Page 26 of Hogging the Hunk
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“No. Now pull over.”
Realizing it was hopeless to keep arguing, I accepted defeat and eased over onto the shoulder. Leaning forward so Beckett could inspect the damage, I winced when my skin caught on the leather seat.
“Whoa.” Beckett sat up straighter. “This was from one cat?”
“They might have ganged up on me a couple of times.”
Beckett tsked. “You need an entire box of Bandaids. Go back to the drugstore. We need some supplies.”
“I’m shirtless. Isn’t that what they throw people out for?”
She rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance. “Fine. I’ll get the supplies. It’ll be quick, then I can get you taken care of before you get an infection.”
Having already confessed my schedule was of my own making, and accepting that she had the advantage for determining what was needed for my mangled back, I did as Beckett said. It was a short jaunt to the drugstore. Beckett left almost immediately, and my leg commenced jiggling like it’d chugged a case of energy drinks. I hadn’t fully weighed out the consequences of offering her a ride home when I saw her in distress. All I’d wanted to do was help.
Twenty minutes later, I was having a hard time crushing the warm fuzzies filling up the space where my lungs should have been.
Beckett jogged to the truck, a bulging plastic sack swinging from her arm. She smiled like a kid who’d been gifted a candy shopping spree. I leaned over and opened the door for her and she climbed in. “Alright! Lean forward.”
“Here?”
Her eyes shifted. “Yeah… I do work for a mobile medical company, you know. I work wherever I’m parked.”
I wasn’t exactly sure where I thought she would scrub me clean. A back alley would have been questionable, while parking at my clinic would have fired up Bonita’s wagging tongue. I leaned forward against the steering wheel, exposing my back.
“Those cats didn’t want to go, did they?” she said, rubbing around the lacerations with alcohol wipes.
“Can’t blame them.” My teeth clenched when Beckett dragged a sterile wipe across a cut. The sting traveled all the way up my back and I tensed.
“Sorry.” Beckett’s voice was barely above a whisper, though her breath registered on my skin. Pinpricks preceded goosebumps. “They might not appreciate it, but they’ll be better for it. It’s not like there’s a shortage of unwanted kittens in the world.”
“That is true.”
“I thought Remi only did wildlife rescues.”
I didn’t mind the conversation with Beckett, though I was having a hard time concentrating. My answers were delayed and brief. It was the same as when Beckett was in my arms, being toted down the hillside. Touch was the common denominator. Even with gloves on, I could feel the pressure of her fingers, and her warmth. Gloves did nothing to block out the rest of the senses either.
“You know Remi. She can’t help herself. If there’s an animal in need of help, she shows up for the rescue. I’m thinking she needs to invest in a cape.”
“That would be epic.”
Beckett opened a package of liquid bandage, painting it on the more superficial gashes. I could see her reflection in my side mirror. The tip of her tongue ran along her upper lip while she concentrated. Covering my eyes, I rubbed my fingers into my sockets, trying to extricate the image of Beckett licking her lips. It was unintentionally sensual and I wouldn’t be able to hold back a groan if I witnessed it again.
“Am I hurting you?”
Yes.
“Not terribly. I’ll live.”
“Almost done.” The empty bottle of liquid bandage was replaced with a box of heavy duty, waterproof bandages. “You’re going to look like a patchwork quilt when I’m done.” She laughed, pulling herself up short. “You’ll need help removing these.”
“Ellie can peel them off when they’re ready to be changed.”
“Is she alright with that kind of thing?”
I shrugged, immediately regretting the movement. The skin on my back protested with an angry twinge. “She’ll be fine.”