style="font-size:15px;"> “Yes.” Her smile dimmed a little, awakening an urge to give her a comforting hug just as he would Christina, who’d proven to be a true friend.
Avery continued. “We became exceptionally close during her illness. Besides, she provided the funding for a bigger, better clinic for the community in my inheritance. We’re very lucky to have it.”
Her pride in her accomplishment added a glow to her expression, awakening jealousy in Luke’s gut. He remembered being proud of what he did, but the memories were fading from sharp to hazy, obscured by the turmoil of recent months.
This woman used her healing talents every day in a community that needed her. How fulfilling must that be? “You have plenty of patients?”
She nodded, sending her thick ponytail swinging. “I like to think it’s because I do good work, and not just because I’m the only convenient choice.”
“I bet it is. You must be good with your hands, huh?”
To his surprise, that professional demeanor slipped and she fumbled the chart from her hands. It hit the ground with a clatter. “That’s really inappropriate, Luke,” she warned with a frown.
He hadn’t meant it to be, but now that he thought about it that way... He watched as a flush of pink swept up her neck and into her cheeks. Oh, she could be proper all she wanted, but now he knew—she might’ve grown up, but this chickadee was still as easily flustered as she’d been in high school.
Teasing her was gonna be entertaining. And her all-business attitude screamed for him to bring a little fun, a little laughter into her life. Since he could use some fun, too, he’d be doing them both a favor. Right?
“I’m pretty well known for saying whatever comes to mind,” he said with a grin. “And being handsome. And charming.” It wasn’t bragging, ’cause it was true.
“And obnoxiously self-absorbed?” The contrast between her words and sickly sweet tone made him laugh. A true laugh. Man, that felt good.
He conceded with a sexy grin. “Maybe. Occasionally.”
That professional mask slipped a fraction more before she smoothed her palms over already sleek hair, back to her ponytail.
He was getting somewhere now. Just a little more ribbing, and she might actually laugh like a real person instead of a robot.
She pulled out a rolling stool and sat, propping his folder on her lap. Guess it was down-to-business time, which wasn’t nearly as amusing. Luke had worked hard at recovery, but this was the first time fun had appeared anywhere in his current nightmare. He didn’t want to leave it behind.
“Goals?” she asked, focusing her attention on the papers.
That was easy enough. His one goal had been blazing in his brain since the accident. “To be back in my car. ASAP.”
Avery glanced up, those gorgeous eyes wide, drawing him in. “That’s pretty decisive.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” Her tone left him defensive, when there was no need for it. Then again, Luke’s life had been spent on goals other people just didn’t get. “You asked. I answered.”
Her frown and longer-than-polite stare awakened an urge to squirm he hadn’t encountered since third grade.
“Most of my patients are more worried about walking unaided again,” she mused, as if talking to herself rather than him.
Alarm streaked along his nerves. He didn’t want her thinking too hard, digging too deep. So he grinned. “Oh, I have other goals.”
After a minute of silence, she made a speed-up gesture with the pen in her hand. “And...”
“Having a good time doesn’t sound nearly as professional, if you know what I mean.”
The pen hit the floor. Instant color stained her creamy cheeks. Wow. When was the last time he’d seen a blush like that? It must have been— A memory burst inside his brain. High school.
* * *
“Do you need some help with that?”
The jolt that rushed through him had to be from surprise. After all, who would have expected Little Miss Perfect to offer to help him change clothes? A blush spread over her rounded cheeks to match the heat racing over his body.
He looked from the dry shorts in his hand back to Avery in the first bikini he’d ever seen her wear. Must have been bought special for this final summer bash for seniors at the lake before everyone flew off to the colleges of their choice. Everyone except him—his destination was North Carolina and any racing track they’d let him drive on. But even the prospect of finally leaving home hadn’t made him reckless enough to initiate the greenest girl in their group. No matter what her pale blue eyes were begging for. “Honey, helping me would involve a lot more than a change of clothes.”
“I know.” But that flush on her fair skin, bright enough to see in the dim light this far from the bonfire, told him she didn’t truly know what she was offering.
To his surprise, a shot of adrenaline flashed through his veins. The same kind that came with hundred-mile-an-hour speeds and the feel of the wheel beneath his palms. Not the sexy slide into arousal he usually got with girls. Even his alcohol-soaked brain knew this was a bad idea, despite his body’s approval. Better to stop this before it began, even if it meant being harsh...
“I think somebody with more experience would be a bigger help to me.”
* * *
Oh, no. How could Luke have forgotten that long-ago summer night? Without thought, he said, “Holy— Avery, I can’t believe you came on to me that night.”
The little rolling stool shot backward, as far across the tiny exam room as she could go. The thump as she hit the opposite wall went unnoticed by her. She only stared, her flush deepening, spreading down her neck and chest to disappear under the yellow scrubs. “I—”
Why had he said that? Whatever he thought usually slid out of his mouth without any semblance of a stop sign in between, that’s why. Most people found it funny. But her utter mortification was not what he’d wanted.
“I’m sorry, Avery. I should never have said that.” His mama had taught him to own up to his mistakes. People might think he was all ego—and he let them keep believing it—but he’d never dishonor a woman or ignore her distress. “Seriously, I may not always play the gentleman, but I would never intentionally embarrass a friend.”
Her recovery was quick. She straightened on the stool and crept forward with her heels until she’d crossed half the little room. He couldn’t help but notice she still kept some distance between them. The return of the professional mask took a little longer, though. “Friends, huh?”
He grinned, hoping to put her at ease. “I’d like to think so.”
She nodded, as if that settled things. But it took her a few moments to say, “So I wanted a little walk on the wild side.” She shrugged those delicately built shoulders, keeping her eyes trained on his chart. “What high school senior doesn’t?”
His
