“Only my pride.” Okay, so her chest hurt when she took a deep breath, but she’d live. What was a little pain in comparison to being alive? To having been in Levi’s arms?

“Seriously.” He cut his scrumptious eyes toward her again. “Choking isn’t something to be embarrassed about.”

“Easy for you to say,” she scoffed. “Whereas I played the damsel in distress, you got to be the hero of the day.” Despite the ache in her chest—or maybe because of the much stronger ache pounding behind her ribcage—she smiled at him. “Lucky you.”

“That’s me. A regular knight in shining armor.”

“Right.” What was it about the man that turned her brain into such mush? Not to mention the rest of her ooey-gooey self?

“Well,” he intoned, his eyes straight ahead, “if it makes you feel any better, I wasn’t feeling heroic.”

“You weren’t?” That surprised her. She’d imagine a man like Levi often played the role of hero, saving lives and slaying dragons. “What were you feeling?”

“Scared witless,” he answered, so quickly that she knew he was telling the truth. He’d hidden it well. Or maybe she’d been too distracted by lack of oxygen and his arms around her to notice that she’d scared him.

“Your secret is safe with me,” she promised, thinking she’d keep her pleasure at his admission a secret, too.

“Good thing,” he mused, his expression deadpan. “Otherwise I’d have to kill you.”

“Kill me?” She tried to keep a solemn appearance, too, but her lips twitched. “Wouldn’t that defeat the purpose of today’s efforts?”

He shrugged, continuing feigned sincerity. “You’re right. Best save my honor and keep my secret, fair maiden.”

White knight? Slaying dragons? Fair maiden?

Oh, this was fun. She fought another smile, enjoying this unexpected attention, this unexpected side of him. Okay, so she enjoyed all sides of Levi, but still…

“Done,” she promised. She also liked the fact he’d not been as calm and collected as he’d appeared, that he’d felt some matching anxiety to what she’d experienced during her choking session. Somehow that made him seem more human, less Greek god fallen to earth to star in every woman’s fantasy.

Less like Simon, who never would have admitted to a flaw of any kind. He’d been perfect and had had no qualms telling her that over and over while reminding her how lucky she was to be in his life. Gag. She should have dumped his cheating butt months and months before things had ended.

So Levi’s admission softened her resolve, made her smile. And for a short while she wasn’t going to analyze every minute detail. She was just going to enjoy that she was with Levi.

He parked his SUV behind the medical complex where his office was located, right next to the hospital, and pulled the keys from the ignition.

“Need me to carry you?” His crooked grin dug a dimple into his left cheek. “Damsels in distress are my specialty.”

Yes, she almost rushed out just so she could feel his arms around her again. Oh, yes, yes, yes. But she didn’t. This damsel had taken advantage of him enough for one day. She had to bite back a happy sigh at his continued feeding of her castle-in-the-air fantasy.

“No, I don’t need you to carry me, not when God gave me two perfectly good legs. Thanks, though.” It struck her that she couldn’t recall if she’d thanked him for his Heimlich. “Thank you for coming to my rescue earlier, too.”

“You’re welcome.” He flashed his straight white teeth in another grin, ratcheting up her heart rate and causing a reflexive Kegel contraction between her thighs. “You’re too beautiful to meet such a tragic fate.”

All righty, then. She didn’t know how to respond to his flirting. But, really, he was probably just being nice, right? Just here because he was afraid he’d broken her ribs during his rescue efforts? He was an excellent doctor who went above and beyond for his patients. At the moment, she was his patient.

“I thought I was going to die,” she admitted, hoping her smile looked appreciative and not too much like please-take-me-into-your-arms-and-kiss-me. “You saved me.”

He cast her a mischievous look that both thrilled and reminded her he was way out of her league. It also reminded her that she really wanted to play in that bigboy league—with him.

“Yep,” he continued, “I saved you and now you owe me.”

“I guess I do.” Was she imagining the gleam in his eyes? The spark zapping back and forth between them? The electricity in the air?

“I can tell you’re excited about being indebted to me.” He laughed, climbing out of his truck.

Oh, she was excited all right. From her head to the tips of her toes.

“Who likes being indebted?” she quipped when her door swung open, eyeing him and wanting to lick him from his head to the tips of his toes.

“Good point,” he agreed, offering his hand to help her get out. “But I won’t ask for more than your complete and total devotion and servitude.”

Okay, so he was absolutely flirting back.

And she absolutely couldn’t breathe.

Help! Someone do the Heimlich again. Quick.

When she slid her hand into his, her breath gushed from her body in a rough swoosh. Oh, my. Now she needed mouth to mouth as well.

Seriously. She needed his mouth on hers.

She’d just been in his arms a few minutes ago when he’d carried her to his SUV, but already she’d forgotten what the warm contact of his skin against hers felt like, was shocked by the intensity.

Electrifying. All consuming.

The most wonderful feeling in the whole world.

Pathetic, Madison. Absolutely pathetic. Apparently you really suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen when you choked.

“You’re going to send a bill for this, right?” she asked, desperately trying to detract from his magnetic pull. Desperately trying to keep from launching herself at him in the hope he’d catch her and never let her fall. Of course he’d let her fall. Eventually he’d push her down and trample on her heart if given the chance. It’s what men did. It’s why she’d decided if she couldn’t beat them, to join them, so to speak.

“Nope.” He snorted, not letting her pull her hand free as he led her toward the back entrance to his office.

“I have health insurance.” I have quivers all over my body from your hand clasping mine.

“I wouldn’t feel right about charging you to examine whether or not I broke your ribs.”

Promise you won’t break my heart.

Now, where had that come from? Of course he wouldn’t break her heart. She wouldn’t let him anywhere near her heart. Yes, she was physically attracted to him, but that didn’t mean she’d let him or any other man near her heart ever again. But she could be like men, enjoy the physical side of life without letting her heart become involved. All fun, no pain.

“My ribs are fine. Just a little sore.” Very sore. “But even if you’d broken each and every one of them, I’m glad you saved me, Dr. Fielding.” She flashed him what she hoped was her most appreciative—and alluring—smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, and the name is Levi.” Another crooked thigh-melting grin. “I want you to call me Levi.”

Madison sat on the exam table, waiting for Levi to rejoin her and trying not to let her imagination run away from her. Just because she kept having lust-induced fantasies about Levi, it did not mean he wanted to push her back on the exam table and do a thorough hands-on investigation of all that ailed her.

Mainly him.

From the moment they’d stepped into his office he had been the consummate professional. He’d shot the X-ray films of her ribs, not balking when she’d insisted on keeping on her T-shirt. She’d taken off her bra to avoid the underwires and hooks from showing on the film, but no way had she been going to take off her shirt.

Levi might be a doctor, but if and when he ever saw her bare-breasted she didn’t want the blessed event to be when she was about to be blasted with radiation.

She put her B-cup push-up bra back on the minute he’d finished shooting the film. He probably thought her a prude and that was why his flirting had come to a quick halt.

“Good news,” he said, coming back into the room. “The X-rays don’t show any breaks.”

“I told you I was fine.” Thank goodness she’d been right. There had been small niggles of doubt when she moved certain ways and sharp pain had stabbed her chest wall. “Just sore.”

“If that soreness doesn’t ease in a few days, I should order a CT scan. Sometimes rib fractures don’t show as well on X-ray, especially non-displaced ones.”

“We both know that even if my ribs had been broken all you’d do is bind my chest and tell me to give it time.” She gave him a bright smile. “I’ll be fine.”

“I suspect you will.” He studied her, his expression serious and not a hundred percent convinced. “You want me to write something for pain?”

“I wouldn’t take it even if you did.” She couldn’t imagine many circumstances in which she’d take pain medications. She’d seen one colleague too many end up with addiction problems.

“You might regret that decision later tonight.”

“I won’t.” Feeling the pain would remind her that she was alive, that Levi had come to her rescue, saved her life.

“You’re one tough cookie, Madison.”

Her insides melted at her name rolling off his lips. “I try, Dr. Fielding.”

“I asked you to call me Levi.” His gaze lingered on her mouth long enough to make the pit of her stomach dip to her toes and boomerang back like an overstretched rubber band.

“That you did.” She tried not to read too much into his look, but failed miserably. How could she not when he looked as if he was wondering what kissing her would be like? When she really wanted him to kiss her? She lowered her gaze to his lips, hoped she conveyed that she wanted him to lean in, to touch his mouth to hers. “Levi.”

Not leaning in or touching his lips to hers, he cleared his throat and glanced at his watch. “There’s still another hour at the picnic if you want to go back.”

“No, thanks.” She shook her head. “Going back to work tomorrow and dealing with all the embarrassing commotion of having choked will be soon enough.”

“Did you get to eat?” he surprised her by asking, his gaze flicking to hers.

“No.” She’d poured a drink, taken that fateful gulp that had gone down the wrong pipe, and had never made it to prepare a plate of food. “I’ll grab something later.” She gave a self-derisive smile as her gaze met his, held. “Maybe this time I won’t get choked.”

“I didn’t finish and I’m starved.” He rubbed his belly, emphasizing his point. Or was it those flat abs she wanted to lick he was emphasizing? She had to stop looking at Levi like human eye candy. She had to. Or did she? Maybe that was how playgirls saw the opposite sex? After all, he was delicious on the eyes, sugary sweet and made her want to go into a Levi-induced diabetic coma.

“You want to grab a pizza before I drop you off?”

She wanted to grab a lot more than pizza.

“You’d miss the rest of the picnic.” Now, why had she pointed that out? Why hadn’t she just said, “Yes, take me now, I’m yours, but don’t go messing with my heart because it’s off limits”?

“Oh, no, not that,” he teased.

A hot flush spread across her cheeks.

“Pizza sounds wonderful.” Reminding herself that him asking her to eat meant nothing, absolutely nothing except that he probably wanted to make sure she didn’t choke on her food again. Madison managed not to melt at his feet, managed to keep her hands to herself. “If you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind, Madison,” he said in an all-too-serious voice, then blew it by adding, “Just ask anyone who knows me. They’ll tell you what a naughty boy I am.”

There he went with that flirty tone again. And with the eyes. Those eyes screamed with pure male naughtiness.

Dr. Levi Fielding was definitely flirting with her. Question was why hadn’t he all along when she hadn’t hidden her interest? Currently, he was looking at her as if they’d been typed and crossed and were a perfect match.

Based on his supposed history with women, his interest wouldn’t last long. She’d wanted his attention from the moment they’d met. Why not soak up every morsel and enjoy whatever the day brought? Just so long as she remembered she was a player, too, one who kept her heart locked away, what could spending time with Levi hurt? Wasn’t that what she wanted, after all?

And, really, it wasn’t as if she had the strength to say no. Not with her oxygen-depleted brain and all.

When they left his office, Levi drove to his favorite local pizza parlor.

Why had he asked Madison to dinner? Sure, he really was hungry, but spending time with her was a bad idea. He wanted a woman who wanted the same things he did, a committed relationship to each other based on more than just sex.

Not that sexual attraction wasn’t important. Certainly he and Madison had that in spades. But after overhearing her conversation with Karen, he knew she wasn’t what he wanted in a woman. So why was he here? And why did he want her so much when she epitomized the type of woman he’d sworn never to get involved with again?

They ordered their food, got drinks, and settled in where they could both see the wide-screen television.

Although Madison made a pretense of watching the sporting show, he could tell she wasn’t really into the program by the nervous way she kept glancing around the restaurant and toying with her drink straw.

Watching Madison with her straw interested Levi more than any sporting event that had ever been broadcast. After the first few minutes he quit pretending to watch the show and watched her instead, grinning when her big green eyes met his and widened. She didn’t look away, although he got the impression she’d like to. No, she held his gaze, only allowing her eyes to lower enough to glance at his mouth for a few brief seconds.

As if she was thinking about kissing him.

Levi swallowed. There would be no kissing Madison Swanson. How could he when kissing her would definitely lead to other things? If he gave in to urges, well, that proved his father right, didn’t it?

“What made you decide to move to Angel Creek?” he asked, to steer his mind away from those other things.

“I went to nursing school with Karen and we stayed in touch. She’s tried to get me to relocate several times over the years, but there were reasons why I stayed in Winston-Salem.”

Reasons? Levi was sure he’d like to know what those reasons were.

Madison toyed with her straw again, placing her fingertips over one end and raising the other to her perfectly shaped lips in a purely seductive move that she almost seemed unaware of. Almost. Levi bit back a groan.

When she lifted her gaze, pleasure registered at what he obviously failed to hide. He wanted her.

“When Karen’s roommate moved out a few months ago,” she continued, watching him with those mesmerizing green eyes, “I took her up on the offer.”

“What made you change your mind?”

Her eyes darkened, lowered. Staring at her drink for several long seconds, she finally shrugged. “She needed a roommate and I needed a change of everything.”

Which probably meant she had been involved with someone and the relationship had gone sour. His abdominal muscles contracted defensively, rejecting the thought of Madison with another man, the thought of flashing her pretty smile, her wide, seductive eyes in another’s direction. What was up with that? He wasn’t the jealous type and this certainly wasn’t a date. Just two hungry colleagues sharing a meal and each other’s company.

Still, he’d known from the beginning there was something different about her. She was different. Made him feel different. Made him not quite certain about things he’d taken for granted.

Probably just because she was the first woman to interest him after his revelation about his father, about the man he refused to be like. Probably.

He asked more about where she’d come from. He jumped from one topic to another, watching her facial expressions run the gamut of closed to open and inviting as she relaxed.

She had a quick wit, which unfortunately she used to deprecate herself a bit too often, almost as if she had no clue what a knockout she was. But since she was an admitted player, she had to know, had probably been using that aura of innocence to lure men into her web for years.

She was a knockout and had tangled his thoughts up in her web, that was for sure.

He remembered the exact moment he’d met her. He’d felt a physical punch deep in his gut even then. One that had caused the same reflexive tightening he’d experienced moments ago at the thought of her involved with another man.

He’d looked at her and been hooked, had gone to find her after he’d finished rounds on his patients.

That was when he’d overheard her telling Karen how she was going to use and abuse him and spit him out when she was done.

Not what a man looking for a committed relationship wanted to hear. Which should have been enough to kill his attraction to her, but hadn’t.

So he’d avoided her.

Today, he hadn’t been able to avoid her. Not when she’d been choking. Now that he’d had her in his arms, he worried that avoiding her wasn’t going to be a viable option ever again.

Which meant what? That he was willing to be used and abused and spat out when she finished with him?

Hell, no.

But he did want her. More than he recalled wanting any woman. Maybe he should just drive her back to his place, spend the night exorcising her from his mind, and then be done with her.

If he believed one night would exorcise Madison, he’d do just that. But he didn’t.

He had taken one look at her and wanted to share things with her he’d never shared with any woman. Had to be because of what had happened with his father. Had to be that he’d been in the process of rewiring how he operated when they met.

Levi leaned back in his chair, eyed the woman sitting across from him and contemplated his options.

He wanted her. She wanted him. Only he was looking for a relationship and she was looking for a conquest.

What if he kept their relationship non-physical?

Kept her wanting him physically while making her fall for him, the man, not the means to sexual release?

What if he made Madison see how good a real relationship could be between them?

CHAPTER THREE

SMILING at the man sitting across from her, Madison decided being a player had its perks.

On a scale of one to ten, dinner with Levi rated at least an eleven. Higher.

Although he’d started out glancing at a televised baseball game that had only lasted about a minute before he’d only had eyes for her.

Sigh. Who knew a playboy would be such a great listener? Simon never had been. Come to think of it, the only time Simon had really paid much attention to what she’d say had been when he’d been trying to get her into bed. Since she was the one trying to get Levi into bed, having him focus completely on what she said was an entirely new experience.

Who knew he’d have her spilling her guts about Karen and her rooming together while in nursing school? She’d even recounted tales of Nursing Student Mishaps 101.

When she glanced at her watch, they’d been at the restaurant almost three hours. Three hours! The time had flown by and she’d completely forgotten she was supposed to be seducing him, supposed to be flirting and alluring. Instead, she’d just been…herself.

And he’d listened.

Okay, so occasionally the conversation had been flirtatious, but lightly so, fun, not in a way that made her feel out of her element.

“Guess we should head out.” Levi paid their bill, refusing to let her pay despite her protests that she owed him for saving her life. “Since you saved me from dining alone, we’ll call it even.”

She snorted. “As if you ever dine alone.”

“Everyone dines alone occasionally. Even me. Although, admittedly, not often since I’m such great company.” He waggled his brows, then grinned. “Regardless, I’m paying so just say thank you, Madison.”

“Thank you, Madison,” she repeated with feigned obedience, loving the way his gaze lit on her, on the way his lips curved upwards, on the way her insides felt so alive. Who’d known she could feel this way? And why the heck hadn’t she ever felt this way in the past? Her love life would have been a lot more exciting if either of her two serious relationships had been able to elicit half as many tingles and sparks.

Maybe it was the whole playgirl attitude that had freed her inner spirit.

Maybe it was because she wasn’t going into this thinking wedding bells and white picket fences.

Maybe it was because she only wanted one thing from Levi.

The way he was looking at her at this moment, well, she might just get it before the night ended.

That made her both happy and extremely nervous. Was she really ready to fully embrace her new persona?

He laughed, shaking his head. “You always this full of sass?”

“Not usually.” She hadn’t felt comfortable enough to relax enough to be herself. Not even Simon. Which was a sobering thought, but not one she’d permit to encroach on her evening with Levi. She deserved one night of fun. One night because anything more than a single night and her heart might get attached.

“Must be something about you.” Which was the truth of the matter. There was something about Levi that got to her and reminded her of happier times. Times before life had got so complicated. Times when she’d smiled and laughed freely and often. Times before she’d let Simon use her heart for target practice.

“Must be.”

Madison bit the inside of her cheek when Levi opened the passenger door of his SUV, waited for her to get inside, then closed the door. Simon had never opened doors for her.

“What’s your street address?”

Absently, Madison told him, still contemplating Levi’s many charms. The man was a charmer, pure and simple. She’d do good to remember that. He went through women the way a smoker went through cigarettes. A pack at a time.

Men like Levi and Simon should come with warning labels that they were hazardous to a woman’s heart.

Or would be if she hadn’t decided to join their ranks. Thank goodness she’d become a player herself.

He started his SUV and backed out of the parking place. “We’re practically neighbors. That’s only a few streets over from where I live.”

“Really?” That surprised her. She’d figured he lived in some fancy neighborhood for doctors and lawyers. Then again, that stereotypical image didn’t fit. Levi didn’t fit into any box.

“You ever run at the park?”

She nodded. Running was her stress relief. She’d never excelled at sports, but running didn’t require any special skills or co-ordination. Running was just her and the wind and her thoughts. Since moving to Angel Creek, running had involved her, her motivational downloads on her iPod, and her overactive imagination as she’d fantasized about Levi.

She told him about her early morning runs—excluding her downloads and fantasies, of course—and how she’d walk the greenway sometimes at night after getting off work to unwind.

“Sounds like we miss each other by about thirty minutes each morning,” Levi mused, scratching his lightly stubbled chin.

“Sounds like.” If only she’d known, she’d have crawled out of bed earlier just to get a glimpse of those legs of his each and every day. Who needed sleep? She’d sleep when she was old.

“Well, if you ever make it out earlier, you’ll have to look for me. We could run together.”

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