Fonseca's Fury. Эбби Грин

I really don’t plan on carrying you anywhere.’

      Fire raced up Serena’s spine. ‘Well, when you put it so eloquently, I’d hate to become more of a burden than I already am.’

      Luca guided her towards a large log near the fire. Sitting her down, he went down on his knees and pulled his bag towards him.

      ‘Take off your boots.’ His voice was gruff.

      Serena undid her laces and grimaced as she pulled off the boots. Luca pulled her feet towards him, resting them on his thighs. The feel of rock-hard muscles under her feet made scarlet heat rush up through her body and bloom on her face.

      She got out a strangled, ‘What are you doing?’

      Luca was curt. ‘I’m trained as a medic—relax.’

      Serena shut her mouth. She felt churlish; was there no end to his talents? She watched as he opened up a complicated-looking medical kit and couldn’t help asking, ‘Why did you train as a medic?’

      He glanced at her swiftly before looking down again. ‘I was on a visit to a village near a mine with my father when I was younger and a small boy started choking. No one knew what to do. He died right in front of us.’

      Serena let out a breath. ‘That’s awful.’

      A familiar but painful memory intruded before she could block it out. She’d seen someone die right in front of her too—it was seared onto her brain like a tattoo. Her defences didn’t seem to be so robust here, in such close proximity to this man. She could empathise with Luca’s helplessness and that shocked her...to feel an affinity.