Page 80 of Legacy of Danger
"Have a seat, please."
He froze a few feet into the room. "What are you doing here?"
With a grin, she said, "I sometimes work as a fight physician for local events. Surprised?"
A corner of his serious mouth rose. "Not surprised that you can do the job. More surprised that you're here in this, uh, rough environment. It's just... out of context."
As in, his last memory of her involved a freak-out, fully clothed therapy session where she was a delicate flower? Understandable.
"I got into ringside doctor gigs in Salt Lake City when Kevin started fighting. It was a nice way to pick up a few extra bucks in residency. Now? It's something he and I have in common: love of MMA. Maybe I don't fight, but we're both participating."
"We're lucky to have you." Why did that sound like a promise? Wishful thinking, probably.
He eased into the chair, knees apart, and the band of his blue fight shorts peeked out from beneath the baggier shorts he wore over them. The cords in his thick legs tightened under the hair-dusted skin, and her mouth went dry.
A brain short circuit ruined her for a solid five seconds as she imagined him wrapping those legs around her while he held her tight to that chest and rolled her under him with a sexy judo move.
No. Don't go there.
She rubbed her neck. Why hadn't she pulled the blazer on over her gray button-down shirt?
As Vaughn followed her every move with his dark eyes, she shivered but for a very different reason than with Linc. Vaughn didn't look like a killer stalking small prey. Oh, no. He looked like a starving man watching steak sizzle on the grill.
Dinner analogies aside, did he have any idea how badly Linc could hurt him?
Oh, man.
His thick brows drew together as she smoothed the Velcro of the blood pressure cuff on his arm. "Are you okay?" he asked.
She paused. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Nothing. Just a... feeling I had a few minutes ago waiting in the hall while Linc was in here with you."
Linc intimidated the hell out of her, but that wasn't Vaughn's problem. "It was fine."
"Did he do anything mean?"
"Nothing," she snapped. Cutting her eyes to the inspector and back, she said, too brightly, "Now, let's get your exam finished up, okay?" She removed the blood pressure cuff and pulse ox device.
He jammed his mouth into a tight line.
"Deep breath." She listened to his heart and lungs. Wow, ink on his back, too. Latin and more thorns. Very nice. "Good. Hands, please."
His were sturdy as two rocks. When he squeezed her fingers, warmth flowed through the solid but not painful grip. His touch seeped like melted caramel up her arms and into her chest and belly. What would that firm grip feel like on her arms? Her breasts? Oh, God, what about on her...
Stopping herself before she licked her lips, she stepped back. Anything to get hold of her overreacting libido. "Any injuries lately?"
He paused. The corners of his sensual mouth crept upward, triggering a wash of warmth over her neck. "Nothing physical."
Good one. "All right, you're cleared. Good luck."
"Maybe we can talk after the fight?"
"Sure thing."
As inno.
No way would she stick around and wait for him. No matter how much their chemistry intrigued her, she had made her feelings clear.
She would leave as soon as her fight duties were completed and stay far away from the temptation that was Vaughn Taggart. The guy possessed everything her body wanted and nothing her heart could handle.
