Read Violets in February for Free Online Page B

her body. “Strewth. What in the world have you done to yourself, woman?”
    “I fell.”
    “I can see that, you drongo.” His gaze settled on her legs.
    Lucy realized her trousers were almost non-existent and he could probably see way more than he had a right to. Bad enough the others had seen her like that, but him? Her face flamed. “If you don’t mind, I have things to do.”
    He waved a hand, his gaze still riveted to her thigh. “Be my guest.”
    Lucy moved the crutches, trying to take a small step and lost her balance. She fell, screaming as her leg folded under her.
    Jed swore and bent beside her. “Crikey, woman, are you trying to kill yourself?” He slid his arms beneath her, effortlessly picking her up.
    She closed her eyes, trying to cope with the increased pain levels. Her face grew hotter as his hands almost burned into her bare skin. Her face pressed against his all too firm chest. His heart beat strongly under her cheek.
    Jed sat her on the bed. “I’m assuming its pants you want. Where are they?”
    She didn’t think it was possible to get more embarrassed. “I’m wearing pants, thank you.”
    He rolled his eyes and smirked. “I can see that, but if I meant knickers, I’d have said knickers. Scrubs or shorts?”
    “Oh…right.”
    He jerked his head. “So tell me where they are and I’ll get them for you.”
    “I don’t want you going through my things, but thank you.”
    “Look, woman,” Jed said, waving his hands in frustration. “Now is not the time for your high and mighty, holier than thou, Pommy attitude. You can take your stiff upper lip and shove it where the sun don’t shine. I know you’d far rather I just rack off and leave you, but I have a job to do. Therefore, if I have to stand here and wait while you go through the supplies, I’d rather you be dressed. Of course, if you’d prefer to do this half naked, then maybe I should remove my pants to even things up.” His hands hovered over his belt, his eyes daring her to agree with him.
    “No.” She sucked in a deep breath.
    He looked provocatively at her, his fingers grazing over his belt buckle. “You sure? I mean, my legs aren’t as pretty as yours, but I’m sure you won’t mind. Of course I did go commando—”
    Outraged, Lucy glared at him. “Mr. Gorman, behave yourself.”
    He laughed. “This is me behaving myself, darl’. But I can stop just as easily. So where’s your room?”
    Lucy swallowed her pride, ignoring the innuendo attached to his comment. “Through the back.”
    Jed swung her into his arms again. “Come on, then.”
    She directed him, hating her body for betraying her the way it was. She didn’t like the bloke. She didn’t want her heart rate to increase, her skin to flush and her breathing to hike ever so slightly. And she definitely didn’t want him to pick up on it.
    Jed pushed open her bedroom door and took three long strides to the bed. He set her down gently, then gazed around the room. “It’s very…you. Minimalist.”
    She shrugged. “I don’t need much. The shorts are in the third drawer.”
    Jed strode to the chest of drawers. He picked up the sepia photo, running his fingers over it. “Who’s this? Boyfriend?”
    “It’s my father.” She pressed her fingers into the edge of the mattress. How long before the meds kicked in? All she wanted was five minutes alone; was that too much to ask?
    “He looks young. Did he have you when he was five?”
    “He died when I was small. I don’t remember him.”
    Jed put the photo down, pointing to another. “And this one?”
    “My mother.”
    His intense blue gaze took in the remaining photos. “Just shorts?”
    “Maybe a shirt, please. Second drawer.”
    He yanked open the drawers and pulled out a pair of khaki shorts and a pale cream shirt. He brought them over. “Need help putting them on?” he asked.
    “No, I do not!” she yelled. Then she backed off a little. “I can manage, thank you.”
    He held up his hands. “OK,