Free The Vacant Chair by Kaylea Cross

past her, Brianna shot out an arm and grabbed her friend’s elbow. “Would you do it this once as a favor to me?”
    Ella-May stared at her in consternation for a moment. Then a shocked smile stretched across her lips. “Why, Brianna Taylor,” she drawled, too low for anyone else to hear. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think that Wolverine makes you nervous.”
    Oh, lord, Ella-May knew. She knew.  
    “I wonder why that would be?” her friend mused with a look of mock confusion on her face. “After all, he’s handsome, and every inch the gentleman.” She chuckled and glanced over her shoulder at him before facing Brianna once more. Her dark brows rose, a sparkle in her eyes. “Now what were you saying about that special dessert?”
    Brianna’s cheeks had to be flaming red by now. “I promised Tim some custard,” she muttered.
    “I’ll take care of it. Now get back to work.” Ella-May shoved the damp cloth into her hand.
    Mind scrambling, Brianna gave her a bland smile and darted a glance at her patient. His indigo gaze settled on her with welcoming warmth, making the butterflies in her stomach flutter even harder. She wanted to sneak out of the tent and hide when Ella-May left with a conspiratorial wink. As if she’d just done Brianna a huge favor.
    Ooh, just you wait, Ella-May Davison. Just you wait until I get my hands on you!
    Well. She was going to have to do it, and that was all there was to it. It was only a wash and a shave, after all. He couldn’t do it himself, as he was still too weak. He could slit his own throat if he slipped with the razor. She was being ridiculous.
    You have a backbone. Use it.
    Fine. He was just a man, no need to be nervous.
    Drawing a deep breath, she gathered her professional demeanor around her like armor and approached his cot, careful to avoid his gaze while she collected the necessary items.
    “Are you going to shave me?” His deep voice held a hopeful note.
    “Yes, Captain. I would imagine your face is rather itchy.”
    “A little, yes.” He rubbed one hand over his bristly cheek. His color was marginally better today, a sign he was feeling at least a bit improved.
    She kept her expression blank even though her stomach did somersaults at the thought of what she was going to do. Her lack of control over her body’s reaction was vexing, to say the least. Deciding it was safer not to talk any more, Brianna mixed the lather and steeled herself before sitting in a chair beside his bed.
    She could feel his eyes on her, the heated interest in them. Since becoming a nurse, men had looked at her like that plenty of times, but none of them had ever affected her like this. She’d never let them affect her, until now. Around him it seemed hard to inhale a full breath of air.
    Brianna might not want to do this, but since retreat wasn’t in her nature, she spread the lather on his whiskers and tried to ignore the sparks that danced in her fingertips whenever she touched him, hoping he didn’t notice the fine tremor in her hands. When he bent his knee to bring the sheet up a few moments later, she flushed and avoided his gaze. She knew exactly what he was trying to hide. Her breasts tightened, her nipples going tight against the fabric of her shift, and she was thankful that he was unaware of her response.
    At least he was gentleman enough to make the attempt at covering his erection. But it should absolutely not please her to know her touch aroused him to that extent. What was wrong with her? The carefully built walls she’d barricaded herself behind were crumbling.
    Her insides shivered at the thought. From out of nowhere, a forbidden image of her hands sliding over his naked body flashed through her mind. Her palms were flat against him, following the contours of hard muscle over his chest and shoulders, lower, down to his taut belly…
    What are you doing ? her conscience demandedin outrage. She fumbled with the shaving brush.
    “You have done this before, I