Page 34 of Island Homecoming

Nash nudged her onto a vacated bar stool. “Reed! Call the police. She’ll be pressing charges.”

“For what?” Jess demanded. “It was a scuffle. I’m fine.”

“Assault.” His voice was flat and low. He tipped her head back. “You’re bleeding.”

Oh crap. She grabbed a couple napkins from the stack on the bar top and pressed them to her forehead. The spot was tender, but head wounds usually looked far worse than they were. “It’s fine. I’m fine.”

Nash didn’t look convinced. “We’ll let a doctor decide. Come on.”

She felt fine. Not the least bit wobbly, queasy, or faint. Which was good since it took several minutes to convince Nash, Nina, and Celeste that she didn’t need a visit to the ER.

“We’re calling it a night,” Nash declared. He handed his sister some cash. “I’ll get her cleaned up.” He didn’t give Jess any room to argue. “You were right about the band, they’re great.”

Well, that was the right thing to say. Nina practically glowed. “I’ll pass along your comments to the committee.” She waved at Jess and then returned her attention to the stage.

Jess chuckled as Nash led her out to his truck. “You can relax. This doesn’t require any treatment. I’ll clean it up when I get home.”

“Why wait? I keep first aid in the truck,” he said. “In my line of work, we never know when we’re going to get a spider bite or cut off a thumb.”

“That isn’t funny.”

He shrugged and gave her a lopsided smile. “Every job has its hazards.”

“Okay. You have a point.”

Again, with that disarming smile. “I also have two thumbs.” He unlocked his truck and boosted her up into the seat. “And you might have a concussion.”

“I do not.”

He snorted and kept his eyes on his work while he cleaned the cut over her eye. “Not too deep.” The antiseptic solution stung just a little, fading when he smeared an ointment over the wound. He pulled the skin close as he put the bandage on. “All done.”

She flipped down the visor and opened the mirror to take a look. “Nicely done,” she praised him. “The dinosaurs aren’t exactly my go-to wound cover.”

“You can pull it off,” he assured her. “Feel like a walk on the beach before we go home?”

“Sounds perfect.” Leaning forward, she brushed her lips across his. “Thank you, Dr. Billings.”

He moved closer and kissed her again, taking it deeper. She got lost in the moment, the man, until someone walking by told him to get a room.

“We could do that.” His eyebrows bobbed up and down. “I know a place.”

She wanted to give in to her desire for him, but so far, she’d managed to hold back. She couldn’t explain the decision. Maybe it was fear of leading him on. Maybe it was a simple case of nerves. She’d changed, inside and out, since they’d been in high school. But why? Her passion for him was still there, burning like a sparkler that never faded or fizzled out. She wanted him. Clearly, it was mutual. And yet…

“Beach first,” she said. “A walk sounds like a great idea.”

“Well, whenever you’re ready, my room’s always open to you.”

He tucked her legs into the cab and closed the door before she could figure out how to respond. It wasn’t fair to lead him on and he was definitely safe enough that she could confide in him.

She spent nearly all her free time with Nash. A significant portion of that time had involved hot kisses, tantalizing touches, and a longing for much more. Was it fair to jump into bed with him? She didn’t want anyone else. But no matter how incredible she knew it would be, she couldn’t convince herself it was the right move. She might not be here after the current assignment wrapped up.

And she wasn’t sure if she could handle walking away from him again if they took that leap. Wasn’t sure she could think clearly or objectively about anything other than him if she gave in to her physical desire. And that was too much pressure to put on whatever they were doing right now.

“You’re awfully quiet,” he said when they parked a few minutes later.

Through the windshield, the ocean stretched out. Dark water blending into a darker sky. Stars winked overhead and white foam glowed in the low light, marking the rollers washing onto shore. The wind and water offered a low, soothing rumble for her racing thoughts.

“I know.” She should apologize or say something, but so many thoughts were twisting and tangling in her mind. “Let’s walk.”

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