Chapter 4
Victoria
It’s a struggle to keep my eyes open. I’m lulled by the rhythmic bounce of Blaze carrying me. He makes me feel safe, which lets me relax. When was the last time I fully relaxed? I can’t recall.
“We’re there, baby,” he says gently, jerking me out of my light sleep. “I’m going to lean you against the car so I can fish your keys out of my backpack. Do you think you can support your weight on your good leg for a moment?”
“Yes.” I’m not at all sure I can, actually, but I have to try. He’s working his ass off to help me. The least I can do is stand for a minute.
He finds my keys in seconds and unlocks the passenger door to my car. It’s not until he opens it that I realize what the inside of my vehicle looks like and wince.
Blaze hesitates, staring at the amount of things on the seat and then glancing into the back. The seat is covered with car snacks, wrappers, and empty beverage containers. Blaze finds a plastic grocery bag, stuffs it full, and reaches over to set it in the rear.
I don’t bother explaining myself as he helps me into the car. I’m sure he has a million questions, but I hope he gives me some time before asking them. I don’t feel like talking about it right now.
Being very careful with my left leg, he settles me in the seat and buckles me in. “We’ll be at the clinic in no time.”
I grit my teeth as I look down at my shin. How bad is it? Is there a chance it’s infected and I might lose my leg?
I try not to think about that possibility, but the truth is, I was lying on the ground for almost twenty hours. I don’t know what to expect.
Blaze adjusts the driver’s seat, which is difficult since there’s so much stuff behind it. But he’s too tall to fold into my car without moving the seat.
Soon we’re pulling out of the parking spot. He gently sets his hand on top of mine where I’m gripping my thigh. “You’re going to be okay, baby.”
I watch his profile. He’s so confident. His brow is furrowed, though. He’s worried. Possibly more about the state of my life than my health. And that’s a reasonable concern. I’m just as stressed.
The last thing I want to do is go to an emergency room and have to use my medical insurance.
I squeeze my thigh tight, staring down at my injured leg. It doesn’t look as ominous now that it’s wrapped in gauze instead of my tank top, but I saw the injury when it happened. The thought alone makes me feel queasy.
I’m surprised by how fast we arrive at the clinic. I’m actually kind of shocked that there even is a clinic in this small town. There isn’t a lot. It seems a bit rundown. A lot of the buildings on the strip have been abandoned or at least the businesses have closed down.
“Don’t move. I’ll come around to get you,” he orders before jumping out of my car to round the hood. Something in me lurches every time he makes another demand. It distracts me from my pain and concern for my leg.
It’s also disconcerting. I’m on the run from a bossy man. What makes this one give me butterflies? I must be delirious from a fever.
Seconds later, he’s leaning over me to disconnect the seatbelt, and then I’m gently scooped into his arms again.
I grab his neck as I realize this is it.
He’s going to leave me here at this clinic.
I’ll probably never see him again. Why would I?
I don’t know anything about him other than the fact that he rescued me, he’s sex on a stick, and he’s got a heart of gold.
The door to the clinic opens before we reach it, and a woman holds it as if she were expecting us. She smiles at me. “You must be Vicky. I’m Dr. Matloff. Call me Kinsley, though.”
Oh, she’s the doctor. I’m relieved. For some reason, I was expecting an eighty-year-old grumpy guy who went to med school in the mid-nineteen hundreds. Kinsley looks to be only a few years older than me.
Blaze did mention a woman doctor. Not sure why I didn’t latch on to that.
“I guess Reagan called and gave you a heads-up?” Blaze asks.
“Yes. Take Vicky into exam room one.”
Blaze hurries toward the short hallway and into a room where he deposits me on the table.
I expect him to leave as fast as he can. After all, he’s done his civic duty today. Above and beyond. I’m sure he has other things to do. But I want to thank him, so I reach out and grab his hand. I only manage to snag a few fingers since his hand is twice as big as mine.
“Thank you so much. You saved my life.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls my side against his chest, shocking me when he kisses my forehead. “I’m so glad I was there.”
Kinsley removes my shoe and sock. “Reagan said you fell into a ravine while hiking yesterday?”
I nod. “Yes. Late afternoon. It was stupid. I know. I’m an idiot. I—”
Blaze stiffens before tipping my head back. He looks into my eyes, his brow furrowed. “What did I say about calling yourself names?”
I swallow.
He lifts one brow. “You’re the one who mentioned needing to be spanked.”
I gasp. He’s right. I did. He looks like he really wants to do just that, and for some insane reason, I squirm.
Kinsley clears her throat. “Uh, Blaze, can we deal with her leg first?”
He jerks his attention to her and smirks. “Yes, of course.” They clearly know each other. I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s a small town. Maybe they’re a couple.
Why does that thought make my chest tighten?
I’ve known this man for a couple of hours. I have no business feeling an attachment to him. It’s bonkers. Did he just say something about spanking me in front of the doctor, though? I’m losing my mind.
Blaze addresses the doctor. “She used her tank top to wrap up the wound. I replaced it with the gauze when I found her. The shirt was saturated, though.” He slides his hand to the back of my neck and applies firm pressure, which oddly helps me relax.
“Her other leg was pinned under a tree, but she insists it’s not broken. I only see bruising on her thigh.”
Kinsley leans over my good leg first. “Can you bend it for me?”
I lift my foot and shake it all around. The only issue is the bruise.
The doctor nods. “Good. I think you’re right. This leg is just bruised. I’m going to take the bandage off your left leg now,” Kinsley says. “Are you okay watching, or would you rather lie back?”
“I think I’m okay.” I’ve seen it. It was gross and scared the hell out of me.
Kinsley gently unwraps the wound.
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.”
It is a 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.
“I’m supposed to be staying at the bed and breakfast on Main Street. Hopefully, they didn’t cancel my reservation when I didn’t show up last night. Is that far from here?”
Kinsley glances at Blaze, who’s pulling out his phone. “I’ll call them and cancel.” He turns toward the doctor. “She’ll be staying with me. I’ll make sure she follows all your instructions.”
I gasp. All the air leaves my lungs. He can’t be serious. “Blaze…”
He still has one hand on my head as he speaks into the phone.
I’m numb while I listen to him tell the bed and breakfast what happened to me and cancel my reservation entirely. Stunned doesn’t begin to describe how I’m feeling.
“Blaze…” I begin when he ends the call. “You don’t have to do this. I’ll be okay on my own. You’ve done so much for me already. You can’t just take me home with you. You don’t even know me. What if I’m an axe murderer?”
He chuckles. “I’ll hide the knives if you think you might be inclined to murder me in my sleep.
And you’re right. I don’t know you well.
I have a million questions, starting with why it would appear your worldly possessions are in your car and why you don’t want to place an insurance claim.
Both of those things suggest you’re on the run and not wanting to be found.
But right now, you need food and rest. I bet you’ll sleep twelve hours once I get you situated.
Later, you can explain your predicament. ”
At some point in his monologue, Kinsley left the exam room because I see that we’re alone now.
“Blaze…”
He cups my face and meets my gaze closely. “All I need to know at this moment is if you’re in any immediate danger.”
I shake my head. “No.”
He lifts a brow. “You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”
“No.”
He holds my gaze a bit longer before giving me a slow grin. “Good. If you lie to me, you’ll end up over my knees for that spanking you seem so intrigued about.”
I gasp. He’s not serious, is he?
I think he is.
And now I’m even more intrigued.
Maybe I also hit my head when I fell.