Page 86 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
Not love!
She swallowed hard, pressing one hand into her belly as if that could help squelch this surge of emotion.
Whatever it was she was feeling, she knew that even if she wanted to run and hide, she couldn’t. JJ needed help, and she was the only person around to give it.
The thought had her straightening.
Taking care of people she could do. It was what she did best.
A new sense of purpose helped her to shove aside the confusing mix of emotions. She strode more confidently toward the fire. Toward JJ.
She might not know the first thing about love and romance.
But cleaning cuts and bandaging wounds?
That she could do.
30
JJ heard her coming. Like a coward, he kept his head down for another moment. He didn’t fear her anger or even her judgment about his past.
But the feelings she’d stirred when he’d held her in his arms?
Yeah. That had scared him witless.
He listened to her slow shuffle across the room. Her limp wasn’t as pronounced as before, and a wave of relief flooded him. Her ankle was already on the mend.
When she was standing right in front of his chair, he finally looked up. He was relieved to see color back in her cheeks, but as for the rest of her…
He swallowed hard, his good hand clenching the tweezers in a fist as he fought a surge of heat so intense it rivaled the fire.
She’d never looked more beautiful than she did at this moment. With her hair all loose and messy, all he could think about was burying his fingers into it, drawing her close, and kissing those pink lips.
He swallowed and turned his attention back to his hand. He highly doubted she’d want him now, not after the way she reacted to his divorce confession.
“Let me.” Her voice was soft as she took the tweezers from his hand.
She knelt in front of his chair.
“But your ankle.”
“It’s okay,” she murmured. “I’m comfortable down here.” She held out her hand, silently asking for his.
It would have been fruitless to argue. A smile tugged at his lips as he laid his big, rough hand on top of hers. He watched her studying his palm. Her lips were pursed, and her gaze was focused.
So very focused and determined, his Dahlia.
He closed his eyes for a second. NothisDahlia. He had to stop thinking like that.
Meticulously and with the utmost care, she pulled out the large splinter and the other small ones that were embedded in his skin.
It hurt a little, but he gritted his teeth, waiting out the tormenting silence. If he knew what to say to make things less awkward between them, he’d say it. But he had no idea how to fix things, especially since he was pretty sure it was his own admission that had broken this connection between them.
“I’m sorry,” she finally whispered. “I shouldn’t have run out like that. It was such an idiot move. I just… I…” She shook her head with a sigh. “I have no good excuse.”
He waited until she glanced up and then gave her a little smile. He silently told her she was forgiven, and he enjoyed the soft blush on her cheeks.
“I didn’t walk out on my wife,” he murmured.
