Only Her Christmas Miracle - Cami Checketts Page 0,1

also assure you I am a competent dermatologist, graduated with my doctorate and specialty from Yale, have worked as a dermatologist for the Army for four years, and am more than qualified to diagnose your rash.”

“I’m sure you’re very competent.” She couldn’t resist looking him over and thinking he indeed seemed more than competent. “But you have to understand that I was expecting a kind, classy lady doctor. Your mother, who I’m comfortable seeing me in my tighty-whiteys and then you—" she gestured to him— “walk in all handsome and smelling good and …”

His brows arched up.

“I just made this awkward,” she finished miserably.

“Not at all.” He was obviously trying not to laugh. “I promise to be professional about seeing you in your ‘tighty-whiteys.’”

She pushed the robe down under her legs tighter. “Oh, no you won’t, because it is not happening.”

His eyebrows lifted. “Are you refusing treatment because I’m a … man?”

She gave him an imperious glare. “Don’t you dare try to make me feel bad for the big, strong, handsome military doctor.”

Dr. Hamilton stared at Ashley, pinning her in place. If there was ever a look so beautiful and appealing that made her want to fling herself into some handsome doctor’s arms, this was it. Was she in an exam room or a sauna? She was hot all over. She’d been engaged seven times and couldn’t recall feeling this level of attraction. Dang, she was a hot mess.

“Are you refusing treatment?” he asked quietly.

She was thrust back to the reality of her situation. She was sitting half-naked on an exam table, covered with a nasty rash. Almost on cue, she felt a horrific itch start on her abdomen. She fought to ignore the need to scratch. She needed help, and his mom wasn’t here. She’d have to give the good-looking doctor a chance to treat her.

“I’m not refusing treatment,” she said just as quietly. “Can you please recommend something for my rash?”

“I can.” His confidence radiated from his smooth skin. He stepped in close, his firm abdomen brushed the outside of her leg, and his palm touched her arm. The warmth of his fingers penetrated her skin and soothed her rash. She wanted to beg him to touch her again and again. His gaze darted to hers and she was lost in a sea of blue. His fingers gently explored the skin of her forearm. He looked down and seemed to be studying it as he continued to run his fingers over the skin.

His gaze met hers again as he lifted both hands to the back of her neck, and then he started to untie the strings holding her gown on.

“What are you doing?” she shrieked, batting his hands away and holding the gown together.

His eyes registered confusion. “You gave me permission to examine your rash. I’ve just looked at it on your forearm, but your chart says it covers your chest, abdomen, and back.”

“You are not examining my chest.” She could hardly catch a breath. She should get out of here and just down Benadryl until the rash hopefully went away.

“Miss Casey.” He sounded exasperated and offended. “I’ve already told you I’m a professional. I’m not trying to … undress you.”

Her cheeks flushed. She felt awkward and stupid. The nurse kept her gaze on the computer as if she was as uncomfortable as Ashley. This man was a doctor, and she was acting like he was a hot man trying to undress her. Well, he was a hot man, but he had medical reasons for needing to see her rash. Still … she couldn’t handle it.

“You can look at my legs and my arms,” she insisted. “And … my back, I guess, but you are not checking out my chest and abdomen.”

He held up his hands in surrender, looking amused and frustrated at the same time. “All right.”

“All right.” She gave him what she hoped was a challenging look. This situation was already embarrassing. This handsome, appealing man was going to look at the disgusting rash covering her body and she was making it worse. To add insult to injury, her back was now itching as badly as her stomach. She clenched her fists to keep from scratching.

Dr. Hamilton looked over her arms and her legs and then came around behind her and lifted the thin gown away so he could look over her back. She shivered from the cool breeze and the knowledge that he could see her bra strap and the top of her underwear. She