“Hello, I’m Evie.”
“Beth called and said you would be taking her place today.” The sound of his harsh voice had sparks running through her stomach. It suited his face.
Evie set her satchel containing her supplies on the chair beside his bed. “How are you feeling today?” Her nursing persona kicked in as she opened her bag and took out a clean pair of gloves.
“I’m doing well.”
Evie turned back to him, seeing he was staring at her with an arched brow.
“Too much?” she questioned with a grin.
“A little.”
Evie shrugged. “Old habits are hard to kill.” She motioned for him to unbutton his shirt.
“You worked in a hospital?”
“Yes, when I was in the military and afterward. I was also a Corpsman in the field for nine months.”
Evie watched as he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a muscled and lean chest. He didn’t even have the paunch she had assumed a man who made his living running a strip club would have. Somehow, she had imagined him short and stubby with a half-balding head. In reality, he was the direct opposite: muscular, with defined abs.
He flinched when she reached out to touch him. Startled, Evie’s eyes lifted and were caught by his purple gaze. Surprisingly, she felt herself blush.
Her hands went to the bandage, carefully removing the tape before gently lifting the gauze away. It wasn’t the worst gunshot wound she had ever seen. It didn’t seem to be the worst injury he had dealt with during his lifetime, either. Her experience from being a Corpsman easily allowed her to identify the scars visible on his body.
A scar delivered from a knife was on his stomach. It was bad enough Evie assumed whoever had given it to him was doing his best to gut him. He had another scar on his side that showed he had been shot before, also. At the base of his throat, he had a thin scar she was barely able to see. Someone must have unsuccessfully tried to garrote him.
When his hands pulled his shirt back from his body, she saw the scars on both wrists that were signs he had been tied up and tortured. The cigarette burns on the back of his hands sickened her the most. Shade had told her how King had risen from poverty to fight and win control of Queen City. The brutality of that rise to power was exhibited on his body.
Silently, she disposed of the dirty bandages and her gloves before putting on a fresh pair and getting clean bandages.
Sitting down on the bed, she cleaned the wound that was beginning to heal then placed the clean bandage and taped it in place. Standing back up, she removed her gloves then disposed of them into the same trashcan.
She took out her thermometer, rolling it over his forehead; no fever. He was recovering well from being shot. Evie put her thermometer back in her bag, snapping it closed before lifting it and placing the strap back over her shoulder.
“That’s it?” King asked.
“Yes, unless you’re having any pain?”
“No.”
“Then that’s all Beth said needed to be done. Did she forget to tell me something?” Evie frowned, trying to remember if there was something she had forgotten in Beth’s instructions.
“No.” His brief, cranky reply had Evie cocking her head to the side and her inquisitive gaze searching his. “Beth usually brought me lunch when she came.”
Evie’s lip twitched. “She didn’t tell me I should bring you lunch. Would you like me to go out and get you something?” Evie offered, wondering if he wanted something to eat, why he didn’t get Henry to get it for him.
“No, Henry will take care of it.”
“All right then. It was nice meeting you, Lily’s father.” She moved toward the door.
“Are you a friend of Lily’s?”
“I like to think I am, yes.”
“Her husband?”
“Yes.”
“How close?”
Evie openly gaped at him. What was he trying to ask? “I have known Lily since she was a senior in high school, and I met Shade when we were in high school and served in the military together. So, I guess we’re pretty good friends.”
“I was just wondering since you stepped in for Beth today.”
“Oh, I used to work with Beth a few years ago before the factory opened. I help out whenever she needs an extra hand.”
“I see. It was nice meeting you.”
Evie nodded her head, feeling as if he was dismissing her. She opened her mouth to say something then snapped it closed, remembering her friendship with Lily and Beth. She really didn’t want to make them angry by calling Lily’s father an arrogant asshole, but he was definitely riding the line of being just that with his attitude.
Evie went out the door, leaving it open, aware that Henry was following behind her. She walked to the front door, about to open it, but Henry reached out and opened it for her.