But no matter how long she lay there, sleep just wasn’t going to happen. She should see if whoever was working the medical tent needed help, or maybe a few hours of shut-eye while she sat up.
Taking care not to disturb Bernadette, she climbed out of her sleeping bag and slipped from the tent. There was a three-quarter moon that lit the night sky so she could easily make her way through the few small tents that were close to the medical tent.
Quietly, she entered Medical and wasn’t surprised by who she saw sitting at a table, reading one of the medical thrillers she’d donated.
“Chrissie?” He stood, stretched his lean body.
“It’s not what you think,” she began, but maybe it was, because she’d known he’d be in the tent. Hadn’t she been drawn there like a moth to a flame because of that knowledge?
“What am I thinking?” His words were soft, slow, but his eyes danced with mischief.
“I couldn’t sleep and thought I’d see if whoever was working needed help.” Right. She doubted she was convincing him any more than she was convincing herself. She’d come to find him.
“It’s been slow. Not a single person seeking care since before you left.”
She nodded, took a deep breath, and glanced around the empty tent. “I’m wide awake. You want to grab a nap? I can wake you if someone comes in.”
He shook his head. “I’m good.” He studied her. “Why couldn’t you sleep?”
Worried he could see right through her, she shrugged and sank into the chair across from where he’d been sitting.
“Me?” he guessed.
“Probably.”
“I’m sorry if I’m causing you stress.”
He didn’t sound sorry. He sounded pleased at her admission. Then again, he hadn’t made any pretenses about his interest. Quite the opposite.
“Is there something I can do to help?” he offered, causing her to look up and meet his gaze. He lowered in
to the chair across from hers.
“Are you promising you’d do it?” she countered, wondering how it was possible for him to be so attractive when she knew better. She did know better. But she was there all the same.
This time he was the one who shrugged. “Depends on what you say.”
Okay, so the reality was that she knew it had been him in the medical tent and that he was most likely alone. Had that been the real reason she hadn’t been able to sleep?
No, the real reason she couldn’t sleep was that she’d been sexually frustrated for four years.
Four years.
The cure was right in front of her. Willing and eager.
She was an idiot for coming there.
She’d have been a bigger fool if she hadn’t.
“I want you, Trace.”
The amusement in his eyes darkened to desire. He swallowed, slowly, and with exaggerated motion in his throat.
“Chrissie.” Her name came out a bit strained.
“You don’t have to say anything or do anything, but I needed to say that. I needed to tell you, because no matter how much I may think I am strong enough to fight the attraction between us, I’m not.”
He leaned forward, his gaze not wavering from hers. “You’re okay with us being together this weekend?”