Page 60
‘And then you’d still be working now. As it is I’m starting to worry about you getting home safely. In fact’ – this time her eyes definitely narrowed – ‘you must be exhausted. Because I can’t think of any other excuse for you telling me I need hours of beauty sleep before I can be presentable enough to go on a date.’
‘Not exactly what I said.’
‘Seriously, Aiden.’ She headed up her garden path. ‘Come in. Let me make you coffee.’
‘That’d be good, if you’re sure you don’t mind.’
‘Wouldn’t have offered if I did.’
‘I wonder what your date would think.’ He couldn’t help the smallest of smirks when he followed her past the wall he’d pinned her against, and a small, selfish part of him was glad Mia hadn’t met her maybe Triple D until after that.
‘Grab a seat. I’ll bring your coffee through.’
‘Thanks.’ He flopped onto her couch and scratched at his shoulder.
He didn’t remember her tucking a blanket around him, but he was grateful for it – and the pillows she left next to him – when he stirred enough to snuggle down properly later.
8
‘Morning, Mia.’ Mark – another of the community nurses – waved to her from across the car park.
Mia caught her bag in the car door and yanked it out with far more force than strictly needed before cursing and slamming the door for good measure.
‘Uh, are you OK?’ Mark regarded her with concern. ‘Anything I can help with?’
‘What makes you ask that?’
‘You don’t really seem like yourself. You’re usually the one who’s cheering everyone else up first thing on a Monday.’
‘Sorry, just not feeling very cheery today.’
‘That much is obvious.’ Mark held the door open for her. ‘Anything I can do?’
‘Not really.’ Mia sighed. ‘Second date didn’t go very well. Actually, that’s understating it massively. It was horrible. He was horrible.’
‘Sorry to hear that,’ Mark sympathised. ‘I know you were excited.’
‘More fool me, I guess,’ Mia grumbled. ‘Disappointing dates seem to be my standard lately.’ She wouldn’t allow herself to think about the fact that the only man who hadn’t disappointed her recently was the last one she should have any interest in dating. ‘Sorry for being such a grump. I’d better go shake this funk off before my patients start arriving.’
It was one of Mia’s worst days at work in a long time, and she couldn’t shake her bad mood, despite her best efforts. She smiled briefly when Katie messaged, calling Phillip an impressive variety of crude and rude names, but it didn’t last long.
It was Aiden who cheered her up.
Knock knock.
Who’s there?
She sent the reply back in-between patients, while glaring at the old kettle in the staff room and willing it to boil faster.
Don’t know… you still won’t tell me what Mia is short for.
Oh well, too bad. And that’s not how the joke goes.
Knock, knock.
He tried again.
Still not telling you.
