Don't Tell by Karen Rose Page B

down on one knee, reaching sideways to grab his cane then pushed himself to his feet to stand by her chair, the look of concern still on his face. He touched his hand lightly to her forehead.
    „Are you feeling all right? You’re so pale. If you’re sick, you should be home in bed.“
    She wanted to sink through the floor. „I’m fine.“
    He pursed his lips. „Yeah, right.“ He sounded wholly unconvinced. „Your color’s just now coming back. Is there somebody I should call?“
    She shook her head. „No. Really, I just need some air.“ And a hole to crawl into, she thought.
    „Then come with me. We’ll take a walk outside.“ He held out his arm, his expression still worried.
    „I’m really – “
    „Fine. I heard you. I just don’t believe you.“ His mouth bent down in a mild frown. „Stand up if you can.“
    Temper rolled in, displacing the embarrassment. She blew out an annoyed sigh. „Dr. Hunter, please. I’m quite capable of taking care of myself.“
    He took a step back and shrugged. „Fine. Suit yourself. I was just trying to help.“
    Caroline stood, testing her balance. It had never been quite the same since her accident. The room tilted, then righted itself. „And I appreciate it. Truly.“ She looked up to find his jaw hardened and his arms crossed tightly over his chest as he half-sat on the edge of his desk.
    His eyes were focused full on her face, his mouth still frowning. „You’re dizzy.“
    Caroline forced a smile. „And I’m not even a blonde.“ Thanks to Clairol, that much was true.
    „This isn’t funny, Caroline.“ Max stepped forward and took her chin between his fingers, tilting her face up. „Your pupils look okay.“
    She swallowed audibly. Just his hand on her face was sending little shivers down her body. „Are you a doctor of medicine now, Dr. Hunter?“
    One side of his mouth quirked up. „No, just spent enough time in hospitals to know the drill.“ His mouth went serious again. His eyes were still on her face, still searching. Caroline felt as if she were being inspected. Then, as he continued his silent perusal, she felt suspended in mid-air, on the edge of something new. Her chest tightened. Her breasts tingled. His eyes were becoming increasingly more intense, just as he’d looked when he first came into the room. When he’d been angry. But he wasn’t angry now. Had he been angry then? Now she wasn’t so sure.
    He was still staring, his fingers still holding her chin.
    „What?“ She’d intended it to come out sassy and sarcastic. Instead, the single word emerged sounding husky. Breathy. Sexy? God. She didn’t know her voice could do that. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, thoughtfully. His grip on her face loosened, but his hand stayed where it was, his forefinger curving under to cradle her chin.
    „You have incredible eyes,“ he murmured.
    Her eyes widened. His remained locked on hers. Lord. No, he hadn’t been angry before. It was all quite clear now. The hard expression, the flashing eyes, the clenched fists. No, that wasn’t anger. It was a sudden escalation of those heated looks from the day before.
    She swallowed audibly again, feeling herself slipping down a dangerous slope. She wasn’t afraid of him now. No, definitely not afraid. But there was a big difference between not being afraid of him and succumbing to the look in those gray eyes. That was a line she shouldn’t cross. Really shouldn’t cross. A line she’d be truly unwise to even approach.
    „Um… thank you,“ she whispered. Thank you? How articulate she was after almost seven long years of college education. Her English teachers would just be so proud. She closed her „incredible“ eyes against the second wave of embarrassment in less than a half-hour.
    She expected him to release her chin and laugh at her bumbling idiocy.
    Instead, he brushed his thumb over her lips. Once, twice. Three times.
    Mercy.
    „Open your eyes,“ he commanded softly.
    Caroline complied,