Body Heat (Simply 4)

Jake laughed, but his soft chuckle disappeared quickly as he realized the reason for Brianne’s nervous behavior and contemplated what might be in that shopping bag. Victoria’s Secret sold women’s intimate garments—silk, lace, teddies, all designed to enhance and reveal, to make any normal man drool.

Jake wouldn’t swear he was normal, but he was a man. The thought of seeing Brianne in any seductive lingerie was enough to send him over the edge. And the mere possibility that she’d bought new things with him in mind…Well, there wasn’t much that would cool him down.

Forty-five minutes later, however, he acknowledged that torturous therapy sure took the edge off. Intense pain shot through his shoulder, making the daily ache feel like a woman’s soft touch in comparison. He had been working with a therapist since a couple of weeks after the injury, bu

t Brianne’s approach was different, more thorough. She’d been right in saying some therapy wouldn’t be enough. He needed Brianne if he wanted to return to full mobility.

He needed her for more than just rehabilitation, he acknowledged, as he waited for her return from the kitchen with ice packs to cool down his shoulder. He yearned to know more about this woman, a desire that went beyond the physical.

He’d grown up in a happy family. They’d lacked money for extras, but they hadn’t lacked love. His parents had been high school sweethearts, and the love they shared permeated the small apartment they’d lived in. Even their move to Florida hadn’t lessened the bond that existed between them and their children. He wondered what Brianne’s upbringing had been like.

She said she’d raised her brother after her parents died—but what had her childhood been like before she’d been burdened with responsibility? Had she always been this determined, driven person, or had becoming her brother’s guardian changed her from a lighthearted girl to a responsible woman?

Knowing she was leaving at the end of the summer, he told himself, he was free to explore, and indulge in, all facets of her and his desire. There’d be no painful breakup when September came. But a small part of him wondered if such a short span of time would be enough to satisfy him.

He shook the thought off, knowing better than to mull over things he couldn’t control. He wasn’t in a position to change the arrangement, anyway, since even if Brianne were staying, his life was in such turmoil and flux that he couldn’t contemplate anything more than a fling. And she wasn’t in the market for something longer or more enduring. He’d had one woman give up on him and bail. No way he’d leave himself open to that again.

He had the summer, Jake thought. Now would have to be enough.

PRIOR TO JAKE’S WORKOUT, Brianne changed out of her hospital scrubs and took the time to clean up, makeup and all. For the first time in ages, she’d looked in the mirror and seen a woman staring back. A woman with thoughts, feelings and needs of her own.

And those needs included Jake. Testing his abilities, lifting his arms, feeling his muscles expand and contract beneath her fingertips had aroused her beyond belief, beyond anything she’d felt before—and in her fevered dreams she’d experienced plenty.

Now she paused when she reached the doorway to the gym, ice in hand, and took a moment to watch Jake as he leaned back in his chair and grimaced when the leather touched his bare shoulder. The play of emotions across his face now and as he’d worked out were honest and strong. She felt bad causing him such intense discomfort and pain, but he’d thank her in the long run.

She bit down on her lower lip. He’d said he had been in therapy, and his ability to move proved him right. She wasn’t arrogant or presumptuous but she knew without a doubt she could bring him much further than his old therapist had, if only because he seemed so determined and dedicated. She wondered why he’d led Rina to believe he’d done so much less toward his recuperation, then cautioned herself against getting too involved.

She swallowed a harsh laugh. Who was she kidding? She planned on sleeping with the man. Brianne Nelson didn’t indulge in one-night stands that meant nothing. Anything she shared with Jake would be intense and memorable, even if she had to leave him behind when the summer was over.

She wanted to know all about him, and she would find out. Asking questions, getting to know him, wouldn’t change how she felt about him. She knew she was in danger of falling hard. But whether she fell or not, she’d just have to exercise the same self-control she had in the past. She’d overcome her anxieties in caring for her brother; she’d put her life and needs second to his. Knowing Jake’s kind of life could cause her heartache and pain, she’d just have to walk away when their time together was through. If she kept in mind his occupation and his claim that he wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship, she shouldn’t have any problem keeping things in perspective. Or so she hoped.

She walked into the room and came up beside Jake. “Here. Let’s ice down the shoulder.” She placed blue gel packs on his bare skin, swallowing hard, knowing how much discomfort he was in and wishing she had more than her professional expertise to make him better. “This will contract the muscles and ease the pain.”

“Ahhh.”

She recognized his groan of relief and winced, knowing she’d caused him this agony. “So what did you have planned for us after this?”

She hoped the change of subject would help him concentrate on something else, and help her concentrate on something other than Jake. And her undergarments. For their session, she wore spandex Capri pants that provided ease of movement, but the tight material showed off both her legs and her behind for his view, as she’d intended. Beneath the skin-hugging material, she wore sexy underthings, and she felt the combination of silk and lace stretch and glide with every move she made. She’d handpicked the mauve panty and matching bra in tactile lace of delicate flowers. Between the flowers, sheerer lace allowed her skin to show through—a lot of skin.

She wondered what Jake would think and how soon he’d have the chance to think it. Her body trembled with delicious anticipation.

“Hey, I’m the one with ice on my shoulder. Are you cold, too?” he asked.

She forced a grin. “I stuck my hands in the freezer to retrieve that ice, remember?”

He nodded. “Are you too cold for ice cream?”

The simple question seemed to hold a wealth of importance she couldn’t understand. She met his blue-eyed gaze, which danced with possibility and…hope? She wondered if she was misinterpreting his expression and tone of voice, but she couldn’t help but sense her response was important to him. “I’m never too cold for ice cream. Why?”

“What’s your favorite flavor?” he asked.

“Well, I’m embarrassed to admit, I’m not picky. Any flavor will do.” At that moment, her stomach began to growl, a reminder she’d only had time to grab half a sandwich from the hospital cafeteria for dinner. “Especially now.” She laughed and pressed one hand against her stomach.

“Did you have dinner?” His forehead furrowed with concern.

“A little.” She’d been too rushed and too nervous about their time together to consume much. “But ice cream sounds great. What did you have in mind?”

“A place called Peppermint Park on the corner of Sixty-sixth and First. They have a huge assortment, and it comes highly recommended by Rina.”