worrying the patient or her partner.
Although, in fact, he hardly said anything, just nodded reassurance and made the odd suggestion, and then stripped off his gloves and walked out. âYouâre doing fine. You close, Iâm going to get a coffee. Bit of a late night.â
Evil man. Thank God for a mask she could hide her smile behind, and the scrub nurse and anaesthetist deep in conversation about another colleague.
She finished, stripped off her gloves and went out to thestaffroom, to find him pouring another coffee and holding it out to her as she approached.
âNice,â he said. âGood hands. You remind me of my father.â
âIs that a good thing?â she asked, not sure she was flattered.
âIt is if youâre a good vet.â
âLike James Herriot? All stone barns and stroppy farmers?â
He chuckled. âThings have moved on since the forties. Youâve got the makings of an excellent surgeon, though.â
âJust donât get me delivering calves.â
The silly banter was just what she needed to take her mind off what had happened last nightâor not happened. Except of course the tension between them was still there, the incredible sexual chemistry striking sparks off her every time she was within twenty feet of him. And of all the people for it to happen withâ
âHey, itâs OK,â he murmured softly, as if he realised, and then the anaesthetist stuck his head round the door and gave them the thumbs up.
âSheâs round, sheâs fine. Ready for the next?â
He got to his feet and went to scrub, and when sheâd drained her coffee she joined him and the awkward, sensitive moment was gone. For now.
Â
Ben closed the front door behind him, rolled his neck and cradled it in his palm, massaging the tight muscles.
Heâd been operating most of the day, and on top of lugging boxes all weekend, it was getting to him. Not forgetting lying awake thinking about Daisy all night.
He groaned and shut his eyes. He really, really didnât need to think about that. It had been difficult enough having to work alongside her all day without coming home and fantasising about her all evening as well.
He put the kettle on, rang the plumber back about the electrician and the plasterer, and made himself a cup of tea. Heâd just dropped into a chair in his sitting room to drink it when his mobile rang.
âSo howâs the new house?â
He gave a slightly strangled laugh and looked around at the hideous 1970s wallpaper and the dangling paper on the ceiling. When he closed his eyes, all he could see was the trashed kitchen. âLetâs just say itâs got potential.â
âOops.â
âYeah. The bath waste wasnât properly connected.â
âAnd?â
âI donât have a kitchen ceiling now.â
âOKâ¦â His brother was stifling a laugh, he could tell, and he could feel his own lips twitch.
âYou ought to come up and see it.â
Matt didnât bother to stifle the laugh then. âYou have to be kidding. Youâll have me stripping wallpaper and pulling out kitchen units before Iâve taken my coat off,â he said drily, and then added, âSo, howâs the job? Any good?â
âYes, very good. The SpRâs a bit of an old woman, but the registrarâs excellent. Good team.â
âAnd your neighbours? Met them yet?â
âAhâyes. Actually, the registrarâs my neighbour. Sheâs in the other half.â
âIs she , now?â
Ben closed his eyes and leant back. âYes, she is. And she was very helpful about the leak. I took her out for dinner to say thank you,â he added rashly, and he heard Mattâs curiosity crank up a notch.
âAnd?â
âAnd nothing.â
Matt was laughing. âOh, come on, bro, I know you better than that. I thought you were sounding pretty chipper. So letâs have