Forged in Steele (KGI #7)(8)

Dolphin nodded. “I can do that.”

He sent a reproachful look in Steele’s direction, but it didn’t faze Steele one iota. He continued to stare at Maren like he wanted her gone five minutes ago. Who was she kidding? He did want her gone five minutes ago!

Maren shook her head and walked back to the room Baker occupied. He was leaning against the exam table, his butt just barely perched on the edge. Renshaw was sitting against the wall, and he looked up when she entered.

“Okay, so let’s see what we have here,” Maren said in a cheerful voice. “Why don’t you lie down on the exam table so I can actually reach your head.”

She poked and prodded while Baker grumbled under his breath and winced when she debrided the wounds. She sutured two of the cuts to his scalp and then bandaged the rest.

“You’re going to feel like shit in the morning,” she offered when she finished.

“I feel like shit now,” he muttered.

“You want me to give you an injection for pain?”

He hesitated and then shook his head. “If we’re bugging out, I need to be alert.”

“Hey, Baker,” Cole said from the door. “FYI, we’re stuck here until eight in the morning. Pilot was just in touch. He had mechanical issues that grounded him for the night. So get the damn injection. Maren, you care if we crash here until then?”

“Of course not,” she said. “Mi casa es su casa. Or rather my clinic is,” she added with a grin. “You might have visitors in the morning. The locals are often here before I arrive, waiting for me to open up. Just don’t shoot anyone, okay?”

Cole grinned. “We’ll do our best.”

She turned back to Baker. “Now, how about that injection? You could use the rest, I’m sure.”

He sighed in resignation and then rolled, presenting his ass as he yanked at his fatigues. She laughed. “I’m taking that as a yes.”

After administering the pain medication, she glanced toward Renshaw. “Everything okay with you? Anything I need to look at?”

“No ma’am. I know when to keep back from explosives.”

“Fuck you,” Baker grumbled.

She smiled. “All right then, I’m going to go tackle Steele’s injuries. If you guys aren’t heading out right away, then he can suffer like the rest of you and have me patch him up.”

Renshaw snorted. “Good luck with that.”

She stuck her head into the exam room where Dolphin and Steele were still standing over the girl. “Steele? Can I see you in the next room a minute?”

Steele frowned—of course—but he nodded and then headed her way. She led him into the next exam room and rifled through the cabinets to find the stuff she needed.

“What’s up?” he asked shortly.

She turned back to him and motioned toward the exam table. “Have a seat.”

His brow furrowed as she came nearer to him.

“Look,” she said in exasperation. “You aren’t superhuman, no matter what you want the rest of us mere mortals to believe. Sit your ass down and let me look at your wound. Cole said you all were grounded until eight in the morning.”

The look on Steele’s face was priceless. He actually looked . . . caught off guard. She wanted to do a double fist pump, but that would be incredibly obvious. So she continued to stare serenely at him, not backing down as she stood waiting for him to comply with her orders.

He was used to giving orders, not taking them, and she’d admit it gave her a tiny thrill to play the boss card.

Sending her a disgruntled look, he plopped down on the table and pulled his shirt off, exposing a ripped set of abs and a broad, muscled chest with a smattering of blond hair over the hollow. Her hand twitched to check her mouth for drool, but again, way too obvious.

“Let’s make this quick,” he muttered.

Her eyebrow rose and she sent him a look she knew he wouldn’t appreciate.

“What’s your hurry? Cole said you didn’t have any place to be until eight in the morning.”

She smoothed her hand up his arm until it reached the cut that still oozed blood. His muscles twitched underneath her fingers and then tightened. She thought she heard his sudden intake of breath, but maybe she imagined it.

“Not too bad,” she murmured. “A few stitches and some antibiotic ointment. Doubt it’ll rot off anytime soon.”

“My point exactly,” he said. “No need to make a fuss over it. Slap a bandage on it and be done.”

Her mouth twitched. “I’m beginning to think you don’t like me, Steele. I wonder why? Everyone else in KGI doesn’t seem to have a problem with me. What’s yours?”

Her gaze lifted to his eyes and they narrowed at her. “I never said I didn’t like you.”

“Your actions speak far louder than words,” she said dryly.

“Why the hell are we even having this conversation?” he demanded.

She shrugged and then set to work deadening the area around the wound. She worked in silence as she set the sutures and focused intently on her task. When she set the last stitch, she raised her head, stretching the knotted muscles at her neck. She pushed her glasses back up her nose and let a small sigh escape. So much for her quiet evening at home with a cup of tea and going to bed early.