own feet. She managed an apologetic smile and guided him down the short corridor to her apartment. After opening the door, she released his hand and tossed the keys on the wobbly TV tray that served as a lamp table. She gestured toward the kitchen.
“Have a seat. I’ll get the first-aid kit. “
Devon stepped inside and inspected her eclectic decor with an expression of disbelief that would have been comical had Jessica not been so embarrassed.
She sighed. “Not what you expected? “
“Hardly. ” He frowned at the vintage dinette, a chrome stripped hangover from the 1950s. “It’s almost an antique, ” she explained. “In a few decades , those vinyl chairs will be worth a fortune. “
The corner of his mouth tilted in a quirky half smile. “
“If you say so. ” Moistening her lips, she backed awkwardly toward her bedroom, acutely aware that she hadn’t so much as fluffed the pillows on her unmade bed.
“You can see the ocean from the balcony. I’ll, uh, be right back. “
With that, she ducked into her bedroom and shut the door before he got a glimpse of the mess inside. Sighing, she glanced around the disheveled room. A pile of clothing had been heaped over the chair that served as a laundry hamper Her dresser was covered by loose change, costume jewelry and an untidy assortment of cologne bottles. A silky hunk of satin protruded from a nearly closed drawer. All in all, it looked like the result of a bomb blast. She’d planned to tidy up later. Of course, it always seemed like housecleaning was more plan than action. She’d never been particularly meticulous about such things, although before illness had sapped her strength she’d certainly done a better job of shoveling away the biggest chunks of clutter. Since she rarely had company, there hadn’t been much incentive to exert herself. Now Devon was in her tacky living room, probably wondering how anyone could live in such a pigsty. Swallowing her humiliation, Jessica reminded herself that all the man wanted was a bandage. It wasn’t her job to impress him, or anyone else, for that matter. She lived the way she lived. If he didn’t like that, tough. Thus fortified, she went into the bathroom, wincing at the intimate display of lingerie draped over the shower rod. She cleared a spot on the littered vanity and rifled through her well-stocked medicine cabinet.
A few minutes later she returned to the living room with the supplies.
The French doors were open and Devon stood in the doorway with one foot on the balcony.
He looked up as she entered the room. “You’re right. The view is great.
“That’s why I bought the place. ” She set the first-aid supplies on the counter, grateful that a pile of dirty dishes were concealed in the dishwasher instead of heaped in the sink. After closing the balcony doors, Devon joined her in the kitchen. “I like your place. It’s… cozy. ” Aware that he was watching her closely, Jessica avoided his gaze as she carefully removed the saturated tissues and held his hand under a thin stream of lukewarm water. If he was waiting for an explanation as to why a pricy penthouse was furnished with Goodwill discards, he’d be sadly disappointed Her financial situation, like her personal life, was nobody’s business but her own. The pipes rattled as she turned off the faucet with more force than necessary. Without a word, she grabbed a clean towel and dried his injured hand. His fingers were lean and strong, with clean, well-groomed nails and a faint wisp of dark hair accentuating each knuckle. It was a handsome hand, rugged, tanned, exquisitely masculine. Gracious, it was warm in here. She wiped a forearm across her moist brow then inspected his palm. The jagged cut was about an inch long, extending from the base of his thumb into the fleshy webbing. “This will heal better with a butterfly bandage. “
With his head bent forward, his breath warmed the top of her head.
“You’re the doctor, ” he said
“Have a seat. I’ll get the first-aid kit. “
Devon stepped inside and inspected her eclectic decor with an expression of disbelief that would have been comical had Jessica not been so embarrassed.
She sighed. “Not what you expected? “
“Hardly. ” He frowned at the vintage dinette, a chrome stripped hangover from the 1950s. “It’s almost an antique, ” she explained. “In a few decades , those vinyl chairs will be worth a fortune. “
The corner of his mouth tilted in a quirky half smile. “
“If you say so. ” Moistening her lips, she backed awkwardly toward her bedroom, acutely aware that she hadn’t so much as fluffed the pillows on her unmade bed.
“You can see the ocean from the balcony. I’ll, uh, be right back. “
With that, she ducked into her bedroom and shut the door before he got a glimpse of the mess inside. Sighing, she glanced around the disheveled room. A pile of clothing had been heaped over the chair that served as a laundry hamper Her dresser was covered by loose change, costume jewelry and an untidy assortment of cologne bottles. A silky hunk of satin protruded from a nearly closed drawer. All in all, it looked like the result of a bomb blast. She’d planned to tidy up later. Of course, it always seemed like housecleaning was more plan than action. She’d never been particularly meticulous about such things, although before illness had sapped her strength she’d certainly done a better job of shoveling away the biggest chunks of clutter. Since she rarely had company, there hadn’t been much incentive to exert herself. Now Devon was in her tacky living room, probably wondering how anyone could live in such a pigsty. Swallowing her humiliation, Jessica reminded herself that all the man wanted was a bandage. It wasn’t her job to impress him, or anyone else, for that matter. She lived the way she lived. If he didn’t like that, tough. Thus fortified, she went into the bathroom, wincing at the intimate display of lingerie draped over the shower rod. She cleared a spot on the littered vanity and rifled through her well-stocked medicine cabinet.
A few minutes later she returned to the living room with the supplies.
The French doors were open and Devon stood in the doorway with one foot on the balcony.
He looked up as she entered the room. “You’re right. The view is great.
“That’s why I bought the place. ” She set the first-aid supplies on the counter, grateful that a pile of dirty dishes were concealed in the dishwasher instead of heaped in the sink. After closing the balcony doors, Devon joined her in the kitchen. “I like your place. It’s… cozy. ” Aware that he was watching her closely, Jessica avoided his gaze as she carefully removed the saturated tissues and held his hand under a thin stream of lukewarm water. If he was waiting for an explanation as to why a pricy penthouse was furnished with Goodwill discards, he’d be sadly disappointed Her financial situation, like her personal life, was nobody’s business but her own. The pipes rattled as she turned off the faucet with more force than necessary. Without a word, she grabbed a clean towel and dried his injured hand. His fingers were lean and strong, with clean, well-groomed nails and a faint wisp of dark hair accentuating each knuckle. It was a handsome hand, rugged, tanned, exquisitely masculine. Gracious, it was warm in here. She wiped a forearm across her moist brow then inspected his palm. The jagged cut was about an inch long, extending from the base of his thumb into the fleshy webbing. “This will heal better with a butterfly bandage. “
With his head bent forward, his breath warmed the top of her head.
“You’re the doctor, ” he said
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