Risk Factors. Calisa Rhose

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СКАЧАТЬ should clean it with antiseptic before you go.”

      “I’ll tend it when I get home.”

      “But, it may have germs…get infected.”

      “It’s not the first time, and her rabies vaccination is current. Thank you, but it’s not necessary.”

      Viv stopped by a cabinet on the way to the front reception area to grab ointment and a Band-Aid.

      * * * *

      “I’d feel better if you let me take a look at this.”

      When he set the carrier down to pull out his worn wallet, Viv caught his hand.

      Connor jerked to pull his hand away, but she held on.

      “Please.”

      Her hand was warm and strong, even for her size. Something subtle and smooth eased under his skin and worked its way through his nervous system like a nano-virus. Invisible, but sensational, originating from their connected hands. His initial reaction to her earlier that week had not been a figment of his imagination. He’d wanted to get to know her then and that didn’t seem to have changed today. Regardless of the instinct that urged him to run away.

      Connor stopped resisting and set the wallet on the raised counter to extend his left hand. Without a word he let her wipe the angry scratch with astringent and apply antibiotic ointment. “Is that animal medicine?”

      “It’s the same thing we use on ourselves. Because this brand is from a vet supply, it has a different name and label. But it’s still the same antibiotic salve. Probably a bit cheaper, too.”

      He hoped the calm note in her husky voice would settle his tense nerves, force his mind back to the job at hand and not the woman touching him so comfortably.

      He risked speaking quietly–for fear she’d hear the sudden desire running rampant in his voice–but needed to keep her talking. “So it’s not just for animals. What other meds are shared?”

      “Ah, well, baby aspirin is good for four-legged pain. Human or animal ophthalmic, eye, ointment can be used in pets’ ears, but ear drops or ointment of any kind shouldn’t be used in eyes. Although people can use medicated animal eye drops, but it’s not recommended.”

      He’d hoped to relax with conversation, but it wasn’t working. With each strained word, as each second passed, the more he wanted to touch–to be touched. “Interesting.” But he wasn’t sure if he meant her medical tips or his reaction to her. That definitely interested him, and scared him at the same time.

      Viv raised her gaze and caught him inspecting her with an intensity he couldn’t explain if she asked. Bubbles erupted in his chest, like someone had poured water in a package of Janna’s Pop-Rocks and shoved it under his skin. Since when had he become so attracted to this woman?

      “Yes.”

      Her eyes changed from clear crystal to a darker, smokier color as he watched, entranced. She was close enough for him to see sprinkles of green in the depths. Close enough to smell her female scent mixed with the sweet smell of gasoline wafting off himself.

      Viv sniffed at his shoulder, at the murky odor mixed with smoke. Would she know it wasn’t the smoke of a weekend barbecue or a cigarette?

      “Have you been in a fire?”

      Connor pulled his hand away to inspect the Band-Aid. It was critical he get free of the soft touch, away from her subtle strawberry scent. Much nicer than his contrasting harsh odor. Using the excuse to retrieve his wallet from the counter, he stepped back. Could he play it off casually? “Why do you ask?”

      He still smelled of fuel from the morning crash, and smoke from the last call. Even though he’d showered at the station, fuel didn’t wash off easily. A pickup had burst into flames and EC-130-2, his team, had flown the teen driver to the burn center in St. Louis. The last-minute flight had made him late for his physical, which caused him to be late picking up Skittles, as well. He hoped the kid would be all right, but as with most of their cases, he might never know how the end turned out. He’d specifically requested Henry keep him informed of the condition of the woman from the early wreck, however. They’d survived a near tragic end together in that little green car and he needed to know Pam would be okay.

      “I…never mind. It’s probably nothing. I thought I smelled smoke.”

      Did Vivian Dane avoid getting close to another person, as much as he did? She backed off too easily. “No, it’s all right. A vehicle caught fire and I transported the driver to the hospital.”

      Her eyes grew huge in her pale face, reminding Connor again that she didn’t get enough sun. Her pink lips formed an ‘O’ shape and it took mammoth will not to kiss her stunned mouth. It was purely a physical response. Weeks since his last date and the least bit of attention from a woman… Connor swiped a hand over his face in resignation. That’s all it was, he was tired.

      “How awful! Is–are they okay?”

      That accident had been nothing on his personal job meter, yet it was the one Viv noticed odors from. Viv’s inquiries transported him back to the early morning scene. He’d never been so scared as he’d been in the midst of the steel trap and life threatening circumstances.

       The sun barely pinking the sky, the fumes, fuel–and the woman.

       Fuel soaked into his shirt, the odor sweet and strong as it permeated every sense and burned his skin. He wanted to vomit. Instead he nudged tighter against the rounded side of the leaking tank over the car, and slid his hand on hers until he found a radial pulse. Erratic. His, too.

      He jabbed the butt of the light into his mouth to help him see inside the steel and fiberglass cave, inched farther and located the woman under the dash. How in God’s name had she fit in the cramped area? She twisted her head to the side and a flash of recognition assailed him. He clenched his jaws when the light slipped. Fear thundered through him until he imagined the tank had exploded. He slid out of the car heaving gulps of rank, contaminated air and blinking to regain equilibrium. Pain and guilt rose up, threatening to strangle him. Connor sucked a deep breath and choked on the inhaled fumes. Thankfully, reality crashed back in on the trail of a harsh coughing fit. Keep cool, man. You can do this.

      He shook his head to clear all thoughts, all emotion of the woman he’d lost the year before and the accusations from the surviving young son.

       Focus on the job at hand. Then get the hell out.

      Why that case injected into his memory after a year made no sense, but the therapy sessions that followed had helped minimize those instances over time since, thankfully.

      “He’s fine.” He hadn’t meant to speak tersely, but instances of what people called heroism wasn’t something to brag about. He didn’t do the job to be a hero. It served a need, gave something good back to humanity. Little compassion had been spent on him in his early years. Now he was blessed with adoptive parents who'd taught him about love every day, and he’d set out long ago to put kindness back into the world in exchange. Anything to counteract the abuse he’d suffered as a kid in St. Louis made him appreciate what he’d been through counted.

      The stark curiosity in her eyes held him immobile. СКАЧАТЬ