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‘And then the itching will go?’
Madison nodded. ‘Though, as I said, it can take up to three weeks after the birth. You’ll also need to have some blood tests a couple of weeks after the birth to check your liver function and make sure everything’s normal again. Do you normally use the contraceptive Pill?’
‘Yes.’
‘As long as the itching has cleared up, you should be able to use it again—but if you start itching when you go back on the Pill, you’ll need to see your GP and maybe try a different form of contraceptive.’ Madison smiled at her. ‘Is there anything else you’d like to ask us, or anything you’d like me to run through again?’
‘No. I think I know what to expect now. And thanks. This itching’s been driving me crazy.’
Mmm, Maddie knew all about being driven crazy. But she’d take Katrina’s advice and wait until Theo was ready to let her close.
That evening, Madison took a taxi to Theo’s, as agreed.
‘You look stunning,’ he said when he opened the door to her and kissed her hello. ‘Forget the crème brûlée. I’m going to take you out to dinner before we go to the jazz club.’
Dinner, in a little bistro, was fabulous. Theo was at his most charming and talkative and Madison enjoyed his company hugely. But he didn’t say a word about his encounter with Nita—and Madison didn’t want to be the one to bring it up.
The jazz club was even better. Dancing with Theo to the kind of music she loved, holding him close. And then back to his house, where he undressed her in silence, caressing every inch of skin with his hands and his mouth as he uncovered it before making such sweet and tender love with her that she was close to tears.
‘Maddie,’ he said softly, holding her close. ‘There’s something I need to tell you.’
For one mad moment she thought he was really going to say it.
I love you.
She was prepared to tell him that she loved him, too—all the way back.
But his next words sent ice through her veins.
‘You know what we were saying last night? About me missing home?’
Oh, no. Please, don’t say he was leaving. There were still weeks to go before his locum consultancy ended—weren’t there? Surely they still had time to get to know each other, work through their fears and face the future together?
‘I’m going back for a few days the day after tomorrow.’
‘Sure.’ What did he expect her to say? Anticipation prickled up her spine. Or was he going to ask her to go with him, meet his family? It was a bit late notice, but she could probably get someone to swap shifts with her.
‘I’ll send you a postcard,’ he said lightly.
Oh. So he wasn’t going to ask her to go with him.
She suppressed the little sting of hurt. Although he’d seemed different over the last few days, as if he was falling for her, she’d been a fool to hope for anything more.
‘That’d be nice,’ she said, hoping that she sounded equally light and unconcerned.
And although Theo curled his body round hers that night, holding her close, she found it hard to fall asleep that night. She faked deep and regular breathing, but it wasn’t enough to tip her over the edge into sleep. She lay awake, listening to Theo’s breath and the ticking of the clock. Katrina had said he’d be worth the wait once he’d sorted out the problems in his head. But would he ever let her close enough to help him sort them out?
Three days later, Theo emerged from the sea, slicking his wet hair back from his forehead. Lord, it felt good to be home. And a hard swim in the sea was exactly what he’d needed.
He walked across the beach and sat down on the towel next to Sophronia.
‘Better now?’ his sister asked.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘Yes, you do.’ She checked that the sunshade was still in the right place to give maximum cover to her sleeping toddler, then drew her knees up to her chin. ‘What’s her name?’
‘Whose name?’
‘The woman you’ve been brooding about since—well, probably since the moment you got on the plane yesterday. And don’t deny it, Theo.’
‘Because women have a sixth sense about these things?’ he asked lightly.
‘Because you rang Meli to ask for tips on a special pudding. Which means you were cooking for someone.’
Oh, lord. He’d forgotten about the family grapevine. He’d bet his sisters had been speculating ever since.
‘So be as snippy as you like, adelphos mou,’ she said sweetly. ‘You’re still going to tell me.’
‘There’s nothing to tell, Sophie.’
