Were not taking any more chances. Im calling the hospital and taking you in.
No! She struggled to sit up, but then fell back. She looked as if shed lost all strength in her limbs. But then, she rallied enough to reach up and grab the front of his shirt, her fingers clutching it in a death grip. You promised that you wouldnt force me. You cant go back on your word now.
I also didnt think youd almost drown in my pool. He gently disengaged his shirt from her fingers. Your body is telling you that somethings not right, and we need to find out what. I wouldnt be doing my job, Tess, unless I insisted you go.
She shook her head, anger exploding in her eyes. I know you think Im crazy, but I know in my heart that something bad is going to happen to me if I go back to that place. I cant go!
Ryan didnt want to break the news to her that she sounded more than a little crazy. She sounded downright paranoid. Look, if the center freaks you out, well drive over to Kendall. They have a small community hospital. We can have you checked out there and you wont even need to stay overnight unless they feel its absolutely necessary.
Her reaction was immediate. How can I make you understand-no hospitals. Do whatever tests you need to do, but do them here.
Ryan sighed. Im not equipped to do tests here. Besides, Im a psychiatrist, Tess, not a neurologist.
Then forget the tests. The finality in her voice and the stubborn jut to her jaw told Ryan that it didnt matter what he said, she wasnt going to change her mind. I told you before, I dont need a doctor.
He shrugged. All right. If I promise no hospitals and no tests, will you at least agree to rest?
Her narrow shoulders seemed to melt back against the wet tiles and a grateful sigh pulled at the corners of her mouth. She nodded. Shed gotten what she wanted.
Crazy or paranoid, she was the most infuriatingly beautiful woman hed ever met. Ryan was beginning to realize that with a few words and a single glance from those exquisite jade eyes she could wreak havoc on all rational thought.
Ill rest. She smiled. As long as I can do it right here.
But in spite of the smile, Ryan didnt feel any sense of relief. Instead, he felt stuck. Stuck with a promise he didnt agree with. A promise that meant not getting Tess the medical attention he felt she needed, and that went against everything he believed in professionally.
But Ryan also knew that if he went back on his word, Tess would simply walk away, disappear. Hed lose the only chance he had to help her, and that was a risk he wasnt willing to take.
He stood and then reached down, offering her a hand to get up. Come on, lets get you upstairs and into bed.
Tess nodded, but when she tried to stand, her legs buckled beneath her. He caught her before she fell.
I-I guess Im not as steady as I thought.
Ryan quickly scooped her up, lifting her with one hand beneath her legs and the other cradling her slender back. She seemed weightless in his arms.
He shouldered the screen door back along the track and stepped into the house, and as they entered the house, a shiver shot through Tess. A part of her wanted to blame the goose bumps pebbling her arms and legs on the air-conditioning, but she knew the real reason was Ryans close proximity.
Her reaction troubled her. She didnt want to be vulnerable. In her head, vulnerability equalled danger. It meant her survival was questionable.
A tiny doubt niggled at the back of her brain. Where were these feelings coming from? Was she crazy? Paranoid? Or was she simply ready for anything.
She dropped her head back.
Ready for what?
She closed her eyes, trying desperately to pull at the root of that single disturbing thought. But it wouldnt cooperate. The more she tried to capture the thought, the more it seemed to drift beyond her reach.
Frustrated, she opened her eyes. They were in the hall, headed for the stairs. She tried to hide the fact that her teeth were chattering, but Ryan noticed and pulled her closer, shifting her body so that she was pressed tight against him, as if he could infuse her with his own body heat.
He glanced down at her, a shadow of concern touching his Caribbean blue eyes.
His hand was tucked in under her arm, directly beneath the swell of her right breast, and the warmth of his fingers sent a delicious thrill through her chilled skin. His touch warmed her even more than his eyes.
The feelings confused her and sent her brain into a spin. Shed been ready to assert herself, willing to do anything to get what she wanted. And then, she found herself defenseless and helpless in his arms.
She shifted closer to him, realizing that she felt the sudden increase in her heart rate, and with the side of her head pressed against his chest, she could hear the steady beat of his own heart accelerate to match her own. Apparently he was feeling this every bit as much as she was.
He climbed the stairs with ease and entered a bedroom done in a bright yellow. Bending down, he deposited her on the edge of the bed and stepped back.
His shirt was soaked, plastered to his chest and stomach. She could see the stark outline of his abdominal muscles. She swallowed hard, conscious of the hungry urge to reach out and trace the line of those firm, sculpted muscles.
She tore her gaze away. Im wet. Im going to get the bed soaked.
Its okay, youre on the bedspread. Stay put and Ill get something for you to change into.
He headed for the door, and she started to get up. She wasnt an inch off the bed when he stopped her. Sit. Dont even think about getting up. For once, listen.
She sat back down and folded her hands in her lap. Im sitting already. I wasnt going anywhere.
Of course you werent, he said meaningfully before he disappeared.
Tess levered herself up and, on shaky legs, walked into the adjoining bathroom. She grabbed a bath towel off the rack and dried her shoulders and arms. When waves of dizziness hit a few times, she steadied herself on the edge of the sink.
Reaching up, she stripped the suit down over her shoulders and hips, and then stepped out of it. She wrapped a towel around herself and tucked the end between her breasts.
You really do have a problem following directions.
Startled, she glanced up to see Ryan standing in the doorway, a pair of flannel pants and a sweatshirt slung over one arm. She wondered how long hed been standing there. If it was long, hed gotten an eyeful. I figured it made more sense to get the wet suit off. He tossed her the clothes and she caught them, nodding her thanks. You want to turn around for a minute?
He nodded, but she noticed he didnt step out or close the door. She shrugged off the towel and quickly donned the dry clothes. Their softness and warmth felt wonderful against her clammy skin, and the fact that they were too big didnt bother her a bit.
She tied the drawstring of the pants around her waist once before tying it in a secure knot. Ryans smell, the soap he used for his laundry, engulfed her as the sweatshirt slid over her head. She inhaled it, liking the clean scent.
Okay, Im decent.
He turned around and their gazes met. Tess pulled up the sagging neck of the shirt.
Barely decent. A slightly teasing grin touched his lips.
Tess sucked in a deep breath. Okay, the fact that a mans smile turned her knees to Jell-O wasnt what she had expected. Had the bump on her head scrambled more than just her memories?
He motioned toward the bed. Why dont you get into bed, and Ill take a look at the cut. It reopened when you were in the pool. Then Ill check your vitals again.
I thought we went through this drill at the hospital, Tess grumbled. She didnt miss the fact that his unexpected effect on her was making her more than a little irritable.
Be a sport and humor me, Ryan said. Like all doctors, I have an intense need to be needed.
Tess ducked her head. Oh, yeah, he was needed all right, just not in the way he was thinking. She sighed inwardly. Great, now she was getting giddy. He was right, she really did need to get some rest. She slid into bed and tilted her head back so he could get at the cut.
He reached out and swept several strands of her hair back behind her ear. He had a healers hands, long elegant fingers with a gentle touch, and as he slid the tips of them over the curve of her ear, Tess shivered.
A sharp stab of need shot through her belly, surprising her, and she shifted her feet beneath the covers, trying to hide her reaction. Perhaps she was more tired than she originally thought. The man was cleaning a tiny cut, not making love to her.
He leaned closer, using a cotton swab to gently clean the cut. What were you thinking about out there in the pool-right before you started to go under?
His breath was warm on her cheek. Tess shook her head. Concentrate on his words, not on what he was doing to your body. I dont know. I dont remember much. Its pretty much a blur.
As she spoke, Tess was conscious of how close he was, his mouth inches from hers. It would be so simple to lift her head and quickly brush her lips across his, and then run her tongue along the swell of his bottom lip.
She tightened her fingers on the edge of the sheet. What was wrong with her? Was this the kind of person she was?
Do you trust me enough to try something, Tess? he asked, breaking into her thoughts. The deep smoothness of his voice, combined with its sweet underlying raspiness, seemed to weave a seductive web around her, lulling her and surrounding her with its hypnotic tone.
Tess nodded numbly, trying desperately not to think about what shed like to suggest they do. She felt like melting butter.
He continued to work on the cut, and she watched his lips move. Dont force anything. Just let whatever is inside your head come out. Allow it to come out on its own.
She nodded again. Waiting.
Close your eyes and concentrate on my voice.
Tess did as he asked. It was easier to comply than continue to stare up at his face and contemplate what she couldnt have. She settled back, feeling the cool sheet against the back of her neck.
Good, now I want you to think back when you were in the pool. Youre swimming, and the water feels good against your hot skin. It washes over you, cooling and cradling you. He paused a moment before continuing. Everything-your arms, your legs, your breathing-everything is working together for the same purpose. You feel warm. Youre secure. You feel totally safe.