Norton had settled himself on the floor at her feet. Obviously the dog was smarter than Jake had given him credit for. Ill take him with me. Come on, boy.
Norton had settled himself on the floor at her feet. Obviously the dog was smarter than Jake had given him credit for. Ill take him with me. Come on, boy.
Norton lifted his head, then placed it back down between his front paws. Jake groaned. Hed spent the better part of the morning trying to coax the dog out of the moping depression hed fallen into when Rina had left, suitcases in hand. All hed gotten for his effort was the doggie bath on his legs when hed gotten out of the shower. Other than that, the mutt sat crying by Rinas bedroom door. He glanced from the dog lying happily at Briannes feet, to her beautiful face.
He had to admit Norton had taste. And at least that pathetic whining had stopped. Do you mind if he stays with you? he asked, wishing he could do the same thing but knowing he needed some time alone to figure out the best way to avoid rehabilitation with his newly hired therapist.
She knelt and patted the dogs head. Of course, I dont mind. Weve become friends, havent we, boy. With a prolonged sigh, Norton rolled onto his back, giving her access to his stomach and other body parts Jake would prefer not to see.
He rolled his eyes. Kiss-ass, he muttered, then turned to Brianne. Make yourself at home. He gestured to the living room and hoped she didnt mind the velvet couches or the marble statues. They werent him, but they were here, and there was nothing much he could do about it except get through the summer.
Thanks, she murmured.
Jake turned and headed for the master bedroom Rina had insisted he take as his own. His body burned and sizzled, and he knew without turning back that Briannes gaze followed his retreat. He changed into clothes, still having no idea how best to avoid her rehab.
Then the telephone rang. He grabbed the receiver. Hello?
Jake?
It was Rina. If she hadnt already sounded out of breath, Jake would have liked to strangle the breath out of her.
Listen, I have some seating problems and I need to rush, but I wanted to check. Did-?
Briannes here, he muttered. And you should have butted out, Rina.
You and I spent enough time at the café for me to know better. Fate doesnt send many gifts, and when one arrives, you cant turn it away. The time Robert and I shared was too short. I want more for you. All I did was give you that chance. You cant be mad at me for pumping her boss for a little information. She was heaven sent, Jake. You need her.
In frustration, he ran a hand through his hair. If he wondered why hed kept his rehab from Rina, shed just reminded him. Any time she decided she knew what was best, there was no stopping her. Thank God she was headed for Europe. He couldnt risk her messing with his career next.
He shook his head. Isnt it up to me to decide who and what I need?
Oh, did you hear that? Theyre paging me. Maybe they found someone to switch seats. You know I cant stand the window. I get claustrophobic, not to mention that I cant get up and pee as often as I like on such a long flight.
He rolled his eyes.
Oh, and Jake? Before I go, did I mention Brianne will be moving into the spare room off the back hall? She was able to break her lease, and its so much more convenient for your workouts. Besides, I know she needs The rest of his sisters sentence was cut off by a loud voice over a sound system. Im sorry, Jake. I really have to run. Ill call from Italy. I love you. And then she was gone, leaving Jake dizzy from her rushed admission.
And he damn well was concerned by her information. He lowered himself onto the bed, trying to absorb his sisters news. His solitary existence was about to be royally screwed up. Hed no sooner gotten Rina safely out of the country than he had another female on his hands. At least this one wasnt a relative. She had no overt ties to Jake, which made her safe from any retaliation by Ramirez. The thought brought him marginal comfort.
He couldnt completely relax because he still had Brianne and their sizzling attraction to deal with. She was right in thinking theyd been set up. And he was right in thinking the physical therapy angle had made Rinas matchmaking easier. But Rina would have found a way to move her in here even if Brianne had been a taxi driver.
Brianne had broken her lease and given up her apartment. Shed obviously accepted this job in good faith and was here to stay. There wasnt a thing Jake could do about it. He couldnt fire her or throw her out on the street. But no matter how much he desired her-and even now his body throbbed with yearning-she definitely didnt fit into his summer plans. Her presence would put his ability to come and go as he pleased at risk, compromising his freedom and private agenda to nab Ramirez.
Once she moved in here, with himThe realization sunk in, slamming into his gut with startling clarity. The woman hed desired for months was about to become his roommate. Not even a cold shower could douse the heat that thought inspired. Hed spent too many nights, after leaving the café, tossing and turning in his bed, thinking of her, yearning for the touch of a woman who existed only in his fantasies. Yet those fantasies were real enough for his sheets to rasp against his naked, aroused body. Real enough for his hands to become her hands, and for him to be spent, but not satisfied, thereafter.
But things were different now. Because, this time, she was more than a face, more than a fantasy. She had a name and a personality. Like it or not, she was his very own physical therapist who was moving in with him for the duration of the summer.
And she was waiting for him in the other room.
CHAPTER THREE
BRIANNE WALKED to the array of windows that offered a perfect view of the East River. Norton followed, his dog tags jingling behind her.
The suns rays were strong through the thick glass, heating her skin as well as the room. Not that she needed any more body heat. There wasnt a part of her that wasnt already on fire, thanks to Jake. A sexy name for a sexy man. A sexy, single and unattached man, she thought, again taking in the marble floors, sculpted works of art and modern paintings adorning the walls in the apartment he shared with his sister. From the mundane to the more in-depth aspects of his personality, there was a lot she didnt know about Jake Lowell. She wondered what he did for a living, even what he liked to eat for breakfast.
Basically, she questioned everything about him, but she decided here and now, she wouldnt ask. She couldnt afford to find out. Jake excited her, but shed have to keep their relationship professional. It wouldnt be easy. This man, this apartment, this chemistry between them-all were the stuff from which fantasies were made. But fantasies didnt come true; she knew that firsthand.
Shed wanted loving, concerned parents, and shed gotten world travelers, more interested in their dangerous adventures than their children. Shed wanted security and the opportunity to live a normal life. To go out when her friends did, to date and to have fun. Instead shed gotten the responsibility of a brother she loved more than life itself and the emotional and financial burden of seeing to it that he was raised right. More than most people, Brianne understood fantasies were necessary to ease lifes burdens, but they never came true.
Her aching desire for the man in the other room would remain in the realm of impossible dreams. It had no place in her real life. The less she learned about Jake Lowell, the safer she would be. As it was, taking this job would be hazardous to her mind, her heart and, most definitely, her body. How she would live here with him and survive the summer, she had no idea.
Physical therapy itself was extremely hands-on. Her palms would cover his upper back and shoulders, and ease around to the front of his chest. Her fingers would massage his strong muscles. Shed be getting up-close and personal with a man who sent her senses soaring and whod unexpectedly touched her emotions as well. Brianne saw scars and injuries every day of her life, yet when shed looked at Jakes, an aching tenderness had risen to her throat. She didnt know why he affected her so, but she knew it didnt bode well for her vow to remain detached, to be the professional she was being paid to be.
But she would if it killed her.
Im ready. His deep voice sent tremors of awareness racing through her.
He might be ready but she wasnt. Brianne turned to face him. She could have handled it if hed dressed in a Polo collared shirt and starched khaki pants. That would have created distance. Instead he wore his standard ripped sweatshirt, this one in navy, which brought out the depth of color in his eyes, and a pair of sweat shorts that didnt come much lower than the towel had earlier.
At the sight of him, her heart began a steady, rhythmic beat. She sighed. Time to get things between them settled. Youre ready. How interesting. Rina led me to believe youd be a difficult patient. In fact, she said youd be a hard sell. That youd resist therapy.
He shrugged. And Rina was right. I meant Im ready to talk. He stepped over to the couch in the living room and seated himself on a velvet sofa. With his days growth of beard and his casual clothes, he appeared ridiculously out of place in the formal room, and yet nothing could detract from his rugged, bad-boy good looks.
Join me. He patted the space beside him.
Knowing she had no choice if she wanted to persuade him, she walked over and lowered herself onto the soft cushion, not as close as hed suggested. But his masculinity couldnt be denied, and even with a good amount of distance separating them, Brianne felt his powerful presence. Think professional, she reminded herself. And when her gaze fell to the enticing skin between the ragged edge of his shirt and the waistband of his sweats, Brianne again reminded herself to breathe.
Tell me something, Jake.
Say that again.
She tipped her head to the side. What?
My name.
He leaned forward until he was too close. His breath held a refreshing hint of mint, and her stomach curled with a delicious warmth.
Jake, he said. Say it again.
His gaze locked with hers and held. She couldnt have turned away if she wanted to, and, heaven help her, she didnt want to. Because she understood. Theyd spent the past couple of weeks in silken, seductive silence. Her name on his lips had sounded so very sweet. She couldnt deny him the same pleasure.