Page 45 of Love or Leave

"Yeah, that's me."

"What?" Fran asked.

Blake nodded. "Well, it's actually Elliot Beebethe third, which is why I never officially changed it to Blake Hunter when I started in show business."

Show business.

Antonio held in a laugh as Fran stared in wide-eyed horror at her… boyfriend?

He shook off the sick feeling that the word “boyfriend” brought and tried to act like a professional.

"So, Elliot," Antonio started. "What brings you in?"

"Well, I was in the woods for a segment on winter survival for preppers, and I had to take a shit. So I popped a squat off the trail and ever since, my ass has been on fire."

Antonio nodded as he set the file down on the table and took a pair of gloves off the wall. "When was this?"

"Three days ago. It's brutal."

"Has it been getting worse?"

"Oh, yeah," he said with a wince as he shifted his weight from one hip to the other.

"Let's take a look."

Fran turned up her nose as she twisted in her seat and rested her elbows on her knees. Then she dropped her head in her hands. Maybe she'd just realized she wasn't cut out to be a survivalist’s girlfriend.

Blake unzipped his pants as he rolled over, then pulled his pants and underwear down in one shot, revealing the worst poison ivy rash Antonion had ever seen.

It was all over his butt, between his cheeks, and spreading toward his scrotum. Luckily, it didn't look infected.

At least not yet.

"This is embarrassing," Blake muttered, his voice muffled by the paper-covered pillow.

"I've seen worse," Antonio lied, feeling a little bad for the guy. He was in an incredibly vulnerable position. And in a lot of pain.

"I heard you killed a wolverine. What was that like?" Antonio tried to distract Blake as he spread his butt cheeks apart to see if the rash was blistering where there was friction.

"It was such a fucking thrill. And it tasted incredible."

Antonio shuddered. "I can't imagine that's true."

Blake laughed. "Yeah, well, I hadn't eaten for three days. Bear shit would have tasted incredible at that point."

Antonio laughed. The guy actually seemed kind of cool—as much as it pained him to admit.

"Okay, we're done." Antonio removed the gloves and tossed them in the wastebasket by the sink. "It's definitely poison ivy. And it looks pretty bad where it's rubbing."

"I didn't know you could get poison ivy in the winter."

Antonio nodded. "All parts of the plant, even the roots, will cause a reaction."

"It hurts like a bitch."

"I'm not surprised. I'll write you a prescription for cream. Apply it twice a day and try not to wear any clothing."

Blake snorted. "Guess I'll be lounging around the house naked," he said. "Sorry, Fran."

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