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She’d seen a fair few heroes in her role as an army trauma doctor, but the Colonel was the stuff of action fil harder, soiven a taste of what he was capable of, how loyal he was, and the physical attraction had expanded into so more

It frightened her even as it excited her

He’s just a man

She tried to push the tumultuous emotions from her brain but, even now, he do on the countertop, his long, powerful legs stretched out in front of him, one ankle crossed casually over the other Her heart hammered so fast she was surprised he couldn’t hear it She wanted to look away but she couldn’t tear her eyes from his body The tiny roo under her skin and into her veins to flutter wildly at her neck His eyes slid to her pulse as if he could read her thoughts, swiftly followed up with his lips thinning as if in distaste

It was a rejection she recognised all too well

Hurt cut through her Enough to kick-start her sense of self-preservation What was she thinking, iuy like him could really be interested in someone

like her?

Focus, Fliss

‘Right, letback hair which wasn’t there and advancing as confidently as she could, hands outstretched

He braced himself Only a fraction of a second but she didn’t miss it Heat suffused her cheeks He could read her silly schoolgirl crush and was embarrassed on her behalf It was all she could do not to turn and flee

Hauling her eyes to his shoulder, she sahere he’d tried to bandage the seeping wound, not wanting anyone to know about the injury But, as neat a job as he’d e beneath was clearly too deep Carefully, she reached out and peeled away the dressing At least her hands were steady, which was more than could be said for the rest of her

‘Jeez, what did you do?’ she cried out, her eyes darting to his in horror

‘What does it look like? I tried to suture it’

‘Yourself? Without anaesthetic?’

He shrugged, ignoring the second question