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Had she got on with her life in the way she’d expected when she’d thanked hi sex with hi her condition andforward? Had he been a part of her decision over a le, and so far no one but her family had turned up here to be with Holly

A lot of questions with no anshirled around his mind If there ever was a time for that Theremore important to hiether It was that connection working between the hi-held belief that love like his parents had had was rare, and probably not for him

‘Why don’t you join Stacey?’ Her father stood in front of him

Noah got to his feet ‘I’ll wait a bit, let you all spend time with Holly It must’ve been a hell of a shock when she was hit by that skateboarder’ But he wanted to be with Stacey

Ian studied hi moment ‘It was She’s so tiny and defenceless Stacey adores her and nothing’s going to co

‘Froht’

I know I care about her too much, and that I want to know more, want to further our relationship

So as her father looking at hiht be interested in? Or just hiht family, but surely that didn’t ht She’s very straightforward in pursuing what she wants It’s one of the things I like about her’ Not that he could think of anything he didn’t like

Ian relaxed ‘It’s what ood mother’

Noah couldn’t say why, but he felt he’d been accepted Neither did he understand if that was important to him, or to Anastasia But he’d run with it and see where it led ‘It’s also why she’s a superb nurse’

‘Come on’ Her father headed back into the s to see if he followed

Noah quietly followed and scoped the scene froirl under the sheet, and to herover her with a look that said no one, nothing, was going to hurt Holly any h and soft; loving beyond reason Noah’s heart swelled, filling with an emotion he was afraid to name

CHAPTER SIX

STACEY SAT IN a chair at the bedside, her ar out if—when she woke up Because she was going to coh this They would get through this What had the radiology technician said? She looked around the rooht, isn’t she?’

‘Yes’

He could’ve said a lot of on that nor to put a lot of effort into thinking Obviously he understood because all he’d said was, ‘Yes’ She wanted to cry Wanted, and very nearly did But she wouldn’t cry in front of Holly, not even when her girl wouldn’t notice She was the oing to see her wailing and carrying on So she sniffed, and dug deep for a smile ‘Thanks for that’

‘You’re welcome’

‘Noah?’ Unbeknown to Noah, he was the strong person in their relationship, whatever that was She had to tell hi her eyes with a handful of tissues, she drew a breath But not while her family were here

‘Yes?’ he asked

She thought about what to say, staring at hiht cry for their daughter and be pleased to knoas Holly’s dad Hehis fatherhood for her gain There were a hundred things he ’

‘You sure?’

Not at all ‘I need to talk to you’ She pulled another tissue from the box and blew noisily