Remy by Susan Bliler

his protective instincts.  How in the hell had Mason ever agreed to allow her to train for the tactical team?  His voice was low when he spoke. “I’m pulling you from training…”  When she opened her mouth to protest, he lifted a finger to her lips.  “For the week,” he finished.  “We’ll get you a suite and get you some rest.  On Monday, I want to see you before you head back to your barracks.”
    “I already have a suite.”
    He nodded.
    “And Mason?”
    He sighed, knowing he was due for his meeting with Mason and Monroe on her progress.  “I’ll deal with Mason.”
    “Okay.”  She was relieved he’d deal with her brother, and that he wasn’t pulling her from training permanently.  She wanted to protest the week off, but knew she had to pick her battles.  “You aren’t going to say anything to the guys…are you?”
    Hell yes he was going to talk to the guys!  “No,” he lied, and felt no guilt for it.  His tension lightened as he felt her relax in his arms.  “You don’t have to be so relieved.”
    “I just don’t want them thinking I’m some girl.”
    “You are a girl.”
    “No I’m not.” Her body went rigid in his arms.  “I’m a very determined woman .  You’d do well to remember it.”
    His gaze lowered to her chest.  “Believe me, I am well aware.”
    When he looked up, his eyes had darkened.  His finger, still lingering near her mouth, traced her bottom lip.  When her tongue darted out to wet them, she inadvertently licked his finger, causing his gaze to jerk to her mouth, and she felt his chest rumble.
    “Knock, knock.”  The door was pushed open and Dr. Jenny Arkinson, chipper as ever, waltzed in.  “Uh, sorry to interrupt.”  Her eyes shot to Harlow.  “Back again?  How’s the leg?”
    Harlow blushed to the roots of her hair.
    “Again?” Remy turned cold, accusing eyes on Harlow as they slid down to scan her legs. 
    Jenny smiled at him, nodding as she snapped on exam gloves.  “She was in just yesterday for that thigh injury.  Someone needs to be watching her back out there.  I swear, those guys are gunning for her.”  Her smile faltered as she stared at an enraged Remy. 
    “And before that?”
    “Stop it,” Harlow hissed at him.  “My medical history is none of your business.”
    He turned on her with a frown. “You said you didn’t want to come in here because Mason would find out, but that wasn’t it, was it?”  He looked at Jenny.  “What else has she been in for?”
    “None.  Of.  Your.  Business!”  Harlow squirmed in his arms.
    “Joining my team is the reason you endure training isn’t it?  Your medical history is very much my concern!”  He turned his attention back to Jenny.  “What else have you seen her for?”
    “Uhh,” Jenny looked from Harlow to Remy, “just routine care.”
    “And…” he prodded.
    “And a few injuries that are typical for the training she’s enduring.”
    “Such as?”
    When Jenny didn’t immediately respond, Remy growled, “I can pull her medical file or you can tell me what I want to know.”
    “What about doctor-patient confidentiality,” Harlow protested.
    “Doesn’t apply here.”  He kept his gaze pinned on Jenny.  “As the Commanding Officer assigned to trainees, I am within my rights to review all trainee medical records whenever I see fit.”
    Jenny sighed.  “He’s right.”
    Harlow gritted her teeth as her anger swelled.
    “Well,” Jenny began, “in the past few weeks, I’ve seen her formally for a sprained wrist, a concussion, the cut to her thigh, and now this.  Oh, and malnutrition.”  Jenny turned to eye him curiously. “She said you’d sent her.  Is everything okay?”
    Harlow watched his expression darken. 
    “Cut?”  He turned to scowl at her.  “How in the hell did you get cut?  We haven’t started weapons training.”
    She shook her head.  He might be privileged to her medical history, but he had no right to her knowledge.