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‘Noah, it’s Angela Theatre’s ready’

‘On my way’ Time to focus completely and utterly on what he was here for

As he waited i to Jason The rew to find out even more He was attracted to her And not only physically Her sentleness and care with patients touched hiiver, not a taker Yet he couldn’t just let go of his hang-ups and dive into a relationship The past held him back

What if he never found the kind of all-enco love he hoped for? He couldn’t settle for second best Thatelse was up in the air Except that Anastasia turned hihtness to his heart he hadn’t known before She see him She was special She looked out for her family, shared their pain and happiness

But was she worth the risk? Would she hurt hiot hurt at so-terest fear He’d survived it when his parents had died, though how, he had no idea, except pure grit, which for a ten-year-old see no one to stick up for him

Robert certainly hadn’t wanted to hear him cry or talk about how he missed Mum and Dad His aunt had told hiood people never talked about them And then there was Christine He had tried to talk to her about his past and how he’d felt She hadn’t said anything like his uncle and aunt No, she hadn’t said a word at all Had just asked if he’d finished and picked up her book to continue reading The Ice Queen

He should’ve seen the warning signs then, but he’d been desperate to love and be loved Before they were ed to avoid that conversation, and he’d let her, not wanting to sound like a man who couldn’t cope with life Afterwards he’d wanted to tell her so there were no secrets between them What a success that had been, but at least he’d finally admitted where he stood with her and had started divorce proceedings not long after Better alone than ignored

Anastasia tensed suddenly, as though sensing hie

He stepped into the lift now open before his that ailed hi involved with other people’s probleood ending, some were not Those were hard to deal with, and often went hoht, when he’d think if only he could do more to save these people

He did all he could, anddays he’d learnt to hold hiet involved beyond the facts, but he didn’t always follow his own rules Partly because it was i into Robert if he did

Being around Anastasia ht turn hi more like his ine being that happy-go-lucky person again Worth trying for, though Being happy Cheerful Looking forward rather than over his shoulder at the past Loving so his heart

So weeks First, he’d meet Anastasia after work

He laughed out loud as he stood in the lift full of staff ‘Great day, isn’t it?’ he asked in general, and had to bite his tongue at the ensuing silence

So he was goingit on It felt far better than the serious life he knew all too well

CHAPTER FOUR

‘I’M AT CONNOR’S CAFÉ’

Stacey grinned as she did an about-face and strode back the way she’d come to the café she’d passed only minutes earlier She couldn’t wait to see hi control with Noah this tih she couldn’t fault her actions last tiht, which had resulted in Holly arriving into her life Excite with Noah away from work, however briefly

‘You’re looking lovely,’ said the hts when she walked up to him at a table tucked into the back of the noisy café where people were eating early dinners Bending close, he kissed her on both cheeks ‘How are you?’

Worried, nervous, excited Mostly wound tight with longing She s down around her red-tipped feet Leaning in close, to feel that lithe body against hers The need to get even closer overtook everything else Rising on her toes, she locked eyes with Noah and touched her lips to his Just like three years ago, her inhibitions were blinded around Noah

Noah kissed her back, this ti Finally he pulled away, leaving her hungry for ious’ His smile ry He took her hand and held out a chair with the other ‘Coffee’s co I also ordered a platter of cheeses and crackers to fill the gap’

‘Thanks I’m a bit peckish’

‘Me too, and dinner’s a way off as I’ve got a patient to check up on later He haeery’

Fair enough She didn’t have long to talk to hi on?’

Noah shook his head ‘We’re not at work now’

Nice one More excitement touched her

Quieten down, girl