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Francine raised a brow. “Oh, that explains a hell of a lot. When did you date her, and how come I don’t know about it?”

“It was last year when you and David took that trip to Hawaii, after Laurel. A friend of Tommy set it up, but it didn’t go anywhere and was over by the time you got back, so it wasn’t worth mentioning.”

“In future, mention it. I would have dealt with this a whole lot differently had I known.” Her mouth scrunched up as though she were chewing a wasp and looking to spit it out, keeping the venom for her own special barbed comment at a later date.

“Hm, that might be a good reason not to tell you.” Alex grinned, feeling a lot better now than she did earlier. “Come on, I need to get out of here. It’s creeping me out.”

They left the room and wandered back along the corridor they’d come from hours earlier, only to end up back at A&E but unable to get in and find their way out. Francine was frantically waving, hoping to grab somebody’s attention, but to no avail.

“It’s no good. We’ll have to walk round and find another exit.” Alex sighed. She was exhausted with it all and just wanted to climb into her bed and forget all about today. Well, all except for Dr Kelly. She had a feeling that woman would haunt her dreams for a while – in a good way, of course.

Francine turned and was about to launch into something when she smiled over Alex’s shoulder. “Dr Morgan…I don’t suppose you could help a gal out?” She indicated the door. Alex turned quickly, blushing a little. Did she just have to think about the woman, and she would appear?

If only.

Morgan’s eyes moved quickly to Alex and held. “I guess I could.” She flashed a quick smile and reached for the ID card on her belt. Pulling it up, she held it against the keypad. “Don’t tell anyone,” she whispered a little conspiratorially.

“We wouldn’t want to get you into trouble,” Alex replied, matching her smile. She was cute. Far too young, but cute, far too cute. “And thank you again.”

“You’re welcome, just doing my job.”

She pushed the heavy door open and walked them through the emergency ward and back out into reception where Francine left them to go and fetch the car.

“You look much better, by the way,” Dr Kelly said as her eyes studied Alex’s face.

“Yes, I feel good now. You were right, just a panic attack.”

“There’s nojustabout it. They can be really scary in the moment.” Her palm wrapped around Alex’s bicep and squeezed. “I’m just glad we could help.”

Once more, Alex felt comforted by the touch. “You did, very much so.”

The palm moved away, but Dr Kelly stepped forward just enough to say quietly, “Well, anytime I can help…you know where I am.”

Alex hadn’t blushed like that in a long time, but the young doctor’s beautiful eyes staring at her were intoxicating. “I…”

Morgan fumbled in her pocket, pulling out a dog-eared wad of cards and plucked one from the bottom. Holding it out for Alex to take, she said, “Gimme a call if you feel panicked again.” Her eyes held Alex’s attention as she continued confidently, “Or just gimme a call.”

“That’s very kind.” Alex took the card and their fingertips met fleetingly. She felt it, that little jolt of excitement that ran through her any time she met somebody who started to tick boxes. How frustrating that it should happen now. Alex laughed at herself, because she would what? Ask this young woman out? Maybe under other circumstances, but not right now.

“Dr Kelly, you’re wanted in triage,” a woman on reception called out, breaking the spell. This was followed by a loud car horn being blasted from outside by Francine.

“I’d better go.” Morgan smiled.

“Again, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Morgan called over her shoulder.

As she turned the corner, she bumped into a colleague. Pascal grinned. “Who was that?”

“Someone who needed our help,” she said, still thinking about Alex Montgomery.

“Uh huh, someone you liked.”

Morgan smiled. “Yeah, someone I’d like to know better.” She shrugged. “But I doubt I’ll meet her again.”

“You never know.” He winked. “We’ve got a head gash in Bay Two.”

“Great, let’s stitch then.”