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“Jody has some first-aid supplies at his trailer. I’ll walk her home and put some cream on for her.” Removing his hand from under hers, Matthew cupped her elbow. “Let’s go.”
“I can find the supplies. You don’t have to leave.”
“I was getting ready to leave, anyway. I have to be up at six in the morning to be at Al’s.”
“Here, Alanna.” Fynn held out a s’more he had just made, wrapping it in a paper towel. “I’ll make me another one.”
Alanna started to refuse, but didn’t want to hurt the little boy’s feelings. “Thank you.”
She didn’t resist Matthew’s tug on her arm, wanting to be back in the trailer alone so she could finally have the cry she had held back earlier.
Matthew brought them to a stop at his workshop. “Wait here. I want to get a flashlight.”
He carried his cell phone as a flashlight when he disappeared inside the building and came out a minute later.
“Doing okay?” he asked.
“Uh-huh …”
He turned on the flashlight, and they continued on to the trailer without talking. Alanna was thankful he wasn’t making small talk; she didn’t think she could hold it together if she showed one crack in her control.
Inside the trailer, Matthew ordered her to sit at the small kitchen table before disappearing into the half-bathroom. He came back out with a small plastic box. He opened it and took out some gauze, burn cream, and Tylenol. Then he moved to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. Removing the cap, he set the water down in front of her. Then, opening the Tylenol, he handed her two.
“Take them. They’ll help with the pain.”
While she took the pain medication, Matthew carefully grabbed her wrist so he could raise her hand. Alanna looked away at seeing the pad of four fingers and the side of her thumb had blisters forming.
“Hold your hands still.” Matthew went to the sink to wash his hands before placing a towel onto the table. Alanna was surprised his gentle, calloused hands were able to touch her without causing pain.
Alanna lifted her eyes when he finished wrapping her fingers in gauze.
“Make sure you don’t get it wet.”
“I won’t.” She felt embarrassed. He was being so nice to her. She didn’t know if she could turn the other cheek as graciously as he was. “I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier today.”
“You’ve already apologized.”
“You didn’t look as if you believed me.”
“I did.” Matthew put the items he’d used back in the box then closed it with a snap. Softly placing a finger on one of her gauzed fingers, he said, “It wasn’t the flames that damaged your hand; it was the smoldering ash.” He raised his unburnt hand that had blocked hers from getting hurt further. “I’ve worked with fire my whole life. I should have been more careful how I touched you. My skin is thicker than it seems.”
“Are you comparing me to fire?”
Matthew gave her a sexy smile that rocked her world. She was glad she was sitting down.
As he tucked a loose tendril of her hair behind her ear, he let the knuckles of his hand trail down her cheek before letting his hand drop to his side. “You should come by the shop tomorrow afternoon. I’ll show you some of the work I do.”
Matthew carried the box back to the bathroom. When he returned, he asked, “You good for the night?”
“Yes.” Alanna started to take a bite of the s’more, but Matthew beat her to it. Then, giving her a wink, he started for the front door.
“Hey! That was mine.”
“You snooze, you lose around here. Besides, I saw that marshmallow bag when we got home. It was half-empty. I just saved you a stomachache. Come lock the door after me.”
After she locked the door, Alanna went to the bathroom to shower off the thick smell of smoke from her body which wasn’t easy with one hand. Once she was done, she slid on a pair of pajamas.
In bed, she turned off the bedside lamp. The tears she had been holding back were gone. Matthew’s kindness and the talk she’d had with Silas about carrying old baggage made her realize she had spent so much of her life in fear of Owen and Kate anddidn’t remember one moment of joy that hadn’t been marked by them.
