But even so, I saw ... more. I couldn’t miss the way his light gray T-shirt clung to his impossibly broad chest. I couldn’t ignore the way his sweatpants, loose as they were, revealed a really fine ass. And when he turned his head, I caught sight of a pair of full lips, the line of a strong jaw and ... damn me, was that a dimple in his chin?
“Wow.” Next to me, Lidia breathed out the single word into several syllables. “Uh, Tash, if you don’t think you can manage him, I’d be happy to take him in my hands. I mean, take him off your hands.”
“No, I think I got this.” I couldn’t tear my eyes away.
“Nice professionalism, ladies.” Corinne’s voice was dry. “Let’s remember when we call ourselves holistic providers, caring for the whole body, that doesn’t extend to, uh ...allareas. And Lidia, I think you might need to wipe your chin, dear. You’re drooling.”
“Am not. I’m totally a professional.” Still, I noticed that she swiped at her face. “But I’m happy to consult if you need me, Tasha. You might consider some massage therapy.”
“Sure. I’ll keep that in mind.” Taking a deep breath, I picked up the tablet again and clicked it off before I tucked it under my arm. “I think I’ll go ahead and get the good captain back here right away, before he changes his mind and bolts.”
“Probably a good idea.” Corinne patted my shoulder. “You’re more than up to this, Tasha. Let me know if you need any back-up, though. I’m around.”
“Thanks.” I pasted on what I hoped was a warm and professional smile and made my way to the waiting room. Both men were still standing by the check-in window. The one in BDUs was leaning in to speak with our receptionist, while Captain McTavis was braced against the wall with his arms crossed over that massive chest.
I stood in the doorway and cleared my throat. “Captain McTavis? You can come right back here.”
He didn’t move at first. He glanced at me, his eyes narrowed. A tic jumped in his cheek.
“Derek, bro. Don’t be a dick. Go with the nice ...” The other soldier’s voice paused as he examined me, and I knew he was trying to decide whether I was a nurse or a doctor. “Uh, the woman who’s calling you back. And if you try to play games, don’t think for one second that I won’t toss you over my shoulder like a piece of meat and carry you there.”
Captain McTavis’s glare transferred from me to his friend. “Yeah, you fucking try it, Shaw. I’d like to see the day you could lift me up.”
The older lady sitting a few seats over was watching them with wide eyes, and I stepped forward, hoping to intervene before things got out of hand. Well,moreout of hand.
“Boys.” I kept my tone mild. “Let’s mind our manners, shall we? Captain McTavis, I’m Tasha O’Hare. I’ll be your physical therapist. If you’ll follow me, we can get started right away.” I let my smile get a little bigger. “As I tell my younger patients, the sooner we start, the sooner we’re finished.”
His upper lip curled. “I’m not a fucking kid, and I don’t appreciate being patronized. I don’t fucking like being treated like I’m a child, and I don’t fucking need you, lady.”
“If you don’t like being treated like a child, stop acting like one.” I was done. This guy might look like sweet spun sex, but he was pissing me off, sparking my Irish temper. With my hands on my hips, I let it fly. “And I beg to differ. Youdo, in fact, need me. You need the hell out of me, mister, because I’m the only thing standing between you and a quick boot out of the Army. So march your ass down that hall to the first open door on your left before I direct your much-smarter buddy here to haul you there.”
For a solid ten seconds, I wasn’t sure what Captain McTavis was going to do. In my deepest heart, I knew there was a good chance he’d obey me, simply because as a soldier, he’d been conditioned to respond to direct orders, especially those delivered with a little extra kick. There was also an equally good chance that he’d turn around and drag his sorry self back to his friend’s Jeep and refuse to ever return to the clinic.
It was a gamble, and one that normally, I’d never have risked. But instinct and emotion had taken over before I could stop and reason it out.
“Fine.” With a growled expletive under his breath, he pushed off the wall and walked past me, coming as close to stamping as I imagined he could under the circumstances. I waited until he had disappeared through the doorway before I turned to the other soldier.
“Thank you, uh ...”
He stuck out one huge hand. “Shaw Kincaid. And can I just say, that was a beautiful thing right there. What you did ...” He shook his head. “That’s exactly what my boy needs. Keep it up.”
I grinned, and this time it was a hundred percent genuine. “I plan to do just that.” I flickered my eyes up to the clock on the wall. “Can you give us two hours here before you come back to get him? Usually, his appointments would only run for sixty minutes, but we have some catching up to do, clearly, and I’d like to take my time before I start him on anything.”
Shaw lifted both hands. “No problem. Colonel Debbings gave me the green light to do whatever I needed to get Mac’s sorry ass here, and my schedule is set up to accommodate his needs for now. Here.” He reached into his back pocket and fished out a small white card. “This is my office number, and I’ll put my cell on the back. If you need longer, or if he gets riled up and you need me to intervene, just text or call.”
I handed him my pen, and he scribbled on the piece of cardstock. “Thanks. I appreciate it. Now that he’s here, I think I can handle him.”
“Oh, I know you can.” Shaw backed toward the door that led outside. “I just wish I could be a fly on the wall to see it happen. Anyway ... see you in a few.”
After he’d left, I hesitated for a minute, finding my own balance again before I went back to face the man who was likely to be angrier than a grizzly whose hibernation had been interrupted.
“You handled him just right, dear.” The woman who sat near where I stood beamed up at me. “And believe me, I know whereof I speak. I was married to a man who was like that, and we have four sons who followed in his footsteps. You have to be tough. If they sense weakness, you’re done for.”
I managed to swallow my giggle. She was deadly serious as she gave me this advice. “Thanks. And I apologize that things got a little, uh, rowdy out here. It’s not the norm.”
“Oh, honey.” She waved one blue-veined hand. “That was nothing. When my boys were younger, it wasn’t a Sunday if at least one lamp didn’t get broken while they were all wrestling or throwing around that damn football.” She sighed. “This took me back there. It was nice to have a little excitement.”
“I appreciate your understanding.” I glanced at the door. “Guess I better get to my patient before he sneaks out the back.”
“Good luck with him.” She settled down into her chair, flipping open a magazine. “Remember. No weakness.”
Straightening my spine, I nodded and stalked off to see about making a mule-headed horse drink the water I knew he needed.
