page9 (1/2)

Harry strolled into the general ward of Auckland Central Hospital at ten the nextto visit Sienna was beyond co he knew hiotten last night wasn’t thehere, , Sienna’ Damn, but there was little colour in those soft cheeks, and the sparkle hadn’t returned to her eyes, the vivid blue now an overcast sky shade He would not acknowledge the tightening in his chest, nor the urge to pick her up and hold her close until she smiled properly

‘Harrison What are you doing here?’ Flat- that than the shtened him in places best not remembered at the moment

‘Co’ One corner of that wide h to know he’d hit the mark ‘Or we could book that jump off the Sky Tower for after lunch’

‘I won’t be eating for hours before I go leaping off any building,’ came her retort And yes, a half-smile now

Unbelievable how good that ourmet breakfast care of the hospital kitchen?’

‘Sonisable’

‘Any doctors been to see you thisSaturday, but then everyone had fallen over backwards to attend to her last night Seemed she was a very popular paediatrician No serious injuries had turned up but Aht so they could keep an eye on her mild concussion

‘Ao home whenever I’m ready’

Phew No ongoing problems from that knock on the head, then ‘I caive you a lift before Connor and I go collect it if you like’ It hadn’t taken any persuasion to get his off-sider to go with hiht Sienna was the bee’s knees

‘You’ve got this all under control, haven’t you?’ The smile had disappeared

What’d he done wrong now? ‘I’ you out’

Sienna glanced up at hih rippled across her lips, and tightened his gut ‘I’istered on her face, as though she’d ade

‘It’s no big deal’ He didn’t want her thinking he s for her ‘Hoere you planning on getting ho his hand up to help further

‘I phoned e, but she’ll be at thefor a run, so who knohen I’ll hear frouess that’s a yes, please Thank you, I’d like a ride home If it’s still on offer’

‘Unless you want to stay in your hospital gown, you’re going to have to squeeze back into those tight leggings’ Could hurt a bit, ith all the bruises she’d collected By the tiot her to the ED she’d been black and blue from head to toe

Her chin shot forward and he’d swear her teeth were clenched tight ‘No problem’

‘Then let’s get this done’

‘You can wait outside’ More jaw-tightening going on

‘You’re going to need help’ And he was a doctor He’d seen it all before Yes, but he hadn’t seen Sienna, and he’d spent a lot of ti

‘Not fros over the side of the bed, grio find me a nurse’

His hand lifted of its own accord, took her elbow ‘Let’s make this as easy as possible’

‘Sienna, what have you done to yourself? I couldn’t believe it when I saw your text Why didn’t you call ht?’ A tornado in the form of a tiny woman dressed in sports shoes, shorts and top spun into the rooht?’

Harry immediately stepped between the newco around her ‘Careful’

‘Anna, I’m fine’

The wo to her hips ‘You look anything but fine A cycling accident? What happened? Did an irresponsible driver cause this? Want me to talk to the police for you?’

A genuine, full-blown s up her eyes, softening her cheeks