Liam Hayes had walked into worse places than a field hospital.

But none of them made his jaw tighten like this.

He leaned against the tent frame, eyes scanning the room—until they landed on her.

She was across the tent, kneeling beside a soldier, completely focused as she cleaned a cut on his forehead. Calm. Steady. Like the chaos around her didn’t exist.

The soldier, unfortunately, did.

“You always this gentle, Nurse?” he smirked.

Liam’s expression hardened.

she didn’t look up. “You’re concussed. That’s why you think this is charming.”

A few guys laughed. The soldier just grinned wider. “Pretty sure every guy in here wishes they were me right now.”

Liam exhaled sharply, gaze flicking around the tent.

They did.

The looks. The comments. The way their eyes followed her.

Like she wasn’t saving their lives—like she was something to entertain them.

Before he could think twice, he pushed off the frame and walked over.

She noticed him this time. “You again?”

“Me again,” he said, but his eyes flicked briefly to the guy she’d been treating. “You done here?”

The soldier chuckled. “What, you her guard dog?”

Liam didn’t react. “Something like that.”

she frowned slightly, then stood. “Alright. Sit.”

He did, watching her as she moved toward him, still aware of the eyes on her.

When she got close, he lowered his voice.

“You know they don’t shut up about you, right?”

She blinked. “What?”

“The way they talk. The way they look at you.” His jaw tightened. “It’s not right.”

For a moment, she just looked at him.

“I know,” she said quietly. “I just don’t have time to care.”

Liam held her gaze. “Yeah. Well... I do.”

Something softened in her expression, just for a second.

Then she reached for his arm, gentle but sure.

“Sit still, Hayes,” she said, a little quieter now. “Let me do my job.”

This time, he didn’t argue.