Wilde Thing. Jannine Gallant

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СКАЧАТЬ moment before something in the woman’s eyes sparked a memory. “Monica? It’s been a long time.” Her mother’s old work pal had been a brunette the last time Hannah had seen her, but the same sense of supreme self-confidence surrounded her like an impenetrable aura.

      No fake hugs required. Hannah stood her ground without moving.

      “I think you were still in high school the last time we bumped into each other. I’ve been living in Los Angeles for quite a while now. How’s Vivian?”

      “Same as always.” Hannah winced. “Mother’s working on acquiring husband number five.”

      “Par for the course. I only have one ex under my belt.” Monica gave her an up and down survey. “You look…good. Success must agree with you. Last time I spoke to your mother, she told me you were the go-to physical therapist for sports stars. Congratulations.”

      Hannah gave her a quick smile. “Thanks.” Hard to believe my mother actually mentioned me in a conversation. Even harder to believe I dated this woman’s ex, no matter how briefly…

      “It amazes me you grew up so normal, considering…” She shrugged. “You’re obviously a survivor, or maybe my concern was misplaced, after all.”

      “Mom had her moments, that’s for sure.”

      “Not what I meant, but I guess it doesn’t matter at this late date.” When her cell dinged, Monica pulled it from her coat pocket to glance at the display then frowned. “Sorry I don’t have more time to chat, but I prefer not to keep my associates waiting. I doubt I’ll see you again since I’ll only be in town for a week or two. Unless this deal gets sticky. Tell Vivian I said hello when you speak to her next.”

      “Sure. Nice talking to you, Monica.”

      With a nod, the woman hurried away. Hannah shook off unpleasant images from her childhood. Memories of her mother and Monica—who’d probably barely been legal to drink at the time—getting bombed together on cheap wine at the dining room table.

      Can my morning get any worse?

      She wouldn’t let those old memories bother her. They were nothing but ancient history stuffed away in a corner of her mind. Hannah let out a long puff of breath in the cold air. She’d grab a cup of coffee before the physical therapy session with her current patient, a local boy who’d torn his Achilles playing basketball, then head to the hospital to get the inside scoop on Tripp from one of her friends on staff.

      I’m not checking up on him because I care.

      She gave a headshake, her hand a little unsteady as she dug the car keys out of her purse. She’d make sure he was okay only because she’d promised to report back to Eden. Glancing at her watch as she reached her car, she winced. Not even nine o’clock yet. The day promised to be a long one.

      * * * *

      When the door to his hospital room opened, Tripp didn’t bother to glance up from the text he was trying to send one-handed. He fumbled the phone and swore then tossed it down on the bed. “Damn it. This sucks. I feel like a freaking invalid.”

      “Problem?”

      His chin came up as his gaze shot toward the doorway. Not Jake, who’d left to get something to eat and promised to come back later to drive him home. Hannah Ryder. His little sister’s old college roommate. Once in a while, when he was actually at home and not traveling to the far corners of the world, he caught sight of Hannah around town, but they’d never been anything but casual acquaintances at best. From the way her golden eyes narrowed on him, Tripp got the feeling she could take him or leave him…and would prefer the latter.

      “I guess I wasn’t imagining you were on the hill this morning when they hauled me out of the avalanche.”

      “No, you weren’t.” She advanced into the room and stopped a yard short of his bed. Hands tucked into the pockets of her down jacket, she regarded him steadily. “How’re you feeling?”

      . Those golden eyes reflected intelligence in their depths along with a mental toughness. Model tall but without the scrawny angles, this woman looked capable of taking down any man stupid enough to mess with her without permission. Not that he’d ever try.

      Tripp let out a breath. “Uh, I’m feeling okay. A little loopy from the pain meds. I imagine my shoulder will hurt like hell when they wear off.”

      “Probably, but they’ll give you more drugs to manage any discomfort. I ran into a friend on the nursing staff out in the hall and got the basic facts. No fractures. That’s great.”

      He scowled. “The dislocated shoulder is bad enough.”

      “And only a mild concussion. You were extremely lucky. You could easily have been killed.”

      He rolled his eyes. “Aren’t you Miss Glass Half-full. Lucky would have been not getting caught in the avalanche. Really lucky would have been finishing my run before the cornice broke free.”

      Her golden cat eyes darkened to the color of her tawny-brown hair as she tucked a stray lock behind one ear. “I’ll report back to Eden that you’re not going to drop dead anytime soon…unless one of the nurses gets fed up with your bad mood and kills you. Your parents were concerned you might be holding back because you didn’t want to worry them.” She pivoted on one heel and headed toward the door. “I’ll let them know you aren’t that considerate.”

      He winced, temples throbbing. “I’m sorry. Hannah, don’t go.” When her steps slowed, he rushed on to plead his case before she reached the door. “I let frustration get the better of me. Please stay. I was going to call you, anyway.”

      Pausing, she turned. “Oh?”

      He blinked a couple of times and tried to focus. Between the meds and sheer exhaustion, putting coherent thoughts together was a struggle. “Uh, the doc told me I’ll need therapy on my shoulder. I’m looking at six to eight weeks before I can compete again, depending on how fast I heal. That’s pushing into March. I’ll miss most of the ski season unless I can cut into that timeframe.”

      “I’m sure being sidelined won’t be easy for you.” Some of the frost thawed from her tone. “You want me to work on your shoulder?”

      He nodded then leaned back against his pillows. “You’re the absolute best with sports injuries. Believe me, your reputation in elite circles precedes you. How’s your schedule?”

      “Right now, I’m wrapping up some intensive therapy with a local high school kid who tore his Achilles. I was happy to take on a patient close to home for a change, but a hockey player with the San Jose Sharks left me a message—”

      “Call him back and tell him you’re already booked.”

      She frowned. “Honestly, I don’t know if I want you for a client. My guess is you’ll be a total pain in the ass.”

      He couldn’t hold back a snort of humor. The woman was nothing if not direct. “I’ll be on my best behavior. Pretty please?” He gave her a wide-eyed look from beneath the long lashes his brothers teased him about. A look that generally turned women into putty he could bend to his will.

      Hannah’s lips firmed. “I’ll do it…because your sister would want СКАЧАТЬ