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‘What’s wrong?’ he asked when he saw she was upset. George went to place a hand on her shoulder but she quickly stopped him.
‘Don’t.’
‘What’s wrong?’ he repeated, his tone more cautious than before.
‘People saw you getting out of my car this morning.’
‘What?’ His eyes were wide with shock.
Melody shook her head. ‘I knew I should have made you take a taxi.’
‘So this is all my fault?’
‘Yes.’
‘How do you figure that?’
‘Because you’ll be gone tomorrow.’
‘So?’
‘So I’m the one who’s going to be left with the rumours, gossip and pitying looks.’
‘And you think you’re the only person who’s ever been gossiped about in hospitals?’ George shoved both hands into his trouser pockets and looked down at his shoes for a moment. Slowly he lifted his head. ‘I had to endure everything and more when Veronique died. She was an admin assistant there, so not only did I get pitying looks and sympathy, left, right and centre, I also had to deal with people avoiding me because they didn’t know what to say. For six months, until I left to come away on the VOS, people avoided me. I didn’t have normal conversations with my theatre staff except for “Pass me that retractor”!’ He spoke in a harsh whisper, one that cut through Melody’s self-indulgence like a scalpel.
‘In some ways it was a relief to leave. I could concentrate on work, forget my pain and not have to put up with the quiet whispers in the hospital corridors. So, Dr Janeway, you are not the only one to have encountered the horrible hospital grapevine.’
Melody nodded once, acknowledging his words. ‘But I can’t escape,’ she said softly. ‘This is where I’m employed and although I plan to focus on my research, I still have to be Acting Director until the hospital appoints a successor. This is the hospital where I’ve been gossiped about before. It may not have been of the magnitude of yours but, still, the words, the looks—they can really hurt and I’m sick of it happening.’ Her words were calm as she gazed up at him. She dabbed the tears from her eyes.
‘Melody, I—’
‘I’m going home now.’
He gazed at her for a long, drawn out moment and the whole world seemed to slip away, leaving the two of them the only people on earth. They’d connected. In five long, hectic days they’d made a dramatic connection and one where Melody had fallen madly in love with the man in front of her.
She wanted him to hold her, to kiss her, to tell her that everything would be all right. She wanted him to comfort her, to tell her she was important to him and that he loved her. She wanted—she wanted things he couldn’t give.
George nodded and stepped back. ‘I’ll make your apologies.’
‘I’d appreciate it.’ Melody forced her legs to work as she walked past him.
‘Can we still meet for breakfast tomorrow morning?’ He spread his hands wide, indicating the decision was hers.
‘Yes.’
‘Good. I want a chance to say a proper goodbye.’
She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again, unsure what she should say. Goodbye? Why did everything seem so final with that word?
‘Sleep sweet, Melody.’ As much as he wanted to scoop her up and kiss her senseless, George knew he couldn’t. He clamped down on the feeling, knowing it wouldn’t do him any good. He’d just have to cool his heels until tomorrow. He watched the way she walked, head held high, purse clutched tightly in her hand. Her hips swayed slightly, her shoulders back, and he felt a tightening in his gut. She was dazzling and she’d dazzled him all week long.
Even as he allowed himself to acknowledge these feelings, hard on their heels came ones of guilt and remorse. He knew he was legally a free man, but mentally and emotionally George wasn’t sure if he was ready to move on. No matter what he did, he would end up hurting Melody. He cared about her so much that the thought of causing her pain made him feel physically ill.
If—and it was a big if—there was going to be anything permanent between Melody and himself, he owed it to both of them to deal with his past first, before moving on to the future. For the present? He raked a hand through his hair. For the present he was going to enjoy her company one last time. The consequences, for both of them, would come later. Of that he had little doubt.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ON SATURDAY MORNING he met her at the front of the hotel. Carmel would be taking his luggage to the airport so he wouldn’t need to worry about it. Instead, he could focus on enjoying Melody’s company as she drove them to her favourite café.
