‘No, they do as they’re told,’ he said, his expression almost a glare.
‘I think that’s evidence that you have very little experience of children.’
‘Not the point. What did you get up for anyway?’ he asked.
‘A cup of tea.’ Ros picked up the mug and he snatched it from her.
‘I will get you a cup of tea and I will put the flowers in water, like I said I would. Will you please go back to bed?’
Ros pursed her lips. She could do as he asked but it wasn’t in her nature to acquiesce so easily. ‘I think you are overreacting. I have been discharged from hospital. I am perfectly fine.’
Cameron did not look happy. ‘You are meant to be resting. Those were the instructions from the doctor.’
‘Making tea isn’t exactly exerting myself.’
He blinked slowly. ‘You gave me a fright. I thought you were in bed. When I walked through the door I could see what you were about to do and it scared the life out of me. Can you understand that it was a shock?’
‘I can. Now may I make my cup of—’
‘I’d be happier if you let me do it,’ he said.
There was a long pause as Ros considered whether or not to make a stand but she was feeling a little out of sorts after being upright for a while so she nodded and made her way around the kitchen counter. Somehow she managed to drag her foot where the tiles met carpet and she stumbled forward. Cameron was there in an instant and strong arms caught her. He pulled her into a hug. Ros’s heart hammered in her chest and she could feel his doing the same. Maybe it was a good thing he was there. She felt so protected from everything when he held her like that.
He slowly released his hold and checked her over. They were both breathing heavily and she wasn’t entirely sure that was all down to her nearly tripping over. Being in Cameron’s arms stirred something intense within her. His face was close to hers, his eyes searching her face as if he was awaiting a prompt. For a second she thought he was going to kiss her.
His mobile rang and the moment was gone. Cameron kept hold of Ros with one hand and pulled out his phone with the other. ‘It’s Gina,’ he said.
‘Then you’d better take her call,’ she said, unable to stop a sad sigh from escaping.
***
When the taxi finally dropped Darla back at The Brambles the sky was turning a vibrant orange. She yawned as she let herself in. The brandy and trauma of the day had taken their toll on her, but she still had the menagerie to feed.
‘Darla?’ Elliott rushed into the hallway. ‘Thank heavens you’re all right.’ He scanned her up and down. ‘You are all right, aren’t you?’ The concern on his face warmed her heart.
‘Why? What’s happened?’
‘Marc rang to tell me about his yacht being stolen.’
‘Marc?’ She screwed up her face in thought. Thinking was much harder after alcohol. ‘Oh, you mean Mr Rogers. His wife is really nice. She paid for a caxi tab.’ There was something wrong with that sentence but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.
‘You’re drunk?’ Elliott sounded confused rather than judgemental.
‘Very, very long story. It took three large brandies to get to the end.’
‘Shall I get you a coffee?’
She shook her head and then wished she hadn’t because now the hat stand was swaying – or maybe it was her. ‘I need to feed the animals.’
‘All done. I’ve been waiting for a couple of hours. Had to keep busy somehow.’
‘Then maybe a coffee would be good please. And a large water. As long as I don’t have to go over the story again.’
Elliott smiled. ‘Not if you don’t want to. As long as you’re not hurt.’
She went to follow him through to the kitchen but the wall was bending round to the left. Funny, it had never done that before. Darla reached out to steady herself, missed and bumped into the kitchen doorframe.
‘Steady on,’ said Elliott, spinning around and grabbing hold of her. He had his arms tight around her and his face was suddenly very close to hers. He had lovely eyes. She realised they had been looking into each other’s eyes for far too long. She had two choices. Pull apart and risk falling over or make the most of the opportunity and kiss him. Darla went in for the kiss.
