Free Rock with You (Risking It All) by Rachel Lacey Page B

You’re awfully well prepared.” She blew out a breath and waved her hands in front of her cheeks.
    “I like living on the edge, but I always keep a basic first aid kit on hand. Then I can at least patch myself up…well, most of the time.” He winked at her.
    Her lips curved in the faintest of smiles.
    Ethan found her 100 percent captivating, even in her current wasp-stung condition. He cracked the ice pack to activate it, then handed it to her.
    She pressed it against her forehead with a sigh of relief.
    “You got a lot of stings. Sure you’re okay?”
    She grimaced. The hand holding the cold pack, he noticed, was shaking. “Actually—” And then she stepped backward, tripped, and landed with a splash in the stream.
    *  *  *
    Gabby let out a startled squeak as she landed flat on her butt in the stream. But then…oh, the cold water felt so good. Her skin was on fire, like a million stingers were never-endingly piercing every inch of her body. She lay back in the stream, splashing more water over herself.
    “You okay?” Ethan leaned over her, offering a hand to pull her up.
    She shook her head. The cold water felt too good. Her skin might burst into flames if she got out now. She pressed a cold, wet hand to her forehead and squeezed her eyes shut. Why did she hurt all the way to her toes when she’d only been stung on her face? Somewhere in the back of her pain-wracked brain, she was aware she was making a total fool of herself in front of Ethan Hunter.
    Of course, if she had to get stung by yellow jackets after wandering onto some guy’s private property and then fall on her butt in a stream, of course said man would have to look like he belonged on the cover of GQ magazine.
    With his tousled blond hair and tanned, muscular arms, Ethan Hunter looked more like a movie star than a Boy Scout. He might be the hottest guy she’d ever met. And oh God …
    She moaned, watching as his cold pack floated away. Her heart was racing, and her skin…her skin felt like it was being devoured by ants.
    “Gabby, you’re scaring me.”
    “I’m okay,” she answered, this time letting him pull her to her feet. The pain increased tenfold as she left the cold caress of the water. She was torn between the desire to claw at herself until she bled or cover her eyes and scream.
    Speaking of eyes, Ethan’s had darkened considerably. Following his gaze, she looked down to see her breasts outlined beneath her now soaking-wet white tank top, her nipples visible through the thin shell of her bra. Her skirt was also plastered to her skin, probably highlighting her panties in similar fashion. Crossing her arms over her chest, she turned away.
    What a nightmare. She needed to send him on his way, pronto. This little encounter was headed from bad to worse, and if she didn’t get into a cold shower in the next ten minutes, she might spontaneously combust.
    He pulled out a cell phone and held it to his ear. “Hi, Max. I’m so glad I caught you. Got a minute?” He paused. “Great. I’m with a hiker who got stung by yellow jackets, at least half a dozen stings, and most them are on her face and scalp. She says she’s not allergic, but—”
    “I’m not,” she repeated, “but my skin is on fire.”
    Ethan repeated this to whoever he was talking to, then looked at her. “Are you having any difficulty breathing? Any itching or swelling in your throat?”
    She shook her head. “Just my skin. And my heart is really racing.”
    He spoke into the phone again. Gabby knelt by the stream and scooped a fresh handful of water to splash over her face. Who cared what kind of impression she made on Ethan at this point?
    “Hey.” He came up behind her. “My friend Maxine is an ER nurse. She says you’re probably just reacting to the amount of venom in your system, but we should get you checked out to be safe. I’ll drive you to the clinic. I wish I had some Benadryl to give you in the meantime.”
    “Oh.” She stood, backing away. “I