Page 37 of Uncharted Desires
“You do add value, Kat.”
She looked away from him. “I don’t really see how.”
He wanted to wrap her in his arms and tell her all the ways she added value to him, but he knew she wouldn’t listen right now.
“You saved my life, you’re kind, you care about others, and you want equality for everyone in an industry that doesn’t know the meaning of the word. I’d say you add a lot of value.”
She gave a slight smile. “Oh goodie, I’ve continued to bless the world with Weston Monroe.”
“I suppose we can add taking down a drug ring, if you’re so inclined,” he joked.
“Seriously?” She perked up.
“No.”
She slumped back down, staring at her toes. “I think we should go up the mountain. I want to see it myself. Maybe we could find a way off this island.”
Was she crazy?
“No, absolutely not. They messed your arm up. You won’t even be able to climb.”
She picked up the backpack and rummaged around inside, pulling out the first aid kit and setting it next to her. She reached her hand back into the backpack, pulling out a glass bottle of golden liquid, and raised an eyebrow in his direction.
“That must have been in the backpack,” he pointed out.
She laughed and read the label. “Ah yes, heaven forbid you leave the rum.”
“Damn, it’s rum?”
She held the bottle of Captain Morgan up to his face and he took it, removing the cap and taking a drink straight out of the bottle, making a face as it went down.
“Not whiskey, but it will do.”
“It has to be like six or seven in the morning.”
“Doesn’t matter. It’s been six days on this island. I think we deserve a drink. Fate left this booze in that backpack.”
She laughed again, and West wanted to bottle her laughter and save it for every time he was feeling sad so he could drink it to make himself feel better. He didn’t even need the rum; he just needed her laughter and smiles. She dug in the first aid kit, finding what she needed.
“Here.” She handed him a needle and medical-grade thread. “Can you sew?”
“Uh . . . no.”
“Can you at least thread the needle?”
He took the needle, feeling more helpless than he had ever felt in his life. He hadn’t been kidding that his education had been rather lacking. There were many basic things that he didn't know. He could play the shit out of musical instruments, and he had learned a lot from Animal Planet and the cooking channel, but past that, he was helpless.
She noticed his reticence. “Just push the thread through that hole. It will be easy. That thread is sturdier than sewing thread.”
It took him a few tries, but eventually he got the thread through the needle. “Now what?”
“Just set it down for a minute.” She nodded to the lid of the first aid box. “Now can you grab the alcohol and pour some on the needle, then pour some on my arm, and then make sure I don’t pass out.”
Was she about to do what he thought she was going to do? “Kat, you’re not going to-”
“West,” she cut him off. “You can’t sew, I can, so yes, I’m about to sew my arm up, but I need to clean the wound first and that’s going to hurt like a bitch.”
If West hadn’t already thought this woman was the strongest, most amazing woman he’d ever met, she was once again about to prove to him she was well out of his league.