Page 20 of Unlawful Seduction

A part of me wanted to toss his ass to the curb, but they were both injured. “And Igotmine. Just sit on the table. Please. Let me take a look at the injury.”

He took and held a deep breath for a full thirty seconds before complying. No matter how hot the man was, I didn’t expect to be treated the way he was treating me. As I moved closer, I dragged my tongue across my bottom lip. Some people, usually men exuded an excessive amount of heat. He was one of the lucky ones that did.

And I was the unlucky recipient of his cold, hard stare.

Again.

At least I knew the man had two emotions. Surly and surlier. After slipping on a new pair of gloves, I took a fresh and wettowel, blotting the area gently. As I pressed my fingertips against the wound, a shot of electricity roared through me. “I can’t tell visually if the bullet is still lodged in the wound and I don’t have a CT scanner here.”

“But you do have an x-ray machine.”

“That may or may not tell me anything.”

“Use it.”

“Then you’re going to need to wait until I get Jax settled. Oh, and he’s staying the night. I need to ensure no infection develops.”

“Then I am as well.”

The audacity of the man to just make demands was close to grating my last nerve. He had the kind of expression that meant he’d break into my facility if that’s what it took to be with his dog overnight. “Well, then I guess we’re having a party.”

Beckett glanced over my shoulder to where Jax was sleeping in one of the large cages. With no other overnight guests, he’d had his choice. My first overnight guest. How joyful.

I hated the fact my hands were still shaking even after I’d spent over an hour with the man sitting half dressed in front of me. Personally, I wasn’t certain I liked being this close, but I had no choice.

He wouldn’t allow that to happen.

“You’re lucky the bullet didn’t rip through your deltoid, shattering a bone.” Thankfully, the wound had been fairlyuncomplicated, but the two injuries had prompted several questions in my mind. For about a million reasons, I doubted he would answer any of them.

After carefully placing the bandage into position and taping, I took a step away, not only noticing but also feeling his heated gaze. His eyes had never left mine the entire time I’d worked on him.

The man was not trusting at all. He was also not likely trustworthy.

When he flexed his muscles before sliding off the table, I couldn’t help but pay attention. His tattoos were also sensual and added to his dangerous persona.

I immediately tossed the gloves and bloody gauze into the trash, doing everything I could to keep my eyes off him. It was much more difficult than I could have imagined.

With my hands dry, I finally removed the scrunchie holding my long hair out of my face. I’d worn scrubs, which were comfortable, but not particularly warm in this kind of weather. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t put my foot down and told him he was not staying the night. Sure, concerned ‘pawrents’ did it all the time, but my trust factor was also low, even if he’d helped me out of a bind.

The moment I turned around, I was confronted by his massive body crowding my space. I was shocked by how close he’d come, becoming startled and stumbling just enough that I was forced to place a palm on his chest. Bad move. I instantly gasped and he seemed amused at my reaction, the corners of his mouth upturning into a smirk.

“You don’t have to stick to me like glue, Beckett. I’m not sure what you think I’m going to do.” I purposely sidestepped him and he didn’t object or try to mimic my movements. Of course that was the moment I realized he’d tossed his shirt and jacket on the table where I’d been standing. Well, duh. I grimaced and my jaw ached.

He chuckled in a dark and demanding way as I cowered in shame. When I heard the rustling of clothes, I couldn’t help myself, glancing over my shoulder.

In his attempt to pull the shirt into his fingers, he opened his jacket. That allowed me to sweet the clear outline of not one, but two guns. I didn’t make a sound even as a cold jolt of fear trickled through me. Who was this man?

A hitman. Maybe that was it. He was living in a small town just waiting for his target to arrive. Or a criminal hiding out from the law? Maybe a tax evader hoping to remain out of prison. Well, he’d been able to afford a high seven-figure home, for God’s sake.

As he slipped into his shirt, I couldn’t tell if he’d noticed my discovery. I refrained from my usual need to spit out something caustic, instead moving to check on Jax. I crouched down and opened the door to the cage, stroking his soft fur. He didn’t budge, the slight sedative I had him on keeping him in la-la-land.

“You’re a good boy, Jax. You’re going to be just fine.” My whispers weren’t meant for my unwanted guest to hear, but he was suddenly by my side, sticking his hand into the cage and scratching his pup behind the ears.

With Beckett being so close, I couldn’t help but notice the slight smile while his expression was laced with concern.

“I meant what I said,” I told him. “Jax is going to be perfectly fine.”

At least I was answered with a nod instead of complete silence. He continued stroking Jax’s head while I stood, leaning against the group of empty cages against the wall. When Beckett addressed or touched his dog, his demeanor was entirely different. There was obvious love in his eyes and because there was, I chastised myself for making up stories about him.

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