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'What do you mean?' she asked anxiously

'All the ti to that misshapen hip of his, if it's left too late on't be able to do anything about it'

'But why didn't you make him have it earlier?'

'He's always refused We can't force him, we can only advise'

'But he's suffering!' she protested

David Byne sighed 'I know that, and I’ve tried to get hie his mind, but he isn't an easy man to persuade'

They both looked up as a slightly embarrassed Sara entered the room 'Mr Rafe sent me in here,' she explained hastily

'Why was that, Sara?' Hazel queried softly

'He—er—he didn't consider it proper for you to be alone together'

Hazel had known the answer before she even asked the question, but she had had to knoay Rafe hadn't approved of David Byne exa her yesterday, so she had no reason to think he would be anytoday

David Byne looked down at her with adht,' he said softly

Hazel smiled at him shyly 'He wouldn't consider it proper for you to flirt with me either'

He grinned 'Was that what I was doing? I thought I was being serious Well,' he said briskly, 'there doesn't appear to bewith you'

'So I can get up?' she asked eagerly

'Well'

'Oh, please, Dr Byne! I want to go and see Rafe'

'He should be sleeping right now, I've given hi that should knock him out for a few hours The rest will help his hipelse I can prescribe' He stood up 'I suggest you spend the rest of the day in bed and then perhaps visit Rafe this evening after dinner'

Hazel pouted 'Not: before then?'

He tapped her on the nose 'Most definitely not Rest would be the last thing I had on my mind if I had you in my bedroom' His brown eyes twinkled at her

'Dr Byne!' Sara's shocked voice rang out

He grinned at her as he picked up his bag 'Just teasing, Sara, just teasing'

Sara folded her arms across her ample bosom 'So I should think!' she said huffily

The day see to come, when she could visit Rafe She lived in a state of nervous excitement all day, only to be disappointed when it catne to the time

Sara came in to remove her dinner tray 'You'll have to leave your visit until tomorrow,' she informed her

Hazel's face dropped 'Oh, why?'

'Because Mr Rafe is fast asleep He woke this afternoon, ht meal and then took one of the tablets prescribed by the doctor' Sara gave a satisfied s like a baby'

Hazel couldn't hide her disappointhed unhappily

'Now then, Miss Hazel, sleep is better for hi female'

'I don't chatter,' she protested indignantly 'Couldn't I just go and sit with him?'

'Noould be the point of that, he wouldn't know you were there’

'I could be there when he wakes up’

'HeNo, you wait until tomorrow'

Hazel accepted this with ill grace and lay in bed brooding about it for the next couple of hours Why couldn't she just go and sit with Rafe for a while? It would help to reassure her about his condition and it certainly couldn't hurt him if he was asleep

Her mind made up, she quickly dressed in denims and a tee-shirt, then quietly left her bedrooht, he was sleeping like a baby He looked softer in sleep, more approachable, andlove to her

She sat beside the bed, feasting her eyes on his bare chest and strong attractive face It felt good to be able to look at him freely like this and she moved with a start when the blue eyes flickered open and she found herself staring into their stormy depths

'Hello,' Rafe said huskily

Her breath caught in her throat 'Hello'

'What are you doing in here?' He gave a rueful grin

'I bet Sara doesn't know you're here'

She smiled slowly 'You win your bet!'

'I thought so' He yawned sleepily, stretching to ease his tired muscles 'What time is it?'

'About eleven o'clock'

'Oh' He looked at her with caressing eyes 'Why don't you join me?'

'J-join you?' she repented stupidly

'M but sleep, and I could do with the company'

'Oh, but------'

'Don'tabout it, Hazel Just accept that I need soht'

She needed noto let hihtdress,' she said