LITMIR.BIZ

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Karen and Peter had taken him up on the suggestion but for some reason Ellen had declined to join them. Chance had paperwork to see to and a conference call to make so he’d remained behind as well. He’d not seen Ellen since that morning and assumed she was resting in her hut.

      In the short time since the three new staff members had arrived, their clinic team had turned into a cohesive group that worked well together. Ellen had assisted him some but mostly he’d stationed her with Michael or given her triage duty. She and Michael had become regular buddies. When there weren’t patients to see, they had lunch together, laughing over something that had happened. It reminded him too much of Alissa and his ex-colleague Jim.

      Even Marco and his crew gave Ellen special attention. She shared her sunshine with everyone but him. It wasn’t that she wasn’t civil, it was just that he didn’t receive the same warmth. The times she had worked with him they had said little outside the need-to-know arena. He shouldn’t have cared but he felt left out. When she’d first arrived he’d wanted it that way but now he wasn’t so sure. The more he was around her the more he admired her. She wasn’t the pampered princess he’d wanted to believe she was.

      Ellen was an excellent doctor. When she was working triage she recorded what was wrong and had everyone in order of need so that no time was wasted between patients. Maybe it was time to let her start handling patients on her own. They could see three times more patients if he did.

      After the excruciating return ride to the resort, when she’d fallen asleep against him, and later, when he’d caught her watching him undress, he’d renewed his vow to stay clear of her as much as possible. He’d be lying if he said he hadn’t enjoyed the feel of a soft body against him. But wouldn’t he have reacted the same to any female contact?

      There wasn’t much opportunity for a sex life around here but when he’d found companionship he’d been discreet about it. After his wife had left he’d been the favorite subject of discussion and he hadn’t enjoyed it. He preferred his private life to remain just that—private. A few times in Honduras he’d met a woman of interest and when he’d return to the States he had a few ladies he regularly stayed in contact with, so he had hardly been celibate. Still, there was something about Ellen that made his hormones stand up and take notice whenever she was near, as if he had been a monk and left the order.

      If the ride home hadn’t been painful enough, the fact that she’d been watching him undress while wearing nothing but a towel had made him even more sexually aware. Every time they were alone it was like she was teasing him, daring him to come closer. He was confident this was something she did unconsciously yet it was still there, pulling him to her. As his body heated with need he imagined stepping across the short space between their huts and taking her in his arms. That would have shown her not to be poking the bear. Instead, she’d let the blind down, shutting him out.

      He understood that feeling. In this case, he was glad she had. Even a short moment of pleasure would turn into a bad idea in the long run. Despite how she might act about work here, she wasn’t the type to stay with him. No woman was. His life was in Honduras. She would never be satisfied with him or living here for the long run. He wasn’t her prince charming.

      Chance opened one eye to a slit at the soft pad of feet along the bricks around the pool. Ellen stood there in a blue bikini, preparing to dive. He shifted uncomfortably in the chair as his body reacted to all the beautiful skin on display. Her hair was down around her shoulders. The woman was going to be his undoing. He’d been played for a fool before and if he wasn’t careful he would give Ellen the opportunity to do the same again.

      With a perfect arch, she dove into the pool and surfaced. As she swam to one end and back, he was fascinated by each smooth movement she made. What he wouldn’t do to be the water flowing around her. He had to get some control but that wasn’t going to happen right now. On her next pass he stood. Hopefully his baggy swim trunks would disguise most of his body’s reaction to her.

      A yelp of surprise came from her when he stepped into her view.

      “Hey.” He watched as all that long blonde hair swirled around her on the surface of the water.

      “Hi. I didn’t see you sitting there.”

      He stepped closer. “I thought you would’ve gone to town with the others.”

      “I thought about it. But I hate to admit that after the pace we’ve kept this week I needed a little extra rest. I can be a tourist on our next day off.”

      “Do you like being a tourist?”

      “I do. I love to see new places. See how others live.” She held on to the edge of the pool.

      Her position gave him a tantalizing view of her breasts scantly covered in triangles of dark blue that reminded him of a sky just before a storm. “So what do you think of Honduras?”

      “I like it. The people are wonderful. Every day is exciting.”

      “Some days, too much so.” Like the day she had almost been stabbed. It still sent fear though him when he thought about it.

      Ellen pushed away and floated toward the other side of the pool. Chance took a seat on the edge, letting his feet dangle in the water.

      “So why aren’t you off doing something exciting on your day off? Surely you get away from work sometimes,” she asked.

      “Not as much as I would like.” He enjoyed watching her tread water. She had managed to put as much space as possible between them. For that he was grateful. He was far to attracted to her. “When I get a couple of days I like to spend them scuba diving. Hiking in the jungle.”

      She moved closer. “I would love to learn to scuba dive. My father said no when I was a kid. Never took the time to learn after I started college. And hiking? After all the lectures you’ve given me about safety, you hike in the jungle?”

      “I stay on the touristy trails. More than one person has gotten into trouble, venturing off too far.”

      “Michael offered to take me to see a waterfall one day.” With a kick, she swam away from him again.

      “I wouldn’t get too attached to Michael if I were you.” Chance didn’t like how that sounded. Like a jealous middle-schooler. “Hey, I shouldn’t have said that. It’s none of my business what you two do after hours.”

      She headed for deeper water. “I’m pretty sure Michael flirts with every woman in his age group who comes down here. I don’t take anything he says seriously.”

      That’s what his wife had said when he’d questioned her about her relationship with Jim. Still, coming from Ellen he wanted to believe her.

      “Anyway, I’m down here to work, not play around.” She started toward the shallow end.

      “But it’s always nice to have a friend.”

      Could they be friends? He wasn’t so sure. This attraction would also be vibrating between them.

      “Well, I think I’ll get a nap in before dinner. See you later.” Ellen took the steps out of the pool, giving him a tantalizing view of her backside that included a sexy swing of her hips.

      Chance slipped into the water and began making strong, sure laps until he was exhausted.

      Ellen paused in the doorway of the restaurant. Maybe she’d just eat in the main dining area tonight. She’d given thought to having her meal brought to her hut but she wasn’t going stay in such a beautiful place and hole up in her room.

      She’d made it halfway to the private dining room when her name was called. She recognized that voice.

      Chance sat at a table overlooking a bubbling water fixture among ferns. A candle flickered in the lantern on the table. “We have to eat out here tonight. Not enough of us to prepare the extra room for. You’re welcome to join me but I’m almost done.”

      She

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