omineering manners, Callie couldn't

rlessness in his actions, a dete

iving in to her

e him behind, she decided to

s of sweat formed on her forehead as she strug

he bed, her face glistened with persp

n't allow hers

t the emergency medical k

his blood-soaked shirt just as he had d

to cutting his shirt ope

s met with a sight that almost

physique embodied near perfection, a

r, with well-developed deltoid muscl

ps and triceps, exhibiting a n

well-toned, displaying

eloped, with sculpted pectoral m

fined six-pack, with an enticing V

least half a dozen scars etched across it, with a two

isible, spoke volumes about the tum

mere half-inch from his heart, a perilous remin

through his body, leaving a star

rmy, she had never personally treated a patient wit

mited to what she had re

but one thing was certain: even with a skilled surgeo

raised mor

alia, guns were strictly

d firearms, he was either one of the angels-law

y to the latter, but the lack of any rea

llie couldn't resist the compuls

mth radiating from the man's chest,

was an

evere abdominal wound, likely m

assailants afte

n Callie's mind, her suspicions

h, Callie's duty as a doc

she was determined to

s of his identity, focusi

lean gauze to the bleeding gash, d

r elicit even a groan, but his hand instinctively gripped her

d, but didn'

ressure to his wound, de

oaked gauze did he release his gr

tinued her task, threading a needle

time, allowing her to swiftly close

nst the edge of the bed, gazin

e was in no mood to appreciate

oarse with fatigue, held a mix of annoyance and weariness. 'If you

l of carrying a man twice her

y longer and soon succumbed to sleep, her wea

*

his eyes darting around the room, taking in

domen confirmed that someo

ered Callie slumped against

and her long lashes flu

er her eyes; last night's e

en, retained a captivating cherry-red hue, e

edness she displayed when awake, re

he police, instead taking it upon

ke her, Elias tho

out of her way to save a stranger, ju