Page 34 of The VIP Doubles Down

“I’ll see you in the morning,” Allie said, relieved and disappointed to be released from his strange magnetic spell. She forced herself to walk calmly to the bookcase where she’d stuffed her coat, seizing it and bolting out the door, just like Kendra Leigh.

Gavin seemed to have that effect on people.

Chapter 10

Gavin had been monosyllabic throughout his treatment, but Allie was used to his moods by now, so she just did her job. He had tensed up again, so she had to really probe the knots. It was the nature of her work: one step forward, two steps back. The human body didn’t heal in a linear progression.

Besides, she had some idea of what his appearance at the book signing last night had cost him, given his lack of a new book to sign or even to promise for the future. She hoped Kendra Leigh appreciated the guts it had taken for Gavin to support the first-time author with his public presence.

As she walked over to get the swiss ball, Gavin snapped, “Can’t we dispense with that today?”

“You know it will help.”

“Not where I really need help. You owe me a discussion about Julian.”

She didn’t point out that he was the one who had canceled their two previous attempts to discuss his spy hero. “Why don’t we talk about Julian and then revisit using the ball?” she said.

He skewered her with a look. “Are you sure you weren’t a literary agent in a past life?”

“Physical therapy is not easy, so I’ve learned the art of negotiation,” Allie said, stowing the ball back on its rack.

“You call it negotiation. I call it blackmail.”

Gavin slid off the massage table and reached for his shirt, his torso twisting so his muscles stretched and flexed in ways that made liquid heat flow through her. He’d also just demonstrated that her work had relaxed him.

“You look like you’re moving more easily,” she said.

He yanked his shirt down over his head and scowled at her. “Damn it, I am. You just had to ruin my bad mood.”

“I’ve been called obnoxiously cheerful.” She grinned at him.

He couldn’t hold on to the scowl. “As long as you don’t sing ‘The sun’ll come out tomorrow,’ I can tolerate you. Barely.”

“Am I allowed to thank you for the book now?” He’d written an inscription about her mother that had made her cry. “What you said was beautiful.”

“Don’t get maudlin on me,” he said. She could tell he was pleased, though. He came close enough to cup his hands over her shoulders. “Thank you for coming to the book signing. Every time someone asked when the next book was coming out, I reminded myself of our discussions about Julian. It kept me from bolting.”

She had a hard time focusing on his words because she was savoring the warmth and strength of his hands on her. It was odd. She had touched him so often, but having him touch her was an entirely different sensation. She could feel it radiating down her arms and through her chest before it wound deep within her.

“I can’t picture you running away from a book signing,” she said, trying to counterbalance her yearning.

“Maybe not.” He released her as one corner of his mouth quirked up. “I don’t mind offending my friends, but I try never to upset a reader.”

She wanted to close her eyes to hang on to the phantom heat still glowing inside her, but Gavin seized her elbow and towed her toward the stairs.

“Time for a chat.”

He let her precede him up the steps and into his office, waving her into the chair she’d occupied when Irene had stormed in. Allie had wondered if the actress would show up at the book signing and had been relieved when she hadn’t.

“What would you like for refreshment?” Gavin asked, after paging Ludmilla on the intercom.

“Water’s good.”

He cast an exasperated glance at the ceiling. “Ludmilla, bring water, coffee, tea, and a selection of sandwiches.”

Allie decided now was the best time to broach her embarrassing topic. “Before we start on Julian, can I ask you a question?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Have you ever needed permission?”