A Christmas Knight Read Online Free PDF Page A

you?’
    â€˜Yes, I did,’ she protested.
    He gave her a wry smile. ‘Long enough to scoff a chocolate bar, hmm?’
    â€˜A chicken wrap, actually. I don’t like chocolate.’
    He looked surprised. ‘You must be the first medic I’ve ever met who doesn’t think it’s a food group. And didn’t you bring in a tin of chocolate biscuits the other day?’
    â€˜Yes—because most people like them.’
    â€˜So you’re more of a savoury person?’ he asked.
    â€˜I love cheese scones,’ she said. ‘And hot buttered toast with Marmite.’
    â€˜That’s utterly revolting,’ he said, pulling a face. ‘So where did you work before here?’
    â€˜The London Victoria. It’s where I did my training.’
    â€˜It’s got a good reputation. What made you come to the George IV?’ he asked.
    â€˜The nurse practitioner post was vacant—plus my parents wanted to retire to the coast. I know London’s only an hour and a half from Brighton, but Ty adores his grandparents and I wanted to be able to stay close to them.’
    â€˜So your husband was able to move his job, too, or is he commuting to London?’
    â€˜Ex.’ She took a deep breath. ‘And Ty’s father isn’t part of our lives. At all.’
    He grimaced. ‘Sorry. That was nosey of me, and I didn’t mean to stomp on a sore spot.’
    She shrugged. ‘It’s OK. I guess the only way you get to know a new colleague is to ask questions.’
    â€˜True.’ Dominic looked wary. ‘And I owe you an apology from the other day. I’m not normally that rude.’
    â€˜I didn’t think anything of it.’
    â€˜Yes, you did—otherwise you wouldn’t have been so sharp with me in Resus this morning.’
    She bit her lip. She had been a bit sharp with him. ‘I’m sorry I was—well, snotty with you.’
    â€˜I understand why. Anyway, there isn’t room for egos in our business. The patients should always come first.’
    Her sentiments exactly. ‘I think we started off on the wrong foot.’
    â€˜Agreed, and I’m sorry, too. For the sake of a decent working relationship, can we start again?’
    She was all in favour of decent working relationships. ‘Louisa Austin, nurse practitioner. Pleased to meet you.’ She stretched out her hand.
    He shook it; again, it felt as if electricity bubbled through her veins, but she ignored the sensation. This was work .
    â€˜Dominic Hurst, senior ED reg. Pleased to meet you, too, Louisa.’ He paused. ‘You said you were looking for riding lessons for your son. I assume Essie told you I have a horse? My best friend owns the stables where I keep him. I could have a word with him and his wife.’
    â€˜Thanks, but there’s no point. He won’t have a space.’
    He frowned. ‘How do you mean?’
    â€˜I’ve already tried ringing round some of the local riding schools and…well, their lists are all full.’
    He looked surprised. ‘We’re in a recession and riding lessons are one of the first things that tend to get cut, because they’re not cheap—instead of going twice a week, people go riding maybe once a fortnight instead.’
    Just as she’d thought. Especially when the waiting lists had suddenly become two years long. Might as well get it over with now. ‘The thing is, my son has Asperger’s.’
    He shrugged. ‘And?’
    â€˜The riding schools I rang changed their minds about having places when I explained.’
    â€˜More fool them. Riding’s really good for Asperger’s kids. Being with horses helps them learn to understand non-verbal body language.’
    Now that she really hadn’t expected. She was more used to people being uncomfortable around Ty. Understanding like this was rare. ‘Did you used to work in paediatrics, or do you know someone