Moments of Trust Page 2

  “And yes. A lot of folk came for the opening.”

  Even though Dr. Alan’s and Sheriff Travers’s attendance was more likely due to the presence of her friends Dorothy and Jessie, not because of them bursting with curiosity about her PT center.

  Anyway. Alan even promised to refer future clients to her, which would be a good thing for gathering new clients.

  Julie’s mother opened the door and a gust of cold wind swooshed through the studio. “Huh, it’s freezing. Snow’s coming again soon. Are you coming for lunch?”

  Julie crossed her arms to stave off the coldness and shook her head. “I’m eating over at the Inn. Plenty of food left from yesterday. You and Dad could come too.”

  Also, she had to go over to the Inn to talk to Kevin. Julie’s heart skipped a beat when she thought about him. Exactly the same way it had pounded when she’d seen him yesterday, standing next to her brother. His presence had startled her. But she had shrugged it off because of her general excitement and happiness about the overwhelming support of all the people who came and their interest in her new business. It hadn’t been the first time she had seen him, of course. Since Kevin Reyes was the star goalie for the Hamilton Mohawks, her brother’s NHL team; she had watched him on TV before. But in his after-game interviews, in all his padded gear, he was always sweaty and rugged, yes, hot too, but nothing like when he was standing in her studio all groomed and even more handsome.

  His pain-fueled cries that day on the ice, when he blew out both his knees, had haunted Julie in her dreams. And yes, when she did her research, she’d stumbled upon pictures of him posing half-naked. Droolworthy abs and all. But all of this just somehow hadn’t prepared her for the sexy, tall, dark hunk that he was in real life. His crutches gave him a vulnerability, that immediately made her heart reach out to him, and his palpable discomfort had made her want to protect him.

  Protect him. Laughable.

  The electrical jolt she’d received every time they touched on the other side made her insides all tingly and put her thoughts firmly into R-rated territory.

  Oh, this wasn’t good. Physical attraction had no place in a professional relationship between a client and his therapist. Hadn’t she learned that lesson already?

  Julie stared at the window where the handprint had been. The sick feeling in her stomach and the rising panic just thinking about him watching her, killed all the good feelings, the thoughts about Kevin Reyes had awakened.

  She had once crossed the line of professionalism. And she’d still paid the price each and every day since then.

  Julie shook her head. She sure as hell would never make that same mistake again.

  Not even for a guy like Kevin Reyes. Not even if the attraction would be mutual. Not even if he would be the perfect guy and her brother would vouch for him.

  No chance in hell.

  Zero.

  Nada.

  Nil.

  Julie placed her hands onto her small waist and looked around the room. All done. Finally the studio looked like a PT center again. Early in the morning, she had returned all the tables and stuff she had borrowed for her big opening, and now the big room sparkled. All the equipment was back in its place. Nothing more to do. Well, there was only one thing left to do: properly introduce herself to her first and only client and talk to him about their upcoming regimen, and their starting point.

  Julie stepped into the small bathroom. She washed her hands and looked up into the mirror. She was a mess. A slight sheen of sweat was on her face.

  Her mascara, most of the time the only makeup she wore, if she didn’t forget to put it on in the morning, had formed black streaks under her green eyes. So she looked like a panda. Her right eye was normally slightly more hooded than the left one, but since she had been up late, today, both of them were saggy. Just perfect. She bent down to the sink and washed her face, as well, scrubbing away the black smudges. Generally she liked her face—it was a pretty face. Although if she had one wish, it would be for her upper lip to be a bit fuller. But her rosy cheeks, which sadly turned beet red when she was embarrassed, and her oval face, suited her body type. She loosened the scrunchy on her lopsided ponytail and shook her mouse-brown hair out. Her hair was long, like down-to-her-butt long, but thin, so most of the time she had it in a ponytail, anyway. She scraped her finger over a scar on her scalp, which she had gotten, privilege of being too close to the sharp blades of her brother’s hockey skates. Well it wasn’t the only scar. She had enough proof of her tomboyish childhood.

  She’d been a late bloomer plus a few years younger than everybody around her. So most of the time she’d followed her brother’s friends around and tried to fit right in with the boys, and not so much the girls. Except Lisa. Lisa had been the only girl to play girly stuff with.

  Julie smelled her right armpit. Tropical fruit with a light citrus note. Not bad—like standing in a tropical garden. Thank God for the invention of deodorant.

  She grinned at herself one last time before she turned around and left the bathroom and her studio.

  3

  When Julie arrived at the Inn through the back entrance, the kitchen was empty, but she could hear Claire’s and Lisa’s voices from their little office. It seemed like they were in a heated discussion about something.

  “Hey, girls.”

  “Hey, Julie, could you do us a favor and help us with this?” Lisa said.

  Julie looked from one to the other and held up her hands. “Help you with what exactly?”

  “We just need to decide on new linens and we can’t make a decision,” Claire said.

  Julie shook her head. “Sorry, guys, but I’m bad at this stuff. Still sleeping in the same linens I got when I was a teenager. I’m sorry, but that is not something I have an opinion on. Just ask your guys. Maybe they can help you pick something.”

  Claire and Lisa looked at each other and snorted with laughter.

  Julie’s stomach tensed and she huffed. “What? What did I say that is that funny?”

  Lisa calmed down and Claire wiped at the wetness under her eyes.

  “Julie, our guys, are guys. More important, they are ex-military. They would sleep on the floor with their jacket as a blanket and their backpack as a pillow and wouldn’t care. Or worse, they would have some strange criteria, like anti-inflammable and whatever is most uncomfortable but lightweight and sweat absorbent or something like that,” Lisa said.

  “Oh well”—Julie shrugged—“then count me in as a guy in all things domestic. I’m not good at this, not interested, and have absolutely no clue and definitely no opinion.”

  The girls smiled at her and Lisa nodded. “I can respect that.”

  Julie turned around and left their office, but then turned back. “Hey, can we eat soon? I’m kinda starving.”

  “The guys said they will be here in about fifteen minutes. How does that sound for you?” Claire replied.

  “Perfect. I’ll just hop on up and invite Kevin if that’s okay with you.”

  “Yes, of course. You paid for all the food after all.” Claire paused. “And by the way, he hasn’t left his room all day. Didn’t even come down for breakfast, so he must be starving by now.”

  Julie nodded and turned back toward the stairs but returned once more. “He got your old room, right?”

  Lisa nodded and Julie walked to the stairs. There she took two steps at a time. She loved the old wooden staircase of the Inn. She knew the steps well, the polished surface, smooth from decades of feet walking up and down.

  The rhythm of the steps was ingrained in her, as were the landings in between which broke the rhythm. Countless times she had climbed these stairs on her way up to Lisa’s room, which had been on the top floor right next to the entrance to the attic. Lucky for her, Lisa had taken pity on her when they were young and even though Julie was a few years younger than Lisa, they’d done all kinds of girly stuff like gushing on boy bands they liked and reading girly magazines together.

  Julie stopped s
hort right outside of Kevin’s room.

  Her pulse, elevated from her fast ascent, pounded in her ears. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. She turned and went back to the stairs. Oh man, she was such a wimp. She had to get over the heart palpitations and flutters. He was just her client. Nothing more, nothing less.

  Even if she was insanely attracted to him.

  Maybe she’d just imagined things. He sure as hell couldn’t be all that she had made him out to be, from meeting him for five minutes. Maybe he was a giant ass. Weren’t most of the pro athletes cocky, arrogant bastards? Her brother could pass as one. Even though he was mostly on his best behavior if he was home.

  Julie stood up, pulled up the hem of her jeans, and pulled her pullover down over it. Then she marched to his door and knocked.

  And waited… She held her breath until her pulse pounded in her ears again. There wasn’t any response for a long time, but she could hear him move around inside, so she knocked again. He murmured something which sounded to Julie like a muffled ‘come in.’

  Julie hesitated, but the pulse was still pounding in her ears and he must’ve said to come in. If she knocked a third time, he would think she was a retard.

  She’d just try the door, and if it wasn’t locked… Julie pulled down the handle. The door swung open without any force on her part. But obviously without any effort from anyone else either.

  Kevin Reyes stood in the middle of his room, rubbing a towel over his wet hair.

  Buck naked.

  Julie’s eyes slowly wandered from his hair down his body.

  His very naked body.

  Pecs and abs and…

  Oh holy goddess.

  Her eyes were glued to his middle, unable to move away from his gorgeous dick.

  As soon as she realized that she was indeed staring, she squealed, covered her eyes with her hands, and turned away.

  “What the fuck. What is it with you Brookses not getting the concept of closed doors?” Kevin must have heard her squeal.

  Julie swallowed. The picture of his manhood, and the tattoos on both thighs, right next to it, was burned into her mind.

  “I’m sorry. I thought I heard you say come in.” Julie could feel her ears turn red. “Oh God, this is so embarrassing. I’m really, really sorry.”

  Kevin scoffed then laughed the kind of laugh Julie loved in a man—a deep belly laugh. She could feel the vibrations of the bass all over her body.

  There was some shuffling around while Kevin was still laughing until it fizzled out into a chuckle.

  “I’m decent now and FYI, I was wearing headphones. I was singing along.”

  Julie didn’t turn around and her hands still covered her eyes.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to barge in on you like that.”

  “It’s okay. Kinda was worth it to see you jump and squeal.” He chuckled again. “You can turn around now, you know.”

  Julie turned around slowly but her hands still covered her eyes. She spread her fingers a little and blinked through her fingers. He had donned some training shorts, but his remarkable abs and pecs were still visible. Julie could feel her cheeks getting hotter.

  Great, just great. Now her face had turned into a tomato.

  “So, according to your reaction, I’m your first then?”

  Julie could see the laugh lines deepen around his eyes and shook her head slightly. “First?”

  He raised his eyebrows and even waggled them a little. “Man…you’ve seen naked?”

  That’s when realization hit. He was teasing her. Trying to make light of that awkward situation. Julie pressed her hand against the fluttering in her belly, then grinned, her thoughts racing to come up with something funny… “Yes. You must know. My mother died when I was very young, so I grew up with this horrible stepmother. When her mirror told her I was more beautiful than her, she locked me in the tower for the rest of my youth. I just now got released by dragons. So…”

  Oh God, she was mixing fairy tales…and she was rambling. Why wouldn’t her mouth just shut up?

  Kevin’s eyes crinkled up even more, and his smile showed a set of beautiful white teeth. Shouldn’t there be something wrong with his teeth? He was a hockey goalie, for God’s sake. Wasn’t losing teeth in his job description? Julie’s thoughts were all over the place. But she mirrored his smile. Like a retard…

  Shit. She stopped smiling. Why was she doing it again? Flirting with a client. She needed to stop doing this.

  Right this minute.

  Julie stared down at the ground. Just act natural or better yet act as the damn professional you’d like to be treated as.

  Kevin’s face went from smiling and laughing to frowning. His eyebrows pinched together and he stared at her like she was a mystery.

  Julie knew she was hot and cold. She just didn’t know what to do. She needed to learn to be open and funny with her patients without letting her flirty personality take over.

  “Why are you even here?” Kevin asked.

  Julie hesitated. “There’s plenty of food left from the party yesterday, so we are having an after-party party downstairs. I am… I thought you might come on down and join us. Plus, we need to talk about the training schedule and everything…”

  Kevin’s face scrunched up and he leaned backward as soon as the word ‘party’ came out of her mouth. She could see his imminent rejection written all over his face.

  Julie ignored the sinking feeling in her stomach and tilted her head to the side. Maybe he wasn’t big on people he didn’t know? “You’ll be staying here in Moon Lake for some time, so it might be good for you to get to know the people a little…and it will only be Claire, Lisa, Peter, Blake, and me, anyhow… Maybe Paul too. So it’s not like it’s a huge party or something and it would break my heart if you say no to eating lunch with me.” Julie inhaled sharply. Why did she say that? What the hell was wrong with her? Could she maybe get her act together and just shut her mouth around him?

  Kevin sighed. “Okay, just give me a minute. I’ll come down for a bit.” He didn’t look up, avoided eye contact completely, so Julie wasn’t sure if he wasn’t just saying it to get rid of her.

  But she just nodded once. Turned on her heel and closed his door behind her. No wonder he wasn’t enthusiastic. She’d practically guilt-tripped him into coming down. And why couldn’t she just shut up or at least not be flirty around her clients? She needed to stay professional. That’s how her whole life went down the drain—with her being friendly and flirty with a client. Why hadn’t she learned? Why couldn’t she just be professional? Maybe it was her fault. She needed to keep this professional. So he was the most attractive man she’d ever seen naked. Julie shrugged her shoulders. Didn’t change a thing.

  Act professional…no flirting.

  4

  Kevin pushed open the door to Moon Lake Physical Therapy, juggling his crutches. Game time. This was it, the moment of truth. That’s why he was here. Everything else was just unimportant background noise. A slight lemony smell of disinfectant permeated the air. How he hated that smell.

  “Hey, Kevin, good, you’re early.” Julie came toward him, beautiful as ever with crinkled eyes and gorgeous lips split in a friendly smile. “You can change into workout gear in there.”

  Kevin turned right, stepped into the dressing room, and closed the door behind him. He leaned against the door and scratched his neck. This wasn’t good; this was their first session, and he wasn’t ready at all. Not only had he mixed feelings about his therapist, a problem he sure as hell never had to deal with before, but for the first time in his life he really questioned if he could do it. Would he be able to make a comeback? Would it be worth the pain?

  Kevin groaned and unzipped the hoody and got rid of his track-pants. Normally he would have dressed at home and just come here in shorts and T-shirt, but damn, the weather here really kicked ass. It had been snowing since he woke up and the constant falling had already amassed on the ground. This was his favorite season. When he was a
kid, snow meant ice on the ponds and he would have been out with his skates, ready to go, as soon as he came home from school. Kevin looked around. No excuse to stay in the dressing room any longer. He grabbed his towel and stepped up to Julie, who was standing on a small desk in the left corner of her room.

  “All done. Hit me, Coach.”

  Julie smiled again and ordered him to a therapy table. “Okay, let’s do it. Hop on the table and sit.”

  Kevin’s stomach hardened. She wouldn’t start with touching him, would she? How on earth did he get into this situation? Then he forced his body to relax and sat down on the therapy table.

  “I think we need to talk about a few things first.”

  Kevin’s eyebrows rose. “What did you want to talk about?”

  “Okay, first things first, I need you to be completely honest with me. And I promise to be completely honest with you. This is very important to me because I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me. I need to know where it hurts, when it hurts, whatever happens in your body…or in your mind. You need to tell me.”

  Kevin pressed his lips together. Honesty. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been completely open and honest—with anyone. Of course he’d heard these pep talks all his life. The coaches gave them, but they didn’t mean it. He hadn’t been completely honest in all of his career. And even before, his parents didn’t want to know what he was feeling or what he was thinking. They wanted the perfect son, somebody just like them.

  But looking into Julie’s eyes made him realize that he wanted to be honest with her. He wanted the kind of relationship with her where he could tell her everything. A flush crept across the back of his neck. This was new. He couldn’t remember ever having another relationship where he wanted this. Neither with a coach, nor with a therapist or a woman.

  Normally his women were just a distraction from his life, never too serious, nothing too intense.

  And his team.

  Kevin was part of the team, but at the same time he wasn’t. He was part of the team but at the same time it was him and the pipes and the net. If he failed he failed, not the team or the defense. On the ice he was an entity of his own and he got judged by his performance alone. Somehow he’d adopted the same attitude in life, as well.