‘You mean you were going to do your usual trick of employing a locum and then doing the work yourself,’ Charlotte said drily. ‘For heaven’s sake, Nikki-’

‘Leave it, Charlie,’ Nikki said brusquely. She looked up, saw the fleeting look of hurt in her friend’s eyes and immediately regretted her words. ‘Look, Charlie, it’s just that…’

‘It’s just that if you stop working then you have time to think,’ her friend retorted. And then a sudden smile flashed over her face. ‘Well, you and Luke Marriott should get on famously. Two workaholics and only enough work for one. Dear, oh, dear…’

‘So tell me about him,’ Nikki demanded, anxious to get the conversation away from herself. ‘Why on earth is he acting as a locum if he’s so darned clever and conscientious? He looks like…’ She thought back to Luke Marriott’s disreputable appearance, and the sudden memory of naked legs appearing from under his scanty hospital gown made her almost gasp. ‘He looks like a bum to me,’ she said unsteadily.

‘Well, he’s not a bum.’ Charlotte shook her head vehemently, frowning. ‘I suppose we’re talking of the same Luke Marriott? I don’t think I’ve ever seen the man without imported, tailored suits and amazingly expensive silk ties.’ She looked at Nikki. ‘What’s your Luke Marriott like?’

How to describe naked legs and laughing blue eyes…? Nikki couldn’t. She opened her mouth and tried but the words stuck. And then Charlotte laughed.

‘OK,’ she smiled. ‘That’s our Luke you’re thinking of. I know Luke Marriott. There’s not many men who could make you look like that, Nikki Russell, but Luke Marriott has to be a good bet. He hasn’t changed, then.’

‘Hasn’t changed…?’

‘Luke Marriott was the most gorgeous male within jet-plane distance of this hospital,’ Charlotte said firmly. ‘He had every junior nurse, some senior ones, and a few female doctors besides, making fools of themselves every time he walked past. He’s broken more hearts than I care to name.’ She peered at Nikki. ‘Not yours yet, sweetie?’