Struggling with the bulk of a drum, it made a thump when it rocked on its end. He could see her well now. She sat on the floor of the container, with a drum over her legs, and thankfully one drum supported another so not all the weight rested on Maggie. Her back rested against another barrel.
She looked up at him and with a lift to her chin said, “Of all the places, in all the hospitals, in all the world…”
“Funny, Maggie, real funny.” His lips pulled into a tight line in his desire to stop himself from throttling her. Concern still knotted in his stomach for the risk she’d taken. Outside her being another human and him being a doctor, he couldn’t understand way Maggie being injured would matter so much. But it did. “You could’ve been really hurt.”
Court didn’t wait for an answer. He considered the drums above them. They looked steady in their places. “Can you hold that one away from you while I pull this one off?”
“Yes.”
“On three. One, two, three.” Court lifted the barrel, while supporting it with the edge of his foot to prevent it from sliding and falling back onto Maggie. With the drum on its end, he steadied it and moved it out of the way.
Her skirt had bunched up toward her waist, leaving a vast amount of leg exposed and a hint of bright red panties between. As he’d suspected, Maggie had fine legs. Superiorly fine ones.
She swiftly tugged the material down, making herself decent but not totally covering her thighs, before attempting to struggle to her feet. Court reached out to help her. She appeared unhurt but when she put her right foot down, she slumped into him.
“Ooh.”
His arm circled her waist, supporting her. “So you did hurt yourself.”
“Don’t sound so self-satisfied, Doctor. My ankle got caught between two of the drums on the way down, and I pulled it out. It’ll be fine by tomorrow.”
“I’ll have a look at it after we get you out of here.”
Court led her through the maze of barrels, assisting the best he could, though they both had to squeeze past drums in some spots. Reaching the open area, he swung Maggie into his arms.
“What’re you doing?” she squeaked and shifted against him. “Put me down.”
Tightening his hold, he said, “Carrying you.” Her body was too hot against him. He had to get her in the shade.
“I can walk.”
“Yeah, I saw how well you stood back there. You hang on for a minute, and I’ll put you down when we get out of this third circle of hell.”
Court felt Maggie’s soft laugh against his chest before he heard it. If he hadn’t already been burning up he might have heated more in response to her mirth surrounding him like the sweet smell of spring. He wanted it to last.
He blinked a couple of times before his eyes became accustomed to the brightness of the outside. He found the nearest tree and headed for it, placing Maggie on the ground underneath it. She pushed at the damp curls that had escaped to fall around her face. “I need to fix my hair.”
“Leave it be. It looks fine.” Kneeling beside her, Court removed her thong from her foot.
“Hey, what’re you doing?”
“I’m getting ready to examine you.” He lifted her leg and she made a frantic movement to push her skirt down from where it had slid up her leg. “You do realize I have seen a woman’s leg before?”
“Yes, I imagine you’ve seen many.”
If he weren’t so worried she might be injured, he would’ve enjoyed the feel of her skin beneath his hand. Running his fingers over the delicate bones of her ankle and halfway up her calf, he found nothing broken.
She jerked her leg from his hand. “I appreciate your concern but I’m fine.” She rotated her ankle a couple of times, before she reached down and rubbed it gently.
Amused at the flustered way she acted, he said, “Seems so.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you making fun of me, Doc?”
He sat down beside her. He’d learned that when she was ruffled or wanted to put him in his place she used his title instead of his name. “Maybe just a little bit, Nurse. Neetie should be here in a minute with some water, then we’ll get you to your bungalow.”
“I still have work to do here.”
“You’re done for the day. Doctor’s orders.”
“But we need the bandages for clinic tomorrow.”
Stubborn woman. “You do know you got off easily. You could’ve been crushed.” He wasn’t going to let her go back into the container tonight or any other day by herself ever again. She wouldn’t appreciate it but he planned to speak to Dr. Roberts about what had happened. “I’m already tempted to shake you, so don’t push me any further.”
“Aren’t you overreacting a little bit, Doctor?”
Maybe he was, but for a gut-twisting moment while in that box he’d felt that out of control, numbing fear he’d swore never to experience again. He gave her his best pointed look, which had sent many a nurse running, hoping to make it clear he would hold to his threat. Needing to get her mind on something else before they fought, he said, “What’s in all these drums anyway?”
“Bandages. Some medical supplies. The envelopes we use to dispense medicine.”
“Really?” He wondered about the simple supplies he’d seen used but hadn’t thought to ask. During clinic no one had the time to answer unrelated medical questions. “Where do they come from?”
“From the States mostly. Different groups strip old sheets and roll them. They’re what we use on the sores we see so many of. Churches send us unused offering envelopes to put meds in. A couple of ladies in Georgia ship us a container about every two years. It’s a big help to the hospital.”
“Interesting, and impressive. But why are you down here working on your day off?”
“Someone has to do it.” Before Court could comment, Neetie arrived with the water and his bag. Standing, Court took the jug, which was almost too large for the boy to handle, bent to one knee and held it to Maggie’s lips. She grasped it, guzzling the water. Court supported her back and the jug while she took a long swallow. She’d been more desperate for water than she’d let on. Did she ever complain?
“Slow and easy there. You don’t want to overdo it.”
Maggie nodded but kept drinking. Finally she’d taken her fill and released the jug. Court offered her a couple pills for pain.
“I don’t need those.”
“Take them anyway.”
She removed the medicine from his hand. In her haste to take them, water ran down her chin and across her chest to wet her thin white shirt. Court could make out the valley between Maggie’s breasts and the lacy outline of her bra.
The second she realized the direction his gaze had taken she gave a little yelp, put the jug on the ground and covered herself with her arms.
Court stood and reached for the jug in one movement. He took a long swig of the water but it did little to ease his frustration. It didn’t cool his libido. Maggie hid secrets that he’d had a sneak peek at today. No doubt she had other equally fascinating qualities. Ones he refused to let himself explore.
What was happening to him? He had no business being interested in her. Why did Maggie hold such fascination for him?
He’d always enjoyed women. Had all the women friends he wanted, more in some cases. But he never allowed himself to care. Wasn’t even sure if he knew how. But for a reason unknown to him this simply dressed, zero makeup, perspiration-soaked, workaholic woman had him wanting to find a spring pool, strip her and spend time showing her the delights between a man and a woman.
Damn.
The African sun was already getting to him. Maggie began making movements to stand. Court handed the jug to Neetie and grasped her arm to steady her. She started to pull away but when her ankle gave way, she accepted his help. She hobbled a few yards beside him.
With a resigned sigh, Court leaned down and stretched his arms out in invitation.
“I can make it.”
“Yeah, right,” Court said in a gruff tone and scooped her up into his arms. “You and I both know you’re going to need to keep off that foot for tonight at least. So shut up and enjoy the ride.”
Maggie’s indignant huff fluttered his shirt as she lay stiffly in his arms.
“How about some help?”
“What?”
“Put your arm around my neck. Pulling away from me like you are, I might drop you.”
She settled an arm around his shoulders and leaned against his chest. She fit against him nicely once she relaxed.
He’d taken special pains to make sure her skirt lay between his bare arms and the smooth skin of her thighs. But he’d not given enough thought to how nice it would be having her body molded to his, to experience her softness against him.
“Neetie,” Court called over his shoulder, “run ahead to Missy Maggie’s bungalow and be ready to open the door.”
The boy gave Court a wide, toothy smile and complied, the bottle bouncing against his leg sloshing water as he ran and Court’s bag slung over his small shoulder. Court had to admit he’d been grateful for the boy’s help.
Maggie’s fingers ruffled the hair at the nape of his neck. “You smell all sweaty.” She inhaled dramatically.
What kind of game was she playing? “I’m sure I do.”
“But not bad.”
She must have heat exhaustion. Or maybe the meds were kicking in. Did she have any idea what kind of flirt she was being? Her actions were so unlike her. He was used to her being standoffish, all business. Court’s lips turned up at the corners. She’d hate it tomorrow when she realized how she’d acted.
Maggie’s fingers continued their exploration of his hair. She murmured, “You’ve such silky hair. I’ve wanted to touch it.”