Sweet Harmony (Harmony Falls #1) - Elizabeth Kelly Page 0,25
“It’s a public park, Gideon. It’s not your own private running trails.” She ignored the way sweat made his t-shirt stick to his broad chest. “I have as much right to be here as you do.”
“I meant why are you out here alone? You’re not allowed to go hiking by yourself,” he replied.
“Excuse me? Not allowed? I’m not a helpless little girl. I’m a grown woman and I can do whatever the hell I want.”
His nostrils flared and he took a few steps closer until he was standing directly in front of her. “We both know that with your sense of direction, hiking alone is dangerous and stupid.”
“Oh, so now I’m helpless and stupid. That’s what you’re saying?”
A muscle ticked at his jaw and his eyebrows drew down. She stared at his odd-coloured eyes, fascinated even after all these years by the difference. She was getting under his skin. After Kira, she knew him better than anyone, and a childish glee went through her. He was a constant prickle under her skin, it was nice to turn the tables just once.
“I’m trying to keep you safe.” His voice was hard.
“I’m not a child anymore, Gideon. I don’t need you to look after me.” Her glee was turning to - she hated to admit it - lust. She hadn’t been this close to him since his parents’ funeral and the heat of his big body as well as the good clean smell of him, was making her feel a little dizzy with desire. Fuck, how could he smell so good? He was out running in the middle of the damn forest.
“If that were true, you wouldn’t be lost in the middle of the park right now.”
“I’m not lost,” she lied.
“No?” His voice was silky smooth. “Tell me what trail you’re on.”
She didn’t reply. Her right palm was stinging like a bitch and she folded her arms under her ample breasts, pressing her palm against her side to try and relieve some of the pain. The motion pushed her breasts together. It gave her a little extra cleavage along the scoop neckline of her shirt and practically invited Gideon to check out her tits. His gaze never wavered from her face and she swallowed down her disappointment.
“What trail are you on, Grace?”
A little shiver of pleasure went down her spine. Gideon rarely said her name. When he did, it never failed to make her just the tiniest bit wet.
Her gaze dropped to his mouth and he immediately took a step back. She flushed with embarrassment and looked away. “I have to go. Bye.”
Before she could walk away, Gideon’s eyes widened and what almost looked like panic flickered across his face. “You’re bleeding.”
“What?” She nearly fell over with shock when Gideon grabbed her upper arm. The feel of his rough hand wrapped around her bicep was just about enough to make her swoon. God, she really needed to get laid.
“You’re bleeding,” he repeated.
She followed his gaze to the splotch of blood that covered her shirt along her ribs. Before she could stop him, he had grabbed the hem of her shirt and was yanking it up.
“Hey!” She tried to twist out of his grasp, and he glared at her.
“Hold still.”
“Let go of my shirt,” she snapped at him.
He ignored her and pushed her flailing hands away before bending and staring at her pale skin just below the band of her sports bra. “There’s no wound.”
“Because it’s not my side.” She shoved his hand away and tugged her shirt down, wincing when her palm scraped across the material.
He scowled and wrapped his fingers around her right wrist. He pulled her arm toward him and turned her hand upward. He studied the smears of blood on her palm before muttering a curse under his breath.
His scowl deepened and he stared at Tank who was sniffing at a bush a few feet away from them. “Tank, bad dog.”
“It wasn’t his fault.” She immediately jumped to the dog’s defense. “He didn’t mean it.”
Without replying, he turned her around a bit roughly and unzipped her backpack.
“What are you doing?”
“Hold this.” He handed her the bottle of water before dipping his hand back into the pack. He rummaged through it and brought out the first aid kit. “Turn around.”
She sighed and turned to face him. “Gideon, I don’t need -”
“It needs to be cleaned and disinfected,” he said before taking the water bottle from her. “Hold out your hand.”
She held out her hand, palm up, and he uncapped the