Icing the Grump (Ice Hearts)

Chapter 5

CHAPTER

FIVE

T rinity

I stood frozen, my hand on Chase's shoulder, the warmth of his skin radiating through his thin t-shirt. Our eyes locked, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away. The air crackled with an electric tension that had nothing to do with physical therapy and everything to do with the way Chase's blue eyes darkened as they met mine.

"Trinity," he murmured, his voice low and husky. The sound of my name on his lips sent a shiver down my spine.

I swallowed hard, trying to remember why this was a bad idea. Why I couldn't let myself get lost in the intensity of his gaze or the way his muscles flexed under my touch.

"We should, um," I stammered, taking a step back. "We should try that exercise again. Your form was a little off."

Chase's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face before he schooled his features into a neutral expression. "Whatever you say. You're the boss."

I took a deep breath, willing my racing heart to slow down. This was getting dangerous. The lines between professional and personal were blurring more with each session, and I knew I was walking a tightrope. One wrong move, and everything I'd worked for could come crashing down.

"Okay," I said, forcing myself to slip back into therapist mode. "Let's work on your lateral movements. I want you to focus on keeping your core engaged as you shift your weight."

Chase nodded, his jaw set in determination. As he moved through the exercises, I admired the fluidity of his movements, the way his body responded to each challenge I presented. He'd come so far in such a short time, and pride swelled in my chest at his progress.

"That's it," I encouraged, circling around him to observe his form from all angles. "Now, I want you to add a slight rotation as you step. Remember to keep your knee tracking over your toes."

As Chase attempted the new movement, I saw him falter slightly. Without thinking, I stepped in close, my hands going to his hips to guide him.

"Like this," I said softly, demonstrating the motion. "Feel how your weight shifts?"

Chase's breath hitched, and I suddenly noticed how close we were standing. I could feel the heat of his body, smell the clean scent of his soap mixed with a hint of sweat. My fingers tightened involuntarily on his hips, and I felt a tremor run through him.

"Yeah," he said, his voice rough. "I feel it."

Our eyes met again, and this time, there was no mistaking the hunger in his gaze. My heart pounded in my chest, and for a wild moment, I thought about closing that last bit of distance between us and finding out if his lips were as soft as they looked.

A sharp knock at the door shattered the moment. We sprang apart like guilty teenagers, and I smoothed down my scrubs, trying to compose myself .

"Come in," I called, wincing at how breathless I sounded.

The door opened, and Dr. Frost stepped in, followed by a man I didn't recognize. He was tall, with dark hair and piercing green eyes that immediately settled on me.

"Ms. Owen," Dr. Frost said, her tone clipped. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Not at all," I said quickly, perhaps a bit too quickly. "We were just finishing up some balance exercises."

Dr. Frost nodded, then gestured to the man beside her. "I'd like to introduce you to Dr. James Andrews. He's joining our team as a consulting orthopedic surgeon."

Dr. Andrews stepped forward, extending his hand with a dazzling smile. "Please, call me James. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Owen. I've heard great things about your work."

I shook his hand, acutely aware of Chase's eyes boring into me from across the room. "Thank you, Dr. Andrews. It's nice to meet you too."

"James," he corrected gently, his hand lingering on mine a moment longer than was strictly necessary. "I was hoping I might observe some of your sessions. Your approach to sports rehabilitation is quite innovative, from what I understand."

I felt a flush creep up my neck at his praise. "Oh, I don't know about innovative. I just try to tailor my approach to each patient's needs."

"And she's damn good at it," Chase's voice cut in, sharp and unexpected. I turned to see him standing with his arms crossed, a scowl darkening his features. "Best therapist I've ever worked with."

Dr. Andrews raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking between Chase and me. "Ah, you must be Mr. Callahan. I've been reviewing your case. Impressive progress you've made. "

Chase grunted in response, his eyes never leaving me. The tension in the room ratcheted up a notch, and I felt caught in the crossfire of some unspoken male rivalry.

Dr. Frost cleared her throat, breaking the awkward silence. "Well, we'll leave you to finish your session. Ms. Owen, perhaps you could show Dr. Andrews around the facility when you're done here?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. As they left the room, I caught Dr. Andrews giving me one last appraising look before the door closed behind him.

The moment they were gone, Chase let out a low whistle. "Well, well. Looks like you've got an admirer."

I spun to face him, my cheeks burning. "Don't be ridiculous. He's just interested in the clinic's methods."

Chase snorted, a bitter edge to his laugh. "Yeah, right. And I'm just here for the stellar conversation."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Chase's eyes met mine, blazing with an intensity that took my breath away. "Come on, Trinity. You're not blind. The guy was practically undressing you with his eyes."

I felt a flare of indignation, mixed with a confusing cocktail of other emotions. "That's completely unprofessional, Chase. Dr. Andrews is a colleague, nothing more."

"A colleague who'd like to be a lot more," Chase muttered, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

I took a deep breath, trying to regain control of the situation. "I think we're done for today. You should ice your knee and get some rest."

Chase's face fell, and for a moment, I saw a flash of vulnerability in his eyes. "Trinity, I-"

"I'll see you on Friday, Chase," I cut him off, my voice firm but gentle. "Keep up with your home exercises, okay?"

He nodded, his jaw clenched tight. As he gathered his things and headed for the door, he paused, his hand on the doorknob. "Just be careful, alright? Guys like that, they don't always have the best intentions."

Before I could respond, he was gone, leaving me alone with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. I sank into my chair, burying my face in my hands. What was happening to me? I'd always prided myself on my professionalism, on my ability to maintain boundaries with my patients. But Chase Callahan had stormed into my life and turned everything upside down.

And now, with Dr. Andrews in the picture, things were only getting more complicated. I couldn't deny that he was attractive, in a polished, sophisticated way that was the complete opposite of Chase's rugged charm. And the idea that someone like him might be interested in me was flattering, to say the least.

But as I sat there, trying to sort through my jumbled thoughts, I couldn't shake the memory of Chase's eyes, the way they'd darkened with desire when I'd touched him. The way my body had responded to his proximity, igniting a fire in my veins that I'd been trying desperately to ignore.

A knock at my office door startled me out of my reverie. I looked up to see Dr. Andrews, James, leaning against the doorframe, that dazzling smile still in place.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," he said smoothly. "I was wondering if you might have time for that tour now?"

I glanced at my watch, realizing with a start that I'd been sitting there lost in thought for nearly half an hour. "Oh, of course. Just let me grab my things."

As we walked through the clinic, James peppered me with questions about my methods, my approach to different injuries. I relaxed as we talked shop, grateful for the distraction from my tumultuous thoughts about Chase.

"You really are as impressive as they say," James said as we finished the tour, stopping outside my office. "I have to admit, I'm a little intimidated. "

I laughed, shaking my head. "Trust me, I'm not that impressive. I just love what I do."

"It shows," he said softly, his green eyes intense as they met mine. "Listen, Trinity. I know this might be a bit forward, but would you like to grab dinner sometime? I'd love to pick your brain about some cases I'm working on."

I blinked, surprised by the invitation. "Oh, I... that's very kind of you, Dr. Andrews, but I'm not sure if-"

"James," he corrected gently. "And it doesn't have to be anything formal. Just two colleagues discussing work over a meal. What do you say?"

I hesitated, my mind racing. On the surface, it was a perfectly innocent invitation. A chance to network, to learn from someone at the top of his field. But I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was more to it than that.

And then there was Chase. The memory of his jealous reaction earlier sent a confusing mix of emotions through me. We weren't anything to each other, not really. He was my patient, nothing more. I had no obligation to him beyond his recovery.

So why did the idea of going to dinner with James feel so wrong?

"I'll have to check my schedule," I said finally, buying myself some time. "Can I get back to you?"

James nodded, his smile never faltering. "Of course. Take all the time you need. I'll be around for a while, so there's no rush."

As he walked away, I leaned against the wall, my head spinning. What was I doing? Why was I even considering this? I had a strict policy against dating colleagues, let alone patients. But here I was, caught between two men who were both firmly in the "off-limits" category.

I made my way back to my office, collapsing into my chair with a groan. My eyes fell on Chase's file, still open on my desk from our session earlier. His fierce blue eyes stared back at me from his player photo, and I felt a flutter in my stomach that had nothing to do with professional interest.

"Get it together, Owen," I muttered to myself, closing the file with more force than necessary.

But even as I tried to focus on my paperwork, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was standing on the edge of something big. Something that could either make or break both my career and my heart.

As I packed up to leave for the day, my phone buzzed with a text. My breath caught when I saw it was from Chase.

Sorry about earlier. I was out of line. Still friends?

I stared at the message, my thumbs hovering over the keyboard. Friends. Was that what we were? Could we ever really be just friends with this undeniable tension simmering between us?

Finally, I typed out a reply: No need to apologize. We're good. See you Friday.

As I hit send, I realized I was smiling. Despite all the complications, despite the professional boundaries I was dangerously close to crossing, the thought of seeing Chase again made my heart race in a way that no one else could.

I walked out of the clinic, the cool October air nipping at my cheeks. As I climbed into my car, I caught sight of myself in the rearview mirror. The woman looking back at me seemed different somehow, her eyes bright with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

"What are you getting yourself into, Trinity?" I asked.

But deep down, I already knew the answer. I was falling for Chase Callahan, hard and fast. And now, with Dr. Andrews in the picture, things were about to get a lot more complicated.

As I drove home, my mind raced with possibilities. Should I accept James's dinner invitation? It could be a great opportunity for my career. But the thought of Chase finding out made my stomach churn.

And what about Chase himself? The way he looked at me, the electricity that crackled between us whenever we were close, was intoxicating. But he was my patient. Any relationship beyond the professional could jeopardize everything I'd worked for.

I pulled into my parking spot, my head pounding with the weight of my dilemma. As I made my way up to my apartment, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was standing at a crossroads. Whatever decision I made next would change everything.

I unlocked my door, kicking off my shoes with a sigh. My phone buzzed again, and I pulled it out, half-expecting another text from Chase. Instead, it was James.

Hope I'm not being too pushy, but I'd love to take you to that new Italian place downtown. Friday night, maybe?

I stared at the message, my heart racing. Friday. The day of my next session with Chase. The day I'd been looking forward to all week.

As I collapsed onto my couch, I realized I had a choice to make. And whatever I decided, there was no going back.