Chapter Six
Charlotte’s head bobbed along with the beat of the music streaming from her ear buds.
Spritzing the blue cleaner on the lobby window, she swiped the liquid, dust, and fingerprints from the pane using a microfiber cloth.
The sun shone high in the sky, dissipating the last remnants of dusk and promising a warmer day for the winter season.
The task complete, she exchanged the window cleaner for wood polish.
Lifting a lamp from a side table, she dusted the dark finish until it shined.
The song reached its rock crescendo as she moved a vase of flowers from a coffee table and polished that surface as well.
Placing the vase back in the center, she bumped the glass when she pulled back her hand.
“Oh, no!”
The vase tipped to its side, water and flowers spilling on the floor.
She reached for the vase but was too late to stop its roll to the hardwood, the impact shattering the glass.
A frustrated groan escaped her throat. Retrieving a garbage bag from her cart, she knelt beside the mess and started collecting the shards of glass.
“Ow!”
A sharp piece sliced her finger and lodged in the gash.
She gingerly pulled the glass out and gaped as blood poured from the wound.
She quickly reached for a rag and wound the absorbent cloth around her finger, trying to breathe through the pain of the injury.
She jerked her earbuds from her ears and dropped them in her pocket.
Tears welled in her eyes until she could no longer see the blood staining the cloth.
“Charlotte?”
Her head whipped up, and Ben’s image swam in her sight before she wiped away the tears with her uninjured hand.
“What’s wrong? I heard you shout.”
He started toward her, and she panicked at the idea of him seeing her hurt and upset. Looking away, she pushed to her feet, struggling with one hand to brace herself. Ben was instantly at her side, his hands on her elbows to help her stand.
“I’m fine. It’s no big deal. I’ll put a bandage on it and get this mess cleaned up,” she told him.
She tried to back away from him, but he held her firmly without hurting her. Ben lowered his head until they were eye-to-eye. With the way he studied her, she was sure he’d see the pain she was in. She dropped her eyes to focus on a button of his work shirt.
“You should go. I’ll be fine, and I’m sure you have to get to work. I mean why else would you be up this early in the morning?” She sputtered a nervous laugh which sounded strangled to her ears.
“Work can wait. Can I have a look at your hand? I have experience in first aid.”
She shook her head gently. “It’s fine. I told you. I just need a bandage, and I’ll be good to go.”
She tried to step away again, but he wouldn’t release his hold.
“Please. Let me have a look.”
She hesitated, but the earnestness in his voice broke her resolve.
She finally nodded. He grabbed a fresh towel from her cart before gently unwrapping the rag from her finger.
The moment the pressure was released, the blood flowed freely, and Charlotte’s head spun.
Ben hastily wrapped the clean towel around her hand, cinching it tight enough that she whimpered.
Spots appeared in front of her eyes, but before she said anything, Ben’s strong arms encircled her waist.
“Just breathe, sweetheart. I’m going to lead you over here and let you sit down for a moment. Do you guys keep juice for the guests anywhere?”
“Fridge under the coffee pot,” was all she managed as the world spun around her.
He lowered her to the couch, and she rested her head against the cushions.
Her eyelids slid shut as she lifted a silent prayer that she wouldn’t faint in front of Ben.
His boots cast heavy footfalls on the hardwood as he moved around.
She knew the moment he returned to her side, the heat from his body permeating her uniform.
“Here, sweetheart. Sip this.”
He lifted a plastic bottle of orange juice to her mouth, his hand bracing the back of her head. The cool liquid slid down her throat, the acidic, sweet taste chasing away the dizziness. She took a couple of deep breaths.
“Thanks. I’m good now.”
She gave him a small smile, but he still watched her with concern.
“You’re going to need stitches.”
Stitches meant a trip to the emergency room to see a doctor, which meant a sizable medical bill that she had no insurance to cover. She shook her head quickly but slowed the motion when she felt woozy again.
“No, please. I’ll be fine. I’m sure it looks worse than it really is.”
His brow furrowed, and she resisted the temptation to smooth it with her finger.
“Charlotte—”
She quickly interrupted him with a change in subject. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be heading to work?”
“What’s going on?”
Charlotte had been so focused on Ben that she hadn’t heard her boss come in the back door and through his office.
Charlotte’s tension eased. She could count on him to back up her decision not to go to a hospital.
Wally hated doctors and refused to go to one.
He loved to brag about how he hadn’t visited a doctor’s office since he was a child and broke his leg roughhousing with his friends.
“Hi, Wally. Sorry I don’t have your coffee ready. I dropped a vase and cut myself trying to clean it up. Just give me a sec, and I’ll get caught up on everything.”
Her breezy tone earned her a stern stare from Ben.
She ignored him, instead looking over his shoulder as Wally made his way over to them.
Her boss' eyes widened when he spotted her towel-wrapped hand.
The blood had seeped through, though not as much as it had the first rag she used.
The pressure from the towel on her wound slowed the bleeding, and she would use that to validate her decision not to seek medical treatment.
“It’s not just a cut,” Wally said.
“She needs stitches,” Ben told him.
She glared at Ben. “I told you I’m fine.” Then she looked up at Wally. “It’s nothing. The bleeding has almost stopped. I’ll clean it with antiseptic, cover it with a bandage, and I’m good to get back to work.”
“You should get checked out,” Wally told her. “You were hurt at work, so I’ll cover the bill.”
“The bill? Is that why you’re refusing to see a doctor?” Ben demanded.
Charlotte’s eyes shifted back and forth from Wally to Ben. “It’s none of your business! I said I’m fine. Let it go, okay? I have a mess to clean up and work to get back to.”
The pain in her finger was hard to ignore, and the two men hovering over her made her feel smothered. This time when she pulled away from Ben, he let her go.
Wally shook his head at her. “Forget the mess. I’ll clean it up, and I’ll call Betsy in to cover your shift. Then you and I are going to the doctor.”
“That’s not—”
“I can take her,” Ben volunteered.
“No.” Charlotte blew out a frustrated breath. “You have a job to get to. So do I. Once I finish my work, I’ll have my finger examined. Does that work for you?”
Wally addressed Ben as if she hadn’t spoken. “It started pouring rain when I came in. You still have to work at the construction site?”
Ben nodded. “Most of the work now is inside, but I can show up late. Hartcourt will understand. I’ll take her to get stitches, and you can stay here to take care of things.”
“Will you listen to me? I’m not going to a doctor. Not right now,” Charlotte insisted.
Wally ignored her protest and addressed Ben. “There’s a twenty-four-hour clinic on the edge of town. You’ll probably have less wait time there than if you take her to the emergency room. I’ll call ahead and take care of the payment arrangements.”
“You’re not paying for anything because I’m not going anywhere,” Charlotte shouted. “I’m not a child, so stop treating me like one.”
Wally crossed his arms over his chest. “Fine. Then answer my question like a mature adult. How bad did you slice your finger?”
Charlotte stretched her mouth into a thin line. She wasn’t certain, but considering the amount of blood soaking the towel and the pain she was feeling, she would have to admit the cut was severe.
Wally nodded as if she voiced her thoughts aloud. “That’s what I thought. Stop arguing and go see a doctor. Say the word, and I’ll take you myself.”
Charlotte almost agreed, but common sense made her second-guess the decision.
The motel couldn’t afford to have the office unmanned during the day when people called for reservations and guests made requests.
Closing the office for the time they were away at the clinic could cause issues for the business.
She also didn’t want Ben to skip work for her.
“I’ll go, but I’m driving myself. I’ll let you know what the doctor says. And I’m paying my own bill. I insist on it.”
“I don’t think you should drive,” Ben interrupted, frowning at her. “You got lightheaded a moment ago. What if it happens again while you’re behind the wheel?”
“It won’t. I told you I’m—”
“Please don’t say you’re fine when we both know you aren’t.”
“He’s right,” Wally said. “Let him drive you. He can drop you off, and I’ll pick you up when you’re finished.”
Charlotte sighed, seeing no use in continuing the argument when the men were this stubborn. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
She walked outside without waiting to see if Ben followed, though she knew he would. She stopped under the awning at the front of the motel and scowled at the pouring rain. The fat drops hitting the ground sounded like thunderous applause.
“Stay here.”
Ben ran into the rain before she stopped him. With a moment to herself, she closed her eyes to the pain and gave herself a mental beating for not being more careful when picking up the broken glass. She knew better than to be reckless like that.
She stepped back when the Tahoe pulled under the awning and stopped in front of her. Ben opened the passenger door from inside, and she slid onto the seat before sending him a curious look. “What happened to your truck?”
“It’s a work truck, and I figured you’d be more comfortable in the Tahoe. Buckle up and settle back. Do you know where the clinic is, or do I need to search for an address?”
She explained how to get to the clinic and then fixed her gaze to the scenery passing. She hoped he took the hint that she was in no mood to talk. In fact, the longer she sat in his SUV, the fouler her mood became.
It wasn’t the pain so much. She had a high pain tolerance. The loss of her blood had made her woozy, but she’d recovered quickly. Yet, Wally and Ben treated her like she was too fragile to look after herself. It was a cut to her finger, for goodness sake!
The parking lot of the twenty-four-hour clinic only had a few cars, so Ben was able to park close to the door.
“Wait for me.” Ben was out of the vehicle before she protested, but he was an idiot if he thought she was taking any more orders from him.
Using her left hand to release the door latch, she pushed it open with her shoulder, careful not to bump her hand. Swinging her legs out, she was ready to slide down to the ground when Ben crowded her space.
“Charlotte—”
She held up her left hand, palm facing out.
“Don’t. I’m not helpless. I cut my finger, sure, and I’ll admit it’s probably worse than I let on.
But I’m not some fragile statue you have to handle with care.
I can walk inside without any help. I’ve been taking care of myself long before I met you, so you can stop with the overprotective routine.
You’ve dropped me off. Now you can go to work. I’m f—”
He lowered his head before she realized what was happening.
His lips closed over hers, warm and firm.
Her eyes widened in shock before the thrill of the kiss took over.
She closed her eyes and relished the heat building within her.
His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb smoothing her skin.
Then he pulled away, leaving her fighting through a mind-numbing haze to figure out what just happened.
“What was that for?” Her tone was breathy, and her heart pounded in her chest.
“It was the only way I could think of to stop you from saying I’m fine again.”
“Wh...What?”
“I’m not leaving you. I’ll call my boss while we’re waiting for the doctor to let him know we’ll be late, but I’m not leaving you while you’re hurt. I know you can take care of yourself, but it doesn’t mean you have to. Come on. Let’s get inside.”
She had no argument left in her, so she allowed him to help her from the SUV. He urged her to go ahead of him toward the clinic, but she hesitated.
“So how bad is it really? I know I need stitches, but will it keep me from working? I can’t afford that.”
He pushed her hair behind her ear, his gaze softening. “It’s a deep cut, and it’ll probably limit you some. The doctor will be able to tell you more, so try not to worry until you get his instructions. It may not be as bad as I think.”
She nodded, but she didn’t believe him. He was trying to make her feel better, but she would rather have had a second kiss than a half-truth from him.
Oh, that kiss. For a moment, she’d forgotten she was in pain.
She’d forgotten a lot of things, like where she was or why she was there.
The kiss rocked her, and she had to admit her attraction to him was stronger than she thought.
He was hot, but he was also kind and charming.
His kiss, however brief it had been, was lethal, which made him dangerous to her peace of mind.
She should keep her distance, but it was hard not to be glad he’d stayed with her.