She could feel herself blushing and said hastily, ‘So – can we go home now?’

‘Well…’ His smile faded and he hesitated.

‘Now what?’ She could hear the edge to her voice, but couldn’t help it.

‘The hospital wants to run a series of tests on Nick. I don’t like to leave Cynthia here on her own.’

Megan pulled out of his arms. ‘What are you going to do, then, invite her to join us in this suite?’ She gestured to the bed. ‘It’ll fit three, if we’re all very friendly!’

He was avoiding her eyes. ‘I’ve, um, invited her to come down to the block with us.’

‘Cynthia?’

‘Why not?’ But he sounded defensive.

Megan gave a scornful laugh. ‘She’ll be bored out of her tiny mind! She’s the last person to enjoy a place like that.’

‘She says she enjoys an occasional visit to the country.’

‘I’ll bet she does.’ Megan breathed deeply for a moment or two to prevent herself from saying something she might regret. She simply couldn’t understand what Cynthia was after. ‘Just a small point, though – where is she going to sleep?’

‘We have a spare bedroom.’

‘It’s microbe-sized and unfurnished.’

‘I’ll have some furniture delivered. A single bed and a wardrobe should do it. I’ll ring a shop up in Mandurah or Bunbury.’

‘Better add a dressing table for her make-up. She even wears lipstick to breakfast. We wouldn’t want to subject her to the hardship of putting it on with a hand mirror, would we?’

His lips tightened, but he only said, ‘Very well.’

‘Ben—’

‘Yes?’

‘Oh, Ben, I don’t want that woman at our house! She’ll spoil things.’

He scowled at her. ‘You’re being very childish. She won’t be an easy guest, I agree, but Nick’s worrying about her and that’s not good for him. I’m doing this for him, not for her.’

‘You didn’t even think to ask me, though! Don’t I have any say about who comes to stay in my home?’ She knew even as she said it she was being unfair, but she was so disappointed, she couldn’t help it. She didn’t want that woman spoiling their little paradise.

The quarrel lasted barely five minutes, but it proved that Ben hadn’t forgotten how to lose his temper and that Megan’s tongue had retained its bite.

In the end, he stormed over to the door. ‘I’m going downstairs for a drink and a bit of peace. You can stay here and sulk on your own. No one in his right mind would want to spend time with someone in such a shrewish mood!’