Page 140 of Beautiful Trauma
As she started workingon my buttons, Caterina set out the materials she needed. “This would be much less messy in the medical bay, but I figured you’d had your fill of that in the last couple of days.”
I grunted. “You guessed right.”
Once Mila hadmy shirt unbuttoned, she helped me take it off. “Do you need more pain medicine?” she asked at my stiff movements.
“I thinkI can make it a little longer.”
She pursedher lips at me. “Don’t try to be a hero, Kavanaugh.”
I laughed.“Fine. I’ll take some, Korolova.”
While she gotmy pill and some water, I went over to the bed. After taking the medicine, I eased down on my stomach. “I wish you could take an Epsom salt bath for those sore muscles, but there’s no way with your back,” Caterina said.
I suckedin a breath at the mere thought of it. As Caterina began cutting my bandages, Mila hung back unsure of what to do. Caterina must’ve sensed her apprehension because she asked, “Do you want to help?”
“I’m not reallygood with medical stuff,” Mila admitted.
Caterina smiled.“That’s okay. You can hand me the things I need without looking.”
Mila nodded. “Okay.”
“Grabyourself a pair of gloves out of the box.”
As Mila puton the protection, Caterina said, “You know, I’d never been to Boston when Callum brought me here.”
“Really?”
“While I grewup in New York, I’d been living in a convent in Sicily.”
“Oh,that’s right. Kellan told me about how you were kidnapped.”
With a smile,Caterina said, “From the moment I met the Kavanaugh brothers, Kellan stood out to me.”
“Because of how handsome he is?”Mila asked.
While I flushedunder her compliment, Caterina replied, “Well, there was that, but it was his compassion. After being drugged, I had the worst headache, and he brought me medicine on the plane. And then when I refused to eat, he fed me soup.”
Mila’s eyes grew soft.“He really is the most amazing man.”
“Yes, he is.”With a wink, Caterina said, “He also has the most adorable blush when he’s embarrassed. Doesn’t he?”
I should’ve hated that it was at my expense, but I loved the sound of Mila’s girlish giggle. “Oh, yes, he does.”
I hissed as Caterina began to clean the wounds on my back. “Maybe we should wait until your pain medicine kicks in,” Mila suggested.
“No. I can handle it.”
“Are you sure?”
“Why don’t you hold my hand to get me through it?”
“If Caterina wasn’t here, I’d think you were trying to come on to me,” Mila teased.
At my chuckle, Caterina laughed. “That’s one trait all the Kavanaugh brothers have in common.”
“Being horndogs?”
“Absolutely.”
