Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 72715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Molten heat seared his body, and Jake swallowed hard, unable to pull his gaze from the unexpected, tempting sight.
She patted her forehead, then lowered the towel and glanced up, catching his stare as he stood in the doorway. “I didn’t hear you come in. Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Yes.” He stepped into the room. “No. I need to talk to you.”
She inclined her head and gestured to the bench near one of the mirrored walls. “Come sit.” She patted the seat beside her.
He swallowed hard, then joined her.
“You’ve had more than a little therapy.” She jumped to the natural assumption after she’d witnessed his ability to put on his shirt with relative ease. “With the help you’ve been getting you don’t need me.” She started to rise, and he clamped a hand over her wrist to keep her next to him.
“Yes, Brianne, I do.”
She lowered herself slowly. Her green eyes raked over his face, searching for answers. “What are you saying?”
“I need more therapy.”
“Just not as much as everyone thinks.”
He gave a short nod. “Can I trust you to keep my secret?”
“You have my word.”
Even as she spoke, he realized he hadn’t had to ask. She’d respect his request. Her dedication to her brother spoke of her character, and his gut told him even more. He’d always trusted his instincts before. He had no reason not to now.
He squeezed her hand tight. “I’ve made progress with the rehab. A lot more than Rina, or the department, thinks.”
“But why keep your progress a secret?”
“I have my reasons.” Reasons he couldn’t share. Not only because he was unofficially working on a case but because her safety depended on her not knowing details. Another reason an affair would work. He could keep her safe by getting inside her head and by knowing where she was at all times.
She shifted, sliding so close that the heat of her body and the scent of her femininity surrounded him. His adrenaline pumped harder as he formulated what he could reveal. “Some of my reasons have to do with general life dissatisfaction and some are more personal. I can’t divulge them but…”
“Shh.” She placed a finger over his lips, and he found her touch warm, soft and gentle. “You don’t owe me explanations. It’s not like you’re the one who hired me.”
“But I am the one who wants to keep you.”
Brianne let out the breath she hadn’t been aware of holding. If he didn’t need or want therapy, if he didn’t need her, Rina’s money and Brianne’s plans for a future would disappear before her eyes. Relief that she didn’t have to worry about losing this job…relief that she wouldn’t be losing Jake, yet, spiraled through her.
“I want to keep the bargain going,” he clarified, “for the summer.”
“You want me to take over your rehabilitation, or what’s left of it?”
“That’s part of it.”
“What’s the rest? The catch?”
Jake reached out for the end of her ponytail, twirling the ends of her hair around his fingers. “I also want you.” His voice deepened to a husky murmur.
Brianne had no doubt he wasn’t referring to plain old physical therapy. She kept her eyes trained on his face and attempted to ignore the delicious tugging at her scalp that had an erotic effect on the rest of her body. As did his words. She already knew her response to him, knew each time they came together, no matter how platonic or professional the intent, the chemistry exploded into something much more. She remained quiet, unwilling to tip her hand, to reveal her thoughts or feelings until he’d laid out his meaning before her.
“I’d like to come to an understanding.” One side of his mouth lifted in a sexy yet endearingly hesitant grin.
One she knew didn’t bode well for her unsteady emotions and racing heart.
“I am willing to cooperate with you. Completely. Enough for you to feel like you aren’t lying to Rina when she checks in—and I can guarantee you she will.”
Brianne grinned. “She already has. Earlier tonight.”
He clenched his jaw.
“But, don’t worry, I didn’t let on there were any problems. I wanted to talk to you first.”
Relief washed over his expression. “I appreciate that.”
She tipped her head to one side. “But you’d obviously like something in return?”
“It’s not a quid pro quo, Brianne. You can say no, and I’ll still give you my full cooperation. It’s to both of our benefits for my rehabilitation to go off without a hitch. I just think we have something more to offer each other.”
Aware of how he affected her, Brianne believed he was right. “What exactly are you referring to?” Her pulse tripped as she awaited his answer, though a part of her already knew.
“I want to explore this attraction between us. You can’t deny it exists.” With his hands wrapped in her hair, he brought his fingers to her cheek and stroked slowly, methodically, over her skin. “I know I feel it every time we’re together. Don’t you?”