CHAPTER 28
When we got inside, Jay motioned for me to wait by the kitchen counter. “Just wait here for a moment,” he said. “I’ll grab my first aid kit.”
I nodded obediently, holding the napkins to my head as Jay disappeared into another room.
I took a deep breath, berating myself for being so accident-prone. Why did I have to be such a klutz? First, the hammer incident, then the zip-line harness, and now this?
Jay returned moments later, carrying a small medical kit, and my embarrassment only grew. He set the tote on the counter and turned to me.
“Let me see.”
I didn’t immediately pull the napkins away from my head. My eyes flickered warily to the first-aid kit.
“Wait, are you even allowed to stitch me up?”
Jay paused and gave me a slow, dry look.
“What,” he said, “because I’m not arealdoctor?”
I rolled my eyes. “You know that’s not what I meant.”Of course, he was reminding me about the day I found out he wasn’t, in fact, a podiatrist.
“No?” His brows rose, and a smirk rose to his lips. “Well then, it shouldn’t be a problem for me to help you.”
“Jay—”
Before I could protest again, his hands fell to the curve of my waist, and he lifted me onto the counter.
Holy crap.I hadn’t expected him to lift me so easily.
The granite was cold even through my sweatpants, and I shivered.
Jay stepped between my legs without hesitation, his fingers finding the edge of my jaw and pressing gently. “Tilt your head.”
“Jay, seriously…” I whispered, suddenly flustered. “I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“Unless you’re planning to report me to the dental board—” He removed the napkins. “Stop worrying.”
Up this close, I could see the five o’clock shadow on his jawline and the faint sign of crow’s feet in the corners of his dark blue eyes. There was something so much more… mature about him. Maybe it was simply because he was seven years older than I was. But I didn’t think it was just that. He held himself in a way that made it seem like he’d experienced some things in his life.
He grabbed an alcohol wipe and began cleaning the area. I winced as the antiseptic stung.
“Hey. Eyes on me,Amapolita,” he demanded gently.
My gaze snapped up to his.
“Good,” he said softly. “I need your head to stay at this angle. It helps if you’re looking at me.”
I swallowed. With him so close, I could smell the scent of pine and campfire clinging to him. It was positively intoxicating.
He reached back into the kit and pulled out a small metal aerosol can.
“Lidocaine.” Jay held it up to show me before pressing down on the white cap. The spray was cool against my skin, a crisp sting that quickly softened into numbness.
“As I start stitching you, you need to tell me if you feel it,” he murmured, navy eyes intense, completely locked in on what he was doing.
He set the lidocaine aside and picked up the suture needle and thread. The room suddenly felt too warm, and I started to feel lightheaded.
You numb people’s gums all the time,I reminded myself.This should not be making you queasy.
