

Her brother truly was the biggest dolt on the planet, Kelly concluded as she watched him all but ignore Moira, who was seated next to him. And if sparks didn't start to fly soon, Michael was never going to let her forget it.
In fact, he chose that precise moment to lean in close and whisper, "It's going well, don't you think?" The edge of sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable.
"Well, do something," she snapped back.
His eyes widened. "Me? This was your idea."
"I'll make it worth your while," she offered.
He had the audacity to laugh at that. "Promises, promises."
One advantage of being with a man in a wheelchair was that his attention could be refocused in a heartbeat. Kelly snagged the handles on his chair and aimed him toward her brother and Moira. "Now, talk," she muttered.
The look Michael shot at her would have wilted the resolve of a lesser woman, but Kelly was feeling desperate. She wanted this evening to work out, not to guarantee Moira's silence---truthfully, that was a given anyway---but to try to ensure her happiness. If her friend was foolish enough to be interested in Bryan, then he was the man Kelly wanted for her. Not that she would ever have promoted such a scheme if she hadn't also believed that Moira was exactly right for her brother, she added piously.
"Great music," Michael ventured to Moira. "Are you enjoying it?"
Kelly had to fight a smile at his charming awkwardness. Clearly social graces had never been high on his list of achievements. She actually found that reassuring. She'd always assumed he'd been a rogue who flirted with anything in skirts, especially once he'd joined the navy. Handsome as he was, though, she doubted he'd needed much in the way of charm to have women circling around him.
When Moira remained absolutely silent, Kelly firmly poked an elbow in her ribs. "Michael asked you about the music."
Moira gave them both a weak smile. "Sorry. I guess I was thinking about something else. The music's very nice," she agreed politely.
"Are you very familiar with Irish music?" Michael asked, still doing his best to get the conversation rolling.
Kelly nearly groaned when her friend merely nodded. She knew for a fact that Moira loved Irish music and had been to a dozen or more pubs on a trip to Ireland. She would have sworn this was the perfect topic to get her friend to be a little more animated and to catch Bryan's attention. He considered himself something of an expert on Irish folk tunes.
"You have been to Ireland, though," Kelly prodded. "How does this compare?"
Finally, Moira seemed to forget Bryan's apparently intimidating presence. Her expression brightened. "The lead singer's the best I've heard this side of Dublin," she said with her more familiar enthusiasm.
Bryan's attention was finally snagged. He regarded Moira intently. "You've been to Ireland?"
Moira blinked at him, clearly startled that he'd finally taken notice of her. "Well, of course," she said. "With a name like Brady, how could I not have gone at least once? Have you been?"
"Twice. Once on a tour by horseback. Another time hiking."
Moira's eyes lit up. "You actually went hiking? Where? Which tour company did you use?" The questions poured out of her. "I've been thinking of doing that next summer, but I can't decide which tour to take. Just when I think I've decided, I see another brochure that looks even better."
Kelly secretly congratulated herself on a job well done as the two of them put their heads together, shutting Michael completely out of the conversation. He turned back to Kelly slowly, his expression vaguely bewildered.
"What just happened there?"
"You asked the right question. I provided an extra push. And they took over from there." She patted his hand. "Nice work. You obviously have a knack for this sort of thing after all."
He frowned at that. "Don't go getting any ideas. This was a one-time thing, just to get you out of a bind." His gaze locked on hers. "Though I have the strangest feeling that your friend Moira was never any threat to your career in the first place. She doesn't seem the type to resort to blackmail to get a guy."
Kelly feigned surprise. "Really?" She shrugged. "Well, you never know. Better safe than sorry."
His gaze darkened as he subjected her to a thorough survey that had her skin heating.
"So, what do you think? Can we get out of here now?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
Something in his tone, in his eyes made her suddenly nervous. "And miss seeing the fruits of our labor? Why would we want to do that?"
He snagged her jacket off the back of her chair and tossed it to her. "Because we have better things to do," he said, already heading for the door.
Heat spiraled through her along with a little thrill of anticipation. "We do?" she asked, automatically trailing after him just as he'd obviously assumed she would.
"Remember all those inventive ideas of yours?" he said cheerfully. "It's time to pay up."
Her step faltered. "Now? Tonight?"
"Can you think of any reason to wait? A deal is a deal, right?"
"Well, sure, but tonight?" She glanced back to see that her brother and Moira still had their heads together. "What if they need us?"
"Their problem," Michael said succinctly. "We've done our good deed for the day, maybe for the year."
He leveled a look straight into Kelly's eyes that made her stomach flip over.
"Unless there's some reason you want to back out on our deal?" he suggested lightly.
Honestly, she had been sure that Michael would be the one backing out. After all, he was the one who'd listed all those reasons why they should keep their emotions in check and their hands to themselves. Her promise had been made half in jest, though with at least a modicum of wistful hope. Now that it appeared he was taking her up on it, she had to wonder if she'd made a mistake. As desperately as she wanted it, were they really ready to take this next step? Maybe they should think it over a little longer, weigh the pros and cons.
Was she crazy? This was exactly what she'd been wanting from the day she'd set eyes on him years ago. If they were finally on the same wavelength, why wait?
She held his gaze, her expression serious. "Lead on," she said quietly, accepting his challenge.
For an instant, Michael seemed startled by her acquiescence. Then he latched on to her hand and pulled her down until her face was even with his.
"Once we get in your car and head for my place, there's no turning back," he said tightly.
"We're not playing some silly game of chicken, Michael. I know that," she told him.
"Just so we're clear."
"Never more clear," she replied evenly. She was amazed at how cool she sounded, when her heart was hammering at least a hundred beats a minute. This was it, then, the night she'd been waiting for forever. And she was going to blow it by asking the one question guaranteed to bring on an attack of conscience in Michael.
"Why tonight?" she asked, studying his face intently.
His expression faltered ever so slightly. Most people wouldn't even have noticed, but Kelly did. She sighed heavily as regrets came crashing down around her.
"I thought so. No real reason, except that I offered you a deal, right?"
Now it was his turn to sigh. "That, and the fact that I'm an idiot. Scratch that. I'm a randy idiot. I want you, and you gave me the perfect excuse to take what I wanted."
"You still can," she said and meant it, even if the warm and fuzzy glow was fading rapidly.
He pressed her knuckles to his lips and kissed them. "Another time. Go back in there and keep an eye on your brother and your friend."
She knew it was the smart thing to do, the only thing, really. "How will you get home?"
He gestured toward the street where a taxi sat waiting, its motor running. "I already had Ryan call a cab for me. For a minute there, I was going to send it away, but saner minds prevailed."
Kelly stared at him incredulously. "You were testing me?"
"And myself," he said. "It was a stupid thing to do, and I apologize. At least we both learned a valuable lesson."
She wasn't much in the mood to view things in a particularly generous light. "Oh? What's that?"
"That it's increasingly likely that we're going to tempt fate once too often."
She frowned at him. "Don't be too sure of that," she said heatedly. "I think the lesson I learned is entirely different."
"Oh?"
"When it comes to playing games, you're a master, and that is definitely not a compliment."
That said, she whirled around and went back inside, leaving Michael to stare after her, his mouth open. Whatever words he'd been intending to say to try to pacify her this time, she hoped he choked on them.
Michael was getting exactly what he deserved, no question about it. Kelly's frosty attitude when she'd walked away on Friday night had lingered all through Saturday's therapy session and on into the couple of calls he'd made to try to apologize again for his inexcusable behavior. He'd taken something important and turned it into a contest to see which of them was stronger. He'd expected to be the winner by a mile, but he had to admit it had turned out to be a draw. Kelly was no slouch when it came to good sense and willpower.
Which left them exactly where? Truthfully, he was surprised she'd even shown up on Saturday, but clearly that powerful work ethic of hers had kicked in, along with a healthy dose of pride. It was evident, though, that the attraction between them could no longer be ignored.
The first time Michael had linked Kelly and hot, steamy sex in the same thought, he had cursed himself for an idiot. A few stolen kisses were one thing. They'd both been driven to distraction by circumstances, he had assured himself.
The second time his mind invented an image of the two of them naked in his bed, tangled together, he pictured just how many ways Bryan could devise to make him pay for taking advantage of his kid sister. That had temporarily put a damper on his desire to steal anything more than an occasional kiss.
Friday night he'd come too damned close to making those images a reality. He feared that the next time, his brain wouldn't kick in at all.
The only way to avoid temptation would be to fire her. Of course, that ignored the fact that she'd already quit...specifically so they could become more intimate, if they so chose. How was he supposed to fire someone who didn't technically work for him in the first place? And how could he explain it to her without making himself out to be even more of a jerk than she already thought him to be?
When Kelly's knock came promptly at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, he sucked in a deep breath and resolved to clear the air between them. He was halfway to the door when she used her key and came breezing in, a phony smile firmly in place. A desire to kiss her until that smile turned real slammed through him. That was not a particularly good sign.
"Good morning," he said, regarding her warily as he tried to gauge her real mood.
"Is it? I hadn't noticed." She flipped open her massage table and locked the legs into place. "Are you ready to get to work?"
Michael noted that the frost from Saturday had now turned to icicles. He had to hold back a sigh of regret.
"Sure," he said, climbing onto the table.
The first touch of her cold hands on his back was a shock. He noted that she hadn't bothered to warm the oil she was using today, or else it was simply no match for her body temperature or her mood.
"Starting Thursday, I think we should have our sessions at the rehab clinic," she informed him. "I've already spoken to Ryan and Maggie, and they'll be happy to drive you over there."
Something deep inside Michael turned hot and angry at her presumption. "What right did you have to go to my brother before coming to me?"
She didn't react to his tone. "I wanted to be sure transportation wouldn't be a problem. Since it isn't, I assume you have no objections to the change."
Michael moved away from her. "Are you scared, Kelly? Is that what this is about?"
"Don't be ridiculous," she snapped, her eyes flashing furiously. "You don't scare me. You're ready for equipment I can't haul around. You'll make faster progress if you have it. It's as simple as that."
"Then it's just a bonus for you that we won't be alone anymore?"
"Exactly," she said tightly.
Michael wanted to force her to admit that it wasn't his recovery, but her anger at him that was behind this sudden announcement. Instead, he put his head down without further comment, and let her continue with the massage.
He felt the brush of her breasts as she leaned closer to massage the tight, cramped muscle in his thigh. Instinctively, he glanced to his left and his gaze landed on her cleavage. Not that she was wearing anything the least bit revealing, just her usual V-neck T-shirt. It just so happened that it had dipped provocatively lower than normal. The sight of that smooth, pale skin snapped the last tiny hold he had on his restraint.
This time when he reached for her and closed his mouth over hers, he knew things were going to be different. Unless she slapped him silly---which she probably should---he was going to do more than taste her lips. He was going to close his mouth over the pebbled tip of her breast. He was going to skim his tongue over that swell of satiny skin.
He was going to burn in hell.
He uttered a curse and pushed her away. She drew in a deep, raspy breath and stared at him.
"Why?" she began in a choked voice.
"Why did I kiss you again? I think we both know the answer to that," he said wryly. He raked a hand through his hair. "I swore I wasn't going to touch you, but you could tempt a saint. It's even worse when you get that chilly don't-touch-me note in your voice."
A smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Apparently you like a challenge."
"What man doesn't?" he said wryly. "Can you imagine what would happen if you got it into your head to try to seduce me?"
"I...I couldn't," she stammered, looking shocked. "I wouldn't."
"But not because you don't want to," he said. "Or because I don't want you to."
"Because it's wrong," she said flatly. "That was the conclusion you reached all on your own. On top of that, we've discussed this, Michael. We've gone over it every which way. I totally agree with you now that it's a bad idea."
"I know," he soothed gently, even as he reached for her again and brushed his lips over hers. "Are you absolutely sure that we ruled this out? I can't seem to remember anything except how much I want you."
"When you do that, I can't remember anything, either," she admitted, then moaned as he claimed her mouth again.
Michael swore he was going to take only a quick taste of her minty sweetness, but it only made him crave more. "I'm sorry," he murmured against her lips. "Do you want me to stop?"
"Yes," she whispered, clearly dazed, then, "no."
His lips curved. "Which is it?"
"Oh, God, I wish I knew," she said, closing her mouth over his again.
Her kiss was hot and needy and sent desire ricocheting through him in a way he'd never expected to experience again. Her hands slid over his chest, the touch nothing like the professional strokes of her massages. This left a trail of wicked fire and yearning in its wake.
Michael found himself wanting to experience her pale, smooth skin in the same way. He tugged her T-shirt free from the waistband of her jeans and caressed the bare, hot flesh beneath. He stroked the curve of her breasts with his thumbs, then skimmed a finger across the already taut nipples. She jolted at the touch, then arched into it, a murmur of pleasure low in her throat. He flipped open the snap on her jeans and reached lower, dipping toward her moist, hot core.
"Come up here with me," he urged, wanting her on top of him, rubbing against the throbbing heat of his own arousal. Right? Wrong? He didn't care anymore. It was all about the sensation, the need that she stirred in him and the promise of pleasure that was just out of reach.
He had his hands around her waist and was about to lift her when she seemed to snap out of the sensual daze she'd been in.
"No," she said shakily. "I need more than this from you. I deserve more than this."
Shaken by her words and by the suddenness with which she pulled away, he simply stared, breathing hard and trying to make sense of what had just happened. Given how many times he'd ended things before they got carried away, he supposed he had no right to complain, but he wasn't feeling especially rational at the moment, just needy.
"Was this some new therapy technique?" he inquired, hoping to lighten the charged atmosphere.
Something that looked an awful lot like hurt flashed in her eyes.
"Sure, that's exactly what it was," she said, the ice back in her voice. "Be sure to recommend me to your friends."
Before he knew it, she'd grabbed her purse and left without so much as a word of goodbye.
Michael stared after her, his heart thudding dully. "Well, you certainly blew that," he muttered. Driving her away was getting to be a habit, a truly lousy habit.
He spent a miserable two days worrying and wondering if she'd come back or if she'd send another therapist in her place. He should have realized that Kelly was made of sterner stuff. He'd certainly seen all the evidence of that.
Thursday morning at precisely 9:30, Maggie turned up. "Ready to go to the clinic?" she inquired cheerfully.
He had forgotten all about the damned clinic and Kelly's edict that further sessions would be conducted there with lots of witnesses around to prevent a repeat of their last couple of encounters. However, he was not about to let Maggie see his dismay. Heaven knew what she would make out of it.
"Let's go," he said grimly, reaching for his coat.
After they were in the car, his sister-in-law slanted a knowing look at him. "Anything wrong?"
"What could possibly be wrong?" he asked sourly.
"I thought maybe you were unhappy about no longer having Kelly to yourself for these sessions."
"Why would that bother me?"
She struggled with a grin. "No reason. You just seem a little off this morning."
"I've been a little off ever since I got shot," he retorted. "Or hadn't you noticed?"
"Well, of course, I have no way of knowing what your disposition was like prior to your getting shot, but you seem a little crankier than usual today, if you don't mind me saying so."
Michael sighed. "Would it stop you if I did mind?"
She laughed. "Not likely." Her gaze suddenly turned serious. "Why don't you just admit you're crazy about her? It would be a lot easier on everyone, you included."
"I can't be crazy about her," he said flatly.
"Why on earth not?"
He scowled at the question. "Do you even have to ask? She doesn't need an out-of-work man who can't even stand on his own two feet in her life."
Maggie shook her head. "There are so many things wrong with that statement, I hardly know where to begin."
"I don't suppose you could be persuaded to keep all of them to yourself?"
"Oh, please," she said, regarding him with disdain. "First, if not having a job is an issue, get one. Ryan's friend is still anxious to talk to you. Second, you'll be back on your feet eventually, so that's a ridiculous excuse. And third, you need to stop feeling so blasted sorry for yourself and think about Kelly's feelings for a change. You're selling her short. You're assuming that she's some superficial twit who cares only about whether you have a good job or can run a marathon."
"I never said any such thing," he retorted indignantly.
"Maybe not in so many words, but the message is clear, just the same."
"It's not about her, it's about me," he said with frustration.
"Well, it's time to get over yourself, Devaney, and get on with the business of living."
"Have you ever considered a military career?" he inquired, more shaken by the scolding than he'd ever been by a dressing down from a superior officer in the navy.
"Nope. Couldn't take the discipline," she said at once.
"Then find some small country that needs a dictator. You'd be good at it."
She laughed. "If I get tired of running a pub with your brother, I'll keep that in mind. I'm not the one who's averse to considering other options," she said as she pulled to a stop in front of the clinic. "I'll get your wheelchair out of the back. Do you need help getting inside?"
He considered the doors and the challenge in Maggie's eyes. "I'll manage," he said tightly.
"Good answer," she said and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
Oddly enough, her approval made him feel marginally better as he went inside to face Kelly.
He spotted her at once, working with a young girl whose gait was awkward as she clung to two metal rails on either side of her. The girl couldn't have been more than sixteen and her brow was furrowed in concentration as she struggled to put one foot in front of the other and inch along between the bars. She hadn't gone more than a couple of feet, when Kelly beamed at her and patted her hand.
"Good work, Jennifer," she praised as she helped her into a wheelchair and took her over to a woman who'd been watching the scene with a shattered expression on her face.
Kelly smiled at the older woman. "Great progress today, don't you think?"
"Wonderful," the woman said, forcing a smile for the girl.
Jennifer searched the older woman's face as if she were looking for signs that she wasn't telling the truth, but the smile never wavered, and eventually Jennifer's lips curved into a half smile.
"I'm going to walk again, Mom. I really am," she said with gritty determination.
"Of course, you are," Kelly agreed. "I'll see you again on Saturday."
Shaken by the entire scene, Michael waited until they'd gone before joining Kelly.
"What happened to her?" he asked.
"Automobile accident," she said succinctly.
"How long ago?"
"About the same time as your injuries."
He caught the underlying message without her having to spell it out for him. Young Jennifer was braver and more determined than he was. In that instant, he knew what real shame felt like.
"Okay, then," he told her. "Let's get to work and get me up to speed." His gaze locked with hers. "After that we need to talk."
"No, we don't," she said emphatically.
Michael's leg might be all but useless, but his arms were as strong as ever. He latched on to her hand and tugged until she was standing right in front of him.
"Okay, then, we'll talk first. I'm sorry," he apologized.
She finally met his gaze. "For?"
"Making light of what happened between us the other day."
She shrugged. "It was a kiss. No big deal."
"It was more than a kiss and it was a big deal," he insisted. "I guess that's why I did it. I felt guilty for taking advantage of you."
"You?" she said incredulously. "I'm the one who took advantage. I'm the one who broke the rules."
He struggled with a grin. "You have rules about that kind of thing?"
"The two of us made rules about it."
"Then who better to break them?" he asked.
"We can't keep doing this," she said plaintively.
"It was a kiss," he said, echoing her words before adding, "A great kiss."
The beginnings of a smile tugged at her lips and she slanted a look at him. "Great, huh?"
He laughed at the hint of satisfaction in her voice. "Phenomenal."
"Okay, don't overdo it," she said. "I can live with great. Now, let's get to work."
"In a sec. There's one last thing I wanted to say."
"Oh?"
"I'm glad you haven't given up on me. It's more than I deserve."
She sighed. "There was never a question about that, Michael. I'm here for as long as you need me. There's nothing you could do that would chase me away."
The heartfelt commitment took him aback. Few people in his life had made that kind of commitment to him. His own parents certainly hadn't. The Havilceks had, but because adoption had been out of the question, there had never been that final leap to becoming a real family that he believed he could count on forever. The reservation had been his alone. He'd been scared to allow himself to feel too much for the Havilceks.
Beyond that, though he and Bryan had been as close as brothers, or at least as close as he'd remembered brothers being, they hadn't stayed in touch once he'd joined the navy.
Now here was a beautiful, compassionate, loving woman telling him she was in his life for as long as he needed her. An unfamiliar feeling filled his chest. He tried to pin a label on it, but couldn't.
Only later that night, when he was all alone in his cold bed, his leg throbbing, did it dawn on him what that feeling had been: contentment. If he could feel such a thing at the worst time of his life, then he owed the woman responsible. He owed her more than respect and fair play. He owed her his heart, and it was past time he proved he was capable of giving it.


