ears felt warm. Too warm.
She hated that reaction.
Then—
Leo stood up.
The sound of his chair moving made her turn back without thinking.
Her heart skipped once.
Then started beating faster.
She looked up at him, confusion written clearly on her face. Curious. A little nervous.
Her fingers tightened around the edge of the table.
What is he doing now?
Leo slipped off his black tuxedo and draped it neatly over the back of his chair, leaving only the crisp white polo beneath. The simple shirt somehow made him look even more intimidating—less distant, more real.
He stepped closer.
Olive froze.
She could suddenly feel how near he was. Too near. Close enough that she noticed the faint warmth coming from him, close enough that her thoughts started to scatter.
He tugged the polo free from where it was tucked in, his fingers moving to lift the hem—
When, suddenly, Olive reacted without thinking.
Her hands shot out and grabbed his wrists.
She stood up so fast her chair scraped softly against the floor. Her eyes flicked around the restaurant, checking every corner, every shadow, as if expecting someone to appear.
“What are you doing?” she whispered sharply, her voice low but serious.
Leo blinked, clearly surprised.
Then he smiled.
“Relax,” he said softly, his tone calm. “You asked how I’m doing. I’m just showing you my wounds.”
He let out a quiet chuckle, clearly amused. “It’s not like I’m about to undress here and start a scandal.”
Olive released his wrists at once, as if suddenly aware of what she was doing. She took a slow, controlled breath, trying to steady herself.
Then she looked at him—really looked at him—and frowned.
“You’re crazy,” she muttered.
Leo’s smile widened just a little.
And only then did Olive realize something that made her pause.
She was talking to him easily.
Comfortably.
Like this wasn’t a man she barely knew, but someone familiar. Someone she didn’t have to guard herself against.
Just moments ago, she couldn’t even meet his eyes.
Now she was standing inches away from him, scolding him without fear.
The realization unsettled her far more than his closeness ever could.
Olive slowly released his hands and stepped back, giving him space.
“Go on,” she said quietly.
Leo lifted the hem of his polo just a little.
She hesitated.
Then she took a breath.
Nurse. Just be a nurse.