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I clapped a hand over my eyes. “What are you doing, Cal?”

“What areyoudoing?” he asked with a laugh in his voice. “I’m just taking off my shirt so I can dry it.”

I peeked through my fingers. He finished unbuttoning the shirt, and after untucking it, he shucked it off. He had a white undershirt on, and his biceps stretched the hem of his short sleeves in a fascinating way. Lamely, I added, “You can’t undress when I’m already undressed.”

Cal inhaled slowly, watching me with quiet amusement. Deliberately, he dropped his shirt to the floor, gaze hooked on mine. And then, just as calmly, he leaned over me. He eased his body onto the bed, propping his right knee on the edge of the mattress, and bent down so his hands bracketed me on either side. I leaned all the way back, flattening myself to the bed as he covered me in his warmth and the intoxicating scent of coconut and something fresh and male. My heart went haywire as I stared up at him in surprise.

Cal dipped his head, scanning my face. “Would you rather have done it for me?”

He was so close, I could see the freckles that swept over his nose and the way his eyelashes lightened at the tips. I swallowed convulsively, my hands over my breasts. “I’m genuinely confused right now,” I admitted.

His gaze flicked up, like he was searching for patience, and then he returned his focus to my startled features. “Do you want me to leave?”

“No,” I said immediately.

He brought his left leg on the bed, fully bracketing my body with his. His knees pressed into my bare hips, and his toned arms imbued my shoulders with warmth. He tilted his head in question. “How do you feel when I’m this close?”

My heart leaped into my throat. Like my body was smarter than my mind, my back arched to get closer to him, and my chin lifted to angle my lips to his. “I like it,” I admitted in a breathy voice.

“Then why,” he asked, his voice low and his gaze gentle, “would you be confused?”

Good question. “Because… you’re you. And I’m me.”

Cal lowered his lips to my jawline, and his warm breath tickled my skin. A small, satisfied shiver raced down my arms. His lips moved against my jaw as he traced a line up to my cheekbone. “Well,Idesperately want to reveal every inch of that gorgeous body with my teeth becauseyouare fucking irresistible, Ruth. There is nothing confusing about that unlessyou would rather I didn’t.”

I sucked in a breath, and it stalled in my lungs. I didn’t have words. No one had ever said anything like that to me. What was the catch? What was I missing?

He kissed the apple of my cheek before skating his lips up to my temple where my glasses slashed across my face. “Do you want me to stop?”

I shook my head, speechless.

“Good to know.” He pushed away from me, elbows straightening and face lifting over me again. He looked warm and content, smiling softly. “How is your knee?”

“Better,” I whispered hoarsely.

“Fever?”

I shook my head, still dazed. “No.”

“Dizziness? Headaches?”

“Uh-uh,” I said with another shake of my head.

Cal carefully maneuvered himself off the bed so he didn’t knock my knee, and holding a hand out palm up, he said, “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

I gestured to my body. “Can I at least get dressed?”

His answering look before he left the room was unyielding. “Don’t you dare.”

“Jesus,” I muttered, my face so hot, I was surprised I hadn’t steamed up the bedroom.

When he returned, Cal had his brown leather medical bag in his hand. He cleared off the chair I kept by the wall, then set it down facing the long edge of my full bed. He sat in it and pattedhis lap. “Let’s see your knee.”

I shifted so I sat on the edge of the mattress, and careful not to jar my throbbing leg, I lifted it for him. Cal took my calf in his warm hands, and I almost moaned out loud. His hands were magic. They felt so firm and solid as he cupped the back of my knee with one and pulled apart the dressing with the other. I did my best to keep the blanket around my body, but it pooled at the crease between my legs and left my sides bare. I held it with my left hand and supported my weight behind me with my right.

Cal removed the damp bandage with practiced ease. I watched him in silent fascination as his muscles bunched and shifted with each movement of his arms. I really loved the sharp focus that took over his gaze when he turned his attention to his work. I’d noticed it yesterday when he’d helped me—he went into “doctor mode,” and it was captivating to watch. He bent his head to the side, examining the stitch along the side of my knee, and his fingers gently probed the tender flesh. I gritted my teeth to keep from jerking away, but it hurt like a son of a bitch.

His green eyes flickered up to mine briefly. “Stop pretending it doesn’t hurt.”