"Not even a friend with benefits?"
"Not currently." He laughed.
"What's funny?"
"I've missed the hell out of you, Kaia Alzate."
"You sound surprised."
"I am."
"You miss me? The Braterminator? The kid who vexed you and Archer to no end? Why would you miss that?"
"I know, right." He tried to wink, but couldn't pull it off with the swollen eye. "But vexing can be exciting."
"Or it can be . . . well . . . vexing."
The tone of her voice, low, lazy, like the slow easy swing of a hammock strung between two sheltering trees, triggered a visceral response in him. Tight chest. Shallow lungs. Queasy stomach.
His imagination was off, spinning visuals of how she looked early in the morning: sleepy-eyed, hair mussed, her mattress imprinted with the shape of her body, and the smell of fresh-brewed coffee stirring the morning air.
"Where are you living these days?" he asked, shifting gears to keep from getting aroused again. "Still staying with your family?"
"Why does it matter?"
"It doesn't. Just making conversation."
"I rent a house on Murkle Street until I go back to school in the fall. Behind the Dairy Queen."
"Older homes in that area and you're really close to those Butterfinger Blizzards."
"You remembered." Her smile could light up outer space.
"Hey, they were my favorite too."
"The house is on a two-acre lot and the rent is cheap and the landlord doesn't mind if I keep animals, and there is that proximity to the Blizzards."
"How many animals do you have?"
"Varies. I foster."
"Cats? Dogs? Birds? Rabbits?"
"Yes, yes, yes, yes, and goldfish, a couple of pigmy goats, Earl the donkey, and a potbelly pig named Lancelot. Although right now Lance is off providing stud service at a neighbor's farm."
"Lucky Lance."
"Men." She rolled her eyes, but did not look disgusted.
"I like the way nothing much changes around here. You're still elbow-deep in critters, Elly May."
"Take the aspirin," she said, "and I'll drive you to the hospital."
"Not going. I'm fine."
"You don't know that."
"Give me some credit, woman."
Her cheeks pinked and she glanced away again. He'd rattled her. Good. She looked cute in pink.
"Give me some credit, man," she sassed. "I do know a few things about medicine. Granted, it's on animals, but a lot of stuff translates."
"You're being overly cautious."
"And you're being underly cautious." Her scowl was a shovel, digging under his skin.
"It's just a black eye."
"You don't know that for sure."
"I've been in enough fights to gauge the damage." He doubled up his fist, posed like a boxer. "I'll live."
"It could be something serious."
"Would it bother you if it was something serious?"
"Yes, of course it would."
His pulse skipped a beat and his chest twisted tourniquet tight. "Why?"
"'Cause it would ruin Archer's day if you fell into a coma. He and Casey have waited a long time to find each other. Last thing he needs is you screwing it up."
"Tell it like it is." He exhaled. What had he expected her to say? That she cared about him and it would break her heart if anything bad happened to him? He'd been fishing, which was pathetic. "At least we're on the same page about Archer's wedding."
"Just different approaches. Yours is denial. It's common among stubborn men."
"And yours is being overly cautious."
Kaia threw her hands in the air. "Fine. Have it your way. No hospital. But if you pass out I'm not helping you."
"Sure you will. You can't help yourself. I saw the look in your eyes when you were hovering over me. You were worried."
She notched up her chin. "I'm still worried. I'm a compassionate person."
"You're . . ." He let the sentence dangle, and she shot him another sideways glance.
"What?" she whispered.
"All grown-up," he murmured.
"And you are stub-"
"Stubborn. Yes, we covered that. What else?"
"Late for brunch," she finished, leaving him feeling vaguely disappointed.
Keeping the ice bag of frozen corn to his temple, he downed the pain pills, chugged the water, and pushed back the chair. Lost his balance a little from getting up so suddenly, and stumbled against the table.
"Whoa!" Kaia leaped forward, reached for his elbow.
He put up a restraining hand, moved away to keep her from latching onto him. He hated being fussed over. "I've got this. I'm fine."