His soft laughter died away. “I guess I should be grateful for my hard hat.”
“It saved your life,” she said softly. She had no doubt that it had.
The fact that he was still alive told her that he hadn’t taken a direct hit. The wrench must have glanced off the side of his hard hat. Maybe he’d seen it coming and shifted just in time, she didn’t know. The only thing she knew was that he was here, he was conscious and he was talking. Thank the stars for that.
But this was no time to reflect on what had almost happened. It hadn’t, and that was all that mattered. Now she had work to do. “Stay still,” she said, her tone extra firm as she tried to get a hold of her emotions. She was a nurse, dammit. Where was all this emotion coming from? He was a patient just like any other. “No movement while I check your blood pressure.”
Instead of closing his eyes and lying back like she thought he would, Mr. Neighbor gave her a smug look and curled his lips into something that was more of a smirk than a smile. “Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes never leaving her. In fact, if he hadn’t been lying in a hospital bed Solie would almost say he was checking her out. His eyes were roaming up her body, over her scrubs and up to her face, making her feel like she was wearing the slinkiest of outfits. “You look…flustered.” He chuckled as he said the word, which pissed her off big time. How dare he be so bold when he was supposed to be weak and vulnerable? Wasn’t he supposed to be disoriented?
Just then the blood pressure machine beeped, much to her relief. Leaning over, she rested her hand on his arm to release him from the band. This time, though, instead of touching only the blue rubber of the cuff her fingers slipped – or betrayed her, she wasn’t sure which – and the next thing she knew she’d come in contact with solid, unyielding muscle so firm and warm, throbbing with a strength that made a lie of his current state of weakness. How would it feel to have those arms around her?
Solie blinked and pulled her hand away. Jeez, girl, get a hold of yourself. This is your patient you’re lusting after. “How are you feeling now? Does your head hurt?” She practically blurted the words out in her haste to cover her momentary lapse. She would just die if he noticed she’d been staring. No, not just staring, lusting after him…if she should admit it to her wicked, wicked self.
“I’m good,” he said with a crooked smile. “What about you?” He gave her a self-satisfied smile.
Solie felt the telltale warmth begin to rise in her cheeks. She tightened her lips in near frustration. If she didn’t know better she would almost say he knew exactly what she was feeling right then. But how could he? The man had just suffered a serious head injury. She was surprised he wasn’t groggy and dazed. Far from it, he looked like he was the one in control of the situation, not her. And she didn’t like it. Not one bit…
Solie turned away from her patient and reached for her tray. When she rolled it toward the bed and turned back to him she had her supplies and she was ready to work. The weakling of a woman, uber-conscious of the sexy man lying in the bed, was gone. Now she was Nurse Felix again. She picked up the syringe and ripped open the wrapper then reached for the needle.
In that instant the man on the bed sucked in his breath. When Solie glanced at him his previously hooded eyes were now wide as he stared at the needle flashing under the stark white light of the fluorescent bulbs overhead. As she moved toward him he almost seemed to shrink back in the bed.
“Where are you going with that?” His voice was gruff but he didn’t look at her. His eyes, as if mesmerized, never left the needle in her hand. It was the first sign of weakness she’d seen in this man since the day they’d met. He was genuinely scared.
Trypanophobia. The man had needle phobia, that much was obvious. No matter how big and bad and bold he’d thought himself, she was the one who was now in control. She almost smiled. But no, she would not be callous. It was her job to help him. Reassuring him and getting him to relax was part of that job.
“I need to hook you up to the IV,” she said as she pulled the stand closer. She pointed to the bag of saline hanging from the hook. “We have to make sure you’re properly hydrated. I also need you hooked up so we can administer your medication easily.” As she spoke she was ripping a sterile cotton swab from its packet. “Now if you just give me your arm I’m going to clean the skin just inside your inner elbow. I see a lovely vein there.”
It was when she saw his face turn pale that Solie knew it was probably the worst thing she could have said. A lovely vein? The man must be having images of blood shooting out all over the place. She gave him what she hoped was a comforting smile as she drew closer. “Can you make a fist for me?”
When his brows fell and his lips tightened in a hard line she knew she was in for a fight.
***
Ransom could not believe the situation he was in. Being clobbered by a wrench was nothing compared to this. By some cruel twist of fate he’d fallen into the evil clutches of the wicked witch of the west, his neighbor, of all people. And now she was out to get him with the worst weapon she could have chosen. A damn needle.
Where needles were concerned he was a wimp. He’d be the first to admit it. But Christ, did he need this right now, just when he was playing tough guy, right when he was trying to impress his hot neighbor?
And he’d gotten off to a good start, too. He could tell by the way she dropped her eyes whenever he caught her staring, by the soft blush in her cheeks when he let his gaze linger a little too long. She’d seemed confused that he wasn’t disoriented and weak and he’d loved that.
But now the tables were turned and she’d see firsthand that he wasn’t who she’d thought he was. With that needle she had the power and she could take him down.
“Nurse…” he glanced at the name tag glittering on her chest, “…Soledad. Is this really necessary? Can’t you just bring me a jug of water and let me take some pills or something?” Little did she know it but he’d do practically anything to get out of this.