âIâm ready.â
Demi went in the therapy room, almost used to the sight of Colinâs incredible physique all laid out for her to touch. Almost.
Candles lit, music on, hands oiled, she started with the sweeping motions that would improve circulation to his muscles. He was so much looser than when they started three weeks before. Unfortunately it was even more of a pleasure to touch him, and stupidly she gave in, allowing herself sensual enjoyment.
For some reason, as she worked, instead of loosening, his body stayed tight; his breathing picked up.
âYouâre not relaxing.â
âIâm ⦠a little uncomfortable.â His voice was low.
âHow can I help?â
âI could tell you exactly how.â His tone was humorous. âBut Iâm pretty sure you wouldnât like the idea.â
Demiâs hands stilled. Oh. He was aroused.
Because she was touching him? No, no, he could be enjoying her massage and fantasizing about anyone. Except, this was the first time sheâd been so flustered.
And so tempted â¦
Dear Reader,
Itâs always bittersweet when a miniseries ends. I get so fond of the characters, and even though I take care to send each couple off into the worldâs most romantic sunset, I do miss them. The Friends with Benefits quintet were particular favorites.
Feels So Right is physical therapist Demi Andersonâs story. She was a bit of a mystery in the first two books (Just One Kiss and Light Me Up) and it was great fun for me to explore her more deeply. Having been a painfully shy kid myself, I know how hard it is to navigate certain social situations, even as an outwardly confident adult.
In injured Ironman triathlete Colin Russo, Demi finds a personal and professional challengeâlike how to keep her hands off him when itâs her job to touch him everywhere!âbut he also helps her feel comfortable in her own skin. True love should always bring out oneâs better self.
I hope you have enjoyed this miniseries!
Cheers,
Isabel Sharpe
www.IsabelSharpe.com
ARGH, THE PHONE. Wasnât that always the way? After a long day at her physical-therapy practice, followed by a good hard run and a quick dinner, Demi was just settling in for a short relax-break with her knitting and an audiobook of a suspense novel. Her business line had been quiet for hours, but of course the second her butt hit her overstuffed, supercomfortable chair â¦
Local caller. She didnât recognize the number. âDemi Anderson.â
âYeah, hi.â A deep male voice, familiar, but she couldnât place it. âThis is Colin Russo. You treated me back in August.â
Demi sat up straight, heart accelerating. Well, well. The cranky triathlete was back. After a few sessions for ruptured disc pain, and her confirmation of his doctorâs bad news that he wouldnât be competing in any more Ironman triathlons, Colin had exploded with anger and frustration, and stalked out of her studio in search of a practitioner whoâd tell him what he wanted to hear.
Yeah, good luck with that.
âHi, Colin. What can I do for you?â
âIâd like to see you.â
âSure. Let me look at my schedule.â She pulled up her calendar, wondering what had made him come back. Elite athletes took the longest to accept new limitations. If Colin had changed his attitude she could do him some good. Otherwise â¦
âOn Thursday I haveââ
âAnything sooner?â He was speaking in a clipped manner that suggested he was either angry or hurting. Probably both.
âYouâre in pain.â She made sure she spoke matter-of-factly. Sympathy didnât go over well with these types.
âYup.â The syllable was abrupt.
âHow about â¦â She ran over the next dayâs schedule. Busy, but she could give up her lunch hour. âNoon tomorrow?â
âGood.â
âOkay, see you then.â She hung up the phone and sat for a few quiet seconds, annoyed at the way her pulse was still racing, then jumped up and crossed to her window. She looked out at the street below, Olive Way where it intersected with Broadway in Seattleâs Capitol Hill neighborhood. A few cars, headlights on. Not much traffic for a Monday evening. Maple leaves turning color, a light rain typical for October.
Colin Russo.
Heâd been a challenge on multiple levels. Demi worked with and treated many athletes, had seen plenty of people hurting, plenty upset at having to confront lifestyle changes after an injury. Like other professionals in the medical field, she had to balance appropriate levels of caring and involvement with enough distance to keep clientsâ problems from taking her over. Colin had so bravely tried not to show his physical or emotional pain that his rage had touched her, though sheâd been taken aback by the suddenness and intensity of the blowout. Humans who felt helpless often turned fear into anger.