‘You look tired.’ He seemed to be reading her mind. Or more likely he’d noticed that she could hardly keep her eyes open.
‘Yes. Think I’ll have an early night.’
‘What time are you going into the hospital tomorrow?’
‘Uh?’ Chloe could hardly think, let alone plan. ‘Not early. About ten, probably...’
‘Okay. I’ll see you in the morning, then.’
CHAPTER TEN
EVEN THOUGH SHE’D been tired, she hadn’t slept well, and when Chloe woke early she knew that she had no chance of dozing off to sleep again. Dragging herself out of bed, she stumbled to the bathroom and stood for a long time under the shower.
When she went downstairs, Jon was in the kitchen. His face took on a pained expression when she sat down at the table.
‘Did you sleep at all?’
‘Not much.’ Chloe twisted her mouth downwards, pushing her hair back behind her ears. ‘Just tell me I look better than I feel and make some coffee, eh?’
‘Right you are. You look gorgeous, by the way.’
‘Thank you.’ She sank her head into her hands. ‘Don’t overdo it, I might think you’re not being sincere.’
He chuckled and made the coffee. Then he fetched her a bowl of muesli and watched her eat it.
‘Are we ready to go, then?’ He put the empty bowl in the sink.
‘We? Are we going somewhere?’ Jon’s breeziness was obviously concealing some kind of plan.
‘I’m popping up to the hospital. I need to get some forms from the HR department. I’ll run you in and then we can go and get some lunch, if you like. Think about your next move.’
‘Are you sure?’ The HR department sounded a bit like an excuse, but Chloe was too tired to argue.
‘Yes. Come on. We’ll stop and get some more coffee on the way.’
* * *
The second cup of coffee had finally woken her up, and by the time they arrived at the hospital Chloe was feeling ready to face the day. She spent two hours handing over to the colleagues who were filling in for her, and found Jon waiting for her in the reception area, talking to an elderly lady with her arm in a sling.
He got to his feet when he saw Chloe. ‘’Bye, Mavis. Hope they sort your arm out.’
‘I expect they will, dear. Don’t forget what I told you.’
‘No, I’ll keep it in mind.’ Jon took Chloe’s arm and hurried her through the double doors of the department.
‘What are you not forgetting?’
Jon shrugged. ‘That turnips are high in calcium. Mavis has osteoporosis so she’s dispensing advice to the whole of the waiting room about how to keep your bones healthy.’
‘Good woman. But, then, you already know how to keep your bones healthy, you’re a doctor. Which gives you no excuse not to eat your turnips.’
‘Yeah. I thought I’d skip that piece of information, in case she expected me to comment on her X-rays. Fancy a pizza for lunch? We could leave the car here and walk down to that place in the High Street.’
* * *
Despite all of the worry that she must feel for Hannah, Chloe still managed to smile, and Jon couldn’t help but respect her for it. They talked over lunch, and there was no trace of resentment for all that Hannah had put her through. Just determination to find her sister and somehow make things right again.
‘Do you know many of Hannah’s friends?’ As they walked out into the afternoon sunshine, turning into one of the backstreets that led back to the hospital, Jon’s thoughts turned to the next task.
‘Quite a few of them. She has some down in Cornwall, from when she lived there with Aunt Sylvie. A few in London. James and I made a list, and I’m going to work through it this afternoon.’
‘What if Hannah hears that you’ve been phoning round, looking for her? Won’t she take exception to that?’
‘I sent her a text this morning. I thought it was best to be honest and tell her what I’m doing, and that it’s because I love her.’
‘I think you’re right—’ Jon broke off as Chloe stumbled suddenly, his arm shooting out instinctively to grab her around the waist and stop her from falling. ‘You okay?’
‘Yes... Yes, I’m all right.’
She didn’t look all right. She was so pale that she would have made a good addition to any Halloween party. ‘Sit down for a moment.’
He looked around, and in the absence of anything more suitable Jon guided her to the low front wall that divided someone’s front garden from the street and sat her down on it. If anyone objected, he’d tell them he was a doctor.
She was rubbing her leg, just above the ankle. Jon couldn’t see any abrasions or swelling.
‘Have you hurt yourself? Let me take a look.’ He knelt down in front of her, reaching out for her ankle, and she moved it away. ‘Chloe...?’
‘It’s all right. I’m okay, just...I expect I tripped on that paving stone.’ She nodded towards an uneven bit of pavement just where they’d been walking when she’d fallen.
‘I expect you did.’ Suddenly he realised. She was hoping she’d tripped, instead of her legs just giving way beneath her. ‘How much sleep did you get over the weekend?’
‘Not much.’ She looked at him miserably.
‘And you didn’t sleep last night either. And you’ve been under stress for the last couple of weeks.’ He asked the question that he didn’t want to ask, and Chloe obviously didn’t want to answer. ‘Any tingling in your legs? Or pain?’
‘I...don’t think so.’ She seemed suddenly unable to make her mind up. ‘They feel a bit achy.’
‘Your legs do ache when you’re overtired.’ He reached forward, taking her hand in his. ‘Chloe, look at me. Now take a breath.’
The first try was more of a shiver than a breath, but the second was a little better. He nodded her on and the third was a good attempt.
‘That’s good. Now, you know as well as I do that a complete relapse for Guillain-Barré is so rare that we can discount it. Don’t you?’ He wanted her to say it, but she just nodded. That would have to do.
‘Right. And you also know that some of the symptoms might recur from time to time, but that they’ll be minor and we can deal with them.’
This time she said it. ‘Yes.’
‘Now we’ve got that out of the way, I want you to tell me truthfully whether you have any pain or tingling in your legs. Or if there’s any reason for you to believe that you just didn’t trip over that paving stone.’
‘My legs ache, that’s all. I...don’t know.’
‘Okay, well, that’s good. Because being afraid is okay. I would be if I’d been as ill as you have. But I think you’d know if this really was Guillain-Barré and not just the stress you’ve been under, both physically and mentally.’
‘Yes. I think I would.’
‘So do you feel all right to stand now? We’ll take it slowly back to the hospital.’
‘Yes.’ She seemed to suddenly pull herself together, smiling up at him. ‘I’m okay.’
‘Good. Take my arm.’
‘I can walk...’ She got carefully to her feet, ignoring his outstretched hand.
Jon grinned at her. ‘I know. Just humour me, will you?’
She smiled, the warmth in her eyes trickling over his senses. Every time. He was like a bee, unable to ignore the honey in her smile.
He wouldn’t let her fall. Not now, and not in the uncertain days that lay ahead. Jon was sure of that now, and all he had to do was to persuade Chloe to let him stay beside her.
* * *
When they got home, he made her sit down in the living room and put her through an examination that was rather more for show than anything else. The touch of his fingers as he slipped off her sandals. The look in his eyes as he care
fully massaged her feet, his gaze searching for any reaction in her face.
There was a reaction all right. Probably not quite the one that he’d been aiming for. The warm glow of knowing that she was safe in his hands had been tempered by the spice of arousal.
‘I’m diagnosing you as stressed and worn out...’ He sat down next to her on the sofa, his arm resting on the cushions behind her head. ‘And I’m prescribing some sleep. Do you think you can manage that?’
‘Yes, but...’ What she really wanted—really needed—was for Jon to hug her. Just to hold her and tell her everything was going to be all right, because if he said it she knew she’d believe it.
‘But what?’ He traced his finger around her jaw, tipping her chin up so that he could look into her face. When she reached out for him he was there, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight.
‘I’m sorry. I know I’m being silly...’
‘Stop right there. I don’t want to hear anything about you being silly or not being allowed to feel anything.’
‘But—’
He drew back a little and put one finger over her lips. ‘Not a word. You’ve been stronger than anyone should be expected to be. If you didn’t stumble a little from time to time, I’d be tempted to diagnose you as not human.’
Maybe he was right. Maybe the years of making herself cope alone had stripped her of a little of her humanity.
‘And what would you prescribe for that?’ He was so close, and before she could stop herself Chloe stretched up, brushing a kiss against the side of his mouth.
Jon smiled, slowly. ‘That would be a treatment option.’ He kissed her back, but so fleetingly that she’d hardly tasted him before he drew away again.
‘So you’re starting with a low-level approach? Or is that just the best you can do?’ She grinned at him to let him know that she knew full well it wasn’t.
‘No. But we both have our limits.’
Yes, they did. His was that he couldn’t believe that even the perfect relationship could work for him. Hers was that she couldn’t bring herself to rely on anyone.
‘I don’t think I’ve reached mine yet.’
‘Neither have I...’ He kissed her again, and this time she could feel it. Sweet electricity, flowing through her and making her toes tingle.
His hand moved up her back to her neck. She could feel his fingers in her hair, his thumb brushing the sensitive spot behind her ear, and Chloe shivered.
Jon’s mouth curved into a smile, just a breath away from hers. His thumb increased its pressure, making a small circle around the point that was driving her crazy.
‘Not fair...’ She whispered the words against his lips.
‘I found it.’ There was a possessive note to his voice, as if now that he’d discovered what he could do with that square inch of skin, he owned it. Maybe he was right. Chloe let out a gasp, tipping her head back, and he brushed a kiss against her neck.
It was a sweet foretaste of what sex might be like. The thought that he might seek out each one of the sensitive points on her body, before concentrating on the more obvious erogenous zones, almost made her cry out. It might take him a long time to find them all...
She took his head between her hands, kissing him on the mouth. That was what turned him on, she could feel it. When she just took whatever she wanted. He was strong enough to find that erotic.
And strong enough to stop when it seemed as if there was no stopping either of them. Ending the kiss, hugging her tight against his chest.
‘It would be nice...’ Chloe buried her face in his chest so he couldn’t see her disappointment. It was impossible for this to go any further and that had been clear right from the start.
‘It was nice. But maybe we should leave it at that. And maybe you should try to get some sleep.’
She’d had a glimpse of the Jon who was capable of taking everything, but now his arms were gentle again. And suddenly Chloe felt that she could lay her fears aside and sleep.
‘I’m very tired...’
‘Good. Lie down, then.’ He let her go and Chloe curled up on the sofa. ‘I’ll go and get something to cover you up.’
‘But if Hannah calls...’ She’d kept her phone with her night and day, ever since Hannah had gone missing, and even now it was sitting on the coffee table in case it rang. Chloe reached for it, hugging it to her chest, wondering if she’d wake if her sister called.
‘I’ll take it. Just sleep now.’ Chloe felt him prise the phone from her fingers and she closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep.
* * *
When she woke she was warm under the quilt that she usually kept folded at the end of her bed and the curtains were closed, sunlight filtering through the cracks on each side of the window. She stretched, rubbing her eyes to focus on the clock on the mantelpiece, and saw a note on the coffee table beside her. Not bothering to get up and open the curtains, she reached for it.
I took your phone.
Yes, she remembered that. She wondered where he’d taken it.
My builder called and I’ve gone to my place for half an hour. If you wake up before I get back I strongly suggest you go back to sleep immediately.
The loop of the ‘J’ at the bottom of the note curled around in what might be a kiss or might just be a flourish. Chloe’s fingers flew to her lips as they started to burn with the memory of his.
She sat up, smoothing her crumpled T-shirt. Maybe she could forget all about the kiss and just pretend it hadn’t happened. She imagined that Jon probably wanted to. A shower and a change of clothes seemed like a good start to make.
She was walking back down the stairs when the front door opened. Jon was back, and suddenly she was wide awake.
‘How are you feeling?’
‘Much better, thanks.’ Seeing him again made her body react immediately and her cheeks started to burn.
He was either pretending not to notice how embarrassed she was or he was blind. ‘You’ve only just woken up?’
‘About fifteen minutes ago. Jon...’ She was trembling, hanging onto the bannister, hardly trusting herself to walk down the remaining stairs towards him. His gaze met hers, and in the warmth of his gentle blue eyes it was suddenly possible to say the words.
‘We’re okay, aren’t we?’
He smiled. ‘I’d very much like us to be.’
‘Me too.’ Suddenly everything moved into sharp focus. She didn’t want to lose the friendship they had. Not for the dream of something they couldn’t have.
She walked downstairs, slipping past him and into the sitting room, opening the curtains and folding the quilt that had covered her. When he appeared at the door, she gave him a bright smile.
‘Everything all right at your house?’
‘Fine. They just wanted to make sure they had lights positioned right in the bathroom and along the hall. Hannah called.’
Chloe caught her breath, dropping the quilt onto the sofa. ‘While I was asleep?’
‘Yes, I was on my way back here. I managed to pull over in time to answer it.’
‘What did she say?’ She searched Jon’s face for some clue as to whether this was good news or bad, but there was nothing. It was probably just news, because one call wasn’t going to solve everything.
‘She told me that I should make you stop looking for her. I asked her how she thought I was going to be able to make you do anything you didn’t want to, and she loosened up a bit.’
‘Thanks.’ Chloe imagined that Jon’s warm, easygoing tone was the best way to approach Hannah at the moment. He’d probably done a lot better than she could have.
‘I told her that you loved her, and that the two of you should talk. That you had no expectations and you were willing to listen to whatever she said.’
‘Thank you. That�
�s good.’ Very good. Chloe was willing to listen but she might not have thought to say it. A thought struck her. ‘So how did you leave it? Is she calling back?’
‘No. I’m not having you staring at the phone, waiting for her to call. I told her you’d call her.’
Chloe wouldn’t have dared be so assertive with Hannah. ‘When?’
‘Half past five. That gives you half an hour...’ Chloe grabbed her phone from his hand and he caught her wrist before she could call.
‘No, Chloe. Not like that. Take your time, get your thoughts together and call her in half an hour. You need to do this on your own terms, as well as Hannah’s.’
He was right. There was no point in working herself up into a panic and then saying the wrong thing to Hannah. ‘Are you strongly suggesting that’s what I do?’
A slow, lazy smile spread across his face. ‘Yeah. Right in one.’
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SOMEHOW, IN JON’S COMPANY, the dreaded phone call didn’t seem so bad. When the time came to make it, she felt almost relaxed, sitting on the sofa next to him.
‘I’ll wait in the kitchen.’ Jon got to his feet.
‘Would you stay? I’d...like you to stay, please.’ The words still sounded odd in her mouth. But she wanted Jon to stay with her, the way he’d been right at her side through all of this.
He sat back down again. ‘You’ll have to tell Hannah that I’m here.’
She nodded and looked at her watch. Still two minutes to go but she couldn’t wait. Chloe found Hannah in her contacts list and dialled, putting the phone on loudspeaker.
Hannah answered on the second ring.
‘Chloe?’
‘Yes... Hannah, I’m so glad to hear your voice. Jon’s here with me.’
‘Yeah? So I suppose I can’t ask what’s going on with you and him, then...’
Chloe swallowed hard, feeling herself redden. Even if it had just been her and Hannah, she wouldn’t have known the answer to that.
‘You can ask.’ Jon’s voice was good-humoured. ‘Only if I asked you what was going on in your love life, you’d tell me to mind my own business...’
Saving Baby Amy Page 9