A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

Cooheart's POV

I couldn't understand myself. Why would I let some stranger's physical closeness and fragrance fluster me? I must be going crazy.

I tried my best to concentrate on Sek's instructions as we went through the leg strengthening exercises.

I initially did not feel any pain as we went through the last rep of my leg strengthening exercise but when Sek helped me up from the exercise mat, a sharp pain shot through my thigh.

"Oww...oww..." I was trying to say as softly as I could but Sek heard it and also noted the facial grimace I was making.

Instead of assisting me to hop to my wheelchair, he scooped me up in his arms and settled me into my wheelchair.

I looked into his eyes as he was setting me down and he looked into mine as well. Our faces were inches close to each other. I was pretty sure that he could hear the embarrassingly loud beating of my heart against my chest.

When he straightened up I noticed that he was all flushed in the face.

"I'm sorry I must weigh a ton," I said. 

I assumed that the pink tinge on his face was due to having to carry me to my wheelchair. I should weigh myself on the bathroom scale later. I should stop eating too many carbs. I should tell Rose to prepare more vegetable dishes and to serve me only fresh fruits for dessert.

"Oh no, you're not heavy at all," Sek denied diplomatically. "Would you still be comfortable moving on to the other exercises or would you like to stop for now and wait until the effect of your pain pill has completely kicked in?"

"Ummmm..." I considered his question carefully. But first, wow, he had managed to change the topic skillfully. We were no longer talking about how heavy I was that it had caused him to get all flushed in the face. "Okay, yeah, I guess I should rest for a few minutes. Would you like a cold drink?"

"I would love that, thank you," he said while busying himself with flipping through the papers on his clipboard.

"Would a glass of ice cold pomegranate juice appeal to you?" I asked.

"That would be perfect," he said, not looking at me because his face was still buried in the papers that he was studying intently.

Sek's POV

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

I hoped that Cooheart did not notice my neck and my face. I could tell by the warmth that crept up to my neck and face that I was blushing hard. I wanted to kick myself for allowing myself to get affected by his nearness. I had never experienced this with any other client before. This was totally not acceptable.

I lowered my face and pretended to study the papers attached to my clipboard so as to hide my face from Cooheart.

I immediately accepted his offer of a cold drink. I definitely needed that. It was the next best thing to a cold shower.

I thanked the housekeeper for the dark red juice that she handed me. I took a big gulp and felt the cold rush going down my throat. Somehow it managed to take away the feeling of warmth in my neck.

"For how long have you been doing this?" Cooheart asked.

"Huh? Doing what?" I felt like such an idiot for having to ask him to clarify his question.

"Physical therapy," he replied with the patience of a saint.

"Oh! Not too long ago. I'd say close to three years," I informed him.

"I figured longer than that because you apply such good techniques on me," he said with a smile.

For some reason that comment brought back the warm rush to my neck and face all over again. I quickly downed the rest of my pomegranate drink.

After a few seconds of silence, he started talking again.

"You don't have to name names but which client did you have the hardest time with?" he asked, his eyes fixed intently on me.

"What do you mean?" I countered. Again, I felt stupid for having to ask him to clarify his question.

"I mean, which kind of client's injury did you have the hardest time helping to recover?" he asked.

I did not have to think long or hard about it.

"It was a student who broke both arms and legs in a car crash. He had been involved in an illegal street racing. That was a year ago. It took me close to a year to help him recover. His parents had to pay out of pocket when they ran out of insurance coverage," I replied.

"Wow," was all he said.

"Are you ready to start a new set of exercises?" I asked.

He gently rubbed his injured thigh. For some reason the way he was doing it made it look so seductive to me. I shook my head to drive away unwanted thoughts.

"Why are you shaking your head?" he asked. "Did you change your mind?"

Oh shit, he noticed it.

"No, no, no, if your thigh doesn't hurt anymore then we can do another set of exercises," I said quickly.

"Actually, I still feel a dull ache that might get sharper if I insist on doing any more exercises," he remarked. "Maybe it would be best to postpone my therapy for now."

"Very well then," I said, relieved that I could get away from the temptation of holding him close and stroking his back gently.

I stood up to take my leave.

"Wait," he said, grabbing my wrist. "Will it be you again who will do my next session?"

"No," I almost added 'thank god' to that. "It's going to be Singto. I just filled in for him today because he's not available to do it."

His face fell. Or did I just imagine it.

He took a deep breath before saying, "I would like for you to be my therapist for the rest of my session days."

"I... I... I... " I hated myself for stammering like an idiot. "You might have to call my agency to confirm that request."

I did not know whether to panic or to thank the highest heavens for this bountiful grace that had just been showered upon me.