CHAPTER EIGHT

LILY woke and someone was holding her hand.

That someone was Luke.

She blinked but she wasn’t dreaming. Luke Williams was leaning over, smiling, and he was definitely holding her hand. Her fingers were on the coverlet. His were entwined with hers.

Sunlight was streaming in the window, or rather the rays of a tangerine sunset. She was warm and cosseted and…

Luke Williams was holding her hand.

‘Hey, sleepyhead,’ he said softly, and his hold on her hand tightened. ‘I thought you might be intending to sleep until morning. Mind, you have the right.’

His voice was low and husky, tense with emotion. His face was drawn.

It definitely wasn’t a dream. The day’s events flooded back and with it, dread.

‘Tom…’

‘Tom’s fine,’ he said, and he didn’t release her hand by a fraction. ‘Judy Nerolin, our senior vascular surgeon, has decreed his leg will be okay and no one argues with Judy. He’s out of Theatre. He’s still in Intensive Care but all the signs are that he’ll make it and even make it with his leg intact. Thanks to the team from the Harbour—and one amazing nurse. One nurse called Lily.’

‘Hey, I didn’t do anything,’ she said sleepily. ‘Except put my fist in a hole. Like the boy with his thumb in the dyke in Holland. Highly skilled stuff.’

‘You fainted,’ he said ruefully.

‘But not until Judy took over,’ she said with pride. ‘I told myself I couldn’t and I didn’t.’

‘You mean you knew you were going to faint.’

‘By the time they rolled us into Theatre I was feeling a bit light-headed,’ she admitted. ‘But then Dr Lockheart brought me up to this cool bedroom.’

It was indeed a cool bedroom. This suite was for the Harbour’s wealthiest, most influential patients. It was more a suite of rooms than a bedroom.

Dr Evie Lockheart’s family were principal benefactors of this hospital. They were Sydney’s answer to royalty and what royalty decreed, royalty received.

Royalty had obviously decreed Lily deserved this bedroom and Luke wasn’t arguing.

He should pull his hand away. He didn’t.

He’d been sitting here for the last ten minutes, watching her sleep. Her curls were sprawled over the pillows. She was stained and battered.

She’d fought and she’d won. For Tom.

He wasn’t supposed to feel like this. Had Tom taught him nothing?

He remembered the first time Tom had come to collect him from boarding school. It had been his first week there, aged all of ten, and to say it had been ghastly was an understatement.

‘You teach yourself you don’t need anyone,’ Tom had growled. ‘You grow up tough and you stay tough.’

That’s what his father had said when he refused to pay for the removal of the birthmark. ‘It’ll make you tough.’

He’d sent him away, though. Tom had been raised with the same philosophy, had learned the hard way how it worked, but he’d bent the rules.

He’d cared for Luke.

Luke now cared for Tom in a way he hadn’t realised. He’d thought the only person he’d ever fallen in love with was Hannah. It wasn’t true, though. Seeing Tom’s life hang so precariously, he knew he was exposed to pain all over again. And now this slip of a girl, who’d hung on for over an hour, knowing if she moved a sliver of an inch they’d lose…

It was her bravery that moved him, he told himself, not the woman herself, but he knew it was much more.

He thought of her suddenly on Glenfiddich, and the dread surfaced. He thought of Tom and the chainsaw.

When Luke had been fifteen Tom had been bitten by a snake. He’d recovered but Luke remembered thinking, If he dies I have no one.

‘Don’t watch me if you’re worried,’ Tom had snapped, and Luke had been trying not to watch ever since.

It wasn’t working.

‘I’m sorry I overreacted about Glenfiddich,’ he said. ‘Give me another six months to train him and you can ride him all you like.’

‘All by myself?’ she demanded, mock-awed. ‘Will you buy me a stepladder to climb up with?’

‘Lily…’

‘No, it’s a very generous offer,’ she whispered. ‘Sorry. I should have asked before I rode him.’

‘And I should have stayed home with you.’

‘Watching me in case I did anything dangerous?’ she asked, her eyes clouding. ‘Is that the problem? Is that why you can’t stay with Tom—because you can’t bear that he does dangerous things whether you’re watching or not?’

‘That’s deep,’ he said, and tried a smile. ‘Have you been talking to John Allen?’

‘I don’t need a psychologist to figure out something’s wrong. Luke, go away.’

But her hand didn’t disengage from his.

‘You want me to leave?’

‘I need to take a shower. I’m fine. Fainting was just a reaction. Even the strongest woman might have been tempted to faint, so a wuss like me…’

She was laughing again! After all she’d been through…

She was enchanting.

Love…

Whoa. Step away now, he told himself.

Don’t watch.

He could no sooner not watch than fly.

‘I could help you shower.’

‘In your dreams, Dr Williams.’ She grinned. ‘Since when do plastic surgeons shower patients?’

‘Three nights ago a very bossy nurse said I should do just that.’

Her lips twitched. ‘That was some cheek.’

‘I think you’re wonderful.’

The laughter in her eyes faded. She met his look square on. ‘Luke, don’t.’

‘Don’t?’

‘You want me to share your apartment for a month. That’s not going to work if you make me feel…’

She didn’t finish but he knew what the words were.

Their eyes locked, and something was happening. A link, a connection, growing stronger every second.

He wanted to lean forward. He wanted to take her in his arms and…

The door opened and Lily flinched. He pulled back, not sure whether to be glad or sorry.

No. He was definitely sorry.

Evie Lockheart opened the door with caution. She smiled as she saw him, and she smiled even wider when she saw Lily was awake.

‘Hey,’ she said. ‘We were worried about you. Nurses collapsing in Theatre does our safety record no good at all.’

Lily smiled back, looking embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘No need to be sorry. The whole hospital’s in awe of what you did. Saving Luke’s uncle…’ She glanced at Luke and grinned. ‘And the hosital’s on fire with the story. In one fell swoop we’ve met your lady, your uncle and your farm. Where’s your precious privacy now?’

‘Shot to pieces,’ Luke admitted.

But Evie was focusing on Lily. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Fine.’

‘You don’t look fine.’

‘Because I’m covered in blood,’ Lily said with dignity. ‘If I could have a shower…’

‘I’ll send a nurse to help you.’

‘I don’t need—’

‘Tell me what you need when I’m interested,’ Evie retorted. She elbowed Luke out of the way and felt Lily’s pulse.

‘She’s had gastro,’ Luke reminded her. ‘The plan was for her to rest this weekend.’

‘Yeah, like that worked,’ Evie said dryly, assessing Lily with professional concern. ‘You’re too thin.’

‘I’m always thin.’

‘No other symptoms?’

Lily hauled her hand away and tucked it under the covers. ‘I’m okay. Honestly, gastro and this afternoon would make anyone faint.’

‘I guess.’ Evie turned to Luke. ‘Look after her.’

‘I will.’ And he surprised himself by how much he meant it. ‘She won’t let me help her shower, though,’ he complained, and Evie grinned.

‘Good. She needs to rest.’

‘I wouldn’t…’ He practically blushed.

‘You’re male,’ she said darkly. ‘Of course you would. I’m with Lily. I’ll send in a nurse.’

‘I don’t need help,’ Lily said.

‘You’ll take it. Shower and back to bed for the night.’

‘I’m going home,’ Lily said, and then hesitated. Home. The word had connotations for them both.

But Evie was being efficient. It was up to him to be the same. ‘I’ll collect you as soon as you’re clean,’ he said. ‘I’m going to check on Tom but I’ll be back in half an hour, Lily. I’ll bring the car to the discharge area.’

‘I’m not a patient.’

‘No,’ Evie said. ‘You’re a heroine. The Harbour takes a while to accept people as its own, but what you’ve done this afternoon…you’re now one of us, like it or not. We might gossip, we might be in your face, but we do look after our own. Luke takes you home or you stay here, like it or not.’

‘Fine,’ she said helplessly. ‘I mean, thank you.’

‘You’re welcome,’ Evie said, and grabbed Luke’s arm and steered him out of the room. ‘Expect a nurse. Luke, let’s leave the lady to get on with what she needs to do.’

The nurse took a while to come. That was fine by Lily. She watched the sun set over the distant harbour and she felt as if she was floating.

Luke was taking her home.

She could still feel the pressure of his fingers on hers. He didn’t know his own strength, she thought.

He’d almost kissed her.

She’d wanted him to.

Which was really dumb. It must be because she was still tired and overwrought. Today—or, to be honest, the last few days—had taken it out of her.

Her stomach still hurt. Stress?

Maybe she should have said something to Evie.

No. She simply needed to give herself time to get over the gastro. To get over today. And more, she needed to stop stressing.

How could a girl do that when she was heading to Luke’s apartment? What had she got herself into?

She sighed and closed her eyes. At least her mother wasn’t here, and with that thought came more. How was her mother coping?

Her father’s voice… ‘You will look after her?’

She was so tired.

A young nurse peeped round the door. ‘Dr Lockheart said you’d like help to shower. Dr Williams has given me a bag with some clothes. Are you up to showering now? Dr Lockheart says if you’d like to have another sleep first then Dr Williams will wait.’

‘No,’ she said, pushing herself upright. Reluctantly. ‘No, it’s okay. I need to go home.’

Wherever home was.

Home with Luke?

‘So why’s she looking like she’s been hit by a train?’

To say Evie was blunt was an understatement. She said things as she saw them.

‘She had gastro.’

‘You and I both know gastro doesn’t make you look like that. There’s no underlying medical problem? She went out like a light in Theatre. She scared the hell out of Judy.’

‘She’s been under strain.’

‘Because of your relationship?’

‘Will you butt out?’ He turned to face her head on. Finn had labelled her Princess Evie. The staff still called her that, not to her face but as a gentle reminder to themselves of the power she wielded. Evie was one doctor among many, but her family money meant she was unsackable. Her grandfather had brought her in here when she was tiny, she’d practically lived in his office and she thought of the place as home.

So this hospital was her home and she didn’t like mess. She was trying to tidy Lily up, he thought. Pigeonhole her. Figure exactly where she fitted.

‘She almost looks abused,’ Evie said conversationally, and he practically spluttered.

‘You’re accusing me of abusing…my girlfriend?’ It took him a while to find the last two words but he managed it.

‘I’m not saying anything of the kind,’ Evie said. ‘That’s why I’m asking. I said almost. What other explanation is there?’

He groaned inwardly. There was no way she’d leave this now; no way she’d stop pestering him. If he didn’t give her what she wanted then he had no doubt she’d march right back and ask Lily. If she thought a woman was in trouble…

She might be Princess Evie, but she had courage and honour.

Almost as much as Lily?

He had to give her the truth, he thought, or as much as he needed to divulge to get her off both their backs.

‘Lily’s having trouble with her mother,’ he said. ‘Major trouble.’

‘Illness?’

‘Her mother’s stolen her savings and has taken up with the local vicar. And if you repeat that to a soul I don’t care who your family is, I’ll hang you out to dry. I imagine Lily would kill me if I told anyone.’

Evie stared at him, stunned. ‘All her savings…’

‘Yep.’

‘So that’s why she’s finally staying with you. Oh, the poor girl.’

‘I’m fixing it,’ he said heavily.

‘You’re fixing it?’

‘As much as she’ll let me.’

‘You?’ she said, and he wondered what exactly the staff did think of him.

‘Leave it,’ he said, and her face creased into a smile.

‘Our Luke, fixing it,’ she said happily. ‘How about that? Falling for a woman with problems.’

He wasn’t.

Or wait…maybe he was.

He needed to get things in perspective.

He wasn’t sure what perspective was.

‘Luke, while you’re in fixing mode…’ Evie said

And he thought, Uh-oh, here we go. He did not have this kind of conversation with Evie. He didn’t have this kind of conversation with anyone.

Did Evie suddenly think he’d changed?

‘It’s Finn,’ she said. ‘I’m worried.’

Here was another jolt. Evie wasn’t a worrier; she was a brisk, efficient doctor with the weight of the Lockheart fortune behind her.

Finn.

The niggle of worry he’d been feeling about his friend surfaced again, and turned into something more substantial.

But this was Finn Kennedy they were talking about, and no matter how much money Evie’s family had, he wouldn’t thank Luke for crossing boundaries. A junior doctor was talking to him about his boss. ‘I don’t think he’d thank you for worrying about him,’ he said dryly.

‘You’re his friend,’ Evie snapped.

Was he? Finn didn’t do friends. Still… He’d been there when Finn had been released from the army. He’d spent time with him whether Finn wanted him or not. The number of bottles of single malt they’d consumed…

There was a good reason why Finn had hit the bottle, Luke conceded. His brother had died in front of him. He’d been wounded himself. There was trauma, deep and never spoken of.

He didn’t want to get involved.

Too late. He already was.

‘So why are you worried?’ he growled, and started walking again, but Evie took his arm and made him stop. Here in the carpeted corridor of the private suites they could have some privacy.

‘He dropped his clipboard.’

He dropped his clipboard. He let her words sink in. There wasn’t a lot of basis there for worry.

But this was Evie, talking about Finn. Evie didn’t do worry lightly.

Evie and Finn sparked off each other. Evie gave as good as she got. They’d make a good pair, Luke thought, but, wow, there’d be some fights.

Maybe that’s what Finn needed. Fights. Someone to stand up to him.

His thoughts were flying tangentially. He was thinking about Finn. He was thinking about Tom.

He was thinking about Lily.

He didn’t do personal concern. Or he hadn’t. Suddenly he was surrounded on all sides.

In half an hour he had to take Lily home. Put her back into his bed. Make her something to eat…

Keep her safe.

No. Focus on Finn. Of the three worries, this was the easiest.

‘Tell me what you’re worried about.’

Evie exhaled and he thought this seemed liked a major decision, to talk to him about it.

‘Wednesday night…he was walking down the corridor in front of me, carrying patient notes in one hand and a clipboard in the other. Heavy pile in the left. Clipboard in the right. He dropped the clipboard. I… We’ve been a bit tense with each other so I stood back; hoping he wouldn’t turn around and see me. He stared down at the clipboard and then he stared at his hand. Swore. He set the notes down, put the clipboard on top of the notes and lifted them all in his left arm. Then he kept going, everything in his left arm, his right arm sort of tucked against him. And, Luke…yesterday in Emergency we had a guy who needed urgent stitching and I was flat out. Finn was passing. You know how he’s always passing. I called for help and he stitched for me. It was tricky. This was a guy’s face but Finn’s good. Anyway, fifteen minutes later I finished what I was doing, went to the cubicle where Finn was working and he handed back over to me. “This is your job,” he snapped. Okay, that’s his usual style. But, Luke, I’d swear his right hand was trembling.’

Silence.

Luke stared out of the window and watched the Manly ferry chug slowly across the harbour.

His boss. A shaking hand.

It was probably nothing—only Evie didn’t worry for nothing.

No matter how convoluted the gossip network of the Harbour became, Luke stayed detached. He liked to think he’d taught himself not to care, only of course he did care. From a distance.

Finn was a bad-tempered, surly, uncommunicative surgeon. He was one of the best surgeons Luke had ever worked with.

He was, like it or not, his friend.

How much of the single malt was he putting away?

So what to do? Head to Finn’s office and say, ‘I hear your hand’s shaking?’

There was not one snowball’s chance in a bushfire of that happening, and of getting back out of the door if he did.

Besides, he needed to check on Tom. And then take Lily home.

Lily, of the gaunt face. Lily, who was too thin even before the gastro.

She’d needed this weekend to recover and it had ended like this.

‘That’s all I wanted to say,’ Evie said, brisk again. ‘I just thought…someone else should know.’

Gee, thanks, Luke thought morosely. Hand over your worries to me, why don’t you?

But that wasn’t fair, and he stopped himself from saying it. Evie could have taken her concerns straight to the medical director. Eric would then be bound to take them further. The legal implications of an impaired director of surgery would make Eric act whether he wished to or not.

Evie had chosen the kinder path.

‘Thank you,’ he said heavily.

‘I’m sure you mean that,’ she said dryly. ‘Sorry, but I had to tell someone. Short of counting the whisky bottles in his garbage and confronting him with it, I didn’t know what else to do. So can you fix Finn as well as Lily and her mother? I’ll see to Uncle Tom.’

‘That’s hardly a fair division of labour.’

‘No, but otherwise you’re landed with everyone,’ she said softly, and then she smiled. ‘Because you care. I thought you’d escaped it but it seems even the great Luke Williams has to succumb to caring eventually.’

Lily wouldn’t leave the hospital without seeing Tom. Luke had just come from Intensive Care but he detoured back again with her, carrying Lily’s overnight bag, feeling strange. Feeling like a relative rather than a doctor.

As they walked through the corridors staff were watching, and as they neared ICU Lily took his hand.

The sensation was unnerving to say the least.

Once upon a time he and Hannah had had a relationship within this hospital. She’d held his hand whenever she could. Or rather her action had been…proprietary. From the time they’d started dating she’d announced their relationship in no uncertain terms.

Like Lily was doing now. Not like Hannah, who’d deliberately kissed him where colleagues would see, touched him whenever she could, called him sweetheart in the wards, but, still, she was holding his hand and that was possessive enough.

Maybe she needed it for support. He glanced down at their linked fingers and her hold tightened.

‘Don’t,’ she said.

‘Don’t what?’

‘Look at our hands. Act as if it’s normal. Isn’t this what you want? For the staff to think we’re a long-term couple? If we are, then holding hands is something we’d do all the time.’

It was.

It was also hard to get his head back to where it had been two days ago, to the idea that this was a pretend relationship so he could go on as he wanted to: independently.

‘You think we should kiss, to make a bigger impression?’ he said, thinking of Hannah.

‘Long-term couples wouldn’t,’ she said. ‘Kissing in corridors is tacky. Being caught in the on-call room was bad enough. Holding hands will do nicely, thank you.’

‘We wouldn’t want to seem tacky.’

‘No, we wouldn’t,’ she said serenely. ‘This couple has class.’

And then they were in ICU, and their hands could separate because all focus was on Tom. He still looked ashen, hooked up to every conceivable piece of technology the Harbour could throw at him, but amazingly he was smiling to see them.

‘Here’s trouble,’ he whispered. ‘I s’pose you’re here to give me a lecture.’

‘Not me,’ Lily said roundly, and kissed him. ‘I have more respect. Though I suspect Luke might be a bit angsty about his car.’

‘His car?’

‘He used it as a farm bike,’ she said. ‘I like it better now. It looks pre-loved.’

‘That’s me,’ Tom whispered. ‘If pre-loved looked battered.’ He hesitated. ‘Doc says I’ll keep the leg, thanks to you guys.’

‘I know you have two,’ Lily said, still smiling. ‘Trying to cut one off might seem a saving on socks, but think of all those left-foot shoes you’d have had to ditch.’

And Tom actually managed a grin. He was enchanted, Luke thought.

He wasn’t the only one.

‘I’m taking Lily home now,’ he said, maybe more roughly than he intended. ‘She’s had a bit of a shock, too. She needs to rest.’

‘Back to the farm?’ Tom demanded.

‘To my apartment.’

‘Who’s going to look after the farm?’ No matter how battered he was, Tom’s focus would be on his horses.

‘I’ll drive up tomorrow,’ Luke said. ‘I’ll sort something with the neighbours.’

‘I’ll come with you,’ Tom said, and grimaced.

‘No,’ Luke said gently. ‘Sorry, Tom, but with the damage you’ve done to your leg you’ll need a while to get over it. You’ll need a few days’ physiotherapy.’

At least. Maybe a few weeks. It’d take time to get full function back.

‘A few days…’ Tom sounded appalled. He tried to sit up but Lily pressed him back on his pillows.

‘Don’t think about worst-case scenarios,’ she said. ‘For now you need to sleep. When the anaesthetic wears off properly, you’ll be able to assess the damage for yourself.’

So stop worrying now, was her silent message, and she sent a warning glance to Luke.

She was right. What was he doing, talking long term when Tom was still in a post-operative haze? When things could still go wrong.

‘But the farm…’ Tom whispered.

‘I’ll go up every day,’ Lily said, and Luke blinked. What?

‘One of the mares is about to foal,’ Tom whispered. ‘Larkspur. And your little’un’s too young to be left.’

‘Merrylegs,’ Lily said, smiling again. ‘You reckon I’d let him fend for himself?’

‘I know you wouldn’t,’ Tom said, and reached out and gripped her hand. ‘You’re a good kid. I dunno where Luke found you but I’m glad he did.’

‘Me, too,’ Lily said in a voice that was suddenly unsteady. ‘And I bet he is, too, so that’s three out of three. Aren’t we all lucky?’

They didn’t speak then until they were home. Home at Kirribilli Views, a two-minute drive from the hospital; home that wasn’t a farm forty minutes’ drive away.

There didn’t seem much to say—or rather there was a lot to say and neither felt sure where to begin. Lily certainly didn’t. She stood by Luke’s side in the elevator. Luke was still carrying her bag and she thought, I’ve just taken over his life.

He rescued me from bedbugs and here I am, his live-in lover. About to lecture him about the care of his uncle.

It shouldn’t be her business, whether he cared for his uncle or not, but it was. She’d lain still for an hour saving Tom’s life and she was darned if she’d let him risk it again. She’d say something.

Soon.

The silence was getting oppressive.

And then the elevator door opened and Ginnie was in front of them and there was no such thing as silence.

‘There you are!’ It was a cry of triumph. ‘I’ve been down and knocked three times already. I told John to let me know the minute you were discharged, Lily, because I wanted to catch you before Luke put you to bed.’ She peeped a smile at them, and Lily groaned inside. ‘As soon as I heard about the accident I dashed down to Pete’s. His chef does the best beef and Burgundy pie. I’ve bought one for you because I expect you still won’t want to come to Teo’s party tonight. John tells me you were awesome,’ she told Lily. ‘You saved Luke’s uncle. And he says the chopper guys say your farm’s awesome as well,’ she told Luke. ‘I was thinking… I mean…not yet, obviously, while your uncle’s unwell, but as soon as he’s back on his feet John and I could drive up there. We could bring our own Sunday lunch. Do say yes. Now I’ll just dash up and get the pie.’

‘We don’t need—’ Luke started.

‘Of course you do,’ Ginnie retorted. ‘Lily needs to try it. She needs to try everything. We can’t believe you’ve hidden her for so long. Pete’s Bar is right over the road from the hospital,’ she explained to Lily. ‘It’s home away from home for half of the staff. Pete has half-price drinks on Wednesday, not that that’s important. What is important is that John and I thought tomorrow night we’d take you both there for dinner. It’s time you got to know us.’

That was said with a glare at Luke, like he’d somehow conspired to keep her hidden. Which, come to think of it, was just the impression he’d been after.

‘Lily’s still recovering from gastro,’ Luke said, brusquely.

Lily thought, He hates this. Involvement.

Gossip?

Luke and Lily both.

‘And as soon as I’m over it I’ll be staying back at the farm,’ Lily added. ‘While Tom’s recovering someone has to care for the horses.’

‘What, alone?’ Ginnie demanded. ‘By yourself?’

‘I’m an independent woman.’

‘But John says it’s only forty minutes from the hospital.’ Ginnie was clearly struggling with information overload. ‘The way Luke explained it, we thought it was hours away.’

‘It’s longer in peak traffic,’ Luke said, but Ginnie wasn’t listening.

‘You could have come back for parties from there. I can’t believe you’d live so close and not want to be part of the hospital scene. It has to stop. Lily, you don’t like being isolated, surely?’

‘It has advantages,’ Lily told her.

‘Like being allowed to go to bed when she needs to,’ Luke said, and put his arm around her waist in a gesture that was almost rough. ‘The pie’s great, thank you, Ginnie, but I’ll come up and collect it later, after Lily’s settled.’

‘You make me sound like a baby.’ Lily tried to tug away but failed. ‘We can both pop up and get the pie now.’

‘No, we can’t,’ Luke said, sounding goaded. ‘Bed.’

‘Ooh,’ said Ginnie.

‘Ginnie…’

But Ginnie was grinning. ‘I’m just going,’ she said airily. ‘I know when I’m not wanted. Tell you what, I’ll pop the pie into the parcel box in the lobby. That way you can fetch it when you’re fin…when you’re ready.’

‘Thank you,’ Luke muttered, and turned Lily toward the door.

‘Think nothing of it,’ Ginnie said as Lily choked on sudden laughter. Ginnie backed into the elevator, Luke managed to get his key in the front door and propel her inside, he slammed the door behind them…

Lily couldn’t help herself. The bubble of laughter wouldn’t stay down one second longer.

Luke leaned on the door and glared at her, but it was so…it was so…

‘It’s not funny,’ Luke growled.

‘It’s just what you want,’ she managed. ‘It couldn’t be more perfect.’ She smiled and smiled. ‘Now that Tom’s going to be okay.’

‘There is that,’ he said, and the trace of a smile appeared behind his glower.

‘And you well and truly have a lover.’

‘I do, don’t I?’ he said.

Her laughter caught. She met his gaze. Something locked. Held.

Laughter died.

‘Lily…’

‘They know about your farm,’ she said, suddenly uncertain. The way he was looking at her…

‘They do.’

‘And your Uncle Tom.’

‘Yes.’

‘Can you bear it?’

‘If I must,’ he said softly, and instead of leaning against the door he was suddenly holding her by her shoulders. His gaze hadn’t wavered.

‘It’s a hard call,’ she whispered.

‘It is,’ he said. ‘A package deal. The farm, Uncle Tom, and you.’

‘Luke…’

‘Enough,’ he said. ‘Enough, my beautiful Lily. Even though no one’s watching, even though this doesn’t corroborate our story one iota, even though it doesn’t matter at all…I believe I need to kiss you.’

‘Really?’ She sounded hopeful, she thought. She sounded like a silly teenager.

But this was Luke.

‘Really,’ he said and proceeded to do just that.