Page 21 of Loving My Enemy

“You’re a real asshole. You know that, right?”

I turned at the sound of Nina’s sarcastic statement and was met with the angriest glare I’d ever seen. “I’m just doing my job, Nina. Something I think the citizens of Tulip appreciate.”

“Yeah, I think they would all love to know that you stopped Elka from doing yoga in the park because you like her, but you’re too much of a nutsack to say so.” She shook her head, hair falling around her shoulders in soft waves that were a sharp contrast to the hell shining in her eyes. “I’m sure you’ll get the Citizen of the Year award for running a small-business owner right out of town.”

Run Elka out of town? The thought had never even occurred to me. “You can’t perform in the park without a permit.”

She stared at me for a long minute, her expression serious as hell. Then Nina threw her head back and laughed loud and long and hard. It was too early in the morning for such noise but she, as always, didn’t give a damn. “That’s a stretch, even for you, Antonio. Maybe just admit you like her before you do or say something you can’t take back.”

“She doesn’t need you to fight her battles, Nina.” Women like Elka always let other people fight their battles and they walked away unscathed, leaving a world of pain int heir wake.

“Maybe. Maybe not. The truth is, you don’t know a damn thing about Elka or what she needs. Get your shit together before Janey throws you off the calendar.”

“Be my guest.” I snorted because that was the best thing that could happen to me at this point.

“You say that now, but I have a feeling Tyson and Mayor Ashford might think differently about it.” Nina gave me another long, assessing look that made me feel like a little boy who just didn’t measure up, and then shook her head in disgust. “You might be nice to look at, Vargas, but right now, that’s the only thing you’ve got going for you.” Before I could respond, Nina had whirled on her heels and stomped away, grumbling about “annoying, stubborn ass men who deserve a kick in the balls.”

When Nina was out of sight, I turned and ran in the opposite direction, pushing myself another five miles until my legs quivered with exhaustion and sweat drenched my entire body. Only then did I turn and head towards home, carefully avoiding even a glance at the small cottage across the street.

Nina didn’t get it. None of them did because they hadn’t seen what I’d seen, hadn’t experienced the things I had. They didn’t know the dangers that women like Elka brought with them.

I did.

After recovering from my run,I spent most of my day off doing adult things like cleaning my house, paying bills, and grocery shopping. It wasn’t the most exciting day off in the world, but after my run-in with Nina, I didn’t much care. Besides, the sunwas on its way behind the horizon, and I was headed to Black Thumb to hang out with some of the guys.

The rest of the afternoon had been so uneventful, I should have known it wouldn’t last. I locked the door and turned to scan the neighborhood, making sure everything was as it should be before taking off. That was when my eyes landed across the street. Not on the cottage or the woman, but the house next door. Paul Brinkley was on the ground with his toes facing the heavens, a familiar blond leaning over him.

Elka.

I was down the stairs in one leap and flew across the street, heart pounding as all the possibilities of what happened went through my mind. Paul Brinkley didn’t look good; his silver hair stuck up in all directions and his lips were an alarming shade of white, but not as alarming as the red color of his skin. “What happened?”

Elka didn’t look up or acknowledge she heard me at all. She continued to slather some thick, gritty cream all over his legs, arms, face, and head. “I don’t know. He was unconscious when I found him, but he’s breathing regularly. I’m treating the sunburn as best I can, but that’s all I can do.” Her voice was firm as she spoke, capable and certain. “It’s a little low but not alarmingly so. Fifty-two,” she said after another long pause.

I sat back and watched, listening closely as she answered the dispatcher’s questions all while keeping a gentle touch on Paul, offering up soothing words that he probably couldn’t hear. She didn’t need my help, not that she would ask for it if she did.

Paul’s eyes fluttered open and Elka smiled down at him as she set the phone down. “There you are, Mr. Brinkley. You gave me quite a scare.”

I wondered if it made me an asshole to feel jealous of the old man for getting such a bright smile out of her.

He smiled up at her and tried to sit, but Elka kept her hand on him to keep him still. “I must be dead to wake up to a sight so pretty.”

She laughed prettily. “I’ll be sure to tell Doreen you said so.” She quickly sobered and explained how she found him. “I don’t know how long you were out here, but you have pretty bad sunburn.”

“Aw dammit. I came out ’cause Doreen’s been after me to pull the damn weeds growing up the porch. Bent down and that’s the last I remember.”

“Heatstroke,” she said at the same time I did. “I’m just glad you’re all right, Mr. Brinkley.”

He smiled and tried to sit up once again, grunting his displeasure when her small hand pushed him back down. “You saved my life, sweetheart. I think it’s all right if you call me Paul.” The old man closed his eyes and his smile brightened as she rubbed the thick cream across his forehead and down the bridge of his nose.

“What the hell is that?”

Paul glared at my tone but Elka didn’t even look my way. “Aloe, honey, and oatmeal. Natural sunburn relief,” she said, her words reluctant and bland, like she was doing her best to ignore me without being rude.

Soon the ambulance arrived and Will jumped out with a serious expression on his face, not even bothering to take a moment to appreciate the feminine appeal of Elka. He just asked simple but short questions and Elka answered in kind, taking a few steps back to give them space to work on Paul. “Did you give him anything?”

“Nothing but the ointment on his skin.”

“All right, that’s good. You did good, Elka.” He flashed a tight smile, which she barely returned.

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