I’m surprised Prince Leo hasn’t shown up yet today—I was almost expecting him to be waiting outside the clinic doors when I opened up earlier this morning. But I haven’t heard from him—maybe he’s decided there isn’t anything very interesting here after all.

Fortunately—or unfortunately, depending on the point of view, I suppose—I currently have plenty to keep me busy in the clinic and to keep my mind from drifting to the playboy prince.

My thoughts are thankfully interrupted by my brother—the man sitting on the gurney in front of me.

He shifts around a little, obviously uncomfortable. “Think I’ll live?”

I roll my eyes, glad I’m standing behind the idiot so he doesn’t see how irritated I am with him this time.

I dispose of my gloves in the wastebasket next to the gurney and walk around to face him. “You’re going to have to take your shirt all the way off. This…” I wave my hands at the t-shirt he’s pulled up to reveal his back to me, which is still hanging around his neck. “This is filthy. What is it you were doing this time?”

The Cheshire grin he gives me makes me think twice about having asked.

“Never mind,” I say. “I don’t even want to know.”

He chuckles. “Not that. I was ziplining. I guess I let go too soon and…bam! Dude, I hit the ground so hard.”

I shake my head to myself, glad I don’t have to hear about Owen’s latest escapades with whatever horny co-ed he’s scored with this time. I grab my supplies from the cabinet on the other side of the room before I walk back to him, setting a suture kit and bandages on the bed.

“You’re going to need stitches—probably twelve or so. This is going to hurt, and I don’t have any medicine to numb it.”

“Elle, dude, you’re killing me.”

The muscles in his back clench as I begin scrubbing at the dirty wound. I finish cleaning it, open up the suture kit and pull on my sterile gloves to begin sewing back together the ragged gash across his shoulder blade.

He groans a few times but doesn’t say anything while I’m working on him. My brother has never been much of a complainer, and he doesn’t disappoint me this time.

I finish with the stitches and dressing before I clean up the mess I’ve made. “I need to check this in a couple days to make sure it isn’t infected. And you have to keep it clean and dry.” I walk around to the front of the gurney to make eye contact. My brother spends most of his time drunk or high at the youth hostel—probably both—so he’s going to have trouble following directions, no matter what I say to him. “Owen. Look at me.”

He looks up, giving me another one of his stupid grins. He might be a little unkempt—his dreadlocks have always grossed me out—but I can see why the ladies like him. He’s nothing if not charming.

“That means you’re going to have to stay out of the river. And the shower.” Not that I’m overly concerned about the shower thing—I somehow doubt he takes many of those.

He laughs. “Dude, our shower’s been broken for like three weeks. It just dribbles out a little bit of cold water.” He slaps his thigh, bursting into laughter. “Oh, man, I guess I should have told those British dudes about that.”

I shake my head. I don’t see the humor here—I still have no idea how he even managed to get the job at the hostel, let alone how he’s managed to keep it for the past year. He came with me as some sort of brotherly protection. And when I told him I was coming here, the only thing he asked me was how far away we were going to be from the beach. I still remember how disappointed he was when he found out he wouldn’t be surfing here—especially since the name of his hostel means the beach. It was almost a cruel joke at first, but he seems to have found plenty to keep himself occupied since then.

“Whatever. Thank God you’ve already had your tetanus shot. Just keep it clean. And dry. No canoeing, or whatever it is you do out there.”

He laughs again. “God, Elle, rafting. You know, it wouldn’t kill you to take a day off and come out there with me.”

“No thanks.” It isn’t that I’m not outdoorsy—I just know what happens with the kids who hang out with Owen. And I’m not about to go down that road again—not with Owen’s friends. I’ve never had any interest in the party life and my one try with one of Owen’s surfer pals back home was heartbreaking in too many ways.

“So, what’s up with the fancy clothes? And the fancy hair?” He looks me up and down. “You haven’t been this dressed up since we first got here. And is that…? No, it can’t be.” He slides off the gurney and reaches out to tip my chin up. “Holy shit, it is. You’re wearing makeup. Holy shit, dude, what the fuck?”

I shrug away from him, my cheeks burning. I did make a little too much of an effort. I’m not even sure why I did, except that I looked like hell yesterday when Leo showed up. So I put on a little mascara this morning and yes, I even flat-ironed my hair, which took me way too long to do and reminded me of why I never do it in the first place.

Why am I even worrying about what Leo thinks? It’s not like I’m going to let him get anywhere near me, even if he is a prince.

Thinking about him and the reason he’s here in Rio de Campo, my stomach grows hard as a brick.

I hide my discomfort before I turn back to face my brother. “That reminds me. You need to pay this time.”

“Pay for what?” His brow furrows and he looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Your stitches.” I motion with my head toward his shoulder. “Your medical treatment.”

“Ah, dude, you know I don’t make much at the resort. Hey, how about drinks on me tonight? You didn’t come by for your free birthday drink last night. You can get really loaded tonight—or maybe you want to wait a few days and get out of here with a real bang?” He looks at me hopefully.

“I don’t think so.” I don’t drink much, and I definitely am not into the kind of life Owen is leading at the hostel.

He shrugs. “Maybe when we get back to the beach then…” His voice trails off like he’s thinking about something else, but he never finishes his statement. He grabs his dirty shirt from the gurney and walks back toward the lobby.

I follow him through the swinging door, fully prepared to explain exactly why I’m never going to set foot in that place he calls a resort—a dump is more like it—and how I have no intention of ever going there again for anything. I’m pretty sure they need a sign warning people to be up-to-date on their vaccinations before they eat or drink anything served in what they say passes for a bar and restaurant there.

I open my mouth to tell him that as the door swings closed behind me. But I have to stop—I can’t seem to move or say anything for a second. My mouth hangs open and I see Leo standing at the counter. He’s chatting with Raul, who seems to understand him easily, though I can’t imagine Prince Leopold would know the local dialect.

He turns to me, looking me up and down for a moment—too long a moment, honestly—and his eyes seem to stop their roaming when they get to my breasts. I wore my cleanest top, even though it’s white and a bit too tight across my chest. I’m sure my gaze rests on him longer than it should, too. He’s done away with the suit he wore yesterday in favor of dark khakis and a shirt the same color blue as his eyes—a short-sleeved polo that fits him perfectly, showing off his broad chest and sculpted biceps.

I can’t help it—my pulse quickens more than a little as I imagine what else might be under his shirt.

His gaze turns quickly to my brother, his eyes narrowing. “What is this? What is…this?” His jaw clenches and he turns back to Raul, saying something in Spanish, but his voice is so low I can’t hear him.

“Dude!” My brother walks up to him, clapping him on the back. “I was just telling Elle about the shower at the resort. Sorry I forgot about that last night, man—I was a little messed up. I’ll see about having someone come around to fix it in the next couple of days. You know how it is.”

Leo’s jaw is still clenched and he bares his teeth, almost spitting at Owen. “Put on your shirt. It is unsanitary to be in a medical facility while only half-clothed.”

I take another step into the lobby, snapping instantly out of my inappropriate daydream. I motion toward Owen’s back. “I—”

Leo interrupts, his eyes still fixed on Owen. “You will leave the premises at once. And you’ll never return.”

Owen turns to me, his brow furrowed. “Elle?”

I open my mouth to speak, but Leo already has Owen by the arm. He pulls him to the front door, almost shoving him out. He stands there for a long time, staring at my brother’s back before turning to Raul, giving him a curt, almost dismissive nod.

Raul bolts through the lobby and into the back room, not making eye contact or saying a word to either of us.

Leo turns to me, his eyes narrowed. “Explain yourself, Doctor.”

I hesitate for a beat too long and I hear Leo almost growl under his breath.

“This is inappropriate behavior. I could have your contract terminated immediately—”

“You saw the bandage on his back. You—”

“Having a man in this facility is unacceptable. This is a children’s clinic. There should be no—”

“Have you met Owen?” I interrupt. “He is a child.”

He growls again under his breath. “There are no provisions for adults to be treated here. There is no acceptable reason for an adult male ever to be inside this clinic unless they are the father of a patient.”

I stare at him for another long moment. I lift a brow. “Or Raul.”

He meets my gaze, almost challenging me with his eyes. “Or Raul.”

“Or you.” I tilt my head, offering him my own challenge. “You didn’t seem in too big a hurry to leave yesterday. And you didn’t seem to have too much of a problem with trying to seduce me, either.”

“I assure you, Doctor, that had I wanted to seduce you, I would have been successful.”

I smile. “Is that so? So the little show you put on yesterday wasn’t an attempt to get me to sleep with you? I guess I’m a little confused at what the hell that was, then. Because if something in this clinic has ever been inappropriate while I’ve been here, that had to be—”

He crosses the room in what seems like a single step, wedging me with his body against the wall in what is an all too familiar replay of yesterday’s events.

I steady myself, even though my heart is now thudding in my chest and I’m somehow sure he can see it. Hell, he’s close enough to me to be able to feel it.

He tips his head, whispering into my ear. “Is that imbecile the type of man you prefer? Because I think I may be able to change your mind.”

I close my eyes for a moment, trying not to shudder. I’m not sure why I can’t control my body’s response to this man. My thoughts around him seem to turn to utter chaos and it isn’t like me to lose control like this.

The reality of what he’s suggesting permeates my brain and I lift my hands to his shoulders. My hands must rest there for a moment too long—he shudders beneath my touch this time and I open my eyes. I push against him with every bit of force I’m capable of mustering and he stumbles backward.

I step into the middle of the room, turning to face him. My jaw tightens and my gaze narrows. “First of all, the caveman act doesn’t go very far with me.”

He runs a hand through his hair before dropping his arms to his sides. His hands ball into fists before he lifts his gaze to meet mine. “I don’t know what you’re speaking of, Doctor Parker.”

I lift a brow. “Really?” I hitch a thumb over my shoulder. “You don’t think that little scene just now was a bit…I don’t know. Over the top?”

He juts his chin a bit, his eyes never leaving mine. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His tone is almost indignant.

I nod. “Right. I was pretty sure you were about to club me over the head and drag me out of here by my ankles.” I smile. “Into your cave.”

“Oh, I understand your reference to cavemen, Doctor. I believe you’ve misinterpreted my intentions. Which seems likely to be because you’re using my family’s clinic as a location to host your sexual liaisons. I assume with your medical knowledge, you might understand how a woman such as yourself—”

I raise my hands to interrupt. “Hold on. You think I was having sex with Owen?”

“I didn’t have the privilege of knowing his name before this afternoon, Doctor Parker.” His voice drips with sarcasm. “But I assume—”

“You’ve heard that old saying about assuming things, haven’t you, Your Highness?” I lift a brow again. “You know, the one that says when you assume something, it makes an ass out of you?”

He puffs out his chest with indignation. “No, I’ve not had the pleasure. Do continue, though. You have no idea how much I enjoy hearing your American colloquialisms, Doctor.” He almost sneers as he says the words.

I stifle the urge to laugh, but still smile. “How about this one, Your Highness? Owen Parker is my brother. He followed me down here last year when I signed up for this nightmare that is your family’s clinic.”

His shoulders drop and the pinched look on his face softens into something else. His lips curl into a slow smile and he stares at me for another long moment. “I see.”

* * *