palm was soft, small, cool to the touch...and yet, he felt scorched. Asinine. It was only his damned neck.
She swallowed. “I take back what I said.”
Wondering if he’d ever understand her, Tucker asked, “Which part?”
“About you being an obtuse man.” Her fingers stroked a little. “You have amazing reflexes, and I... I appreciate that you thought of me.”
Tucker had no idea what to say to that. Truthfully, when he’d realized what would happen, he’d been able to think only of her.
“I mean, I know you’d have done the same with any woman. I’m not insinuating... That is, I realize...” Her voice faded and she shook her head, then said firmly, “Thank you.”
After doing his best to behave, it was crazy that her uncertainty would push him right over the edge, but that’s what happened. For once she wasn’t flirting, wasn’t flaunting that teasing persona.
At this moment, here—with him—she was open and vulnerable and real.
Needing to touch her, comfort her, Tucker put his knuckles under her chin and brought her face up to his. Those summer-sky eyes searched his, and he saw her dawning awareness seconds before he kissed her.
Her lips were soft and warm, slightly parted. She made a sexy, husky sound in the back of her throat and immediately, urgently squeezed closer, her arms twining around his neck, her breasts pressing to his chest.
Tucker turned his head for a better fit, licked along her lips until she opened her mouth, then he kissed her as he wanted, his tongue sliding over hers, learning her taste, absorbing her warmth. Possessing her.
Both of them breathed harder.
Who knew how far things might’ve gone if she hadn’t rushed him, if her arms hadn’t squeezed tight—and if his shoulder hadn’t made him cringe, just a little, from the ache.
She levered back, her confused gaze flicking over his face, then focusing on his shoulder. She leaned half over him, inspecting...and gasped in renewed upset. “Tucker Turley, you’re hurt.”
* * *
KADY IGNORED TUCKER’S continued grumbling as the ER doc looked over the X-ray. The bruising on his shoulder was awful, going partway down his back, spreading over the top of his shoulder as if reaching for his neck, and crawling down over one pec muscle.
A really hot, nicely defined pec muscle.
Actually, his whole chest was amazing. It made her warm to see him sitting there on the table, his posture casual as if he weren’t turning black and blue, his expression disgruntled.
His upper body bare.
Sparse dark hair feathered over his chest from one flat brown nipple to the other, then narrowed down his body, played around his navel and disappeared into the waistband of his—
“Kady.”
At his deep voice, she looked up—and flushed. His pointed stare reminded her that they weren’t alone and that she shouldn’t be ogling him.
The doctor turned on his stool, one brow raised, looking at each of them over his glasses.
Tucker released her from that intimidating stare to say to the doctor, “Okay if I get dressed now?”
By way of a nonanswer, the doctor—who was a friend of her Uncle Sawyer and a very nice man—stood and approached Tucker, putting one hand on his shoulder, the other on his elbow as he checked the arm’s mobility. Tucker tried not to flinch, the stubborn fool. She just hoped nothing was broken.
Then the doctor relieved the worst of her fears.
“You have a severe contusion. No breaks, luckily. You’ll leave here in a sling. Wear it, and make sure your arm stays level with the ground to take the strain off your injury.” With that no-nonsense explanation, the doc frowned at him over his glasses. “You’ll wear the sling for five days, then see me for a follow-up and evaluation. If all goes well, you’ll start range of motion exercises after that.” He gave Tucker a pat and stepped away. “Use an ice pack for twenty minutes every two hours tonight and tomorrow, except when you’re sleeping.” Sounding stern, he added, “Rest it, understand?”
“Sure.”
Kady squared her shoulders. “I’ll see that he takes it easy.”
Incredulous green eyes shifted her way, but thankfully, Tucker didn’t reject her on the spot.
The doctor gave a satisfied nod. “I’ll give you a script for pain—”
“No need.” In an obvious hurry to go, Tucker stood and reached for the black T-shirt she’d given him.
“The pain will get worse before it gets better,” the doc warned.
“I’ll take some OTC meds. It’ll be fine.”
“Stubborn,” the doctor muttered, mirroring her opinion. “I’ll send in the nurse with the sling. She’ll set your follow-up.”
“Thank you,” Kady called as he went out the door, because Tucker was obviously too grouchy to show any gratitude.
Hands on hips, she turned to Tucker, saw him starting to slide his injured arm into a sleeve and jumped to help him. “Let me.”
He tried to turn away, but he wasn’t quick enough. Submitting, he muttered, “This is not a good idea.”
Deliberately misunderstanding, she said, “I’ll be careful,” and eased the armhole around his hand, up his wrist and past his elbow.
He glared down at her. “Little late for that.”
She could only ignore so much! “Because of a kiss?” she scoffed, even as her stomach tingled from the memory of the firm press of his lips, the stroke of his tongue, the scent of his skin and the tantalizing press of his body.
He’d been hurt protecting her.
The knowledge humbled her, and she sighed. “Don’t be silly.” With the shirt up his injured arm, he easily slid in the other and then, together, they got it over his head.
Behind them the door opened. She expected the nurse, but it was Deputy Moody Egan, a guy she’d gone through school with, hat in hand, stammering an apology at finding them so close together.
On the way to the hospital, Tucker had calmly called in the accident and told his men to watch for a fast car racing into town. Kady hoped they got the jerk.
After all, it was because of him that Tucker had a very bruised shoulder and upper arm.
“What is it?” Tucker asked, as he smoothed down the shirt. He didn’t seem embarrassed, but then, it took a lot to get a reaction out of Sheriff Tucker Turley.
“We got him. He blew through town too fast for anyone to grab him, but plenty of locals spotted him and got his license number. Then a trooper
