Page 62 of Jam and Jingle Bells
“Sit,” he said, sighing. I did as he instructed, and he washed his hands, then joined me at the table. “I’m not convinced, but let’s see what we can do. If it doesn’t stop bleeding in two hours, we call your mom.”
I held up my good hand. “Fine, but it will. Like I said, I do this all the time.”
“Maybe you should be more careful about what you’re snipping. You’re supposed to be cutting hair, not flesh.”
I knew he was teasing and I sighed, frustrated with the day. “I know. I was exhausted and ready to be done when the last client came in. She’s five and while she loves getting her hair cut, she forgets to sit still. Better my finger than her head.”
He glanced up and offered me a genuine smile. “Kids are like that. Mine have been especially squirrely this week. I think it’s because Christmas is fast approaching.”
“There is definitely an air of utmost excitement,” I agreed as he opened the strips and got a band-aid ready. “How has it been going with the new guy?”
“Dawson is actually great with the little ones. He’s quiet, reserved, and doesn’t get rattled easily, but also can be silly with the kids. He really saved my bacon this week.”
“That’s great. I’m glad Audrey’s meddling worked out for once.”
He winked and laid my hand on a towel on the table. “He’s staying with Mrs. TIms and apparently Audrey is there almost every night. She says he’s easy on the eyes.”
“Is he?” I asked, sucking in a breath when he exposed the cut to air.
His eyes traveled to mine for a second before he went back to the first-aid kit. “Doing okay?”
“Yup, just tender,” I said, biting my lip since he’d been through much worse than a little cut to his finger.
“I don’t know if he’s easy on the eyes, Addie. I’m a guy who likes this one particular stubborn girl, but all the ladies seem to think he is.”
He started putting steri-strips across the cut to hold it together, one at a time all the way up the finger. Then he laid them diagonally to make an X.
I checked out his work as he prepared gauze and ointment. “Wow, that might actually hold it closed. How do you know how to do that?”
He didn’t make eye contact when he spoke. “I used to work on a farm. The livestock would often get cut in the fields. We learned to do simple bandaging techniques early on. I’m not convinced this will do the trick since it’s deep, but we’ll give it a go.”
He added a layer of ointment over the steri-strips and then wrapped it in gauze and tape for me. “Try to keep it elevated and straight for a few hours. That will keep it from bleeding through the strips.”
I bent it at the elbow and rested it on the table. “Will do, Dr. David. How is the shoulder feeling?”
He pulled the neck of his shirt down to reveal the line of stitches. “No redness and already nice and firm. I should be able to get them out Monday like he promised and then I’m back in business.”
“Is it still tender there?” I asked, rubbing just below the device.
“Not much anymore unless I move it wrong.” I lowered a brow and he laughed. “Don’t worry, I haven’t been doing yoga. I work in the office while Dawson runs the classes. By the end of the week, I should have the plan complete to expand the offerings for new classes.”
“You decided to go ahead with that already?” I asked surprised.
“The city is crying out for it, and I’m definitely feeling the pressure.”
“Ellis, you hardly have time to breathe as it is.”
“Says the girl who comes home after six every night.”
“It’s a busy time of year, everyone wants to look good for the holidays. That doesn’t answer my question.”
“I’ve been talking with Dawson about his availability,” he said, his gaze holding mine. “He’s not working as a yoga instructor right now because there are no openings and there’s no need for another studio in Saginaw.”
“Seriously?” I asked surprised. “You like him that much?”
“I do. He’s good at what he does and he understands the town and the needs here. He’s eager, dedicated, smart, and knows his stuff.”
“Can you afford to pay an employee?”
