To the ladies who lunch, Yve, Nicky and Vicki.

CHAPTER ONE

      ‘SO WHICH IS it, then?’

      ‘Eh?’ Charlotte King was busy trying not to notice that Edward North was currently going through his pockets to find the key to his office, and she had lost the thread of the conversation that was going on around the nurses’ station.

      ‘Which do you think? Secret love-life, or no love-life?’ Paula craned across the desk to get a better view. ‘Wonder if he needs a hand with that?’

      Charlotte swallowed a laugh. ‘What? You know where he’s left his keys?’

      ‘No. But I’m really good at finding things.’ Paula’s smile left no doubt that she was contemplating a thorough investigation and possibly a body search.

      ‘Too late. He’s got them.’ Allie grinned at Paula. ‘And I reckon he’s got a secret mistress somewhere.’

      ‘When does he get to see her? In between here and the hospital, I’d be surprised if he has much time for anything else.’

      ‘He has time to swim.’ Allie’s blue eyes flashed mischievously.

      ‘Yeah?’ Paula’s attention was on Allie now.

      ‘Mmm-hmm. I left my trainers downstairs in the gym the other day and went to fetch them after work. He was in the pool, doing laps.’

      ‘Hmm. Perhaps I’ll go buy myself a swimming costume. Common interests can be very important in a relationship.’

      ‘So you’ve thought this through, then?’ Charlotte wished that Paula and Allie would keep their voices down. Not that the nurses were in any danger of being heard. It was difficult enough to get Edward’s attention even when he was supposed to be listening to you. It just seemed somehow wrong to be talking like this.

      ‘Who hasn’t? I reckon he just needs a good woman. And I’ll apply for the position if no one else is interested.’

      Allie laughed. ‘Steady, Paula. Remember there’s a queue and I’m in it. Charlotte, too, eh?’

      Charlotte considered the prospect. She couldn’t get away with a lie that big. ‘Yeah, okay. Just to keep you two company, though. I don’t have time for dating.’

      Or the money. Or the inclination, most of the time. Apart from when Edward... Her gaze wandered over to the glazed wall of his office. He was behind his desk now, deep in thought, a stack of papers and books in front of him.

      ‘Yeah, right.’ Paula was laughing now. ‘Guess we could share him around.’

      Oh, no. Edward wasn’t