Lady and the Champ Read Online Free Page B

collected. “I was told by Dr. Richards that I should call you to make an appointment for our first physical therapy session. Would today at two work for you?” A pause. “Ma’am?”
    I roll my eyes. “Yes. Two would be fine. Shall I expect you at my office or at the team facility?”
    “Team facility,” he answers, which surprises me not at all.
    Personally, I’d like to meet on more neutral territory, but that’s fine. I can handle him wherever.
    Okay, “handle him” might not have been the best way to characterize that. The palms of my hands start to tingle a little. They want to handle him, all right. In all kinds of ways that could get me fucking fired. “Fine. I’ll meet you at two.”
    “See you th—”
    I hang up before he can finish his sentence.

    * * *
    T he team’s practice facility includes several rooms where the PTs can work with the players, as well as workout areas, a track, and everything else a football team needs to stay in shape between games and during the off-season. I expect to find Austin waiting for me in one of the treatment rooms, because that would be the most logical place. So of course he’s not in any of them.
    I consider calling him, but that’ll give the bastard an advantage. I’d rather find him and surprise him. So I go looking.
    Heading into the locker room, I hear the sounds of someone getting dressed and follow it. Sure enough, there he is, standing in front of a locker. He looks like I caught him halfway through getting dressed. Or—I correct myself as he shucks his shirt over his head—getting undressed.
    By all appearances, he hasn’t heard me yet, has no idea I’m in the room. He rolls his T-shirt up into a loose ball and tosses it into the locker, then scrubs a hand through his hair. I watch the muscles in his back flex, go taut, and release as he moves his arms. Hair half-straightened, he rotates his shoulders backward and forward, swinging back and forth a few times at the waist, loosening things up. His gray sweatpants barely cling to the rise of his buttocks, exposing the white elastic band of the briefs he wears under them.
    Damn.
    My breath catches. I can’t help it. He must have heard my unfortunate little gasp, because he turns around. In the front, the sweats expose the V of his hips and a dark trail of hair running straight down from his navel. I jerk my attention to his face and see the biggest damn shit-eating grin I’ve ever seen.
    The sight of him makes the ball of heat in my chest blaze. I put my hands on my hips. “What are you playing at?”
    “Don’t know what you mean.”
    I don’t know what he’s up to, but it can’t be anything good. “Where the hell do you get off on calling my boss?”
    He smirks. “I thought we’d make a good team.”
    “Cut the shit.”
    The locker room echoes with his laughter. “Do you treat all patients like this, or do I get the special treatment?” His eyes wink with mischief as he takes a couple steps forward, invading my space.
    My face heats up as he stares at me through his lashes. I open my mouth angrily, but then I think of Dr. Richards and my chest tightens. “Fine. I apologize,” I say through my teeth.
    He makes a frustrated sound. “We were having so much fun when you were treating me like a jerk. It’s okay if I get the special treatment—I know I’m special.”
    “Is that what the teachers at school told you when they gave you gold stars for attendance?”
    Too far.
    My skin burns as I watch Austin’s bemused expression. I’ve been dying to have a go at one of them ever since my ex nearly ruined my career. I trusted him and he screwed me. Big time. All I have left is this ball of hatred for anything and anyone that reminds me of him.
    Calm the fuck down.
    “I’m starting to think you have a thing for me, Doc. What’s with all the personal attacks?”
    Calming down is fucking impossible when I can feel the heat of his skin emanating from his body.
    “Tell me why you did it, or