that out when Boone shook his head, his eyes flashing a warning before he slanted a pointed look in Willa’s direction. Max got the message loud and clear. Boone didn’t want him upsetting her any more than he already had. Damn. He hated admitting Boone was right about anything, but Willa had been through enough today. It’d be wrong to give her one more thing to stress over. He’d drop the issue, at least for the time being.
“If you’re ready, I’m going to give you the antivenin now.”
A loud gulp shot from Willa, and at first Max considered chewing Boone a new one for giving him a hard time for frightening her. But then he took in the way her wide-eyed focus was pinned to the approaching needle. He begrudgingly acknowledged that Boone’s pronouncement had managed to do the impossible—steer Willa’s thoughts away from her previous worries. The needle slowly pierced her pale skin, and she sucked in a sharp breath, her fingers digging into the bedspread. Unable to temper his desire to comfort Willa, he crossed to the empty spot next to her and rubbed her shoulder.
He didn’t understand this constant need to touch her but decided to just go with the flow. Particularly since she glanced up at him with gratefulness shining in those beautiful, teary eyes. They continued staring at each other for a long stretch, until a cough from Boone shattered the moment.
Shaking off the strange fascination that’d gripped him, Max jerked his gaze to Boone and bit back a growl at the grin overtaking his friend’s mug.
“One down, one to go.” Boone reached into his medic kit for a fresh syringe and vial of antivenin.
Catching Boone’s meaning, Max shook his head. If there was any chance he could avoid that needle, he sure as hell was going to use it to his advantage. “I wasn’t infected.”
“Better to be safe than sorry. Now drop your pants, you big baby.”
Max’s gaze veered back to Willa. There was no way he could go along with Boone’s command without awarding her a prime viewing of his privates. “Uh…”
A pink stain crawled along Willa’s cheeks as she apparently caught on to his dilemma. “If you don’t mind, I’m just going to wash up a little.” She launched herself off the mattress and hightailed it into the bathroom.
The second the door shut behind her, Max scrunched his sweats down. “Is this really necessary? Or do you just like the idea of jabbing me with that big-ass needle?”
“Both.” Flashing his teeth with a suitably evil grin, Boone sank the tip of the syringe into Max’s flesh.
Once he was done administering the antivenin, Boone soaked several sterile pads with antiseptic so Max could clean up the wounds on his calves. By the time that task was finished, Willa abandoned the bathroom and sat down next to Max. He could smell his body wash clinging to her skin, but he hadn’t heard the shower pop on. She must have settled for a sponge bath.
Max’s thoughts immediately drifted to Willa standing naked in his bathroom, running a sudsy washcloth over her skin with slow, sensuous movements. His cock stirred at that mental image, and he stifled a groan. He tore his focus from Willa and noticed Boone was watching him with a knowing look.
His expression turning sly, Boone capped the syringe and shifted his attention to Willa. “You’re going to require close monitoring for the next twenty-four hours. Think it’s best if you stay here so Max can keep an eye on you.” Boone cocked an eyebrow at him, his lips twitching. “You don’t mind checking our girl’s vitals throughout the night, right, good buddy?”
Judging from the wicked humor dancing in his eyes, Boone knew exactly the kind of picture he’d planted in Max’s head with that suggestion. Asshole.
“But I—I can’t stay here.” Sudden panic streaked across Willa’s face. “Oh my Goddess. My car.” Swallowing hard, she stared at them. “I just remembered. I left it at the lighthouse. Unlocked, with all of my stuff inside.” A frantic wail bubbled from her.
“Hey, that’s great.” Max held up his hands when she glared at him. “I mean about you starting to remember. Not your car.”
“I have to go get it, before someone stumbles across it and decides to take it for a joyride. Or worse.”
She started to scramble to her feet, but he gently prodded her back in place with a firm palm planted on her shoulder. “You’re in no condition to go anywhere. Boone and