First, I snort, then do an eye roll that could win a trophy if such a competition existed. “Where did that come from?”
He gives me a look as if he’s shocked that I don’t understand the obvious. “You used to have a crush on him.”
“Used tobeing the operative terminology, Liam. Now he’s just a patient.”
“Just a patient…does he understand that?”
I stand and cross my arms. “It hasn’t come up, but be assured that I can handle it, if it does.”
“Okay, okay. I get it. You’ve got this.”
“That’s right.” I return to my chair and lift my pen, but Liam is still standing there. “Don’t you have a shop to run, Lee?”
I use my nickname for him so he’ll understand I’m not upset. But I refuse to indulge his hyper-protective big brother fears. The sound of the door closing confirms I’m alone again. Now, I can get in the zone to do some research and create a more complete plan for Nick. He’ll be here in the morning to start the hands-on part of his first session. Just the thought sends a shiver down me, which I squelch before it reaches my toes.
No toe-curling at work. This is business.
And Nick Lawless will never be more than my patient.
CHAPTER 3
Nick
Iconfess, there was a time when I lived up to my reputation as a player. That was when I was on the fast track to becoming a high-profile corporate lawyer like my parents and saw dating as a convenient distraction. Until I finally woke up and realized how miserable I was.
That was the day I landed on the beach—the one place I could feel myself settle long enough to truly hear my soul. I walked the five-mile length of Mango Key Beach twice before I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t meant to be a lawyer.
So I ditched law school, much to my parents’ dismay, and jumped into lifeguard training on a whim. I’ve always loved the beach, so I figured I could do that until I reconfigured my life.
I ended up assigned to Graham, who whipped my sorry and spoiled rear into gear. Next thing I knew, we were best friends and hung out all the time. Then, one day, the inevitable happened—a risky rescue. I’d only been an official lifeguard for about a month and wound up rescuing a pregnant woman swept out by a riptide. Things got real when she went into premature labor.
Thankfully, both mom and baby were fine, even though the paramedics wound up delivering her newborn on the beach. Fora brief moment, I was terrified we wouldn’t get her back to shore before something happened to her and the baby.
After that, Zane sat me down and posed a question. Did I want to be a career lifeguard? When I asked him why he was asking me that, he said that I didn’t lose my cool in one of the most difficult rescues he’d ever witnessed. He told me to think about it.
But I didn’t need to. I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life—save people. Zane saw that potential in me before I even considered it. I told him yes on the spot.
In the corporate world, the Lawless name is known. (The stories I could tell about having two parents who are high-powered attorneys with the name ‘Lawless.’) But on the beach, I’m just one of the lifeguards on duty, there to help when needed. We operate as a team, unified with one purpose—to make sure every person leaves safe and sound.
Only Zane and Graham know my story, and I want to keep it that way. Although it took me a few more years to stop playing the field, even they don’t know that more often than not, I’m either home alone most evenings, or those dates they think I’m on are actually meetings with my financial advisor, who’s old enough to be my mother. Debra’s the one who helped me delegate part of my trust fund as a foundation to help a cause I’m passionate about.
Did I mention my family is loaded? Another reason I prefer to conceal my past. And if you had told me a month ago that one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met would wind up being my physical therapist, I would have said, bring it on. I can keep it professional. But because this woman is Graham’s little sister puts a significantly different and more emphatic spin on the situation.
I can’t cross that line.
Hands-off-Hannah.
I’ve spent the entire morning countering every thought of her with this. And I’m about to walk into her office again for my first full session, so I’ve made it a running mantra in my mind.
The irony is, she’s about to have her hands all over me. Well, my shoulder, anyway. But she’ll never be more than Graham’s little sister, which is fine. Right now, all my energy needs to be focused on getting the use of my arm back.
That is my sole focus. It has to be.
Unsure whether I’m supposed to just walk in, I pause in front of her office. Guess I’ll err on the safe side and knock first.
The door opens, and Hannah smiles at me. “No need to knock. Just come in next time.” She takes a step back, studying the door. “Maybe I’ll ask Liam if we can replace this with a glass door.”
I walk inside. “But then people can see your patients from outside.”
