Page 70 of Doc Defence


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“Oh. Yeah. Makes sense.” Frost grabbed the waistband of his tracksuit pants and started to pull them down.

“What!” Hel slapped her hand over her eyes, wincing when her palm contacted with the already sore skin of her left eye. But she was too slow and glimpsed more of his boxer briefs than her racing heart could cope with.

“Sorry,” he apologised.

“That’s alright. Put the blanket over your lap and let me know when you’re decent.” Hel hoped he couldn’t hear the hitch in her voice and stood there waiting, desperately trying not to let her imagination run rampant about what the rustling meant or worse, take a sneaky peak through her fingers.

“Ready,” Frost finally said after what felt like an eternity.

Hel took her hand down from her eyes and was relieved to see the blanket now covered him to his knees—a small part of her brain said she wasn’t relieved, she was disappointed.

Shushing herself, she grabbed some gloves from the box on the wall, stepped forward and got to work.

It only took her a couple of minutes to cut the plaster off, and she ignored the whole time that she was touching his bare skin, well, she mostly ignored it.

When she pried open the plaster and removed the dressing from his wound, she sighed with relief. His wound was clean, with no redness or sign of infection. She carefully probed at it. He had no spot tenderness, and the bone underneath didn’t seem to be sore.

“That all looks good. I think we should do the MRI anyway. But I don’t think you need antibiotics. It’s likely you’ve got a viral infection, and it’s making everything hurt.” And she was still stroking her hand over the skin of his leg. She really should stop.

“Great,” Frost growled.

The rumble of his voice made her gaze spring to his. He was smiling at her, a small, knowing smirk on his face as if he knew what she was thinking. She snatched her hand away and dropped her eyes to his leg.

“I’ll go and grab the plaster trolley to redo your leg. I’ve got another four hours of my shift to go. Do you want to head home now? Or you can relax here if you want to, and I’ll drive us home.” Shit, she said us, as in they had a home together.

She had never called the shared house she lived in home, yet the house she shared with Frost felt like home. Or maybe it was him that felt like home. She flushed a little and turned away from him but couldn’t stop the smile when she heard his tired voice quickly answer.

“I’ll ride home with you.”

CHAPTER 24

FROST

Frostdozedfortherest of Hel’s shift. He seemed to have a sixth sense though, and woke every time Hel stuck her head around the curtains to check on him. He would stare at her through lowered lashes, not letting her know he was awake, and he didn’t miss the soft smile that crossed her face every time she looked at him.

“Hey. How are you feeling?” Hel’s quiet voice was close to his ear.

Frost opened his gritty eyes and smiled sleepily at her. “A lot better.” He had improved after they gave him some painkillers.

“That’s great.” Hel held something out to him. “I brought you these.”

Frost glanced down at her hand to see a couple of kids’ popsicles being offered to him.

“They’re made of oral rehydration liquid. It might make you feel a little better. You eat them, and I’ll finish up a couple of things. Then I’ll be ready to go.” Hel reached out and touched his forehead with the back of her hand. “Your temperature’s a little better.”

Frost’s temperature didn’t feel better when her hand was in contact with him. In fact, her touch made him hot under the collar. Well, hospital gown neck. Glancing down at his rumpled appearance, he got a whiff of himself, and all he smelled was sickness and sweat. He clamped his arms to his side, hoping Hel couldn’t detect the sour stink emanating from him.

“Thanks,” Frost said.

She touched his forehead again, and it took everything he had not to lean into her hand.

And when she left, he stared at the spot in the curtains she left through for a long time before he ate the icy treats.

“Don’t even think of complaining about the transport,” Hel announced as she pulled the curtains open and gestured to the hospital wheelchair.

Frost grinned. “I’m learning to do what I’m told when you’re around.”

He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, pausing for a moment when his head spun.