A Callahan Outlaw's Twins. Tina Leonard

Kendall said, and Sloan gritted his teeth. “Although since I’m on bed rest one more day, a bra isn’t essential, I suppose.”

      She was torturing him on purpose.

      “Thankfully, I have this leg wrap the hospital gave me to keep the stitches dry,” Kendall said conversationally, as if she wasn’t trying to drive him mad. She lifted the brim of his hat, peeking at him. “Comfy?”

      Not really. “I will be when you quit chattering.”

      She smiled, her blue gaze sweet. “I’ll call you if I need anything.”

      He swallowed, pinned. She dropped his hat back on his head and went humming into the bathroom. The water turned on, and he imagined her dropping her pajama shorts and camisole to the floor. Warmth broke out under his hat, lining his hatband with a trace of sweat.

      He turned his focus inside, concentrating on the beat of his heart, the rhythm of his pulse, commanding himself to calm down.

      After a moment, the wild feeling passed. He wasn’t attracted to Kendall—not at all—so there had been no reason for the surge of panic. Feeling better now that he was in control of the situation, Sloan leaned back, propping his head against the chair back, and tried to doze.

      Kendall began singing a catchy tune, and the scent of strawberry shampoo drifted out to him. He pushed his hat back from his forehead, needing air. The chair was positioned directly across from the bath, so he was right in the line of fire.

      There was a reason she was trying to get under his skin, and it had to do with control. But it wasn’t going to work. His self-control was steel forged by fire.

      “Sloan?”

      He hesitated. Went to the bathroom door. “Yeah?”

      “I forgot a towel.”

      That was as old as the trees. He wasn’t falling for it. “Drip dry.”

      She laughed. “I can’t. I have to dry the plastic sleeve that covers my stitches. I can’t get them wet. My towel is on my bed.”