It’s like my hands have a mind of their own—I can’t seem to stop myself from touching him. I don’t think I’m breathing. I am definitely unable to form a coherent thought.

Until he grabs my wrist and I look down at his hand. I barely even hear what he’s saying, my pulse is thrashing so loudly in my ears.

But his hand—I have to blink a few times to break myself out of this trance I’ve been in, somehow hypnotized by his charms.

I twist my arm from his grasp and take his hand in mine, lifting it to get a closer view. “What is this?”

His breath is still ragged—I think he might have been almost as caught up in the moment as I was. “What?”

“This.” I tilt my head toward the wounds I now see on his hand. I stare at the cuts, recognizing the familiar pattern of abrasions on his knuckles. “I know what this is.”

He pulls his hand from mine and lifts himself onto his elbows. Moving must still be painful for him, and he tries to cover a grimace. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Elle.”

“You punched someone. I’m guessing it was the doctor.”

His mouth opens, and then he snaps it closed just as quickly. He shakes his head for a moment before sitting himself all the way up. “Elle…” He looks into my eyes. “I—”

“Why? Why would you punch him?”

His eyes dart around the room for a moment before returning to mine. “The things he was saying about you…” He gazes at me for a long moment. “And he refused to take them back. If he would have agreed—”

I interrupt with a stern shake of my head. “You’re defending my honor? Really?” My jaw tightens. “I don’t need anyone to protect me.”

“I merely—”

I stand, interrupting him again. “He’s a great physician—a scientist. He invented a medication a few years ago that saved thousands of lives. Your family was lucky to get him to come here—he’ll do a lot of good for the people who live in Rio de Campo.” My breaths are coming too rapidly again—I’m not even sure why this time. “He’s…he’s a good choice. For this place. He’ll do a lot of good work here.” Tears sting at my eyes and I force myself to blink them back.

“Elle.” His forehead has creased and I can see the concern in his expression. He probably thinks I’m crazy, and he’s not too far off. “From what I know of you—”

“But you don’t know me.” I smile, but my eyes have gone all watery again. “That’s just it—you don’t know me at all. You…you waltz in here and do the whole Prince Charming thing on me, just like you do to everyone—”

“I do not do that to everyone.” His gaze narrows. “Elle—”

“No. That’s who you are, right? You’re the bad boy prince. The pretty boy who uses the girls—”

“You think I’m pretty?” He grins. “Pretty?” He presses his lips into a line, but I still see the grin twinkling in his eyes. “Elle, I can assure you I’m much more than a pretty face. You have cold feet because of who I am. You’re not the first—”

“I know! And that’s the other thing about you.” My eyes widen. “I’m not the first. I won’t be the last. I’ll be another one of your—what did you call them? Fond encounters? You know how this ends, right?”

He lifts a brow and the smile returns to his lips. “I dare say that I do. It ends with two very satisfied people—”

“It ends with me wanting to…” I bite my lip to stop myself from crying. I can’t do this to myself again. I can’t let him in—under my skin. I’ve already let this get too far out of control.

I turn away, trying to hide the sudden wave of emotion I’m feeling. I walk over to where he’s set my suitcase and pick it up. I suck in a breath before I turn back to him. “Women are a drug to you. Like heroin.”

His brow furrows. “I don’t follow.”

“This—you and I—will be great for about twenty minutes.” I force a smile, but I have no doubt he can see it’s fake. “And then you’ll have gotten what you wanted. Whatever it is you think you need—your next hit of your drug. But I’ll be used up after that and you’ll go down the hall to find the next thing to satisfy you.”

He rolls his eyes. “That isn’t true.”

“It is. And when I become an inconvenience, it won’t matter that I’m a person. That I have feelings and a life and ambitions of my own or that I’ve fallen in love with you. It will only matter that you’re more important than me—that I’m expendable. That you’ve been at this hospital for twenty years and are an integral member of the community and that I should have shown better judgment.” My mouth falls open and I gasp as I realize what I’ve said. I quickly turn on my heel and walk over to the door. Heat rises in my cheeks again—my face is practically on fire and my mouth is still hanging open. I stare at the door, tears filling my eyes. I grasp the doorknob.

Did I say that out loud? Did I really say that out loud? Maybe I didn’t—I’ve had those words on repeat in my head for a year, so it’s possible… No. I said it all out loud.

“Elle?” He groans and I know he’s trying to get off the bed. “Don’t go.”

I only hesitate for a second, but it’s long enough for him to cross the small room.

I can feel him standing behind me—he’s close enough that I can almost feel his breath on my neck.

“Elle.”

“I’m…I’m…” I can’t seem to find enough air to speak.

“Elle.”

My bottom lip is trembling and I know I’m about to lose it—right in front of him. A man who doesn’t know me at all, and after this little episode, won’t ever want to know me. And why would he, anyway? This is my thing—this is what I do. I fall for men who are unobtainable. Men who can’t commit—men who use women.

Not this time. That was why I came here, right? To get myself out of my same old pattern. To prove to myself I can stand on my own two feet—even if one of them is still currently shoeless.

I was stupid for even considering it might be different this time. How Leo might somehow be something real. But he isn’t. Everything that’s happening is only a stupid fairy tale I’ve made up in my head. This is the same situation as a year ago, just on a shitload of steroids—an unbelievable, supersized fantasy. And what would happen if I let myself sleep with Leo? He’s right—we would both enjoy it. But I’d let myself get hooked into thinking it was possible there was really something more than a one- or two-night stand in it for me.

If I don’t stop this now, I’m doomed to repeat the same mistakes again. To relive my past one more time.

I draw in a long breath and straighten my shoulders before I turn to face him. I lift my chin. “I’m sorry, Leo. For leading you to believe there was anything more than a doctor-patient relationship here. Or employee-employer. Whatever you want to call it.”

“What you said a moment ago—”

“Wasn’t meant for you. I…I’m not in love with you. That would be ridiculous.” I tighten my jaw. “We just met. I obviously was… I was—”

“Talking about someone else. Yes, that was perfectly clear.”

We stand there in silence for too long. I draw in another breath to try to speak. “I should go.”

“No. You shouldn’t.”

I nod. “I’m sure whatever was going on in the women’s dorm is over by now. I’ll go down there and see if I can find a spot on the floor. Maybe I’ll see you in the morning—”

He grabs my wrist, interrupting me. “You want me to stay with you tonight. You said so. Several times. You begged me—”

“No.” I shake my head. “No, that was stupid. That was me being, you know, a dumb girl.” I give him a weak smile. “And I’m not.” I pause for a second. “A dumb girl.”

He looks into my eyes for a long moment. “I don’t think you’re dumb. Or a girl.”

“I—”

“You’re very much a woman, Elle. A beautiful, intelligent, striking woman. One unlike any I’ve ever met.”

“You’re only saying that to get in my pants. I’m not stupid, Leo.”

He smiles. “I believe I acknowledged that fact. The part about you not being stupid, though I will admit there may be truth to the former accusation, as well.”

I have to hold back a laugh. “You’re charming. I’ll give you that. But…” I wrench my wrist from his grasp. “I’ll be sleeping on the floor tonight. Down the hall.”

“Must I really remind you of my head injury and how you insisted upon monitoring me all night, Doctor?”

“Well, let’s see. Tonight, you managed to punch a doctor who two years ago was a finalist for the Nobel Prize in medicine. You somehow made it through the storm outside to follow me here. And…” I lift my suitcase up a few inches for show. “You carried my bag up the stairs. I’d say you’ve more than proved you’re fine to spend the night alone.”

“But, my head. And my wound…” He laces his hands together to hold the bandaged area on his torso. “I may need this dressing changed again shortly.”

I point to the pile of first aid supplies I left on his dresser. “Everything you need is right there. I taught Owen first aid, so if you need help with the tape or something…”

“Oh, Owen.” His voice drips with sarcasm as he speaks my brother’s name. “Perhaps I should join him and his bunkmates in—what do they call it? Smoking a bowl?”

I nod. “It might help with the pain you’re having. Just don’t overdo it.”

His mouth falls open. “You’re actually suggesting I take part in the use of marijuana? With your brother?”

I shrug. “We really don’t have many better options for pain medication around here. So do what you need to do.”

He stares at me before pulling my hand into his. “Don’t go.”

I lift a brow. “Ask me.”

His lips curl into a slow smile. “Elle, don’t go.”

“Mm.” I shake my head and try to hide my smile. “That didn’t sound like a question.”

He licks his lips and presses them together before making a popping sound. “Please don’t go.”

“No.” I shake my head again. “Still not a question.”

He doesn’t say anything—he looks like he can’t decide whether to be amused or frustrated. Maybe he’s feeling a bit of both. “I know what you’re doing.”

I blink my eyes a few times, feigning innocence. “Do you?”

He nods. “You want me to beg you.”

I blink a few more times. “Why would I do that?”

“You want me.”

“Do I?” I tilt my head. “I believe I told you I was going to be sleeping on the floor. I am, however, willing to entertain the idea of sleeping on this floor.” I motion toward the middle of the room. “But I still haven’t heard you ask.”

He lifts his chin and stares at me before he speaks. “Elle, will you please stay with me tonight?”

“Hm.” I tilt my head again. “Ask me again.”

He clenches his jaw a bit, but I think I see the tiniest of smiles. His words are more drawn out this time. “Will you please stay with me tonight?”

“Again.”

His gaze narrows and he lets out a low growl. He presses a hand against the door, right next to my head. He stares at me for a long time before he speaks through clenched teeth. “Please stay.”

“Okay.” I smile and duck under his arm. I walk into the middle of the room, dropping my suitcase before I turn back to face him. “But I am sleeping on the floor.”

His hand clenches into a fist before he turns slowly to face me. “You are not sleeping on the floor.”

“Well, if you’d like to give up the bed, I won’t argue with you.”

He stares at me in silence.

“Is that a yes?”

He shakes his head and walks back over to the bed. I turn to watch him maneuver himself as he lifts his legs slowly up and onto the mattress. He lies back with a low moan I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to hear.

He closes his eyes and extends an arm across the other side of the bed. “If you would like to join me, I can assure you I’m in no mood nor any physical condition to require anything but your presence at this particular moment.”

I freeze. It takes me a moment to realize I’m not only frozen in place, but I’m also actually freezing cold. I clear my throat. “Leo?”

“Yes?” He doesn’t open his eyes or even turn his head in my direction.

“Can I ask you a stupid question?”

“My instructors at school always told me there is no such thing as a stupid question.”

“I guess you didn’t go to school where I did.”

He smiles but still doesn’t open his eyes. “Ask me anything you like.”

“Can I borrow a shirt? Something dry?”

He barely turns his head before he opens one eye about half-way to look at me. “Be my guest. Shirts are in the second drawer.”

I nod and walk over to the dresser. I pull out a t-shirt, one I’m sure he normally wears under his dress shirts, and I turn back to him. “Close your eyes.”

He smiles and his eyes flutter closed.

I turn around so my back is facing him and strip off my soaking wet clothes—everything except my panties. I pull the dry shirt over my head and cross my arms over my chest before turning around to face him.

His eyelids flutter again.

“You were watching me.”

He shakes his head. “I would never do such a thing.”

“You’re a terrible liar.” I walk over to the opposite side of the bed and sit down. “What I said before, Leo—”

“We don’t need to discuss it tonight, Elle.” He opens his eyes and looks up at me. “I would very much like to hold you now.” He pauses for a moment. “If you don’t mind.”

My heart flutters in my chest and I know I’m about to make another huge mistake. And at least for the moment, I find I don’t mind at all.

* * *