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available if you need it, Sophie. You only have to ask.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    Sophie dredged up a smile but Lucy could tell that she was still worried. She sighed as she made her way to the desk to see what Amanda wanted her to do. Even with daily visits from the health visitor, Sophie was going to find it hard work looking after Alfie by herself. New babies needed an awful lot of attention and with no family to call on, the girl would be very much on her own.
    ‘Problems?’
    She glanced up, feeling a wash of colour run up her cheeks when she realised that she had walked straight past Max without seeing him. Bearing in mind their earlier conversation, she felt obliged to stop. She didn’t want him apologising again, not when it might start off all that soul-searching once more. Max might project the image of a caring, committed professional but she had to remember that it was all part of his act.
    ‘I’m worried about Sophie Jones,’ she said quickly, not wanting to dwell on that thought.
    ‘Come into the office and tell me about it,’ he saidimmediately. He opened the office door, his brows rising when she hesitated. ‘If you’re worried about a patient, Lucy, we need to do something about it.’
    ‘Of course.’ She followed him into the room, pausing by the door as he walked over to the desk because it seemed wiser to maintain a little distance between them. When she was close to Max, it seemed to confuse things even more.
    ‘OK, shoot.’
    ‘It’s nothing major,’ she said quickly, refusing to allow the idea to take root. Max didn’t present any danger to her when she knew exactly what he was like. ‘I’m just a bit concerned because Sophie doesn’t have anyone to help her when she gets home. I know there are lots of young mums living on their own who do a great job of bringing up their children, but most of them have someone they can call on for back-up. Sophie hasn’t got anyone and she’s admitted that she’s worried in case she can’t cope.’
    ‘Hmm. It’s a difficult situation and I understand why you’re concerned,’ Max said, frowning. He went over to the filing cabinet and pulled out Sophie’s notes, shaking his head as he read through them. ‘I wish I’d noticed this before. Look.’
    Lucy went to join him, bending down so she could see what he was pointing to. ‘There’s no contact details, not even a name in the space for next of kin!’
    ‘I know. Worrying, isn’t it?’
    He straightened up at the same moment as she did and she felt heat flash along her veins when their arms brushed. He’d rolled up his shirtsleeves and the feel of his skin against hers sent a surge of electricity shooting through her. Her eyes rose to his and her breath caughtwhen she saw the awareness they held. Max had felt it too, felt that flash of heat, the tingling jolt of electricity that had sparked between them, and it was hard to hide her dismay as she hurriedly moved away.
    What had happened with Richard had hit her hard. Her confidence in herself as an attractive, desirable woman had been rocked and it would be only too easy to use this as a much-needed boost, but at what cost? From what she had heard, Max cut a swathe through women, discarding them once they had outlived their usefulness. Could she accept that, or would she end up wanting more than he was prepared to offer?
    Lucy bit her lip. She couldn’t answer that question. It all depended on what she wanted from Max and she hadn’t worked that out yet.
    Max could feel his whole body throbbing. It wasn’t a painful feeling but it was definitely worrying. He couldn’t remember the last time he had reacted this strongly when he had touched a woman or if, indeed, it had ever happened. Surely it couldn’t be a first?
    He racked his brain but no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t come up with another occasion when the feel of a woman’s skin had instantly set him on fire. It hadn’t even happened when he’d met his ex-wife, and the