Page 9 of Blaze

I wince when I see the gash.It’s on the inside of my calf.It’s still gross and scary.My breath hitches.“Do you think I’ll be okay?”I ask, my voice quivering.

The doctor lifts her head to give me a reassuring smile.“Why don’t you let Blaze help you lie back?I’m going to numb the area.The only pain you’ll experience is the needle in a few places while I do that.Then I’ll be able to examine the wound further and clean it out without hurting you.Okay?”

Blaze guides me to a reclined position.He keeps one hand on the top of my head and grasps my forearm with the other.“You’re in good hands, baby.I promise.”

I stare at him.He called me baby again.He can’t possibly be in any sort of relationship with this doctor if he’s using an endearment with me and holding me like I’m his wife.

“You don’t have to stay with me,” I murmur.I don’t mean it.I want him to stay.But I should give him an out.

He frowns.“I’m not going anywhere, Vicky.”

Thank goodness.I exhale long and slow.

“You’ll feel a prick, Vicky,” Kinsley says.

I scrunch up my face when the needle enters me, but honestly, my leg is throbbing.It had gone rather numb throughout the night—or maybe I got used to the pain—but removing the gauze and opening it up to the air has made it ache again.And this new source of torture with a needle is making me dizzy.

Blaze holds my gaze and slides his hand to mine to thread our fingers.“Deep breaths.In a minute, you’ll stop feeling anything.”

He’s right.I’m partially aware of her still stabbing me in various places, but the pain is gone.I inhale and exhale deeply.

“Good girl.”His praise… His smiles… They make me tremble.Especially because he’s looking me in the eyes as if I’m important to him.He’s bossy and overbearing, but it’s nothing like David.Not even close.

I should be freaking out.I’m hundreds of miles away from the bossy, overbearing man who caused me to get in my car and never look back.Why doesn’t this one scare the fuck out of me?

It’s hard for me to put my finger on it, but it’s not the same.It’s as if… It’s that Blaze is authoritative in a way that implies he has my best interests at heart—not his.Instead of calling me an idiot, he reprimanded me for speaking ill of myself.Instead of shouting at me for half an hour because I was dumb enough to get myself into trouble, he carefully scooped me up and carried me out of the ravine like I was spun gold.

I don’t know this man.Why does it feel like I do, though?

Kinsley interrupts my wandering thoughts, “You’re a lucky woman, Vicky.The cut is shallow.Probably from a branch.I don’t see any evidence of damage to any ligaments or tendons.The bone isn’t broken.I’m not surprised it bled a lot.I’m sure that freaked you out.But all you need are stitches and an antibiotic to make sure it doesn’t get infected.”

Relief floods through my body.Tears well up in my eyes.“Thank you.”

“My pleasure.I’m almost done cleaning the wound, then I’ll start stitching.I’m not a plastic surgeon, mind you, but I think I can do a good enough job that it won’t ruin your leg-modeling career as long as you stick to just frontal shots from now on.”She’s teasing, and I appreciate the levity.

I smile sincerely for the first time in a day.

Blaze returns the smile, stroking my forehead with his thumb.

A thought occurs to me.“Can I pay you in cash without submitting to insurance, Dr.Matloff?”

“You can call me Kinsley,” she says with a chuckle.“And your bill was already paid.”

When I jerk my gaze to Blaze, I find him shrugging.“It’s no big deal.”

Itisa big deal.It’s a huge deal.Besides the fact that visits like this cost hundreds of dollars, he has no idea how he’s saving me.I close my eyes and lick my lips.“Thank you,” I mutter.“I have money.I’ll pay you back.”

He bends over to kiss my forehead.“Never, baby.”

My heart races while Kinsley slowly stitches my leg.

Finally, she’s done.“There we go.You need to stay off it entirely for a few days.No pressure on it at all.Then you can gradually take easy steps, as long as you don’t feel the stitches pulling.I’ll take the stitches out in about ten days, but even after that, you’ll want to be careful for a few weeks.”

I bite my lip.How the hell am I going to manage that in the bed and breakfast?“Can I use crutches?”

“Yes.But I’d rather you spend most of your time lying with your leg elevated for a few days.I’ll put a clear plastic adhesive over the area to protect it so you can take a bath.No showering.”She’s stern with those last words.“You have a slight fever from the infection.You can take Tylenol for that.I’ll give you a dose now, and I’ll get a prescription for an antibiotic ready.”

Nodding, I’m already wondering how the fuck I’m going to deal with this.I hadn’t thought this far.All I’d considered until now was avoiding placing an insurance claim.I hadn’t pondered what would happen after the doctor stitched me up.