My whole body stiffens, anger flaring as it becomes clear what’s happening here. Did Roman honestly just make up an emergency to get me out of what he thought was a date? “You called me here for a basketball injury?”
“I hired you to treat my men, Dr. Taylor. I don’t remember specifying what injuries would qualify.” Roman smirks, eyeing me as I enter the room. “Sammy, let Dr. Taylor have a look at your leg.”
Sammy comes forward and doesn’t look hurt in the slightest. No blood. No broken bones. No dizziness. In fact, he practically skips to the chair in front of me. As twisted as it is, I want him to be hurt, because it means Roman isn’t the self-centered asshole he’s coming off as.
“Oh sure, boss.” Sammy grins, sticking his leg out. “It’s sore back here.” He points to the back of his thigh.
Fuming, I suck in a sharp breath and bend down. “Can you describe the pain?”
“Comes and goes.” He shrugs. “A little twinge when I jump, but not too bad.”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. A sore hamstring? Roman is used to manipulating people and getting what he wants, but that won’t be the case with me. I can play games too.
“Actually, can you climb up onto this table so I can get a little better look? Lay flat on your stomach.”
Sammy does as I ask, and Roman’s eyes bore into me as I run my hand along the back of Sammy’s bare leg.
“Hmm. Might just need to be rubbed out a bit,” I say, inching his basketball shorts up high onto his thigh. I press the heel of my hand into the muscle and Sammy nearly comes off the table.
“Holy shit, Doc. That feels so good.”
Every muscle in Roman’s body tightens as I smirk, not taking my eyes off of him as I continue to rub out Sammy’s leg. He’s furious, steam practically coming out of his ears as he watches. “Good. How about this?”
I press again, running my hand all the way from the outside of his hip down to his knee. Up and down and up and down. “Mmm. How’s that?”
“So fucking good.” Sammy groans.
“Good.” I smile. “The hamstring starts all the way up here…” I dig my hands into the muscle of his butt. “So it’s important to get it really, really deep.”
Sammy groans again and Roman’s face twists into a look of rage like I’ve never seen before. For a minute, I wonder if I went too far, but I realize that’s a thought that’s never crossed Roman’s mind with me, so I pile on.
“Are you sure that feels okay? I might need to get a better angle. Is it okay if I climb up here and straddle—”
“He’s had enough.” Roman grabs his shoulder, ripping Sammy right off the table. “What’s the diagnosis?”
“A sore hamstring.” I press my lips together. “And a boss with a disgusting jealous streak.”
Roman arches an eyebrow at me. I was trying to curtail my anger until we had a little more privacy, but that wink does me in and I can’t hold back.
“Sammy, you can ice and take some ibuprofen; it should help. And you, Roman, there isn’t much you can do for that obnoxious ego besides going to hell.”
I turn on my heels, bursting out of the gym. Our confrontation draws the attention of all his men, and they all watch as I storm toward the front door.
A stiff breeze hits me as the door slams behind me, and I let out a heavy sigh. God, that man is unbelievable. This is all just a game to him and I’m a pawn. He’s proved it over and over again, and it’s time I start to believe him.
The door flies open behind me, and the air turns cold. Roman’s face is harsh enough to stop my heart, and I step back, my heels hitting the red brick of the warehouse. A wicked smile curls on his lips as he moves forward, slowly closing the distance between us. With each step, my chest gets tighter, and it’s harder and harder to breathe.
Soon, he hovers just inches above me, the bergamot in his cologne filling my lungs. He’s got one hand on the wall next to me, pinning me against the brick with his body. I can’t bring myself to look up, but Roman’s rough finger settles on my chin. He tilts it until I have no choice but to meet his eyes and it makes me dizzy. Dizzy with fear. Dizzy with lust. I can’t make out which.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
My lips curl into an innocent frown. “Treating your men. Isn’t that what you hired me for?”
Roman is seething. The vein on his neck bulges as he cages me in, letting out a harsh breath.
“You think I’m going to let you walk out of here after speaking to me that way in front of my men? After that little tantrum? I’m paying you to be available at any fucking second, for any medical reason I deem necessary. Isn’t that right?” Roman’s gravellyvoice rakes over me like hot coals, a burn that excites me as much as it hurts.
There’s a strange glint in his eyes, and I’m not sure if he’s about to kill me or to kiss me.
