Free THE LAST TEMPTATION OF DR. DALTON by Robin Gianna

peculiar sensation filled his chest and he took a moment to wonder what exactly it was. Then he realized with a shock that it was envy.
    Envy? Impossible. He’d never wanted that kind of life: a wife who would have expectations of who you should be and how you should live. Kids you were responsible for. A life rooted in one place.
    But there was no mistaking that emotion for anything else, and he didn’t understand where the hell it had come from. Though Chase had never wanted that kind of life either—until he’d met a woman who had changed how he viewed himself.
    The thought set an alarm clanging in his brain. He didn’t want to change how he viewed himself. He’d worked hard to be happy with who he was and what he wanted from his life, leaving behind those who hadn’t agreed with that view. Now wasn’t the time to second-guess all that.
    Resolutely shaking off all those disturbing feelings, he continued down the hospital corridor, hoping Charlotte’s office door was closed, as it often was, since he had to walk by to get to the clinic. Unfortunately, the door was wide open and her melodic voice drifted into the hallway as she talked with John Adams.
    “I’ll be fine. I know how to use a gun, remember?”
    “I’m not okay with that, Charlie. Patience and I’ll pack a bag and move in for a few days until we’re sure it was a one-time thing.”
    A gun? What was a one-time thing? He stopped in the doorway and looked in to see John Adams standing with his arms folded across his chest, a deep frown creasing his brow, and Charlotte staring back with her mulish expression in place.
    “Except somebody needs to be at the school too, you know. After all the work and money we’ve put into the place, we can’t risk it being wrecked up and having things stolen.”
    “What are you talking about?” Trent asked.
    “This is not your concern, Trent. John Adams, please close the door so we can talk.”
    Trent stretched his arm across the door to hold it open. “Uh-uh. You want me to be stuck here for a while longer, you need to include me. What’s going on?”
    “Somebody broke into her house early this morning after she came to work. When she went there at lunch to get something, she found the door jimmied open and some things gone.”
    Trent stared at John Adams then swung his gaze to Charlotte. She frowned at him, her lips pressed together, but couldn’t hide the tinge of worry in the green depths of her eyes. “What the hell? What was stolen?”
    “A radio. The folding chairs I keep in a closet. Weird stuff. Thankfully, I had my laptop with me at work. It’s not a big deal.”
    “It is a big deal.” The protectiveness for her that surged in his veins was sudden and intense. “You can’t stay there alone, period. The obvious solution is for John Adams to stay in their quarters at the school, and for me to stay with you until I leave.”
    Had those words really come out of his mouth? It would be torture to stay in her house with her, knowing she was close by at night in her bed. Bringing back hot memories of their night together. Making him think of the unsettling closeness and connection he’d felt while they’d sat at the piano together singing.
    But there was no other option. Keeping her safe was more important than protecting himself from the damned annoying feelings that kept resurfacing.
    “That’s ridiculous, Trent.” Her eyes still looked alarmed, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t just about the break-in. “I’ll be fine. Whoever it was probably just hit the place once and isn’t likely to come back.”
    “You have no idea if that’s true or not.” He stepped to her desk and pressed his palms on it, leaning across until his face was as close to hers as hers had been to his at the airport. She smelled so damned good, and the scent of her and the lip gloss she was wearing made him want to find out what flavor gloss it was. “So, you never did tell me,” he said, mimicking what she’d said