My Spy by Christina Skye

Anyone can sit on a—”
    Without warning he slid backward. Muttering, he pushed back up, opening his legs for balance. Even then he shifted slightly, rolling from side to side, his abs working to keep him upright. “I can feel this all through my back.”
    “That's the idea. This ball uses the stabilizing muscles in your back as well as your abs and thighs. It also develops upper-body strength and helps your balance.” She smiled innocently. “Especially with the ten-pound dumbbell I'm going to give you.”
    “Ten pounds is nothing.” He took the weight, working hard to stay upright. “What do you want to me to do now, balance plates?”
    “We're going to work your right shoulder, tricep, and delt. At the same time, you'll be strengthening your back and abs onthe ball. Hold the weight at your side, without moving your arms. Exhale as you raise your shoulder, inhale as you lower.”
    He worked through the movements stiffly, as if it were a fight to make his body listen, but the movements gradually became smoother.
    For thirty minutes they focused on his good arm, running through front and side arm lifts, hammer curls and biceps curls, all seated, which demanded torso strength and concentration.
    At the end of his workout, Sam was flushed and sweating slightly. Annie noticed his mouth twitch whenever he bent his left elbow.
    “Let's take a break.”
    “I want to keep going.”
    Annie blew out an irritated breath. “Your elbow's bothering you, Sam.”
    “Nothing big. I didn't even use that side yet.”
    Frowning, Annie lifted away his weight. “Pushing through warning signs is a dumb idea.”
    “Are you calling me dumb?”
    She shook her head. “I'm calling you dumb and stubborn.”
    He said nothing, massaging his elbow.
    “Let me do that.” She checked the joint, feeling for resistance. “How long have you had this knot on the back of your arm?”
    “Don't remember. Maybe I hit it when I fell last night.”
    “You
fell
and you didn't call me?”
    “There was no need. I handled it myself.”
    “I'm supposed to be helping you, Sam. H-e-l-p. That means you
call
me if you have a problem.”
    “I was clumsy and I slipped. There was no blood and the pain was minimal, so I decided to let you sleep.” His eyes narrowed. “It was the least I could do after ripping into you yesterday.”
    An apology?
    Annie opened her mouth for a scathing answer, then closed it.
No emotions,
she told herself.
Nothing personal.
“Next time wake me up. Meanwhile, I want that swelling on the back of your arm checked out.”
    “Fine.” Sam pulled a towel from the nearby table and wiped his face. Annie saw his jaw harden at the movement. “Right after we finish the workout.”
    “You're insatiable, do you know that?”
    “Am I?” Something flickered in his eyes. “I don't know what I am. I can't
remember
enough to know.” He wadded the towel tightly between his fingers. “Not one damn thing that matters.”
    Annie touched his arm gently. “You're too stubborn to let anything get past you for long.”
    “Was that a compliment, Doc?”
    “Probably not.”
    “Good. I don't think I like compliments. Criticism is more useful. Now tell me what's really wrong with your feet.”
    “I told you, I—”
    “That was the lie,” he said patiently. “Now try the truth.”
    Annie winced as her heel brushed against one of the dumbbells on the floor. “If you must know, you knocked over a glass the night you arrived. I wasn't wearing slippers.” She omitted the part about the glass slivers she'd dug out for an hour afterward.
    “Why didn't you say something?”
    “At the time I was a little distracted trying to keep you in bed.”
    “Hell.” His gaze rose slowly, following the trim line of her body. He took her hand and brushed it with his lips. “Sorry for that.”
    Annie shivered, trying not to feel.
    Trying not to remember.
    “Sorry for what?”
    He gently kissed her open palm. “For causing you pain.”
    “Forget