Critical Condition: Escape to the Country, #4

By Nicki Edwards

After years working as a paramedic in Sydney and living the bachelor life, Liam has had enough. He's convinced himself, and everyone else, that he's moved home to Birrangulla for a slower pace of life, but what he's really looking for is the woman of his dreams.

From the outside, emergency nurse Poppy McDonald lives a charmed life. Unfortunately, when she moved to the other side of the world to escape her family, all she did was swap one controlling environment for another. After Poppy's father dies, she returns to Australia to face her past. And her mother. But she has no intention of staying, and definitely not in Birrangulla.

When Liam and Poppy meet, there's an instant spark. Liam knows Poppy is the one even though she's carrying more than her share of baggage. But can he gain her trust and get her to look beyond her past? Or will the man Poppy left in the US return and ruin everything?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicki Edwards
• Release date: Sep 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393890591

Nicki Edwards

Nicki Edwards : AUTHOR OF CONTEMPORARY, HEARTWARMING ROMANCE : Sweet stories set in small towns, filled with life, love and medical dramas. Nicki Edwards is a city girl with a country heart. Growing up on a small family acreage outside Geelong, she spent her formative years riding horses, hand rearing lambs and pretending the neighbour’s farm was her own. After spending three years in a regional city in New South Wales in her 20’s, her love of small country towns and rural life was further developed. ​For years Nicki dreamed of one day escaping to the country with her husband Tim where they would live on land surrounded by horses, dogs, cows and sheep. Unfortunately, that's not likely to happen, so instead Nicki continues to live vicariously through the lives of the characters in the books she loves to read and write. Nicki also dreams of living in Canada, but as that's also unlikely, she keeps visiting and setting some of her books in the country that stole her heart 30 years ago. A voracious reader, Nicki always wanted to be an author. After returning to university as a mature aged student in her mid-30’s to study nursing, she juggled full time study, part time work and raising four small children to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse in 2011. But her other dream - the dream to write - never left. In January 2014 Nicki wrote her first book and was published by Momentum, the digital imprint of Pan Macmillan Australia. Nicki now divides her time between working as a Critical Care Nurse in the Emergency Department or Intensive Care Unit at Epworth Hospital in Geelong or in a busy local General Practice where she works as a Practice Nurse. These are the places where many of Nicki’s stories and characters are imagined. Nicki and her husband Tim live in Geelong, Victoria. They have four young adult children, two spoiled border collies and a Burmese cat. Life is always busy, always fun and definitely exhausting, but Nicki wouldn’t change it for anything. Nicki loves to hear from readers and can be contacted via her website www.nickiedwardsauthor.com

Book preview

Chapter 1

Liam O’Connor couldn’t wipe the grin from his face. He turned to his sister-in-law Kate. She was beaming too.

‘I cannot believe they kept that a secret from everyone,’ he said.

‘Unbelievable,’ Kate said, brushing tears from her eyes. ‘She makes a gorgeous bride, doesn’t she?’

‘Stunning,’ he agreed.

Liam and Kate were in the orchard of Lexton Downs, surrounded by a small group of family and friends. Animated smiles lit every single face and guests were buzzing with excitement as they discussed what they had witnessed.

Everyone had been enjoying an afternoon tea in the gardens celebrating Liam’s younger sister Emma’s engagement to Tom Henderson, when Emma and Tom shocked everyone by morphing their engagement party into a surprise wedding.

Before anyone could figure out what was happening, Sean and Lorraine O’Connor handed them all flowers and asked them to line either side of a row of fruit trees in the orchard to form an impromptu aisle. As Emma walked up the aisle, each guest handed her a flower which she added to her wedding bouquet. Then, under the banner of blue skies and glorious autumn sunshine, they exchanged vows and rings.

It was a day filled with love and it wasn’t over yet.

The loved-up couple were now smiling for photos with Tom’s sister, brother-in-law, and their children who had arrived from the UK to be part of the surprise.

As dusk fell, thousands of fairy lights hidden in the fruit trees flickered on, transforming the entire landscape into a wedding wonderland.  

Liam looked over at Emma. She glowed. Her cheeks were rosy, her smile huge. He was so happy for her. She deserved to find love again. He was happy for Tom too. His new brother-in-law was a good bloke.

But, if Liam was honest, the green-eyed monster was attacking him.

Until today, he hadn’t considered whether he was the romantic type, but as Tom and Emma professed their love for one another, he found himself daydreaming that one day he might have his own happy-ever-after ending like theirs.

Not that he was ready to admit that to anyone yet, especially not his sister. If Emma got even a tiny whiff of the idea, she’d be in matchmaking heaven and he could bet on being introduced to every single female in a hundred-kilometre radius of Birrangulla. He shuddered at the thought.

‘Their vows were so beautiful,’ Kate said, shifting her sleeping baby from one arm to the other. ‘And when Tom gave Emma his mum’s ring, I thought I’d start sobbing. I keep telling everyone Tom is the most romantic man in the world.’

Joel nudged Kate with his hip. ‘And I keep reminding you that I’m the most romantic man in the world.’ 

Kate leaned over and kissed her husband. ‘You’ll always by my romantic hero, but you have to admit, that was an absolutely beautiful thing to do.’

Joel chuckled. ‘Yeah, it was. Did either of you have any idea?’

They shook their heads.

Judging by the conversations of the guests mingling around them, neither did anyone else, except Sean and Lorraine, their parents.

‘And these two slept through it all,’ Liam said, indicating the babies in Joel’s and Kate’s arms.

‘They sure did.’ Joel held out the baby to Liam. ‘Want to hold him?’

‘Absolutely.’

Gingerly taking the baby from his brother and being extra careful to cradle the newborn’s little head, Liam peered down at his nephew’s puckered face partially hidden in the blanket. Angus or Oscar? He had no idea. He should suggest Kate put nametags on them.

‘So, mate, looks like you’re next. You’re the last one of us to get married,’ Joel said, elbowing Liam in the ribs.

Liam shook his head. ‘Nope. Not me. I’ve told you again and again, I’m happy being a bachelor.’ The familiar fib tasted strangely bitter and he hurriedly glanced away. If Joel saw his face, he’d know he was lying. ‘I can be crazy Uncle Liam to the boys when they get older. Besides, I’ll never find the perfect woman,’ he added.

‘That’s because the perfect woman doesn’t exist. How many times have I told you that?’ Joel asked.

Kate put a hand to her hip and coughed once. ‘Um, hello,’ she said. ‘I’m standing right here.’

Joel drew her into a hug and kissed her. ‘You’re perfect for me, my love.’

Liam groaned. ‘Enough of that. You two should get a room.’

Joel chuckled and indicated the baby nestled in the crook of Liam’s arm. ‘We did that a little over nine months ago and look what happened.’

Liam grimaced. ‘Too much information. Way too much.’

Kate grinned and deposited the other twin into Liam’s right arm. He pretended to buckle under the combined weight of the twins, even though they weighed less than a bag of potatoes between them.

Kate sidled up to Joel and squeezed his butt. ‘I’m more than happy to get a room. How ’bout it, hubby? Ready for some action?’

Joel closed his eyes and moaned. ‘Yes please. If by action you’re referring to sleep, I’m up for it. A room with comfortable pillows, block out curtains and no crying babies. That is the best offer I’ve had in four weeks.’ He turned to Liam. ‘You have no idea what sleep deprivation is like, mate. Thanks for offering to babysit. Means the world. We’ll see you later.’

‘Much later,’ Kate added.

‘Hang on. Wait. What? You can’t leave me here with these two,’ he said. ‘What if they wake up?’

‘You’ll be fine,’ Joel said.

‘But what if they need a feed? Kate’s the only one who can help with that.’

‘I just fed them. You’re safe for at least another hour or so if you’re lucky,’ Kate replied.

‘But I can’t even tell them apart.’

Joel laughed. ‘Sometimes, neither can I.’

They walked off hand in hand and Liam stared at the babies in his arms. He swallowed hard. What was he supposed to do with them now? His arms were getting heavy. He gently repositioned them, praying they wouldn’t wake.

‘Suits you.’

Liam turned to see Mackenzie Kennedy-Jones walking towards him. He smiled. Mackenzie was married to Kate’s older brother Nathan and Liam would bet a million bucks she took her aunty duties seriously. He’d have no trouble palming off at least one of the twins to her.

‘Best part about kids is handing them back to their owners,’ he said. ‘Or to their favourite aunt.’

Mackenzie chuckled softly as she pulled back the edges of the blankets to look at their faces. ‘They’re adorable, aren’t they?’

He nodded.

‘Hate to tell you, but I don’t think you’ll be handing them back anytime soon. I heard Kate say she was going to sleep for a month.’

‘Not if I have anything to do with it,’ he replied. He offered Mackenzie a baby. ‘Want one? I think this one is Angus.’

‘It’s Oscar. And don’t think you’re getting out of babysitting duty that easily. Anyhow,’ she said, rubbing her belly, ‘I’m having one of my own soon. A little girl. I’m due in August.’

He automatically looked down and noticed Mackenzie’s slightly swollen belly. ‘Hey. That’s awesome news. I’ll bet you guys are stoked. I’d give you a kiss, but my hands are full. Seriously, Kenz, congratulations, that’s the best news.’

‘It is. It’s taken a long time to get here.’

Liam nodded. Nathan and Mackenzie had made no secret of their infertility struggles. It wasn’t his place to ask, but he guessed they’d gone down the IVF route.

‘When’s it going to be your turn?’ Mackenzie asked.

‘I’m not having kids any time soon.’

‘I’m not talking about kids. When are you going to find someone and get married?’

A high-pitched squeal stopped him from replying straight away and he turned to see a young boy chasing Tom’s daughter Ruby and Kate and Joel’s daughter Annabel around a tree. He smiled. Some things never changed. Little boys always liked to chase the little girls.

He might be thirty-something years older than the little boy, but he was no different. The only problem was, he was yet to catch the girl. Or, he corrected himself, yet to catch the right one.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to get married, it was that the only time he’d been close to thinking about it, the woman of his dreams turned out to be the woman of his biggest nightmare. Since Lily, he’d gone out with quite a few women but none of them were what he was looking for and they never lasted longer than a few dates. He would have liked to find someone special, but he’d concluded she simply didn’t exist.

‘I’m happy being single,’ he replied eventually. ‘You know that.’

Mackenzie was one of only a few people who knew the details of his disastrous relationship with Lily. Everyone had said she was his perfect match and for nearly four years he’d agreed. But within months of moving to Sydney their life unravelled like a frayed rope. He’d called it quits and walked out. It was one of his few regrets in life. If he’d stayed, would things have ended differently? He would never know.

He pushed Lily from his mind.

‘You have to move on,’ Mackenzie said quietly as though she could read his mind.

‘You sound like Emma.’

‘That’s because she’s a smart woman.’

‘And doesn’t she make a gorgeous bride,’ he said.

Mackenzie laughed. ‘She does. And as much as that’s a nice change of subject, I’m smarter than that and I’m not letting this go. Seriously, when are you going to stop lying to yourself that you’re happy being Mr. Single and find someone?’

‘I did find someone. You know that.’

Mackenzie touched his arm. ‘I know. And I’m sorry it ended the way it did, but there’s always someone else out there.’

He shrugged. ‘I’m not so sure about that anymore.’

‘Perhaps you’re not looking hard enough.’

Angus screwed up his tiny face and let out a little mewl. Liam jiggled him gently and the baby’s eyes closed again. Crisis averted.

‘Trust me, I am looking, but I reckon I already know every single female in this town,’ he joked.

‘And probably dated all of them too, knowing you,’ Mackenzie said.

‘Ouch.’ He put on a wounded look.

She laughed and play-punched him on the upper arm. ‘Don’t even try to act offended. I know what you’re like.’

He felt his face flame as he recalled Kate and Joel’s wedding years earlier when he’d tried to come on to Mackenzie. It hadn’t gone down well, but thankfully he and Mackenzie could laugh about his drunken kiss.

‘Have you considered internet dating?’ she asked.

‘No way,’ he spluttered. ‘Jeez, Kenz, I’m not that desperate.’

‘Don’t knock it. You never know, the perfect woman for you might be living in the next town.’

‘Knowing my luck my perfect woman is living on the other side of the world.’

‘What about going on one of those reality television shows? They’re always looking for guys like you.’

‘What? Like The Bachelor or Farmer Wants a Wife? You’ve gotta be kidding me.’

‘Women would fall over themselves to go out with you. Tall, dark, handsome, Irish.’ She pretended to swoon and fanned her face. ‘You know every woman loves an Irish accent.’

He laughed. ‘You’d better not let your husband hear you say that.’

Mackenzie shrugged. ‘He knows how much I adore him.’

‘Well, thanks for the compliment, but last time I checked I might be tall and Irish, but I’m definitely not dark and handsome.’

Mackenzie screwed up her face. ‘Not with your hair like that. When was the last time you had it cut?’

‘Ah, get off my case,’ he said with a laugh and flick of his hair. Finding time to get a haircut wasn’t a priority. ‘You’re worse than Mum. Anyway, there’s one small flaw in your idea.’

‘What’s that?’

‘I’m a paramedic, not a farmer.’

She pointed to Tom. ‘Hang around Tom for a bit and he’ll turn you into a farmer.’

Liam shook his head and stuck out his highly polished leather boot. ‘I might get mud on my new RM Williams. Couldn’t have that. I’m definitely not a farmer. No way I’d qualify as a country boy.’

Mackenzie smiled. ‘You live in a country town. Close enough.’

‘I live in a modern unit in a suburban street in a regional town. I don’t think that’s what they’re looking for. Besides, I’m looking for a wife, not a wannabe celebrity.’

‘What did you say?’ Mackenzie’s mouth had dropped open like he’d announced he’d found the cure for cancer.

‘You heard me.’ No way was he going to repeat himself.

‘You admit it? You are looking for a wife?’

Liam shifted from one foot to the other. He’d done it now. ‘Let’s just say I’m open to the idea.’

Chapter 2

The dull thump of Adam’s suitcase as he tossed it on the bed matched the dull thump of Poppy McDonald’s heart. It was time for him to leave again.

She heard him padding from bathroom to bedroom to closet, heard drawers opening and closing, heard him humming softly like his departure wasn’t the big deal to him that it was for her.

Poppy pictured him, deep in concentration as though packing a suitcase was a surgical procedure and he was a cardiothoracic surgeon. Shoes encased in cloth covers to the bottom, pants and shirts neatly folded and stacked on one side, toiletries to the other. She’d watched him do it countless times over the past five years. She knew the routine.

He was the total opposite of her, and she’d once flippantly suggested he had OCD. He’d been furious even when she’d joked that everyone had a bit of obsessive-compulsive in them. He hadn’t seen the humour and since then she stayed out of his way when he packed.

Finally, the zipper closed. Poppy checked her watch and frowned. They still had hours left together, so why was he packing so early?

A heaviness landed on her chest. She hated these goodbyes. Had she known their relationship would end up being long distance, would she have said yes to that drink he offered her in the first place five years ago? Maybe.

Most likely not.

She stared towards Central Park, watched the sun glinting and reflecting off the skyscrapers and wondered how to stall him.

‘Babe, have you seen my cell?’ His voice drifted from the bedroom.

‘It’s in the kitchen. On the bench – counter,’ Poppy corrected herself without turning around.

She scanned the view again and the pleasure of their four magical days together evaporated like mist off a lake. She swallowed past the lump in her throat. She wanted more than these short, stolen moments with him. She wanted him all to herself forever.

Poppy sighed softly even though he couldn’t hear her. She knew the rules. Be patient and wait. One day when Adam was famous, he could live wherever he wanted, but until he’d made it, he claimed he had to base himself in L.A., the centre of the film industry. Which left her, holed up alone in New York, in his apartment, waiting for him to visit whenever he could. She simply had to take what she could get of his time and make the most of it.

Adam came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her and pressed himself against her. ‘I’m going to miss you so much babe.’ His breath was warm against her ear and his aftershave filled her nostrils.

Poppy allowed the sheer curtain to fall back in place. ‘I’m going to miss you too,’ she replied. And while she truly meant every word, something heavy pressed unexpectedly against her heart.

‘At least I know with a view like that you’ll never leave me.’ Below them on the street, cars whizzed past, horns honking, the sounds muted.

She tensed. What a weird thing to say. Why would she leave him?

‘Sometimes I miss the wide-open spaces back home,’ she said.

‘At least you’ve got the park.’

She nodded. ‘I suppose.’

He turned her around to face him. ‘What’s wrong?’

Poppy slid her palms across the contours of Adam’s chest, feeling the definition under his T-shirt. In preparation for his next role, he’d been working out for hours each day and it was evident.

She found it difficult to look at him, but when she did, his movie star looks overwhelmed her once more. He hadn’t shaved for four days and with his beard and messy dark curls he looked like the quintessential bad boy. This persona was so different from his last role when his hair was shorter and his skin smooth, reminding her of a young Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic. She’d preferred that look a lot more.

‘You’re packed early,’ she murmured. She didn’t want to remind him again that she wished he could base himself fulltime in New York with her.

Adam raked a hand through his hair. ‘I wanted to surprise you. I thought we could go out for breakfast before I leave. To that little place you were telling me about,’ he said.

Out? For breakfast? In public? Poppy stood rooted to the spot, staring into his eyes. ‘Are you sure?’

He shrugged. ‘I’ll wear a hat.’

Poppy felt her smile transform into a grin. They almost never went out in public together. The change in Adam’s rules was unexpected, but she wasn’t about to complain.

She kissed him on the cheek. ‘Let me grab my bag and coat. Won’t be a sec.’

Adam followed her to the kitchen where her purse sat beside his wallet and phone.

‘If anyone asks who you are, I’ll tell them you’re my sister,’ he said, scooping up his wallet and dropping it into his coat. The phone went into the back pocket of his jeans.

Poppy slipped her arms into her heavy coat and clutched the bag to her chest. ‘I’m sure everyone knows you don’t have a sister. Especially not one with an Australian accent.’

She didn’t really like it, but she understood why he didn’t want them photographed together. He said it was so the paparazzi didn’t chase her looking for gossip. That didn’t make much sense to her because Adam wasn’t really a household name yet, but she’d given up worrying about it and decided it was sweet that he was so protective of her.

‘Cousin then?’

‘I doubt that would work. You’re not really the kind of guy who’d catch up with his cousins.’

‘Publicist?’

‘Relax, Adam, it’s New York, not Hollywood. No one will even look twice. You’re not that famous yet,’ she teased, pinching him on the backside.

She thought she saw a flicker of anger in his eyes, but then it was gone. Her heart twisted. Maybe it wasn’t anger, but fear. Perhaps he was having second thoughts about going out in public. She tugged him closer, kissed him on the lips, grabbed his backside again and squeezed. ‘It will be fine, I promise.’

Adam glanced at the door and back at her. Was he about to change his mind?

He inhaled deeply. ‘I’ll get a hat.’

Poppy waited at the front door for him. He returned, tugging the brim of his NY Yankees cap low on his head and turning up the collar of his jacket.

‘You look like any other tourist,’ she lied, flashing him a smile as they waited for the elevator doors to open. She nudged him in the ribs. ‘Come on, this will be fun.’

They stepped out of her building and a chilly wind hit them, stealing the air from Poppy’s lungs.

She shivered. ‘Who said it was spring? It’s freezing. After all these years I still forget how cold it is.’ She tucked her arm in the crook of his. ‘It looks gorgeous through the window but as soon as you step outside the shock almost kills you. I wonder if I’ll ever get used to it. This winter seems to be never-ending. They say a cold front is sweeping down from Canada. I guess that’s why the leaves haven’t started to bud on the trees yet.’

She was rabbiting on about nothing, filling the gap, not coping with his silence. She always did that when she was nervous.

She had to jog to keep up with him. Head down, eyes lowered, he didn’t look like a tourist – he looked like a man trying to avoid notice. She tried not to laugh because she knew how much he hated publicity. And if anyone saw them together . . . She trembled, this time not from the cold as much as from apprehension.

She tugged at his sleeve. ‘Slow down. If you keep walking so fast, people will notice you.’

‘How far away is this place?’ Adam’s eyes darted left to right. ‘I thought you said it was in the same block.’

Poppy pointed. ‘Just up ahead.’

He exhaled. ‘Good. I’ll go in, get us a table in the back and you can order. You know what I like.’

Poppy fought the urge to roll her eyes. No one was going to notice Adam in the café she frequented, and if they did, like she’d told him, it wasn’t Hollywood. They wouldn’t swoop and swoon like seagulls at the beach on a serving of fish and chips and ask for his autograph.

As Adam placed his hand on the door, it was shoved open from inside. A man crashed out, colliding with Adam and causing him to step back onto Poppy’s foot. She yelped, backpedalled, grabbed at the air then crashed onto her backside on the sidewalk.

‘Ouch!’

‘Jeez, sorry love. You ‘orright?’ the huge man asked.

Hearing him speak, Poppy smiled. Until then she hadn’t realised how much she’d missed the Australian accent. Grabbing his outstretched hand, she allowed him to pull her up. ‘Thanks,’ she said, brushing her bottom. Other than her pride, she was unhurt.

A teenager bounced over to them. ‘Dad is such a klutz,’ she said, shooting a sheepish look at Poppy.

‘Yeah, sorry,’ the man repeated. ‘I wasn’t looking.’ He glanced at Adam. ‘Are you okay, mate?’

Adam tugged at his hat, lowered his eyes. ‘Fine,’ he said.

Poppy heard the girl’s sharp intake of breath then a squeal and spun to look at her. The tween was staring at Adam with her mouth open, her eyes wide. Poppy’s heart sank. She’d recognised him.

‘Hi,’ the girl gushed. Eyelashes fluttered. ‘I’m Alisha. We’re visiting from Australia. I’m a huge fan. Can I take a photo of us?’ Before Adam, or Poppy, or anyone could stop her, Alisha pulled out her phone, stepped between them, angled the device and snapped. ‘Can I get your autograph too?’

Her head was down, checking the image on her screen so she missed Adam’s clenched teeth and white lips.

Poppy put her hand on Adam’s arm and squeezed. ‘It was nice meeting you, Alisha, but we need to keep going.’ Poppy deliberately put on the American accent she’d perfected since moving to America. It was easier for people to understand her and easier for anonymity. And Adam preferred it that way. He said the Australian accent was too harsh. Besides, if Alisha and her father heard the familiar accent, there’d be more awkward questions to answer.

Alisha’s face fell.

Adam shook Poppy’s arm off. ‘It’s no problem.’ He pasted on a smile, the one he wore consistently for the cameras. ‘I’m more than happy to give you an autograph, Alisha. Do you have a pen?’

If Poppy didn’t know him as well as she did, she would have thought he sounded sincere.

Alisha rifled through her backpack. She found a pen and a small notebook and held them triumphantly in the air before passing them to Adam. He opened to a blank page, squiggled a signature and handed the book and pen back to her.

‘Can I take another photo of just the two of us?’ She glanced with apology at Poppy. ‘Sorry.’

Poppy shrugged and smiled. She didn’t mind in the least. She wasn’t interested in the bright lights of the red carpet and would do anything to avoid the hype Adam seemed to thrive on as part of his job.

Alisha passed Poppy the cell phone with instructions on which button to press before sidling close to Adam, draping her arms around him and beaming at the camera. Adam flashed another one of the million-dollar smiles for which he was famous and Poppy took the picture. She handed the phone back to Alisha.

‘Thanks so much,’ Alisha said. ‘Are you an actress too?’

‘No, I’m his publicist—’

‘No, she’s my cousin—’

Adam and Poppy spoke at the same time and Alisha frowned before shrugging her shoulders. ‘Whatever. So nice to meet you.’

‘Alisha, honey, these people need to eat.’ Alisha’s dad spoke up, pulling his star-struck daughter away.

Adam patted his jacket. ‘I think I left my wallet at your place, Poppy.’ He turned to Alisha and her dad. ‘Nice meeting you both.’

Adam dragged Poppy along the street back home. She followed with heavy feet.

With clenched jaw he strode into the lobby of her building and jabbed his finger twice on the call button.

What a disaster.

Chapter 3

A red flush burned across Adam’s face and down his neck. Poppy was equally annoyed. She was tired of his Jekyll and Hyde misbehaviour. Adam was the consummate fan-pleaser in public, but sometimes when they were alone and something annoyed him, he took it out on her and treated her like dirt. Usually she was the peacekeeper who ran from confrontation faster than an Olympic-medal hundred-meter sprinter but maybe that needed to change.

As soon as the doors closed, she knew what would happen. He would give her a hard time for forcing him to go out in public – as though it was her suggestion in the first place! She glanced at him again, but he adjusted his hat and refused to look at her.

The elevator arrived and with a ping the doors opened. They rode the six floors in icy silence and at her door he shifted from foot to foot waiting for her to get her keys out and unlock it. When it opened, he shoved past. Poppy eased the door closed behind her, leaned against it and swallowed the hurt once more. Adam dumped his hat and phone on the coffee table, went straight to the window, and stood where she had stood less than half an hour earlier.

She went into the kitchen and pretended to be busy.

‘What are you doing tomorrow?’ he asked finally.

Typical – he wasn’t going to apologise for his behaviour.

‘Working.’

He exhaled loudly. ‘We’ve been through this babe. You don’t need to work.’

Her throat tightened. Adam allowed her to live rent free in his apartment and each time he visited he left her money to cover food and bills. It was always more than enough. Therefore, anything she earned from her job she put away in her savings account which was now a healthy nest egg. Some days she hated the way he looked after her, but the reality was, without his help she wouldn’t survive life in the city on her own. Especially not in such a gorgeous apartment.

She poured herself a glass of water and went to his side. ‘If I don’t work, what am I supposed to do? Wait around for your next conjugal visit?’

He smirked. ‘Would that be so bad?’

She bit her lip. Was sex all he thought about? Didn’t he know by now she wanted more than that? Not the kids, but the ring on her finger at least.

His phone buzzed, vibrating and spinning a little on the glass surface of the table. He glanced down at it and froze.

‘I have to take this,’ he said, snatching it up and avoiding her gaze.