“The director hopes to wrap in ten weeks and head back to L.A. All the interior shots will be filmed on a sound stage. You’d be free to return to Wolff Mountain then.”
“What happens if you get sick once you’re back in California?”
She shrugged. “My mother will be around. And I have a couple of friends I trust. But the truth is, by that point, the director and producer couldn’t afford to fire me. Not with that much of the movie in the can. Their only choice would be to wait for me to get better.”
“You’ve given this a lot of thought.”
She waved a hand at the wall behind his desk. “I may not have your credentials, Doc, but I’ve got street smarts in spades. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there in Tinseltown. I should know. I’ve got the bite marks to prove it.”
“I’m not committing to anything until we do a complete medical exam. Will you agree to that?”
“Do I have a choice?”
The atmosphere in the room was charged. Jacob felt the blood pumping in his veins. “No.” He was blunt. Determined. In some areas he might be led around by his sex, but not this. Not when it came to a patient’s health.
She paled, her hands twisting in distress. “I’ve already been diagnosed.”
“Doesn’t matter. I have to make my own assessment. What are you afraid I’ll find?”
She stilled, her chin lifting and her expression haughty. “I’m not afraid of anything. I just don’t like doctors.”
“I’m distraught.” He hadn’t expected to find anything funny in their situation, but her sheer cussedness amused him. “This will be painless, I assure you.”
“Says the man with the needles.”
He lifted a brow. “Is that the problem? I’ll have to draw blood, you know. But I have a light touch, I swear.”
She rocked back and forth in her chair, arms clasped around her waist. “I’ve been known to pass out when donating during a Red Cross Drive. It’s embarrassing.”
“I’ll take care of you.” The words slipped from his lips easily, sounding more like a vow than a simple statement. He cursed inwardly, swallowing hard. “Seriously, Ariel. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Will I have to take off my clothes?”
His entire body went on red alert. Ariel. Naked. Beneath his roof. Perhaps building a clinic in his house had been a stupid idea. Because it sure as hell had never occurred to him that he might one day want to walk a patient down the hall to his bedroom.
Or better yet, drag her into the hall and take her standing up because he didn’t have the patience to wait.
Sweat dampened his forehead. His hands, his surgically trained hands, trembled. “No,” he croaked. “That won’t be necessary.”
“Then let’s get it over with,” she muttered, rising gracefully to her feet with a little bounce that made her seem younger than at any moment so far. She reached for her designer purse.
“Leave it,” Jacob said. “We won’t be gone long and there’s no one around to bother it.”
As they stepped into the hallway that connected the clinic to the rest of the house, Jacob glanced toward the window that offered a view of the driveway. “Is someone waiting for you?” he asked. “A driver perhaps?”
Ariel yawned and stretched, her breasts straining the thin, soft fabric of her dress. “I drove myself. Flew coach. Wore a black wig and fake glasses. Rented a car. I was lucky. No one recognized me.”
“Or if they did, they had the decency not to bother you.”
She laughed. “Do you always assume such nice things about the world at large?”
“People are not all bad.”
“I’m amazed you can have that attitude after what happened to your family. Isn’t that why you’re holed up here? To isolate yourselves from danger?”
Jacob sighed, ushering her into an exam room. “My father and uncle brought us to the mountain for that reason initially, but as adults, we’ve all chosen to live here for different motives. My brother Gareth likes the wild remoteness of the land. Kieran has discovered that despite his world travels, no place else feels like home.”
“And you?”
“I like being nearby to care for my father and uncle. They’re both getting up in years… Both started families late in life. I keep an eye on them. And the location is perfect for my patients who need privacy.” Not to mention the fact that the world at large was a painful place. Jacob had begun his life as an introvert, and the experiences that had shaped him only served to reinforce that tendency.
“Who else lives here on the mountain?”
He fancied she was chattering to distract herself from the upcoming exam, but he indulged her. “I have two brand-new sisters-in-law. And three cousins who come and go.”
She perched on the end of the exam table, swinging her legs, hands propped behind her. “You need a decorator,” she said bluntly.
“Excuse me?” He frowned, opening a drawer and extracting supplies.
“Your color scheme,” she complained, wrinkling her nose with disgust. “It’s like a morgue in here. Black and white and stainless steel. And from what I saw of your house, more of the same. What’s the deal?”
Jacob had never really thought about it, but what she said was true. Her petal-pink dress was the only spot of color in the room. He put a stethoscope around his neck. “Medical research requires extreme cleanliness. I suppose it’s a habit.”
Ariel rolled her eyes and sat up straight. “There’s a difference between sanitary and institutional. You’re rich. Spring for some throw pillows for Pete’s sake.”
He put his left hand on her shoulder and with his right, placed the cold metal disk over her heart, just at the slope of her breast. “This isn’t Club Med. Breathe naturally.”
Ariel froze.
He moved the stethoscope. “Don’t hold your breath.” Her heartbeat was steady, no sign of anything out of the ordinary. Moving around to her back, he said, “Breathe in and out.”
She cooperated. Her skin was warm, even through the fabric of her dress. Inwardly, Jacob quaked, stunned by how much he wanted to lean down and trace the line of her spine with his tongue. His usual interactions with actual patients were impersonal. Professional. Businesslike.
But in Ariel’s presence, his brain and his body rebelled. He’d had courses in medical ethics. Never in his life had he been tempted to test the limits of what was decent and right. She had come to him for help. The fact that he could imagine her naked was irrelevant.
He stepped back, out of her line of vision. “Heart and lungs sound fine,” he said hoarsely. The feel of her soft resilient skin was burned into his palm. “The most important thing will be the blood work.”
Ariel flinched visibly. Unable to help himself, he put a hand on her arm. “I’ll be quick. Don’t watch. Turn your head away.”
She craned her neck to see him gathering several empty vials. “This is where a tasteful Monet might come in handy. Something for a focal point.”
He chuckled. “You’re not in labor. Close your eyes if you have to.”
Her expression was morose. “That makes it worse.”
Jacob readied the needle, keeping it out of sight. “Tell me about your trip to the Amazon,” he coaxed. “And keep your eyes on the cabinet over there.”
“Okay.” Her voice hit a high squeak. She was more than jumpy, she was terrified. Shaking, even.
He stroked her arm. “Relax, Ariel. All you’ll feel is a little sting. I need you to make a fist.” With deft movements, he inserted the needle in a vein at the crook of her arm and started filling the first tube.
She made a funny muffled sound and her body went limp. It all happened so quickly, Jacob barely had time to react. He caught her as she fell, but the needle popped loose and blood spurted, spattering her dress and his clothes with modernistic flair.
“Damn it.” He eased her back onto the table, determining that despite her extreme pallor she was in no immediate danger. It seemed prudent to gra
b another needle and get the blood samples before she came to. No point in torturing her.
When he had what he needed, he took a small towel, wet it and dabbed her face and throat. “Wake up, Ariel. Wake up. It’s all over.”
Finally, her long lashes lifted, eyes the color of gentians gazing at him with confused supplication. “What happened?”
“You fainted.”
“Sorry,” she muttered, struggling to sit up.
He held her down. “Take it easy. No need to rush.”
She extended one arm, squeezing her eyes shut. “Go ahead,” she said through gritted teeth. “Do it. I’ll be okay this time.”
He stroked her cheek, smiling in spite of his concern about her general health. “I’m finished.”
One eye opened. “What do you mean?” she asked suspiciously. “I thought you had to fill several vials.”
He slid an arm beneath her and slowly lifted her upright. She smelled like sunshine and sweet peas. He inhaled the scent and told himself it didn’t go to his head. “I took the blood samples while you were out cold. It seemed like the thing to do.”
“That’s a little creepy.” Ariel smoothed her hair with both hands and straightened her skirt, rubbing ineffectually at the blood spots.
He stared at her. “Creepy? I was trying to be helpful.”
“Why are we both covered in blood?”
Her suspicious gaze ruffled him. “It’s only a few spots. When you keeled over, the needle popped out.”
“Hmm. Maybe you should hire a nurse. This doesn’t seem to be your strong suit.”
Jacob counted to ten. “Has anyone ever told you you’re impertinent?”
Her grin weakened his knees. “Every day, Doc. Every day.”
“Would you like to change clothes?” he asked abruptly, vastly afraid that he had no control over this situation at all.
“If you’re offering a paper gown, the answer is no.”
Ignoring her levity, he cleaned up the mess, replaced his instruments, and labeled the tubes of blood. “How many times a year do you give blood?” he asked.
“As often as they’ll let me. Every few months.”
“Why?” He was genuinely puzzled.
She nibbled her lower lip, glancing up at him through lowered lashes. “I have a rare blood type,” she said simply. “It’s important.”
And just like that, any last qualms he had about his decision disappeared. Any woman who was tough enough to face down a daunting fear in order to do the right thing deserved his help. Her spunk and “spit-in-the-wind” courage disarmed him as completely as her stunning beauty unmanned him.
He would agree to her proposition. But his emotions wouldn’t become involved. He wouldn’t allow it. Ariel Dane was his patient. And she was far too young for him. Eight years might as well be twenty. Her delicate spirit needed protection, and he was the man to shield her from the world both physically and emotionally.
Only one other woman in his life had drawn from him such an urgent need to play the white knight. And though she had been the light of his world, Jacob had failed her. By the time Diane’s diagnosis was confirmed, restoring her health had been impossible. All Jacob had been able to do for her was offer his love and support through weeks of painful treatments and then hold her hand when she breathed her last breath.
Never would he put himself in that position again. It was far too painful. This time, he was prepared for his role. Doctor, protector, friend. This time, the outcome would be different.
Four
Ariel watched Jacob Wolff carefully. Early in life she had learned to study people…their habits, their idiosyncrasies. The dishy doctor fascinated her. Power and control emanated from him with invisible but potent force. She wanted to fling herself against his calm and see if she could ruffle the waters. Flirting came naturally to her, and though it was perhaps unfair to Jacob, already she acknowledged in herself an urge to see if she could crack the invisible wall he erected to keep people at a distance.
Jacob finished his task and eyed her warily. “I was serious about changing clothes,” he said. She slid off the table, but had to reach out a hand when the room spun in dizzying circles. Unfortunately, the closest unyielding surface was the doc’s chest. It was broad and firm, with sleek muscles that flexed beneath his starched white shirt.
He put an arm around her, which only served to make her dizzier. His cheek lowered to hers. “Are you okay?”
They were close enough that she felt a brief brush from his slightly stubbled chin. She made herself slide from his loose hold. “Never better,” she croaked. “But yes, I’d love to put on some other clothes. This dress looks a little too much like one I wore in a slasher movie a few years back.”
Jacob ushered her out into the hall. “Shall I get your bag out of the car?”
She nodded, her feet glued to the floor by an unnerving bout of shyness. “I would appreciate it. The suitcase is in the trunk. The doors aren’t locked.”
As he stepped outside, she ducked into his office and retrieved her purse. When he returned, she managed a cheery smile. “You’re acting awfully nice for someone who has a reputation for being antisocial.”
He hesitated, looking abashed. “Not really antisocial. Merely focused on my work.”
“I see.” Another challenge.
She followed him into the living room. Acres of onyx carpet cushioned their feet, not a single dust bunny or speck of lint evident anywhere. White leather furniture looked comfy, but cold. All in all, Jacob’s decorating scheme was modern and sleek. With the careful addition of well-placed colorful accents here and there, it might even be considered charmingly sophisticated.
They crossed the room to a hallway on the far side. Bedrooms opened off a long corridor.
Jacob entered the nearest open door, placing her generic black suitcase on the floor beside the bed. “Feel free to use the bathroom,” he said. “I’ll wait for you in the living room.”
“I don’t have any hotel reservations,” Ariel said bluntly.
He cocked his head. “I can’t decide if you’re disingenuous or calculating.”
“Wow.” She winced. “Can I pick answer number three?”
“And that would be?”
“Focused. On my work.”
He actually laughed, and she felt as if she had won the lottery. “Touché.” His expression changed. “Why do you want to stay here, Ariel?”
“My flight is not until tomorrow. The closest hotels are well over an hour away. I don’t want to take a chance of people recognizing me and wondering why I’m in the area.”
He nodded briefly as if validating her reasoning. “Get changed. We’ll hash out a plan when you’re ready.” He closed the door behind him, leaving Ariel alone in a huge room decked out in shades of ivory and taupe. The furnishings were feminine, and she wondered if he entertained female guests here. If so, they probably slept in Jacob’s bed.
The pinch of jealousy was foreign.
Though she would have loved a shower after the long flight and the subsequent drive, she wasted no time in stripping off the dress and rummaging in her case for comfy jeans and a light cotton pullover. Silver leather flats completed her Ariel-out-of-the-limelight ensemble.
She left the suitcase behind when she went to find Jacob, hoping he was going to let her stay. When she found him, he was sprawled on the sofa in front of the TV looking relaxed and masculine with his sock-clad feet propped up on a black lacquer coffee table.
He stood immediately when she entered. “That was fast.” His gaze went to her bra-less breasts for a split second.
“I’m low maintenance.”
“That remains to be seen.”
The note of sarcasm in his voice flustered her. In defense, she trained her gaze on the television screen. “I guess you’ve got satellite way up here.”
He waved at an adjacent sofa. “Do you really want to talk about my electronics? Sit down, Ariel.”
The intimacy of the living
room lent a different dynamic than she had experienced in the clinic. Now she and Jacob seemed more like man and woman than doctor and patient. She curled into the embrace of the soft leather with her feet beneath her. Leaning an arm on the side, she propped her head on her hand. “What do you do for fun?” she asked, really wanting to know.
“Fun?” His face was blank as he settled back into his original seat.
“Leisure…recreation…hobbies…relaxation.”
“Oh.” For a simple question, it seemed to flummox him. “I read medical journals. And I hike the mountain with my brothers.”
“That’s it?”
He frowned. “What did you expect? I’m not the party type. Which is why you might want to reconsider asking me to portray your love interest.”
“Jeremy Vargas told me you made a perfect score on the SATs when you were fifteen. He said you have three completely different master’s degrees and you’re a medical doctor. Is all of that true?”
Her host, his arms outstretched, drummed his fingers on the back of the sofa. “Does it matter?” His gaze and his words were bland.
“You’re freakishly intelligent, aren’t you?” She stood up and deliberately joined him, leaving a mere three feet between them.
Jacob’s eyes narrowed. “What is this about, Ariel?”
“I’m rethinking my proposition.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure what a guy like you will do all day long in Antigua.”
“Would I be allowed on the set?”
“If I say so.”
“You have that much clout?”
“For what it’s worth, yes.”
“I’m thinking you’re pretty smart, as well.”
His gentle smile did something odd to the pit of her stomach. “Not the same thing at all. You save lives.”
“I do research that helps other people save lives. It’s not glamorous. Repetition and record-keeping and hoping every day for a breakthrough.”
“What are you working on right now?” She inched a little closer, waiting to see if he would stop her. Her behavior was outrageous, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. He was gorgeous. And smart. And far more appealing than any man she’d met in years.
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