Page 64 of The Hunter's Empire

My hand immediately stills against his arm. There it is. The trap.

I narrow my eyes. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing at all." His tone is entirely too innocent. "I was just thinking about how naturally you seem to wander into places you don't belong."

I already know where this conversation is heading.

"Nico."

"Like bathrooms."

I close my eyes. "Nico."

"Specifically bathrooms occupied by naked men."

The memory hits me instantly. Heat rushes up my neck and settles squarely in my cheeks.

Unfortunately, he notices. And a smug smile spreads across his face. "Look at that."

"Don't."

"You're blushing."

"I'm not."

"You absolutely are."

"I'm holding disinfectant. My face is probably reacting to the smell."

Nico stares at me. Then he laughs again. The sound fills the room. "That is genuinely the worst excuse I've ever heard."

I shoot him a glare. "I walked into the wrong room."

"You stood there for three seconds."

"I was in shock."

"You were staring."

"I was not staring."

"You absolutely were."

I press the edge of the tape down with slightly more force than necessary, making sure the bandage stays exactly where I put it.

He doesn't miss that either. "Easy, Elf. You're starting to act defensive."

"I'm not defensive."

"The tape says otherwise."

"Oh, please."

I smooth the bandage once more, entirely because it needs adjusting and not because I need something to do with my hands.

"You're impossible."

"And yet here you are taking care of me."