stubborn. But Liv knew better than to say those words. She’d lived with her father for too long not to recognize the futility of arguing with a person in this mood.
“I can give you some exercises, but I imagine they’re similar if not identical to the suite that you’re doing now.”
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t mind a few more.”
“Show me your routine.”
Matt went through the exercises and then Liv said, “Those are the same I would recommend.” She reached out to touch his upper arm, as she would any of her patients...except that this didn’t feel anything like her other patients. She had wondered for so long before and during their study sessions what it would feel like to touch Matt, to be touched by him, and some primitive part of her brain was still interested in the exploration—which wouldn’t do at all.
Even if he wanted to be her patient, she wouldn’t take him on—not when he was so intent on destroying the joint.
Oh, yeah, and that’s the only reason...
It wasn’t. Liv knew it, but that didn’t mean she wanted to dwell on it.
“Thanks for your time, Liv.”
“No problem.” She smiled weakly. “Sorry I couldn’t give you a better prognosis.”
“Yeah.”
“Just one more thing...”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t do the injections.”
Matt kept his mouth shut, obviously not about to make a promise he might not keep.
“I should have lied to you,” she muttered as she wrote on his chart. She jerked in surprise when his fingers touched her chin, her eyes flashing up to his, which were so warm, so dark.
“You told me you’d tell me the truth and I guess that I appreciate that you did. It seems that we simply have different opinions about what’s possible.”
What could she say to that? For one long moment she stared up at him, wishing that circumstances were different. That they could be friends. But there was too much awareness between them for that and she simply didn’t trust herself. It would be so easy to fall back into her old habits with Matt, become a pleaser. She wasn’t going to do that for anyone.
“Fine,” she said. “Just don’t numb that knee.” She made a note on his chart and handed it back to him. “Please give this to Etta and you’re good to go.”
“NC?” he asked. “No charge?”
She shrugged. “You wouldn’t have come if I hadn’t shown up at your place and told you not to go to McElroy.”
“And you’re sure of that.”
“Damned sure of that,” she said with a half smile, feeling like she was edging toward safer ground now.
“I pay my debts.”
“I can’t do anything for you the other guy isn’t doing, and I practically dared you to see me—” which was a mistake “—so I’m comping the consultation.”
Matt shrugged. “Have it your way.”
* * *
“ARE YOU OKAY?” Andie asked after Liv came out of the office to see her next patient, another that Etta had squeezed in on a day when she’d wanted to go home early.
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Liv asked.
“Matt?”
Liv let out a soft snort. “The consultation went fine. He didn’t like what I had to say and he’s not coming back.”
“Well, I’ll give him credit for at least coming in,” Andie said, her gaze traveling over Liv in a way she didn’t like at all. Andie was too damned observant. “Here’s guess number two as to why you look so stressed,” she said. “Tim?”
Liv blew out a huff of breath. “Yes.” Better for Andie to think it was Tim and only Tim raising her blood pressure. “He says he’s better. I don’t believe him.”
“We may have to kidnap him,” Andie said, sounding as if she weren’t kidding one bit.
“If we do, we’ll have to take him to a male doctor. My father has strict notions concerning gender.”
“Nothing like dealing with a stubborn man.”
“Amen to that.” Liv gestured at the waiting room. “In fact, I have another one waiting for me. Won’t do his back exercises because they hurt.”
“Which means they hurt even more when he does do them.” Andie pulled a chart out of the holder on the door closest to her, then smiled. “Well, good luck with that.”
“Do you need a ride to practice tonight?” Liv asked before Andie could open the door to the examination room.
“Not unless you want to give me one.”
“I like the company,” Liv said. And Beckett had made friends with Andie’s horse, Mike.
“Sure. Pick me up at six? No...better make it five-thirty. We get our uniforms tonight.”
“I’ll be there,” Liv said. Five-thirty wouldn’t leave