“Maybe. But your health is more important.” I place the back of my hand against his forehead to check his temperature. “You may be running a low-grade fever. You feel a littlewarm.”
“We’re in thetropics.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious.” I roll my eyes and reach for his bandages. “Now, let’s have a look at theleg.”
“Not right now,” he says, pulling away. “I’ve just gotten myself into a comfortableposition.”
“Fine. But we’re changing those dressings before you fall asleep tonight. It’s been two days and in this heat, the longer they stay on, the greater the risk of aninfection.”
He nods, a spark of fear flaming in his eyes. For all his wisecracks, I’m sure he’s horrified by everything that’s happened to him… and terrified by the prospect of everything that stillcould.
“Hey.” I wait until his gaze meets mine. “I don’t think I can manage a margarita, but would you settle for some fresh coconut milk? It’s all the rage here on the island. All the cool kids are drinkingit.”
The fear fades from his expression and his dimples return. “All the cool kids,huh?”
I nodgravely.
“Well, then I guess you’d better fetch me one of those coconuts. I have a reputation to maintain,woman!”
Ten minutes later, I find myself balanced precariously on a stack of logs, praying they don’t give out beneath me. I stretch up onto my tiptoes as my fingers dig into the trunk of the palm tree, grappling for purchase against the smooth, ringedbark.
“You are going to fall on your face, and I am going to laugh at you,” Ian calls up to me from his pallet. “There must be a better way to do this,Violet.”
I ignore him, attention focused upward. Come hell or high water, today is the day I will finally get one of those damncoconuts.
“I mean it,” Ian drawls. “Don’t expect sympathy from me when you break yourass.”
I gasp, faux-offended. “After all I’ve done to nurse you back tohealth…”
“Just looking out foryou.”
“I appreciate the concern, but I think I can manage to climb a stupidtree.”
Hell, I’d climb to the moon if it meant getting Ian to drink something with nutritionalvalue.
I lift my right foot and plant it flat against a small wood knot. “If I can leverage myself up, maybe I can make a flying leap and grabone…”
“Who do you think you are, NastiaLiukin?”
My nose wrinkles in confusion. “Who?”
“Olympic Gymnast,” Ian clarifies. “A super hot one, too, so take it as acompliment.”
I snort. “I may not be a gold medalist, but for your information, I was the head flyer of my cheerleading squad. Three-time Northeast Champions. Contenders for the nationaltitle.”
“You were acheerleader?”
“GoSasquatches!”
“Your mascot was theSasquatch?” He sounds dubious. “What the hell kind of hick town were you raisedin?”
“New Hampshire has a strong affinity for yetis.” I shrug. “Also, winter sports, leaf peeping, Tom Brady, and tax-free purchases. We’re wickedawesome.”
“Remind me never to visit you in this hell dimension you callhome.”
“Too bad, my mother would adoreyou.”
“Oh, wow, bringing me home to meet the parents already? Seems like this relationship is moving a little fast,but…”