frowned. ‘Was who what?’
‘The girl who was all over you like a rash—was she in the market for it?’
His face cleared, and his mouth lifted in the now familiar lop-sided smile. ‘I didn’t even notice, to be honest. Sorry to disappoint you.’
Her relief escalated to full-blooded optimism, and she treated him to a broad smile that lit up her face and made her eyes sparkle.
Oh, I’m not disappointed,’ she assured him.
Ross’s smile widened. ‘Good. How about that coffee before we sort out this paperwork?’
Lizzi’s face dropped. She had forgotten why he was here, and she was carrying on like a lovesick teenager!
She led him into the kitchen and they made coffee and then, sitting at the kitchen table, exchanged information about the accident, both making all the necessary notes for the claim form.
Then when all the business was completed he pushed back his chair and stood up.
‘I’ll get out of your hair now.’
‘Oh, you don’t have to go! Have another coffee or something—I didn’t even ask if you’d eaten!’
He grinned. ‘I have, thank you, but if it won’t offend you I’ll take a rain check on the coffee. I’m dying to get to bed. Sunday morning seems a long time ago.’
Filled with remorse, Lizzi retreated into herself. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said quietly, ‘I’d forgotten you’d had such a dreadful night. Of course you must be exhausted. I don’t know what I was thinking about asking you to come here this evening.’
‘I’ll survive. Anyway, it was a good excuse to see where you live—another piece of the jigsaw that’s Lizzi Lovejoy. I intend to unravel you, you know!’
She followed him numbly to the door. She was feeling distinctly unravelled already!
He shrugged into his duffle coat and opened the door, then he turned and dropped a light kiss on her lips just as a car swept into the drive.
He raised an eyebrow in enquiry.
‘My mother,’ Lizzi explained, wondering how she would ever get away with that innocent kiss—not that it had felt innocent. Her lips were still tingling from the explosion of sensation that had occurred as his lips brushed hers, and she felt rocked off her feet. She just hoped her mother hadn’t seen, because she didn’t feel up to the lengthy evasions that would be necessary. In fact, she rather hoped he would go, but of course he couldn’t because his car was blocked in and she was stuck with him at least until her mother was over the threshold!
Td like to meet her,’ Ross murmured.
‘Good, because there’s no way we can avoid it,’ Lizzi muttered under her breath.
He had acute hearing, if the chuckle that came from him was to be relied on.
She glanced at him. Six foot three, and fit as a fiddle, even if he was tired.
‘Come on, then,’ she said, ‘you can make yourself useful getting her out of the car. She’s disabled.’
Ross walked with her to the car, where Lizzi performed the briefest of introductions, and Ross lifted her mother easily out into her wheelchair.
‘Don’t forget to think about it, Mary!’ the driver called.
Lizzi’s mother smiled mischievously. Oh, I will, dear. Good night, and thank you so much.’
They watched the car out of the drive, then Ross wheeled the chair easily to the door and over the slight step.
Thank you, dear,’ she said as the front door closed behind them again. ‘Now, who did you say you were?’
‘Ross Hamilton—I’m working with Lizzi at the hospital. I started today.’
‘How nice. I thought I hadn’t heard your name. Well, it’s lovely to meet you, Dr Hamilton.’
‘Mr, Mum. He’s a surgeon.’
‘How silly that is. Fancy going to all that trouble just to deny your qualifications!’
Ross laughed. ‘I quite agree, Mrs Lovejoy.’
There was sudden silence, then Lizzi’s mother looked at him quizzically. ‘I’m Mary Reed, actually. Lovejoy was Lizzi’s married name. It used to suit her, too.’ She sighed. ‘Oh, well, all water under the bridge. Stop glaring at me, darling. Why are we all congregating in the hall?’
‘Ross was just leaving. He had a busy night in Theatre.’
‘What a pity. Still, it’s lovely to meet you, Ross. I hope we’ll be seeing you again?’
‘I hope so too, Mrs Reed,’ Ross said with his lopsided smile.
‘It’s so nice that you and Lizzi have made friends so soon——’
‘This isn’t a social call, Mum,’ Lizzi cut in, her embarrassment running at full strength. ‘I hit his car this morning in the car park—we were just sorting out the insurance details.’
‘Oh, dear! What a shame—is it that very nice car on the drive?’
‘Yes—and it’s extremely new,’ Lizzi commented drily. ‘In fact, I couldn’t have targeted a worse thing to hit.’
He chuckled. ‘Let’s say your daughter’s car has unerring good taste, Mrs Reed.’ Lizzi opened the door, and he bade Mrs Reed goodnight and followed her squirming daughter out.
‘Well, Mrs Lovejoy,’ Ross murmured, ‘another piece in the puzzle. Will you tell me, or do I have to guess?’
‘I’m a widow,’ she said quietly.
‘And your husband was killed by a drunk driver.’
She gasped. ‘How did you know?’
His smile was full of compassion. ‘I didn’t, but it doesn’t take a great deal of intuition to guess. Was it long ago?’
‘Seven years.’
‘That’s when I got divorced. Sometimes it seems like yesterday, and sometimes it seems forever. I expect you feel the same.’
‘You can hardly compare the two,’ she said stiffly.
‘Why?’
‘I hardly think that the grief of bereavement ranks in the same league as walking out on your wife.’
He snorted. ‘You’re prejudging me, Lizzi. My wife walked out on me, and took my two sons, aged six and four. I grieved, all right. I’ll grant you it’s not the same, but it’s pretty damn traumatic, nevertheless.’
But Lizzi was cornered, and she wasn’t in the mood to be conciliatory.
