Angel Kate Read Online Free PDF Page A

everything seemed hopeless,  Professor Davy whipped off his jacket and plunged straight in,' recalled Kate admiringly. 'It was awesome.'
    James was stuffing endless used tissues into a supermarket carrier.  'You poor love,' she murmured sympathetically, 'you need looking after. Who've you caught this from when you've been stuck in the labs all week.'
    'One of the technicians,' sniffed her hero, dabbing at his dripping nose. 'I'll live. The question is, will Tom Galvan?'
    Kate's eyes glistened with sudden tears which she hastily blinked away. Not that James noticed.
     'Don't like the sound of that shattered humerus. No, I really don't.' James's intake of breath hissed through his teeth. 'Neurosurgery's a tricky field, you know. Galvan may never operate again. Ruptured liver too—hmmm. Going to be hors de combat for some while.' He blew his nose yet again. It looked so red and sore. 'God help his department. They'll have to send the really tricky stuff to Murray over at Southampton. I suppose if all goes well they'll transfer him to the Maynard Wing. And then of course he'll be convalescent for months.'
    'Oh dear,' sighed Kate, 'let's have some food and talk about something more cheerful.'
    She vanished into her little kitchen—all pine cupboards, cooking-apple-green walls and pale wood worktops—and within minutes food was on the table by the window were they could look out into the garden. This room was as unfussy as the rest of the house—nothing flowery, no clutter, no ornaments, no bits and pieces. It was interesting, thought James, sitting down on the cane-backed chair, that Kate's home was so indicative of her state of mind. Severe, almost; nothing without purpose. A total rejection of what her privileged upbringing must have been like.
    'Mmm, good soup. You make this yourself?'
    'Course I did. Red pepper and tomato. Try it with some chilli oil, it'll help your cold.'
    Kate disappeared through the stripped-pine door then returned moments later bearing a golden-topped macaroni cheese spiked with crispy bacon and slivers of fried onion, and a bowl of green salad glossy with walnut-oil dressing.
    'Smells great. You're cooking's amazing . I've been looking forward to this all day.'
    Kate beamed. She was self-taught and had had her fair share of disasters - but this wasn't going to be one of them.
     Pudding was a bowl of sweet clementines, which Kate peeled for James in her snug little sitting room, kneeling at his feet on the coral Afghan rug and resting her head against his knobbly jean-clad knees. Not too close because, as James sensibly pointed out, she shouldn't risk catching his germs. She looked about fifteen, he thought fondly, her hair in a loose ponytail, beige capris revealing ankles so fine his fingers could circle them …
    Aware of his scrutiny, she smiled up at him, glad to see him relaxed and at ease in spite of his unfortunate cold. Kate longed to suggest James should move in with her, but he was a bit under the weather and the moment wasn't right. She would wait for a warm summer's evening, sitting outside, sharing a bottle of chilled white wine …
    'We've got the perfect arrangement, haven't we,' smiled James, looking fondly down at her glossy head. With meticulous care he was removing every trace of white pith from each peeled segment of fruit. His hands were quite beautiful, the fingers long and tapering. 'You in your  little place, me in mine. Getting together two or three evenings a week.'
    Kate swallowed hard. 'Yes,' she said in a jolly voice. Perfect.' She rested  her chin on her knees and waggled her feet nonchalantly.  
    'We both like our bit of space, don't we.'
    'Oh yes!'
    James watched her thoughtfully. Her sweet face had such a sad crushed look. Poor little Kate, last night must have been a bit traumatic. 'Honestly Kate, with all that money your father left you, you don't even need to work. Let alone in such a tough, demanding profession as nursing.'
    He squeezed her shoulder, feeling