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“Oh my GOD!” Sunita and her serving trays clattered through the door. “What happened?!” Mid-double take, her lip curled at Nick and his hairnet. “What’s he doing here?!”
“I burned my hand. I was serving him when it happened.”
Notoriously grossed out by blood and gore, Sunita peeked over Evie’s shoulder. “You okay? Looks painful.”
“I’ll live.”
Nick leaned in. “So the bloke who brought the soup…”
Evie snuck a sidelong glance at his razor-sharp cheekbones and chiseled jawline, worthy of a Norse god. A breath caught in her throat.
“…he’s a member of your catering team?”
“No. A friend.”
“Yeah!” exclaimed Sunita, stowing the trays under the counter. “One with benefits.”
His lips pressed into a straight line.
If her hand hadn’t been throbbing, Evie would’ve laughed and pounded Sunita’s palm with an exuberant high-five. “Why?” she asked innocently. “You know him?”
“No. He asked for a selfie. His sister is a Dalston fan.”
“Jeez, that must suck, huh?” Sunita jumped in without a whiff of sympathy. “Peaking in your teens, being reminded of it constantly…”
Nick looked like he’d been slapped but didn’t take the bait.
“Sun.” Evie shot her best friend a knock it off glare as the truck groaned with the medic’s arrival. Nick may have broken her heart thirteen years ago, but he was currently a client, one deserving respect and professionalism. Her mother wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Tugging on a pair of examination gloves, the medic’s focus flitted from Nick and Sunita to Evie.
“No, of course.” Nick backed up and Sunita followed, making space. “Thanks for coming quickly.”
The medic nodded. “Evie, can I see your hand? How does it feel?”
“Tight and stingy”—she pulled away from the running taps—“but not as bad as before.”
“That’s the cool water.” The medic carefully examined the burn. “It slows inflammation, soothes the pain. Someone was on the ball.”
“Too right,” said Sunita. “Evie knows her first aid inside out.”
She shook her head. “Not this time. I froze, I…” Failed.
“That’s normal,” said the medic as Nick removed his jacket. “It’s our body’s way of protecting itself. It prevents us from making a rash decision that could cause further harm.” She surveyed the counter. “Do you have cling wrap?”
Evie nodded. “Sun, can you…?”
Sunita placed the box in the medic’s open palm. “What’s it for?”
“To wrap the burn.” She tore free a sizeable piece. “It’ll prevent infection until Evie’s seen at the hospital.”
Eyes popping wide, Evie braced as the thin layer of transparent plastic covered the angry burn, its sticky graze triggering a piercing throb through her hand and down her fingers. She gulped as a second layer swaddled her skin. “I guess it’s a good thing.” Her voice quivered. “That we’re done cooking for the day.”
Nick tugged off his hairnet. “Well, uh…you’re in great hands now. I’ll just…” He tilted his head toward the door and met Sunita’s judgmental stare. “Excuse me,” he nodded, inching past with his suit jacket flopped over his forearm.
“Nick?” Evie called after him, poring over the broad shoulders and firm butt of the man who’d once owned her heart.
He slowed but didn’t turn around. “Yeah?”
