The Australian's Proposal. Alison Roberts

he well enough for Harry to question him?

      ‘Are you happy taking on the role of protector?’ Hamish fell in beside her. ‘Do you feel you’d be able to stop Harry’s questioning if you felt it necessary?’

      Kate stopped and turned towards him.

      ‘Medical question?’ she asked, feeling warmth within, although he wasn’t touching her.

      ‘Medical question,’ he confirmed, though the look in his eyes suggested he was feeling things not entirely medical.

      ‘You bet your life I’d stop the questioning if I felt it was affecting his recovery in any way.’

      ‘Mama bear protecting her cub?’ Hamish teased, and Kate had to agree.

      ‘I’m probably the very worst person to have there, because I do feel over-protective about Jack, but the slightest sign he might be tiring and Harry will be out of there.’

      Hamish smiled at her.

      ‘Word gets around the hospital quickly. When I hear Harry’s arrived I might drop by, in case you need moral support.’

      ‘And you’re not over-protective?’

      Hamish shrugged in a way that suggested agreement, leaving Kate to wonder if it was Jack or her that Hamish was protecting.

      They walked out into the scented garden that drew Kate like a magnet, together only as colleagues, she was sure.

      Its potent spell filled her head with pleasure, so worries over Kissing Hamish and Colleague Hamish were banished to the far reaches of her brain, and even her concern for Jack lost its hard, knobbly edges of doubt and dread.