More Than Meets the Eye. Carla Cassidy

was he doing here? With the memory of her wanting him to hold her still fresh in her mind, his appearance irritated her. She eyed him coolly as he approached.

      “Morning,” he said, his voice slightly husky. He winced. “Is it always this bright in the mornings?”

      “I gather you aren’t normally an early riser,” she replied dryly.

      “Sure, I am. Early afternoon.” He grinned and with his hair tousled and his growth of beard, and a sleepy cast to his eyes, Phoebe instantly knew what he would look like in bed. And the mental image that appeared in her head of him naked and between crisp white sheets was heart-stoppingly appealing and it only served to increase her irritation.

      “You look like you slept in your car,” she exclaimed.

      He grinned, that half-crooked, devilish smile that set her on edge. “I did. It beats the price of a hotel room.”

      She scowled. “I told you, Kevin, that I needed some time to think and that means I need time away from you.”

      “No problem,” he said and raised his hands in a gesture of defeat. “If my presence bothers you, I won’t walk with you, I’ll just saunter along behind you,” he said, then grinned. “Besides, you’ve got a nice back view.”

      She had no idea why he felt the need to be here at all. Rather than ask him, she whirled around and headed for the hospital, painfully conscious of him walking several paces behind her.

      From the moment he’d appeared in her office the day before, she felt as if her life had spun crazily out of control, and she didn’t like it. She knew she had to make a decision about going to California, but she found rational thought next to impossible when Kevin was around.

      She was a devoted doctor, in control of her surroundings. She was strong and independent, but when with Kevin, he somehow reminded her that she was a woman besides being a doctor.

      She rounded a corner next to an abandoned building, her thoughts filled with Kevin. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flash of movement as somebody shot out of the shadows and grabbed her.

      The attack was so swift, so unexpected, she didn’t have time to scream, she didn’t have time to do anything. She fell to the sidewalk. Pain. It shot through her as he followed her down to the ground, his weight crashing on top of her, forcing her breath from her lungs.

      His breath was hot and fetid and his hands ripped and tore at the skin of her neck. She fought him, trying to scratch his face and knee him in the stomach.

      His face was a contorted mask of rage as he grappled with her. Somewhere in the back of her terror-laden mind, she catalogued his features, knowing somehow it was important that she remember what he look like.

      “Hey!”

      Phoebe nearly sobbed in relief as she heard Kevin’s shout. The man on top of her jumped up and took off running as Kevin raced to her side.

      “Phoebe, are you all right?” He knelt down beside her and helped her to a sitting position.

      She shook her head. “He…he came out of the building and just jumped on me.” She rubbed her neck and felt the welts his fingernails had caused. Her hip ached where she had hit the ground with such force.

      “You’re hurt,” he said, his blue eyes filled with anger. He started to scoop her up in his arms, but she stopped him.

      “No, really, I’m fine. I’m just sore.” And scared beyond any fear she had ever experienced before.

      He looked at her for a long moment. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

      She forced a smile. “I’m a doctor, I’d know if I was really hurt.”

      He stood and carefully helped her to her feet and when he pulled her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her, she didn’t fight him. Instead, she leaned into his strength and closed her eyes for just a moment.

      “I was afraid something like this might happen,” he murmured, as if speaking more to himself than to her.

      She stepped away from him and looked at him. “What do you mean?”

      “I was hoping that last night’s break-in at your place was just a coincidence.”

      “But now you don’t think it was?” A new fear iced the blood in her veins as she saw the worry that darkened his eyes.

      “No, I don’t think it was,” he said. His gaze held hers intently. “I think maybe I wasn’t the only one looking for you, and in finding you, I’ve brought danger into your life.”