Free Wild Men of Alaska 04 - Wild Men of Alaska - Four Book Bundle by Tiffinie Helmer Page A

that’s going to need stitches.”
    “I know that. Geez. I could tell by the amount of blood loss.”
    “Are you feeling faint?”
    “I’m a nurse practitioner. I don’t faint at the sight of blood.”
    “I meant from the loss of blood.”
    She gritted her teeth together. “Listen. I need a mirror so I can sew this closed.”
    “I can sew you closed.”
    “Seriously?” Her tone said differently.
    “Done it many times. What? You think since I live in a small village in Alaska that I don’t know how to do stuff?” He met her eyes. She did . His ego hit the floor. “Hell, woman. I live in Alaska. Have all my life. I can stitch on a button, sew up a cut, set a broken bone and cook my own dinner. Self-sufficient. Heard of it before?” Besides, not only was he a Fish and Wildlife Officer, he was a certified veterinarian. The injured had been coming to him before she’d arrived, four-legged and two-legged alike.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you.”
    “Right.” He huffed. “We haven’t had anyone manning that little clinic for years. How do you think we survived?” He answered for her. “We did for ourselves and each other. You want to fit in, you’d better adjust your attitude.”
    “I said I was sorry,” she muttered.
    Yeah, she was sexy as hell, but her attitude was down-right ugly.
    “Bend over,” he said.
    “Excuse me?” Her big blueberry eyes got even bigger.
    “So I can clean and sew this up. You’re bleeding all over my kitchen, and I just mopped my floor. Yeah, I know how to use a mop too.”
    She slowly leaned over the counter, bracing herself on her elbows, showing her ass off to its advantage. Since she’d gotten him so hot under the collar, he was able to see the wound objectively. Somewhat. She smelled good too. Like some hot house flower. Tropical with hints of heat. Heat that had his blood quickening a trail back down south. He did a better job of controlling his physical responses to her when she was running her mouth.
    “So what brought you here?” he asked.
    He thought he heard her mutter “stupidity” before she asked, “Could you keep me abreast of what you are doing as you do it? I don’t like surprises.”
    Good thing she didn’t have eyes in the back of her head, or she’d be surprised by the hard-on he sported. He’d never sewn someone up with a woody before. This might be interesting.
    He surveyed the injury. Luckily, her jeans had kept most of the bark and debris from the wound. It was more of a deep puncture than a long cut. Might take just a few stitches. It looked worse than it was.
    “Hey,” she said, startling him. “What’s your name?”
    “Lynx Maiski. Hand me the alcohol.”
    She passed him the bottle, her butt cheeks clenching as she readied herself for the sting. He wiped the area and quickly blew on it to help lessen the bite. Goose bumps erupted on her skin, and her voice had a breathy quality to it when she spoke again. “As in Raven and Fox Maiski?”
    “My sister and nephew.”
    “Then you’re also related to Chickadee, Tern, Pike, Fiona, and Coho?”
    “Yep, sisters, uncle, mother and grandmother.”
    “Pretty much most of the town.”
    “A good portion of it.”
    “So why haven’t I met you before?”
    “Didn’t need any medical attention, I guess. But I’ve seen you around.” He sterilized the needle and thread, and knelt behind her for better access. “Ready? This is going to pinch.”
    Those adorable butt cheeks of hers clenched again, and he had a moment of light-headedness.
    She didn’t make a sound as he stitched the neatest, smallest, damn stitches he could. It hurt him to know that she’d have a scar on her perfect milky skin, and he wanted to minimize the blemish as best as he could. Four little sutures later, his brow sweating, Lynx clipped the thread and stood.
    “There. Take a few Tylenol as needed for pain and see me in six to seven days for removal.”
    She turned to face him. “Very funny. How would you