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“No,” said Ash, although the pained expression on her face said the opposite. “We were just leaving.”

Alice sighed.

“We should get back to George,” Ash said and led the way through the doors. “Bloody smokers. I bet that’s the other reason Facilities ruled out a terrace garden. It’d only encourage more smokers. Not that it’s even allowed on the hospital grounds.”

“Why didn’t you say something to them?”

“It isn’t worth it. I don’t want to get on the wrong side of the nurses.”

Ash paced ahead and Alice willed her to slow down or, better, stop. She wanted Ash to turn and finish what she’d been about to say… or do, because even though it didn’t make sense after the conversation they’d just had, Alice could’ve sworn Ash had been about to kiss her.

* * *

“It might bebest if you go in on your own first. I don’t want to overwhelm him.” Ash buried her hands in her pockets and leaned against the wall.

As they stood in the corridor outside George’s room, Alice’s mind spun with questions about everything unsaid between them.

“You’re the doctor. Wouldn’t it make more sense for you to go in?”

“He doesn’t need a doctor right now; he needs a friend. And you’ve been there for him from the start.”

“So have you.”

“Yeah, but I was being paid. You were just there because you’re a good person.” Ash visibly swallowed. “The best per?—”

“Coming through,” the bearded one of two porters called out, as they rushed down the corridor wheeling a bed.

Without a thought, Alice pressed closer to Ash to let them by, but in the whoosh of them passing, she stepped off balance and stumbled into her.

“Whoa, easy.” The hands previously stuffed in Ash’s pockets were now on Alice’s hips, her fingertips in contact with the flesh under Alice’s T-shirt. Alice looked up into the slightly taller woman’s face.

“Sorry, I?—”

“It’s okay, I got you,” said Ash.

The peril was over. The porters had long since passed, but Ash’s hands stayed put. Alice’s heart galloped. Neither of them made to move away.Ask her, now…

“Before, on the roof. You were going to say something else.”

Ash’s mouth twitched into a grin. “Yeah, I wanted to tell you?—”

“Sorry to interrupt, Doctor K.,” Marjorie’s voice boomed, shattering the moment.

Ash’s hands fell away from Alice’s hips. She stood up straight and cleared her throat. Alice stepped back, her heart pounding and skin tingling from Ash’s touch.

“Nurse Reid?”

“I know you’re not on duty yet, but can we borrow you for a minute? We need a quick second opinion on a complex care plan.”

“Sure. Be right there.”

Marjorie turned and swayed back towards the nurse’s station.

“Sorry, I better...” Ash pointed in the direction of the departing nurse. “You go into George, and I’ll grab you both some tea, okay?”

Alice nodded, disappointment replacing the hope that had risen in her chest only moments ago. Ash must have read it on her face as, before she sprung off, she shot Alice her disarming grin and said, “We will get to finish our chat soon, I promise.”

“I think I’ll implode if we don’t,” Alice muttered to Ash’s retreating figure.