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“Humor me,” Steve said. “I promise it won’t hurt.”
Chase clenched his jaw.
“Please,” Steve said. “Dr. Whitman asked me to do it.”
Chase pulled up his shirt. The shape-shifter leaned down to check the small pink mark on his skin that the wound had left.
“It looks good.” Steve rose up.
Chase met his eyes. “Why did you do it?”
“Do what?” Steve asked.
“Save my life.” Suddenly, Chase remembered something. “Or did you purposely not clean the wound well enough, hoping the infection would take me out?”
Steve frowned. “For your information, I cleaned that wound several times. And if I hadn’t, the infection would’ve killed you before Dr. Whitman got here.” He paused. “Now, turn around and let me check the wound on your back and I’ll go.”
Chase turned. Steve lifted his shirt. “Did you do it because Della asked you to?” he asked, hoping to point out to the shape-shifter that Della cared about him.
Chase felt his shirt fall back against his skin. Steve exhaled.
“I did it because I’m a doctor, because if I let you die just because I don’t like you, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself.”
Realizing he was acting like a jealous boyfriend, Chase pushed back the unwanted feelings and faced the guy.
“Sorry. Thank you.” Chase held out his hand.
Steve didn’t take it. “You don’t owe me thanks.”
Okay, so maybe after accusing the guy of trying to kill him, he didn’t blame the shape-shifter for not taking his hand.
“Can I pay you?” Chase asked, still trying to make amends. “Name your price.”
“Keep your money.” Steve turned to leave, but before he reached the doorknob, he turned around. “Actually, there is a way you could repay me. Seeing that I saved your life.”
Chase tensed. Now he was sorry he’d played nice. “If that payment in any way involves my relationship with Della, you can go to hell. And I’ll be happy to help you get there if you—”
“Please,” Steve spit out. “I’m not ignorant enough to believe any deal I make with you could influence Della. And I respect her enough to not even try. She’ll make up her own mind who she wants to be with. You have no control over her decisions. And if you think you do, that just goes to show you don’t even know her.”
The words and the insinuation hit hard. “And you’ll respect her decision when she chooses me?” Chase asked.
“I’ll accept it. Just as I’m sure you will when she chooses me.”
“Nope.” Chase shook his head. “That’s where I differ from you. I’ll never stop fighting for her. You can believe it’s because I don’t respect her, but I think it’s because I love her more. Because I know with every cell of my being that she belongs with me.”
They stared at each other for several long, tense seconds, then Steve turned for the door. That’s when Chase realized Steve had never told him what he wanted. And damn it, he really didn’t like being beholden.
“If how I can repay you isn’t about Della, then what is it? Owing people’s not my thing.”
Steve took another step toward the door, then turned around. The remnants of anger still tightening his eyes told Chase that whatever the shape-shifter wanted, he wanted it badly—if not, he would have left.
“The ointment,” Steve said. “The one Della said her uncle invented. Would he be so inclined to share what’s in it?”
Chase felt his shoulders relax. “I’ll ask, but knowing Eddie, if he thinks it will save lives, he’ll say yes. It might be a while. At least until this mess is over.”
Steve looked ready to leave, but then spoke again, “You know, your opinion of Della’s uncle is higher than hers.”
