Page 52 of The Kiss Countdown

“What’s that for?” I ask.

“It’s to clean your face. Sheba licked all over you.”

“Good idea.” I reach for the towel, but Vincent keeps it in a tight grip.

“May I?” he says.

Touched, I nod and allow him to lift my chin up. I immediately shut my eyes as he begins dabbing at my cheeks.

“Does your face itch?” he asks.

“No, I feel great. Well, apart from the feeling that someone’s beating at my ankle with a hammer.”

He lets out an amused sound from the back of his throat. “You’re kind of a wuss when it comes to pain, huh?”

“Not all of us grew up falling out of trees and scraping our knees.” I let myself relax as he moves from one cheek to the other, so gentle and attentive. “I never wanted to make my parents worry, so I guess I was pretty careful as a child.”

“I can tell. I didn’t see one scar on your legs.”

How good of a look did he get? Did he like what he saw? The thought makes me squeeze my thighs together.

“I’m all done,” he says, finishing with a swipe along my chin, but I keep my eyes closed. I hear the thread of need layered within his husky timbre, feel the stir of his breath against my damp skin. I’m scared of what I’ll see if I meet his gaze. Or more like what will be reflected from my owneyes. This is a dangerous game we’re playing when we both know our time together is temporary.

When his hand drops and his footsteps move away, I garner the courage to open my eyes and find him digging through his backpack.

“Let’s get you some medicine to help manage your pain,” Vincent says.

“Yes, Doctor.”

After I take two small pills, Vincent walks to the door. “I’m going to get some ice to wrap you up. Do you need anything from the house? I can make you a sandwich.”

“No, thanks. Just the ice will be perfect, Vincent. Thank you.”

When everyone comes back from the hike, Brianna stops by to once again apologize, and with Sheba under Vincent’s watchful glare, I assure her I’m okay.

Later in the afternoon, I’m able to convince Vincent to have lunch inside with his family while I take a nap without his hovering. Once he’s gone, I decide to check in with Gina.

“Tell me everything,” she says as soon as she pops up on the screen. She’s sitting on her red couch with Dog Mack in her lap.

“Hi, Mack,” I sing. “Is Mommy giving you enough yummy treats?”

He sniffs and whines at the phone.

Gina pushes him away, frowning at me. “Tell Auntie Mimi to spill the tea before Mommy decides to drive up there and see for herself.”

I imagine her trying to navigate the scary hills, then going off on me once she makes it here, and I laugh.

Gina’s face jostles like she’s just dropped the phone. “Whoa, Mimi, what’s got you smiling like that? Or I guess Ishould saywho? I take it you and Mr. Astronaut are getting along?” She wiggles her eyebrows.

I purse my lips. “What are you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. What is going on between you and ol’ boy?”

“Can’t you ever just say Vincent? It’s always Mr. Sexy, or Mr. Astronaut, or a variation of the two. And nothing is going on between us. Vincent and I are just... friends.”

I lean back against the headboard at the realization. I can’t remember the last time I gave that title to anyone other than Gina and meant it. Sure, I’ve had colleagues I wasfriendlywith, but obviously those relationships didn’t survive me leaving Jacob and Johnson. Somehow Vincent has gone from daily annoyance to partner to helpful friend. It almost feels like I should be calling my mom up, telling her how her little girl made a new friend at school. A sweet friend who’s fretted over me—carrying me all the way back to the cabin and making sure I haven’t so much as breathed in discomfort—but friend, nonetheless.

“I’m glad you’re warming up to him,” Gina says. “How’s the visit with his family going? Are they buying the whole couple thing? Don’t leave out a single detail.”

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