Behind Enemy Lines by Cindy Dees

“We stand by the Boy Scout motto—Be Prepared. We have contingencies for all sorts of things, including teams getting split up.”
    “Very impressive.”
    His answering grin was downright boyish. Dang it. Why did he have to be so blasted appealing? Her plan to resist him was in a shambles, and they’d barely been together twelve hours. She was going to be a mess in a week.
    “By the way, Annie. Do you happen to know how I’ve been getting shaved for the past seven weeks?”
    His question knocked what little equilibrium she had right out from under her. She managed to mumble, “I might.”
    “Uh-huh. I thought so. Is there anything you haven’t done for me?”
    Her face heated up. “Not really.”
    His eyes glinted. Suddenly he seemed a lot less bothered by their forced intimacy than she was.
    “Do you want me to give you a shave, Tom?”
    “What I’d really like is a bath.”
    Oh, Lord. There was no way in heck she was going to manage to give him a full-body sponge bath when he was wide awake and watching her.
    “If you think you can make it into the bathroom, I’ll run a bath for you. How does a long, hot soak in a tub sound?”
    “Amazing.”
    “Great. Stay here, and I’ll get it ready for you.” Relieved to have dodged that bullet, she jumped up and headed for the bathroom.
    While steaming water filled the tub, she tucked her serviceable bar of Ivory soap out of sight and laid out shaving cream, a new razor and a towel. Grinning, she set out the array of floral soaps in frilly packages she’d bought that afternoon.
    She returned to the living room. “All set. Do you want me to put a plastic bag over your cast, or can you keep your arm dry?”
    “I’ll keep it out of the tub.”
    She nodded as he swung his feet to the floor.
    “How do your legs feel?”
    He grimaced up at her. “Like spaghetti. It’s damn annoying. Did the doc say how soon I can start working out again?”
    “You mean like exercising?”
    “Yes. Like exercising, you know, getting my strength back? Becoming mobile and self-sufficient?”
    “Tom, you’ve got broken bones all over the place.”
    “It’s been seven weeks. They must be repaired by now. Besides, I’ve had broken bones before. I feel healed.” And with that, he stood up.
    Despite his brave pronouncement, there was a distinct wobble to his steps. Annie wedged her shoulder under his arm and steadied him as they walked slowly to the bathroom.
    “That’s just great,” she griped. “You feel healed. You have no idea at all how hurt you were, do you?”
    He stopped in his tracks and gazed down at her. His arm, which rested across her shoulders, abruptly tightened.
    “I remember getting dragged through the jungle, slamming into tree after tree. I remember feeling each bone break, and I remember hoping the next tree would be the one that killed me. Believe me. I know exactly how bad I was hurt.”
    Annie felt positively sick to her stomach. She’d never dreamed he’d actually been conscious through that horrible ordeal. Dear God.
    They made their way into the bathroom in silence.
    “Tell you what, Tom. How about if I have Dr. Clark come take a look at you? Let’s see what he says about how you’re doing before you embark on any aerobics programs, okay?”
    “I don’t need a doctor.”
    “I’ll blow your cover if you don’t see him.”
    He gave her a deadly look. “I do not appreciate being blackmailed.”
    If she’d learned one thing in eight years of working with macho males, it was never to back down. Even though the look he was giving her turned her gut to Jell-O, she glared right back at him.
    “And I don’t appreciate seven weeks of my hard work caring for you going down the tubes because you’re too antsy to let yourself heal properly.”
    He replied grudgingly. “Okay, okay. I’ll talk to the doc.”
    “Thanks. Now, let me help you with your shirt.”
    She eased the shirt off his shoulders, savoring the feel of his skin sliding under her