Page 4 of Making the Call
“Why is that?” I ask, genuinely interested in her answer. There’s a look of determination that I don’t find on many others. It’s as if she’s internally kicking herself for getting injured, and I’m not entirely sure why. It was obviously an accident.
Letting out a huff of breath that washes over my chest like a live wire sending electric pulses throughout my body, she states dejectedly, “I have a deadline in the next few weeks that I need to meet. There’s no way I can work on my computer, when I can barely use my hands. God, I was just getting ahead, too. Nancy’s going to kill me.”
“Is Nancy your boss? I’m sure she’ll understand,” I offer, trying to show sympathy.
“No, she’s my editor.”
Before either of us can say anything else, Dani’s distracted by the hydrogen peroxide I pour onto her knee, and she instantly gasps. “Fuck! Give a girl some warning. That shit hurts like a sonofabitch!” She lets out a low hiss, then lowers her voice as “DAMN! FUUUCK! SHIT!!!” come out in a slur of words. She takes in a deep breath and holds it, while I press on the cloth to take the sting away. I can’t help my smile when I realize this sexy woman could curse a sailor out of a bar with that mouth of hers. She’d definitely give the boys in my locker room a run for their money and would certainly make them stand up and listen. I nearly lose it when she suddenly turns tomato red and covers her face with her hands. “I am so sorry,” she mumbles from behind her splayed-out fingers.
“No worries, Dani. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” I can’t help when the corners of my lips tip up. “I’m honestly quite impressed you weren’t cussing up a storm when I arrived on the scene. I watched you go airborne and skid across the pavement.” I can’t help but cringe at the image that replays in my mind.
“God, this is so embarrassing.” She shakes her head and refuses to make eye contact.
I reach my hand under her chin and guide it to make her look at me. “Dani, you have nothing to worry about. Seriously. I just want you to be okay.”
When our eyes lock, I’m not sure what comes over me, but I find myself sucking in a breath to steady myself.What the fuck was that? Focus, Luke. This isn’t the time. She doesn’t seem to be like a girl who is into one-night stands, and that’s all the fuckin’ time you have these days. And let’s face it, you don’t even have time for that.I shake my head and regain control of myself.Sort of.
“I know,” she whispers. “I do appreciate your help. Please know that.”
I release my hold on her chin and try to focus on getting her left elbow clean. It only has a bit of debris in it, so it cleans up quickly. When the last of her battered body is bandaged up the best it can be, I offer her some ibuprofen to reduce the swelling and pain. I quickly make my way into my kitchen for a glass of water and the bottle of pills. Upon my return, she quickly gulps it down and rests back on the lounge chair I had placed her in.
“Would you like to sit here for a bit while I fetch your bike and look for your phone? Here, put your number into mine, so I can search for it easier.” I reach my arm over, handing her my phone.
Without any hesitation, she dials her number. When she places it back in my hand, I notice she’s already pressed send and hung up. “I’ll be right back,” I say to her as I hop off my porch and jog down my driveway.
