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CYNTHIA GLANCED AROUND at Sean. A look of guilt flickered in his eyes. Had she just caught him checking her out?
Her spine tingled. There had been a moment just like it when he’d been on top of her. He was affecting her in ways she wasn’t completely comfortable with. What was going on? This couldn’t continue. He was in truth her boss and even if he wasn’t they lived in two different worlds.
She made her strides longer. He should be sent on his way as soon as possible. There wasn’t time in her life to think about Sean Donavon. Her brothers and keeping their financial heads above water were all she needed to focus on. Her life didn’t need muddling by dreamy thoughts of Sean.
Thankfully they soon reached her car. But then she realized she had to remove her coveralls to get her keys out of her jeans. Distressed, she tried to make it clean and simple, instead of the striptease she was afraid it might look like. Cynthia didn’t miss the slight uplift to Sean’s lips when she wiggled back and forth as she struggled to remove the material from her shoulders. He was appreciating the spectacle she was making.
“A gentleman would offer to help,” she snapped as she continued to twist.
He grinned. “I was sort of enjoying the show.”
Heat rose to her cheeks.
Sean stepped closer, which didn’t help matters in the least. He gave her collar a tug.
“Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” He sounded sincere.
The panic that had simmered while she worked to undress had started to flame. Cynthia let the coveralls drop to her feet and dug into her pocket for her keys. Finding them, she laid them on the top of the car then pulled the coveralls up and tied the sleeves around her waist.
“So did you get the car you were having trouble with fixed?” Sean asked.
“It’s running but my pocketbook is empty.” She clicked the car door opener.
“I bet having this party at the same time didn’t help.” His tone was matter-of-fact.
Was he being critical? Did he think she was wasting money? “You’re not kidding. But Rick only turns eighteen once. He deserved a nice party. Some fun.”
“Maybe.”
Sean didn’t sound as if he agreed. “Anyway, it’s good for you. It just means that you’ll have me for as long as you need me.” Grabbing the file off the seat, she almost shoved it at him.
Something about the slight twist of his lips confused her. It was as if she was talking about one thing while he was thinking of another. A tremor washed through her body at the thought of him touching her. She hoped her reaction didn’t show. The man had her tied up in knots in more ways than one.
“Thanks.” He took the file in his hand.
“Cyn, come quick!” Rick, still dressed in playing gear, ran toward them waving his arm. “Ann Marie is hurt.”
“What’s wrong?” Cynthia called.
The boy yelled, “She’s hurt her leg.”
“Tell her not to move. I’ll be right there.” Cynthia dug under the car seat, pulling out a first-aid kit. When she stood she didn’t see Sean anywhere. Seconds later she was trotting toward Rick. At the sound of footsteps, she glanced to her right to find Sean beside her.
At what must have been her questioning look he said, “I thought I might help.”
“Thanks.” She was grateful. If Ann Marie was badly injured she could really use his medical assistance.
They rounded a stack of drums on the playing field to find Rick on bended knee beside a girl. She was still wearing coveralls but her mask lay beside her. Her blond hair fell loosely down her back as she rubbed the ankle of her left leg. A couple of other kids stood looking down as her with interest.
Cynthia joined them and went down on her knees. “Ann Marie, I’m Cynthia. Rick’s sister. What hurts?”
“My ankle. I can’t walk.” The girl’s pain was obvious.
Focusing on nothing else but Ann Marie, Cynthia put a hand on her shoulder, hoping to reassure her. “Let me look. Where exactly does it hurt?”
“Right here,” the girl cried out as she touched the spot.
Moving down to where she could easily reach Ann Marie’s foot, Cynthia began to push the pants leg of the coveralls up. “You let me know if I’m hurting you.” She slowly gathered the material until she could see the ankle area. “I’m going to need to roll your sock down.”
The girl shifted.
“Stay still. You wouldn’t want to make the injury worse.” Cynthia carefully touched Ann Marie’s skin, checking around the ankle bone for raised areas or tenderness. When her fingers reached the skin on the inside of Ann Marie’s ankle she winced.
Cynthia shifted, getting a better view. Even in the dimming afternoon light she could make out a purple discoloration of the skin. Her fingers moved to the strings of Ann Marie’s shoe.
“Don’t do that,” Sean’s stern voice told her. He joined her on the ground.
Cynthia had forgotten all about him. She was surprised he hadn’t said something sooner or taken over the situation. She gave him a questioning look.
“It could be broken. The shoe will act as a splint,” he explained. “It should remain on and be removed at the emergency department.”
That made sense. Cynthia sat back on her heels and spoke to Ann Marie. “You have definitely sprained it or worse. We’re going to have to make a trip to the ER.”
The teen started crying.
Cynthia lightly patted her leg, trying to comfort her. “You’re going to be fine.”
The girl gave her a tear-filled look. “My parents are going to be so mad at me. They told me not to come to the party.”
A knot formed in Cynthia’s stomach. She wasn’t looking forward to the conversation to come. “I’m sure they’ll understand. Right now let’s worry about that ankle. We need to get you to the car and on to the hospital.”
“I want to stabilize the foot more before she’s moved just on t
he off chance it’s broken,” Sean said.
Cynthia turned to him. “How do we do that?”
“We need something to wrap around the shoe that will support the ankle. A long piece of cloth, anything.” Sean looked at her then above them at the others watching.
“I have an old knit scarf in my car—would that do?” a girl offered softly.
“That’d be great.” Sean gave her a reassuring smile.
“I’ll run get it.” The girl didn’t wait for a response before she took off at a full run toward the parking lot.
“I’m going to need to roll up your pants leg so that we can keep it out of the way. I need to wrap your foot securely. This shouldn’t hurt.” Sean’s large hands went to work on neatly folding the material. “So what grade are you in?”
“Eleventh.”
He nodded. “What’s your favorite subject?”
“I like English,” Ann Marie responded.
Sean continued to work. “That so?”
Cynthia watched. Sean had a nice bedside manner about him. One that she could easily fall for as well. Ann Marie had stopped crying and was now concentrating on answering Sean’s questions.
Minutes later the girl returned with a scarf balled up in her hand. Reaching them, she thrust it at Sean. Taking it, he smoothed out the width and length, then placed one end under Ann Marie’s foot and started covering it as if he were using an elastic bandage. He then brought it up around her ankle and secured it under a section he’d already wrapped.
Sean pushed to his feet. “Now off to Emergency you go. Rick, will you get behind Ann Marie and help lift her up while I pull her from here? Ann Marie, don’t for any reason put weight on that foot.”
Rick moved into position.
Sean said, “Ready, set, go.”
Cynthia helped steady Ann Marie as Sean and Rick got her up on one foot. Before she had a chance to wobble, Sean had scooped her into his arms and had her held against his chest.
Speaking to Rick, she said, “I’m going to take Ann Marie to the hospital and stay with her until her parents get there.”
“We’ll go in my car. I saw all the birthday stuff in the backseat of yours,” Sean said.
