Promises by Jo Barrett Read Free Book Online Page B

hands behind his head.  
    If he weren’t so pale, if she thought for one minute that he could have faked it, she’d — she’d — oh!   She didn’t know what she’d do, but it wouldn’t be pleasant.
    His devilish eyes studied her.   “Perhaps we could share.   You wouldn’t want me to feel guilty, would you?”   He winked slyly.
    Her mouth snapped shut.   Of all the conceited, pompous — he was far worse than Roger had ever been.  
    Growling low and deep, she said, “You will stay in that bed — alone — until you can walk out of here.”   She marched back to where she’d dropped her things, snatched them up, and stormed toward the door.  
    Stomping up the stairs and into the guestroom, she dropped her bath items on the dresser.   “The nerve of the man.   Share my bed indeed.   And to think I was worried about him.   Ha!   The chances I took calling a doctor to sew up his leg.”  
    Oh, God.   His stitches.
    She hurried toward the door then stopped.   No, she refused to go.   He brought it on himself trying to get out of bed that way.   It would serve him right if he’d pulled his stitches and was bleeding and — arrrrgh!   
    She flew back down the stairs, around the corner, and nearly tripped over Rocky, before stopping cold just inside the bedroom door.   The rat was sitting up in the center of the bed finishing the rest of his lunch as if nothing happened.
    He looked up from the tray with a smug grin.   “Something wrong?”
    She narrowed her eyes.   Rat was too nice a word.   “I came to see if your stitches were still intact and to make sure you weren’t bleeding on my best sheets.”   Her tone couldn’t have been more glacial, but he didn’t appear fazed in the least.
    “I didn’t check, but I’m sure they’re fine.”   He popped the last bite of his sandwich into his mouth and made a display of dusting off his hands.
    Although seething, she still couldn’t quite make herself turn around and leave the room.   Did his voice sound strained?   “I think I’ll have a look, if you don’t mind?”  
    “Are you sure you don’t just want to play nursemaid?”   He waggled his dark brows as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
    Was that what she was doing?   Using his injuries as an excuse to be near him, to touch him?   Well, whatever her motives, she wouldn’t be satisfied until she’d checked his bandages.  
    Glowering down at him, she moved the tray aside.   She’d just have to make sure not to let him rile her.   She would remain cool and calm.  
    Pulling back the covers to expose his leg, the flash of red on the gauze pierced her heart.   Blast him and his foolish games!   If only he hadn’t grabbed her, the big oaf.   Grumbling under her breath, she threw herself into action and quickly retrieved the first-aid kit from the bathroom.
    “It’s only a little blood.   It’s fine.   I don’t need fresh bandages,” he said.  
    Ignoring him, she returned with the supplies and sat on the edge of the bed.
    He shifted, edging away from her.   “You really don’t have to do this.   I’m perfectly capable of changing the bandage myself.”  
    About to make a flippant remark, she looked up at his face and promptly bit her tongue.   Beads of sweat speckled his brow.    
    Men and their damnable pride.   “Be quiet and sit still.”
    A broad smile swept across his face.   “Yes, ma’am.”
    Didn’t he ever stop?   Well, if he thought he was going to get anywhere with his flirting, he had another think coming.   She let out a deep breath as she fumbled for a fresh bandage.  
    Who was she kidding?   He had her tied up in six different kinds of knots.   Some of which she’d never experienced before.   Oh, she’d been head-over-heels for Roger, but never like this.   Of course, it wasn’t everyday her dark prince came waltzing into her life.  
    Geez, when would that old teenage fantasy die?   He was not her prince, but an old