passed between them. A bond, a promise, a connection shared.
Tired of being alone, here was a handsome, rugged man offering her a lifeline. Scared to reach out for it, even more afraid not to and give up a chance to have something good and decent in her life.
She laid her hand on Jack’s soft, lightly waved blond hair. When was the last time she touched someone? She stroked her hand down his head to his scratchy cheek and rested her hand against his warm skin.
“I’ll stay.”
Tears sprang to her eyes and Jack lovingly held her hand and kissed her palm, her fingertips, and her knuckles. She ran her hand back through his hair. He had great hair. She could bury her fingers in it. He closed his eyes and put his brow to hers.
“Jack?”
“Yeah,” he said without moving away from her. Her breath feathered across his face, so close he could kiss her.
“Something’s wrong with my leg. It’s killing me.”
He pulled back and spread his hand over her hip above the cut on her thigh. “I’m sorry I made you do that.”
“It’s not your fault. Most women don’t react like I do when someone snaps at them. It’s just that my sensitivity is heightened after it happens. Takes me a few weeks to find some inner calm and readjust to being around people. Please understand, it’s not you. It’s not anyone here. It’s just me.”
A soft knock at the door made Jenna jump. Jack put his hand over hers.
“It’s okay. It’s probably my sister coming to check on you.”
Jack stood from the side of the bed and walked to the door. Summer carried a tray with bacon and eggs, fresh juice, and coffee and stepped past him into the room.
“You are the best sister ever. I’m starving,” Jack said with as much of a smile as he could muster.
“Kiss the chef.”
Jack gave his sister a peck on the cheek and took the tray from her. They both came into the room as Jenna tried to get into a sitting position.
Jack yelled, “Stop!”
Jenna froze, her eyes wide.
He hated to put that look on her face again. “You’ll open up the cuts on your backside,” he said more gently. “Lie on your stomach, or your left side. Damn, your leg needs to be stitched again.”
“It can wait until after you have your breakfast,” Jenna said.
“That’s your breakfast. Hi, I’m Summer. How are you feeling today?”
“Sore,” Jenna said wearily.
“I’ll take care of the leg first.” Jack hated to stick a needle in her again. He’d take her place in a second. “Then you get another shot of antibiotics.”
Summer set the tray on the end of the bed. “You look better today.”
“I guess you’ve been helping Jack take care of me. Thank you for being so nice.” She had a hard time meeting Summer’s eyes.
“Don’t worry about it. We all need help sometimes.”
“The coffee and food smell wonderful.” Her stomach rumbled. Starving, he’d barely gotten more than water and soup down her over the last two days.
Difficulty moving, Jack noted the wince of pain that crossed her face when she shifted and pulled the sheet up to keep her breasts covered.
“Where are my clothes?”
Jack smiled with a wicked grin. He wondered how long it would take her to realize she was naked and he’d seen her. Several times. “You weren’t wearing any.”
“I was wearing my robe. Where is it?”
“In the trash. It was covered in blood.”
Jack moved closer to the bed carrying the needle for the antibiotics and the supplies to stitch up her leg.
“What are you doing with that?”
“Giving you a shot, then I’ll fix those stitches.”
“Are you a doctor or something?”
He wondered why she looked so upset. “No. But I have medical training, and I stitched up your leg the first time.”
“I don’t like shots,” she said emphatically.
She had a comical look on her face, absolutely serious about not wanting a shot. “Too bad. You’ve had lots of them over the last two days, and I’m not stopping now. The antibiotics have kicked in, and your fever is down, but it’s not gone.”
“I don’t like shots, Jack.”
“Sit still, or I’ll have Summer hold you down. Either way, you’re getting this shot.”
Outnumbered, Jenna sat still with her eyes squeezed shut and let Jack give her the shot. He peeled off the bandage and touched her cut. She screamed out a protest.
“Stop. Don’t touch it.” She did her best to push his hands away, but he wouldn’t be deterred.