After he’d finished an impressive repair job, she dressed the man’s wound and the orderly came with a wheelchair to take the patient to his relatives. Yep. It was all over too soon.

Zac turned from the sink, where he’d removed his gloves and washed his hands. ‘We work well together. Did we do that much?’

Normal conversation. She could do that. ‘Enough. Mostly maternal emergencies when we called in extra help.’ She steeled herself to say it. ‘Before I see if anyone else needs me, would you like to meet up tomorrow, one last time? I thought, since you’ve come back here and some time has passed, you might have questions you’d like to ask me.’ She’d rehearsed that in case she needed it.

His head shot up and her heart skipped to see he was relieved she’d offered. ‘Yes, thank you, I would.’ There was no hesitation there and she eased the breath she’d been holding out of her frozen lungs. ‘Are you working any day shifts?’ he asked.

‘No. I mostly work nights.’

‘Me too. I’m off tomorrow until eight in the evening. What time do you wake up? How about supper before you come to work?’

‘How about we meet in the morning, instead? Then I’ll sleep after.’ She knew she wouldn’t sleep waiting to see him.

‘Even better. Breakfast, then. Eight o’clock. My shout. Do you have a place you prefer?’

She named the hotel he’d stayed at the first week all those weeks ago and he nodded. ‘That’s where I’m staying.’

She didn’t say, I know. We slept there together. Instead she said, ‘Fine, see you in the dining room there at eight. If I’m late it’ll be because of work.’

He smiled at her and it was that sweet, caring smile she remembered. It almost broke her heart. ‘No problem. I’ll be patient.’

She nodded and glanced at the swinging suture-room door. She should go and do something useful and so should he.

‘Ava.’ His low voice held such a gentle quality she could have wept.

‘Yes?’

The blue-green of his eyes shadowed. ‘I can see this isn’t easy for you. Thank you for offering.’

She felt her eyes sting. Do not give me sympathy. Do not! ‘I’d better get back out there.’ And with that she left. It felt incredibly difficult to walk away, but at least she’d seen him. She had a plan. Now he just needed to find his memories in that big, beautiful head of his and fall in love with her again. Or she would have to say goodbye forever.

Chapter Forty-seven

Zac