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be able to help you.”
    Willa smiled in relief when Nick seemed to accept their return to business. His last taunt had hit too close to home. She put down her clipboard and positioned herself next to his legs. She reached out, intending to bend his bad knee, but stopped just short of actually touching the nicely filled-out white sweats. Suddenly the idea of touching him took on wholly unprofessional dimensions.
    “It’s the left knee.”
    Nick’s voice was strained as if he were in pain. But she hadn’t done anything yet. Focusing on the knee and not the man it belonged to, she gently gripped his leg, one hand under his thigh, the other on his calf. It was like touching granite. She paused for a moment, her fingers flexing together as she grappled with the sensations racing through her. Nick remained perfectly still—too still—and she looked up to see his jaw tighten into a grimace.
    Before she could ask him if he was hurt, he abruptly sat up.
    “Did I hurt you?” she asked quickly. “Are you in pain?”
    “Yeah, you might say that.” Nick let out a short laugh. “Listen, I know we have a few minutesleft. But I can tell you’re in a hurry to get out of here, so why don’t we finish this some other time? I still have my Monday appointment, so we can do this then.” Maybe by Monday his sweats wouldn’t tent like a teenager with his first crush every time she touched him.
    Willa didn’t know what had happened, but she was coward enough to take his suggestion. In the past few hours her feelings toward Nick Logan had gone through as many ups and downs as if she’d been on an emotional roller coaster.
    “Monday sounds fine,” she answered, hurrying to collect the training files and clipboards. She was halfway to the door when he caught up with her and stopped her by placing his hand on the door over her shoulder.
    He was so close that Willa could smell his skin. The faint musky scent invaded her nostrils and she wondered distractedly if a taste of him would adequately make up for the meals she’d missed today. Dangerous thoughts. She swallowed in a vain attempt to moisten her throat. He was so close. They were eye to eye—or rather eye to lips.
    “Who has got you in such a panic, Willa? I hope it’s not me. I’m harmless.” Proving he was anything but, he shifted his weight forward until their bodies were almost touching. “That meansit must be your date this evening. That’s a real shame, Willa. I think a man should keep his woman quivering in anticipation.” His gaze fastened on her trembling lower lip. “Not shaking in her shoes.”

THREE
    His woman … quivering . Willa gasped, her lips parting slightly.
    That did it. Nick lost the tenuous hold on his control and gave in to the urge to touch her. Lifting his hand, he toyed first with a wisp of her hair. Her eyes dilated at his brief touch and he continued, running his fingertip across her lower lip and wondering what it would taste like. He knew he had to stop, and even started to move back when she lifted her hand. His good intentions went up in smoke when she ran her finger lightly over the scrape of beard along his jawline.
    “You know, you should smile more often,” she said, the return of the husky edge to her voice driving him crazy.
    “I haven’t had much to smile about lately,” he answered honestly, then sucked in his breathwhen her finger brushed his lower lip. “Willa, I—”
    A loud gurgling sound interrupted him and Willa jumped away from him as if coming out of a trance. Flustered, she looked around, wondering what had made that noise. When the sound repeated itself, her expression turned to one of mortification.
    Although he was not sure whether he should be frustrated or relieved at the interruption, the cause nevertheless made him smile. “Gee, I sure hope this guy plans on feeding you.” Her skin darkened further and he gave in to the urge to soothe her embarrassment. Placing a finger under her chin, he gently turned