Page 33 (1/2)

"In the exauard Not uard Period," she said to Ryan, her body so close to hi vividly how he’d rinsed the soap froht before, every inch silky and soft And later, when he’d kissed her soundly, his senses had filled with the delicious fragrance of her, the sweetness, the arousal, the heat of the moment

The way her chest rose and fell with her hurried breathing and the flush of her cheeks stimulated some deeper need in him Even the way she berated hi sure her patients got the best advice, although his advice came from his local doctor, so he kneas sound He loved the way she stood up for her patients, even if she had to knoas giving good inforain To share the inti

A sree hers He wanted to kiss her in the worst way He was sure his s her point

"I’m serious," she said, a little breathless and a lot flushed He could tell she was as affected by their close proximity as he was She motioned to Jake "If you can’t be quiet, Jake can take your place"

Jake lost the smirk and cleared his throat as he neared them "Didn’t find anyone in the unoccupied exam rooms who shouldn’t be here Outside the hospital is clear Deputy Trevor’s watching things out front now So far no probleh the front door, and no one trying to slip in or out through the back door How are the two of you getting along? Need a break, Ryan?" Jake’s expression was again a his eyes off Carol’s sharp blue ones "I’ll practice being a bodyguard a while longer" Hell, forget the recliner He was guarding her body in bed again tonight He smiled

Carol turned away from him, whipped out the next patient’s chart, and stalked down the hall to the waiting area

Jake chuckled "She’s a spitfire when she’s angered What did you say to rile her?"

"Told the patient she could use fish oil to help with her allergies I also would havetrouble with ree in?"

"Life" Ryan headed after his charge

Jake laughed behind hi area from his location in the hallway, and his heart pounded faster as he increased his pace But when he reached the sitting area, he saw her waiting for a htened when he saw her He was about Ryan’s age, li with a look that was an atteive me sympathy"

"Robert, did you need a wheelchair?" she sweetly asked

She didn’t sound as professional as Ryan would have liked Not as serious More good-natured and, well, way too sweet

As Ryan approached, the -like in appearance, switched from Carol to Ryan, and he swore Robert looked like he was about to have a heart attack

"The nurse asked if you needed a wheelchair," Ryan said, his voice verging on a growl as he advanced toward the muscular man

Carol’s mouth dropped open as she stared at Ryan "Ryan McKinley, whatever is wrong? Mr Grayce has lived in the area forever"

Ryan glowered at theall about Toainst the check-in counter Tom nodded to confirm Carol’s statement, his expression bemused

Carol cast Ryan an annoyed look and then took Robert’s arainst the man’s as she eased him down the hall at a crawl, and Ryan swore the patient leaned into her otten hi She didn’t need to use her body to hold hirowled

Continuing down the hall with her charge without a backward glance, Carol ignored Ryan

Half hiding a srabbed a wheelchair, and hurried it after the li, Ryan couldn’t slas like he wanted to, but he’d give the poor guy a seat so he wouldn’t have to limp all the way to the exam room

Ryan stopped the wheelchair and seized the rabbed hold of the handles He gave Carol a sain Then she snapped it shut

"The least I can do as your bodyguard, Carol, is help with your patient"

As red as her face was, he was certain that, at the first opportunity, she would atteuard with anyone else Mervin even

He sighed heavily and wheeled Robert into the roo the woman would be this difficult

And this was only the first hour