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“Got it.”
“Below that write ‘Don’t touch Megan’ in big block letters,” he added, releasing the door.
Josh chuckled. “Sure thing. And Brody?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for finding this doctor. I hate living like this. Some days it seems like I’m getting better. But I can’t tell. And that’s so fucking depressing—”
The line cut out. Brody lowered his phone, his little brother’s words slicing past his frustration. So Josh had screwed his caregiver and interrupted his own wild night with Kat. Unlike his brother, Brody remembered every detail of last night, from the way she’d looked with her arms bound behind her back to the feel of her hips bucking against his mouth as she came.
The memory of her screams, the way she’d said his name as if she needed him to push her over the edge, traveled south. The door opened and he tried to think of something else, anything besides Kat’s naked body pressed against his hotel room door, and the fact that he had her panties in his pocket.
He didn’t want to face his brother’s new doctor with a hard-on pressing against his jeans. Given her long list of credentials, Dr. Westbury was probably twice his age. But he doubted the woman was blind. Something about those three little letters following the MD after her name—Ph.D.—told him that Dr. Westbury was observant.
Heading for the reception area where they’d agreed to meet, Brody counted back from one hundred. This trick had served him well in high school, and was working for him now.
Until he saw the woman who had driven him wild last night.
Kat stood by the desk, one perfectly manicured hand holding her cell phone. Compared to yesterday’s outfit, her starched white button-up blouse, black slacks, and gold flats that bore a closer resemblance to ballet slippers than shoes, looked conservative and plain. Business clothes, he realized. But her flashy luggage sat by her feet, setting her apart from the other travelers pulling their plain bags.
When she glanced up from her cell screen, he offered a wave and headed over. He wasn’t about to hand over her underwear in the lobby. Still, he could say good morning and offer another apology for cutting their night short.
“I guess you were right,” he said. “About seeing each other again.”
“Hello, Brody.” She gave him a small, tentative smile. He hadn’t known her long, but something was off.
“Look, I’m meeting someone right now, but I meant what I said last night. I’d like to see you again. How long are you in Portland? Maybe we could grab dinner while you’re here?”
She drew a deep, measured breath as her green eyes locked with his. And he braced for the rejection. I’m too busy, or I’m not ready to get involved right now. He’d used that one a time or two to break up with a woman who wanted more than he could give. Though he always said those words before they lost their clothes.
“Brody,” she said slowly. “I work with Dr. Karen Westbury. I’m the person you’re waiting for.”
Either Kat had left her seduce-me-if-you-dare voice in her hotel room or the woman he’d tied up with her own shirt was his brother’s doctor.
Brody shook his head. It wasn’t possible. He’d told her about his brother. She would have said something.
“I’m sorry, Brody,” she continued. “I should have told you last night. At the last minute, we decided I should be the one to handle Josh’s case.”
Brody blinked, shock rushed in rendering him as close to helpless as he’d ever been. And damn if he didn’t hate the feeling.
“You knew who I was?” he said, disbelief seeping into his words.
“I grew up in Independence Falls,” she said. “That’s part of the reason Dr. Westbury felt I should be the one to treat your brother. And she broke her ankle. She had to have surgery yesterday. Rather than delay Josh’s treatment and our trial, I agreed to fly out.”
Heck, he should be grateful she’d taken the case. But realizing that Kat had known who he was the entire time and let him believe she was an ER doctor? Shock gave way to anger, the feeling coiling in the pit of his stomach. His arms dropped to his side, his hands forming tight fists. He glanced at the wooden panels lining the front of the reception desk, wishing he could punch through them. Because right now he needed a helluva lot more than a swim to take the edge off.
Chapter 6
KAT WATCHED HER words sink in, myriad emotions fighting for control of Brody’s expression. She had a feeling he could count on one hand the number of people who’d seen him so angry that steam threatened to come out of his ears.
Lucky me.
But then she’d brought this on herself, holding back the truth last night. And her reasons for doing so—she’d wanted to live in a fairy tale for a few hours and feel wanted—no longer felt justified.
She watched as Brody drew a deep breath and the anger seemingly receded. He needed her. That much was clear. Not in his bed, but helping his brother. Even if he wanted to tell her to take a one-way trip to hell, he wouldn’t let emotions overtake his responsibility.
Logic suggested she should admire his oh-so-noble choice. But part of her wanted him to let his feelings win. She wished the idea of losing the woman who’d gone to his room last night to the label His Brother’s Doctor made him howl with unleashed fury.
