He frowned. “Why don’t you like me, Dakota?”
Dakota’s jaw tightened. “It’s not that I don’t like you, Brady. I just don’t respect you.”
“What’s the difference?”
She thought for a moment. “I guess there isn’t one. Okay, I don’t like you because I think you’re stuck up and full of yourself.”
“Ouch.” He groaned as he leaned forward and placed the glass of water on the table. Picking up the sandwich, he took a small bite. “Maybe you just don’t know me yet.”
“I know plenty.” Dakota put the soup down and started eating her own.
“Then tell me, sweetheart, what is it you think you know about me?”
Dakota cringed but brushed off the nickname. “I don’t think you could handle the criticism.”
Brady leaned back and closed his eyes. “Try me.”
She shook her head. There was no way she could tell him how she felt, she wasn’t that rude. “It doesn’t matter what I think. You just go on thinking you’re the best thing since bottled water and I’ll be going on my merry way bright and early tomorrow morning.”
His features fell. “You’re going to head out tomorrow?”
Nodding, she took another bite of her sandwich. “You checked on Cobalt, he’s doing great. I don’t see why I shouldn’t head out.”
Brady opened his mouth then closed it. “I suppose you’re right. The way Cobalt took off during the fire shows he’s not bothered by anything.” His voice was quiet, more reserved.
Dakota shot him a look before taking her final bite. “You’re going to be okay, right?”
He nodded and flashed her the smile he gave all the girls. “Yep. I’m sure everyone will be coming back tomorrow. I’ll have plenty of help with this.” He lifted his arm and winced.
Dakota put down her dishes. “Here, let me see how it’s doing.” She leaned closer to him. He smelled like rain and soap. Her pulse quickened. Careful, Dakota. She couldn’t afford to let herself become enamored with him. Never mind he was a ladies’ man. Courtney would be livid.
She grasped his hand and pressed gently on the area of his arm where the break would be. He cursed and looked away.
“It’s hard to tell whether there’ll be complications or not. Still hurts, huh?”
“No, it’s practically healed.” His tone dripped with sarcasm.
“You should probably get some pain meds now that you have something in your stomach.”
He shook his head. “No. I don’t take pain medication.”
Her eyes met his. “Really? Why not?”
“When I was eighteen, I had to get my appendix out. They gave me the good stuff. I didn’t like what it did to me.” He gritted his teeth. “I’ll be fine.”
“Brady, you have a broken arm. I’m sure aspirin would be fine.”
“I said no.”
She eyed him, a frown on her face. “But—”
The look on his face cut her off.
“It’s still swelling, and will probably peak in the next day or so. We should put some ice on it. How’s your chest feel?”
Brady took in a deep breath. “Still tight. But I don’t feel like I have to cough as much.” He cocked his head to the side. “You’re worried about me.”
Dakota straightened. “I’m concerned you’re going to be one of those guys who thinks he’s tough enough he doesn’t have to be checked out by a doctor.”
He nodded to her hand still holding his. “Naw, I think you like me just a little bit.”
She followed his gaze. Dropping his hand like it was on fire, she got to her feet. “Not everyone is charmed by you, Brady. Do me a favor and quit trying so hard. You’re only embarrassing yourself.”
Dakota returned her food to the tray on Brady’s lap and picked it up. “I think it would be best if you slept down here rather than go upstairs tonight. You’re still in a weakened state and I don’t think it would be wise to exert yourself.” She turned and headed toward the kitchen before he could fight her on that too.
Chapter Seven
Something about being told what to do rubbed Brady the wrong way. He didn’t have to listen to her. But the thought of going upstairs right now made him feel out of breath already. He bit down the comment that fought to surface. She was smart and she was looking out for his best interests. He’d listen to her this time.
Brady looked at his arm. It was like a train wreck. He really didn’t want to know how bad it was, but he needed to know what he could do with his arm. Slowly, he lifted it. A string of curses escaped his lips and he doubled over. Dakota was right—he’d need a sling if he didn’t want to pass out from the pain. How was it he’d gone this long in life without getting trampled by a horse?
Something crashed in the kitchen, followed by a yelp. Brady shot to his feet and made it to the edge of the living room before his vision darkened. He closed his eyes and allowed the blood to return to his head before making it the rest of the way into the kitchen.
Dakota muttered to herself as she picked up broken ceramic shards.
Brady’s rapid heart and breathing had him leaning against the door jamb. “Are you okay?”
Dakota jumped right as she picked up a sharp piece. She dropped it and sucked in a breath. A bead of red blood appeared on her finger right before she stuck it in her mouth. “Fine,” she said around her finger.
She did a double-take and shot to her feet. “You’re white as a sheet, Brady, what are you doing up?” Dakota hurried over to his side and slipped an arm around his waist as she guided him to a kitchen chair. Her warm touch gave him shivers. But it could be that he still hadn’t had a chance to get his shirt on. “You’re shaking. The hypothermia must be worse than I realized. That, or it’s the smoke inhalation. I’m getting your shirt.”
Dakota returned from the living room with the button-up shirt she’d tossed him earlier. She unbuttoned the cuff of the left sleeve and gently slipped it over his arm. Gritting against the pain, he let her wrap the garment around his back and shifted to put his other arm through the sleeve.
She avoided looking at him as she buttoned up the shirt.
Brady tilted his head to the side. “You’re always so serious. I don’t think I’ve seen you laugh or smile the whole time you’ve been here.”
“Contrary to popular belief, women don’t always have to have a smile on their face.”
“I wasn’t saying that at all. I was just wondering why.”
She buttoned the last one and met his eyes from beneath her lashes. “I don’t see the point of wasting effort pretending to be happy all the time when I’m not. Life can be hard sometimes. Just look at what happened tonight. You could have died, Brady. And here you are, cracking jokes like everything is normal. It’s not, and you need to focus more on getting better than flirting with me.”
Brady grasped her hand before she had a chance to pull away. “You keep commenting about my flirting. I can’t help but feel like you’re judging me for the way I communicate with women.”