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shower patients?’

      ‘Three nights ago a very bossy nurse said I should do just that.’

      Her lips twitched. ‘That was some cheek.’

      ‘I think you’re wonderful.’

      The laughter in her eyes faded. She met his look square on. ‘Luke, don’t.’

      ‘Don’t?’

      ‘You want me to share your apartment for a month. That’s not going to work if you make me feel …’

      She didn’t finish but he knew what the words were.

      Their eyes locked, and something was happening. A link, a connection, growing stronger every second.

      He wanted to lean forward. He wanted to take her in his arms and …

      The door opened and Lily flinched. He pulled back, not sure whether to be glad or sorry.

      No. He was definitely sorry.

      Evie Lockheart opened the door with caution. She smiled as she saw him, and she smiled even wider when she saw Lily was awake.

      ‘Hey,’ she said. ‘We were worried about you. Nurses collapsing in Theatre does our safety record no good at all.’

      Lily smiled back, looking embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry.’

      ‘No need to be sorry. The whole hospital’s in awe of what you did. Saving Luke’s uncle …’ She glanced at Luke and grinned. ‘And the hosital’s on fire with the story. In one fell swoop we’ve met your lady, your uncle and your farm. Where’s your precious privacy now?’

      ‘Shot to pieces,’ Luke admitted.

      But Evie was focusing on Lily. ‘How are you feeling?’

      ‘Fine.’

      ‘You don’t look fine.’

      ‘Because I’m covered in blood,’ Lily said with dignity. ‘If I could have a shower …’

      ‘I’ll send a nurse to help you.’

      ‘I don’t need—’

      ‘Tell me what you need when I’m interested,’ Evie retorted. She elbowed Luke out of the way and felt Lily’s pulse.

      ‘She’s had gastro,’ Luke reminded her. ‘The plan was for her to rest this weekend.’

      ‘Yeah, like that worked,’ Evie said dryly, assessing Lily with professional concern. ‘You’re too thin.’

      ‘I’m always thin.’

      ‘No other symptoms?’

      Lily hauled her hand away and tucked it under the covers. ‘I’m okay. Honestly, gastro and this afternoon would make anyone faint.’

      ‘I guess.’ Evie turned to Luke. ‘Look after her.’

      ‘I will.’ And he surprised himself by how much he meant it. ‘She won’t let me help her shower, though,’ he complained, and Evie grinned.

      ‘Good. She needs to rest.’

      ‘I wouldn’t …’ He practically blushed.

      ‘You’re male,’ she said darkly. ‘Of course you would. I’m with Lily. I’ll send in a nurse.’

      ‘I don’t need help,’ Lily said.

      ‘You’ll take it. Shower and back to bed for the night.’

      ‘I’m going home,’ Lily said, and then hesitated. Home. The word had connotations for them both.

      But Evie was being efficient. It was up to him to be the same. ‘I’ll collect you as soon as you’re clean,’ he said. ‘I’m going to check on Tom but I’ll be back in half an hour, Lily. I’ll bring the car to the discharge area.’

      ‘I’m not a patient.’

      ‘No,’ Evie said. ‘You’re a heroine. The Harbour takes a while to accept people as its own, but what you’ve done this afternoon … you’re now one of us, like it or not. We might gossip, we might be in your face, but we do look after our own. Luke takes you home or you stay here, like it or not.’

      ‘Fine,’ she said helplessly. ‘I mean, thank you.’

      ‘You’re welcome,’ Evie said, and grabbed Luke’s arm and steered him out of the room. ‘Expect a nurse. Luke, let’s leave the lady to get on with what she needs to do.’

      The nurse took a while to come. That was fine by Lily. She watched the sun set over the distant harbour and she felt as if she was floating.

      Luke was taking her home.

      She could still feel the pressure of his fingers on hers. He didn’t know his own strength, she thought.

      He’d almost kissed her.

      She’d wanted him to.

      Which was really dumb. It must be because she was still tired and overwrought. Today—or, to be honest, the last few days—had taken it out of her.

      Her stomach still hurt. Stress?

      Maybe she should have said something to Evie.

      No. She simply needed to give herself time to get over the gastro. To get over today. And more, she needed to stop stressing.

      How could a girl do that when she was heading to Luke’s apartment? What had she got herself into?

      She sighed and closed her eyes. At least her mother wasn’t here, and with that thought came more. How was her mother coping?

      Her father’s voice … ‘You will look after her?’

      She was so tired.

      A young nurse peeped round the door. ‘Dr Lockheart said you’d like help to shower. Dr Williams has given me a bag with some clothes. Are you up to showering now? Dr Lockheart says if you’d like to have another sleep first then Dr Williams will wait.’

      ‘No,’ she said, pushing herself upright. Reluctantly. ‘No, it’s okay. I need to go home.’

      Wherever home was.

      Home with Luke?

      ‘So why’s she looking like she’s been hit by a train?’

      To say Evie was blunt was an understatement. She said things as she saw them.

      ‘She had gastro.’

      ‘You and I both know gastro doesn’t make you look like that. There’s no underlying medical problem? She went out like a light in Theatre. She scared the hell out of Judy.’

      ‘She’s been under strain.’

      ‘Because of your relationship?’

      ‘Will you butt out?’ He turned to face her head on. Finn had labelled her Princess Evie. The staff still called her that, not to her face but as a gentle reminder to themselves of the power she wielded. Evie was one doctor among many, but her family money meant she was unsackable. Her grandfather had brought her in here when she was tiny, she’d practically lived in his office and she thought of the place as home.

      So this hospital was her home and she didn’t like mess. She was trying to tidy Lily up, he thought. Pigeonhole her. Figure exactly where she fitted.

      ‘She almost looks abused,’ Evie said conversationally, and he practically spluttered.

      ‘You’re accusing me of abusing … my girlfriend?’ It took him a while to find the last two words but he managed it.

      ‘I’m not saying anything of the kind,’ Evie said. ‘That’s why I’m asking. I said almost. What other explanation is there?’

      He groaned inwardly. There was no way she’d

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