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‘Wow. You don’t aim small, do you?’ Callum was impressed.

‘Honestly, I’m not sure small will be enough in this situation. In regards to reducing waiting times, I’d imagine in a community like this, there’s quite a lot of older people who are staying in hospital longer than they really need to, because there aren’t the resources in the community to care for them. So, if you could offer something along the lines of community re-enablement and care, then that could be a big point scorer.’

‘You know, you could have something there.’ Callum was incredibly impressed with Liv’s response. ‘I’ll look into it. Evelyn, one of our nurses, used to specialise in community re-enablement before she came here.’

‘You said she was in America? Is she due back from holiday soon?’

‘It’s not exactly a holiday,’ Callum explained. ‘Her daughter has been ill. The best treatment for the type of cancer she has is in Boston. We’ve been able to manage a lot of her care here, but they have to be in Boston a couple of times a year.’

‘Oh no.’

‘It’s OK. Summer — that’s Evelyn’s daughter — has responded so, so well to treatment. It’s all really positive.’

‘That’s good to hear.’

‘Yeah, it really is.’ Callum smiled broadly. ‘Summer and Evelyn are family.’

‘Really?’

Callum nodded. ‘As good as. They’re living with my brother, Jake.’

Liv nodded in understanding. ‘Which is why he’s in America, and couldn’t pick Sarah up today. Millie mentioned it.’

Callum nodded. ‘I really am going to owe you big time after today.’

‘I keep telling you, it’s not a big deal.’

‘Well, it is to me. And if you ever need anything, just know that all you need do is ask, OK?’ Callum was rapidly realising that, despite his fears, Liv was someone he wanted to keep in his life, even it was just as a friend.

‘Well . . . you could give me an afternoon off this week. I need to make an appointment at the hospital and get this—’ she tapped her cast — ‘taken off.’

‘Unless you were expecting further x-rays, I can do that in the surgery for you. We’ve got a plaster saw.’

‘That would be brilliant. I wasn’t looking forward to trekking across country and hanging around for a couple of hours to get this sorted.’ Liv downed the rest of her coffee. ‘I should get going.’

‘I’ll see you out.’ His hand automatically dropped to her lower back to show her to the door, and he could have sworn he felt her tremble slightly, even as heat rushed up his arm and sent his pulse racing. He held Liv’s coat out to her, and helped her to put it on. As he eased it up her arms, he paused, his hands resting on her shoulders, holding her scant inches away from him. He inhaled deeply, and the sweet warmth of her honeyed hair filled his world and clouded his mind.

She twisted in his arms, turning to face him. This close, he could see flecks of gold in her eyes that almost disappeared as her pupils widened as her eyes met his. She was so close, he could feel her breath against his skin. And it was coming faster than usual.

She licked her bottom lip, and Callum’s heartbeat thundered so loudly in his ears that he was sure Liv would hear it too. Despite all his best intentions, and the promises he’d made to himself, he couldn’t help but stretch his thumb up to touch her cheek. It was as soft and warm as he could possibly have imagined.

Liv turned her head slightly, still not breaking eye contact, so his thumb brushed against her full lips. She peered up at him through her long lashes, her eyes burning with desire as her hot breath against his hand scorched all thoughts from his mind.

He held his own breath as he closed the inches between them, and feathered the lightest of kisses against her lips. When she didn’t pull back, he deepened the kiss, running the tip of his tongue along the burning seam of her mouth. She moaned, a breathy sound that made him ache, and welcomed him deeper in. As he devoured her mouth, drowning in the taste and scent of her, Liv’s arms slid around his waist, pulling him against her. He cradled her head in his hands, tilting her face for better access as he kissed her like his life depended on it.

‘Callum . . . I . . .’ Her voice was breathy and needy against his lips, but whatever thought she was about to share was interrupted by a soft thud, and a small voice from upstairs.

‘Daddy?’ The voice snapped him back to reality.

‘Crap.’ Callum rested his forehead against Liv’s, still cradling her face gently in his hands.

‘Daddy, I’m hungry.’

Callum stepped away reluctantly. ‘I need to . . .’

‘Go.’ Liv nodded. ‘I need to go too. This . . . whatever this was . . . shouldn’t . . . I can’t . . .’ She ducked away from Callum, and fumbled with the door.

He stood in his hallway, torn between wanting to grab hold of Liv, and keep her there with him, and running upstairs to look after Sarah.