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She nods, gritting her teeth. “I think I twisted it a little when I fell. And the burn really hurts.”
Shit. I’m such an idiot. Why didn’t I make sure I cleared away all the traps? I might be losing my mind over Daisy Capello, but that doesn’t mean I wanted to literally capture her in a fucking snare.
“This will sting a little at first,” I tell her. “But it will feel better afterward.”
Daisy nods, squeezing her eyes shut apprehensively. I turn on the faucet, making sure the water is cool but not freezing before I gently reach for her ankle and position it under the running water. She draws in a hiss of breath, her hand clamping around my arm.
“Ow!”
“It’s okay,” I tell her, reaching to rub her back. “Give it a second.”
Gradually she relaxes her hand on my arm, sighing. “Oh, that’s better. Thank you, Linc.”
“Don’t thank me. It’s my fault you got burned in the first place.”
“Well, you’re making up for it now. So thank you.”
I swallow hard, keeping my concentration fixed on her ankle, but I can feel her eyes on me. Now that all the panic is over, I’m starting to process the fact that Daisy Capello is in my cabin, alone, with her hand on my arm, her bare skin soft against my fingers as I rinse her wound. She smells like vanilla frosting mixed with the earthy smell of the woods, and I chance a look at her. She’s watching me, her cheeks pink, those plump, kissable lips open slightly.
Fuck.
Resisting temptation just got a whole lot harder.
6
Daisy
Now that my pain and panic are starting to melt away, I’m mortified. I can’t believe Lincoln caught me like that, sprawled out on the ground near his cabin with a rope around my ankle. It’s not exactly the impression I was hoping to make. Thankfully he’s eased off on questioning why I was up here, but I know none of my answers were convincing. He must think I’m nuts.
But at least he doesn’t treat me like I’m nuts.
He’s gentle as he rinses my ankle before drying it and rubbing it with antiseptic. He bandages it up neatly, frowning in concern the whole time.
“It doesn’t look too serious. It should heal up fine.” He runs a hand through his beard. “I’m really sorry though, Daisy. I feel shitty about this.”
I wave him off. “Honestly, it’s fine. It was an accident. I should have stayed on the path.”
Gingerly, I get up from the chair and Lincoln helps me into the living room. It’s small and cozy with a roaring fireplace and a comfy-looking sofa strewn with knitted patchwork blankets.
“These are pretty,” I say as Lincoln helps me settle onto the couch. I stroke the soft blanket, admiring the patterns.
“My mom was a big knitter.”
I smile. “I remember. She knitted me a sweater for Christmas once. Brett got a matching one too.”
Lincoln chuckles. “Yeah, that was Mom. Always giving knitted gifts.” He sits in an armchair beside the fire, facing me. “Speaking of Brett, I should call him. Let him know what happened—”
“No!” I say automatically, my voice coming out more urgent than I mean it to. “Um, I mean, it’s okay. He doesn’t need to know. He’ll just worry.”
The truth is, I don’t want Brett to know because he’ll want to come pick me up. Then my time with Lincoln will be over. And I don’t know when I’ll get an opportunity to be alone with him again. It feels so special to be sitting here in his cabin, breathing in his smoky, woody scent, staring at his handsome face and his thick, bulging muscles. I don’t want to lose my only excuse to be here.
“Fine, I won’t tell Brett,” Linc says with the smallest trace of a smile on his lips. “You sure you’re okay, though? It doesn’t hurt too bad?”
I shake my head. “It stings but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Lincoln nods, leaning forward in his chair, his deep blue eyes fixed on me. “So, do you often walk around out here?”
Heat rushes to my cheeks. “Not exactly. I just thought it could be nice. Snowfall Ridge is such a beautiful place.”
