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The paramedic stood aside as Luca helped her down from the ambulance. She clutched the foil blanket tighter as the wind whipped around her shoulders. The only part of her that felt warm was her hand in Luca’s. His grip was warm and strong, and it was with reluctance that she broke free from him in the screened-off cubicle when a doctor came to check her over.
‘I want an exhaustive examination. Whatever it costs,’ Luca emphasised.
‘She’ll have the best of care,’ the doctor assured him. ‘We’ll be careful that nothing escapes our notice.’
‘She’s pregnant.’
Luca knew everything. He probably had a drone positioned over the house. But when he thanked the doctor and turned around, she could only feel warm and thankful that he was back.
* * *
He was unharmed and impatient to leave, but first he had to make absolutely sure that Callie was okay. He’d wait as long as it took. Mud spattered his clothes. His jeans were ripped. Every bit of exposed skin had taken a battering. The nurses wanted to treat his wounds, but all he cared about was Callie. He sat outside the exam room while she was put through various tests. They were both ecstatic at the outcome. Babies in the womb were surprisingly well protected against trauma, the doctor told them both, and Callie had got off lightly with a sprained ankle and a colourful selection of scrapes and bruises. Apart from the shock, she was fine and could go home. The medical staff had been superb at every stage. He showed his gratitude with a generous donation, which was very well received.
‘And now for your bath,’ he told Callie as he escorted her off the hospital premises.
‘My bath?’ she queried, looking at him in bemusement.
‘Yes.’ They’d cleaned up her minor injuries in the emergency room, but like him she was still covered in dirt from the road, and he had plans. A short drive to the airport would be followed by a flight to his superyacht where Callie could enjoy a rest at sea. Heading south to the sun would be the perfect remedy, allowing her to chill out in privacy while they discussed the future.
‘I can have a bath at home,’ she said. ‘Leave me here. I’ll take a cab. Thanks for all you’ve done—’
‘You will not take a cab,’ he assured her. ‘You can play tough all you like, Callie Smi
th, but the rules changed when you got pregnant.’
‘It took two for me to get pregnant,’ she reminded him.
‘Which is why I’m prescribing rest for you.’
She gave him a look and then pulled out her phone.
‘What are you doing?’
‘Calling my landlady to check she’s okay, and calling a cab. And guess what,’ she added after a few moments of conversation with someone on the other end of the line. ‘Turns out an unknown fairy godmother has waved a magic wand, so builders and window fitters are already on site at my landlady’s shop, securing the building. I don’t suppose you’d know anything about that?’
‘Fairy godfather, please.’
She hummed and gave him a look.
‘About that cab,’ he said.
‘Please respect my independence, Luca.’
‘I do,’ he assured her.
‘Anywhere I want to go could easily turn into wherever you plan for me to go, and I need to get used to you being back first.’
He had no answer for that. She was right.
‘Are you going to log my every move?’ she asked with a welcome return of her customary good humour.
‘Only some of them,’ he said straight-faced.
‘My lift is on its way,’ she said. ‘Give me a chance to think things through. It’s all been such a shock. And I don’t just mean the accident. Finding out your true identity, and then the months we’ve spent apart. The gifts you sent. The notes you wrote.’
‘Would it have been easier if I hadn’t contacted you?’
A brief flash of pain in her eyes said it would have been hell. The same went for him.
