LITMIR.BIZ

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say she was surprised that Ben hadn’t mentioned her, but nevertheless it still hurt. ‘Well, he’s never mentioned you either,’ she muttered sharply.

      His eyes swept over her in a long, leisurely appraisal. ‘Ben always did have good taste in women,’ he remarked reflectively. ‘Never thought he would get married, though. Didn’t think he was the marrying kind.’

      Those words rang hollowly inside her now. She was overwhelmed by a sudden urge to cry. Ridiculous to cry now, she told herself sternly. She hadn’t cried when Ben had made his feelings clear to her. She hadn’t cried when the sister had told her that Ben was dead. Now, remembering Josh Hamilton’s words, she wanted to break down.

      She breathed deeply. She had to get a grip, think logically. She had decisions to make—decisions that were painful.

      Her head turned towards the table next to her, searching for a glass of water.

      ‘Would you like a drink?’ Josh asked immediately, stretching to pick up the glass for her.

      ‘Thank you.’ Her throat cracked slightly as she controlled the emotional storm inside.

      Her fingers brushed against his as she took the glass he held out to her. Their eyes locked for a moment, then Samantha looked hastily away.

      Josh was a total enigma to her. She couldn’t work him out at all Obviously he was being nice to her now because he felt sorry for her, because Ben had been his friend.

      She didn’t want anybody’s sympathy; she certainly didn’t want Josh Hamilton’s. Her hand trembled badly as she held the glass. He didn’t let go of it, helping her as an adult would help a child. Annoyance mixed with gratitude. She wished to hell she could understand the way she was feeling.

      After a few sips she lay back against her pillow again.

      A young nurse walked past them and smiled provocatively at Josh. She noticed that he returned the smile in a warm, lazy kind of way.

      Samantha looked away from him. ‘Don’t let me detain you here.’ She muttered the words abrasively. ‘I’m sure you must have better things to do.’

      ‘Am I to take it that’s your way of telling me to go?’ he asked sardonically.

      ‘If you like.’

      ‘Fine.’ He stood up. He seemed to tower over her bedside. He was tall—well over six feet. ‘I hope you feel better soon.’

      Her reply was interrupted by Sister Roberts as she came to check up on Samantha, her trained eye moving over the girl’s pallor with concern.

      ‘Well, how is my favourite patient today?’ she asked light-heartedly.

      ‘Not bad.’ Samantha shrugged. ‘When can I get up from here? I’m starting to feel as if I’m taking root in this bed.’

      ‘You’ve only been there a few days,’ the sister said with a shake of her head. ‘You need the rest, Sam.’

      ‘I need to get back to work...that’s what I need,’ Samantha said bleakly. ‘You must be really short-staffed.’

      ‘We are managing,’ the sister assured her quickly.

      Josh moved from the bedside. ‘Well, I’ll leave you two ladies to talk.’ His eyes moved over Samantha’s face, then he smiled. ‘See you later.’

      ‘Nice man.’ Sister Roberts sat down in the chair he had vacated. ‘He must have nerves of steel the way he was able to run into the hospital corridor to get you out. Parts of the roof were still falling in.’

      ‘Was that when he hurt his arm?’

      The sister nodded.

      Out of the side of her eye she could see Josh speaking to the nurse who had smiled at him. Then Nurse Joanne Kelly walked over to him as well. Josh said something to them and they both laughed.

      ‘He certainly seems to be a hit with the staff,’ she said, and for some reason couldn’t get rid of the asperity in her tone.

      ‘I suppose.’ Sister Roberts darted a glance over at her two members of staff. ‘Anyway, I haven’t come to talk about Josh Hamilton. I thought maybe you were ready to discuss what you want to do.’

      ‘Do?’ Samantha swallowed nervously.

      ‘You are going to have to return home, Sam.’ The woman’s voice was gentle. ‘You are in no fit state to continue working here. You are in shock and—’

      ‘Pregnant. Dreadful combination,’ Samantha said with dry humour.

      ‘I was about to say you need peace and quiet for a while,’ the sister finished with a small smile. ‘Have you a home, a family you can go to in England?’

      ‘You mean you’re kicking me out of Chuanga?’ Samantha’s voice was light, almost jovial. ‘And I thought I was indispensable.’

      ‘Come on, Sam!’ The sister shook her head. ‘You have a baby to consider. You know you can’t stay. We’ve already discussed that. You were already making plans to leave us...weren’t you?’

      ‘Yes.’ Samantha closed her eyes. If the truth were known she hadn’t really got around to the point of making plans; she had been too busy thinking about her husband, about the fact that he didn’t want their baby.

      ‘You...you haven’t told anyone that I’m pregnant, have you?’ she asked suddenly, her eyes flicking open anxiously.

      ‘Just your doctor... I’ll have to fill in a report for headquarters, though, Sam.’

      That was to be expected, but even so her heart sank.

      ‘Shall I make some enquiries about getting you back to civilisation?’ the sister asked gently now.

      ‘I suppose you should.’ Samantha nodded. ‘As you say, I can’t stay here.’

      She watched as the sister walked away across the ward. At least her baby was all right, she told herself positively. Ben—had he been here—would probably have been disappointed by that news.

      Across the ward she could see Josh leaning indolently against the doorway, listening intently to something Joanne was telling him.

      He was very handsome. His very presence seemed to dominate the small ward, radiating powerful, vital waves of strength.

      What was Joanne talking so earnestly to him about? Samantha wondered. Josh seemed very interested, his eyes serious, watching her with complete absorption.

      She sighed and turned on her side, away from them. She was grateful to Josh for rescuing her but she still didn’t like him. He was too arrogantly sure of himself. He was probably a womaniser into the bargain. A man who enjoyed breaking hearts.

      Ben had broken her heart. She stared at the wall and tried not to think about her husband. There was no point in analysing their relationship any further. If the truth were known their marriage had been a terrible mistake from the beginning. She had tried very hard to make it work, but Ben had killed her feelings for him with his cold, almost indifferent attitude.

      She remembered his reaction when she had told him she was pregnant. ‘Get rid of it,’ he had said stonily, with no hesitation. The memory made her shudder.

      Ben was dead, and she grieved for the tragic waste of his life. But her respect for him had gone. Now her priority was her unborn child.

      CHAPTER TWO

      A WEEK later they let Samantha out of hospital. In one way she was relieved to be out of the ward. It had been frustrating to have to lie there when she knew the nurses around her could use some help. However, going back to the room she had shared with Ben would be hard.

      She was making her way out of the hospital when she saw Josh Hamilton walking towards her.

      ‘Almost didn’t recognise you

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