Adrianne Byrd - Deadly Double

“Nothing.” Logically, she knew he couldn’t see the visions playing in her head, though she couldn’t help but feel as though he had. His brows furrowed above his disbelieving expression. “Are you sure?” “Positive.” Josie drew a deep breath and pushed back the covers. “Careful now.” He rushed to the bedside to aid her as she stood.

“That’s all right.” The moment she was on her feet, she experienced a strong case of vertigo. “I think I...” She collapsed against him. “I’ve got you.” William’s arms closed around her. “Walking is a little trickier than it seems,” he joked. “You’re telling me.” She laughed, feeling foolish. He helped her to the fragrant bathroom, where a tub of cloud like bubbles awaited her. Josie was suddenly hit with a dilemma. How was she going to get into the tub? “Here. Lean against the wall for me,” William instructed. She obeyed, but then panicked when his hands reached for the hem of her nightgown. “Wait!” “What is it?” He sprang away from the gown as if the material had transformed into fire. Her chest heaved as though she’d just completed a marathon. “You were about to undress me.”

His face scrunched into confusion before a flicker of understanding dawned in his eyes. A soft rumble of laughter bounced off the acoustic tiles. “There’s no need to be modest. I’ve already...” At her face’s darkening color, William abandoned the direction he was headed and cleared his throat. “As a doctor, I can assure you that I can be completely professional about this.” She shook her head. How could she stand naked before William and view him simply as a doctor? The notion seemed impossible. “Or I can try not to look,” he offered.

Josie perked at the idea, but then frowned at the thought of his seeing her with his hands instead. “Maybe I should do this another time.” He looked wounded. “You don’t trust me?” “It’s not a matter of trust.” His frown deepened. “No? Then what is it?” She scrambled for an explanation but drew a blank. “Look, if you don’t want to do this, I understand.”

Josie’s shoulders slumped with relief; however, guilt soon perched upon them. Given what he’d already done for her, he probably viewed her behavior as a slap in the face. “No.” She fluttered a weak smile. “I’m being silly.” A mild surprise lifted his brows. “Are you sure?” “Yeah, but I don’t know how much longer I can lean against this wall.” She laughed. William hesitated. She reached a hand out to him. “I appreciate your help.” His eyes probed hers, undoubtedly in search of sincerity. Finally, he smiled, and then reached for the hem of her nightgown.

Chapter 15

Time ticked slowly while Josie watched William lift her nightgown. She studied his expression with great intensity when he exposed her bare legs. When there was no reaction, she couldn’t decide on whether she was relieved or disappointed.

She closed her eyes as the material passed her panties and midriff.

“Can you lift your arms for me?” William asked. “Here, just lean back against me, and I’ll help you.”

Josie did as he instructed, and then sucked in a sharp breath at the unexpected surge of electricity when her body pressed against him.

Finally, the gown cleared her head, and, for a fraction of a second, their gazes locked before her hair cascaded like a curtain over her eyes. William cleared his throat. “That wasn’t so bad, now was it?” A weak smile fluttered at her lips while she fought not to be embarrassed about her state of undress. “Here, let me help you turn around,” he said.

When the soft whirl of heat radiating from the bathroom vents kissed her sensitive breasts, it was all she could do not to melt in his arms.

However, there was one last article of clothing yet to be removed.

William’s hand glided like a feather down the curve of her hip as he slipped off her cotton briefs. While the process seemed to take forever, Josie’s eyes fluttered open to see him reveal her triangular nest of black curls. William showed no reaction or no visible signs of emotion, and disappointment pierced Josie’s pride. Her panties skimmed past her knees and she stepped out of them. With one arm around her waist, William stood and met her eyes. “Okay, let’s get you into the tub.”

She managed another weak smile as he helped her sink into the warm water. Thick, scented bubbles surrounded her and covered her nudity. After drawing a deep breath, she sighed and relaxed.

“Ah, this feels good.” She leaned back and discovered an inflated plastic pillow. “I could stay in here forever.”

William looked as if he wanted to say something, but apparently thought better of it. “Let me get you some soap and towels.” He stood up and retrieved everything she needed from the bathroom’s linen closet.

“That should take care of everything.” He clapped and rubbed his hands together as his gaze roamed over everything he’d set by the tub. “Just holler if you need anything else.”

William walked backward toward the door. “Even if you need help with your back or something. I, uh, will just be in the other room.” Josie smiled. He wasn’t made of stone after all. “I think I can handle everything from here. Thanks.” He nodded, and then swiveled around in time to clip the doorframe. Josie stifled a giggle. William glanced back at her as he rubbed his forehead. “Oops.” He hurried out.

She held on to her smile and shook her head as she sank deeper into the tub. Playfully, she lifted a handful of bubbles and blew them into the air.

She stretched a tremor leg above a mountain of bubbles and watched as water and suds slid from her ankle down along her calf. As she reached for the bar of purple soap, Josie noticed the slight muscles in her arm and hand.

All playfulness disappeared while she studied her grip on the soap. The harder she tried to control her tremors, the worse it became.

Out of frustration, she tossed down the soap and cupped her face in her hand. What in the hell is wrong with me?

Helplessness wasn’t an emotion she’d ever allowed herself to wallow in, but it was one that had visited her often in the past year.

William’s voice floated in from the bedroom. “Are you all right in there?”

She unburied her face and rolled off another lie. “Yes. I…I’m fine.” She wiped at a tear before it had a chance to fall. Somehow she had to muster the strength to win back control of her life. This time when she lifted her shaky hand, anger and determination roared through her veins. Within seconds, her hand steadied.

Triumphant, Josie’s smile returned.

She reclaimed the lavender soap from the bottom of the tub and scrubbed her skin until it tingled. Without a scrub brush, she scooted up to the center of the tub and struggled to reach the middle of her back. While deliberating whether to call William for help, his voice drifted toward her once again. “Need any help in there?” She hesitated, and, as a result, William poked his head around the door. “Josie?” “Yeah, uh, maybe you could help me with my back?” “Not a problem.” His heavy footsteps padded onto the tiled floor as he moved farther into the bathroom. At the return of his tall, brawny figure, Josie’s heart skipped a beat, but she pretended not to notice. “You wouldn’t happen to have some hair pins or a clip for my hair?”

He turned toward the long, L-shaped counter top and pulled open a series of drawers. “Sheila should have something around…aha! Here we go: a monster of a hairclip. It sort of looks like a crab, doesn’t it?” He handed it to her. “I see why you would call it that.” She piled her hair at the top of her head. “I need to wash this mess, too.” “I can do that for you.” She smiled up at him. “You’re kind of taking this role as a knight in shining armor rather seriously, aren’t you?”