Torch (Take It Off) Read Online Free PDF

often, then?” Something that felt suspiciously like jealousy slithered up my spine.
     
    A slow grin spread over his features. “Nope. You’re my first.”
     
    The doctor seemed to think this was a done deal and excused himself, promising to return later with my release papers.
     
    Holt strolled over to my bedside, standing over me, staring down.
     
    “I don’t like it when people loom over me,” I snapped.
     
    “I’m not looming.”
     
    “I’m not going home with you.”
     
    He smiled.
     
    If my hands weren’t burned, I would punch him.
     
    He leaned down close, his breath fanning out over my cheek. “Don’t worry, Katie. I don’t bite. Unless you want me to.”
     
    Before I could react, he was pulling open the door and glancing over his shoulder. “I’ll be back tonight to get you.”
     
    I had two realizations once he was gone:
     
    One, I hadn’t thought about the pain at all when he talked to me.
     

    And, two, I actually kind of wanted to go home with him.

4
     
    The nurses were gossiping about me. Or maybe it was Holt they were in a little frenzy over. Either way, I became the main attraction for several bored nurses. They kept coming into my room, making a fuss over me, and saying how lucky I was that Holt was watching out for me.
     
    It was like I was a stray kitten that someone found on the side of the road that somehow ended up in a wonderful home.
     
    I didn’t really want all the attention, but I did use it to my advantage (like you wouldn’t), and one of the nurses washed my face and hair, going as far as finding a blow dryer and drying it into a long, straight style. It took her forever because my hair was so thick and long, but she didn’t seem to mind. In fact, I think she kind of liked it. She said it got her out of emptying bedpans.
     
    By the time my hair was done, I was tired, the pain meds were wearing off again, and I just wanted to go to sleep to escape reality for a little while. As I lay there in the quiet of my room, my mind kept wandering to Holt.
     
    Part of me didn’t think he would come back. The other part of me kept looking at the door, waiting for him. For a girl who learned early in life not to depend on anyone, I sure was acting like I was thinking about depending on him.
     
    I didn’t know what possessed him to announce that he was taking me home. He had to know I wasn’t going anywhere with him. Still, I was going to let the doctors think I was because it was my fastest way out of here.
     
    I’m just part of his job, I reminded myself. The only reason he’s been coming here is because he’s a firefighter—a man who cares about the wellbeing of others.
     
    I fell asleep for what could have been hours or minutes and was awakened by the soft weight of something settling on the end of the bed.
     
    It was a bag. A shopping bag with the mall’s logo on the side. I yawned and sat up a little straighter, eyeing the bag.
     
    “I thought you might want something to wear that didn’t smell like smoke and had a little more… coverage.”
     
    I remembered the boxers I was wearing when he pulled me out of the house and blushed. I divided my glance between the bag and the man who brought it. He must never shave. Either that or he was secretly a werewolf who grew facial hair at the speed of light. “You brought me clothes?”
     
    “It’s just a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I didn’t know what size you wear, so I had to guess.”
     
    He brought me clothes. It was a small gesture, but it proved that he thought about me even after he left this room. “Thank you.” I smiled. “I really wasn’t looking forward to putting on those smelly boxers.”
     
    He grinned. “The nurses out in the hallway said you were all ready to go.”
     
    I pushed back the covers and swung my legs over the bed. “Yes, the doctor cleared me to leave. I’ll just get dressed and then we can go.”
     
    His warm hand wrapped around my upper arm and I climbed out of the