“Have you been taking the silver and elderberry syrup?”
“No.Just last night.”
She made a tsk-tsk sound and brought both bottles to the table.He accepted the liquids she measured out and slammed them back.“Thanks.”
She settled her palm on his pec.Her cold extremity chilled his skin through the material of his shirt.“We should get some movement in your chest.”
He cocked an eyebrow.“How should we do that?”
“I could do some needling, and cupping would be great to push out any blockage in the lungs.”Her tone was professional.Concerned.If she had any inclination to get him naked, she wasn’t showing any signs.“If you’re comfortable with that, of course.”
“Does it hurt?”The question was moot.If McKenna wanted him half naked on a table, he’d gladly oblige, needles and all.And if he was completely honest with himself, the thought of seeing her at work—and learning more about her craft—excited him.
He wanted to know her.Everything about her.
“Nope.Some people even fall asleep.”She looked at the clock on the wall.“It’s almost noon.We can do a treatment later.I want to dig out all my necessities so we’re prepared for when it gets dark.Think you can start a fire?”
He followed her gaze to the fireplace and stood.“No problem.”
And damn if his chest didn’t puff out.Thumping his pec like a gorilla would’ve been less primitive.
***
Nausea swelled inher belly, and McKenna fought down another swallow.Between the asshole creeping around her property and the prospect of treating Jaxon, her nerves were shot.If it hadn’t been for Jaxon’s coaxing smile, she wouldn’t have been able to get down a bite of breakfast.After glancing at his crouched form in front of the fireplace, she swooped her hair into a ponytail and skirted to the hall closet adjacent to her room.
She unfolded the stool from the closet and stretched on her tippy-toes to reach the box of items she’d put together in case she ended up snowed in without power.Which was stupid.If she ever had to access the dumb box in a hairy state, climbing onto the stool and rummaging in the dark wouldn’t be the safest option.But her tiny cabin had few storage areas, and she’d learned the hard way how difficult it could be to find stuff in a small, cramped space.Organization was key.Besides, she needed every cupboard in the kitchen to dry herbs and store all her remedies.
She tugged the box into her hands over her head and its awkward weight shifted her balance.Her ankles wobbled on the small plank.“Shit,” she breathed.
Firm hands grasped her hips.She jumped, but Jaxon steadied her.“Don’t fall.You’ll knock yourself out on one of these walls.”He nodded at the tight hallway.
She sighed and regained her footing, but he didn’t let go.One hand wrapped around her waist and the other took the box from her grip.Grabbing the doorframe, she stepped down from the stool.His hold fell away and her body screamed for it to return.
“Thanks.”
His mouth lifted in a smirk.“These are your life-saving necessities?”He gave the box a shake and she took it from his hands.
“I’ll have you know I’ve got six months’ worth of food and water stored in the cold room.”After the words were out, she clamped her lips tight.No one but Josie and Dez, her friends and fellow hippies in town, knew about her supplies—but they also had their own.Telling people about your survival stash wasn’t a good idea, just in case there was a bad shortage one day.Nothing made people more vicious than fear.
Jaxon’s eyebrows inched up.“Six months, huh?Preparing for a zombie apocalypse?”
She headed for the living room.The crackle of roasting firewood met her ears, soothing her jumpy nerves.“No, that’s what my underground bunker is for.”
He stopped in his tracks and his eyes widened.“For real?”
She scoffed.“Of course not.Who do you think I am, James Bond?”
“Darn, you were starting to seem really cool for a minute there.”
Her laugh boomed out from her throat.She lowered the box to the old wooden table her grandfather had made years ago and fought the urge to press her fist to her lips.Where had that laugh come from?So deep.So personal.
Like Jaxon.
“I’m the coolest person you know,” she said with a grin.“You just haven’t realized it yet.”
His eyes held a playful glint.“You’re growing on me.”He dropped into the armchair he’d passed out in the previous night and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, his gaze watchful.
She removed the lid and turned the box to show him the contents: a flashlight, batteries, candles, matches, and some other miscellaneous items.“At least we’ll have light when night comes.”
