Gentleman Sinner(12)

‘So you are on the shelf.’

‘You make it sound like I’m there to be taken by whoever comes along and likes the look of me.’

‘That’s the long and short of it,’ Mable says frankly with a shrug. ‘If a man wants you badly enough, he’ll take you.’

‘What if I don’t want to be taken by him?’

She smiles, like she’s privy to something that I’m not. ‘I think Dot needs some help.’ She nods across the way, and I see Dot struggling to sit up in her bed, grabbing the table to help, but it rolls away.

‘Wait there, Dot,’ I call, gathering up my things. ‘You’re not a gymnast. See you later, Mable.’ I head across the bay.

‘I need a piss,’ Dot snaps curtly.

‘Then I’ll have someone bring you the commode, okay?’

‘Make it quick.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ I quip under my breath, getting her comfy before making my way to the nurses’ station. I grab a health-care assistant on my way and ask her nicely to help Dot and empty Mable’s bag of pee, before racing through the rest of my section, checking everyone’s obs before I hand over.

I feel utterly wiped out by the time I’m done. After giving the next duty nurse the rundown, I grab my coat and swing it over my shoulders before scooping up my bag and waving my goodbyes.

As I pass Mable’s bed, she wolf-whistles, making me grin and twirl midstride. ‘Why, thank you.’ I laugh, spotting one of my patients struggling to sit up in bed. ‘Hey, Deirdre, what are you up to?’ I hurry over to her.

‘My damn back is aching. It’s these pillows. They’re too soft.’

‘Then let me fix that for you.’ I spend a few moments plumping her pillows and wedging a rolled-up blanket behind them to make her more comfortable. ‘Try that,’ I say, easing her back down to the bed. ‘Better?’

‘Oh, yes, much.’ Deirdre sighs and squeezes my hand. ‘You’re an angel, Izzy.’

I return her gesture before placing her hand back on the bed. ‘You need anything else before I go?’

‘A new body.’

I smile, though it’s sad. ‘You sleep well tonight, okay? And I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Okay, dear. Have a good evening.’

I tuck her in and wander away, looking over my shoulder and smiling in satisfaction when I see her snoozing comfortably. She’ll rest easy now. And I believe I will, too, when I make it home.

Returning my attention forward, my heart stops, my smile drops, and my pace slows. And I’m pretty damn sure my world just flipped up on its head.

‘Izzy,’ Theo greets me softly, looking as sharp as he did the last time I saw him. His straight face takes me in, his eyes running up and down my body. I suddenly feel self-conscious, and I reach up to pat my hair down. Good grief, I bet I look a fright. Damn it! Then I quickly ask myself why I’m bothered by how drab I must be looking after my shift and what Theo must think of that. Why do I care? I don’t know, but I do. Annoyingly, I really care.

Today he’s alone, no other big guy to be seen. ‘Your hair’s perfect,’ he says dryly, and my hands freeze atop my head, my cheeks flaming. ‘But it’s nice to know you care.’

He has me pinned, so I don’t insult him by denying it. ‘Is Penny all right?’ I ask, wondering if she needs my medical assistance again.

‘She’s fine.’

‘Then what are you doing here?’ I feel eyes on me, not just Theo’s, and turn to find Mable probably enduring agony so she can get a better look at my surprise visitor. I roll my eyes and she grins, giving me a thumbs-up.

‘I like watching you work,’ Theo says, bringing me back to face him, leaving Mable ogling from behind.

‘What?’

He glances over at Deirdre. ‘Looking after people. It’s nice to see you doing that.’

‘It’s my job,’ I reply, holding back my laugh. He looks so serious.

Nodding mildly, Theo turns back towards me. ‘You haven’t called.’

‘I haven’t needed to.’

‘I was hoping you would need to.’ His quick response knocks me back a little. ‘And then I thought that maybe it’s because you don’t have a phone.’

‘How do—’

‘One of my men found the broken pieces.’

‘Oh,’ I breathe. One of his men? He thought? He’s been thinking about me? Hoping I’d call? He’s being perfectly polite, yet a little brusque. I don’t mention the fact that I still have his number, regardless of the small matter that I don’t have a phone. It would only highlight that I could have called him, and something tells me that that’s what’s bothering him. He wanted me to call. And I didn’t.

‘So, Penny’s okay, then?’ I ask, uncomfortable with the silence that’s fallen.

‘On her feet,’ he answers but says no more, telling me Penny isn’t the topic of conversation he had in mind. Penny isn’t why he’s here. ‘I’ve come to take you home.’ Stepping to the side, he swoops his arm out for me to lead on. ‘My car’s waiting.’

I smile a little, though it’s nervous. ‘I don’t need a chaperone home, Theo.’