Page 24 of Fire and Rain
He set it on the table. “You could have broken an ankle.”
“I should have been more careful.” She hurried back to Sean with the cold washcloth. “This should help. I’m really sorry.”
He slid the washcloth beneath his T-shirt. “It’s not bad. No blisters.”
“Let me at least wash your shirt. I’ll get you one of Justin’s to wear home.”
“It’s no big deal, really.”
“I can’t let you wear that back to base.”
He drew the T-shirt over his head and handed it to her. “If you insist.”
An unexpected frisson of desire shot through her, and Eden couldn’t help but stare. His tanned skin was red where the tea had scalded him, but that’s not what held her gaze.
Firm pecs with flat, tan nipples. A six-pack. A trail of light brown curls that disappeared beneath his jeans. Years of pulling people on litters into helicopters had left him with well-developed triceps and biceps. But there were scars, too—small surgical scars where they’d repaired his right biceps and shoulder.
Distracted, Eden reached out, ran her finger along one of the scars. “Does it still hurt?”
“Sometimes.”
Eden caught herself. “I’m sorry. I … uh… lost my train of thought. Mom brain.”
“You were going to wash my shirt.”
“Oh! Right.” Cheeks flaming, she turned and hurried toward the laundry room, hoping he hadn’t noticed her staring. “I’ll just drop this in the washer and grab you a clean, dry shirt.”
“Eden, you don’t have to do that. I can wash it myself. I don’t want you to—”
“It’s no trouble.” She was already halfway down the hall and needed to get away.
What the hell was that?
She’d seen Sean shirtless plenty of times. Out fishing with Justin on Justin’s boat. At the beach. All those times the men had played football at the park. She and some of the other Coast Guard wives had whispered together about how ripped he was, how handsome his face was. But Eden had never reacted like this.
You’re just tired. It’s been a long day.
Yeah, no. Even she couldn’t believe that.
She dropped his sodden shirt in the laundry basket and walked to the bedroom, where she found herself standing in the closet, looking at Justin’s T-shirts.
All at once, guilt assailed her. Justin hadn’t yet been gone for five months, and she was getting turned on by another man? And his best friend on top of that.
What is wrong with you?
She drew a breath, tried to pull herself together. Sean was waiting, and Maverick would surely wake up soon. She looked at the T-shirts, picked one of her favorites, and carried it back to the kitchen, certain Justin wouldn’t mind Sean taking one of his shirts.
She found Sean standing in the kitchen, rinsing the cloth she’d given him in the sink. “I’m pretty sure it will fit. You can keep it. I think Justin would be happy to know you’re wearing it.”
“Thanks.” Sean took the shirt. “I used that cloth to wipe up the tea. I hope that’s okay.”
Eden saw that the table was clean and dry. “Thank you.”
Sean glanced down at the image of the humpback whale fluke on the front of the T-shirt. “I remember this one. Are you sure?”
Eden nodded, her emotions tangled as he drew it over his head. “More tea—or have you had enough boiling water for one day?”
It was a pathetic attempt at humor, but it made him laugh.
