Page 12 of Prickly Pair
Which was why I now had an eight-inch burn searing my skin.
Matthew flipped on the faucet to the utility sink and held his hand under until he gave a nod. His touch was firm, but gentle as he guided my arm under the running water.
The pain was excruciating. I could barely think. I squeezed my eyes shut as he pulled me closer to him, keeping the cool water running over the wound. He was comforting. Everything about him was comforting.
“We might need to go to the hospital,” he said. “We’re gonna give this fifteen under the cool water. But if blisters start to form, we’re going to head over there. Okay?”
“I can’t leave,” I cried. “I can’t. I have too much to do.”
“Evie.” His deep brown eyes were soft and tender, but he still had that doctor tone. It wasn’t an argument whether or not we’d go. I wrinkled my nose at him, but listened as he spoke. “We’re gonna give it a shot. But if I say we go, we need to go. All themedical supplies are there. I need to take care of you. Will you let me?”
Ugh, today was not my day. Everything had been running behind. I’d had two batches of bread that over-proofed and I had to toss them. I’d barely slept. I was running on coffee and nothing else in my stomach.
Then Nick had shown up, along with the other two hottest men in my life, just to see me at my worst.
This was a disaster.
What the hell was Nick even doing in Whynot?
“Evie,” Matthew murmured, rubbing the back of my neck. “Let me help you. Okay?”
“Okay,” I whispered. I winced as pain shot through my arm again. Matthew lifted his other hand, thumbing away my tears. “I’m sorry.”
His brows pulled together. “What are you sorry for? This isn’t your fault.”
It was, though. If I’d been paying better attention, I would have been more careful pulling the rack out of the oven. I knew how dangerous it was to be back here when my head was all over the place.
Matthew slid his arm around me. “Lean into me. I’ve got you.”
My brain was going off the rails, but I didn’t have it in me to not lean into him. I could hear Nick and Austin’s raised voices in the front, although I couldn’t make out what they were saying. My heart was pounding so fast, I could hear my pulse. The pain had ebbed just enough for me to breathe a little deeper now.
“Sorry. I know I’m taking your time,” I whispered.
“Stop apologizing to me. I’m glad I was here. I think those two were about to start a brawl over you.”
I laughed and found myself relaxing against him more and more. His arms were strong and his body hard. He smelled likejuniper, pink pepper, and orange blossom. Whatever cologne he had on was light and airy and it made me want to curl up with him.
I glanced up at him again and couldn’t stop blushing. “Did you get a haircut?” I blurted out.
Matthew nodded. “Just last week, yep.”
Why did he always have to be so hot? The small tight coils faded down along the sides of his head, and his beard was short and thick. All the lines were sharp and clean. “You look great,” I squeaked.
He wiggled his brows at me, grinning. I’d had a crush on Matthew for a bit. Really, I had three crushes, which was why I was panicking so much. Austin, Matthew, and Nick. Well, Nick was complicated. God, so was Austin. Matthew was probably the least complicated of the three.
The universe had really decided to fuck with me today.
Meow, meow, meow.
I scowled. “Did I just hear a cat?”
“Yeah. Nick has one, he’s in a carrier.”
“Oh my god,” I whispered, straining to look back. “I love cats.”
Matthew chuckled. “I’m sure you can say hi later . . . Also, uh, Austin doesn’t seem to like Nick. What’s that about? Do those two have a history?”
“Are you trying to distract me by gossiping?”
