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He shifted the subject onto Jack, and let her run away with the conversation for the rest of the meal, enjoying listening to her, watching her face become animated.

As they cleared up, he kept bumping into her. It was unintentional, but it was like the universe had decided to test his resolve. Each time his body brushed hers, or his hands slid to her hips to move her out of his way, he felt a pulse of arousal. By the time it was finished, and she stood with her back to the worktop, her hair a riot of curls cascading over her shoulders, he wanted nothing more than to step into her personal space, dive his hands into those curls, tip her head back and plunder that mouth. Then jam his body against her lush curves and . . .

“Luke?”

He dragged his gaze away from her and inhaled a deep, shuddery breath. “Sorry?”

“I said do you feel up for an episode of Slow Horses?”

All he could see was a repeat of last night, another test of his tenuous control, only this would be worse because he already knew what she tasted like. Now he wanted to taste and feel. To slide his hands under her top and across her skin. Up to those nipples that were . . . holy crap, they were now clearly visible beneath her tight top.

“I think.” He cleared his throat. “I think I’ll have an early night.”

The disappointment that crossed her face was mirrored in every cell of his body.

“Okay, well, good night. I hope a pussy doesn’t interrupt your dreams.”

He spluttered out a laugh. “Christ, Anna.”

She giggled. “Come on, you knew I was going to make a pussy joke sooner or later.”

“Laughter isn’t the reaction my body is having.” Her gaze dipped to his crotch and he growled. “Look at me, Anna,” he rasped. When her eyes met his, the air turned thick, so hot, he felt sweat drip down his back. “Go to bed. Take your pussy with you. And please, for the love of God, lock the door behind you.”

December 20th

Anna’s heart flipped when Luke grasped her hand in his much larger one as they headed out of the subway, towards the hospital. Yes, today’s window had said simply visit Anna’s work.

God knows why Colin wanted her to go back there, and with Luke.

She darted another glance at the silent man beside her. A man whose strong fingers wrapped gently around her hand, his calloused palm sending a delicious friction across her skin, the warmth leaving her insides all . . . fluttery.

It made her think of last night, of her reaction to the deep rumble of his voice, filled with just the right amount of good-natured frustration as he’d told her to go to bed and lock the door.

If only what she felt was as simple as lust, the time they had left together would be so much easier to cope with. But she was very afraid she’d done exactly what Luke had warned her not to.

Day after day, as Luke had revealed more of himself to her, her heart had opened to let those pieces of him in.

The Luke whose voice had broken as he’d recounted how he talked to her brother on that rock in Harriman State Park. Big Brother Luke. Luke ice skating, not wanting to be that man. Sheepish Luke who’d ripped the label from the jacket he’d bought to take her out to drinks. Aroused Luke on the sofa, under the mistletoe, you need to stop because I don’t know if I can. Sincere Luke, the one who’d told her he couldn’t bear to hurt her, she was too important to him.

Falling in love with him was proving to be way too easy.

“Tell me more about the patients you’ve been visiting. If you’re allowed to.”

His question cut through her tumbling memories. “I can tell you about Joe because he’s happy to be talked about. He even consented to go on the hospital’s social media. He’s been with us for over a month and he’s a real character. Tells it how it is, hates being fussed over, as he calls it, but secretly he enjoys the attention because he lives on his own. It’s so sad, nobody has come in to visit him in all the weeks he’s been with us. Says he has a son, but they had a big fight years ago and lost touch.” She paused, wondering whether to say any more.

“You’re trying to find the son, aren’t you.”

She snapped her gaze up to his. The affection in his expression made her heart squeeze. “Yes,” she admitted. “I’ve managed to track down a guy I believe is his son. I wrote to him last week telling him I thought his dad was a patient with us. I gave him my number. I don’t know if he’ll do anything about it, but at least I know I tried.”

It amazed her Luke knew her so well when Phillip, who she’d dated for over a year, hadn’t even remembered how she liked her damn coffee.

“Anyone else you can talk about?” He prompted.

“Yes.” She’d never had a guy so interested in her work. “We’ve got an eighty-five-year-old who broke her hip when she fell down the stairs at home. It’s a bad injury to have in a young person, never mind for someone like her. We’re trying to get her walking again, build her confidence up enough to get her back to her own home, but it’s a struggle because her muscles are weak from being in bed. Some days she’s willing to give her PT a go, others she’s very down.”

“You’ll get her there,” he announced, like it was obvious.

“I don’t know. She has a daughter who visits but she’s not local. We can get the discharge team to make sure her home is okay for her to go back to, but she has to want to go back enough to do her exercises.”