Chapter 1

"Liliana, and Leo, Mommy is ready to go. Do you two have your shoes on," Olivia asked from the bottom of the staircase?

Olivia shared a three floor red brick home in Silver Springs, Maryland with her 4 year old twins. She was a widow, and her heart ached with missing her husband Stephen Finch, but she put on a brave face everyday for her two heartbeats. Her children were her everything, and she knew that for them she couldn't allow her grief to consume her.

Olivia heard two sets of little feet running towards the stairs. She called out to them, "I know you two aren't running. Move fast, but don't run buddies."

Olivia glanced at her phone checking her email. She owned her own pediatric practice, and she was starting an expansion project where she was opening another location. She was actually attempting to go into partnership with another well known pediatrician in the area, but he was giving her a hard time about signing onto the project.

They hadn't met in person yet, but they had a meeting scheduled for later this afternoon. If she could get there. Her babies were sort of giving her a hard time this morning, and they were already late leaving home so that she could drop them off at preschool.

She looked up to see her daughter with dark curly hair styled in two puffs smiling down at her, and her twin brother with his head full of dark cropped curls following behind her. Olivia's heart swelled with pride. Her children were literally her reason for living. They were the best parts of her, and Stephen.

Liliana said, "Mommy, Leo said he doesn't feel good. Can we go to work with you?"

Olivia smiled at her daughter. She lifted Leo into her arms testing his temperature with her lips against his forehead. She asked Liliana, "If Leo is sick what does that have to do with you not going to school, little miss?"

The caramel colored little girl responded, "Someone has to watch Leo, while you work, Mommy."

Olivia smiled at her daughter's antics. She said, "Nice try little one, but you're going to school. You're brother feels a little warm. I will take him to work with me, and then we'll call Auntie Abby, and see if she can pick you up on her way home from the hospital. How does that sound to you, Leo? You want to go spend the afternoon with Auntie Abby? You might even be able to see uncle Harri."

Leo snuggled into his mother. He said in a small voice, "I want to stay with you, Mommy."

Olivia's heart broke a little. She knew that her children got a little clingy when they were sick, and she felt bad having to put them off on her family, and friends, but the saying was it takes a village to raise a child.

To Leo she said, "I know baby. Mommy wants you to stay with her too, but I have some meetings. I will try, and finish as quickly as possible so that I can come get you from Auntie Abby's ok?"

He nodded his head, and snuggled more into his mother's neck. Olivia grabbed Liliana's lunchbox, and backpack, and her attache case. She said, "Come on Lili pooh, it's time to get you to school. We are already late."

Later that morning Olivia walked into her practice with a clingy Leo on her hip. Her office manager Quinn sat behind the front desk filing her fingernails.

Olivia noticed what Quinn was doing, and rolled her eyes. She said, "Quinn, really? You work in a doctor's office, not a nail salon. That's so unprofessional."

Quinn looked up at her boss, and best friend. She said, "Not as unprofessional as you marching in here with that handsome little fellow on your hip. Hi, Leo. Where is your big/little sister."

Leo smiled at the brunette. Olivia's son was cute, and he knew how to use his smile on the ladies. He answered, "She at school. I don't feel good."

Liv picked up her messages with her free hand saying, "He has a little fever. Have one of the nurses bring me a dose of Tylenol to my office will you? I have to head back, and call Abby, and see if she can come, and take him for the day."

Quinn asked, "Where are your mom, and dad?"

Olivia started walking to the back saying, "They're in Europe for the month."

Quinn said, "Oh, cool. Liv, Dr. Gr-"

Olivia disappeared before Quinn could finish her statement.

Olivia walked into her office while talking to Leo. She said, "Ok, baby. I am going to put you down on my sofa, then I am going to call Auntie Abby. How does that sound, Buddy?"

Leo nodded his head. He then asked his mother, "Can I go get juice?"

Olivia put her son on his feet saying, "Yes, go straight to the refrigerator, and come right back."

"Cute kid," said a voice behind Olivia.

She turned abruptly startled that someone was in her office. When she turned around she notices a nice looking male with piercing blue eyes. He was tall too. Like over six feet. He had a slim build, but she could tell that he worked out, and that he was strong with defined muscles in his arms, and chest. Yes she could see all of that through his suit.

He was not only good looking, but he smelled good too. Olivia was having a hard time focusing because his manly scent was so intoxicating.

Trying hard to focus Olivia cleared her throat. She then asked, "Who are you, and what are you doing in my office?"

The man walked towards her with his hand outstretched. He said, "My name is Fitzgerald Grant the third. We've corresponded via email, and we have also had several phone conversations as well. We had a meeting scheduled for this morning."

His eyes roamed the petite woman with the beautiful brown eyes, and mouthwateringly smooth brown skin. She wore ridiculously high heels, and he could tell by the navy blue dress she wore, that she had a killer shape. She was certainly attractive. He was glad that he didn't have any children, because she could never be his children's doctor. He would pretend his children were sick just to bring them in so that he could see her.

She said, "Forgive me. I'm a bit flustered this morning. My son is a little sick, and I had to get his twin sister to school. It's been such a busy morning."

He smiled and her heart stopped. He spoke, "Your husband should help you out more with the children. A busy professional like yourself shouldn't have to do it alone."

Olivia's expression went blank, and cold as she moved behind her desk, dropping her attache case on top of her desk. The weight of her guilt almost too heavy to carry. Here she was lusting after this handsome man, and her husband had been dead barely a year.

She and Stephen had been partners in everything. They were friends, and they were lovers. She missed her husband dearly, and she felt as if she was being unfaithful to him by lusting over Dr. Grant. She felt that she was betraying Stephen's memory.

"Dr. Pope, I have Leo's Tylenol," Olivia's nurse, Ana said.

Olivia's yes shot up to meet the nurse's. She cleared her throat once again, and said, "Uh, thanks, Ana. Leave it on the coffee table for me. He went into the lounge to get a juice box."

Ana did as she was told, and almost ran into little Leo as he re-entered his mother's office with a box of apple juice.

Noticing her son Olivia said, "Leo, say hello to Dr. Grant."

Leo was the shy twin, well at least when it came to men. He definitely preferred women, and men that he was already acquainted with. He ran over to the tall stranger offering his hand. He said, "Hi, I'm Stephen Leo Finch. I have a twin sister. She is three minutes older than me, but we are the same age. Her name is Liliana Lea Finch, but she's not sick so she is at school."

Olivia's eyes widened at her son's talkativeness. He was acting completely out of character. She stepped around her desk with the thought to feel his forehead again because his fever had to be higher than she originally thought.

As she walked around her desk she watched Dr. Grant shake his hand. He said, "Wow, you have a nice grip there, son. You also feel a little warm. I think your mom got this for you."

Fitz reached over, and retrieved the tiny paper cup of children's Tylenol from the coffee table. He handed cup to the cute little boy saying, "Here, drink this. It will make you feel better."

Leo shook his head, and Olivia steeled her nerves for his tantrum. The four year old hated taking medicine. He said in a small voice, "I don't wanna. It's going to be nasty."

Olivia said, "Leo, be a big boy, and take the medicine. It will make you feel better."

Fitz kneeled down in front of the little boy. He said, "Hey, Buddy. You have to be a big boy. You know what part of being a big boy is?"

Leo asked, "What?"

Fitz continued, "Being a big boy you have to sometimes do things that you don't want to do. I know that you don't want to take the medicine because it doesn't taste good, but you know you have to be healthy, and strong to take care of your mom, and sister. Right?"

Leo nodded. Fitz handed him the cup. He then said, "I'm going to teach you a trick, ok."

Leo nodded saying, "Ok."

"I want you to hold your nose, and then drink the medicine. When you hold your nose you won't smell it, or taste it," Fitz said.

Leo did as he was instructed. Olivia watched on as her son easily interacted with the kind stranger.

After taking the medicine Leo said, "I did it! I'm a big boy. Mommy, did you see me? I was a big boy. I tooked the medicine all by myself, and I didn't cry."

Olivia smiled at her son saying, "Yes, Leo. I saw. Can you do me a favor and lay down quietly for mommy? Dr. Grand and I have some business to take care of. When I am finished we will call Auntie Abby, ok?"

Leo ran to the sofa saying, "Ok, mommy."

Olivia gestured for Fitz to follow her over to her desk. She took a seat behind her desk, and he took a seat in front of it.

Fitz was the first to speak. He repeated, "Cute kid."

Olivia glanced over at her little angel. She said, "Yes he is. They are my world. My sole reason for living."

Fitz probed again, "You, and your husband are lucky."

Olivia gave a sad smile, and averted her eyes. She said, "Yeah, we are. So, Dr. Grant what do I have to do to get you to sign on?"

Fitz noticed her change in demeanor, and he wondered about it. He didn't think it wise to question her, so instead he said, "I want us to be equal partners."

Olivia's eyes widened. She asked, "Excuse me?"

"My practice does well. Actually, I do well financially from profits, and considering how you're my greatest competition I know that you do well too. So the only incentive I see for us joining forces would be to split our profits equally. Anything less would be me taking a cut. I'm not willing to do that, Dr. Pope," Fitz reasoned with her.

Olivia said, "I have the bigger office. I have the most employees, and I also have the most clients. I don't think that it would be fair for me to have to share half of my profits. I mean, I am bringing more to the table."

He nodded, "Olivia, may I call you Olivia?"

She nodded, and he continued, "I understand what you bring to the table. You are amazing. I can see that clearly, but I am proposing something that will be mutually beneficial to the both of us."

"I don't agree," Olivia simply stated.

Fitz opened his briefcase, and presented her with a folder. He said, "I had this worked up. It details the profits with us joining forces, and splitting the profits equally."

Olivia shook her head. "I don't think this will be necessary."

Fitz wouldn't back down. He said, "Take it. Read it, and call me. We can have dinner to discuss it."

Olivia replied, "My evenings are dedicated to my babies."

He said, "I'm sure your husband won't mind watching the kids for one night."

Olivia stared at him. After a moment she said, "I will be in touch."

Fitz turned to face the little boy half asleep on the sofa. He said, "Bye, Buddy. Remember to always be a big boy, and don't forget to tell your dad about your new trick."

Olivia watched as her sick son jumped up from the sofa, and ran over to the stranger. He said, "My daddy got hurted in a axident. He went to heaven."

Fitz's eyes flew to Olivia's. She didn't notice because she was to choked up hearing her son explain about his father."

Fitz said, "Well, then you have to always make sure to be a big boy so that you can take care of your mom, and sister, ok?"

Leo nodded.

Fitz turned to Olivia, and gave her a nod before he turned, and walked out of her office.

To her son she said, "Leo go back to the sofa, please. I'm going to call Auntie Abby."

She sat back in her chair. There was something up with Dr. Grant. She couldn't put her finger on it, but her gut was never wrong.