Confidential: Expecting!. Jackie Braun

she insisted on lending a hand, as if it was vital that she know what to do to return to the safety of the shore. Survivor, he thought again.

      “Watch for the boom,” he called. “Or you’ll be the one overboard.”

      “Aye-aye,” she called, offering a salute even as she ducked to avoid being struck.

      When the Chicago skyline with the sun peeking around the skyscrapers was before them, she whistled. “Talk about a milliondollar view.”

      “It’s something all right. Want to take a turn at the helm?”

      “Are you kidding?”

      “I never kid when it comes to my boat.”

      “Then, yes.” She stepped into place, legs splayed shoulder width apart, hands at the ten and two positions on the wooden wheel he’d spent hours sanding and staining. Though there was no need, Logan moved in behind her and set his hands over hers.

      “Don’t you trust me?” she asked.

      “Sure.” He dipped his head low enough so his jaw scraped her cheek and whispered into her ear, “I’m just looking for a good excuse to touch you.”

      Was that a shiver he felt? It was hard to say since Mallory’s voice sounded perfectly normal when she asked, “Do you need an excuse to do that?”

      “Apparently.”

      “Sad.” She made a tsking sound. “Perhaps you should see someone about your…hang-up around competent women.”

      “Hang-up?”

      She shrugged. “I know this famous doctor who might be able to offer some advice.”

      “Really?” He let his cheek brush against hers. “Should I make an appointment?”

      “No. He’s much too busy to take appointments these days. Famous, remember?”

      “Ah. Right.”

      “But you could place a call to his radio program. It airs weekday mornings, top of the FM dial. All of Chi-town tunes in to listen to it.”

      “Don’t forget the rest of the greater metropolitan area,” he added.

      “How could I? He’s the savior of their maddening morning commute. Who knows how many cases of road rage he’s nipped in the bud with his calming words of wisdom. Hundreds would be my guess.”

      “I’d venture thousands,” Logan said. “No wonder he’s said to be in contract negotiations for a nationally syndicated television show.”

      Mallory went still. The teasing humor was gone from her tone when she said, “Really?”

      God, was the woman ever off the clock? “That’s the rumor, anyway. Sadly, it’s unconfirmed.”

      Logan felt a little guilty for baiting Mallory until she leaned back against his chest. Then he just felt…her. More precisely, he felt the vibration of her laughter. “Well, I’m sure the doctor can help you.”

      Dark hair tickled his jaw. “Why are you sure?”

      “From the press releases I’ve read on this guy, he can all but walk on water.”

      He’d seen those releases, which had come courtesy of his agent and the station’s marketing team. He knew what Mallory meant. The accolades were true but they made him uneasy, for the very fact that while he’d once believed he truly had a gift for helping people, these days he sometimes felt all he did was entertain them for a few hours of product-sponsored programming.