A DEAL MADE TO BE BROKEN

Everything about Alex McKnight was hard—hard body, hard heart and damn hard to ignore. Yet architect Ellie Hart couldn’t deny her immediate attraction to the dark-haired, handsome contractor assigned to complete the Mercy Medical Center with her. Ellie traveled with her own emotional baggage and there was no way she was going to fall so fast for a man like Alex. But when she actually did fall fast—by tripping and injuring her foot—Alex came to the rescue by offering her a place to stay while she recovered.

Then Alex suggested the unthinkable: a no-strings-attached, passion-unleashed affair…at least until their project was finished and Ellie could walk again. But as restless days became tender, sleepless nights, could Ellie keep her heart safe? And more, could Alex?

“Stay.” Alex reached out and loosely encircled Ellie’s wrist in his strong fingers.

There was surprise in his eyes now, and he didn’t look particularly happy about saying it, but he also didn’t let her go. “I bared my soul. Isn’t that worth a drink and dinner?”

The touch felt so good. The warmth peeled back several layers of protection that hid her loneliness from the rest of the world. It had been so long since a man had touched her, casually or any other way. And nearly as long since she’d allowed herself to consider having dinner with a man.

She simply couldn’t make herself pull free.

If she hadn’t really wanted to stay, it would have been easy to walk away. And if she’d just walked away, everything would have been fine.

Dear Reader,

On a plane recently I was making small talk with the woman seated next to me. I was tired and mostly wanted to close my eyes, but I didn’t want to be rude during the forty-five-minute flight from L.A. to Las Vegas and we ended up sharing information about our jobs. An avid reader, she was excited to meet a published author, which is flattering because I don’t consider myself all that exciting. Then she posed a question no one has ever asked before. How do I name my characters and do I ever change the names?

The first part of my answer was easy. In a continuing series I keep a list of existing characters and try to make sure no two names start with the same letter. In my humble opinion it’s less confusing when a reader is trying to keep everyone straight. For Her McKnight in Shining Armor I did change the heroine’s name. Starting a book is never easy, but this one was more of a challenge than usual. Originally I called her Emma but was having trouble getting this character to talk and decided to change her name. She’s a Texas girl and I wanted something very Lone Star State. The TV show Dallas is set in Texas and when I ticked off the characters, Sue Ellen struck a chord. A “voice” began to form. But she’s not a Sue or Susie, so I settled on Ellie and the name felt right. I had her voice and Chapter One took off.

A hero is only as satisfying to the reader as the strong, sassy woman who wins him over. Ellie Hart sashayed into Blackwater Lake on her four-inch heels and rocked Alex McKnight’s world. She was an incredibly fun character to create and I hope you enjoy reading her story as much as I did writing it.

Happy Reading!

Teresa Southwick

Her McKnight in Shining Armor

Teresa Southwick

www.millsandboon.co.uk

TERESA SOUTHWICK lives with her husband in Las Vegas, the city that reinvents itself every day. An avid fan of romance novels, she is delighted to be living out her dream of writing for Mills & Boon.

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To Mary Karlik, a Texas girl and real-life heroine. You’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever met and I’m proud to call you my friend.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter One

Alex McKnight needed a woman.

More specifically, he needed his architect, who just happened to be a very hot woman. The fact that he’d noticed was a problem because he didn’t date coworkers, or any other ladies in Blackwater Lake, Montana, for that matter. He had a business to run in this town and couldn’t afford to feed the rumor mill and tick off prospective clients with stuff from his personal life.

A bigger problem was that the very hot female architect was two hours late for work, and that didn’t bode well for completing the Mercy Medical Clinic expansion on time. He had projects stacked up like planes waiting to land and if this one ran behind all the rest could crash and burn.

He looked at his watch and swore softly. It was going on noon and still no word from Miss Suellen Hart. Tomorrow the cement foundation was being poured, and last Friday, when he’d spoken with her, she’d promised to fly out of Dallas in plenty of time to be here for the event on Monday.

“They don’t call. They don’t write. So much for promises,” he mumbled.

Maybe he was a tad critical, but in his opinion, he had an excellent reason. His wife, ex-wife, had promised to love, honor and all the rest of that baloney. But vows hadn’t stopped her from running back into the arms of the man who’d fathered the baby she’d let Alex believe was his. She’d ripped out the foundation of his life, and if that wasn’t cause to be bitter, he didn’t know what was.

Alex walked the wood form set in the prepared ground that would hold the cement foundation of the clinic addition. He inspected every weight-bearing wall support to make sure they were in the right place. It would have been nice for the architect to be here with him to corroborate his judgment, although that was just a formality. He knew his job.

Just then he heard a car squeal into the temporary parking lot for the clinic. He turned and saw the little compact, a rental from the airport, skid to a stop by the construction trailer. The door opened, and out swung the best-looking pair of legs he’d seen east of California, and the rest of her was just as impressive. She was wearing a red skirt and snug matching jacket. The coordinating four-inch heels had come-and-get-me written all over them.

She leaned back inside, showing a pretty good view of her backside, then pulled out a purse the size of a Toyota. Much as he might like to avoid her forever, Alex knew he couldn’t, so he moseyed over to meet her.

Miss Suellen Hart smiled as if being welcomed to a garden party. “So nice to see you again, Mr. McKnight.”

He’d met her when she’d come to town for meetings on the project and accepted the fact that she was a looker, but it wasn’t nice to see her again. She’d asked him to call her Ellie and at the time he’d thought it was cute. But not anymore. This woman pushed his buttons, none of the good ones.

“I thought you were going to call me Alex.”

“I forgot.” There was apology in her Texas bluebonnet-colored eyes. “Not surprisin’ what with being late and all. I am so sorry, Alex. I’m normally punctual to a fault, although you have no reason to believe that. My plan was to fly in yesterday and get settled, but Mother Nature had other ideas. Y’all know how ladies have an inclination toward changin’ their minds?”

“I do,” he said dryly.

“Well, in Texas they say if y’all don’t like the weather, just wait a minute. My flight from Dallas was canceled because of thunderstorms, and I was stuck at the airport. Cell service was sporadic to nonexistent, and I couldn’t get a call through. I got here as quick as I could from that cute little Montana airport just a hop, skip and jump down the highway.”

That cute little airport was close to a hundred miles from Blackwater Lake on a winding two-lane road. With mountains all around cell service was notorious for cutting in and out. “Stuff happens.”

“Y’all must think I’m a flake.”

Not the first word that came to his mind. Especially when she spoke in a breathless Southern drawl that was a little gravel, a little honey and all woman. “That wouldn’t be fair.”

“I promise that no one works harder than me. Y’all won’t be disappointed.” She took a breath. “I do apologize. Am I talkin’ too much?”

“No.” Damned if he couldn’t listen to the Southern comfort in her voice all day.

“I must have had a bucket of coffee. Don’t you worry. It’ll wear off.”

Studying her more closely, he could see that her skirt was wrinkled as if she’d slept in it, and fatigue had carved dark circles under those big, beautiful eyes. It was a look that made him want to take care of her, and that was a habit he thought he’d learned to break.

“You’re here now.” He almost added better late than never. He didn’t, because she was pretty enough to be tempting, which made never a better alternative. “I’ll show you the office.”

“Okay. I’m anxious to get started.” She smiled brightly. “I swear Mayor Goodson and the town council won’t regret they picked me for the job.”

“Your bid was the cheapest,” he said. “No offense.”

“None taken. I needed the work. It has to be said that I didn’t expect y’all to be one of those contractors who believes the architect relationship is terminated on completion of the construction documents.”

“What you’re really saying is you’re glad I don’t think your presence on the job is both a nuisance and an unnecessary expense.”

“Those words would never cross my lips.”

And very fine lips they were, he thought, then ordered himself to focus. On work. “I believe an architect has a critical role to play during construction, and this addition to Mercy Medical Clinic isn’t like an ordinary house.”

She nodded. “If it were simply exam rooms there’d be very little challenge, but the outpatient surgery center needs more in the way of electrical and plumbing.”

“One of the reasons the town council accepted your bid was the fact that you agreed to absorb the expense of being on site during the construction process.”

“To keep a project on track and within budget inspections are advisable a minimum of three times a week. As remote as Blackwater Lake is, sticking around seemed like a good idea.”

“You must have really wanted the job.” He studied her closely and saw her smile slip for just a moment.

“It’s an investment in the future. Everyone’s got to start their own business somewhere.”

“Yeah.”

Except Alex was pretty sure this wasn’t her start. He’d read her resume, and there was a yearlong gap between college and when she’d gone to work for Hart Industries, her family’s company in Dallas. He wondered what had happened during that year. Nothing good if it was left blank. But she could have fudged the dates and she hadn’t. One point to her.

And none of that was his problem, since he hadn’t made the decision to hire her. He just had to do his best with that decision. “Come inside.”

“I just have to get some things from the car if y’all want to go on ahead.”

“Can I take something?” he asked.

“No, I’m used to this.” She opened the trunk, and he saw a couple suitcases inside. She grabbed a briefcase and several tubes that probably contained blueprints.

“Is that everything?” When she nodded, he closed it up and said, “Follow me.”

Alex was normally a “ladies first” kind of guy, but if he walked in front, he wouldn’t have to look at the way that tight little skirt wrapped her world-class butt in silk. And just like that he got an image of tangled legs and twisted sheets with all that long shiny brown hair of hers spread out on a white pillow.

Whoa. Alex couldn’t believe he’d just thought about sex with this woman. Then again, he reasoned, it had been a long time. This reaction wasn’t personal, just a man’s normal response to a pretty lady.

He opened the trailer door and let her precede him inside. “After you.”

“If y’all don’t mind I’ll just get to work and make up for lost time.” She looked around. “Is it all right if I use that desk?”

“Help yourself,” he answered.

She walked across the room and put down her expensive leather briefcase and gigantic purse, and let the unwieldy tubes fall haphazardly on the flat surface. She pulled out her laptop and opened it, all business now. But, damn it, she’d just driven in from the airport after a crappy trip, and the silence after her Southern fried soliloquy felt all wrong.

“Would you like a cup of coffee?” He pointed to the corner, where a pot was set up on a small table.

“Oh, Lord, no thank you. I think my head would explode.”

“I guess you’re staying at Blackwater Lake Lodge?”

“Actually no. They couldn’t confirm a reservation for the length of my stay.”

“I’m surprised.” He walked over and rested a hip on the corner of the desk, then leveled a friendly smile at her. He’d been told it could bring a woman to her knees, but that wasn’t his intention. He needed this job to come in early and on budget—in other words, go smoothly. The best way to make that happen was for the two of them to get along.

“I was told that spring and summer bookings are really up this year.”

“That might have something to do with the recent publicity generated by the hotel’s new executive manager. Camille Halliday,” he added.

Ellie’s brows pulled together thoughtfully. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

“She’s part of the Halliday Hospitality family and apparently something of a wild child in her youth.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “Right around the time I was here before there was a lot of talk about the press hounding her and a picture in the paper of her kissing your brother.”

“That’s right.”

She nodded. “I met with Dr. McKnight, and he couldn’t have been sweeter to me. Dr. Stone, too. We had several conversations about their expectations and suggestions for the clinic expansion before I drew up the plans.”

“By the way, he’s engaged now.”

“Who?”

“My brother, Ben. To Camille Halliday.”

“That’s really nice.” She smiled, then turned her attention to the laptop. “Now, I brought my own copy of the building plans, but I see y’all have the blueprints tacked on the wall—”

“Do you have a place to stay?” The question was nothing more than curiosity, he told himself.

“I’m sorry?”

“You couldn’t get a room at the lodge, so where are you going to live while you’re here?”

“Actually, Dr. Stone helped me out with that.”

Apparently Adam had succumbed to Blackwater Lake’s philosophy of neighbors helping each other out. The family practice doc had relocated last summer and rented an upstairs apartment from Jill Beck, a local woman. “What did Adam do?”

“He suggested I rent his old place, since he and Jill are engaged and living together downstairs.”

“And?”

“Jill agreed to a short-term lease, something she doesn’t normally do. But I guess she made an exception for me.”

“You and Jill must have hit it off.”

“We did. She even invited me to the wedding, since it’s going to be right there on their property by the lake where I’ll be living.” A smile lit up her face like the town square at Christmas. “C.J.’s actually the one who insisted I had to come to the ceremony, because he’s wearing a tuxedo. That little guy of hers is just as cute as can be.”

“The kid is something else.”

“Anyway,” she continued, “I was relieved to find something, and the silver lining is that it’s more homey than a hotel.”

“It has great views of the lake and mountains.” Right now Alex had no complaints about his view. Ellie Hart sure did brighten up a drab, boxy, portable construction trailer.

“A definite plus. But now...” Her tone turned regretful. “Y’all have been so nice, but I need to make up for bein’ late on my first day. It’s not the way to make a good impression. Time for me to get to work.”

She’d made an impression all right. Time would tell whether or not it was good. And as testy as he’d been about her tardiness, he couldn’t believe he was going to say this. “Look, if you need time to settle and unpack, take it.”

“That’s really sweet, but...” She shook her head. “There’s a lot to do, and the foundation’s being poured tomorrow. I need to check the fittings for the bearing walls and go over the next phase of the project.”

“I already did that. So, unless you want changes—but I can’t see why—the plans are good,” he said. “Really good.”

“Thank you for sayin’ so.” She allowed herself a small smile. “But I don’t want to leave anything to chance.”

“I respect that.” He waited for her to respond, but she focused on her computer.

Finally she looked up. “Was there something else?”

“Just one thing.” He folded his arms over his chest. The guy who’d been told he could charm the bloomers off a man-hating spinster had been sucked in by her charm, because he couldn’t believe he was going to say this, either. “You were a couple of hours late through no fault of your own. It’s okay to cut yourself some slack.”

“All due respect, that’s not how I see it.” She met his gaze. “I’m a woman in a traditionally male occupation.”

“If you’re worried about gender bias, don’t be.”

“Y’all are a man, and you can’t really understand why I have to earn respect.” She lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “It’s my responsibility to plan, design and oversee the construction of the clinic to make sure it’s functional, safe, economical and environmentally friendly. It has to meet the needs of the people who work there and everyone who uses it.”

“In my opinion, you left nothing to chance.”

Alex had studied in detail the final construction plans, and he was impressed with her attention to local and state building codes, zoning laws and fire regulations.

“It never hurts to check and double-check. If alterations need to be made, the sooner the better. Otherwise the project could go over time and over budget. And everyone will be checking and watching just a little closer because I’m a woman.”

That was why he was checking her out, and it was no consolation that he hated himself for it. Obviously she wouldn’t want to hear that. So, he tried to put himself in her shoes, which wasn’t easy since they were four-inch heels.

“I see where you’re coming from, Ellie, but I’ve been in the building business for twenty years. Fetching, carrying and learning the trade while I was in high school. In college they actually let me use tools,” he added, gratified when his self-deprecation earned a smile. “Eventually I started my own company in Southern California.”

“I thought you lived here in Blackwater Lake,” she said.

“I do. About two years ago I opened a branch of the business here.”

“Why?” She seemed genuinely interested.

To answer her fully would require him to reveal details about his personal life, and that was something he wasn’t prepared to do.

“This town is a diamond in the rough. Word is spreading outside of Montana that it will be the next Aspen or Vail. It has a lot to offer recreationally during the winter and summer. Clean air and water make it an ideal place for a vacation home or settling in for retirement. There’s going to be a building boom, and I wanted in on that.”

“So y’all are ambitious and career-oriented.”

“Yes.” Partly because he no longer had a family, and work kept him too busy to think about all he’d lost.

“Good. I feel the same way.”

He nodded his approval. “Already we have something in common.”

“I’m tickled y’all understand where I’m comin’ from.”

“I do. It’s nice to know we’re both on the same page.” And there was one more thing. “How about a drink tonight after work at—”

She held up a hand. “I need to stop y’all right there.”

Maybe if he explained. “It’s a McKnight Construction custom to buy the architect a drink on the first day of a new job. For luck. Call me superstitious.”

The corners of her mouth curved up, showing off dimples and the delicate shape of her lips. But the smile didn’t make her eyes sparkle this time. “I’m goin’ out on a limb here and say that y’all don’t often work with a female architect.”

“You’d be right. What gave me away?” he asked.

“Again—out on a limb, but I’m willin’ to bet that means y’all don’t usually flirt with your architect.”

“You’re wrong about the flirting. This is just me being friendly.” Did that sound as smarmy to her as it did to him? He really didn’t mean it that way. “It’s sort of like pouring a solid foundation that sets the tone for a good working relationship.”

“Yes. Until it’s not.”

“You’re saying the male/female work dynamic complicates things.”

“I am.” Conviction and determination made the Southern drawl even thicker. “You have my word that our working relationship will be just fine during regular business hours and won’t suffer at all for lack of alcoholic beverages afterward.”

The thing was, in theory he agreed with her, but in reality he really did buy a drink for his architect on the first day of a new job. Considering his strong reaction to Suellen Hart, he should have been grateful that she’d turned him down flat.

“Whatever you want.” He stood and started to walk away. “But for the record, Ellie? ‘No first-day drink’ means I am treating you differently.”

“Understood. And, Alex?”

He turned. “Yes?”

“I need to put something out there.”

“Okay.”

“I’m not being rude, just honest.” She took a deep breath. “Don’t let the short skirt and Southern accent fool you. I’m not anyone’s idea of a magnolia blossom. I don’t wilt or have the vapors. I’m smart and I can do this job as well or better than any man. And that’s what I intend to do. One bad experience can set a career back, and that’s not going to happen to me.”

Again. She didn’t say it, but the word hung in the air between them. Offhand he’d guess someone at work had hit on her, it didn’t go well and her professional reputation had suffered. Getting a good recommendation from the firm after that would be next to impossible and could account for the twelve-month gap in her work history.

“All right. Duly noted, Ellie.”

“Okay. Good.” She turned her attention back to the computer and tuned him out.

Alex returned to his corner and realized his hot female architect had finally arrived, but now his problem was worse. He needed a woman more than ever, and he made a mental note to take this itch away for a long weekend, somewhere no one knew him.

* * *

There were a lot of good-looking bachelors in Blackwater Lake, and Alex McKnight was number one on the list as far as Ellie was concerned. Her friendly-yet-professional facade had been sorely tested during these past two weeks, and she was looking forward to some fun. This wedding was shaping up to be just the thing.

Jill Beck and Adam Stone’s evening June ceremony was about to start. It was being held on the front lawn of their house, downstairs from the apartment Ellie was renting from them. She was sitting next to Liz Carpenter, the receptionist at Mercy Medical Clinic, who was pretty much the only person in town she knew other than the bride and groom.

“Is this seat taken?”

Ellie didn’t need a visual to know that voice coming from just over her right shoulder belonged to Alex McKnight. For the past two weeks the deep tone had been messing with her mind from nine to five. The rest of the time memories of it unsettled her. She looked up at him, and her breath caught.

If she’d been prone to having the vapors, this was certainly a vapors-worthy moment. In his dark suit, gray dress shirt, silver-and-black-striped tie, he could stop the world. Hers at least, darn it all.

His short, dark hair was neatly combed. Intensely brown eyes were fringed by dark lashes that made her think of hot kisses under a black velvet sky full of stars. She’d seen him at the end of a long day, several hours after five-o’clock shadow had set in, but no scruff was there now. His lean cheeks and strong jaw looked freshly shaven. She had the most absurd desire to touch his face, see if the skin was as smooth as it looked.

“Ellie?”

He was waiting for an answer to his question.

“Hi, Alex.” She forced herself to smile at him. “No, this seat is free.”

“Not anymore.” He sat beside her and his jacket sleeve brushed her bare arm. Any second she expected sparks to flash between them. He leaned close and said, “You didn’t have far to go for this shindig.”

“Just downstairs.” His breath tickled Ellie’s ear, and the spicy scent of his cologne had her willpower waving the white flag of surrender. After that first day he hadn’t treated her any differently from the rest of the crew. In fact, one of the carpenters was a woman, which had made her feel foolish for her declaration of independence. “I really think they invited me so I wouldn’t make trouble with the local law when the party gets noisy.”

He laughed, and his gaze traveled over her from the top of her head to the pink-painted toes peeking out of her silver high-heeled sandals. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“Thanks. Y’all clean up pretty nice yourself.” That was an understatement. Part of her wanted to call him on the compliment, but they weren’t at work and she needed to lighten up. “So, are you a friend of the bride or groom?”

“Both. Adam and I got to be friends when we were on the committee for the clinic expansion. He and my brother were determined to add on and upgrade equipment to better service the medical needs of the community. He’s a good guy. I know Jill because I keep my boat at her marina.”

“I’m guessing it’s not a rowboat.”

“You’d be right. It doesn’t fit on top of the car.” He grinned. “I take her to the other side of the lake on weekends when I really want to get away from it all. No cell reception.”

“So, you pitch a tent over there?” she asked.

“Nope. The boat has a cabin.”

With a bed? she wanted to ask. Fortunately the words stayed safely in her head, and he couldn’t hear the crash bang of her heart that followed the racy thought.

Just then the trio of musicians began to play a soft wedding march. Everyone turned to the aisle, which was covered by a white runner and ran between the two groups of folding chairs. Moments later the blonde flower girl and dark-haired ring bearer walked by, followed closely by matron of honor, Maggie Potter. Then Jill, wearing a strapless, cream-colored satin-and-lace gown, walked by holding the hand of her seven-year-old son, who was giving her away. She was a stunning redhead, and C.J. took after her. He looked especially cute in his tuxedo.

Ellie glanced at the groom, waiting under a rose-covered arbor with his brother and the minister. Adam’s expression said he was equal parts dazzled and in love as his bride stopped in front of him.

“Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the reverend asked.

“I do.” C.J.’s voice was loud and clear. “Adam’s gonna be my dad for real now.”

Ellie’s throat clogged with emotion and tears filled her eyes. What was it about weddings that made her so emotional? She hardly knew these people, but the setting was beautiful and romantic. And the three of them were officially beginning their journey as a family. She felt a tear slide down her cheek. Then another. She brushed them away, hoping no one would notice, but a second later Alex was holding out a folded white handkerchief.

He leaned close and said, “I always carry one for weddings.”

She smiled when he pressed it into her hand and moments later was especially glad to have it. The vows and a spectacular kiss had her sniveling like a baby. Immediately after the ceremony, the wedding party disappeared with the photographer for pictures. Guests stood and milled around on the grass or headed to the decorated tent nearby, set up with tables for dinner.

“Thanks. I’ll return this after it’s washed.” Ellie held up the handkerchief. “For the record, I’m glad you were packin’.”

“I always cry at weddings.”

“Right.” She laughed. “I’m completely mortified. You must think I’m a big baby. But I just couldn’t help myself. It was such a beautiful wedding.”

“Don’t apologize. It was beautiful and nice to know some people get a happy ending.” His tone was either wistful or bitter, and it was hard to tell which.

Feeling the way she did about him made personal questions a slippery slope straight into the fires of hell, but she couldn’t keep the words in her head this time. “Who broke your heart?”

“What makes you think someone did?” After they stood, he put his hand on her elbow to guide her over the uneven grass.

The touch of his warm fingers threatened to short-circuit her thoughts. “What you said about happy endings implies that you didn’t get one.”

“I didn’t. Mine failed in a fairly spectacular way.”

She looked up expectantly but he didn’t say more. “Would you like to talk about it?”

“Not really.” But a devilish gleam slid into those smoky eyes and burned the shadows away. “Although I could be persuaded to. If you have that drink with me.”

She wanted to. Technically it wouldn’t be abandoning her principles about getting involved with a man at work because they weren’t at work. “Okay.”

They walked into the tent, where a bar was set up just inside the entrance. Alex ordered white wine for her and a beer for himself, then guided her to an unoccupied white-cloth-covered table in a secluded corner. Small white lights and flower arrangements of roses, orchids and star lilies transformed the interior into something magical.

As the setting and wine worked their magic on her, Ellie began to relax. He pulled out a chair for her, and when they sat and faced each other their knees brushed.

“So, tell me about your spectacular failure,” she said.

“I was married.”

Past tense. She appreciated the straightforward honesty. It was information the jerk at her very first job had kept from her. Just to be sure, she asked, “‘Was’?”

“Divorced.” He took a long drink from his beer, and there was something so masculine about the way his neck muscles moved as he swallowed.

“How did you meet her?”

“On the job.”

Wasn’t that always the way? It was why she was ultra cautious now. The only problem with not trusting was the intense loneliness. Touching Alex even a little made her miss having a man hold her, kiss her. Love her.

“Was this in college?”

“Nope. I was the boss and needed an executive assistant. She was qualified. And beautiful. It turned into more.” Even the dim lighting couldn’t hide the way his mouth pulled tight. “Then she told me she was pregnant.”

“So you married her.”

“And convinced her to move to Blackwater Lake because it’s a great place to raise kids.”

“She didn’t like it here?”

“Partly. Mostly she didn’t like me all that much.”

“Idiot.”

He smiled. “I appreciate that.”

Ellie was aware that she wasn’t a poster girl for great instincts where the opposite sex was concerned, but she’d seen how Alex handled the people who worked for him with amazing fairness. They’d move heaven and earth if he asked. You didn’t get that kind of loyalty by being a jerk.

“So you weren’t the one to end it,” she said.

“No. As it turned out, instead of proposing marriage when she said she was pregnant, the question I should have asked was ‘Who’s the father?’”

The meaning of his words sank in. “Oh, no—she let you believe you—”

“Yeah. I enjoyed having a son while it lasted.” There was raw bitterness in his voice now. “Dylan was almost a year old when she said she wanted his real father to raise him.”

She could see the truth on his face. “Y’all loved that little boy.”

“I sure did.”

“I’m sorry, Alex—”

“Don’t be.”

“It’s not pity,” she protested. “I’m sorry for that child because his mother is a moron. Y’all are probably better off, except that you miss that baby.”

“He’s not a baby anymore. It’s been two and a half years.”

“I shouldn’t have made you talk about it. Especially on such a happy occasion.” She looked around and saw that the tables were filling up with people ready to celebrate another couple’s love.

“I’m not sorry.” He tapped his bottle against her glass. “Got you to have a drink with me.”

“That’s true.” Got her to soften a little toward him, too. Maybe more than a little, and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. She finished off her wine and stood. Applause erupted when the bride and groom, hand in hand, walked in with the wedding party trailing behind them. “I need to go find a table.”

“Stay.” Alex reached out and loosely encircled her wrist in his strong fingers. There was surprise in his eyes now, and he didn’t look particularly happy about saying it, but he also didn’t let her go. “I bared my soul. Isn’t that worth a drink and dinner?”

Again, the touch felt so good. The warmth peeled back several layers of protection that hid her loneliness from the rest of the world. It had been so long since a man had touched her, casually or any other way. And nearly as long since she’d allowed herself to consider having dinner with a man. She simply couldn’t make herself pull free.

Sitting back down, she said, “That would be nice.”

If she hadn’t really wanted to stay, it would have been easy to walk away. But she couldn’t walk away and just hoped everything would be fine.

Chapter Two

The reception was just as beautiful as the wedding had been. Adam and Jill had their first dance as husband and wife. His brother, who was the best man, had made a toast to the happy couple. Maggie Potter, the matron of honor, had wished them a lifetime of happiness, and her words were particularly poignant because her own happily-ever-after had been cut short when her husband was killed in Afghanistan.

Dinner was delicious and the red velvet cake cut without incident by the newlyweds, as in no icing had ended up where it shouldn’t have been. Servers were distributing pieces to the seated guests, and Ellie had taken a bite because it would have been bad luck not to. This was an excellent time for her to slip away. She needed to go because of how badly she wanted to stay, and that was all Alex’s fault.

She looked at him as he chewed the last bite of his cake. “It’s been a lot of fun—”

“Don’t say it,” he warned.

“What?”

“That you’re leaving.”

“Maybe I was going to tell you that this is the best wedding I’ve ever been to.”

“No.” He shook his head.

“I could have been planning to say that I was late for plate-spinning practice.”

The corners of his mouth curved up in a heart-stopping smile. “I have a feeling you’re not the plate-spinning type. No, your tone clearly leaned toward preparing for a quick getaway.”

“I had no idea y’all were so perceptive.”

“Well, I am. Lesson number one in not judging a book by its cover.”

“And just how did I do that?”

“You thought I was just another pretty face.”

That made her smile, because she just couldn’t help herself. “Now you’re fishing for compliments, Mr. McKnight. Y’all are attempting to get me to list all the reasons I know you’re an intelligent man.”

His brown eyes sparkled with interest. “You think I’m smart?”

“I know so.” No one would accuse her of exemplary judgment where men were concerned, but she’d worked with him long enough to know he was no dummy. “Y’all handle construction crews with a firm, fair hand. Your budget is running five percent under the estimate, and no one in Blackwater Lake has a single thing to say about your personal life.” And she’d done her subtle, yet level best to pry information out of the crew, but more than one person said there was nothing to tell.

“Maybe I don’t have a personal life.”

“Now you’re underestimating me.” She laughed. “Of course a man like you has one. It’s just not here in town.”

“I’m impressed.” The statement neither confirmed nor denied. “But what do you mean a man like me?”

The kind who slides his arm across the back of a lady’s chair, she thought as he did just that. “A man who’s funny. Handsome. And smart enough to engage me in conversation to distract me from my objective.”

“Which is?”

Her goal had been to leave, but now it was changing, she realized. Right now she was concentrating very hard to not notice how close his fingers were to her shoulder. The cap sleeve of her lavender chiffon full-skirted dress didn’t offer a lot of protection from the warmth of his hand. Tension coiled in her stomach, and her breath caught as she waited to feel his touch.

“I really need to go.”

Just then the music started up again as the DJ announced there would be dancing until the wee hours. Couples drifted onto the temporary wooden floor in the center of the wedding tent.

“How about one dance, then I’ll walk you home?” Alex held out his hand.

Ellie stared at him. Cinderella escaped from Prince Charming after one dance at the ball, then her magic spell fell apart when the coach turned back into a pumpkin. The thought should have strengthened her resolve to go now, but it didn’t. She told herself giving in was the better part of valor.

“All right.” She put her hand into his and he tugged her to her feet.

Alex settled his palm on her lower back as he guided her to the dance floor. Then he slid his arm around her waist and pulled her loosely against him. She put one hand on his shoulder as he folded her other hand in his and rested them on his chest. It was such an intimate gesture that all her female hormones squealed with excitement. They moved easily together in time to the music, as if it wasn’t their first time.

“You’re a good dancer.” His breath stirred wisps of hair on her forehead.

“So are you.”

Along with handsome, funny and smart, she added graceful to his positive adjectives list. It was an effort to keep her breathing normal when she was feeling incredibly breathless. She would bet her favorite pair of sexy stilettos that any woman he took to bed would, for the rest of her life, remember and compare the experience to every one that followed.

Good Lord, where did that thought come from? Duh. It was impossible to be in his arms and not notice the broad shoulders and muscular chest. He made her feel fragile and feminine. How could she not wonder what his bare skin would feel like against her own?

Good heavens, it was hot in here.

Mercifully the song ended before she embarrassed herself. Alex didn’t let her go as the next one started, clearly intending to take the inch she’d given him and stretch it into a mile.

Ellie slid out of his arms. “I have to go.”

“I can’t talk you out of it?”

It would have been pathetically easy, but she forced herself to say no. “’Fraid not.”

“Okay. I’ll walk you.”

“That’s really not necessary. I don’t have far to go. What could happen?”

“In Blackwater Lake? Most likely nothing. But McKnight men don’t leave ladies to see themselves home.”

“How chivalrous.”

His shrug said it was no big deal, but she didn’t agree. She also didn’t trust. Once burned, twice shy.

“I’ll just get my purse.”

She walked back to the table, where several guests were drinking coffee and nibbling cake. She slid the short-looped handle of her silver beaded bag over her wrist and said good-night. Since the bride and groom were in a romantic world of their own on the dance floor, she decided not to disturb them. She lived upstairs from the couple and would have an opportunity to say her thank-you at a more convenient time.

Outside the June air was cool and the sky bright with a full moon that reflected a silver path on the lake. Could there be a more romantic setting? She could see the dock stretching into the water and boats tied up there.

“Which one is yours?” The words were out of her mouth before she realized the question had formed.

“It’s in the slip at the end, where the water is deeper.”

She didn’t know anything about watercraft but it was impossible not to notice that it was the biggest one in the marina. Probably a bigger boat needed the deepest water.

“Looks like a beauty.” She angled right toward the covered porch of the house where the stairs beside the newlyweds’ front door led up to her apartment.

Alex put his hand on her arm. “Want to see her?”

“The boat?” Stupid question and it was nothing more than a stall. Ellie knew he wasn’t talking about a woman.

“Yeah.”

It wasn’t only the warmth of his fingers that tempted her to say yes, but the fact that she was also curious. She’d never been on a boat before. Her father and brothers were into airplanes.

“I would like to see her,” she agreed. “A quick tour, then I have to call it a night.”

“Okay.”

She liked the way he put his hand on her lower back. It was protective and gallant. In the moonlight with several glasses of wine humming through her, it was hard to remember why it was so important for him to be off-limits. She would tidy up her priorities in just a few minutes.

After the relative silence of moving through the grass, the dull sound of their footsteps on the wooden dock filled the quiet night. There was an almost imperceptible movement on the walkway, reminding her it was floating. They passed several rows of moored boats before he guided her down the last one and to the very end.

“This is the Independence,” he said proudly.

There was a narrow walk space around the slip that encompassed and protected the watercraft. In the middle was an enclosed space for whoever was driving the thing. Behind it in the back was a place for passengers to sit and probably sunbathe. If she had to guess about the material it was made of, she’d pick fiberglass.

He gracefully stepped on board, then reached over and settled his hands at her waist, easily lifting her from dock to deck while she held on to his shoulders.

“Thanks.” Her voice was a smidge breathless, and it had nothing to do with the walk.

He didn’t seem to notice, just took her hand and showed her around the deck. He pointed out where the captain sat behind the wheel and the cushions on the back where passengers could relax and sunbathe.

“I’ll take you below,” he said. “Let me go down the ladder first.”

“You’re the captain.”

In seconds the deck seemed to swallow him up, then a light went on. “Okay.”

She turned as he’d done then grabbed the handrails and put the toe of her high-heeled shoe on the slat. Nothing about her descent was as graceful as his had been. There was only one step to go when her four-inch-heel caught in the chiffon hem of her dress and she lost her balance. Strong arms caught her and set her on her feet. With his hands on her waist and hers on his chest, they were facing each other and she saw the exact moment when the humor in his eyes turned to hunger.

There was only a split second of hesitation before his lips lowered to hers. After a nanosecond of shock, she gave in to the amazing turn-on of feeling his mouth devour hers, the fantastic sensation of his body pressed against her. She couldn’t get enough. He teased and taunted her with his tongue and tasted like beer and red velvet cake.

Backing her against the wall, Alex barely grazed his hips to hers and set off a firestorm of desire that swept through her. He dragged off his suit coat, then loosened his tie and yanked it over his head without untying it. Ellie tugged the dress shirt from the waistband of his pants, but before she could do another thing he turned her and unzipped her dress. She let it slide to her ankles. They were on his boat and she wasn’t sure if she was light-headed from his drugging kisses or dizzy from the slight rocking.

She wasn’t wearing a bra, and when Alex reached around and took her bare breasts in his hands, she could have been on a rocket ship to the moon. The way she felt right this minute left no doubt that she was participating in probably the best foreplay of her life.

Ellie turned and threaded her fingers in his hair when he took the peak of her breast in his mouth. She held him where he was, to keep him doing what he was doing. But when he stopped, she braced her hands on his hips and pulled him to her. “Alex, I want you—”

His gaze burned into hers. “I know how you feel—”

“Now. Please.”

“Not here. The bedroom—”

“It’s too far.”

Grinning, he said, “That’s where you’re wrong.”

He moved her a step to the side and into a room—cabin—that felt like wall-to-wall bed. He yanked down the coverlet then scooped her into his arms and settled her in the center of the firm mattress. Ellie kicked off her high-heeled shoes and slid out of her panties while he removed the rest of his clothes, pulled a square packet from his wallet then joined her on the bed.

She saw him tear open the condom and cover himself then could barely catch her breath as he nudged her legs apart and covered her body with his. Gently he entered her, and just like dancing, this didn’t feel like the first time. She accepted him easily and found his rhythm. He moved inside her, building tension until she could hardly bear it. When he reached between their bodies and caressed the bundle of nerve endings at the juncture of her thighs, the instantaneous explosion of sensation stopped her world. Her breath came in ragged gasps.

Alex held her and whispered words she couldn’t comprehend in her pleasure-drenched state. When she could think again, she wrapped her legs around his hips and urged him to his own release, using her body to tell him what she wanted to give. In a matter of seconds, he groaned and went still, holding her tightly as he found his own release.

Ellie had no idea how long they stayed wrapped in each other’s arms before he rolled away and disappeared. A minute later he returned to the bed and pulled her against him.

With her head on his shoulder she said sleepily, “Y’all are pretty...awesome.”

“Back at you, El.” The words dripped with weariness and it felt as if he wasn’t giving her a nickname as much as too tired to say her whole name.

She knew how he felt. She was too tired to keep her eyes open, so she didn’t. Before falling asleep, her last thought was that she really should go to her own place.

* * *

Alex opened one eye when he heard a gasp beside him in the bed. It only took him a second to figure out that Ellie knew where she was, who she was with, what they’d done and that she was still naked. Dawn was just starting to peek through the window above the bed and her expression was easy to read.

He raised onto his elbow and looked down at her. “Hi.”

“Good morning.” She pulled the sheet up to her neck.

Her hair was spread out like brown silk on the pillow and looked sexier than hell. He badly wanted to run his fingers through it again. This probably wasn’t the time to tell her that the whole sheet-to-her-neck thing was as much of a turn-on as seeing her stark naked. Her body was outlined and he could make out every one of the slender curves he’d very much enjoyed exploring the night before.

“What’s wrong?” He knew something was bothering her by the way she chewed nervously on her bottom lip. He’d had a taste of it himself last night and wouldn’t have minded another of that, either.

“I suppose we have to talk about this.” Her expression said she’d rather walk barefoot on hot coals. “Like a bad cliché, I actually hate myself in the morning.”

“We could pretend it never happened.”

“Much as I’d like to slip quietly off y’all’s boat, Hastings Hart taught me to face situations head-on and play fair.”

A woman playing fair would be a refreshing change for him—if she’d actually learned the lesson from Hastings Hart.

“Your father?”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t bring you here with the intention of seducing you. It just—”

“—happened,” she finished, studying him. “I believe you. And I didn’t come with you to be seduced.”

“So we’re even.”

“It was a mistake, Alex, and I take full responsibility.”

He’d made his own mistake, but that wasn’t what she meant. “What about we go fifty-fifty on the blame?”

“That’s fair.” She turned on her side, hand pressing against her chest to keep the sheet in place. “But here’s the thing...”

This had to be the weirdest post-sex-talk-in-bed ever. “I’m all ears.”

“If only that were true,” she muttered. “We’re working together. I make it a rule never to sleep with a coworker.”

“I hate to break this to you but that ship has sailed.” He looked around the cabin and added, “No pun intended.”

“Thanks for pointing out the obvious,” she said dryly. “I was here. But this really can’t happen again.”

“You sound pretty adamant about it.” Although he agreed in theory, part of him wanted to take the words as a challenge.

“There’s a good reason for that.” She lowered her gaze and long thick lashes stood out against the smooth skin above her cheek. “In college I was at the top of my class and interned with one of the best architectural firms in Dallas. They hired me after graduation and I was on my way. Finally, I was going to prove to my father and brothers that I could take care of myself.”

“What happened?” Something must have, or she wouldn’t have been defensive the first day she’d arrived. And she seemed to have a rule against sleeping with coworkers. Some day he might regret participating in the rule breaking, but not right this minute.

“I got involved with one of the partners, but he neglected to tell me he was married.”

“Sounds like a big company. No one else clued you in?”

“It should have been a red flag that he wanted to keep the relationship just between us. No one in the office knew. My bad that I believed his explanation about protecting me from employees who would resent my upward mobility and chalk it up to our relationship.”

“How did you find out?”

“His wife caught him. Email. Cell phone.” She gripped a handful of the sheet covering her breasts. “It doesn’t matter. But she chose to out him in a very public way. She came to the office and confronted me.”

“There was an ugly scene.” It wasn’t a question.

She nodded miserably. “No one believed I was that naive and didn’t know he was married. They’re a conservative firm, and questionable behavior in the workplace was against company policy but they did me a favor and let me resign instead of firing me.”

Big of them, he thought angrily. So being fired wasn’t on her résumé, but she also couldn’t use her only work experience for a reference. “What did you do?”

“I left quietly and went to work for Hart Industries with my brother Lincoln. He runs the development branch of the company for my father.”

“Not a bad gig.”

“It was for me.” She smiled sadly. “Harts have long memories and I’ll never live it down, how I’m not so good at taking care of myself. I just want them to be proud, but now I’ve got to dig out of a really big hole.”

“This is where I point out the obvious—the guy is a bastard.” His tone was surprisingly even considering how angry he was.

“Y’all are preachin’ to the choir. But that didn’t change the fact that I had to lay low and let the dust settle. That was two years ago, and Mercy Medical Clinic here in Blackwater Lake is my second chance. There’s no way I’m going to mess it up. It’s time to reinvent myself, and mistakes aren’t an option.”

“I agree with you.”

“You do?” She sounded surprised, as if expecting some pushback.

“I’m a businessman, and most of my business is here in town. It’s small and getting involved with anyone is a very bad idea. When a relationship ends, and it always does, there can be hard feelings, word spreads, people take sides.” He shrugged. “None of the above is good for McKnight Construction.”

“So you really do have a personal life,” she said, her voice full of I knew it.

“Yes,” he agreed. “I just take it somewhere else for a long weekend.”

“I see.” She met his gaze. “So, we’re in agreement.”

“We are. I respect the fact that you don’t play fast and loose, but that’s the only way I want to play. Nothing gets in the way of my work, and it’s important that the expansion is completed on time and within budget. I have projects and a reputation to maintain. Delay isn’t an option for me,” he said, echoing her words.

“I’m glad to hear that.” She glanced up at the window. “So what do y’all think are the chances we can keep last night a secret what with the whole town at the wedding?”

“You live on the property and have a very good reason for your car being there. And I’ve been known to spend the night on my boat.” He saw her look and grinned. “To sleep.”

“Uh-huh.”

He ignored that. “What I’m saying is that no one will think twice about my car still being here.”

“I’m tickled to hear that.”

“You just need to get back to your place before the newlyweds and their curious little guy are up and around. They’re leaving on the honeymoon later today, but if they spot you in yesterday’s dress, questions will be asked.”

“So I better get going.” She started to get up, then looked at him.

“I guess you want privacy.” A little late for that, he thought. He’d seen, touched and kissed a lot of that soft skin and would remember last night for as long as he lived. “I’ll leave you alone.”

He didn’t care if she peeked at him and threw back the sheet, taking his time to gather up his clothes before leaving the cabin. Just outside he saw her dress and picked it up. After rubbing the sensuous silk between his fingers, he put it on the bed. “You’ll need this.”

Something else she wouldn’t want to hear was that he liked her dress a lot, but much preferred her without a stitch of clothing. Maybe just the high heels.

The thought made him smile until another, more sobering one took its place. There was one more thing he had to talk to her about.

By the time he had his pants on, Ellie emerged all dressed. She headed for the ladder that would take her topside. “See you tomorrow at work.”

“Just a second.”

With a hand on one of the rungs, she glanced at him. “What?”

“Is there any chance you’re on the pill?”

“No.” Her eyes went wide. “There’s been no reason. I don’t date. But you had a condom.”

“Yeah.” One that was way past the expiration date.

It both pleased and disturbed him that she wasn’t with another guy now and hadn’t been for a while. But he’d been thinking with every part of his body except his head, and the only protection he had with him was aged, and not in a good way.

“It broke,” he said.

“Thanks for telling me.” She nodded thoughtfully. “I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Don’t you worry.”

Yeah, he thought. That would happen.

Chapter Three

It was almost quitting time on Monday, and Ellie had never been so glad. She was exhausted from work, but mostly it was the strain of trying to act normal with Alex. How did you undo sex? How did you stop picturing your coworker naked when you’d actually seen him that way?

Good Lord, she’d slept with him but that wasn’t even the worst. The next morning they’d had a discussion about why it couldn’t happen again, all while still in his bed. How did a woman go to work and pretend it never happened when he was sitting at a desk just across the room?

Every time she looked at his brown bedroom eyes and broad shoulders, sex was all she could think about.

“The plumbing subcontractor will be here in the morning.” Alex looked up and caught her staring. His eyes narrowed with something dark and intense, as if he knew what she’d been thinking.

“Right.” The single word was almost a croak so she swallowed, trying to stay loose. Fat chance. Her stomach clenched and her chest felt tight. “You’re sure this is a good crew?”

“The best.”

“Good. I’m not worried about the public areas which they could probably do in their sleep. It’s the lines for the outpatient surgery and recovery rooms that make me nervous. We’re talking a delivery system for oxygen and nitrous oxide used for anesthesia.”

“These guys can handle it,” he said confidently.

He was confident about everything, even making love to a woman. Darn it. There she went again. Time to get out of here. “I’m going to look things over and make sure we’re good to go tomorrow before I leave for the day.”

“Which you’re planning to do soon, right? Leave for the day, I mean.”

“Yes.” Then she wondered if he was trying to get rid of her. “Why?”

“You look tired.”

The man was too perceptive. Her bad was wondering if that meant he cared. She wasn’t going to be one of those women who expected a man to have deeper feelings just because they’d slept together. Sex was a physical act between a man and a woman who found each other attractive. That’s all it had been or ever would be.

“I’ve been putting in a lot of hours.” She stood and closed her laptop. “But if I’d wanted a nine-to-five job, I’d have picked another profession.”

“That wasn’t criticism.” Alex stood, too. “I just wanted to run something by you while you’re doing the last inspection of the day, but if you’re too tired it can wait.”

“I’m fine. What is it?”

“I’ve been thinking about when we join the new part of the building with the clinic, and I think it’s going to require a special expansion joint along with a new reglet cut into the existing wall.”

She’d been thinking about that herself and knew he wanted the reglet, a flat, narrow architectural molding, to make the joining of the two structures strong and seamless. “Y’all think it won’t hold up otherwise?”

“That’s right.” He walked out from behind his desk and stopped halfway to hers. “I’ll show you what I mean, then you should go home.”

“Okay.”

By this time of day Ellie looked forward to kicking off her high heels. But when she met Alex in the middle of the room she was glad to have the extra height because of a weird, vulnerable feeling. Not about the work. He wasn’t one of those jerks who figured she didn’t know her eyebrow brush from an air duct. This was personal, and for some reason unclear to her at this moment, it was important to stand as tall as possible beside him.

“Okay. Let’s do this and get you the heck out of here.” He stepped in front of her and led the way, which was something he hadn’t done since the day she’d arrived.

After opening the door he walked outside and held it for her before descending the three metal stairs. All day when he’d turned his back, her gaze had been drawn to his outstanding butt and now was no exception. Alex McKnight was a good-looking man in or out of his jeans. Maybe if she’d never seen him naked...

She was looking at his backside instead of the last step and her heel caught. One second she was upright and the next she went down with a small scream. Her body twisted to the side but her shoe didn’t and she felt more than heard something in her ankle pop. Then a blinding pain ripped through her lower leg.

Alex was beside her instantly, one knee on the ground. “Are you okay?”

“I’m not sure. I think I twisted my ankle. It really hurts.”

When he freed her high heel she cried out. “Dammit. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Oh...gosh, that hurts. Can you help me up?”

His mouth pulled tight as he slid an arm around her waist and took her weight to get her standing. When she set her foot on the blacktop parking lot, she cried out again. The pain took her breath away.

“That’s it.” Alex scooped her into his arms. “Good thing there’s a doctor right next door.”

“That’s not necessary. I’m sure it’s just a sprain.” Please, God.

“My brother can deal with that, too,” he said grimly.

“You’re sure I can’t talk you out of this?”

“Not a chance in hell.”

Truthfully, Ellie was glad he took over. She put her arms around his neck and gritted her teeth against the pain. Somewhere she’d heard that damage to the tendons and ligaments was painful and took longer to heal than a broken bone, but that seemed less incapacitating than the alternative. She couldn’t be incapacitated. That would mean a delay in the Mercy Medical Clinic project. Delays were never good, but she couldn’t afford one now while she was trying to reverse a black eye to her professional reputation.

* * *

Ellie was stretched out on the exam table at the clinic with her ankle elevated. She was waiting for the orthopedic specialist to return with the verdict—sprain or break. Dr. McKnight—he’d said to call him Ben—had told her it was probably broken, but the X-rays would tell definitively. After giving her something for the pain, he’d told her to rest. If only...

She’d never been so tired in her life. The pressure to be perfect on this job had taken a toll, and then there was Alex. Why couldn’t he have been a sixty-year-old hunchback who looked like a troll? She could work with a troll, and a gnarled little man probably wouldn’t have an award-winning butt capable of distracting a woman into falling down the stairs. Right this minute it was a toss-up about which was worse—pain or humiliation. Since the meds were working, she’d go with the latter for now.

When there was a soft knock on the exam room door, she carefully rolled to her side toward it, making the paper beneath her crinkle loudly. “Come in.”

A second later Ginny Irwin stood in the doorway. “How are you feeling, sweetie?” The nurse’s voice was firm and straightforward but not unkind.

“Better.” Ellie shifted on the table and winced at the dull pain radiating from ankle to thigh. “I’m sure it’s just a sprain.”

Ginny was sixtyish and tall, her gray hair cut in a pixie style. Pity mixed with the no-nonsense expression in her blue eyes. “Sometimes the worst of it is not knowing. Can’t take action until you know what action to take.”

“Do you have any idea when the doctor will get the results of the X-rays?”

“I wish. We shoot the pictures, but a trained radiologist has to read them. In a perfect world there would be one available to interpret the films, but you’re in Blackwater Lake. The good news is you have Ben McKnight.”

“Oh?” And she’d slept with his brother. Would he hold that against her if he knew?

Ginny moved beside the table. “If this happened in Dallas you couldn’t have a better orthopedic specialist. I’ve never seen him call an X-ray wrong.”

“So he can tell me whether or not it’s broken—”

“’Fraid not, sweetie. In his opinion that would be making a guess, since that’s not his specialty.” Ginny pressed index and middle fingers to Ellie’s wrist, presumably taking a pulse. She nodded with satisfaction. “The films we took are remotely read. They’re emailed to the hospital, where the radiologist will make the determination and give Ben a report. There’s no telling how long it will be before we have the results.”

Ellie felt a little spurt of panic. “What happens if it gets too late?”

“Don’t borrow trouble,” the nurse advised. “We’ll cross that bridge when and if we have to. Here at Mercy Medical Clinic we’re good at improvising.”

“I didn’t mean to be pushy. No offense meant.”

“None taken. You’re hurting and handling it much better than some. It’s human nature when you’re in pain and scared to lash out. You’re impatient.” Ginny grinned. “No pun intended. I can handle that. It’s perfectly natural to wonder what’s going to happen.”

“I’ll try not to be too antsy.”

“Not on my account.” The older woman studied her with a critical eye. “Can I get you something? A snack? We’ve got cookies and fruit in the break room. Maybe something to drink? Ginger ale to give you something to keep up your strength?”

“No, thanks.” Her stomach was tied in knots. “I don’t think I could get anything down right now.”

“Yes, you can. I know just the thing.” Without waiting for a protest Ginny turned to leave. “Now you try to rest.”

Easier said than done, Ellie thought. She was feeling pathetically alone and abandoned when there was another knock on the door. She prayed it was Ben McKnight bearing good news.

“Come in.”

A moment later there was a McKnight in the doorway but not the one she’d hoped to see.

Alex was holding a can of ginger ale and a plastic cup with a flex straw in it. “Hi.”

Ellie was irritated that he could look so darn good when she felt like roadkill. “I told you to go home.”

Those had been her exact words right after he’d carried her all the way from the construction trailer to this exam room in the clinic. And he’d handled her as if she weighed no more than a child. Now she sounded witchy and ungrateful.

“I appreciate all your help, Alex. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

He put the can down on the counter by the sink and popped the tab. “Is that a Texas thing?”

“What?”

“You worrying about my feelings when you’ve got to be hurting like hell.”

“I was raised to have manners and to be kind and polite to everyone. And, just for the record, I don’t have to be hurting. I’m sure it’s just a sprain.”

“Even if you’re right, that doesn’t mean you’re not in pain. And if you want to take it out on me, go for it.” He poured the fizzy soda into the cup and waited for the bubbles to go down before bringing it over to the exam table. “Now, take a sip.”

“I told the nurse I didn’t care for anything.”

“There you go again with that well-bred, Southern fried stoic stuff. You don’t have energy to spare for manners, so cut yourself some slack. Now drink some of this. You’ve been through a trauma.” He must have seen the stubborn trickling through her, because he added, “I was told to make myself useful and give you liquids, and that’s what I intend to do. Ginny Irwin scares the crap out of me and everyone else in Blackwater Lake who comes here to Mercy Medical for treatment. If you’re as smart as I think you are, you’ll be scared of her, too, and do what you’re told.”

Ellie didn’t think anything or anyone could have made her even want to smile, but Alex and what he’d just said proved her wrong. She raised up on an elbow. “Okay. Since you put it that way...”

He held out the glass and steadied the straw while she drank. “That’s a good girl.”

After getting about half of it down, she stretched out on her side again and gingerly adjusted her injured leg. Strangely enough, she did feel a little better. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He scanned her from face to feet. “How do you feel?”

“How do I look?” The way his mouth pulled tight wasn’t very reassuring. “Tell me the truth.”

“Your face is white as a sheet and your ankle is swollen. A lot.”

“I appreciate your candor.” And she sincerely meant that. Honesty was very important to her, but it didn’t make the increasingly panicked feeling go away.

“Everything will be okay, Ellie.”

How will everything be all right? she wanted to ask. A broken ankle would slow her down. It wasn’t in her comeback plan or her schedule. She’d already lost too much time with that darn, stupid emotional detour on the road to professional success. There wasn’t any flexibility in her blueprint to rehabilitate her reputation and resurrect her career.

“I have no doubt that things will work out.” She was pretty sure the words had just enough confidence to be convincing.

“Darn right. Whatever happens, if you need anything, just ask.”

Not going there, she thought. She’d trusted a man once, and it hadn’t gone well. She would get through this on her own. What didn’t kill you made you stronger.

“I’m sure I won’t need anything, Alex, but the offer is awfully nice.” She smiled as sincerely as possible. “It’s way past quitting time. Y’all should head home.”

“I’m in no hurry.”

That made one of them. She was in a huge hurry for him to take his care and concern out of here before she started to believe in it.

“Really,” she said. “I’m okay. There’s no reason to waste any more of your evening on me.”

“I don’t mind—”

A knock interrupted him just before the door opened. Ben came in with X-rays in his hand. “Hey, Alex. I didn’t know you were still here.”

“I was just telling him he should go,” Ellie said.

The doctor looked at her. “I’ve got the radiologist report.”

“Finally.” Now that it was here she was dreading the results.

The two brothers stood side by side, and the family resemblance was obvious. The shapes of their faces were identical right down to the strong chin and rugged cheekbones. Their coloring was slightly different; the doctor’s hair was lighter. Alex was just a shade taller, broader in the shoulders. His hair was darker, his brown eyes more intense. When he made no move to leave, Ben cleared his voice.

“Obviously you two are friends, but I need to talk to Ellie privately. It’s a patient confidentiality issue.”

“Oh. Right. Sorry.” Alex set the plastic glass and straw on the counter beside the soda can and left the room.

When the door closed behind him, Ellie didn’t know whether to be relieved that he’d listened to his brother or to miss his reassuring support. But this mess wasn’t his baby to rock.

“Okay, then. What’s up, Doc?”

He shoved the X-ray films on the viewer box and even the untrained eye could see the bones of the foot, ankle and lower leg. Using his pen as a pointer he indicated an irregularity.

“I’m sorry, Ellie. I know you were hoping it was just a sprain, but that’s not the case. There’s definitely a fracture here.”

“Okay.” She took a deep but not very calming breath. “So what now? You put it in a cast. Maybe the walking kind,” she said hopefully. “So I can get back to work.”

“I’ll put a cast on it so you don’t make the injury worse while we wait for the swelling to go down.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. “What happens then?”

“I need to do the repair in surgery. It will require a plate to hold the bone together while it heals. But here’s the thing...”

“What?” The knots in her stomach pulled tighter.

“When the clinic addition is finished, a procedure like this can be done here, on an outpatient basis, but you can’t wait that long. We need the hospital and it’s pretty far away.”

Close to that cute little airport where she’d flown in from Dallas. “How much work time will I lose?”

“The day of the surgery, then one or two after because there might be some discomfort from the procedure.”

“And can I work in the meantime?”

“Yes, if you can do what you need to on crutches. You can’t put any weight on the leg, and common sense is essential. Keep the foot elevated as much as possible to get the swelling down. The sooner the surgery is done, the sooner you’ll be back on your feet.”

“Okay.”

“Do you have any other questions?” There was sympathy in the doctor’s dark eyes.

“Not right now, but I’m sure I will.”

“When you do, don’t hesitate to ask.”

She nodded numbly.

Ellie figured she was in shock. It was the only explanation for her state of calm through the process of getting the cast on. When it was done, Ginny gave her crutches and instructions, then helped her into a wheelchair. She was on her way to the clinic waiting area and about to ask the nurse for the favor of a bit longer ride to her car in the lot by the construction trailer. Before getting the words out, she spotted Alex sitting in a chair.

Ginny wheeled her closer and said to him, “Here she is.”

“Thanks, Ginny.”

Ellie heard the squeak of the woman’s sneakers on the wooden floor behind her as she walked away. She couldn’t believe he was still there. More important, she didn’t want to get used to it.

She shook her head. “You shouldn’t be here.”

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