Finn was a bad-tempered, surly, uncommunicative surgeon. He was one of the best surgeons Luke had ever worked with.
He was, like it or not, his friend.
How much of the single malt was he putting away?
So what to do? Head to Finn’s office and say, ‘I hear your hand’s shaking?’
There was not one snowball’s chance in a bushfire of that happening, and of getting back out of the door if he did.
Besides, he needed to check on Tom. And then take Lily home.
Lily, of the gaunt face. Lily, who was too thin even before the gastro.
She’d needed this weekend to recover and it had ended like this.
‘That’s all I wanted to say,’ Evie said, brisk again. ‘I just thought … someone else should know.’
Gee, thanks, Luke thought morosely. Hand over your worries to me, why don’t you?
But that wasn’t fair, and he stopped himself from saying it. Evie could have taken her concerns straight to the medical director. Eric would then be bound to take them further. The legal implications of an impaired director of surgery would make Eric act whether he wished to or not.
Evie had chosen the kinder path.
‘Thank you,’ he said heavily.
‘I’m sure you mean that,’ she said dryly. ‘Sorry, but I had to tell someone. Short of counting the whisky bottles in his garbage and confronting him with it, I didn’t know what else to do. So can you fix Finn as well as Lily and her mother? I’ll see to Uncle Tom.’
‘That’s hardly a fair division of labour.’
‘No, but otherwise you’re landed with everyone,’ she said softly, and then she smiled. ‘Because you care. I thought you’d escaped it but it seems even the great Luke Williams has to succumb to caring eventually.’
Lily wouldn’t leave the hospital without seeing Tom. Luke had just come from Intensive Care but he detoured back again with her, carrying Lily’s overnight bag, feeling strange. Feeling like a relative rather than a doctor.
As they walked through the corridors staff were watching, and as they neared ICU Lily took his hand.
The sensation was unnerving to say the least.
Once upon a time he and Hannah had had a relationship within this hospital. She’d held his hand whenever she could. Or rather her action had been … proprietary. From the time they’d started dating she’d announced their relationship in no uncertain terms.
Like Lily was doing now. Not like Hannah, who’d deliberately kissed him where colleagues would see, touched him whenever she could, called him sweetheart in the wards, but, still, she was holding his hand and that was possessive enough.
Maybe she needed it for support. He glanced down at their linked fingers and her hold tightened.
‘Don’t,’ she said.
‘Don’t what?’
‘Look at our hands. Act as if it’s normal. Isn’t this what you want? For the staff to think we’re a long-term couple? If we are, then holding hands is something we’d do all the time.’
It was.
It was also hard to get his head back to where it had been two days ago, to the idea that this was a pretend relationship so he could go on as he wanted to: independently.
‘You think we should kiss, to make a bigger impression?’ he said, thinking of Hannah.
‘Long-term couples wouldn’t,’ she said. ‘Kissing in corridors is tacky. Being caught in the on-call room was bad enough. Holding hands will do nicely, thank you.’
‘We wouldn’t want to seem tacky.’
‘No, we wouldn’t,’ she said serenely. ‘This couple has class.’
And then they were in ICU, and their hands could separate because all focus was on Tom. He still looked ashen, hooked up to every conceivable piece of technology the Harbour could throw at him, but amazingly he was smiling to see them.
‘Here’s trouble,’ he whispered. ‘I s’pose you’re here to give me a lecture.’
‘Not me,’ Lily said roundly, and kissed him. ‘I have more respect. Though I suspect Luke might be a bit angsty about his car.’
‘His car?’
‘He used it as a farm bike,’ she said. ‘I like it better now. It looks pre-loved.’
‘That’s me,’ Tom whispered. ‘If pre-loved looked battered.’ He hesitated. ‘Doc says I’ll keep the leg, thanks to you guys.’
‘I know you have two,’ Lily said, still smiling. ‘Trying to cut one off might seem a saving on socks, but think of all those left-foot shoes you’d have had to ditch.’
And Tom actually managed a grin. He was enchanted, Luke thought.
He wasn’t the only one.
‘I’m taking Lily home now,’ he said, maybe more roughly than he intended. ‘She’s had a bit of a shock, too. She needs to rest.’
‘Back to the farm?’ Tom demanded.
‘To my apartment.’
‘Who’s going to look after the farm?’ No matter how battered he was, Tom’s focus would be on his horses.
‘I’ll drive up tomorrow,’ Luke said. ‘I’ll sort something with the neighbours.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Tom said, and grimaced.
‘No,’ Luke said gently. ‘Sorry, Tom, but with the damage you’ve done to your leg you’ll need a while to get over it. You’ll need a few days’ physiotherapy.’
At least. Maybe a few weeks. It’d take time to get full function back.
‘A few days …’ Tom sounded appalled. He tried to sit up but Lily pressed him back on his pillows.
‘Don’t think about worst-case scenarios,’ she said. ‘For now you need to sleep. When the anaesthetic wears off properly, you’ll be able to assess the damage for yourself.’
So stop worrying now, was her silent message, and she sent a warning glance to Luke.
She was right. What was he doing, talking long term when Tom was still in a post-operative haze? When things could still go wrong.
‘But the farm …’ Tom whispered.
‘I’ll go up every day,’ Lily said, and Luke blinked. What?
‘One of the mares is about to foal,’ Tom whispered. ‘Larkspur. And your little’un’s too young to be left.’
‘Merrylegs,’ Lily said, smiling again. ‘You reckon I’d let him fend for himself?’
‘I know you wouldn’t,’ Tom said, and reached out and gripped her hand. ‘You’re a good kid. I dunno where Luke found you but I’m glad he did.’
‘Me, too,’ Lily said in a voice that was suddenly unsteady. ‘And I bet he is, too, so that’s three out of three. Aren’t we all lucky?’
They didn’t speak then until they were home. Home at Kirribilli Views, a two-minute drive from the hospital; home that wasn’t a farm forty minutes’ drive away.
There didn’t seem much to say—or rather there was a lot to say and neither felt sure where to begin. Lily certainly didn’t. She stood by Luke’s side in the elevator. Luke was still carrying her bag and she thought, I’ve just taken over his life.
He rescued me from bedbugs and here I am, his live-in lover. About to lecture him about the care of his uncle.
It shouldn’t be her business, whether he cared for his uncle or not, but it was. She’d lain still for an hour saving Tom’s life and she was darned if she’d let him risk it again. She’d say something.
Soon.
The silence was getting oppressive.
And then the elevator door opened and Ginnie was in front of them and there was no such thing as silence.
‘There you are!’ It was a cry of triumph. ‘I’ve been down and knocked three times already. I told John to let me know the minute you were discharged, Lily, because I wanted to catch you before Luke put you to bed.’ She peeped a smile at them, and Lily groaned inside. ‘As soon as I heard about the accident I dashed down to Pete’s. His chef does the best beef and Burgundy pie. I’ve bought one for you because I expect you still won’t want to come to Teo’s party tonight. John tells me you were awesome,’ she told Lily. ‘You saved Luke’s uncle. And he sa
ys the chopper guys say your farm’s awesome as well,’ she told Luke. ‘I was thinking … I mean … not yet, obviously, while your uncle’s unwell, but as soon as he’s back on his feet John and I could drive up there. We could bring our own Sunday lunch. Do say yes. Now I’ll just dash up and get the pie.’
‘We don’t need—’ Luke started.
‘Of course you do,’ Ginnie retorted. ‘Lily needs to try it. She needs to try everything. We can’t believe you’ve hidden her for so long. Pete’s Bar is right over the road from the hospital,’ she explained to Lily. ‘It’s home away from home for half of the staff. Pete has half-price drinks on Wednesday, not that that’s important. What is important is that John and I thought tomorrow night we’d take you both there for dinner. It’s time you got to know us.’
That was said with a glare at Luke, like he’d somehow conspired to keep her hidden. Which, come to think of it, was just the impression he’d been after.
‘Lily’s still recovering from gastro,’ Luke said, brusquely.
Lily thought, He hates this. Involvement.
Gossip?
Luke and Lily both.
‘And as soon as I’m over it I’ll be staying back at the farm,’ Lily added. ‘While Tom’s recovering someone has to care for the horses.’
‘What, alone?’ Ginnie demanded. ‘By yourself?’
‘I’m an independent woman.’
‘But John says it’s only forty minutes from the hospital.’ Ginnie was clearly struggling with information overload. ‘The way Luke explained it, we thought it was hours away.’
‘It’s longer in peak traffic,’ Luke said, but Ginnie wasn’t listening.
‘You could have come back for parties from there. I can’t believe you’d live so close and not want to be part of the hospital scene. It has to stop. Lily, you don’t like being isolated, surely?’
‘It has advantages,’ Lily told her.
‘Like being allowed to go to bed when she needs to,’ Luke said, and put his arm around her waist in a gesture that was almost rough. ‘The pie’s great, thank you, Ginnie, but I’ll come up and collect it later, after Lily’s settled.’
‘You make me sound like a baby.’ Lily tried to tug away but failed. ‘We can both pop up and get the pie now.’
‘No, we can’t,’ Luke said, sounding goaded. ‘Bed.’
‘Ooh,’ said Ginnie.
‘Ginnie …’
But Ginnie was grinning. ‘I’m just going,’ she said airily. ‘I know when I’m not wanted. Tell you what, I’ll pop the pie into the parcel box in the lobby. That way you can fetch it when you’re fin … when you’re ready.’
‘Thank you,’ Luke muttered, and turned Lily toward the door.
‘Think nothing of it,’ Ginnie said as Lily choked on sudden laughter. Ginnie backed into the elevator, Luke managed to get his key in the front door and propel her inside, he slammed the door behind them …
Lily couldn’t help herself. The bubble of laughter wouldn’t stay down one second longer.
Luke leaned on the door and glared at her, but it was so … it was so …
‘It’s not funny,’ Luke growled.
‘It’s just what you want,’ she managed. ‘It couldn’t be more perfect.’ She smiled and smiled. ‘Now that Tom’s going to be okay.’
‘There is that,’ he said, and the trace of a smile appeared behind his glower.
‘And you well and truly have a lover.’
‘I do, don’t I?’ he said.
Her laughter caught. She met his gaze. Something locked. Held.
Laughter died.
‘Lily …’
‘They know about your farm,’ she said, suddenly uncertain. The way he was looking at her …
‘They do.’
‘And your Uncle Tom.’
‘Yes.’
‘Can you bear it?’
‘If I must,’ he said softly, and instead of leaning against the door he was suddenly holding her by her shoulders. His gaze hadn’t wavered.
‘It’s a hard call,’ she whispered.
‘It is,’ he said. ‘A package deal. The farm, Uncle Tom, and you.’
‘Luke …’
‘Enough,’ he said. ‘Enough, my beautiful Lily. Even though no one’s watching, even though this doesn’t corroborate our story one iota, even though it doesn’t matter at all … I believe I need to kiss you.’
‘Really?’ She sounded hopeful, she thought. She sounded like a silly teenager.
But this was Luke.
‘Really,’ he said and proceeded to do just that.
CHAPTER NINE
HIS kiss was strong and sweet and wonderful.
It was just like that first morning. Just like …
No. It was just like nothing.
It was just like now.
To say she was blown away was an understatement. The day’s events had left her disoriented, wobbly, like her legs didn’t belong to her. Now it seemed her body didn’t belong to her. She was dissolving into a haze of heat and aching desire.
What was it with this man?
Charlie hadn’t made her feel like this. Not even close.
Luke.
His hands were holding her close, and she felt like she was melting into him. Her breasts were crushed against his chest, and he felt like iron. Strength mixed with tenderness, she thought, dazed. It was the sexiest of combinations.
Restraint and desire.
For he was simply kissing. His mouth was exploring hers, nothing more. He held her close, and he kissed as if he wanted nothing more than simply to have this connection—and she felt fire.
For fire it was. The heat between their lips was indescribable. She was fusing to him, melting into him, wanting him with every shred of her being.
She was on tiptoe, wanting to be closer, closer.
Her hands were holding his face, feeling the roughness of his five o’clock shadow, loving the strength of his bone structure, quite simply …
Loving Luke.
As plain and as simple as that.
This man was like no one she’d met before but he wasn’t a stranger. Something in him resonated as nothing had ever done before. The other half of her whole?
As simple and as complicated as that.
She was falling in love.
It was crazy, crazy, crazy, but it was there. She was falling in love with this man.
Or she would if he kept kissing her and no way did she want him to stop. She didn’t care if this kiss broke records. She was holding him as hard as he was holding her. What was the record? Two days? Three? She was willing to give it a shot.
But he wasn’t. Of course he wasn’t.
She wasn’t sure how long it lasted but it was Luke who finally broke the contact. He tugged back and she almost glared. Only she couldn’t quite glare. Not at Luke. Not at this man who’d just kissed her.
He was looking kind of fuzzy.
Her whole world was looking kind of fuzzy, she conceded. She’d just been kissed by Luke Williams. This man was seriously …
Hers.
She’d been thinking sexy. She’d been thinking hot. But when the word framed in her head it didn’t come out like that.
Definitely the word was hers. Her man. She met his gaze and her heart twisted and she felt like she knew him better than she’d known any other living person. She felt like she was looking deep inside him.
And she saw shock. Dismay?
‘Hey, it was you who kissed me,’ she managed, but there was no way she could stop a tremor in her voice wobbling through. ‘There’s no reason to look like that. I’m not about to eat you.’
‘Look like what? I wasn’t thinking—’
‘Yes, you are. Like I’m about to jump you. I’m not. Though it was a very nice kiss.’ The tremor was getting better. She was getting better. More in control.
Liar. She was so out of control she wasn’t sure what week it was.
‘It was a very nice kiss,’ he said, and his smile re
turned. Keep it light. That’s what his smile said. Fine by her.
It had to be fine by her.
‘But maybe not all that wise,’ she said.
‘No.’
‘Not if we’re living together. Mind, no one outside these walls would know.’
‘Everyone outside these walls already knows,’ he said, and the wariness was still there. ‘They think we’ve been an item for years.’
‘Well, then,’ she said.
Where to take this from here?
What to do in a one-bedroom apartment on a Saturday night when you were pretending to be lovers?
When your body said you weren’t pretending?
‘I might head back to the hospital and do a ward round,’ Luke said.
‘A ward round on a Saturday night.’
‘My current registrar’s a bit unsure.’
So am I, she thought, but she didn’t say so.
‘Fine,’ she managed. ‘And you’ll go back and see Tom?’
‘Of course.’ Things were formal. Absurdly formal.
‘Remember to pick up our pie for dinner on the way back. It’s in the parcel post in the foyer.’
‘Yes, dear,’ he said, and his smile was definitely back.
‘That’s good, then,’ she said. ‘I’ll just watch the telly. I might do a bit of knitting on the side. Then … I don’t know … dust the mahogany?’
‘We don’t have any mahogany.’
‘That’s a shame. It’s my splinter skill.’
‘Like rollerblading and horse riding.’
‘That’s right.’ She hesitated. ‘But far less dangerous. No one’s ever yanked me off mahogany dusting, so you needn’t worry at all. Luke, do tell Tom I’ll go out to the farm tomorrow. I can’t bear to think he’ll worry about the dogs and horses. I can easily commute.’ You could, too, she thought, but she didn’t say it.
‘You’re not going to the farm. I’ll drive up tomorrow and and organise things with Patty. She has a couple of sons who’ll feed the animals.’
‘You think Tom will be content with a neighbour’s sons feeding his horses?’
‘He doesn’t want us up there.’
‘Of course he does.’
‘He likes his independence,’ Luke snapped.
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