Page 65 of Temptation and Tyranny

As I finished up on my last patient file, I tried hard to ignore the nagging feeling in my chest, the part of me that already missed Cooper even though I hadn’t left yet. I had worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let my career slip away because of a man—no matter how intoxicating he might be, no matter how addicted I was to him.

I took a deep breath, straightening my posture and focusing on the task at hand. I was Allegra Prescott, physical therapist and soon-to-be presenter at the European Congress of Physical Therapy. I wasn’t going to let anything—or anyone—stand in my way.

Yet, I couldn’t quite shake the image of Cooper’s face from my mind, the memory of his touch lingering like a ghost on my skin. I had three weeks to prepare for the conference, three weeks to figure out how to balance my career with the undeniable pull I felt towards him.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Cooper

I killed the engine of my car, the sudden silence amplifying the irritation coursing through my veins. Allegra’s text had been gnawing at me all day. “Something’s come up at work. Rain check?” It was bullshit, and we both knew it.

I’d given her space, waited a respectable amount of time before showing up at her door. But my patience came with limits, and she’d just about reached them. I got out of the car, slamming the door perhaps a bit harder than necessary, and made my way to her building.

The doorman—one of my guys—gave me a nod as I entered. I took the stairs quickly, my leg protesting slightly but I ignored it. The anger fueling me was more potent than any lingering pain.

I reached her door and knocked, not bothering to be gentle about it. A few moments passed, and I was about to knock again when I heard movement inside. The door opened, revealing Allegra in a pair of yoga pants and an oversized sweater, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. Even dressed down, she was breathtaking, and for a moment, my anger wavered.

Her eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed. “Cooper? What are you doing here?”

I pushed past her into the apartment, not waiting for an invitation. “We need to talk.”

Allegra shut the door, her posture stiffening. “I told you I was busy tonight.”

“Yeah, I got your message,” I said, turning to face her. “Loud and clear. Why are you lying to me?”

She crossed her arms, her jaw set in a stubborn line. “Excuse me?”

“Come on, Allegra. ‘Something came up at work’? That’s the best you could do?”

A flash of guilt crossed her face, quickly replaced by indignation. “I don’t appreciate you showing up unannounced and questioning me, Cooper. What I do with my time is my business.”

I stepped closer, my voice low and forceful. “It becomes my business when you’re clearly avoiding me. What’s going on, Allegra? And don’t give me any more bullshit about work.”

She held her ground, but I could see the conflict brewing behind her carefully constructed barriers. “It’s not bullshit. There have been...issues at the clinic. Because of you, actually.”

That caught me off guard. “What are you talking about?”

Allegra sighed, running a hand through her hair. “My boss called me into his office this morning. Apparently, your little jealous stunt at the clinic last week was witnessed by another therapist. There are concerns about my professionalism and my ethics now!”

I felt a surge of anger, not at Allegra this time, but at the faceless bureaucrats trying to control herlife. “That’s ridiculous. You aren’t even my therapist anymore.”

“I know that,” she snapped. “But perception matters in my line of work. And being seen cozying up to a former patient doesn’t exactly scream ‘ethical behavior.’”

“Cozying up?” I repeated, my temper flaring again. “Last I checked, dating wasn’t a crime.”

She laughed, but there was no humor behind the sound. “No, but some of your other activities might be. Have you thought about that, Cooper? About how your business activities might affect my career if people found out?”

Her words hit me like a physical blow. I took a step back, studying her face. “Is that what this is about? You’re worried about your precious reputation?”

Allegra’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Don’t you dare trivialize this, Cooper. My career is everything to me. I’ve worked hard to get where I am, to build a life for myself away from...” She trailed off, shaking her head.

“Away from what?” I pressed, sensing there was more she wasn’t telling me.

“It doesn’t matter,” she said a bit too quickly. “The point is, I can’t afford to have my professional judgment questioned. And being involved with you...it complicates things.”

I felt a cold weight settle in the pit of my stomach. “So, what? You’re just going to cut me out of your life? Pretend none of this ever happened?”

Allegra’s expression softened slightly. “I just need some space, Cooper. A little bit of time to figure things out.”

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