Chapter Twenty Five

She didn't get very deep into her pity pool when the door opened and Eddie reappeared with the first aid kit in hand. "All right then, here we go." He set the kit on the workbench then gently took her hand again.

His hands were rough, scarred, cut, and callused. The hands of a man who worked and used his hands as tools. These were hands of her childhood and she found comfort in their touch. He unwrapped the wet towel from her hand, taking another towel and made sure the cut had stopped bleeding. The cut oozed a little and Kelleigh again felt like she was going to swoon. Instead, she held her breath in defense and began to what she thought was silently, count.

"Is this to be a race then?" Eddie smiled at her through the curls that had fallen over his forehead as he continued to bandage her hand.
"What? What's a race?" She was confused; did he mean the car?
"You're counting out loud. Do I have a time limit?"

Feeling like she wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it for about the fifth time since his arrival, she straightened her spine in attempt to bolster her own confidence. "No, it's not a race. I was just concentrating on getting through this."

Concern flooded Eddie's face in a flash. "Are you okay? Do you want me to take you to hospital instead?" His free hand slipped behind her head, kneading her neck in a reassuring fashion. "I can take you, if you'd like."

Trying to concentrate on something other than the glorious feel of his hand on her neck, she looked up at him, catching his eyes again. No, that's not going to work either, she thought to herself. She focused her eyes instead on the nearly bandaged hand that lay on the table. "No, I'm fine. I just meant I wanted to get this done so I can show you the car and you can be on your way." Shit, shit, shit.
Kelleigh sighed. "I meant: I appreciate what you've done. Let's just finish up so I can stop talking and embarrassing myself."

"Ah, well then. 'Tis no need to be embarrassed. Let's get this done so you can be rid of me." He grinned at her, taking his hand away from her neck. She felt an immediate loss and a tug of regret. He absent-mindedly brushed the curls that fell over his forehead back across his head. Grimacing, he took his hand away and looked at it. "Damn hydraulic fluid. Can't wait to go take a hot shower."
Without thinking, which seemed to be happening a lot recently, Kelleigh raised her eyebrows and grinned. For once, it seemed that Eddie was the one that was flustered.

His attention fell back onto finishing the bandage on her hand. Kelleigh concentrated on nothing but recovering from the feelings his touch had brought on. She was sure it was some form of shock. Shock brought on by the injury to her hand, the recent changes in her life, anything. It had to be shock. Surely, she couldn't feel such attraction for this stranger this quickly.

Before she could dwell too deeply on her thoughts, Eddie straightened and pronounced his work done. Smiling, he turned toward the racecar. Kelleigh had completely forgotten the purpose of his visit and was relieved for the reminder. In her discomfort, she didn't see Eddie sigh and roll his shoulders in an attempt resist touching her again.