Page 9 of Ice Cold Hearts

I feel myself stiffen.

“No,” I say curtly. “He doesn’t even know about her, and I’m not sure he’d care if he did.”

He props himself up on an elbow and turns slightly so he can meet my eyes.

“I apologize for prying. That was a rude question,” he says sincerely.

“It’s one I’m used to,” I say. “No harm done.”

I smile to let him know I’m not angry and then gently push him back down onto the table.

“I’ve got one more area to work on before it’s time for ice. Do you have any questions or are there areas of your back that I’ve been too firm or too gentle with?”

By the set of his shoulders, I can tell he’s working up to asking me something.

“I do have one question,” Alexei finally admits. “In the parking lot…”

“I’m so sorry,” I interrupt. “I don’t normally behave like that. I have to apologize for my lack of professionalism today. Please don’t hold it against Jenna or the hospital.”

“Let me finish,” he commands.

Something in his tone makes me comply immediately. It makes me wonder how it would feel to have him order me about in the bedroom.

We just talked about this, Emily. Stop it.

“You said I could see my own ileum. What the hell is that?” he asks.

I laugh nervously. “It’s the last part of the small intestine. It connects to the large intestine.”

“I see where Audrey gets her creativity from,” he says dryly.

How is he so good at getting me to laugh?

We settle into a more comfortable silence than before.

As I work, I can’t help staring at his broad shoulders and perfectly shaped back. The low moans he makes each time I resolve a knot in his lower back are slowly eroding my determination to remain professional.

If I kissed that spot near his spine, would he make the same sound?

Fortunately, I manage to make it through the hands-on therapy without doing anything that would cause me to lose my license. Alexei sighs contentedly when I lay the cold pack against his lower back.

“I need to apologize to you for being an ass in the parking lot,” he states.

My eyebrows hit my hairline when he says that.

“I was the one who screamed at you. You have nothing to apologize to me for,” I insist.

“I was aggressive and provoked you.” He sighs. “It’s not an excuse, but I thought you were a paparazzo. I’d been so careful. I hadn’t wanted to bring those vultures anywhere near this place. All they do is cause trouble. When I saw you, I assumed you were one of them… until you tore me a new one, anyway.”

“I—”

“Honestly, it was refreshing. Most people fawn over me in an attempt to get something out of me or claw their way up the social ladder. It was nice to be treated like a run of the mill jerk for once,” Alexei admits.

It makes me smile even though I’m sure he’s just saying it to be kind.

After the ice is taken off and I’ve scheduled his next appointment, Alexei insists on walking me to my car.

“I’m the reason you had to park there in the first place,” he argues. “It’s only right.”

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