“Stand with your back to the seat.” Ellie helped her get turned around.
Meanwhile, Jesse climbed in from the other side and crawled across the bench seat toward them. “You ready?”
“What am I doing?”
“You’re not doing anything. I’m going to lift you into the vehicle.” Jesse caught her just beneath her breasts and lifted her backward onto the seat.
The look on Claire’s face as he picked her up almost made Ellie laugh. And for a moment Ellie wishedshewere the one with the injured knee.
“Got her leg, Ellie?”
“Yep.”
Jesse helped Claire scoot backward across the seat, then climbed out and shut the rear driver’s side door, giving Claire something to lean against.
“Are you comfortable?” Ellie asked her sister.
Claire mouthed, “Oh, my God! He’s got muscles!” Then she spoke aloud. “Yes.”
Ellie turned to find herself looking into Jesse’s blue eyes, warmth skittering through her. “Well, that worked.”
Damn, he was distracting.
His lips quirked in a lopsided grin. “Sad to say, but I have a lot of experience putting injured people into vehicles.”
Ellie was certain that was true. “Thanks so much for your help. You seem to be in the habit of rescuing my family members and me.”
“Hey, don’t mention it. Can we, um, talk for a minute?”
Ellie opened her mouth to answer, but Claire beat her to it.
“Yes! Sure. Fine with me. The two of you need to talk.”
Ellie glared at her sister and slammed the back car door shut. “Sure. What is it?”
His brow furrowed, his expression going serious. “I was telling the truth when I said that I didn’t sign up for the first-aid tent to get closer to you. Itwaspretty much my only option, and Megswouldhave kicked my ass if I hadn’t signed up for something.”
So he wanted to make her feel like an idiot again?
She started to push past him.
He caught her shoulders. “Would you let me finish?”
She stepped back, arms crossed over her chest. “We need to get to the ER.”
He drew a breath, then went on. “I asked you to lunch because I want to get to know you better. And, yes, when I saw that you were running the first-aid tent, I felt a hell of a lot better about signing on. I’m attracted to you, Ellie, and I think you’re attracted to me, too. Look at me and tell me that’s not true.”
She stared up at him, stunned. “I … I …”
When nothing else came out of her mouth, he lowered his head—and kissed her. It was just a fleeting kiss, the slightest brush of his lips over hers, but it robbed her lungs of breath and left her lips tingling.
He stepped back, his pupils dark. “Call me.”
Ellie watched him walk away, then climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Well, well,” said Claire. “I’m almost glad I fell.”
* * *