get them when the only alternative is nothing at all.’
‘I heard you wouldn’t give up, though. I heard you did what you could and more.’
‘Sometimes it just isn’t enough.’ But if he thought like that he’d never get up in the morning. Years of wishing he’d fought harder against his uncles and more for his brother had only given him a steely determination never to give up. And never to get close enough to anyone to care about losing them. Because, damn it, that hurt.
Her voice brightened a little. ‘Okay, so here’s the deal. Stick your nose close to the flower and take a big breath right now.’
‘Why?’
‘Do it.’ Now she had that take-no-crap charge-nurse voice again. ‘Now.’
‘Okay. Okay.’ He inhaled. Coughed. Stepped away from the plant. ‘Ugh.’
‘Now breathe out slowly. Geranium oil is supposed to help with stress and anxiety.’
‘I’m tired, not stressed or anxious. At least I wasn’t until I found a plant on my doorstep. I suppose you’ll want me to look after it. Water it? It’s like having another mouth to feed. Suddenly I’m responsible for another life. God, the pressure.’
That she’d even thought about the impact of today’s loss struck a chord. Never mind that she’d left him a present. He heard her laughing, imagined the way her head tipped back, the light in her eyes. Remembered how she’d been out here, hot and hungry, on his balcony. How soft she’d been in his arms. How good a rerun would be. ‘I do know a really great way to ease tension. Works every time.’
‘Back to that again? No, Max. We agreed.’
‘You agreed. So, you get to have your wicked way with me, and then...that’s it? I’m dumped?’ He laughed. He was never the dumpee. It didn’t fit right and he didn’t much like the prospect. In far too many ways. ‘You’re as bad as me.’
‘We both took what we needed, no questions asked. So, yes, I’m the same as you, Max. If that’s bad, then so be it.’
‘Hmm. I like bad. Bad is good. And if we’re so similar you’ll know exactly what I’m thinking. Right. Now.’
‘No. Hush.’ It was part warning, part dare.
‘Yes, Gabby. I’m thinking about how good we were. How it’s even better that neither of us wants anything more than sex.’ At the word ‘sex’ he heard her swallow, her breathing becoming rapid and heavy. Imagining her reaction fired his testosterone surge into hyperdrive. ‘How good it would feel to do it again. Now.’
‘We can’t. I—’
‘Where are you?’
‘At...home. In my room. Trying to unpack. Finally.’
‘I can be there in ten minutes.’ He couldn’t have her here again. Bad enough he’d broken that rule already. Bad enough he’d have the damned plant around, invading his space. ‘I’m very good at unpacking.’
He was?
‘No! You can’t come here. Just stop. Please, this is ridiculous.’ This time panic coated her voice. She clearly didn’t want him invading her space either.
Why not? Did she have the same personal code he did? Or was it something else?
And that was none of his business.
He heard a shrill landline phone ring in the background. Voices.
‘Mum. No. Of course I’m not avoiding you. I’ve just been busy. Just wait...I’m on the other line. What? For goodness’ sake, I told you I don’t want to talk about that ever again. You promised me. No. No. Wait. Don’t cry. Please. I’m sorry, I know. Yes. I’m sorry too.’ Then Gabby came back to him. Harassed didn’t describe it. ‘Max, I have to go. It’s my mum.’
‘Call her back.’
‘No.’
Hell, if he had a mother to talk to he’d put her way up the priority list, too. And if she was crying he’d be there like a shot. ‘Then call me back when you’re done. Because I’m not done.’
‘No.’
Then there was silence. Apart from the hazy noises of the city street. And nothing but a bright flash of red in a pretty dull landscape.
And a whole lot of questions he wasn’t allowed to ask.
The key to one-night stands was to walk away and not give a damn.
So Gabby had heard.
So she’d failed miserably from the start. Despite the bravado and the very frequent use of the word ‘no’, her body wanted to scream yes, please at every Max Maitland encounter. Which was becoming tiresome in the extreme.
Ten days later and she was bordering on lust exhaustion. But not for much longer.
‘There we go, no more spaghetti to get tangled in. All ready for your transfer.’ Gabby removed the last of Jamie’s tubes and checked