“Gee, thanks.”
“You’re in pain.”
She attempted to nod, but couldn’t bring herself to do it. “Yes.”
“Just your head?”
“No. All over.”
“A side effect from slipping on ice. You probably have some minor soft tissue damage.”
He took a penlight out of his pocket and shined it in her eyes, which caused her to wince.
“Pupils look fine, but you have some light sensitivity. Sound, too?”
“Yes.”
“Turn around,” he murmured. He slipped his hand beneath her shirt and ran his fingers along her spine. It was in a medical way, not an ounce of seduction there, but Hallie had to admit that she liked the sensation of his hands on her bare skin. It had been a very long time since a man had touched her at all. Even when she was with Brent, their lovemaking had been very scheduled, very ordinary, pleasant but almost mechanical. Hallie was feeling different with Asa than she did with Brent and all he was doing was checking to see if she was injured. She wanted to chalk it up to being celibate for so long, and figured that she might react this way with any good-looking man but she knew it had more to do with Asa being Asa.
“No sore or tender spots?” he asked as he continued his examination. “Bend over for me just a little like you’re going to touch your feet.”
She did as he asked as his hands traveled across her back. “Does anything hurt when you do that? Any particular pain or twinge?”
“I’m just sore all over. My tailbone hurts the most.”
He pulled the band of her pants just a bit and looked. “You’ve got a bit of a bruise there.” He straightened her to standing and turned her around to face him where his fingers slid to the back of the neck.
“How’s your neck?”
“Stiff,” she answered and as soon as the word came out of her mouth his touch stopped being medical. He rubbed her aching muscles with his thick, long fingers. Too sore and sleepy to think about what she was doing, she pushed herself against him while he did it.
* * *
Asa’s intentions were pure when he’d begun his examination of Hallie. She’d opened the door and her appearance had knocked him in the gut. He could tell that she was in pain, her big beautiful eyes dull, her skin tone ashen. He still found her beautiful, but more than that he had this overwhelming need to take care of her. It was something he had never felt before, like something internal that was pushing him to. And then when he was examining her lower back, his need to take care of her had changed into a different kind of need all caused by the little tattoo of a seahorse on her back.
He had been surprised to see it there and then he realized what he had been doing, running his hands all along this woman’s body. Slightly aroused by her when he knew he shouldn’t be. He turned her around to face him, knowing he should stop, that he should go home, knowing that he had done his duty. But he looked at her tired, sad face again and couldn’t step away from her. She was a stranger, but he felt like he knew her, like he was supposed to be there. It was a crazy thought, but as he went to rub her neck and she pushed her soft body against his he knew that maybe he wasn’t the only one who felt a connection.
“Don’t think I’m crazy,” she said softly as she wrapped her arms around him. “But I think I’m going to cry.”
“It’s okay.” He stroked his hand down her back. “I know you’re in pain.”
“It’s not that. You smell good and your body is so warm and I miss my family. It’s been a long time since I’ve been hugged.”
“It must have been hard to be away from your family on the holiday.”
His parents were a few hours away in New Jersey so it hadn’t been that long since he had been hugged, but he couldn’t think of the last time he’d had a beautiful woman wrapped around him. He dated, frequently. He enjoyed women, but lately it had just been dates. He hadn’t invited anyone back to his place. He hadn’t spent the night at anyone else’s. He could have, but ever since his twin had gotten married he’d felt off. Odd. Like there was something missing in his life. Virginia was so happy. The women that Asa dated didn’t make him happy. They were just someone to pass the time with.
It was strange to be having those kinds of thoughts while he was holding a woman he barely knew, but he couldn’t stop them.
“I’m fine now.” She pulled away from him and he found himself missing her warmth. He should just go back home and forget about her. His mind could be soothed now. She was a little banged up, but he was sure she would be fine.
“You should take a hot bath with Epsom salts. It will make you feel better.”
“That sounds amazing.” She moaned a little and it made him harden just a bit. “But there’s a problem.”
“What?”
“I don’t have either of those things.”
“You don’t have a bathtub?”
“Have you seen the size of this place?”
He looked around him. He really hadn’t paid attention to it before, but it was tiny. Just one long room. He could see the entirety of it from where he stood. But it was cozy. It looked like her. She had a white gauzy curtain around her bed, which was made with a fluffy white-and-black floral-printed comforter. There was a small love seat beside it and a vintage wood desk that had been painted a soft blue. Besides the old fireplace that Asa was sure was no longer functional, there was nothing else to the space. They were standing in her kitchen. He turned around to see that her bathroom only had a shower.
“I have a tub.”
“My place could fit inside of your place three times. How can you afford it? Do paramedics make that much?” She looked pained then. “That’s one of those questions I’m not supposed to ask.”
“I happened to be there when the owner of the building was hit by a livery cab. I stabilized him until the paramedics arrived on scene.”
“You saved his life,” she said softly.
“No. I did what I was supposed to do. But he was grateful and he tracked me down to thank me. When he found out where I was living he told me his son was moving out of this building and offered the apartment to me at the same price his son was paying.”
“Oh. Did you follow him home to check on him, too?”
He grinned at her. “No. But I did visit him in the hospital.”
“Are you sure you’re a real person? No one cares that much.”
“I have a family. If it were my father, I would have wanted somebody who went through medical training to be there with him until help arrived. And you made me think about my sister. I wouldn’t want her hurt and alone in a strange city.”
“I’m not sure that I could ever be that good of a person.”
“I’m sure you’re wrong.” They looked at each other for a long moment, the urge to pull her closer and wrap his arms back around her growing stronger.
“I hate you a little,” she said changing the subject. “You mentioned the word bath and now it’s all I can think of.”
“You can take one at my place. My tub is pretty big.”
Her eyes widened. “With you?”
“Alone. Unless you really want me there. I thought we made it clear that I wasn’t going to try anything. I try to stay away from