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“And they don’t know shit about you. It’s why I’m here. You don’t have to worry about that and my people aren’t gonna say shit or lead anyone to you. They know better.” The look he delivered was warning enough and confirmation of what he meant. They didn’t want the consequences of pissing Carter off was what she took from his affirmation.
“Let me see.” McKenna busied herself removing gauze and medical tape from the kit. There wasn’t much she could use other than an antibacterial ointment and a few sterile bandages that wouldn’t hold for long if he continued bleeding.
When he peeled away the washcloth she could clearly see the small wound but this time it didn’t look as gross without all the blood from earlier. She moved her fingers around the area gently before gliding them across his skin to the back where she identified another wound.
“It looks like the bullet passed right through.”
“You sure about that with your non-medical ass.” Carter smirked which granted him an angry glare from McKenna.
“Relax. You’re too pretty to be so damn hostile.”
“I’m not hostile. I’m annoyed. You barged into my house in the middle of the night, forced me out of bed at gunpoint and demanded I take care of you and let you stay here when I don’t know anything about you. I have the right to be annoyed,” she rattled off as she worked on dressing his wound, keeping the focus there instead of on him.
“You got that. I apologize.” Carter paused, watching as she maneuvered around him in such a delicate manner that he was amused by how she handled him. It was as if she assumed he would break. Carter was in pain and a little weak but he damn sure wasn’t fragile.
While she worked, he examined her face, admiring McKenna’s features. Sienna brown skin, deep brown eyes, lips that were slightly puffed with the bottom one slightly larger than the top but only noticeable if you stare long enough. The way she pulled her lip between her teeth while she focused was distracting. The scent of her hair when he leaned his head toward her was calming. It lingered on her short dark tresses which were pulled away from her face, secured at the nape of her neck, and smelled like coconut.
“You know who I am? Is that why you don’t want me here?”
“I don’t want you here because someone shot you and I have no idea why. That’s never a good thing.”
“And because you know what I do, don’t you?”
“I don’t know who you are or what you do.”
She lifted her eyes but quickly dropped them. Carter laughed arrogantly and as she stood with the intent of creating space, he caught her arm, pulling McKenna closer.
“You’re lying.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes you are. If you don’t know me, you have an idea about me. One that scares you. I’m good at reading people. It’s something I’ve worked hard at over the years. You know exactly what I am.” A killer. “That’s why you’re so nervous around me.” He flashed a smile. “Well and the fact that you’re attracted to me.”
“I am not.” She snatched away and he allowed her.
Instead of responding, Carter lifted his phone, which was on the nearby nightstand, flinching from the pain of extending his body.
McKenna moved around him, cleaning up while she listened.
“Yeah. Aight, leave it by the door and she’ll come get it.” She felt him lift his eyes to her during a pause before he spoke again. “Nah, just go and don’t come back unless I call you. You can’t be sure somebody’s not following you. Yeah aight, she’s on her way.”
After ending the call he waited while McKenna dumped the trash from bandaging his wounds in the can by the dresser.
“There’s a duffle bag outside your door. Get it and bring it to me. Make sure you lock and bolt the door.”
She stood frowning at Carter but didn’t move which had his face tight again.
“What?”
“You could at least ask.”
He stared hard for a minute, wanting to tell her how he really felt, which was annoyed for having to repeat himself but instead he pushed out a short breath to calm his aggravation. Leaning forward just enough to rest his elbows atop his solid thighs, Carter lifted his eyes to meet hers one last time.
“Kenni, get the damn bag, please.”
This man is going to ruin my ability to keep a safe distance.
The use of her nickname wasn’t supposed to feel intimate and familiar. The delivery was so arrogant and assured that she couldn’t help the flutters from her heart.
