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“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to rub liniment into your sore muscles, that’s all.” He opened the jar, releasing noxious fumes into the air.
Nicole recoiled from the smell. “You are not rubbing that into my skin. It smells like tar.”
He grinned. “I don’t think tar is one of the ingredients, although I have seen it peel paint off of a wall.”
“That testimonial is not helping your case, Mr. Collins.” She gripped the blankets tight.
“Nicole, you need to trust me.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
“Have I steered you wrong yet?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Fine,” she huffed, “but no funny business.”
Reece made a sign over his chest. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”
“Can I be the one to stick the needle in your eye?”
He rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Yes, Miss Bloodthirsty. If I overstep my bounds, you have permission to do your worst to me.”
She tried to relax. “All right then, proceed.”
He tipped his head to her. “Thank you. Now, remove your underpants.”
She swallowed loudly. “What?”
She was beginning to frustrate him. “Just do it, Nicole. Wiggle your cute little bum out of your underclothes and put your right leg out from beneath the covers.”
She did as she was told, her leg appearing near his knee. She watched as he dipped his fingers into the jar, rubbing his hands together. At the first touch of his hand, she jumped.
“Sorry, I guess I didn’t warm it up enough.” She refused to tell him it was his touch that made her so antsy, not the medicine.
“Since this may take a while,” he murmured, concentrating on rubbing the liniment deep down into her muscles, “why don’t we play the question game.”
“Okay. I’ll go first. Why does Maggie call you Colin?”
Right out of the gate she hit him hard. “It’s my name. My real name is Colin Michael Reece Woodhouse.”
“That’s a mouthful.”
He smiled up at her, his fingers digging into her sore muscles. “It can be, especially when I’m drunk.”
“How often do you get drunk?”
“I have an occasional nip, but I’m not known for drunkenness.” He dug deep, making her wince. “It’s my turn to ask a question.”
“Why? I’d rather hear about you.”
“You’ve already exceeded your quota on beginning queries. I have three to go before we’re even.”
Her chin rose. “Ask if you must.”
“If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?”
She answered without thought. “I’d live in England or Scotland.”
