Page 16 of Crazy Little Thing Called Love
“It sounds like to me you know exactly what you want,” he said. “Take your pantyhose off so I can clean that scrape.”
Faith eyed him warily, wondering if this was an excuse to get his hands on her. Yet her knee throbbed painfully, so she complied, slipping the torn nylons down her legs.
She sighed and tried to ignore the throbbing behind her eyes. Why was he being so nice? What was the catch?
“I don’t think this is going to work, Jake.”
“I haven’t even applied the antiseptic yet. I’m a very competent medic, I promise.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. I don’t think you and I are going to work out. I’ve had time to reflect over the past few weeks, and I’m not ready for a relationship. I’ve got unresolved issues that I’m clearly still processing. Look at me. I’m a mess.”
What she couldn’t bring herself to say was that she couldn’t bear the thought of becoming another conquest, or worse, a woman who’s made a fool of while her husband traipses around with someone else on his arm. The mere possibility felt like a knife twisting in her chest. She couldn’t take that kind of hurt from Jake.
“Are you ever going to tell me about the man who broke your heart and left me with such an uphill battle? I bet I could help you move past it.”
“Doubtful,” she said. “Unfortunately, you seem to share some of his qualities. I’m trying to sift through what’s perception and what’s reality.”
“Hmm,” was his only response.
“All you’re going to say is hmmm?”
“No. I’m going to focus on your knee and pretend you just told me how much you enjoy spending time with me and about how we have so much in common and can talk and laugh for hours and not even realize that time has passed us by.”
Jake’s hands were gentle as he cleaned the scrape, but Faith noticed the slight tremor in his fingers.
“You’re shaking,” she said quietly. He paused, meeting her eyes.
“You scare me, Faith.”
“I scare you?” Her voice came out breathier than intended.
“Every day.” His thumb brushed across her wrist, and she shivered. “The way you look at me sometimes, like you’re trying to figure out if I’m worth the risk. It makes a man take an assessment of himself.”
Faith’s pulse jumped under his touch. “And am I? Figuring it out?”
Instead of answering, he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her bandaged knee. Her sharp intake of breath made him look up, and whatever he saw in her face made his eyes darken.
“I’ve got to get back to work,” he said, but he didn’t move away.
Neither did she. The past weeks had been a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She’d found herself looking forward to their shared lunches, enjoying the way he listened intently when she spoke about her work. She’d caught herself watching him from the trailer window as he directed his crew, admiring his competence and the easy way he related to his workers.
And then there were the quiet moments that threatened her resolve—the evening he’d brought dinner after she’d returned late from the station, the afternoon they’d spent reviewing architectural plans at the kitchen table, his shoulder pressed against hers, the morning he’d arrived with coffee to find her still in pajamas and somehow made her feel beautiful rather than embarrassed.
“I thought you had to get back to work,” Faith said, arching a brow.
“Right,” he said, rising to his feet. “Duty calls. Some eccentric doctor bought a dilapidated whorehouse and expects miracles. I figure I’d better deliver since her patience seems to be wearing thin.”
“She sounds like a challenge.”
“I’ve always loved challenges.”
He paused at the door, turning back with a more serious expression. “The Halloween festival downtown is this weekend. Ruth is judging the costume contest, and I promised I’d attend for moral support. Come with us. Just have fun. I think maybe, Dr. Hartwell, there hasn’t been enough fun in your life.”
Before she could respond, he was gone, leaving her sitting in his trailer with her heart racing. The invitation was casual, unthreatening—exactly the kind of outing that would be difficult to refuse.
Faith examined the newly bandaged knee, replaying their interaction. Something had shifted between them over these weeks. Jake Murphy had methodically inserted himself into her daily routine, becoming a fixture she both anticipated and feared. The house was gradually being restored to its former glory, each day revealing new beauty beneath the decay. She couldn’t help drawing parallels to her own carefully guarded heart.
As she changed into more comfortable clothes, she noticed the calendar hanging on the trailer wall. October was slipping away, Halloween approaching quickly. The festival was a beloved community tradition, with street vendors, hayrides, and a massive haunted house that raised funds for the local children’s hospital. Ruth had mentioned her judging duties several times, clearly hoping Faith would attend.
