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‘Yellow.’ Without question, and he didn’t even care what it was. He’d barely touched a drop since he’d started volunteering with Angela, at least after that first night. Even the last argument with Yvette, which would have usually sent him straight to the nearest bar, hadn’t been enough to tempt him. It just didn’t seem worth it.

And the approving smile Angela shot him warmed him far more than even a dozen glasses of pomegranate-whatever-it-was could.

* * *

‘I still can’t believe we won!’ Angela shoved her curls back from her face, laughing.

‘Well, it’s taken us long enough!’ Evelyn placed a goodnight kiss on her cheek. ‘I meant what I said. Take it easy on your leg and quit jumping around. I do not want to see you in my re-enablement clinic ahead of your next planned appointment.’

‘Yes, ma’am!’ Angela giggled and gave her friend a big hug.

‘Are you going to be all right getting home?’ Liv checked.

‘Yeah, it’s only a couple of streets.’ Angela was touched by her friends’ concern.

‘I can walk back with you,’ Rick offered.

‘Great idea,’ Evelyn agreed. ‘G’night, secret weapon!’ They waved goodbye and headed off in the opposite direction.

‘I really am fine. No one needs to make a fuss,’ Angela insisted. ‘I’m perfectly capable of walking myself home.’

‘It’s hardly a fuss.’ Rick grinned at her. ‘And I’ve got to pick up Mallow anyway.’

‘Oh right, the biter. But you’ll be quicker if you don’t wait for me, and your jacket doesn’t look anywhere near warm enough.’ Angela didn’t know why she was complaining so much — she’d actually really enjoyed his company.

‘It’s not that cold,’ he argued good naturedly. ‘And I have to admit, I might just be a bit scared of your friend.’

‘Oh, Evelyn’s fine!’ Angela said, grinning back at him. ‘She’s just a bit protective of her patients. And family. And apparently soon-to-be family.’

‘She’s nice. They all are. Thank you for inviting me this evening. I had a really good time.’

‘Me too,’ Angela told him honestly. ‘And we won!’ She wasn’t used to the weight of the brace, and her toes caught on the kerb as she skipped up it. Almost before she realised she was falling, Rick’s arms were around her waist, holding her firmly, keeping her safe from harm.

He held her tightly as she regained her balance, and she found herself hoping he wouldn’t let go right away. His hands were so warm around her, and so comforting, that she had to fight the urge to lean in closer and rest her head on his shoulder. As it was, she could feel his heart thundering beneath her palm where it rested against his chest. He’d pulled her close to keep her from face-planting. It would be incredibly easy — almost natural — to lift her other hand, slide it round the back of his neck, to . . .

‘Are you all right?’ His eyes were intense on hers, and she could feel her own heartbeat racing in time with his. ‘You’re not hurt, are you?’

‘No, I’m fine.’ Her words came from far away and took a lot more effort than they usually seemed to. It was so hard to focus on anything but the weight and heat of his hands on her waist.

* * *

Damn, she felt so good gathered up against him that he didn’t want to let go. Even through the fuzzy warmth of that grey dress, which was just as soft as it looked, he was sure he could feel the heat of her skin against his palms. Focus, man. ‘You’re absolutely sure you’re OK?’

‘Yeah.’ She gave the tiniest of nods, not breaking eye contact with him, but not making any effort to move. What the hell was happening here? He couldn’t be reading this situation right . . . there was no way Angela would think of him like that, not after everything he’d done. At best they were friends, and he definitely, absolutely would not do anything to risk changing that. He’d never had a friend like her — someone who would drop everything on a Friday night to help out with anything, for nothing more than a cheap takeaway. He was only just starting to realise how important she was to him.

But those grey eyes with their flecks of blue — how had he never realised what a stunning colour grey was? — stayed locked on his, darkening with a heat that he knew was reflected in his own gaze. Her fingers curled against his chest, tangling in his shirt beneath his open jacket. He was scared to speak, or even breathe, in case he broke the spell. But at the same time he knew that what he wanted to do — what his body was screaming at him to do — would be dumb beyond words.

He knew that, but couldn’t help himself, and he couldn’t stop the hand that reached up to touch her curls and brush them away from her face. Just like he couldn’t resist stroking her cheek with his thumb.

When she pulled away slightly, closing her eyes and lowering her face — her lips and breath scorching against his palm — he had to bite back a groan. He’d never realised how much of a turn-on such a simple thing could be.

He ground his teeth together, trying to will his heart to stop jumping quite so much.

‘It would be stupid of me, wouldn’t it . . .’ he spoke against her hair, his nose almost touching the soft, sweetly scented curls ‘. . . to tell you I want to kiss you right now?’

‘Yeah.’ Her words tickled his palm. ‘It probably would.’

‘Probably really, really stupid, in fact.’