bad last week. No matter how hard you push yourself, you’re not going to grow back your leg.”
Mitch’s mild interest turned into annoyance. “Thanks for the greeting card’s worth of advice. I’m busy.”
“Too bad. I’m not leaving until I’ve said what I came here to say.”
Mitch crossed his arms over his chest. “You think you can make me listen?”
“Probably, but think about it. Two cripples wrestling on the floor, prostheses and crutches flying. Do you really want people to see you like that?”
The image was so clear, Mitch found himself fighting a smile. “It might damage my tough-guy image.”
“You think?”
“So why are you here?” he asked, although he already had a good idea.
“To talk to you about what it’s really like, long term. To tell you that it’s going to get better, but not until you accept that your life has changed. Beating yourself up, mentally and physically, won’t make it go away. You’ve got to be smart about the prosthesis.”
“Assuming Joss gives it back to me.”
“He will. But take it slow this time. You have to adjust.”
“Slow isn’t my favorite speed.”
“It won’t have to be for long. You have sex yet?”
The question surprised Mitch. “Yes.”
“Good. Some guys put it off. You need to get back on the horse, so to speak.”
Mitch thought about Skye and the way she’d lost herself in the moment. “It wasn’t with a horse.”
Alex laughed. “I didn’t think so. Did you get on top?”
Mitch hesitated. “No. I wasn’t sure…”
“You’ll have to practice. If you’re not in a relationship, wait until you’re comfortable with the lady. It takes a bit to get the leverage right.” Alex grinned. “But it’s worth it.”
Mitch’s imagination went back to Skye, but instead of picturing them outside, on the ground, he imagined a bed and her below him, breathing hard, her eyes sinking closed. It didn’t seem to matter how angry he was with her, he still wanted her.
“You’re not the only one going through this,” Alex said, pulling Mitch back from his fantasy. “Everyone around you is adjusting, too. Your friends and family don’t know what to expect or how to act. Should they help? Get out of the way? Ask how you feel? Most people want to do the right thing but don’t want to push. Help them by being honest. If you don’t want help, say so. If you want assistance, make that clear. If you expect them to guess right every time, you will be losing a whole lot more than a few toes.”
Mitch looked at the other man. “It’s hard for me to consider that the people around me are going through something, too.”
“They are. It’s a big change, but it doesn’t have to be a bad one. It’s all up to you. Take control.”
“That I can do,” Mitch told him.
IZZY LACED UP her climbing shoes. T.J. waited until she was done to hand her a harness. She grabbed it from him, feeling crabby and not sure why. He’d called and asked her to go rock climbing. She’d accepted the invitation. So why did she want to snap at him?
There were a lot of complicated reasons, she thought, tightening the harness. Most of them revolved around her sister, but it was a lot easier to be pissed at T.J.
She wanted to yell at him, but couldn’t think of a good reason. Maybe she could complain about the date. She was good enough to sweat with but not good enough for dinner and a movie? Except she wasn’t the dinner and a movie type. If they were going to have fun, they should have fun. If the night was about sex, why waste a lot of time eating a meal she probably didn’t want or seeing a movie? They should get to the sex.
But what was rock climbing? It was the kind of afternoon you could spend with a relative.
“You look like you want to take me on,” he said. “Are you mad at me?”
“No.” The word came out sharper than she intended. “You’re dating my sister.”
“Skye and I have been to dinner.”
“That’s a date.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t.”
“You can’t be interested in both of us. We’re totally different.”
“I’m a guy with varied interests.”
Not a good enough answer. “If you have a sister sex fantasy, let me be clear. Yuck. And no way in hell.”
He grinned. “I hadn’t thought about it but now that you mention it…”
She glanced around for something to throw at him. “I’m serious.”
“Then I guess I have to be. Do you want to get exclusive?”
She blinked at him. “Excuse me?”
“Should we get serious, be boyfriend and girlfriend, only see each other and no one else?”
Izzy took three steps back and had to resist the need to make the sign of the cross. “No way. Why would you even ask that? We’ve been out twice. I barely know you.”
He tightened his own harness. “I’m going to bask in the boost you just gave my ego. After that endorsement, I can die a happy man.”
He was slick, she would give him that. And smart. But what else was he? “Okay, I get your point. We’ve only been out a couple of times. Why should I care that you’re seeing anyone else when I don’t feel the need to avoid other men.”
“You have other men?” he asked.
“Not the issue. I don’t care who else you see.” Except for Skye, she thought, the crabby feeling coming back. But why should she sweat any of it? She did though and that complicated everything.
“I don’t care who else you see, unless it’s my sister. You should make things easy and just pick one of us to pursue.”
“Any suggestions as to which one would work out best?”
If she said herself, then Skye could get hurt. She would certainly think Izzy was trying to make a point. But Izzy wasn’t ready to back out, either. Mostly to see how far T.J. would take things.
“You two could decide between you,” he told her.
“You’re not that much of a prize.”
He clutched his chest. “Wait for it. Ego boost number two. I’m not sure I’m going to get my head through the door when we’re done here.”
“This is stupid,” she said, and walked to the wall. After hooking her harness to the line, she reached for the first handhold.
T.J. came up behind her and put his hands on her waist. He moved close, so they were touching-his front to her back. He was warm and strong and masculine and she liked the feel of him next to her.
“Don’t walk away,” he murmured into her ear. “Please.”
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.”
He turned her until they were facing, then bent down and kissed her.
This wasn’t like the first kiss where all he did was claim and take. This time he kissed her gently, pressing his lips to hers lightly enough to promise but not enough to push. He moved slowly, as if giving her time.
She liked his mouth on hers. Liked the way he rubbed and teased before touching his tongue to her lower lip. Which asked a question. Did she want to take this to the next level?
She parted her lips, as much because she was curious as because she was enjoying the contact. His tongue swept inside, claiming her. Unexpected passion shot through her, making her catch her breath. Not that she wanted him to know.
He tasted of coffee and mint. His fingers were warm, barely touching her waist. Their tongues tangled and danced. Surprising heat poured through her, making her go wet and weak in all the right places.
The sound of people approaching made her pull back.
She stared into T.J.’s blue eyes. Wanting flared there. He looked like a man who needed to get laid. But was she the right woman to satisfy that itch?
If he’d been anyone else, she would have suggested blowing off rock climbing and adjourning to whoever’s place was closest. But that wasn’t an option. Not with Skye in the picture.
“Don’t walk away,” he repeated, still staring into her eyes.
