Good Girl Gone Plaid(14)
Amusement eased through him and his smile widened. When he took another step toward her, so that they were just inches apart, she stepped back.
“Why do you keep running from me?”
“Because I’m a smart girl who knows she should avoid the bad boys.”
Before he could blink she’d turned and sprinted away from him. Her pace increased until she threw herself into another series of handsprings.
Only this time, on the last one, something happened when she landed. With a sharp cry of pain, she fell to the ground and clutched her ankle.
Not by any means an athlete, Ian surprised himself by how quickly he reached her side.
He fell to his knees and probed her ankle with gentle hands. “You land on your foot wrong? Does this hurt?”
“Ouch! Yes.” Tears filled her eyes and she bit her lip. “I think I heard a snap. Oh no, what if it’s broken? I’m so screwed. This is all your fault.”
“My fault?” He scowled and lifted her into his arms.
“Yes, dammit you distracted me.” She wound her arms around his neck, clinging to him. “And you’re doing it again.”
He glanced down, gauging her face for the amount of pain she was in. Pretty bad, going by her pinched expression and glaze of agony in her eyes.
His concern spiked and he increased his stride to his car. “How am I distracting you?”
“Not—oh God it hurts—telling. Where are you taking me?”
“To the hospital. Do I need to take you to the one on base?”
“Either one. My dad’s insurance lets me go anywhere. Look, you don’t have to take me—”
“I’m not leaving you. Hang on a sec.” He set her down gently, keeping one arm around her waist. “No pressure on the hurt foot, okay?”
He dug his keys out of his pocket and opened the car door. After knocking the pack of cigarettes off the passenger seat, he eased her in and then buckled her up.
Several hours later, when she’d been x-rayed and diagnosed at the ER, he again helped her outside to the car. This time she was on crutches and touting a hairline fracture.
Sarah’s navy dad was apparently out at sea on a ship, but her mom had come by the hospital initially with the insurance information and to check on her daughter. But despite the mom’s worries, Sarah’s antsy little sister had made it difficult for the two to stay.
After the assurance that Sarah would be fine and a promise that Ian would drive her home safely, the mom and younger sister had left.
“Thank you.” Sarah rolled her head to look at him, a wide, relaxed grin on her face. “My mom pretty much thinks you’re the best thing since sliced bread.”
“Really now? How are those pain killers working out for you?”
“The drugs are wonderful.” Sarah drew out the “uh” in wonderful. “And my mom?” She waggled a finger at him. “You’ve charmed her, but little does she know it’s all an illusion.”
He laughed and caught her finger, pressing a kiss to the fleshy underside. “An illusion you say? I think I’m quite better than sliced bread, actually.”
He didn’t miss the way her breath hitched or her lips parted. “Yeah. You kind of are. Do you miss Scotland?”
Shite, she wanted to talk about Scotland? He’d much preferred the other conversation.
“Sometimes. But after four years I’m pretty settled here. Besides, there’s a lot I like about the States too.”
She waggled her brows. “American girls?”
“Aye,” he said softly. “At this moment, most definitely an American girl.”
Her eyes widened to crystalline pools of blue. Had he shocked her? Embarrassed her?
She opened her mouth, and he suspected she would blister him with a reply.
“You are ridiculously hot, Ian McLaughlin.”
All right, that was not what he’d expected. And he definitely wasn’t about to protest.
A lazy smile curved his mouth. “You think I’m hot?”
“Oh yeah.” She nodded and leaned toward him. “And you know it too.”
Ah, the truth came out under the influence of drugs. Pure masculine satisfaction slid through him. “I lied. Kenzie did call to cancel her ride today. I was just hoping you’d let me drive you home.”
Her mouth parted. “You did?”
“Oh yeah.”
“I’m glad.”
He cupped the back of her neck and tilted his head down.
“You know what else?” she murmured. “You’re nicer than you want people to believe.”
He frowned, her words not sitting well with him. “I’m not nice.”
And he proved it by kissing her. Slowly and deeply, while she was under the influence of painkillers.