Page 46 of Herbs & Hex-breaking

Once we got indoors, Dex went into first aid mode. I sat at the kitchen table resting my injured arm on the tabletop while he cleaned the scrape, applied antibiotic ointment and then bandaged it for me.

“You’re good at this,” I said as he taped the whole business in place.

“When I worked construction, I had plenty of opportunities to practice bandaging myself up,” Dex said as he closed the lid on my first aid kit. “I cut myself or mashed one of my fingers more times than I care to remember. Eventually I got the hang of it though, so my injuries were less often.”

“Today was a hell of a day.” Carefully I sat back in the chair and exhaled. “I’m trying to psych myself up to go change into my pajamas, but the thought of pulling my shirt over my head doesn’t sound good right about now.”

“I could help you.” Dex made the offer quietly.

I didn’t respond, because I felt like something the cat had dragged in. Instead, I simply sat there and considered him.

“You shouldn’t be alone tonight anyway,” he said as he threw away the wrappers from the gauze pads.

My eyebrows raised.

“I’ll sleep on the couch,” he said. “But I’m not leaving you alone after you’ve had two close calls today.”

CHAPTER TEN

“You don’t have to stay overnight,” I assured him.

“I’m doing it anyway.” His tone was no nonsense. “Whoever cast the hex you’re caught up in is not playing around, Kate.”

With a nod, I pushed myself back from the table and stood—then regretted my sudden movement almost instantly. My ribs were screaming.

Dex was by my side immediately. “What do you need?” he asked as I swore under my breath.

I couldn’t answer him for a moment. Once I finally got my breath back I said very carefully, “I am going to need your help. Can you cut this T-shirt off my back? Because there’s no way I’m lifting my arms over my head or working them through the sleeves.”

“Where are your scissors?” he asked.

I directed him to the correct kitchen drawer and made my way back to my bedroom area. Once I was there, I sat on the end of my bed, and he moved around behind me. “Don’t cut the sports bra,” I warned him.

Dex gently brushed my curls away from the neckline, pulled the shirt out and away from my skin and began to cut down the back. In seconds he had snipped through it. Then he walked around to the other side to pull it forward and down over my arms, one sleeve at a time.

“Damn it, Kate,” he said softly. “Your entire right side is solid bruises from your armpit to your waist!”

Lifting my right arm a bit, I peered down at my side. “No wonder it hurts so much.”

“Yeah, that’s it.” Dex scowled. “I’m getting you undressed and putting you to bed, right now.”

“Who says romance is dead?” I snarked as he knelt in front of me to untie my shoes

His lips twitched, but he quickly slipped the sneakers off and tugged the socks free. He stood and helped me to stand. “Up you go. Let’s get your leggings off.”

“What every woman wants to hear.”

“You’re extra sassy tonight,” he said, gripping my waistband to gently peel the leggings down.

“Sorry.” I braced my hand on his back as he bent over to work them down over my calves.

“No need to apologize, Kate,” he said, straightening. “Do you want to try and put on some pajamas?”

“I’ve got some pajama shorts in the top dresser drawer,” I said pointing. “They’re pink.”

With a nod, Dex reached over and pulled the drawer open. He found the pajama bottoms and helped me step into them. He tugged them up and then immediately pulled the bed back for me—like a perfect gentleman. “In you get.”

“I don’t want to lie flat,” I said as I climbed in. “There’s a wedge pillow in my closet.”