Read Online Southern Exposure (Southern Desires Series Book 2) by Jeannette Winters - Free Book Online Page B

let him do it, then she would need to go to the hospital. Things were bad enough without medical bills.
    She hadn’t used the alcohol since her father had passed away. He’d had some medical equipment that needed to be kept clean. Never did she think it’d be used on her.
    “Soap and water?” Even as she said it, she knew what his answer was going to be. But she had to try. He didn’t even bother to shake his head.
    Arguing with you is as useless as trying to get out of your arms. Damn, you’re stubborn. Unfortunately, you’re also right. “It’s in the medicine cabinet.”
    He grabbed the bottle and moved them to the bedroom, then he said, “Lay down on your stomach.”
    “I’m okay standing.”
    “Do you want this done right? Or do you want a trip to the emergency room?”
    You really know what to say to get me to do what you want. It’s like bossy is your default. It’s kind of hot, but not right now. Hot? Really? Even in this situation I’m thinking he’s hot? Maybe they have a shot for these insane thoughts running through my mind.
    Before she laid upon her bed, Mark placed a towel down to protect her sheets. If it were any other circumstance, she’d appreciate his thoughtfulness. But she didn’t care about sheets or shorts or anything else. All she could think was her bare butt was only inches away from his face. Don’t think of that. Think medical bills. Think of how foolish you were in the first place for entering the room. Think about . . . how he looked when he was holding up the beam. Every muscle defined. And how his biceps felt when he carried yo— “Ow! Sweet Jesus! Ow!” He continued to wipe the open cut with the alcohol-soaked cloth. “Are you trying to kill me?”
    The burning was worse than she’d expected but no matter how she protested or tried to stop him, he held her in place and continued to clean the wound.
    “Almost done.”
    When she thought she couldn’t take any more, the torture ended. She didn’t remember when she stopped yelling at him and began sobbing, but her face was buried in her wet palms. It wasn’t just the pain. Everything seemed to be crashing down on her all at once. Getting hurt was just the icing on the cake.
    Hannah hadn’t allowed herself to cry when her father died. She’d told herself to be strong. But the truth was she was tired of always being strong. Everything fell on her shoulders and the weight seemed unbearable now. I should give up. Walk away. Dad would understand. I am not strong enough. Never have been and never will be.
    The tears flowed harder, and her body began to rock with sobs.
    The hands that brought such pain stroked her back gently. Mark had somehow come to lie beside her. He pulled her up against him, so she now lay half on him with her head on his chest.
    “Sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s over.”
    No. It’s not. It’s far from over. As long as I’m here, it never will be. Hannah didn’t want to hold on to him. She wanted him out. Wanted to be alone. Yet she found herself clinging to him as she cried.
    Dad. Please forgive me. I can’t do it. I don’t know how, and no matter how hard I try, the result will be the same. I’m going to lose this house and everything you worked for. You always thought I was stronger than I actually am. Why did you think I could do all this by myself? She couldn’t bear disappointing him. It had been his dying request that she keep the house, and one day raise a family of her own there. It was his dream, not hers, but she agreed, and now she couldn’t bring herself to give up. She also couldn’t continue to do it alone.
    She felt a light kiss on her shoulder, and that snapped her back to the present. Hannah pulled herself off him and rolled over until she was able to stand up.
    “Mark. I can’t do—”
    “We weren’t doing anything,” he said, still lying on her bed.
    Kissing my shoulder and pulling me into your arms is not nothing. She pulled up her pajama shorts