Charlotte Hawkes - Unwrapping The Neurosurgeon's Heart

‘Malachi and I work with a young carers’ group in town,’ he heard himself saying. ‘Katie and Isobel are two of about thirty kids who come to the centre.’

‘So many?’

It was the bleak look in his eyes that gouged her the most.

‘That’s not even the half of it.’ He shook his head. ‘You’ve read the reports, probably around a quarter of a million kids are carers for a parent or other family member. All under sixteen, some as young as four or five. We want to reach them all but we’ve only just got the council on board. Sometimes the hardest bit is getting people to even acknowledge there’s an issue.’

‘ You’re raising awareness?’ Her eyebrows shot up.

This really meant something to him? He truly cared?

He watched her carefully, wordless for a moment. As if he was waging some internal battle. She waited, holding her breath, although she didn’t understand why.

‘We’re having a fundraiser on Saturday night, to throw a spotlight on the centre.’

‘Solomon Gunn is throwing a charity gala?’

Something flitted across his eyes but then he grinned and offered a nonchalant shrug, and it was gone.

‘What can I say? Lots of attractive, willing women to choose from, so I guess I get to kill the two proverbial birds with one stone.’

The silence pulled tighter, tauter.

A few hours ago she would have believed that. Now she knew it was an act. And that was what terrified her the most.

Was she being open-minded and non-judgemental? Or was she simply being gullible, seeing what she wished she could see?

‘Come with me.’

She had a feeling the invitation had slipped out before he could stop himself.

She frowned.

‘Sorry?’

For a moment she thought he was going to laugh it off.

‘Be my guest at the gala.’

Something rocked her from the inside. Like thousands of butterflies all waking up from their hibernation, and beating their wings all at once.

She had never experienced anything like it.

‘Like...a date?’

‘Why not?’ he asked cheerfully.

As though it was no big deal to him.

It probably wasn’t.

‘With you?’

‘Your eagerness is a real ego boost for a man, you know that?’

She aimed a sceptical look in his direction.

‘I hardly think a man like you needs any more ego massages. You have women practically throwing themselves at you at every turn.’

‘I’m not asking them, though, am I?’ he pointed out. ‘I’m asking you.’

She schooled herself not to be sucked in. Not to fall into that age-old trap. But it wasn’t as easy as it had been for all those other men who had flirted with her over the years.

Because those other guys hadn’t been Sol , a small voice needled her.

Anouk gritted her teeth.

‘Is that why you’re inviting me? Because you don’t like the fact that I’m not falling over myself to flirt with you?’

‘That’s exactly it,’ he replied, deadpan. ‘I find my ego can’t take the knockback.’

‘Sarcastic much?’ she muttered, but a small smile tugged at her mouth despite herself.

‘I’ll pick you up at half-past seven.’

‘I might be on duty.’

‘You aren’t.’ He shrugged.

‘I beg your pardon?’

‘Relax. I was just checking the rotas before and I don’t remember seeing your name.’

She told herself that it meant nothing. It was pure coincidence.

‘What makes you think I want to go?’

‘What else are you doing that night? It’s fun, and, hey, you can do something for charity at the same time.’

He was impressively convincing.

‘People will think I’m just the next notch on your bedpost.’

‘Some women are happy to have that accolade.’

‘I am not some women.’

‘No,’ he agreed. ‘You are not.’

The compliment rolled through her, making long-dormant parts of her body unfurl and stretch languidly. Her head was rapidly losing this battle with her body.

‘How about this?’ he suggested. ‘I’ll give you my ticket and you can take Saskia, or whoever you want, as your plus one.’

‘You would give me your ticket?’

‘Sure. That way you won’t feel like I’m trying to obligate you in any way.’

‘And I could take anyone?’

‘Of course.’

She narrowed her eyes.

‘Even a date of my own?’

‘Oof!’ He clutched his stomach as though she’d delivered a punch to his gut, making her laugh exactly as he’d clearly intended. ‘You know where to strike a man, don’t you? Yes, even a date of your own.’

‘And you would miss out? On something as important to you as you’ve suggested these young carers are?’

‘Oh, I won’t miss out,’ he said airily. ‘I’ll just go as someone else’s plus one.’

It shouldn’t hurt to hear. Yet it did. Anouk arranged her features into what she hoped was a neutral expression.

‘Of course. You must have a whole host of potential dates just waiting for you to call.’

‘So many it can become exhausting at times,’ he concurred blithely.

‘I’ll leave the tickets behind the Resus desk for you before your shift ends tomorrow.’

And then, before she could answer, or say anything uncharacteristically stupid, Sol walked away. The way they probably both should have done ten minutes earlier.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.