his stomach tighten. ‘Stop messing around, Nick. Will you do this?’ She tapped the list she’d made with her pen.
A visit to a pain clinic, specialising in drug-free therapies, which Abby had assured him was among the best in its field. Taking the clinic’s advice on nonopiate painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Coming clean with the orthopaedic surgeon that Abby had already arranged for Nick to see at the hospital, and having him work with the clinic to provide what she termed as ‘joined-up’ care.
‘I can do it.’ This would be harder than dealing with the constant, throbbing pain in his knee but Nick saw the sense in it. It was his best chance of being able to get back on his feet again any time soon.
‘So I’ll call the pain clinic and try to get you an emergency appointment for this afternoon.’
‘I’m not a child. I can make a phone call.’ The thought that maybe she didn’t trust him hurt more than it should have. What reason had he ever given her to trust him?
‘I know. But this is supposed to be the exact opposite of what you did before. You take help. You don’t self-medicate. You follow an agreed plan and you keep everyone informed and in touch with what’s happening.’
She grinned persuasively at him. He’d missed her smile. ‘If something was on fire, I’d be letting you take charge.’
‘I have a box of matches in the drawer over there…’ He held his hands up as she shot him a look of such ferocity that laughter bubbled up in his chest. Abby had surprised him. Under those soft curves of hers there was a backbone of pure steel. ‘Okay. You win, it’s a deal.’
‘Yes… yes, a deal.’ She was suddenly uncertain, lacing her fingers around her empty coffee cup. It seemed that she too needed something to occupy her when they were together. Something to take her mind off the heat that seemed to build when there was nothing practical to focus on.
‘Would you like some more toast? That slice must be cold by now.’
‘No. No, thanks.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Sorry to have spoiled your morning.’
‘You didn’t.’ He tried to catch her eye but she seemed to be avoiding his gaze now. ‘I treated you pretty badly, Abby. What you did this morning says everything about you and nothing about what I deserve.’
She seemed puzzled, but the comment emboldened her. ‘I’d like you to do something else, too.’
‘Go on, then. What is it?’
‘I want you to call me in a couple of days, just to let me know how things are going. Will you do that?’
‘Of course.’ It was the least he could do. ‘Or I could buy you lunch.’ The words slipped out before he had a chance to stop them. But it didn’t really matter. They’d be wearing snowboots in hell before she accepted. Doctors might forgive, but women didn’t give you the option of standing them up a second time.
She hesitated, avoiding his gaze. ‘Call me on Tuesday morning. I take my lunch at one o’clock, and if I’m free maybe we can meet up.’ She picked her phone up, briskly. ‘I’ll make that call, then.’
CHAPTER THREE
HE’D hurt her once, and she hadn’t had any say in the matter then. If he hurt her again, it was going to be her own stupid fault. But this time Abby knew the score. She wasn’t at his beck and call and she wouldn’t be shedding any tears over him if he decided suddenly to disappear again.
It was ten minutes’ walk from the hospital to the gym they both belonged to. Abby had been taking her early-morning swims at another pool for the last six months, ever since the possibility of bumping into Nick had turned from delicious excitement to self-conscious dread. But since she hadn’t let her membership lapse, for fear that might be construed as running away, she could always go for a swim if he didn’t turn up.
The screens and plants in the cafeteria had been designed to break up the area and give a little privacy for each table. Abby scanned the space. All of a sudden she didn’t want to have to walk around and then be subjected to the ignominy of sitting down alone if he wasn’t there.
‘Hey, there.’ His voice cut through her thoughts, like a hot knife through butter. ‘Thanks for coming.’
She had been feeling shaky all morning, agitated at the thought of seeing Nick again, and now she was concentrating so hard on not being nervous that she’d walked straight past him. He was perched on one of the stools at the juice bar, one leg propped up on the stainless-steel rail that ran around it at low level, the other foot planted firmly on the floor.
‘I said I would, didn’t I?’ She pulled herself up onto a stool, crossing her legs so her feet didn’t dangle like a child’s and putting her handbag on the empty seat she had left between Nick and herself. ‘What have you got there?’
‘Raspberry and apple. It’s nice, want to try it?’ He tilted his glass towards her.
‘No, thanks. I’ll have the strawberry and banana shake. And one of those toasted sandwiches, I think.’ She signalled to the waitress behind the bar and gave her order, looking in her handbag for her purse. Too late. Nick had already passed a note across the bar and the waitress had taken it.
‘Thanks.’ Arguing with him over who was going to pay made his gesture seem more important than it was. Better to leave it. ‘So how are you?’
‘I’m good. I’ve got my appointment through.’
‘Good. Dr Patel’s a nice guy, and the best orthopaedic surgeon in the department. You’ll be fine with him.’ Jay would take care of Nick better than Abby could. Better than she had any right to.
‘Thanks.’ He took his change and pocketed it then felt inside his casual jacket, pulling out two foil packets and proffering them. ‘And I’ve been keeping my side of the bargain.’
‘That’s okay. I’ll take your word for it.’ She smiled at him. ‘Anyway, you could have just taken the tablets out and thrown them in the bin.’
He seemed to be considering the possibility. ‘I could have. Only I would have flushed them down the sink. Always dispose of medicines safely.’
He was teasing her now and Abby felt the coiled spring that had lodged in her stomach begin to loosen slightly. The feeling wasn’t altogether agreeable. ‘Well, as long as you’re doing something to get the swelling down.’
He nodded. ‘The ice packs are helping and the people at the pain clinic gave me some good tips. I can’t put any weight on the leg still, but I can get around well enough. I might try going for a swim this afternoon.’
Unwelcome images flooded Abby’s brain. Nick in the pool, water streaming across his back as he swam. Pulling himself out, the muscles of his shoulders flexing. She concentrated on his knee. ‘That’s not a very good idea, Nick.’
‘Swimming’s good exercise. The water will support my leg.’
‘Dr Patel will give you some exercises and he’ll be able to discuss exactly what you should and shouldn’t be doing. Why don’t you leave it until you see him?’ She could feel her irritation level rising again. What was so important about going swimming today?
