Free THE LAST TEMPTATION OF DR. DALTON by Robin Gianna Page A

to him at the airport. “What makes you so damned stubborn and resistant to accepting help when you need it? Except when it comes to the hospital, that is?”
    “I’m not stubborn. I just don’t think this is worth getting all crazy about.”
    “Maybe not. But it’s not a hardship for me to stay at your house so you’re not alone until we see if this is a one-time thing or not.” So, yeah, that wasn’t true. It would be a hardship to be so close to her without taking advantage of it, but no way was he leaving her at risk.
    “Good.” John Adams spoke from behind him. “Thanks, Trent. I appreciate it. I’m going back to the school now. See you both later.”
    He straightened. “I’ve got patients to see in the clinic then I’ll get my things. See you back here at six.”
    “Seriously, Trent—”
    “Six.”
    As he headed to the clinic, he was aware of a ridiculous spring in his step, while at the same time his chest felt a little tight. Obviously, his attraction to Charlotte was keeping the smarter side of his brain from remembering why he needed to keep his distance. And how the hell he was going to keep that firmly in mind while sharing her roof was a question to which he had to find an answer.
    * * *
    “So, Colleen, I’m all set!” Charlie forced a cheerful and upbeat tone to her voice. “Trent has agreed to stay on until the Gilchrist rep does his evaluation. So you can wait to schedule Perry Cantwell until then.”
    “That’s great news for you, Charlie! So all your worries were for nothing.”
    The warmth in her friend’s voice twisted her stomach into a knot. Lying to her felt every bit as bad as lying to Trent, but what choice did she have? “Yes, no worries.” Oh, if only that were true.
    “I’ll let Perry know so he can plan his schedule. After the Gilchrist rep comes, give me a call to tell me how it goes.”
    “Will do. Thanks, Colleen.” Charlie hung up and dropped her head into her hands.
    How had her life become a disaster?
    As if it wasn’t enough to have the bank breathing down her neck, the plastic surgeon indefinitely delayed, Gilchrist insisting on the original stipulations of their agreement and having to skulk around lying to Trent and Colleen, she had a burglar who might come back and a gorgeous man she couldn’t stop thinking about spending the night in her bed.
    No. Not in her bed. In her spare bedroom. But that was almost as bad. Knowing his long, lean, sexy body was just a few walls away would be tempting, to say the least. But now there was an even better reason to steer clear of getting it on with him again for the days he was here.
    She was pretty sure that if he knew she was delaying Perry Cantwell’s arrival and had shoved his release papers beneath a pile on her desk he wouldn’t take it lightly. In fact, she was more than sure that his easygoing smile would disappear and a side she hadn’t seen yet would emerge—a very angry side— and she wouldn’t even be able to blame him for it.
    Her throat tight, Charlie took inventory of the new supply delivery, trying not to look at the big invoice that came with it. This whole deception thing felt awful, even more than she’d expected. But she just couldn’t see another solution. Thank heavens the Gilchrist Foundation had said their representative should be here within the week. After they gave their approval and she got the check, Trent could be on his way. No harm, no foul, right?
    The end justifies the means , she reminded herself again.
    With a box of syringes in her arms, she stepped on a stool, struggling to shove the box onto a supply shelf, when a tall body appeared next to her. Long-fingered hands took the box and tucked it in front of another.
    “Why don’t you just ask for help from someone who’s not as vertically challenged as you are?” Trent asked, his eyes amused, grasping her hand as she stepped off the stool.
    Looking at his handsome, smiling face so close to hers, a nasty squeeze of guilt