Read Online Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2) by Jeannette Winters - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jeannette Winters
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so wasn’t funny. “I’m fine,” she informed him firmly.
“You’re bleeding. I need to get you to your apartment and get your clothes off.”
Good try. “I am not that naïve, Mr. Collins. So I am only going to say this one more time before I show you my southern temper. Put me down!”
Mark stared at her, challenging her to do so. “Do you honestly think I’d hurt you?”
She wasn’t sure. There was something dangerous about him. When she looked in his eyes, it was there, even though he tried to hide it. When she didn’t answer, he continued.
“Who do you think would come to your rescue? Your tenant? Don?”
The tenant was not an option, but she wasn’t so sure about Don. Turning her head so she could see him, he only shrugged at her.
“Above my pay grade.”
Hannah couldn’t believe the man could joke at a time like this. She was being manhandled, and no one was going to do anything to stop it. What if I really was in trouble? Who’d call the police? He was right. Anything could happen to me out here, and there’s no one to save me.
Her screaming was only a threat, and he’d called her bluff. So let’s try plan B.
“Mark, I appreciate you trying to help me, but I assure you I can take care of myself. I’m fine.”
As he held her with one arm, his free hand rubbed her bottom gently. Any other time, and in private, she would most certainly enjoy that , but this was not happening.
When he pulled his hand up, he held it so she could see. Blood. Oh, my God. I’m bleeding.
“That’s . . . blo—”
“As I said, you’re hurt. I need to see how bad. So either you’re going to let me look at you here in front of Don, or we can do it downstairs in your room. But understand this, Hannah, these are your only two options.”
I’m bleeding. Panic filled her, and Mark must have sensed it.
“Move, Don,” Mark barked at his friend who gave way for them to pass.
Within seconds, they were inside her apartment, and she was standing on her bedroom floor.
“I need to go to the bathroom so I can see where I’m bleeding in the mirror.”
He didn’t move out of her way. Instead Mark reached out took off the light cotton robe and tossed it to the side.
“I can take care of myself.” She wasn’t used to anyone taking such control over her in this manner. Yes she may be injured, but she wasn’t an invalid.
“Turn around so I can take a look.”
She was once again in her tiny shorts and cami. It wasn’t naked but too damn close for her to feel comfortable standing there with him staring at her. “Get me a mirror and I will look.”
“You will not be able to see if it is a puncture wound or a scratch from a mirror. Now turn around and let me look.”
This house isn’t worth all this humiliation. Slowly she turned. Hannah could feel his warm fingers gently lift the bottom of her cami up, so it was in the middle of her back. Then even more gently he slid her shorts down.
I could just die. This can’t be happening. My fantasies never included any of this.
His hands now touched her bare bottom, not in a sensual way, but as though he was medical professional.
“I need to clean away the blood. Do you have any hydrogen-peroxide or an antibacterial cleanser?”
“No.”
“How about rubbing alcohol?”
Her eyes widened and tried to turn to face him. “That’s going to hurt.”
“It will. But I have to clean the cut, or it could get infected. It looks like a small puncture wound, and you won’t need stitches, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have to clean it.”
Everything in his tone was one of control and professionalism as though he’d done this a hundred times before, but his touch was so gentle. What type of contractor are you that you’re so comfortable doing this? I know guys get hurt on the job, but you’re so in control, like this is second nature to you. Hannah didn’t want to tell him where the alcohol was, but he was correct. It had to be cleaned. If she didn’t
“You’re bleeding. I need to get you to your apartment and get your clothes off.”
Good try. “I am not that naïve, Mr. Collins. So I am only going to say this one more time before I show you my southern temper. Put me down!”
Mark stared at her, challenging her to do so. “Do you honestly think I’d hurt you?”
She wasn’t sure. There was something dangerous about him. When she looked in his eyes, it was there, even though he tried to hide it. When she didn’t answer, he continued.
“Who do you think would come to your rescue? Your tenant? Don?”
The tenant was not an option, but she wasn’t so sure about Don. Turning her head so she could see him, he only shrugged at her.
“Above my pay grade.”
Hannah couldn’t believe the man could joke at a time like this. She was being manhandled, and no one was going to do anything to stop it. What if I really was in trouble? Who’d call the police? He was right. Anything could happen to me out here, and there’s no one to save me.
Her screaming was only a threat, and he’d called her bluff. So let’s try plan B.
“Mark, I appreciate you trying to help me, but I assure you I can take care of myself. I’m fine.”
As he held her with one arm, his free hand rubbed her bottom gently. Any other time, and in private, she would most certainly enjoy that , but this was not happening.
When he pulled his hand up, he held it so she could see. Blood. Oh, my God. I’m bleeding.
“That’s . . . blo—”
“As I said, you’re hurt. I need to see how bad. So either you’re going to let me look at you here in front of Don, or we can do it downstairs in your room. But understand this, Hannah, these are your only two options.”
I’m bleeding. Panic filled her, and Mark must have sensed it.
“Move, Don,” Mark barked at his friend who gave way for them to pass.
Within seconds, they were inside her apartment, and she was standing on her bedroom floor.
“I need to go to the bathroom so I can see where I’m bleeding in the mirror.”
He didn’t move out of her way. Instead Mark reached out took off the light cotton robe and tossed it to the side.
“I can take care of myself.” She wasn’t used to anyone taking such control over her in this manner. Yes she may be injured, but she wasn’t an invalid.
“Turn around so I can take a look.”
She was once again in her tiny shorts and cami. It wasn’t naked but too damn close for her to feel comfortable standing there with him staring at her. “Get me a mirror and I will look.”
“You will not be able to see if it is a puncture wound or a scratch from a mirror. Now turn around and let me look.”
This house isn’t worth all this humiliation. Slowly she turned. Hannah could feel his warm fingers gently lift the bottom of her cami up, so it was in the middle of her back. Then even more gently he slid her shorts down.
I could just die. This can’t be happening. My fantasies never included any of this.
His hands now touched her bare bottom, not in a sensual way, but as though he was medical professional.
“I need to clean away the blood. Do you have any hydrogen-peroxide or an antibacterial cleanser?”
“No.”
“How about rubbing alcohol?”
Her eyes widened and tried to turn to face him. “That’s going to hurt.”
“It will. But I have to clean the cut, or it could get infected. It looks like a small puncture wound, and you won’t need stitches, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have to clean it.”
Everything in his tone was one of control and professionalism as though he’d done this a hundred times before, but his touch was so gentle. What type of contractor are you that you’re so comfortable doing this? I know guys get hurt on the job, but you’re so in control, like this is second nature to you. Hannah didn’t want to tell him where the alcohol was, but he was correct. It had to be cleaned. If she didn’t
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