by Julie Rowe
He shook himself as if throwing off a bad dream and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m here to help.”
“I don’t need anyone’s help. I’m just doing some housecleaning.”
He frowned at her. “When was the last time you took some time out to relax?”
Willa turned and walked away. “This conversation is getting us nowhere.”
“It’s a valid question.”
She stopped and let out a gusty sigh but didn’t turn around. “I can’t remember.”
“No one can work 24/7, 365 a year and not burn out.”
“You think I want to work this much?” She glared at him. “I don’t, but I also don’t have a choice. I’m underfunded and I can’t seem to convince the town council we need a bigger clinic, more equipment and a real doctor.”
“So let me help you.”
She turned away again. “My head’s still above water. I’ll be fine.”
“I’m not asking you to sleep with me.”
She whipped around to face him, her mouth hanging open.
“I just want to give you a hand. That’s all.” He smiled. “I promise to be good. Really.”
She didn’t trust that grin. He was up to something, but what, she couldn’t imagine.
The thought of a couple of hours to do absolutely nothing was very attractive. He was right, she was tired. Tired and lonely. “Okay. You can help.”
Liam grinned, came to attention and saluted. “Where would you like me, ma’am?”
Her eyes narrowed on his face. Was he playing with her?
He met her gaze head-on, and she looked away first.
“You can start by moving those boxes of supplies into the storage room.” She pointed at a stack of medium-sized boxes in the corner near the examining room.
“Right away, ma’am.”
Willa shook her head and retreated into the exam room.
Sounds of work filtered back to her and she began the task of inventorying the drawers and cabinets.
The noise outside the exam room stopped and she glanced up. Liam stood in the doorway, both hands braced on the jamb. “Hey, I’ll be done with those boxes in a minute. Anything I can do for you in here?”
She glanced at him, her eyes lingering on his bare arms. He was nicely muscled, very nice. “Um…you could move the furniture out so I can mop the floor.”
“Gotcha, boss.” He winked and disappeared.
Liam whistling a nonsensical tune gave her a few seconds’ warning before he walked into the exam room to stack, pick up and remove three chairs.
Liam wasn’t wearing a shirt.
Her jaw sagged. Wow. He was solid muscle. Not the overblown kind one saw in gyms, but the natural sort earned with honest-to-God hard work.
She followed him out the door. Damn, she was lucky not to trip over her tongue.
“Where do you want this stuff?” he asked over his shoulder.
She found her voice, though it sounded strained even to her. “Anywhere is fine. Why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”
He put the chairs down, turned and stepped close, but not quite close enough to touch. “I got hot.”
She gazed up at him, swallowing hard. “Oh.”
He moved a fraction nearer. Near enough for her to feel the heat radiating from his body, to smell his mouth-watering scent, to need his lips on hers and her name on his breath.
He hovered over her for what seemed like several minutes, his head descending toward her as if he were going to kiss her.
“Excuse me,” he said, his voice a growl, and walked around her.
She stayed where he left her, standing in the middle of the room, watching with wide eyes as he moved the desk, chair and examining table out into the common office area.
She couldn’t have moved if a bomb had gone off right next to her.
After bringing out the last piece, he approached her. “Where’s the mop?”
She blinked. “What?”
“The mop.”
Willa chewed on her bottom lip. “Oh, sorry. I’ll go get it.”
She headed for a small closet, grabbed the mop and bucket and handed them to him, her gaze trying and failing to stay above his neck.
“Thanks,” he said in a low tone. “How about some cleaning solution?”
Willa jerked her gaze off his chest and glanced at the empty bucket. She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’ll be right back.”
When she came back with the bottle of solution, he was standing with his thumbs hooked in his front jean pockets, waiting for her, a grin on his face.
She was making a fool of herself, and unless he covered up, it wasn’t about to end soon.
Willa approached him hesitantly, stopped several feet away and cleared her throat. “Could you put your shirt back on, please?”
“Sure,” Liam said easily. “Does it bother you?”
“Yes,” she burst out then quickly added, “I’m not used to men wandering around half-naked in my clinic.”
“You’re not? Isn’t it hard to do a medical on a fully clothed patient?”
“No, yes…that’s not what I mean.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean men in general.” She waved her arm up and down in front of him. “Walking around without their clothes on.”
“I’ve got lots of clothes on,” Liam said, playing innocent and looking down at himself. “Pants, socks and boots.” He paused. “Underwear.”
“But no shirt,” she said through clenched teeth.
He shrugged, brushed past her, grabbed his shirt and pulled it on. “Better?” he asked as he did up the buttons.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“No problem. I don’t mind sweating a little.” He picked up the mop and bucket from where she left them on the floor.
“You misbuttoned your shirt.”
Liam glanced down. “Oops. I guess I was a little distracted.”
Willa’s face slowly heated.
He rebuttoned his shirt and bent down to grab the mop and bucket again, his face almost grazing her body, and she was too startled to move away. He stopped for a long second as his mouth rose level to hers then he sauntered off into the exam room.
She stood in the middle of her clinic, her chest heaving as if she’d just run the Iditarod without dogs or a sled.
Liam Reynolds was a dangerous man. Half-naked, he was downright deadly to the vow of self-preservation she’d made after her divorce. Never get involved with a member of the male species again.
She forced her feet to move away from the exam room, even though she really wanted to stalk in there, lock the door and rip Liam’s shirt off along with everything else he wore.
She’d never had this strong of a reaction to a man, ever. She wanted to touch every inch of his muscled body, to feel him pressed against her, his scent and taste swamping her senses.
She shook her head.
“Show off,” she muttered as she knelt down to see how many more containers she needed to fill the cupboard.
“What was that?” Liam asked, poking his head out through the doorway.
“Sterile cups. I need sterile cups.”
“Oh. I saw a box of them in storage.”
“Thanks.”
He grinned. “No problem.”
His smile should be declared illegal along with the rest of his body.
Willa stuck her head in the cupboard more to get away from looking at him than anything else. Every time she saw him, her heart rate went up and her breathing became erratic.
She tiptoed over to peek through the doorway. He had his back to the door, mopping the floor. Unlike other men she’d seen attempt to handle a mop, Liam took meticulous care to wash the entire surface.
She had to give him points for effort.
Willa backed away to go on a cup search, and found a large boxful at the far end of the narrow storage room. She picked it up and carried it toward the doorway, but caught the edge of another box, spilling its contents of bandages across the floor.
“Willa?” Liam called. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I just knocked a box over.” She tried to put the box in her hands down, but it was too big to fit anywhere. She couldn’t even turn around. “I’m stuck.”
“Hang on. I’ll clear the road for you.”
A shadow moved on the wall in front of her accompanied by the shuffle of cardboard dragged across linoleum. Liam stepped around the tower of boxes and surveyed the mess. “Could’ve been worse,” he said, taking the box out of Willa’s hands. His fingers brushed hers causing a jolt of electricity to arc between them.
“Sorry,” he said, putting the box down on the floor outside. He came back, grabbing her hand and rubbing it. “I didn’t mean to shock you.”
Willa fought to swallow away the rush of need that swamped her at his touch. She wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms and beg him to rub her all over.
“It’s okay,” she managed to say, but she couldn’t make herself pull her hand away.
“Are you sure? You’re shaking.”
Her gaze darted from his eyes to their joined hands. “I am?” Her whole arm shook with tremors. Good Lord she’d lost total control. “I don’t know why. I feel fine.”
“Maybe you should sit down.”
Willa glanced around. “Where? There’s barely enough room to stand up in here.”
Liam let go of her hand, reached out and picked her up before she realized his intention. She grabbed at his shoulders, afraid he would drop her, but he smoothly adjusted his hold and backed out of the storeroom with her in his arms.
“Here we go,” he said, placing her on the receptionist’s chair. “How do you feel now?”
She reluctantly let go of his shoulders. His warm body and masculine smell, steeped in pine and cedar, made her want to get closer, not let him move away. Then her brain asserted itself and she dropped her hands to her lap.
“I’m fine. Really.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not being completely truthful with me?”
“I’m fine.”
Liam examined her face with the intensity of an inquisitor. “When did you last eat?”
She winced. “Breakfast.”
He clucked his tongue and shook his head.
“I was busy.”
“No excuse.”
“But—”
“You have to take better care of yourself, Willa. There’s only one of you.”
She slumped in the chair. “I know. I forget sometimes.”
“Well, don’t,” he said, expression serious. “Because if you keep this up I might have to do something about it.”
He’d been everywhere she looked for the last several days, making her laugh with his silly jokes, making her mouth water just by standing near her, and now this. He was driving her crazy and she couldn’t take it anymore.
“Really?” She stood and put her hands on her hips. “Like what?”
He stepped close, enough to cause a shiver of desire to ripple down her spine. “Like kiss you.”
Hot, she was molten hot. The air she breathed in scorched her lungs, and her body burned.
Very slowly, he cupped her cheek with one hand and rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip then leaned down to whisper, “Or maybe feed you by hand.”
So gentle.
He touched her as if she were fragile, precious, and seduced with a tender voice and words that conjured up images of him on his knees, serving her.
“What will you feed me?” she heard herself ask.
His smile promised sin itself. “Anything you want.”
His words sent a sizzling bolt of desire through her. Willa wanted this man like she’d never wanted before. She wanted Liam’s hands on her skin, his lips on her mouth and his tongue everywhere.
A bad idea. Very bad. She nibbled on her bottom lip.
His gaze followed her tongue for a moment then he wrapped one hand around the back of her head and slanted her face up to meet him. His lips feathered over hers, the fleeting touch making her breath catch as heat licked at her insides.
She put her hands on his chest to push him away, but her fingers curled into his shirt instead. “This isn’t a good idea. I don’t want—”
“A commitment,” he interrupted. “No ties, no pressure, just a whole lot of fun.” He placed a finger over her mouth. “We’re just two people enjoying a moment.”
Willa paused as a shiver of longing swept over her. His scent enticed her. Then his words penetrated. What did that mean? “I don’t do affairs.”
“Neither do I.” Liam kissed her again, lingering as if savoring every instant of contact. Fun was an inadequate word to describe what they were doing. This was pleasure, something she’d had precious little of.
Now that she’d had a taste of it, of him, she wanted more.
He pulled away slowly and she followed his retreat. Her lips nibbling, her hands reaching and grabbing at his shoulders. She wanted to feel more, to find out if he tasted as good as he smelled, to feed the flame building in the pit of her belly. But he held back, his lips brushing over her cheeks, nose and eyelids. Everywhere he touched heated her blood.
She tried to inject a sliver of sanity into her system. “I won’t sleep with you.”
“I’m not asking for that. Kisses,” he said, putting action to the word, “are all I want.”
“Just kisses? You don’t want—”
“Kisses,” Liam declared. “No commitment, only fun.”
“Fun,” she breathed, her body relaxing in his hold. Was it possible for two people to enjoy each other without emotional entanglement? “What if—”
“What ifs don’t come into this. Only what’s happening now.”
She tilted her head up, offering her lips. “I’ve never tried a relationship that wasn’t a relationship.”
Liam held himself back, his eyes wary. “This isn’t a relationship. We’re just two friends indulging in a little mutual desire.”
“When did we become friends?”
He lowered his head a fraction, but not quite enough to kiss her. “You don’t trust me, do you?”
“No.” That wasn’t stopping her body from wanting his kiss. She stood on tip-toe to reach him, but he lifted his head.
Arching an eyebrow, she asked, “Do you trust me?”
“I’m trying to learn how.”
She leaned back. “What does that mean?”
He brushed a lock of hair from her cheek and seemed to study her face. “It means you’re so…different from the women I used to think were attractive.”
“I can’t decide if I should take that as a compliment or an insult.”
“He was an idiot, you know.”
Willa frowned and backed off, yet her hands didn’t lessen their grip on his shoulders. “Who?”
“The bastard who hurt you.”
Chapter Five
For a moment Willa forgot to breathe. She should walk away, but she couldn’t make her feet move, frozen in place by the promise of passion in his kiss. She would get nothing from Liam but grief—she’d learned that the hard way.
Liam’s fingers feathered their way down the side of her neck. “I get off on giving a woman pleasure not pain.” His gaze scorched her. “The hotter she gets the more I like it.”
Willa’s heart beat so fast she could barely speak. “I’m burning up.”
“Oh yeah.” He lowered his head and lapped at her mouth with h
is lips and tongue. “That’s all I’m after, Willa, and you’re in complete control here. If you say stop, we stop. If you say go, we go. Trust me enough to play?”
Did she?
“I think…” she said slowly. “I’d like to try fun.”
Liam growled, the sound rumbling low in his chest. “Your wish is my command.”
His mouth fell on hers, devouring her, his tongue surging into her mouth.
She moaned as a wave of need swept her up and carried her away from solid ground.
“I’d like to suggest some rules,” he said, breaking away and nibbling his way across to her ear.
“Rules?” Already he was telling her what to do. Willa stiffened, preparing to push him away.
“Hands have to stay out of dangerous territory.”
She paused. “Define dangerous.”
“Below the waist or wandering in front.”
Well, that wasn’t a bad idea. “Okay,” she said cautiously.
Liam moved down to suck on Willa’s pulse point at the base of her neck and she squirmed despite herself.
“Clothes stay on.”
His rules were starting to sound…fair. “Mmm-hmm.”
“No public displays.”
“Definitely not.”
He pulled away. “No regrets.”
Willa opened her eyes and met his gaze. “You promise not to…”
“Not to what?”
“Take this too seriously?”
Liam’s grin turned wicked. “I don’t do serious.”
She stared into his eyes, trying to find the hardness, the razor’s edge of rage always present in her ex-husband’s gaze, but all she saw was sincerity and passion. “You have a deal.”
His smile dissolved into a look of pure need. “Now we eat.”
He pulled her against him and she wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on as his mouth moved on hers slowly, languidly, as if he intended to kiss her for hours. As promised, his hands stayed planted on her back well away from any danger zones.
This was unexplored territory for Willa. Her ex-husband had no patience for foreplay. She had no idea kissing and only kissing could be so enjoyable. There were so many kinds of kisses.
Long, slow kisses, where Liam’s tongue slid by hers, tasting her over and over. Passionate, fast kisses, where he seemed to want to eat her alive, his teeth nipping, his tongue flicking past hers. Lighthearted kisses, where he moved from her lips to her ears to her eyes and back again, licking at every inch of skin in between.
