Page 46 of Always a Bridesmaid
After several iffy remedies, studying proven cures had been a relief. No more chewing on bark, hoping his headache would go away.
He still wasn’t sure how the McGuires hadn’t ended up with tetanus, lockjaw, or gangrene, considering how much rusted metal they’d played on.
Ford turned to Violet and extended a hand. “Wrist.”
“Foot,” she said, lifting one and wobbling on the other.
As they’d driven to his place to get the dogs, she’d chatted nonstop, leading him to believe the epinephrine had catapulted her ADD to the next level. Halfway through an observation about the cute shops in town, she’d hit him with: Did you know mustard plants are relatives of broccoli and cauliflower?
“Anyway, mustard shouldn’t be a color, and that building over there clashes with the other shops, so I’d repaint it. Actually, mustard yellow is a lie. The yellow comes from turmeric.”
Even now, she bounced on her toes as if preparing for a marathon. “Why are you looking at me like that? I thought we were naming body parts.”
Stuffing his amusement down deep so he could switch into responsible paramedic mode, Ford stepped closer and grabbed her hand. “No, we’re trying to take your pulse—I am, anyway.”
He twisted her wrist and pressed his fingertips to her radial artery. At the feel of the steady palpitations under the surface, his breath hitched. Over something he’d done numerous times before.
He’d counted a whole five beats when Violet bent to pick up the whimpering puppy at her feet. Trouble was doing his damnedest to live up to his name, and Ford was beginning to wonder if Violet should come with a warning label herself.
“I swear, woman. Hold still, will ya?”
Violet blinked her big brown eyes at him, not bothering to release the puppy, and his professional medical persona dissolved. So much for being responsible and distancing himself, the way he’d been trained in order to avoid burnout.
A heady sensation inundated his system as he placed his hand on the side of her neck. It was easier to read her pulse there, anyway. Her eyes dilated as he counted the beats of her heart, and then he was the one fighting distraction.
Smooth skin, shimmery lips, silky hair.
She smelled incredible, too, the vanilla note in her perfume tempting him to take a taste.
And time…Her pulse was on the higher side, but that was to be expected.
For a second, he thought she was breathing too hard, but the heavy panting came from the puppy in her arms, and man did Trouble’s breath reek.
Yet Ford’s hand remained on the side of her neck, the steady beat under his thumb a comfort he hesitated to give up.
“Is your tongue still swollen?”Would you like me to test it for you?Ford cleared his throat, cursing his libido and the number this woman was doing on it.
Violet stuck out her tongue, wiggling it side to side. “Nope.”
“Any more itchiness?”
She shook her head. Then she wrapped her fingers around his wrist, and his pulse skidded to life, as rapid as hers had been after all the adrenaline hit her. “Hey, you. I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine.”
“And you’ll tell me if that changes? You swear?”
“Yes, Mr. Paranoid Paramedic. I will.”
Unfortunately, paranoia had followed him since his last search and rescue job, and it didn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
It’s okay. I’ve lived a full life.
It’s not okay. You’re gonna keep on living that full life, you hear me?
A quick grounding exercise blocked the memory before it could take hold and mess with his head all over again.
“Let’s get this show on the road.” They were on the far side of Lake Jocassee, about a mile from the cave that used to serve as his second home.
Although he didn’t plan on showing Violet that. It was a sacred spot—one he’d never shown anyone.
