An Officer but No Gentleman by M. Donice Byrd

Author:M. Donice Byrd [Byrd, M. Donice]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2014-04-04T23:00:00+00:00

Between the two baskets, one of food and the other with the clothing Imelia sent for Charlie, and his bad leg, Jaxon nearly lost his balance dismounting when his foot hung in the stirrup. He ended up bending his leg further than the damaged muscle could comfortably accommodate.

Charlie knew something was wrong the moment she saw the tight-lipped and pale expression on Jaxon’s face.

“Are you all right? What’s happened?” She thought he might have gotten in a fight with Grayson.

“Aunt Pru sent food and my sister sent clothes.” He did not answer her question, but raised the baskets. “Which do you want first?”

Charlie was like a kid in a candy store. Her eyes were as wide as her smile.

Jaxon set down the food and handed her the dress. “I told her you needed it all. I hope she didn’t forget anything.”

“I wouldn’t know if she did,” Charlie laughed.

“Run upstairs and put them on.”

She got as far as the doorway when it occurred to her she might need help. She turned mid-step, but froze when she saw Jaxon holding his leg and grimacing with his eyes closed.

“Jaxon!”

He tried to straighten up and hide his expression.

“What happened?”

“My foot hung in the stirrup when I was dismounting. It’s that old injury. I’ll be fine in a minute. Maybe some willow bark tea might be in order—after you’ve tried on the dress.”

“Do you want to do this down here or go upstairs?”

“Do what?”

“I want to look at your leg, see what we’re working with here.”

He brushed her concern aside. “There’s nothing to see, but the old injury. What hurts now are the muscles around it.”

“Jaxon, I’m not going to argue with you about this. You are going to take off your pants and let me see your leg. Your only choice is whether we do it upstairs in your room or down here.”

“God, you’re bossy.”

“It’s a trait my father cultivated in me,” she said tartly. “Now drop your pants.”

“Vixen.” Jaxon put his hand on her arm and cast a seductive at her.

“Stop trying to distract me. Drop ‘em.”

When Charlie put her hands on her hips with the stubborn and determined look on her face, he knew there was no point in arguing. It was going to be like the willow bark tea incident. She was not going to quit until she wore him down. “Let’s go upstairs. I don’t trust my family to abide by my wishes to wait a few days to meet you.”

“Do you want me to help you?”

“It’s not that bad.”

“Fine. You go upstairs and take your pants off. I’m going to the galley to heat up some water for a bath for you to soak in. The warm water will soothe those muscles. Holy cow, I’ve never seen a bathtub that big before. How much water will that thing hold?”

“You’ll need every big pan in there. And more. Let me help you.”

“No, I’ll do this. Where do you keep your flint?"

“In a box on the mantle.”

Charlie was nearly out of the door when she stopped.

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