Текст книги "Incinerate"
Автор книги: Tessa Teevan
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Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 26 страниц)
“Knox, we’re both grown adults. We have junk. I’m pretty sure I saw it plenty of times when Mom put us in the bath together when we were kids. What’s wrong? You afraid your little brother’s going to find out he has a bigger dick than you?” Cohen asks, cracking up at the thought.
I glare at him, and he grabs the fresh boxers, putting them on me and pulling them up to mid-thigh. He stands there staring at me, waiting for me to finish.
“Umm, a little privacy, Coh?” I ask, again feeling angry that I need this assistance.
He turns around, but not before saying, “You’re going to need help getting pants on, so chill out. I promise not to peek until you’re fully covered, but come on, man. I know all the guys in your unit have probably seen the goods, so I don’t get your modesty.”
He’s right, but in my weakened state, I don’t want anyone to see a single part of me. I lift my hips and bring my fabric over my ass to cover myself fully. Moments later, I’m dressed in dark-toned jeans, a fitted navy blue t-shirt, and a solid black ball cap that helps shadow the bruising on my face. I slip on flip-flops, not wanting to further have Cohen dress me by tying my shoes.
Looking in the mirror, I’m satisfied with my appearance and more than happy not to see the damn brace on my back. Yeah, I should have it on, but I’m not going to a damn bar wearing that thing. One night without it might actually improve my mood. I spray one spritz of my favorite cologne, Dolce & Gabanna’s Light Blue, before heading down the hallway.
I find Cohen and Jace sitting in the living room watching the Braves game. This must be the week that Lexi’s not visiting, because usually they’re glued to each other, kissing and hugging and doing all that annoying shit couples ‘in love’ do.
“Damn, dude, I wasn’t sure that pretty mug still existed under all that facial hair and the angry scowls,” Jace jokes, earning a glare.
“Oh yeah? Well, I barely recognize you without the one-hundred-pound blonde appendage you’ve seemed to acquire since we got back to the States,” I shoot back at him, feeling like an asshole the moment the words leave my mouth.
In true Jace form, he just laughs it off. I’m still skeptical about this chick, but I have to admit I’ve never seen him so happy. He shrugs off my response, calling me a jaded ass in the process.
I know he’s right, but I’ve had eleven years to harden my heart, so one love story isn’t going to soften it. I hope for Jace that she’s in it for the long haul, because I don’t think I can see him heartbroken over her again. The past few weeks she’s been visiting me with him, and when I look at her, I swear I can see a girl in love, but I saw that in Megan, too. I have to admit that there’s something different about Lexi, but I’m still reserving judgment.
Cohen helps Jace off the couch and hands him his crutches. We make our way out to the car, where my brother helps me get into the back seat, as the doctor advised us to keep me away from airbags. Within moments we’re on our way to the bar, the first time I’ve been out in weeks. I’m not looking forward to going out, but I’m craving a cold draft, so I’ll deal with Cohen’s hooking up if that’s what it takes to get one. Glancing out the window, I let the radio drown out any thoughts I have, wondering what the night will bring.
Charlie
APPARENTLY DANCING turned into ‘watch the Braves game with Lucy, Jenna, and Jenna’s boyfriend Brad.’ I’m actually okay with this turn of events since I don’t feel like bumping and grinding with strangers tonight. Absentmindedly, I’m sitting at the bar, twirling the straw in my Bloody Mary, watching the game on the television. To be honest, I couldn’t care less about baseball. I’m a football girl through and through, with Dad raising me as a Bama fan. The off-season is the worst time of the year, and I get bored watching baseball. Jenna and Brad are enthralled with the game, and Lucy’s off at a pool table watching a couple of cute guys play.
I wonder what the hell I’m doing here when the bar door opens and three sexy-as-sin men fill the entrance. Two of the guys are laughing as one leads the other on crutches to an open table right near the bar. They’re both attractive, the taller of the two with dark black hair cut short and just enough facial hair to look like he’s been ignoring his razor for a few days. His smile is killer, reaching all the way to his eyes as he laughs at something the shorter, cute blond guy says as he gestures to the other guy in the trio.
When he comes into view, the sight of him stops my breath. He’s gorgeous in a rugged, I-just-got-done-chopping-wood kind of way. His tall stature probably puts him at six foot two at least, and the way the tight t-shirt hugs a muscular frame has my mouth watering. I haven’t been this attracted to guy in…well, ever. It took Drew three times to ask me out before I finally said yes, but right now I’d take all my clothes off and dance on the bar if this guy wanted me to.
Down, girl. I shake the dirty thoughts of his wood out of my mind and continue to check him out shamelessly. My eyes are drawn to the cast on his left arm, and I notice his slow movements, indicating that he may be injured in other places. He definitely has the soldier look, freshly shaved face and buzzed hair. The thought that he’s a wounded warrior from Ft. Campbell crosses my mind, and I’m suddenly reconsidering Lucy’s rebound suggestion.
At this point I’m all but staring as he braces against the table to sit down. I notice the hard jawline of his face, his cheeks flexing as if in pain. The dark-haired guy places his arm on his shoulder, and the rugged man simply shakes his head and holds up a hand in a gesture that says ‘I’m fine.’ A moment later, his face transforms as he gives a heart-stopping smile to the waitress, showcasing dimples in both of his cheeks. Something about his features draws me in, and I have to make a conscious effort to stop looking at him before he realizes he has a stalker.
When I turn back to my drink, I suddenly feel lonely, even though Lucy wanted this to be a fun night out for me. Okay, she did invite me over there, but I declined. She said that she’d stay back with me, but I waved her off, telling her I’d be fine by myself. And here I am, sitting at the bar while Jenna and Brad are sucking face in the corner and she’s still off flirting with the pool players. Sighing, I order a beer and spend another twenty minutes or so playing around on my phone, getting more and more irritated at my friends. I’m almost ready to leave when I feel a presence next to me, and a masculine scent fills the air. It’s a mixture of wintery pine and cleanliness, and somehow I know it’s him.
Glancing up, I notice the sexy dimpled guy next to me trying to get the bartender’s attention, and I wonder why, since he had that waitress earlier. If I were her, I’d be making sure he was taken care of all night long. And yes, I mean in more ways than one.
Taking a deep breath, I decide to put myself out there. I don’t know if it’s the loneliness or the alcohol talking, but I’m ready to take the plunge after two months of feeling sorry for myself.
Reaching up, I tap him on the shoulder and he finally looks down at me. I smile up at him, and I’m entranced as I take in his features up close. The masculinity shows on his face, with strong cheekbones and a squared jaw. His nose is chiseled perfection, and I feel a pool of heat between my legs as I imagine him nuzzling his face against my neck, down my body, in between my legs. His lips are full, waiting, wanting, needing to be kissed, and it takes everything in me to stop from licking my own. He’s the antithesis of Drew, and that thought spurns a fire in my belly that I haven’t felt in a long time. His left arm, the one in a cast, is situated on the bar. I can see the vast span of his hand, his long fingers stretching in the bar light. Immediately, I imagine those fingers touching me, teasing me, and I have to shake my head to get my mind thinking straight.
He looks at me curiously, probably wondering why I touched him but can do nothing but stare. Before I can speak, the bartender shows up and he impatiently places his drink order. I’m still curious as to why he’s at the bar when I saw him talking to a waitress, but to be honest, I don’t care. I’m just glad he’s here next to me where I can study him up close and personal.
Once he gets his beer, he gingerly turns towards me, as if trying not to aggravate the unseen injury I’m now positive he has. I hold my hand out to his good one, and he shakes it lightly. My fingers tingle when his touch mine, and I shiver unexpectedly, a movement that causes his eyebrows to rise as he watches me over the top of his beer.
“Charlotte,” I tell him, not sure why I decide to use my given name, seeing as everyone’s called me Charlie since I was a baby. I don’t know why, but something about this guy oozes sex appeal, and Charlotte sounds so much more appealing, sophisticated, and sexy.
His hand lingers on mine as his long fingers graze my skin. Once his shot appears, he removes himself from my touch and takes it in one quick gulp. Looking down at me, he smirks, a cocky grin spreading over his face. I clench my thighs together as a wave of lust washes over me as his gaze moves up and down my body, pausing for a moment on the ample cleavage that my halter top is showcasing. Looking back up at my face, he clears his throat and shakes his head as he catches me licking my lips.
“Sorry, sweetheart. Maybe another time, another place, Charlotte, but not tonight,” he whispers in a sexy, hushed tone before he turns and walks away from me.
Mortified and kind of in shock, I gape after him, watching his luscious backside saunter away from me as he rejoins his friends. He glances over at me and gives me a wink, and I want to crawl under the bar and pretend I don’t exist. Of course, the first time I attempt to flirt with a man he turns me down flat. Then again, I only told him my name and stared at him like he was a masterpiece in an art gallery, drooling over him and unable to make conversation. I’m not sure that qualifies as flirting.
Rejection sucks, so when the bartender comes around, I order two shots of tequila and another beer to wash the sting of embarrassment away. I’m going to be feeling like ass tomorrow, but I’d rather forget tonight, so I down both shots in quick succession, my brain swimming, wondering why this stranger is affecting me so intensely.
The rest of the night drags on as Lucy continues to flirt with the guys at the pool table, and I begin to wonder why she even bothered to invite me. This was supposed to be an anti-guy night, drinking cocktails and dancing the night away, but it was turning out to be anything but that. I’m on an island, having switched to beer, drinking alone and playing on my phone as I watch everyone else have fun. And the one time I tried to hit on a guy? It was a failure of epic proportions, shut down before I could even get started.
Signaling to the bartender for my check, I’m ready to leave when someone plops down in the barstool next to me. Not looking up from my captivating game of Words with Friends—Dad is currently kicking my ass—I hear a throat clear, causing me to finally tear my gaze away from my phone.
A dazzling smile greets me as my eyes meet the bright blue ones of the friend Rugged Man was sitting with. Yes, I’ve deemed him Rugged Man, because I never got his name, and I-Want-To-Take-Him-Home-And-Play-Naughty-Nurse-Until-He-Makes-Me-Come Man is just way too much of a mouthful. Come to think of it, I bet he’s a mouthful, too…
Blue Eyes clears his throat again, and I can feel the crimson blush creep onto my cheeks as I push the erotic thoughts out of my mind.
“Hey, Charlotte, right?” he asks, and I groan to myself, wondering if Rugged Man told his friend about my less than stellar flirting abilities.
Taking a drink of my beer, I swallow before answering. “Yes, I’m Charlotte. I’m assuming your nameless friend over there told you that,” I comment, tilting my beer towards the table where his two buddies are sitting.
He laughs and nods, and on any other day I’d probably be swooning at the sight of him. Unfortunately, I saw the other guy up close and personal first, and despite his rejection, I still want him more. Setting his crutches against the bar, he studies me before holding his hand out. I place mine in it, and his strong fingers close in around mine as we shake hands.
“Jace McAllister. Look, I couldn’t help but over hear your…non-conversation earlier, and I just wanted to tell you that it’s not you.”
Unable to contain my laughter, I nearly choke on the sip of beer I just took and it burns my nose when I snort. Real sexy, Charlie. Rubbing my hands over my face, I cannot believe what I’m hearing. “Oh, Jesus. Fucking custodians and now the brush-off? Are you seriously giving me the ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ line for your friend? Please, God, tell me this is not happening.”
His brow furrows and he starts to protest, but my tirade continues. “Look, my life is pathetic enough. I’m sitting in the middle of a bar, playing Words with Friends with my dad while my best friend salivates over guys playing pool. I try, for the first time in two months, to talk to a guy and he’s not even interested in my name. And you know what? Yesterday, I’d be a huge melting pool of lust with one look in your mouthwateringly gorgeous blue eyes—bluer than I’ve ever seen to tell you the truth—but today? Nope. All I see is Rugged Man. So please, take your ‘it’s not you’ and shove it up his ass.”
I huff and down the rest of my drink, slightly mortified that I just went off like that but patting myself on the back at the same time. Jace is staring at me, eyes wide for just a moment before he busts out laughing, shaking his head at first me and then someone behind us. Turning around, I see Rugged Man scowling at both of us before turning to talk to the other guy sitting next to him. After glaring at him, I turn back around to Jace, who’s still chuckling.
“One, I’m not going anywhere near his ass, so you can forget that. Two, he didn’t send me over here to say anything, and I’m not here to hit on you. I swear. I’m happily taken. Here’s the thing. He’s not exactly in the best place right now, but he really doesn’t mean to be an asshole. He just comes across that way.”
I sigh, realizing I’m not surprised this one’s in a relationship. She must be one lucky lady. “Why are you telling me this? He wasn’t even really a jerk. He just…gave me the brush-off. It’s no big deal. Really. It’s fine. I don’t need an explanation.” Shooting him a confident smile, I pray he’s done with this line of conversation. It’s mortifying enough that I look so pathetic sitting by myself that he had to approach me, and I don’t want him thinking I need him to apologize for his friend.
He nods and positions his crutches so that he can get up from the stool. “I believe you. I just wanted to make sure that you knew that he has issues right now and any other time I know he’d be dying to ask you out. Maybe we’ll see you around, Charlotte?”
As much as I’d love to get to know these guys, I’m silently hoping I never have to see them again and that this night will become a very distant memory. Instead, I grin at him. “Sure. I’m sure we’ll run into each other sometime around town. Y’all have a good night.”
He gives me one last look before crutching back to his table. I watch him expertly maneuver across the bar, and I can’t help my take one last glance at Rugged Man. His eyes are watching me, and a cocky grin spreads across his face as he catches me checking him out. Before I can do anything, Lucy finally remembers that I’m here and she stands in front of me, blocking my view. She has the two pool players with her and she introduces them to me as Ben and Michael. They’re both attractive and friendly as we move to a high-top table and make easy conversation.
It becomes pretty apparent that Lucy’s wanting us to pair up, and as nice as this guy is, I can’t stop sneaking peeks at the object of my night’s affections. As the next two hours pass, I can feel his eyes watching me, and I swear I catch a scowl on his face when Michael’s hand grazes the small of my back when we get up to leave.
Right before exiting the bar, I take one last look back. His dark eyes pierce mine, momentarily paralyzing me in my spot. The cocky grin is gone, and all I see is lust, anger, and something else. The combination confuses me. His eyes graze down my body one last time, and I’m mesmerized as my legs begin to gravitate towards him. Before I can make it two steps, Lucy grabs my arm and leads me out of the bar, my eyes not leaving his until the door closes in my face
Chapter 4
Knox
I WAKE up with a pounding headache, wishing I hadn’t had so much to drink the night before. I haven’t been able to drink in months, first from being deployed and then from the pain pills. That combined with the lack of appetite I’ve had lately, also because of the damn pills, makes for one fucking lightweight. Feeling like a teenager who got drunk for the first time, my mouth is dry as hell, and my stomach is rolling. I’m regretting the extra tequila shots I took after I blew that girl off.
Getting up out of the bed, I’m thankful that Cohen helped me put on a pair of basketball shorts last night before he headed to the guest room. His being gone is really going to suck ass. I’m probably going to end up smelling awful and looking like a bum. There’s no way I’m letting some strange guy help me get dressed.
As I brush my teeth, I can hear Cohen moving around the kitchen and I silently beg the gods of hangovers that he’s brewing coffee. I desperately need caffeine after a night of drinking and then tossing and turning with thoughts of the beautiful Charlotte, whose gorgeous whiskey colored eyes have been on my mind since we last locked gazes before her friend dragged her out of the bar with those two asshole guys.
I have no idea why I care, but every time the guy next to her touched her hand or grazed her back, my body tensed and I got irritated as hell. It’s completely irrational, especially since I made an ass of myself when she was only trying to introduce herself. I know I’m still reeling from seeing Megan, and honestly, I’m in no fucking state to get involved with anyone.
Right, because a chick introducing herself means she wants you. Whatever. I’m sure I’ll never see that girl again, even after Jace tried to do damage control—not that I needed or wanted him to. I’m not sure what my issue is, but there was something in the way she looked me over that I couldn’t stop thinking about. She was looking at me, the man, and I swear I felt a stirring in my dick when I caught her licking her lips. It was the first time in weeks that I hadn’t had to ignore the sympathetic, pitying looks, and for some reason it unnerved me, catching me entirely off guard. Deep down, a part of me feels like a dick for the brush-off, but I know it was for the best. Plus, she had Jace, Captain fucking America himself, to make her feel better.
Leaving the bathroom I make my way down the hall and find Jace lounging on the couch, watching Cohen playing Metal Gear Solid on my PS3. I get a head nod from both of them as I head to the kitchen, where I’m relieved to find a full coffee pot waiting for me. Grabbing a mug, I fill a carafe so I won’t have to get back up, because after a night out without my brace, I’m feeling sore as hell. Right now, I want nothing more than to sit in my recliner for the rest of the day without moving an inch.
When I’m about to settle into the recliner the doorbell rings. I glance at the clock on the wall and realize that my babysitter is here half an hour early. I’m grateful that Jace and Cohen are both still around. Who knows what kind of man is showing up to volunteer to help me? The doorbell rings again, and I’m already irritated with the impatience of this person. They both look at me questioningly, obviously not willing to stop their game to open the door. Setting down the coffee, I slowly walk towards the front door, and I hear a knock. “Hold the fuck on!” I yell, already not liking this Charlie guy.
I’m swearing as I open the door, stopping mid-sentence when my eyes meet the same big, beautiful brown ones I haven’t been able to stop thinking about. When she sees me, she inhales sharply and looks down at the piece of paper in her hand. How in the hell did she find out where I lived? Jace… It had to have been Jace.
“Stalkin’ me, sweetheart?” I ask, leaning my right shoulder against the doorframe as I watch the frown spread across her face. She takes a step back, checks the address on the side of my house, and then looks back at me.
“Unfuckingbelievable,” she whispers, groaning as her small, delicate hand rubs her forehead. I’m slightly taken aback at her comment, seeing as she’s the one who’s found herself on my doorstep.
“Good morning to you, too, sweetheart. If you came looking for Jace, you’re the most delusional broad I’ve ever met.”
Glaring at me, she places her hands on her hips. “First of all, we’ve never had the pleasure of meeting. I’m pretty sure I introduced myself and you blew me off. Second of all, I’m not here for Jace, although I wouldn’t mind telling him he’d be better off giving you a lesson in manners rather than cleaning up after you.”
“Who is it?!” Cohen yells from the living room, and Charlotte takes it as an invitation. She picks up the briefcase that’s sitting at her feet, shoving past me and into the house in the direction of voices. God dammit, I do not need this right now, I think as I shut the door and follow her into the living room. Apparently her entrance is worthy of a game pause, and both Jace and Cohen are looking back and forth between the two of us, watching the show playing out before them.
“Charlotte?” Jace asks hesitantly, slowly pushing himself up into a sitting position on the couch.
She gives him a wave as Cohen questions, “You know her?” Jace gives a slight shake of his head and then reminds my brother that she was at the bar the night before. Cohen’s eyes widen, and I know he remembers the mood I was in after our encounter.
Before anyone can speak, I spout off, feeling more than irritated. “What the hell are you trying to pull, J. Mac?”
Crinkling his nose, he looks at me, at Charlotte, and then back at me. His eyes light up as if something’s magically popped into his head, and he falls back against the couch in a fit of laughter. Glancing at Charlotte, I can see that she’s trying to suppress a grin as she watches him, and I feel a bitter pull of jealousy over the fact that he’s been able to make her smile when all I get are glares.
“Dude, what the fuck is wrong with you?” I ask, breaking his fit of hysteria. His laughter dies down and he meets my eyes, his grin spreading like crazy across his face.
“Knox, this is Charlotte… Charlotte, meet Knox,” he says, waving his hand between the two of us.
She slowly turns and looks at me, but I notice I don’t get the same grin from her that Jace does. I tip my head towards her, pretending that I’m not wanting to drown in those deep brown eyes.
“God, you’re a fucking idiot,” Jace says, breaking my concentration.
“Umm, what the hell?” I ask, but I’m interrupted by a sweet, Southern drawl.
“Excuse me, boys, but I need to get to work. Now that we’ve done the introductions, I need the details on his injuries, his needs, and what I can do to accommodate him.”
Cohen’s mouth drops open at her statement, and my one-track mind is moving right along with him. I may not be in the market for a relationship, but I’m suddenly ready to allow her to accommodate me anyway she wants.
Jace clears his throat, grabs his crutches, and gets to his feet. He quickly asks Cohen for a ride back to his apartment, and Charlotte and I are left standing in the room alone as they head towards the front door. I want to protest, not wanting to be left alone with this girl for a single second, but I know Jace is determined to make it happen. She frowns after the guys as they go to leave, and we both follow to see them out. Cohen’s out the door first with Jace right behind him, and I’m mentally cursing the fact that my brother packed his car already. Before he gets off the porch, Jace turns towards us, a stupid shit-eating grin flashing across his face.
“Knox, meet Charlie. Charlie, this is Knox. Take good care of him. You two have fun getting acquainted,” he says, tossing her a wink.
Charlie
“YOU’RE CHARLIE? Volunteer, be-my-pain-in-the-ass-babysitter-for-the-next-few-weeks Charlie?”
I have no idea what the hell is going on as I look back and forth between Jace and the guy that I now know as Knox. A dark scowl spreads across his face as he finally makes the connection. I’m not sure who he was expecting, but apparently it most definitely wasn’t me. Shrugging my shoulders, I hold out my hand, hoping that he’s in a better mood than he was last night.
“Charlotte Davenport. But yes, most people call me Charlie for short,” I inform him, wondering what the big deal is. He stares at my hand, which I promptly drop as his eyes reach mine and I can see something flicker in them. Something that looks like anger or frustration, and it confuses the hell out of me. When he looks at Jace, his scowl deepens.
“Did you know about this?” he asks, prompting Jace to hold up his hands, shaking them in denial.
“She introduced herself as Charlotte to me, too. It wasn’t until she started talking about needing to know how to take care of you that it clicked that she was probably the Charlie you were expecting. Look on the bright side, man. Now you don’t have to worry about some creepy guy changing your boxers for you,” Jace says, grinning and shooting me a wink.
In all my volunteering, I’ve never had to change the clothes of any of my assignments, and normally I’d draw the line at it. That’s what nurses are for. But the thought of seeing his muscular body without any clothes on makes crossing the line seem that much easier.
Taking the moment to check him out, I already know I’m in trouble. He’s wearing nothing but athletic shorts, and those are riding low on his hips, showcasing those tempting V-sculpted oblique muscles every woman seems to fall in love with. A small trail of light hair peeks out of his shorts and leads up to a toned stomach, and I can see the outline of a fading six pack, presumably suffering from his lack of physical inactivity. My eyes continue their exploration and I notice that his pecs are the same way. They’re certainly defined, but I can tell that some of the muscle tone has gone away since he’s been unable to exercise. I have a feeling that this probably has something to do with his less than sunny disposition as I know how these guys love to use physical exertion to let out their frustrations.
I make a mental note to research his injuries and talk to Dad to find some way to allow him to do physical activity that won’t hurt him further but that will let him expend some energy. A throat clears, and I’m pulled out of my thoughts. I realize that the two of them are staring at me, and I notice that the other one has joined them.
“Hey, Charlotte. I’m Cohen, the better-looking Wellington brother.” He grins as his brother scowls at him, and I’m wishing his personality would rub off on Rugged Man. “Listen, thanks for doing this. As much as I’d love to stick around and take care of his cheery ass, I’ve got finals. I left my number on the kitchen counter, so if you need anything, just give me a call. Make sure he wears his back brace until the doc says he doesn’t have to.” He pauses, frowning when he notices that Knox isn’t currently in the brace he just mentioned. “He doesn’t have to sleep in it, and we didn’t put it on before you got here. Come on inside and I’ll show you how to do it.”
The four of us make our way back in the house, and I still find myself in shock that I’m here with these guys. Jace sits down on the couch and props his leg up as Cohen leads Knox and me down a hallway into what I’m guessing is Knox’s room.
“Cohen, I was fine last night. I don’t need it. I’m not going anywhere anyway until my appointment next week. As long as I take it easy and sit in the recliner, I’ll be fine,” Knox says in protest, and upon seeing the huge contraption he’s supposed to wear, I don’t blame him for protesting.
Shaking his head, Cohen doesn’t seem to agree. “That was a one-time thing to get your grumpy ass out of the house. You’re not getting out of this, and you better not be an ass to Charlie either when I’m gone.”
Sighing, Knox resigns himself to wearing the brace. “Fine, whatever.” His brother goes to town showing me how it works, and I can’t help but notice the way Knox flinches when my fingers graze his skin as I follow Cohen’s movements.
“Normally with a brace like this he’d be able to put it on himself, but with his broken arm, he obviously can’t make it work. Here, let me take it off. I want to watch you do it just to make sure you’re comfortable with it.”
Dad’s made sure that I’ve taken numerous first aid classes, but I’ve always had an issue with pain that I don’t think I’ll ever get used to, so I’m extremely nervous to put this brace on him. When Drew used to ask me to dig out an ingrown hair with his tweezers, I could barely get my fingers to stop shaking in order to do it. There’s something about knowing I’m potentially inflicting pain on someone else that makes me cringe. When I take the brace out of Cohen’s hands, I have to tell myself to calm down. As I move towards him, Knox stands there stoical, watching my movements. Standing right in front of him, I’m unnerved by this close proximity and the task at hand. Closing my eyes, I shake my head, telling myself that I’m being ridiculous and there’s no way I’m going to hurt him more than he already is.
Before I can mentally pump myself up, I feel his hot breath graze my ear. “Any day now, sweetheart.”
