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‘I think that’s a good idea’ I to her feet, Kit helped hi hiain his indomitably handsome broas beaded with sweat The consultant had also noted it, and gravely shook his head

‘I am certain we can do much better as far as your pain relief is concerned, Henry, so please don’t worry Today is your first day on crutches, is it not?’

Hal briefly dipped his head in agreement

‘We’ll get another X-ray and afterwards you can see the physio tothe aids properly But I can see that you’re already a natural’ The surgeon beamed

Kit sensed that beneath his gri every expletive he could lay his hands on, as well as inventing a few more choice ones of his own

CHAPTER THREE

HAL HAD BEEN in dire need of a rest when they’d returned from the hospital After the tedious rounds of X-rays and physiotherapy he’d endured, as well as a further consultation about the results with his surgeon, he’d been so exhausted that the only thing he’d longed for was at least a couple of hours of unbroken sleep

In the living roo comfortable on the couch, privately surprised at how used to her touch he was getting and how quickly he had started to trust it

The biggest surprise of all had coly confident driver she was His top-of-the-range sporty four-by-four had been handled as expertly as if Hal was driving it hi one of his favourite cars were happily unfounded

But when Kit had been gently about to drape a cashainst the couch cushions he’d instantly reverted to type and snapped, ‘For God’s sake, wo, will you?’

After that he’d despatched her to her roos, telling her to leave him in peace for a while When she’d shut the door behind her, as he’d instructed, he’d closed his eyes only to find that the scent of her floral perfuly for his peace of mind To compound the disturbance he’d also recalled just then how her precariously arranged topknot had finally collapsed during his consultation, spilling over her shoulders in a vivid autumnal riot of auburn silk After that it had taken Hal quite a bit longer than he’d hoped to finally slip into the deep slumber he’d craved

When he awoke it was to a darkened roo outside The downpour was so fierce that it lashed against thepanes as if trying to force an entry It must be quite so hihly scrubbed the backs of his knuckles across his eyelids and yawned The sudden realisation that he was in dire need of the bathroo aids When he saw that they had been leant against an armchair a few feet away he muttered a ripe curse beneath his breath How the hell was he supposed to reach them over there? The uncharacteristic sense of helplessness that swept over him made him feel even more irritated

‘Kit!’ he yelled ‘Where the hell are you? I need you in here now!’

The door opened alht away and variously placed la The first thing Hal noticed was that his new assistant had tamed her riot of auburn hair back into its precarious topknot He didn’t rightly knohy that should be such a cri it was

‘I need s to the floor ‘I’et to the bathroom’

Without a word she immediately went across to the armchair to collect them, then returned to stand in front of him

‘It ht be quicker if you lean on me and hop It’s just a few feet away, isn’t it?’

‘Sweetheart’ He glanced up into her pretty blue eyes and intoned, gravel-voiced, ‘I’ht I have only your word that you’re stronger than you look, and I’d rather not risk you getting a broken leg to match mine Just help me with the crutches, will you?’

A littleaids since his session with the physiotherapist, Hal was nonetheless pleased to see that Kit had waited for hi a close eye on him, she silently acco room