“Look, I have respect for my patients and what they’ve gone through and what I’m about to put them through. That’s why I’m here―to help, not to put up with your crap.”
“You know what, doc, I have a good feeling about this. I tend to listen to my gut, and what it’s telling me right now is that you know your stuff. I’m willing to follow your rules as long as you’re willing to acknowledge that you don’t know me and what I’m capable of. You have to be flexible.”
“I always adjust to my clients’ needs. Don’t think you’re any different than anyone else I’ve ever had to deal with,” she pointed out.
“All righty then. I guess this is you putting me in my place,” he said with another chuckle.
“I find I have to do that a lot with hotheads like you,” she said.
Nick’s smile grew until it looked like his cheeks might hurt he was smiling so big. Chloe leaned back, concerned. He appeared as if he’d gone mad, either that, or he was enjoying himself too much.
“Baby, I guarantee you, I’m hotter than any of your past clients,” he said, his voice dripping with sex. She despised herself a little when her eyes latched onto his lips and she licked her own in lust.
“Nick . . .” The warning was clear in her tone as she headed for the gym doors.
“I can’t wait to see your uniform for the pool,” he called out after her. She stopped for a moment, but then resumed walking. She wasn’t going to dignify that with a response.
Chloe knew with zero doubt that being in the water together was going to try the very little patience she had left. If only she didn’t find him so damn attractive. She was sure that was temporary insanity and the feelings would soon pass.
She certainly hoped that was the case. She turned to face him.
“Can you behave for even five seconds?” she asked. He smiled.
“I promise to be the ideal patient. You’ll never want to leave here,” he told her.
“I guarantee you, I’ll want to leave,” she countered.
“We’ll see about that.”
“Look, Nick, I’m not trying to be rude, but I don’t date my patients. I’m here to do a job, to learn about you, and to fix you,” she said. “And now I’m the one in need of a break. Have some lunch and we’ll do water exercises in the afternoon. I want you to ice the knee in the meantime,” she told him as she continued leaving.
Day one wasn’t even over yet and she was ready to run for the hills.
CHAPTER FOUR
Nick beat Chloe down to the pool and easily slid into the warm water. He wasn’t going to tell her that this had been his main source of therapy over the past month. He was Coast Guard, and he knew how to handle himself in any body of water. To be out of it for too long was like taking a piece of his soul.
Once in the pool, there was no pressure on his knee, and he could float for hours. He swam more slowly now than he had, but that would eventually get better as well. He was definitely favoring his right knee, but he had no doubt that, before long, he would be in the best shape of his life. He wouldn’t quit pushing himself until he got there.
Though she didn’t make a sound, Nick knew the moment Chloe was inside the warm room. He could practically feel her as the water lapped around him and she entered the pool. He desperately wanted to turn and see what she was wearing, but he had all afternoon to take in her appearance. The anticipation was half the fun.
“You shouldn’t get in here without someone in the room. Your muscles are weak and you could get a cramp,” Chloe scolded him as she waded through the waist-high water to where he floated.
Only then did Nick turn. She was wearing a one-piece suit that hugged her curvaceous breasts. He couldn’t see her lower half well. The water distorted it. He would enjoy that pleasure when she got out of the pool―or when he lifted her to the side so he could trail his lips down her legs.
“I’m a Coast Guard pilot, doc, I think I know how to handle the water,” he said, while gazing at her chest.
“My eyes are up here, Nick,” she said with warning.
He really loved when she got that proper edge to her voice. It was a turn-on unlike anything else. He couldn’t wait until he had the doctor unraveling in his arms. She was so tightly wound, it was likely she’d go up in flames the minute she let go.
“I know where everything on you is located,” he said, but he lifted his head and met the heat of her gaze.
“Does this attitude of yours ever get you where you want to be?” she asked, startling him.
“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, being careful now. She had a look in her eyes that he didn’t at all trust.
“All the innuendoes and flirting? Do women actually respond to it?” She was keeping a good five feet of distance between them that he desperately wanted to close.
“Yeah,” he admitted.
“Well, let me assure you that it doesn’t work on me. I’m here to do a job, not to sleep with you, not to flirt with you, and not to pretend to swoon over you. Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself and your . . .” She paused and looked at the water lapping at his waist. “And keep your other parts in your pants.”
He smiled as he gazed at her. Even though her swimsuit was what most would consider modest, he found it even more sexy because of what it was hiding. He wanted to peel it away and see what she didn’t want him to notice.
“Can’t say the word, doc?” he mocked her.