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Keeping my hands off her and being respectful are going to be hard as hell if she continues to put herself within arm’s reach. “Fine. ”
I stand and spend more time than needed rifling through the cabinet beneath the sink to find Band-Aids, rubbing alcohol and a towel. Echo bought this stuff for us when we first moved in, and neither Noah nor I have touched it since. As I set it all on the floor in front of the couch, Rachel motions for me to sit and when I do, she joins me with her knee grazing my thigh.
Fuck me, she’s warm.
Rachel opens the box of Band-Aids and searches through it as if she’s an actual doctor picking a scalpel. The scent of the ocean enters my nose and my jeans tighten. “If you’re serious about modifying your car, I’ll do it if you get the parts. No cost. ”
That can be the way I repay this debt and stop thinking about letting my fingers drift up her shirt to caress what would probably be the softest skin on the planet.
She peels back the paper to reveal the Band-Aid and balances it on her knee. “If I do make modifications, I think I’d like to do them myself. I don’t get to work with cars that often, and I sort of get a rush when I do. ”
Jesus, it’s like I’ve met my twin. One glance at her slim figure and I erase that thought. I wouldn’t be attracted to someone I was related to. “Then think about what you want and I’ll score you the parts. ” I’ve got favors I’d call in for her.
“Hold out your arm,” she instructs and though it makes me feel like a damn fool, I obey.
Rachel pours alcohol onto the towel and begins to dab it on the cut. “Maybe I’ll take you up on that, but I’m not sure I want to mess with her. My real dream is to find an old Mustang and supe her up. Kind of like what you’re doing with yours. That would be awesome. ”
Ignoring the slight sting on my arm, I turn my head to survey her. This girl is too good to be true. “Then I’ll help you with that. ”
Rachel holds the towel to my skin. “You don’t have to. ”
“I owe you. ”
Her nose wrinkles as if she’s thinking something she believes is not worth saying. I have to keep myself from asking what.
“Does it hurt?” she asks. “Because sometimes I blow on my cuts when I put alcohol on them. ”
“I’m good. ”
“Then I guess I’m a wuss. I would have thought the alcohol would sting. You’re missing the top layer of skin. ”
Without another word, she places the towel on the floor, takes the plastic off the Band-Aid and presses it to my skin. I haven’t worn one of these since I was five. Earlier tonight, everything felt hopeless after I talked to Noah, but being around her erases bad thoughts.
Rachel raises her head and her foreh
ead scrunches. “What?”
Under the dim lighting, parts of her hair shine and I crave to run my fingers through it. Fuck it. Once she goes home, she’ll never come back. If Beth taught me anything, it’s to grab hold of what’s in front of me while I can. “What would you do if I kissed you?”
Chapter 14
Rachel
MY MOUTH FALLS OPEN, AND only when it starts to get dry do I close it. What would I do if he kissed me? Go into shock? Have multiple seizures? Jump up and down? I take in a shaky breath. Isaiah called me brave so I rush out the words. “Kiss you back?”
His gray eyes soften as if I gave an acceptable answer, but then he studies my face with a sober expression. “How many boyfriends have you had?”
My entire body sags, and I lace my fingers together, unlace them and lace them again. “Why?”
“Because. ” His hand covers mine to halt my serial lacing. “I’ve never met anyone like you. I’m. . . trying to understand you. ”
I don’t want to answer. I like the idea of him thinking of me as brave, as the girl who teases him in a bar. I don’t want him to see me as I really am—the tongue-twisted ’fraidy cat who’s never dated a guy.
“I don’t care what the answer is,” he prods. “But I need to know. ”
There is no way I can admit this and meet his eyes, so I focus on our combined hands. “I’ve never had a boyfriend. ”
I take a quick peek and Isaiah nods once, as if he already knew what I would say. He raises his hand to my face again and I allow the touch. His fingers slide along my jawline and the warmth of his caresses radiates past my skin and into my bloodstream. Pleasing goose bumps rise on my neck.
