“Is that a rhetorical question?”
“The silver lining is that I get to make you sweat.”
“Some people pay to see that, you know.”
Of course she knew Jordan got paid millions for his skills on the ice. Still... “Don’t you ever stop?”
“Not when it’s this much fun.”
“Well then, I guess it’s time for me to stop making it so enjoyable for you.”
“You know, I really was going to let you off the hook today.” Jordan shrugged. “Cole came to see me because you were adamant about not being my therapist. Obviously, you’ve had a change of heart.”
Now she looked like an opportunist. She didn’t know that Marisa had followed through and told Cole to have a talk with Jordan. “Why didn’t you cancel your appointment? Or ask for someone else before your scheduled time?”
“I didn’t want you to look bad at the office. I figured it would be better if the word came from you.”
Sera lowered her shoulders. She felt bad—guilty... Damn him. She was only trying to help her brother!
Jordan just stood there, being himself—all sexy. Badass abs and chiseled pecs under a formfitting T-shirt, square jaw, magnetic green eyes and all.
Sera gritted her teeth again. She could do this. She...owed him. “Thanks.”
He cupped his hand to his ear. “What was that?”
And just like that, they were back to squabbling. She knew she was rising to the bait, but she couldn’t help herself. “Thank you...for giving me the opportunity to see you grunt and sweat.”
Jordan laughed but then started leveraging himself onto the treatment table. “Ready when you are.”
She moved aside his crutches and then helped him stretch his legs before him. When he was settled, she examined his knee. After a few moments of poking and prodding, she had to admit he was coming along nicely. “The swelling is about as good as we can expect at this stage.”
“So I heal well?”
She looked up. “You’re a professional athlete at the top of your game. It’s not surprising.” When he looked pleased, she added, “Today we’re going to focus on increasing mobility and improving your quad function even more.”
“Sounds...fun,” he remarked drily. “You know, it’s amazing we didn’t know each other in high school. You lost some opportunities to kick my butt.”
“Amazing isn’t the word I’d use.” More like a relief. Her teenage self could have gotten into big trouble with Jordan. As it was...but she was older and wiser now.
“Marisa mentioned you grew up in East Gannon. Right next door.”
“And yet a world away.” East Gannon was Welsdale’s poor cousin. People had small clapboard homes, not mansions with expensive landscaping.
Jordan looked thoughtful. “Welsdale High played East Gannon plenty of times.”
“I didn’t pay much attention to hockey in high school. I left that stuff to Dante.”
Jordan’s expression registered surprise. “And you call yourself a New Englander?”
She stuck out her chin. “I played volleyball.”
Jordan’s eyes gleamed. “An athlete. I knew there must be something we had in common.”
Sera stopped herself from rolling her eyes.
“And you also box to stay in shape, from what I understand,” he murmured. “So two things we have in common.”
“I doubt there are three,” she countered, and he just laughed.