‘I’m over casual sex,’ Luke said, and he looked at her.
They were naked by a fire, the scene was set, he could have her now, but then again, Luke knew, she’d been so starved of affection that a burger could have got him there with Scarlet.
Not now.
She gave him a smile, she sat naked and looked at the most beautiful man on earth and she felt on the edge of something, that love really was worth holding out for.
‘And me.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
‘I DON’T KNOW if I should try and speak with her one more time,’ Scarlet said
Luke was driving, and they were near the turn off that decided if they headed for home or the hospital.
He was honest.
‘I think you have to,’ Luke said. Even if just for Scarlet’s sake, maybe it was better that she try again, but Scarlet shook her head.
She knew just how poisonous her mother could be.
It had taken the time away to see it.
‘I can speak with her if you want.’
‘You?’
‘Well, she did ask me to be her doctor once.’
‘I thought you stayed back?’
‘Not in this.’
There were press everywhere. News of Anya’s impending transfer had leaked, but not by the staff at the hospital, Luke knew that.
He nodded to Geoff, who gave him the most bored shrug as he gestured Luke’s car to turn to the right. And Luke would thank him later for not letting on that a valuable photo was sitting with her heavy head leaning against the window of his car.
He parked and, at Scarlet’s request, he left her in the car. On his way to ICU he called Angie.
He gave sparse details. It was for Angie to make her own judgements and he did all he could not to cloud them.
‘If you could be there when I speak with Anya...’
‘What if she agrees that I take her on?’ Angie checked. ‘I’m serious, Luke. If she’s my patient...’
‘I’ll never ask,’ Luke said. ‘And I’m not just talking professionally, I’d never jeopardise our friendship.’
Absolutely he knew the value of a real friend who wasn’t paid for, one who didn’t simply say the right thing because it might be easier to hear a lie than the truth.
‘Well, make sure you don’t,’ Angie said. ‘I’ll meet you up there.’
* * *
‘Anya’s about to be transferred,’ David said when Luke came into the ICU.
‘To?’ Luke checked, and was informed that Anya was being transferred to a very swish private hospital for a couple of days and then would be heading for home.
‘She wants her daughter.’ David rolled his eyes. ‘And she’s not used to not getting what she wants.’ He glanced over at the close curtains. ‘She’s furious that she isn’t in a private room. She has no concept of ICU.’
‘Can I speak to her?’
‘You know you can.’ David nodded. ‘Though I have to say I don’t think a lecture from the doctor who resuscitated her is going to do much. Still, it’s worth a try.’
‘Oh, no.’ Luke was honest. ‘I’m not here for that. I was invited to be her private doctor once.’
‘You!’ David frowned and then grinned. ‘You?’ he checked again.
‘Yep, me,’ Luke said. ‘And, as you’ve probably guessed, her daughter is staying with me.’
‘We had kind of worked that out, long before you brought her up here.’
‘How?’ Luke asked, not worried that they had, just curious to know.
‘Well, the car Scarlet arrived in, Geoff kind of recognised, so we checked her emergency contact phone number and it matched yours.’ David grinned. ‘Talk about a dark horse...’ As Angie came over and joined them, David stopped smiling and shook his head. ‘I can tell you now, Angie, that she’s certainly not going to speak with you.’
‘Well, let’s just give Anya that choice,’ Angie said, and Luke watched as his friend and ex-lover put her psychiatrist’s hat on firmly.
‘Are you going to come in?’ Luke asked David. ‘I’d prefer you to hear what’s said.’
‘Sure.’
They all walked over and Luke took a breath and then parted the curtain.
‘Anya...’ He gave her a thin smile. ‘I’m Luke Edwards...’
Anya just stared.
‘I was the consultant on duty in Emergency when you came in.’
‘And I want to thank you.’ Anya said.
‘There’s no need.’
‘Oh, but there is.’ She reached for his hands and, Luke thought, for all the agony she had caused her daughter, she didn’t even remember his name.
‘You invited me to be your private doctor a couple of years ago...’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Your daughter was pregnant and you wanted to put me on your payroll,’ Luke said, and he watched as Anya blinked. ‘But I refused.’
‘I don’t want to talk about that time.’
‘It’s a very painful topic, I agree,’ Luke said, ‘and as difficult as it might be to do so, it’s better that it’s discussed.’
‘Have you got my daughter?’
‘Got your daughter?’ Luke checked. ‘Yes, Scarlet has been staying with me, and before you press that call bell, I want you to listen to me.’
‘Well, I don’t want to.’
‘I’m going to say what I’ve come to and then I’m going to go.’ He introduced Angie and said that she was a psychiatrist who specialised in addiction.
‘Oh, please...’ Anya said. ‘Is this an intervention?’
‘Minus the cameras.’ Luke nodded. ‘Anya, we’re extremely concerned. You attempted to take your life and very nearly succeeded...’
‘I told the nurse this morning that I was confused when I said that last night. It was an accident.’
‘Anya.’ Luke held out her drug screen but she refused to take it. ‘I cannot see how this could be an accident but if it somehow was, then how that happened needs to be addressed.’
‘Which is why I’m being transferred,’ Anya said. ‘Where’s Scarlet?’ she demanded, and started shouting for her daughter. ‘You’re to bring her to me.’
‘I’m going to take care of your daughter for as long as she wants me to,’ Luke said. ‘Me. No bodyguards, no cameras, and if you tell your crew where she is, or it comes out, you are to tell them that they are not to come. If I see another car in the street or someone at my door, I’ll move on with Scarlet for as long as she wants to. I will never live your life.’
‘You regret it,’ Anya sneered. ‘If you’d been my doctor...’
‘Oh, no,’ Luke said. ‘I look back on that time and, looking at your toxicology screen, I know for sure I could never have been your doctor. This woman should be,’ Luke said, and Angie stepped forward. ‘Stay here and work on yourself or go back to the world you’ve come from.’
‘If she can leave her own mother,’ Anya said, ‘do you really think she’s going to stick around with you and play the doctor’s wife? She’s using you.’
An escape route.
He’d thought about his friend’s words at times.
And Scarlet had said herself that she’d used him as a false lead.
But his love was real.
And if that meant he was an escape route, Luke could live with that.
Scarlet’s future was worth it.
‘We’re different people, Anya.’ He looked down at her. ‘I believe that when you love someone, their happiness becomes a priority. I don’t want Scarlet trapped and miserable. She’s not some toy for me to keep locked away in the hope she won’t leave.’ And once, just once, calm, professional and detached he could not be because he sneered at her. ‘As you’ve found out, it doesn’t work.’ He headed for the curtain and then he turned around. ‘There is one thing you don’t have to worry about, though—whatever she needs, I’ll always be there for Scarlet.’
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
‘WHAT DID SHE SAY?’
&nbs
p; Luke sat in the car beside Scarlet and even as he’d climbed in, it felt as if her mother’s shadow had got in with him.
‘Not much,’ Luke said. ‘Angie’s in with her now.’
She looked at him. ‘I don’t believe you,’ Scarlet said, and saw the set of his jaw. ‘Tell me what she said.’
‘Just...’ Anya’s words buzzed in his head. They were a touch too close to home but he did his best to ignore them. ‘She was never just going to lie back and let you go. It doesn’t matter what she said.’
Scarlet sat there and was glad that Luke didn’t turn on the engine but just let her sit with her thoughts.
‘I can’t just leave her.’
‘Scarlet,’ Luke said. ‘I think that even if you go back with your mother, nothing will change. I don’t think anything you do can alter that fact.’
‘I know that.’
‘But if you feel you have to go back, I get that.’
‘What about us?’
It wasn’t a selfish question and it was one Luke pondered for a moment before answering. They had been together again for only four days and before that it had been just one night.
‘You’ve still got my phone number?’ Luke checked.
Scarlet nodded.
‘We’re thirty-fifteen on hanging up on each other. It’s your turn next.’
‘We’ll talk?’
‘Every morning and every night, just as much as you want to,’ Luke said. He hadn’t been lying to Anya. He would be there for Scarlet for as long she needed him to be. ‘And I’ve got leave I can take so I can get on a plane and so can you.’
‘Are we just friends?’
‘In this,’ Luke answered carefully, ‘I’m your best friend. I promise you that, Scarlet. You do what you have to do.’
He gave her the one thing she’d never had—options.
Precious, rare options that came with no strings attached.
No want, or need, to drag her back, no promise of all he could do for her, no safety net, yet he made her able to fly.
‘I’m going to go and speak to her,’ Scarlet said. Luke was right, for that she needed a friend. ‘Can you come up with me?’
‘Of course.’
Luke walked with her right up to the unit and then he saw Angie coming out from behind the curtains.
‘Hi, Midwife Lucy.’ Angie smiled and then, when Scarlet felt she might break, Angie gave her a hug. ‘It’s okay.’ Angie gave Luke a smile and then dismissed him. ‘I’m going to speak with Scarlet.’
Scarlet sat in another interview room, where she guessed that people were told their loved ones had died. But then she thought about Evan, finding out that his son had a stab at life, and this was a bittersweet room she found herself in, Scarlet decided as Angie went through things with her.
It was just more of the same.
‘Your mum insists on leaving here tonight,’ Angie concluded. ‘She’s coherent, she knows what she wants...’
‘So do I,’ Scarlet said. She did now. ‘Can I see her?’
‘Of course you can.’ Angie nodded.
She had choices and so did her mom.
‘Please, take the help that’s being offered,’ Scarlet said as she sat at her mother’s bedside.
‘I don’t need their help. It was an accident.’
And back to lying and blackmailing Anya went. ‘I was thinking, in a few weeks you could go to Africa. I know you love going there and maybe—’
‘I’m not coming back with you, Mom.’
‘You’re going with him,’ Anya sneered. ‘Believe me, Scarlet, you’re only as good as your last—’
‘Don’t you dare!’ Scarlet stood. She just stood up then and she thought of a man who had said no to her frequent offers, and if it had confused her at times it all made beautiful sense now. She could look her mother in the eye and know absolutely that what she said was right. ‘I count for so much more than that with him.’
‘Please,’ Anya sneered. ‘Is that what he told you?’
‘That’s what he showed me,’ Scarlet said, and tears filled her eyes because over and over, every step of the way, Luke had. ‘You need help, Mom.’
‘I don’t need help.’
‘Well, I do,’ Scarlet said. ‘I need friends, I need support and I need space. I want a career, Mom. You’ve got one...’
It was almost pointless, but not quite. She was allowed to have hope that one day her mum would be well.
Not yet, though.
She kissed her mum goodbye, even if it wasn’t returned, and then walked out and said thanks to Angie, who was sitting at the desk with Luke.
‘This way,’ Scarlet said to him, and instead of leaving via the internal lift they headed towards the main exit.
There were many reasons to be proud of her, Luke thought, because as they passed Ashleigh’s bed, where he lay with his headphones on, Ashleigh gave his father a nudge as Scarlet walked past.
‘Not now,’ Evan said to his son. Curtains were thin and he’d heard what had just gone on.
Yes, now, Scarlet thought.
And Luke saw first-hand the absolute star that Scarlet was.
‘Hey!’ Scarlet smiled at Ashleigh and went over. ‘Wow! You are looking so much better.’
‘I’m feeling it,’ Ashleigh admitted. ‘I’m going to a regular ward tomorrow.’
‘That’s brilliant.’ Scarlet smiled. ‘Do you want a photo of the two of us?’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course I am.’
They snapped a photo, one that caught Scarlet kissing him on the cheek, and Ashleigh grinned as he looked at it. ‘I won’t share it.’
‘Go for it.’ Scarlet smiled. ‘Show the world how much better you’re doing and that they need to watch out.’
She was speaking for both of them!
They didn’t leave by the lifts; instead, they walked out the regular exit and Scarlet asked, in no uncertain terms, for Sonia to hand over her passport.
‘It’s back at the hotel.’
‘Then go and fetch it,’ Scarlet said, and took a seat. ‘I’ll wait.’
‘Actually...’
Surprise, surprise, Sonia had it in her bag.
And that was it, she was free.
They drove home in silence at first and Scarlet rested her head on the window.
‘Thank you,’ Scarlet said.
‘For what?’
For being the true friend she’d never had. ‘All that you’ve done for me. I’ve completely messed up your week.’
Luke swallowed. She hadn’t messed up his week, she had changed his entire life, but that might not be what she needed to hear now.
‘Do you know what you want to do?’
‘Do?’ Scarlet frowned. ‘I don’t know. Maybe...’ she took a breath ‘...go to the cottage perhaps, do what I planned to and get my head together.’ She took a breath. ‘You’ll get sick of me soon...’
Luke frowned.
‘Tired of my dramas.’
‘That’s what she said,’ Luke pointed out, because, yes, curtains were thin.
Luke looked at the road ahead.
Ten minutes in that woman’s company and Anya had watered the weeds of doubt in both of them.
He had never admired Scarlet more—she’d had a lifetime of it but instead of weeds the flowers had somehow thrived.
And the lunatics were not running the asylum, Luke decided.
He was.
If what he had to reveal to Scarlet was too much, too soon, and not what she needed or wanted, then so be it, he wouldn’t crowd her.
But something told him that what he felt inside was right. That his words were something that Scarlet, who had never properly been loved, maybe needed to hear.
Whatever she did with that knowledge was fine with Luke but she deserved to know just how very loved she was.
It was time to do what he avoided.
Tell another person just how he felt.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THEY D
IDN’T PULL into his house; instead, they pulled up outside the pub.
‘What are we doing?’
‘Well, I don’t feel like cooking, do you?’
‘No!’ Scarlet admitted.
‘So let’s have dinner here.’
They walked in together and Scarlet was more nervous than she’d been when she’d stepped on stage in Paris and had had her mother sing to her, but Luke was calm and relaxed.
‘Hi, Luke,’ Von, the landlady, said.
As they sat down a young couple did a double take and when one of them picked up their phone and started to walk over, Trefor, who was in with his wife, stopped them and reminded them that her mother was terribly ill.
They sat back down and the phone went back on the table.
Scarlet gave them a wave. ‘Hi, Margaret.’
‘It’s lovely to see you, Scarlet.’
They took a seat and Luke grinned.
‘What?’ Scarlet checked.
‘She bought me a casserole the day I moved in. I was so taken aback I forgot her name and for months I’ve been trying to find it out, without admitting I don’t know.’
‘Margaret,’ Scarlet said. ‘The shop’s not doing too well, she’s thinking of making a web page.’
‘You chatted?’
‘She helped me choose my outfit,’ Scarlet explained.
‘And she chose your knickers too,’ Luke pointed out.
‘I thought you chose them.’ Scarlet smiled but she was frowning a little because that little comment was so open to one of her more usual responses, and Luke didn’t generally offer such openings.
‘I thought it safer to leave it to her,’ Luke admitted.
‘Safer?’ Scarlet checked.
‘That you were dressed by Margaret.’
She wanted to be undressed by Luke, though.
‘You’re in an odd mood,’ Scarlet commented.
‘Doesn’t feel odd to me,’ Luke said, and she looked at him, grateful that now she could do just that.
He smiled at her, not a grin or a happy smile, just a knowing one that had her toes curl in her shoes because she wanted to reach over and tell him she was wearing the purple knickers.
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