His Bride in Paradise by Joanna Neil

Author:Joanna Neil [Neil, Joanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460376935
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2012-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

‘THAT’S a really nasty sunburn you have, Ryan.’ Alyssa examined the cameraman’s back and shoulders, and frowned. ‘How did you manage to get yourself into such a state? Your skin is very red and it’s peeling, so there’s a risk of infection if it’s not treated.’

Ryan winced. ‘I was stupid, I know. I didn’t think a couple of hours out in the sun without my shirt would hurt. Only we stayed on the beach longer than I expected, and I fell asleep on my front while the others were messing about in the sea.’ He moved his hands in a helpless gesture. ‘I never knew sunburn could hurt so much. I’ve been feeling really light-headed and sick.’

‘Second-degree burns can be very painful.’ She went over to the sink and rinsed a cloth with cold water, giving it to him to hold over his forehead. ‘That should cool you down a bit and help take away the sick feeling.’

She checked her medicine cupboard for silver sulfadiazine ointment and used the sterile applicator to spread a thick layer of the cream over the damaged skin. ‘This is an antibiotic ointment, to prevent infection,’ she told him. ‘You’ll need to come in every day for the next two or three days so that I can treat you. But I’ll put a dressing on the shoulder for you, in the meantime…that’s looks to be the worst bit of all.’

‘Thanks, Alyssa. You’re a gem. It’s beginning to feel easier already.’

She smiled. ‘It’s the coolness, I expect. It’s very soothing, but you can help yourself by drinking plenty of fluids—not alcohol but lots of water, juices and so on, over the next day or so to prevent dehydration. And make sure you wear a shirt at all times to keep the area covered.’

‘Okay. Thanks again.’ He left a few minutes later, clutching a prescription for ibuprofen, to help him deal with the pain.

‘Another satisfied customer?’ Connor put his head round the door of her makeshift surgery as she was washing her hands at the sink. The company had provided a mobile unit for her, complete with desk, couch and everything that she would need.

‘I hope so. He had a nasty sunburn.’

‘It must have been serious if you were using that,’ he said, watching her replace the lid on the tub of ointment. ‘The natives around here use something natural…gamalamee.’

She sent him a puzzled look. ‘I can’t say I’ve ever heard of it.’

‘No? It’s a bush medicine—the bark of the gumbo limbo tree, or gamalamee, as they call it hereabouts, cut into strips and boiled. When it’s cool, they place the strips on the burn to soothe the skin and help it heal.’ He smiled. ‘It’s sometimes known as the tourist tree.’

‘Really?’ She lifted a brow. ‘Why’s that?’

‘Because the red bark peels, just like the skin of the unfortunate tourists.’

She chuckled. ‘I can never be sure whether or not you’re teasing me,’ she said.

‘Not at all. It’s quite true. They say it helps a lot with sunburn.

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