“This might sting a bit,” I warned as I tore open the package. “Did you hit your head on impact? Experience any dizziness since yesterday?”
“No to both,” she answered, and I nodded.
“Good. Now, deep breath,” I watched her keenly, and when she did as I asked, I swiped the wipe across her cuts.
There was no hiss of pain. No startling whatsoever.
She held my gaze like a challenge, and my lips twitched.
She was stone cold.
I’d cleaned more lacerations than I could remember over the past ten years, and I had a pretty good eye for patients who would rather throw themselves into a live volcano than show signs of weakness.
And she was definitely one of them.
I may not test well, but I could do this without faltering, working quickly and thoroughly. Within a minute, I had antibacterial cream and bandages on every single cut I could find.
“All done.”
She extended her leg and inspected my work. “Tidy,” she complimented.
“Thank you.”
Our eyes met again, and the trash scraps from the bandages crinkled as I fisted my hand against my thigh.
“Need a hand up?” she asked.
“Please.”
She stood up, and a fresh wave of lavender crested over me as she held out her hand.
I slid my hand into hers, not for a moment doubting her strength.
She helped me up, and when I was taller than her again, our eyes met.
This time, when she put my crutch under my arm, she was gentle.
8
IRELAND
“Wanna push the button?”
I stared up at the confusing man beside me as the elevator doors closed. “Am I a child?”
His dimple popped as he smiled, not seeming at all put off by my tone. “Definitely not.” He looked down at me and shrugged. “Just habit to ask, I guess. It’s floor three.”
I snorted and reached past him to push the “3” button.
“See?” he said as he leaned back against the rail. “Wasn’t that fun?”
“So fun,” I deadpanned.
The nervous man had all but disappeared between the conference room and here, but I saw a glimpse of him return when he clasped the back of his neck. My gaze was drawn to his bicep hidden beneath the fabric.
“Thank you, for… you know. The Band-Aids.”
He dropped his hand and gave me a smile, but it was small. It wasn’t the same one he wore after that insane lunge he pulled off to get to his knees.
