Free Her Greek Doctor's Proposal by Robin Gianna

lengthwise on the cut, the girl let out a little moan, and Laurel looked up at her. Lord, she was staring at the blood, her face turning the ghastliest white. “Don’t faint on me now.” That was the last thing either of them needed, and Laurel quickly tried to move her into a sitting position.
    “Sit up and put your head between your knees.” It wasn’t easy to press on the wound at the same time she pushed the girl’s head down with the other. “Deep breaths. I’m going to press hard on your leg to stop the bleeding, so be prepared.”
    Becka thankfully followed directions. Every muscle tense, Laurel tried to gently bring the edges of the wound together, then pressed hard again. Becka cried out, biting her lip until Laurel was afraid it might start bleeding too. “I’m sorry. Hang in there. Once I get it wrapped up, I’ll take you to Dr. Drakoulias.”
    As soon as the words were out of her mouth, her heart knocked again. What if the man wasn’t in Kastorini, but back at the Sophia Elias hospital or somewhere else? Then she remembered she had his phone number. She’d call him as soon as she could get a cell signal.
    The fear filling her chest eased a bit, and she took a deep breath. It would be okay. No matter where he was, she’d be able to ask for his help. How much that thought calmed her was a little shocking, considering she hadn’t relied on anyone else for much help in a long time.
    She just hoped he wasn’t still annoyed with her the way he’d been last night. Then wondered why she’d let it bother her. Her job, her responsibility to her parents and the future they’d wanted for her were all wrapped up in this dig, and she couldn’t care if anyone approved of how they finished things up or not.
    “Can you press down on it the way I was while I wrap it? Try not to move the gauze I already have on there.”
    “Okay,” Becka said in a strained voice, reaching down to do as Laurel asked. Finally she had it tightly wrapped, hoping to heck it wasn’t so tight that it cut off the poor girl’s circulation. She sat back on her heels and stared at the gauze, relieved that it wasn’t turning red with more blood.
    “Okay, let’s go. I’ll help you stand, then we’ll grab Jason so he can help us.”
    With Becka’s arm across Laurel’s shoulders, they awkwardly moved down the path toward grid eight. She couldn’t see Jason, and prayed he was down in the pit where he should be. By the time they got to it, Laurel already felt nerves and muscles pinching from trying to hold Becka’s weight as she limped. “Jason! Are you here?”
    “I’m here,” a voice said.
    Laurel nearly sagged in relief. “Becka’s hurt. I need your help.”
    In an instant, Jason came running up the makeshift stone steps from the pit, a worried frown on his face. “What happened?”
    “I stupidly put my trowel in my shorts pocket, and it cut through and dove into my leg,” Becka said through clenched teeth.
    “Rookie mistake.” Jason gave Becka a little smile as he lifted his hand and stroked her cheek, the gesture tugging at Laurel’s heart. She’d thought maybe the two college kids werebecoming sweet on one another, but hadn’t paid that much attention. “You okay?”
    “I think so. Hurts like crazy, though, and I’ll probably have some ugly scar.”
    “Scars from a dig are a badge of honor. Makes you all the more interesting.”
    “You think?” The girl rolled her eyes at him, finally looking less freaked out.
    “Oh, yeah. Not that you needed to be more interesting.”
    “Okay, enough of the mushy stuff, you two,” Laurel joked, glad to be feeling less freaked out too, after the first shock of it all. “Let’s get her down the mountain to my car so I can take her to the clinic. It’s pretty deep, and I’m sure she’ll need stitches.”
    It was easier with Jason’s help, or, really, with Laurel helping Jason, who took on most of Becka’s weight. Laurel called Andros a few times, relieved when she