His, Hers and...Theirs?
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“It’s okay,” the brunette said. “It’s just a little blood. The owie isn’t very big.”
“Yes, it is,” her brother said. “And it’s bleeding a whole bunch. We better call the ambulance.”
At her twin’s suggestion, Kaylee cried even louder. Still, Dan thought a 911 call was probably their best bet. He knew that even the simplest head cuts could bleed profusely, but he’d much rather let a professional take charge.
The brunette made a quick scan of the playground and beyond. “Where’s your mommy, honey?”
“She’s in heaven,” Kevin said. “She’s watching over us, but I guess she was busy just now.”
“I’m their uncle,” Dan admitted. “This is Kaylee and Kevin.”
The brunette turned to him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interfere.”
Her hazel eyes were almost amber in color, and her lashes were thick and dark, but he shook off the compulsion to study her. “Don’t be sorry for stepping in. I’m way out of my league when it comes to this stuff.”
“Do you have a handkerchief?” she asked.
“No, I never use them. Sorry.” He realized one would have come in handy about now.
She smiled, then pulled the scarf from around her neck, revealing a nasty scar that ran from the underside of her chin down to her throat and beyond. A burn of some kind, he suspected.
She held the pink cloth against Kaylee’s forehead, applying pressure to her wound.
“Are you a doctor?” Kevin asked the woman.
“No.”
“A nurse?” the boy continued.
She slowly shook her head. “No, I’m not.”
Then probably just a mother, Dan guessed. She’d certainly taken charge like a woman who’d done this a hundred times before.
“I do work at the Brighton Valley Medical Center,” she told Kevin, “but not with patients. I’m a medical technologist.”
“What’s that?” the boy asked.
By this time, Kaylee seemed to realize that she was under the care of a professional, and even if she didn’t know what a technologist actually did, her scream had softened to a whine.
“I’m a scientist,” the brunette said. “I work in the lab.”
Whoa, Dan thought, realizing she was the brainy type. He’d never really known any of those. He tended to date women who were more street-smart than book-smart.
Dated? Now where had that wild-ass idea come from? If she was hanging out at the park with the Parents of Multiples, she was probably a mother—and married, which meant she was off-limits, even if he’d been looking. And he wasn’t.
Still, his gaze slid to her left hand, which was ring-free. Not that it mattered, he supposed. His dating days were over now that the ranch house was filled with the pitter-patter of little feet.
Kaylee clung to the woman who dabbed at the wound with her scarf, permanently staining the fabric, no doubt. He’d have to buy her a new one when this was all said and done.
“Are you someone’s mommy?” Kaylee asked.
“No,” the woman said.
Then what was she doing at the park? Dan wondered. He almost asked but figured it might be best to bide his time and wait for one of the kids to quiz her. The two of them, especially Kevin, were certainly doing a pretty good job of interrogating her.
“Thanks for stepping in to help,” Dan said. “Kaylee needed a woman’s touch.”
“You’re welcome.” Her smile reached her eyes, turning them to the shade of Tennessee bourbon. “Are you babysitting today?” Was it that obvious he wasn’t an experienced guardian? Probably, since a real father wouldn’t have let one of his kids get hurt.
“I’m afraid I’m the man in charge,” he said, faking a smile and doffing his hat. “My name’s Dan Walker. And you’re…?”
“Eva Galindo.” She nodded toward the small building that housed the restrooms. “The bleeding has stopped, so maybe we should get some water and wash her face.”
“Good idea.” He stood, placed his hand on Kevin’s head and stroked the straw-colored strands of his hair. “Come on, sport. We’ve got to get your sister cleaned up.”
As they walked toward the restrooms, Dan said, “I really appreciate this, Eva.”
“I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. I saw her trip in the sand and take a fall. I guess it was just instinct kicking in.”
“Lucky me,” he said, meaning it. Hopefully, Fate had decided to give him a break, at least for the rest of the day.
Eva took Kaylee into the ladies’ room and came out several minutes later. The little girl’s hair and face were wet but clean. And Dan was able to get a good look at the half-inch gash that marred the upper left side of her forehead and the bruise that surrounded it.
“What do you think?” Eva asked, gripping his gaze and setting his heart off kilter.
He didn’t dare tell her that he was thinking of her as some kind of superhero right now. So instead, he glanced at her water-splattered, bloodstained white blouse and smiled. “I think I’m going to owe you a new outfit.”
“That’s not what I meant. Look at that gash, Dan. It’s pretty deep.”
The bleeding might have stopped, but the wound definitely gaped open.
“You know…” Eva cocked her head and studied the little girl’s forehead. “She’s probably going to need a few stitches.”
“No!” Kaylee, who’d been a little standoffish with Dan the past couple of weeks, clung to the woman. “I don’t want stitches.”
If Dan had been looking in the mirror at his own face and had seen the cut, he would have let it pass without any treatment at all. But on a little girl?