Healing Trace by Debra Kayn Page B

jewelry, but what came next stole his
breath. Her plump breasts swayed with her movements as she lazily adjusted her
top. He was unable to turn away. His anger and embarrassment of earlier faded
away and in its place, he reacted like any man who'd been too long between
women.
    Even
the splash of her diving into the water didn't faze him. He had one focus. Joan.
    Her
thick, wild hair spread over the surface of the water, further reminding him
how well he was feeling. All he could think about was how he was glad it was
dark, and the others couldn't see his reaction to her.
    Devon
swam to Trace's side of the pool, hooking his elbows along the edge. "Need
anything?"
    He
shook his head, and then cleared his throat. "No."
    Devon
pulled himself out of the water, picked up the glass Trace had knocked out of Joan's
hand, and kept his eyes averted. "You'll survive. You've been down this
road before. Another few weeks and you can heal all those horses that need you,
and Joan will be out of your life."
    His
friends knew him. They'd been there when he'd needed somewhere to hide, to lie
for him, and covered his ass more times than he could count. He was grateful
for their friendship, but no one knew how much he wished he didn't need them.
How he didn't want to need anyone.
    Somehow,
the beautiful nurse with the soothing voice and compassionate personality had
braved the hardened shield he always kept carefully in place, and had him
feeling again. He gazed out at her splashing Brody with water, laughing and
full of life. How did someone so gentle cause him so much pain?

Chapter Eleven
    Joan
spun in a circle in the middle of the weight room in Brody's part of the house.
The wall composed entirely of mirrors, and the ceiling littered with skylights
would work perfect for Trace's physical therapy. The light and cheery atmosphere
would help keep him positive as he fought through the pain.
    The
doctor had noted that it was important to keep the upper thigh muscles
strengthened to support the healing bone for when his cast came off. She ran
her hand along the barbell. She had to focus on his leg, and not the person.
    Her
mind told her to heal him from the inside out, but that wasn't what she was
being paid for. The only problem she needed to fix was his broken leg.
    "What
do you think?" Devon gripped a chin up bar and pulled himself off the
floor.
    "Are
you kidding me? This is better than any gym I've seen advertised on
television." She planted her hands on her hips. "No wonder you guys
are in such great shape."
    She
whirled around and scrunched her nose where he couldn't see her, cringing over
her blatant confession. Devon laughed. She jerked her head up and gazed
straight into his reflection in the mirror. There was no hiding in here, and
she really opened her mouth this time.
    He
flexed his arms. "Although, I think I've only came in here twice since we
built the house to work out. The ranch gives me more than enough exercise, and
I leave the heavy weights to Brody."
    She
nodded. It was safer that way. It wasn't in her favor to comment any more on
the shape of the men who lived here, or they might not take her care of Trace
seriously.
    Trace's
crutches thunked along the wooden floor outside the door. Joan turned,
glad to see he'd come when she'd asked. She never knew if he'd follow
directions or not.
    Besides
being the most stubborn man she'd ever worked with, he neglected to talk about anything
that transpired last night at the pool. After breakfast, he seemed eager to
change the subject anytime there was a lull in the conversation. She took the
hint, and decided it was best not to talk about what battles he'd fought that
still caused him pain.
    She
only had three weeks left at the ranch, and she'd convinced herself that
whatever she felt for Trace would disappear when she completed the job. Falling
in love with him wouldn't help him get better, but add more to his already
confused life. She knew how that was, because there wasn't a minute