Awareness slammed through her and she looked away quickly, shocked by the intensity of her own reaction.

What had happened to her over the last few days?

Had she lost every bit of common sense?

Despite everything she knew about Alex Westerling, he still made her heart beat faster and her breathing stop.

Which just proved that she was as vulnerable to his lethal charm as every other member of her sex.

Horrified by the realisation that he could affect her so strongly, she stared at him stupidly and he lifted an eyebrow in her direction.

‘Tina mentioned that you needed a doctor in here.’

‘Yes.’ Jenny croaked the word out and waved a hand towards the trolley. ‘This is Jack. He fell and hit his head on the kerb. He wasn’t knocked out and his GCS is 15.’

Alex strolled over to the trolley and smiled at the little boy. ‘Hello, there, Jack. That’s a pretty impressive eye you’ve got there.’

Helen groaned. ‘Don’t tell him that, he’ll do it again.’

Alex grinned. ‘He’s a boy. He’s bound to do it again, only next time it’ll probably be someone’s fist rather than the pavement.’ He turned back to the little boy. ‘I just need to have a little feel of your head, is that OK?’

Jenny watched him with grudging admiration. She didn’t want him to be a good doctor. She really didn’t. But he was.

And he had a nice way with children.

She watched while he examined Jack, chatting easily to him about subjects that she wouldn’t have expected him to know about, like Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder.

Bob the Builder?

What did Alex Westerling know about Bob the Builder?

He reached for an ophthalmoscope and examined Jack’s eyes, one large hand steadying the child’s head as he altered the angle.

‘Well, that looks OK.’ He ran his fingers around the bony orbit of the eye, checking that it was intact. Then he turned to Helen. ‘I don’t think he’s done himself serious damage. The bruising should improve gradually. Obviously he had a bang on his head so you’ll need to keep an eye on him for twenty-four hours. Any sickness or headache—anything at all you’re worried about—bring him back in or call your GP. Jenny will give you a form that explains everything.’

He chatted for a moment longer and then left the room. Jenny reached for a head injury form, watching as Helen walked over to extract her little girl from the cupboard for the second time.

She was wearing shorts and Jenny noticed that her left leg seemed swollen.

Was it her imagination?

She looked closer and decided that it wasn’t. Helen’s leg was definitely swollen.

‘Helen…’ She hesitated, unsure how to voice her concerns. ‘Your leg seems a little swollen. Is that usual for you?’

Helen dragged the little girl out of the cupboard, her expression harassed. ‘No, but the weather’s been hot and I’m on my feet all day.’