Page 24 of Igniting Sparks

Two minutes later, I’m kneeling by her injured paw, a first aid kit in hand.

“There really isn’t anything you can’t do, is there, Braden?”

“I’m not performing surgery. Just wrapping your ankle and giving you an ice pack. Child’s play.”

“Do you always do that?”

I pause, the roll of gauze in my hand. “Do what?”

“Deflect when someone pays you a compliment?”

I consider her question as I secure the bandage. “I guess I do. Never was very good at taking compliments.”

“I find it impossible to believe that a man like you doesn’t see how great he is.”

Let me tell you, this woman is going to explode my ego if she keeps lobbing compliments at me. “You’re one to talk.”

“What do you mean?”

“You deny that pretty much every guy in town wants you. And I’m starting to think you actually believe that nonsense.”

“If I’m so great, then why am I chronically single?”

I chuckle and stand, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. “But you’re not, remember? You’re engaged to a big, strong, awesome guy.”

Mina laughs at my forced self-evaluation. “I see you’re improving at the whole compliment thing.”

“My ego is big enough, sweets.” I stow the first aid kit andhelp Mina to the couch. “I think we have some crutches around here, but I need you to stay off your foot for a few days, okay? Give it time to heal.”

Mina shakes her head, shooting me a mock glare when I slide a pillow beneath her foot. “I will not sit around while you do everything. Besides, I have work. I need to be on my feet.”

“Ori is going to tell you the same thing I am. You’re on couch duty. Netflix and chill for the next seventy-two hours. Your job is to find us a movie. I’m going to bring us a couple of plates of food. You want a beer or aspirin?”

“Both?”

“Nice try.”

“Beer. I’ll worry about the pain tomorrow,” she grumbles.

Mina has a romantic comedy queued when I return with the beers and spaghetti. “Not a word. You gave me control of the remote control.”

“Hey, I like romcoms,” I reply, settling next to her on the couch.

Mina rolls her eyes.

“What?”

“Nothing. You’re perfect. I always figured that would be annoying, but it’s awesome.” She plays with the edge of the blanket, the smile falling from her face. “No one has ever taken care of me, outside of my folks.”

“What happened to your dad?” I’m unsure if I should ask, since she rarely mentions him.

“He died three years ago. Heart attack. He was young. Too young.” Mina sucks in a shaky breath. “I miss him.”

“I’m sure you do. I’ll bet he was proud of you.”

“He told me, Mina, I don’t care what you do, so long as you do it with your whole heart. He passed right before my accident, so he died thinking my future was set. Little did he know.”

“He sounds like a smart man.”