Michael's Discovery Read Online Free PDF

future…if only he had one.
    “Where were you?”
    Too many years of keeping silent about his work kept him cautious even now. “I can’t say.”
    “But you were a Navy SEAL, right? So I can assume that this had something to do with the war on terrorism?”
    “You can assume anything you want to assume.”
    Her fingers began to massage a little deeper, working muscles too long unused. Knots of tension in his legs seemed to ease, at least as long as she didn’t venture too close to the scars. That area was still amazingly tender. He yelped the first time she touched the bullet’s exit wound on the back of his thigh.
    “Sorry.”
    “I’ll survive.”
    “I’m sure of that,” she agreed. “But I’ll be more careful around the scars. I can’t ignore them, though, because that skin’s going to need to be stretched.”
    “Whatever you say.”
    She patted his leg. “That’s it for today, then.”
    He glanced up and regarded her with surprise. “You’re finished?”
    “It’s been nearly an hour, and I have another appointment across town.”
    “At this rate, we’re not going to make much progress,” he said, suddenly disgruntled by the too-quick end of the session and the complete lack of anything remotely like measurable improvement. “I thought you were going to work my butt off, or am I misquoting you?”
    “Nope, that’s what I said, and that day will come. I’ve got you scheduled for two hours, day after tomorrow. We’ll start the exercises then.” She met his gaze. “That is, if I passed today’s probation.”
    He ought to tell her to get the hell out and stay away, but he couldn’t seem to make himself do it. He was too afraid of the disappointment or disdain he’d see in her eyes. Either one would make him feel likea jerk. Besides, a part of him couldn’t help clinging to the possibility that she was his best hope for getting back on his feet again.
    He met her gaze. Now that he was willing to give therapy a try, he wanted to see progress. He wasn’t scared of a little pain or hard work. In fact, he looked forward to it. “Make it three hours, day after tomorrow.”
    “You’re not ready for three hours,” she said flatly.
    He scowled at her reaction. “Let me be the judge of what I can handle. I’ve gone through training so rigorous, it would make your therapy seem like child’s play.”
    “Have you done it since having several bones shattered, to say nothing of going through—what was it—three surgeries?” she inquired tartly.
    The woman was tough as nails. It was a trait he couldn’t help admiring. “Okay, you made your point. Two hours, but if I’m up to it, we’ll go to three the next time,” he bargained. “Is it a deal?”
    Kelly looked for a moment as if she might argue. Finally she held out her hand. “Deal.”
    Michael took her hand in his and instantly regretted it. It had taken every ounce of willpower he possessed to ignore the way her hands had moved over his body earlier. Now, with something as simple as a handshake, he was once more thoroughly aware of her as a desirable woman.
    Her skin was amazingly soft, her grip strong. A faint hint of the aromatic oil she’d used for the massage lingered in the air. It wasn’t the least bit feminine—quite the opposite, in fact—but it suddenly turned erotic. If he’d been another kind of man in a different situation, he would have brought her hand tohis lips and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. Instead, he released her hand as if he’d been burned.
    A faint flicker of surprise flashed across her face, followed almost instantly by understanding. To his disgust she’d apparently guessed that for one brief second he’d let himself cross some sort of line.
    “Is there anything I can do for you before I go?” she asked.
    A thousand and one wicked possibilities slammed through him. “Not a thing,” he said tightly.
    “Are you sure?”
    “I thought you were in a hurry.”
    “I can spare five minutes,”