"I bet it does. I'd recommend aspirin. And a potholder."
He chuckled, then set his teeth against the pain. "I guess I'm lucky there's a doc around. This kind of thing can get infected, right?"
"Mmm. But we'll see that it doesn't. What kind of things do you paint?
"Whatever strikes me." He smiled at her, enjoying her scent, the way her hair swept down gold over her cheek. "Maybe you'd like to pose for me."
she laughed, then rolled her chair over to a drawer for salve. "I don't think so, but thanks."
"You've got a terrific face. I do good work with beautiful women."
she glanced up. His eyes were hidden by the lenses. Though his smile was wide and friendly, there was something around the edges that made her suddenly ill at ease. Doctor or not, she was a woman and she was alone with a stranger. One who was watching her just a little too closely.
"I'm sure you do. But being the only doctor on the island keeps me pretty busy." she bent her head again to coat the burn with salve.
Foolish, she told herself. she was being ridiculous. He had a second-degree burn on his hand and he was letting a stranger treat it. And he was an artist. Naturally he was watching her.
"If you change your mind, I guess I'm going to be hanging here for a while. Jesus, that feels better." He blew out a long breath, and she felt his hand relax in hers.
Feeling even more foolish now, she offered him a sympathetic smile. "That's what we're here for. I want you to keep this dry. You can put a plastic bag around it when you shower. I wouldn't try swimming for the next week. The dressing should be changed daily. If you don't have someone around to help you with it, just come in and I'll do it."
"I appreciate it. You've got good hands, doc," he added as she wound gauze around his hand.
"That's what they all say."
"No, I mean it-not just good doctor hands. Artistic hands. Angel hands," he said with another smile. "I'd love to sketch them sometime."
"We'll see about that when you can hold a pencil again." she rose. "I'm going to give you a tube of salve. And I want you to check in with me in two days unless you leave the island. In that case you'll want to have it looked at eiscwhere."
"Okay. What do I owe you?"
"Insurance?"
No."
"Twenty-five for the office visit and ten for the supplies."
"More than fair." He got up, tugged his wallet out of his back pocket with his left hand. Gingerly he plucked bills out with the fingers of his wrapped hand. "Guess it's going to be awkward for a while.
"They'll help you out at the campground if you need it. It's a friendly island."
"So I've noticed."
"I'll get you a receipt."
"No, that's all right." He shifted, and she felt that little jolt of nerves again. "Listen, if you're over that way, maybe you could stop in. You could see some of my work, or we could-"
"Kirby! You back there?"
she felt a warm rush of relief, so fast and frill it nearly made her giddy. "Brian. I'm just finishing up with a patient. You be sure to keep that gauze dry," she said briskly and pulled off her gloves. "And don't be stingy with the salve."
"You're the doctor." He sauntered out ahead of her, then lifted his brows at the man who stood in the kitchen with a bloody rag around his left hand. "Looks like you've got a problem there."
"Good eye," Brian said dryly and glanced at the gauze-wrapped hand. "Looks like I'm not the only one."
"Busy day for the doc."
"The doc," Kirby said as she walked in, "hasn't had five minutes to-Brian, what the hell have you done?" Heart in her throat, she leaped forward, grabbed his wrist, and quickly unwrapped the rag.
"Damn knife slipped. I was just-I'm dripping blood all over the floor."
"Oh, be quiet." Her heart settled back when she studied the long slice on the back of his hand. It was deep and bleeding freely, but nothing had been lopped off "You need stitches."
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do, about ten of them."
"Look, just wrap it up and I'll get back to work."
"I said be quiet," she snapped. "You'll have to excuse me, I-" she glanced over, frowned. "Oh, I guess he left. Come into the back."
"I don't want you sewing on me. I only came because Lexy and Kate went half crazy on me. And if Lexy hadn't been pestering me, I wouldn't have cut myself in the first place, so just dump some antiseptic on it, wrap it up, and let me go."
"Stop being a baby." Taking his arm firmly, she pulled him into the back. "Sit down and behave yourself. When's the last time you had a tetanus shot?"