‘Won’t it be an issue if their partners don’t know that they’re coming to the clinic?’ Lexi said.
‘They can always say no,’ Leo commented. ‘I’m not having gifts sent to their house or anything.’ He looked at Lizzie. ‘We’re discussing Valentine’s Day,’ he explained, and Lizzie gave a wry smile, because Leo had no problem giving his heart to his patients. ‘Lexi’s worried that I’m going to upset a few husbands.’
‘Well, it wouldn’t be the first time.’ Lexi smiled and stood. ‘I’ll have a think and get back to you.’
‘Would you have liked flowers and chocolates on Valentine’s Day if you’d had your surgery scheduled then?’ Leo asked when Lexi had closed the door.
‘Keep trying, Leo,’ Lizzie teased as he resumed their game. ‘I’m never going to tell you.’
‘Tonight.’ Leo’s blue eyes turned black as he looked at her, lust turned on like a laser that in an instant made her burn. His voice was very matter-of-fact as he told her exactly what he was going to do. ‘All lights on, I’m going to strip you naked and I’m going to explore every inch of you, and this time,’ unlike the countless other times, ‘I won’t get distracted. I am going to find out.’ He opened a desk and pulled out his ophthalmoscope. ‘I haven’t used this in a while.’ He pressed the intercom on his desk. ‘Gwen, could you bring me some batteries for my ophthalmoscope, please?’ He gave her a wicked smile. ‘Every inch,’ he said, and Lizzie stood there, heat washing through her at the thought of Leo exploring every inch of her skin. ‘So, what do you want to do for Valentine’s Day—or do I have to surprise you?’ Leo asked.
‘Actually …’
‘I assume Paris is still out of bounds?’
‘Leo …’ She tried to get back to the reason she had come into see him in the first place. ‘I actually came into say that I needed that afternoon off. My mum’s having a small procedure and it’s scheduled for four p.m. on that day …’
Leo just looked. He wanted to say ‘It’s Valentine’s Day’ but he knew it wasn’t his place, that would sound like a ten-year-old whining. It was her mother, for God’s sake, but he certainly wasn’t used to spending Valentine’s Day alone.
‘I can pick you up from Brighton.’
‘Leo, she’ll be confused. I’ll probably spend the night there …’ It was actually a tiny procedure her mother was having—the removal of a tiny basal cell carcinoma on her forehead—and in truth Lizzie probably didn’t even need to be here. Yes, she was hiding because she didn’t want the hearts and roses and to be made love to, didn’t want the perfect Valentine’s Day to happen because every one after that would be a pale comparison.
With each passing day and certainly with each passing night, Lizzie was becoming more aware that every single Valentine’s Day, no matter her future, would not compare to one spent with Leo.
‘Lizzie.’ Leo was struggling, he wanted her in a way he never had another woman, and that unnerved him too. An ever-efficient Gwen came in with the batteries for his ophthalmoscope and a message for Lizzie, and he registered Lizzie’s rapid blink as she read it.
‘Is everything okay?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Lizzie said, as she read the brief message. ‘I’d better get on.’ She saw his concern and moved to reassure him. ‘It’s nothing to with the clinic.’
Which should reassure him, but this time it didn’t.
He shouldn’t be getting so involved, Leo told himself, but he sought her out a little while later and found her hiding in her office, trying to pretend everything was okay, though it was clear to Leo she was close to crying.
‘It’s nothing too major,’ Lizzie said when pressed. ‘They think Mum’s got a UTI.’
‘A urinary tract infection can be serious in the elderly,’ Leo said. ‘How bad is she?’
‘More confused than ever,’ Lizzie said. ‘They’ve got a nurse specialling her and they’ve started antibiotics, but if she gets worse they’re going to have to transfer her to hospital.’
‘Are you going to go and see her?’ He didn’t understand the shrill laugh that came out of her mouth. ‘Lizzie, if your mother’s not well …’
‘She’s never well,’ Lizzie said. ‘Yes, maybe I should go and see her now or do I wait till she’s worse and see her in the hospital or do I …?’ Her shoulders were shaking as he took them in his hands, glimpsing the never-ending quandary she was in. ‘I can’t drop everything all the time but the one time I don’t dash to see her I know it will be the time …’
‘Get your coat,’ Leo said.
She gave a weary nod. It was almost four. If she left now she might miss the worst of the traffic and if she left really early tomorrow she could be back in time for work …
‘What are you doing?’ Lizzie asked, as Leo came back, his jacket on, telling Gwen he was going on a house call and wouldn’t be back, and then he led her to his car. ‘I live two minutes away.’
‘I’m taking you to see your mother,’ Leo said. ‘You’re upset, I don’t want you driving.’
‘No.’ Lizzie shook her head. ‘I was going to stay the night and drive back in the morning. You wouldn’t want …’ She couldn’t imagine him at the Hewitts and she couldn’t imagine the Hewitts if she and Leo shared a bed! ‘I stay at a bed and breakfast, they’re old family friends.’
‘Why don’t we just see how she is first?’ Leo was practical. ‘If you need to stay you can make a booking; if not, we’ll come back. We can stop at home and get our things just in case …’ He pulled out into the heavy London traffic and, realising what he had just said, corrected himself. ‘Do you want to go to your place first?’
‘No.’
There wasn’t any point—everything she needed for an overnight stay was already at Leo’s.
It was a long, slow drive but they were chatting so much that a traffic jam didn’t really matter. She showed him the bed and breakfast they might be staying in that night and forewarned him about the nylon sheets and the rules of the kitchen.
‘Last booking is at seven-thirty,’ Lizzie said. ‘I always want to tell them that I’ll eat out but they take it so personally.’
‘So you eat there to please them?’ Leo grinned.
‘No,’ Lizzie corrected. ‘I eat there so as not to offend them.’
They pulled up at the nursing home and Lizzie hesitated as Leo turned off the engine and went to get out.
‘You don’t have to visit.’
‘I know.’
‘It might just …’ She didn’t know how to put it delicately. ‘Dad might have some questions.’
‘I’m a friend,’ Leo said. ‘I’m also your boss. Won’t your father be pleased to know that you didn’t have to drive yourself? Won’t it help him to know that you’ve got people who care about you?’
He did care, that much he was more than willing to admit.
‘Of course,’ Lizzie lied.
Leo simply didn’t get it. The only person he answered to was himself and his mere presence would set off a whole load of questions—not tonight but in the future.
‘Lizzie!’ Shelby, the nurse, gave her a beaming smile as Lizzie and Leo walked in, and went a little bit pink when she saw Leo. ‘Your mum’s actually picking up a bit. The antibiotics seem to be kicking in and we’ve been giving her lots to drink. I’m so sorry for scaring you …’
‘Don’t be,’ Lizzie said. ‘I’d far rather you rang and let me know what’s happening than not. Is the nurse still specialling her?’
‘No. Your dad’s in there with her. She’s a lot more settled and her temperature has started to come down.’
A little bit more gingerly than usual, Lizzie went in.
‘Lizzie!’ Her dad stood, clearly shocked at the sight of a man with his daughter, but, then, Lizzie reasoned as she made the introductions, her dad would be shocked if she’d had her hair cut—he simply loathed any change in routine.
He always had, Lizzie thought as she approached Faye.
‘Hi, Mum.’
‘Have you got my watch?’
‘I’m trying to find it,’ Lizzie answered patiently. ‘I hear you haven’t been feeling well.’
‘Who are you?’
Even the ten thousandth time hurt and Leo saw the brief flicker of pain in her eyes.
‘It’s me, Lizzie.’
‘And who are you?’ She looked at Leo. ‘Have you got my watch?’
‘I haven’t got your watch, Mrs Birch,’ Leo said. ‘I’m Leo, a friend of Lizzie’s.’ He could see the tension in her father’s face. ‘She was upset so I offered to drive her.’
‘Are you staying at the Hewitts’?’ her father snapped to Lizzie, but it was Leo who answered.
‘Lizzie was going to stay if her mother wasn’t well but I have to get back tonight.’