“No kidding, your face. What the hell were you doing? I outweigh you by at least seventy pounds.” He checked for loose teeth, relieved when they seemed solid.
“Uh, no offense, bro, but maybe you can save the lecture for later?” Charlie suggested.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Reece grumbled. Part of him was glad Charlie was there to keep him in check, but another part of him was mad at himself for letting his emotions overrun him. He knew better than that. He wastrainedbetter than that. His SAR persona came on board, and he ordered Charlie to get his kit from his truck.
While Charlie loped away, Reece ran through some field tests to make sure Neve’s neck was okay. Then he inspected the gash on her chin. The wound wasn’t as bad as the blood made it look, but he was more worried about a concussion. She hadn’t lost consciousness for long, but shehadlost it. He instructed Charlie to apply gauze while he ripped a length of tape and gingerly secured it to her jaw. She didn’t flinch. She was a trooper, he’d give her that, even if her attempted check on him had been a dumb move.Reallydumb.
Charlie dropped his voice so only Reece could hear. “Dude, you need me to take over? Your hands are shaking, man.”
Reece had this weird caveman energy going on and didn’t know what to do with it.
“No. I got this. I’ll take her home and get her chin cleaned up so I can tell if she needs stitches.”
“I can stitch myself,” little Miss Badass announced. She gave Reece’s arm a weak shove.
“Yeah? And just how are you going to do that, sweetheart?”
She canted her head and winced. “Did you just call me ‘sweetheart’? That’s twice now.”
Oops.“Uh, slip of the tongue. I call all my rescues ‘sweetheart.’”
Charlie guffawed.
Reece fired off a shut-the-fuck-up glare at his brother. He was borderline insane right now without a clue as to the reason, but his over-testosteroned brain registered that Charlie was right. Reeceneverused terms of endearment with anyone, including the people he rescued, nor did he get all balled up with barbed wire inside. Usually, he was a master at keeping his distance. But not with Neve. He was way too close to this, but he’d be damned if he would let anyone else take care of her.
“What else can I do?” Charlie offered.
“Bring my gear to the truck.” With one arm around Neve’s back and the other tucked under her knees, Reece scooped her up off the ice and cradled her close to his body, sharing his warmth as he made his way back to the truck.
She flailed in his arms. “I can walk.”
“Maybe.”
“Put me down!”
“Nope.”
“I’m too heavy,” she protested.
“Light as a feather, and stop arguing.” He placed his patient in the front seat after Joy, who had apparently tagged along, opened the door for them.
“You’d better take care of her,” his sister-in-law warned.
As if!He had no intention of doing otherwise. Ignoring Joy, he carefully strapped and buckled Neve in. He stared into her eyes, relieved that they had returned to their normal denim blue. “How’s your head feeling there, Spicy Margarita?”
“Hurts.”
“No surprise. Good thing it’s so hard.”
She stuck out her tongue, and he chuckled as he rounded his hood. The smile he sent Charlie and Joy was a full cheek pull. “She’s going to be fine.”
Charlie clapped. “Thank fuck.”
“Amen to that,” Joy agreed.
Reece wasn’t so sure about himself, though. Deep down, he was aware that his heart had crossed an earth-splitting line, baring itself to him and everyone at the rink. He wasn’t sure how comfortable he was with the revelation. He also wasn’t sure he’d be able to turn it back.
Chapter 22
