exam and evaluate the results of the tests when we’ve finished administering them.”
She let out a sigh. “Sounds perfect. I’ll pitch in too; I won’t leave you in the lurch.”
Wilma waved off her concern. “We’ll manage. Mae and I won’t let you down.”
“I know. Believe me, it’s not you I’m concerned about.” She just hoped she didn’t make a fool of herself with Clint.
…After arriving at the clinic a half hour early, Clint sat out in his vehicle and watched the numbers change on the clock. He couldn’t keep his legs still; he was so nervous the toes of his shoes kept time with the song on the radio. Up to the last second, he tried to work on what he would say. In the end, he realized nothing sounded right. “I’ll just have to wing it.”
The distance he traveled from the parking lot to the office felt like he was walking the green mile to the gallows. He dreaded looking her in the eye.
Once inside, he marched up to the receptionist. “I’m Clint Wilder. I have an appointment.”
“Yes, you do.” The young brunette with the name tag TWILA gave him a dazzling smile. “You’re my favorite Texan. Would you sign an autograph for me?”
“Twila. No.”
The voice not only put an end to the autograph seeking, it also caused every nerve ending in Clint’s body to fire up. “Jensen.” He stared at her, his eyes roving her face. “It’s good to see you.”
She automatically crossed her arms over her breasts, then let them fall. She noticed he never dropped his eyes from her face. “Clint. If you’ll come with me, please.”
Following along behind her, his heart pounded in his chest. “How are you feeling?” He lifted his hand to touch her hair but hesitated to do so.
“Good as new. I was sorry to hear about your sister. How is she?”
“Much better. Thank you.” Their conversation was so stilted, so formal. No one would ever know they’d been intimate just a short time before.
“The first thing we’ll do today is a short physical. Take off your shirt and sit on the examination table, please.”
As he undressed, she kept her back to him, pretending to make notes.
“This might be a good time to take your revenge, when I’m at my most vulnerable.”
His strange comment struck her as something between cruel and stupid. “Why would I want to exact revenge?” He didn’t seem to have an answer, so she asked a different question. “How is Rose?”
“Oh, she’s fine. Adapting well. Mother fell in love with her while we were in Montana.” She turned to face him, prim and proper. Clint was surprised to realize how much he’d missed her.
“Since I have prior knowledge, there are some parts of these tests we can consider completed.”
“Like what?”
“Muscle strength, coordination, breathing. The way you walk, posture, sense of balance, etc. I believe my personal observations of you will cover these areas. Wouldn’t you say?”
“Right.” He figured she wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.
“Have you experienced any symptoms in the last couple of days that might suggest a neurological problem?”
“I think you witnessed me acting like a man with half a brain, you tell me.”
Jensen ignored his answer and continued with her task. She turned and methodically listened to his lungs, his heart, and measured his pulse. All of this was done with the most economical of movements.
Even though her touch was so light it was barely there, he shivered with pleasure at each gentle brush of her fingertips. “Anything amiss?”
“Everything is in the normal ranges.”
“Huh. I was afraid you wouldn’t find a heartbeat. After how I acted, I wasn’t sure I had a heart.”
Jensen jerked at his words. “Nope. I hear a strong, steady beat. I do wish you’d refrain from making such comments. Let’s try to keep things professional. There is no need for any of this to be personal.”
“But…we’ve been very personal to one another and we need to work this thing out.” Clint held himself stiffly as she checked his eyes and observed his reflexes. “We need to talk, Jensen.”
“I don’t think so.” She turned to pick up a rack of test tubes. “Please identify these common odors if you can.”
“I need to explain myself.”
She held up the first test tube. “What do these smell like to you?”
“Coffee,” he answered, the proceeded to identify the others she held up to his nose. “Vanilla. Cinnamon. Soap.”
“Very good. Now wrinkle your nose and bare your teeth.”
“Seriously? You’re just toying with me