“Beginning of the year.” The barest hint of vanilla teased him every time he inhaled and he knew it wasn't coming from some food in the kitchen. It had to be her shampoo.
Charlie nodded, her short ponytail swinging with the movement. “You can go to the ER if you want but it's not necessary. The cut isn't too deep. I don't think it will even leave a scar, but we'll have to watch for an infection.”
There was no way in hell he was going to the ER for a scratch, especially not when the town's residents were already facing some serious injuries. “Just clean and wrap it for me. I'll be fine, Doctor.” It'd been on the tip of his tongue to call her Charlotte, but he caught himself at the last second. She'd introduced herself as Captain Charlotte O'Brien. That told him she didn't want to be on a first-name basis with him, which irked him for some reason although he didn't know why. Maybe because the rest of her family and the people he'd met today had been friendly. Sure he'd gotten a few stares from people but for the most part they'd accepted him into their fold as he worked alongside them. Not true of the good doctor. Her manner had been reserved and aloof from the moment he approached her. He tried to come up with reasons for her attitude, but none came to him.
“You sure he doesn't need stitches?” Sean asked. He remained next to the table as Charlotte worked.
Sean didn't strike him as a worrier by nature. Would Sean be this concerned if he was someone other than Jake Sherbrooke? “I trust the good doctor's judgment. It'll be fine.”
Charlie paused in the wrapping of his arm and looked up at him, surprise evident in her beautiful hazel eyes. This close he, could see the tiny flecks of green in them as well as her incredibly long eyelashes. What would her eyes look like glazed over with desire? Would the green flecks be more pronounced? Would the hazel darken?
Focus Jake. You’re not here looking for a woman. “It smells delicious in here.” Jake hoped to distract himself from the woman in front of him with some small talk.
Reaching for a roll of tape, she tore off a long piece and placed it on his arm. Unable to tear his eyes away, Jake watched her every movement. Her hands were slender with long fingers and short neatly trimmed nails. She wore no rings or nail polish, and with no warning the image of her hands on the rest of his body entered his mind.
“Thanks to our generator we'll all have a hot meal tonight. Ma made enough beef stew to feed a carrier.”
Charlie's voice drew him back to the kitchen. Disgusted with himself, he pulled his arm away. Most of the time he had better control than this. Fantasizing about a beautiful woman while sitting in her family’s kitchen wasn't something he normally did.
“Sounds good. Thanks for taking care of my arm. I can finish up from here.”
Without commenting she handed him the roll of tape and began to clean up the other supplies on the table. She tackled the task just like she seemed to do everything else, efficiently. He wondered if she was like that by nature or because of her Naval training.
“Are you stationed in Virginia?” Jake tore off one last strip of tape and placed the roll back in the first aid kit. “I noticed a car in the parking lot with Virginia plates,” he said when she threw him a questioning look.
“Norfolk. At least for now.”
Jake leaned back in his chair oddly pleased that the cold tone she'd used with him earlier in the day seemed to be thawing out a little. “I'm in Alexandria. Are they planning to transfer you to another base?”
Charlie studied him without saying a word. For a moment it appeared as if she was going to tell him it was none of his business.
“My time is up soon. I don't know if I 'm going to re-up or not.”
“Tough one.” Jake hoped he sounded sincere. If he was in her shoes he'd re-up in a heartbeat.
She didn't answer but rather shrugged as she washed her hands in the kitchen sink. “Try to keep that clean and dry. I'll check it tomorrow. Supper is being served in the dining room whenever you're ready.” With her final statement she dried her hands and disappeared through the swinging door.
Jake stayed seated for several minutes. The picture of her tall lithe body was branded on his mind. She didn't seem to know the kind of effect she had on men. Under different circumstances he would pursue her with no questions asked, but now wasn't the time or place. Not to mention the fact that she seemed to be indifferent to him.
When his stomach growled in protest, Jake stood and pushed his thoughts of Charlotte out of his mind. He hadn't eaten anything other than energy bars since breakfast and the freshly baked biscuits he smelled were calling his name.