Completely Smitten by Kristine Grayson Read Free Book Online Page B

expensive. And Idaho, like other western states, made people who put rescuers at unnecessary risk pay for their rescues.
    Better to wait for the morning.
    “I don’t mean to put you out,” she said. “If you don’t mind helping me one last time, we could pitch my tent near your airstrip and you wouldn’t have to see me again.”
    He raised his head. Those blue eyes met hers and she felt a jolt of electricity shoot through her. “You don’t need to do that.”
    She shrugged. “I was planning to camp the entire time I was here. I wouldn’t mind.”
    “But your ankle—”
    “That’s why I would need your help,” she said. “After we get the tent up, though, I’d be fine on my own.”
    And then she remembered. She hadn’t seen her pack since she woke up.
    Her expression must have changed because he frowned.
    “My pack,” she said. “Did you manage to lever it off the ledge as well?”
    His frown eased. This time he seemed pleased with himself. “Your pack is in my living room. It seems no worse for wear.”
    She let out a small sigh. She had spent more money than she had spent on her first racing bike to outfit that pack. Even though she wasn’t going to finish this hike, she didn’t want to lose all the equipment—the lightweight pots and pans, the dehydrated food, the tiny fold-down tent and air mattress. She had even splurged and gotten herself a Palm Pilot so that she could read at night. All of it had been in that pack.
    “Great,” she said. “If you don’t mind, I’ll finish cleaning up and then we can set up the tent.”
    “No.”
    The word seemed a bit harsh. “No?”
    He shook his head. “You don’t have to leave. I’ve got the extra bed and I’ve made dinner. I’d feel terrible if you were outside, injured like you are. I think you need someone to keep an eye on you.”
    For some reason that phrase made her bristle. She’d never needed anyone in her life. Ever. “I’m fine.”
    He raised his eyebrows and looked at her ankle. “You’re not fine, and we’re still not sure about the extent of your injuries. The last thing I want is for the plane to arrive and find you in even worse shape than you are now.”
    She bowed her head. Even that movement hurt. It was amazing that nothing else seemed to be broken. She didn’t feel weak either, which would happen with internal injuries. And she hadn’t peed blood. But he was right: It was better to have someone around, just in case.
    “Whatever you’re making does smell heavenly,” she said.
    He smiled. It was a relaxed, joyful smile, and it transformed his face. If she had thought he was as handsome as a man could be before, she had been wrong. He was even more handsome now.
    “I’ll get you something for that ankle,” he said. “I think we should try to splint it and then ice it.”
    His hand extended again, and then he clenched it into a fist. She wondered what that movement meant.
    She bit her lower lip. He was right, of course. She had helped splint a tri-geek’s leg at her early races—the small ones without any backing or medical facilities. The splint always prevented the injury from getting worse, but putting it on was extremely unpleasant for the injured.
    “I think I have something,” he said, before she could respond. Then he hurried into the hallway.
    “Um—” she started to call after him, then stopped herself. She didn’t even know his name. He had risked his own life rappelling down a cliff face to save her, and she hadn’t even asked him who he was. Maybe she was hurt worse than she realized.
    A light flashed in the hallway, almost as if a flashbulb had gone off. Then he returned, carrying bandages and small pieces of wood. “This should work.”
    It certainly looked like it would. She stared at all of it, wrapped in his long fingers.
    “Are you a doctor?” she asked again.
    “No,” he said as he knelt beside her leg. “I just play one on TV.”
    Her eyebrows rose. She never watched those doctor