“Such a smartass.” I bent and opened the cabinet under one of the sinks, pulling out my first-aid kit.
Hadley let out a whistle. “Such a Boy Scout.”
“Being prepared isn’t a bad thing.”
“No, it’s not all bad.”
I set the kit on the counter and pulled out some hydrogen peroxide and a cotton ball. “Lift your shirt again.”
Hadley turned to face the mirror and lifted her tee. The angry gashes had to sting at the very least. I ghosted the cotton ball across the wounds, careful not to press too hard. “That hurt?”
“No,” she whispered.
“Can you lift your shirt higher?”
Hadley grumbled something under her breath and met my gaze in the mirror. “Shield your eyes if you want to protect your virginal virtue.”
I scoffed. Heat flared to life in Hadley’s eyes, a mix of anger and frustration. She whipped her shirt over her head, leaving her in nothing but a pale pink, lacy bra. I wasn’t blind. I knew that Hadley had curves, that she was beautiful, but the sight in front of me had my mouth going dry. I fought the urge to lean in closer.
“Cat got your tongue?”
I scowled at Hadley through the mirror. “Took me by surprise, is all.”
“Sure.”
I returned my focus to her back, cleaning each scrape meticulously. “Hold your shirt to your chest.”
“Too much boobage on display for you?”
I chuckled, the sound a little rougher than normal. “I need to unhook your bra. That might be too much boobage foryou.”
Hadley rolled her eyes but held her t-shirt to her chest, keeping her bra in place. I unhooked the little tines, letting it fall open. I cleaned the rest of the gashes and moved for the antibiotic ointment. As gently as possible, I spread it over the worst of her scrapes.
Hadley trembled slightly.
“Did that hurt?”
“No, I’m fine.”
But her breathing was more shallow than usual, her gaze focused on the counter in front of her. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one affected.
I ripped open two packs of gauze for the worst cuts. Carefully, I covered them and secured them in place with medical tape. When I finished, I let my hands skim lightly down her sides and gave her waist a squeeze. “How does that feel?”
Hadley’s breath hitched. “Good. I mean, better.”
My gaze locked with hers in the mirror, a million different things passing between us. Questions and pleas. Uncertainties and vows.
“Hadley?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t find you repulsive.”
Her words had haunted me since she’d carelessly tossed them out. “Trust me, I’m well aware you find me repulsive.” It killed me that she thought that. Especially when it couldn’t be further from the truth.
Hadley’s eyes widened a fraction in the mirror. “O-okay.”
“Just remember that.” I bent and kissed her bare shoulder, the skin so soft I wanted to trail my lips down the expanse of it. Instead, I straightened and got the hell out of there before one of my kids walked in.