.

was absolutely thoughtless of me,’ Eden apologised again, and Nick gave a small forgiving smile.

      ‘So why do you have to work this year?’

      ‘It doesn’t matter.’ Horribly embarrassed, cringing inside, Eden made to go, but again Nick halted her.

      ‘Let’s talk in here,’ he suggested, gesturing for her to go into his office, but Eden shook her head.

      ‘The nursing roster isn’t your problem, Nick. I was just letting off a bit of steam.’

      ‘Then let it off over a decent cup of coffee.’

      He walked back into his office, clearly expecting Eden to follow, and for a moment she stood there, not quite sure she was up to an impromptu chat with Nick right now. Since Donna had dropped her bomb about the Christmas roster, Eden’s emotions had been bubbling dangerously close to the surface, and fifteen minutes alone with Nick was the last thing that was going to calm her down.

      Nick was the main reason she had wanted Christmas off in the first place!

      A week at home with her family, a week away from the city, a week of horse riding and clearing her mind, far away from the pressure cooker she found herself in whenever Nick was near.

      ‘Eden!’ Nick’s impatient voice snapped her attention back. She took a deep breath and headed into his office, determined not to let him glimpse the effect he had on her.

      Nick Watson’s ego was already big enough, without another boost.

      ‘Still take sugar?’ Nick asked, not looking up.

      ‘Please.’ Perching herself on a chair, Eden forced a smile as Nick handed her a coffee, pleased that her hands were steady as she took the cup. ‘I really am sorry about what I said…’

      ‘Don’t worry.’ Nick waved a hand as he sat down. ‘I’m OK.’

      ‘You’re sure?’ Eden checked, but she wasn’t just talking about her little faux pas earlier. ‘This time of year must be awful for you.’

      ‘Actually, no.’ Nick shook his head. ‘I’m too busy to even start feeling sorry for myself. There’s too many parties and dinners and, of course—’

      ‘Women,’ Eden finished for him with a slight edge to her voice, which she quickly fought to check.

      ‘I was about to say work.’ Nick grinned. ‘But now you mention it…! Anyway, enough about my social life. How come they’re making you work over Christmas again? I thought the ward policy was one year on, one year off.’

      ‘It was,’ Eden sighed, ‘until Ruth went off on early maternity leave. Apparently her blood pressure’s high.’

      ‘Apparently?’ Nick raised an eyebrow, picking up the tiny note of cynicism and Eden winced.

      ‘That sounded so bitchy, didn’t it? But I’ve guessed for months that she wasn’t going to make it to Christmas, especially given the fact that she was down to work night shifts on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. Donna called us all into the office earlier and asked for volunteers to take Ruth’s shifts.’

      ‘I’m assuming you didn’t put your hand up.’

      ‘No!’ Eden took a sip of her coffee before she continued, ‘No one did. And then it started.’

      ‘What started?’

      ‘“Timmy’s only two” or “It’s Jamie’s first Christmas”. Even Becky, who’s supposed to be my friend, chimed in that it’s “Conner’s last Christmas while he still believes in Santa”.’ Nick grinned as she mimicked her various colleagues’ voices and a tiny smile wobbled on Eden’s lips. ‘I don’t have a defence, given that I’m a paediatric nurse on a paediatric ward, I, of all people, should understand that children want their mums to be there on Christmas morning so Donna asked if I’d mind working it.’

      ‘You could have said no,’ Nick pointed out, and then laughed. ‘Hell, Eden, why didn’t you just say that you weren’t prepared to do it? Why can’t you just say no to Donna?’

      ‘I tried!’ Eden wailed.

      ‘How?’

      ‘I pointed out that if I work a night shift on Christmas Eve I can hardly be expected to drive to Coffs Harbour on Christmas morning unless they want me to doze off at the…’ Her voice trailed off again as the conversation tipped where it shouldn’t. ‘Last year my dad drove all the way down to Sydney and stayed at my flat overnight just so that I could be with my family on Christmas Day, but it was just too much for him. It’s a six-hour drive after all—it was actually too much for me as well. We both ended up sound asleep for the best part of the day—just about missed Christmas altogether. I can’t ask him to do it again this year.’

      ‘What about your flatmate, Jim?’ he asked. ‘What’s he doing for Christmas?’

      ‘He’s going to Queensland for the Christmas break. Actually, he’s been trying to persuade me to come with him and his friend. Maybe I should tell Donna that I’m going to be away and take him up on it. ‘

      ‘Maybe you should.’

      Eden pulled a face. ‘I don’t think so. There’s only so much damage one’s liver can take. As much beer and barbequed prawns as you can stomach isn’t really my idea of Christmas.’

      ‘You can’t be on your own.’ Nick shook his head, but Eden just gave a wry smile.

      ‘Believe me, Nick, I’d rather be. I’ve already had about three invites for Christmas dinner from my guilty colleagues…’

      ‘And?’

      ‘Timmy may only be two…’ Eden rolled her eyes ‘…but he’s an absolute monster. And as much as I adore Conner, I see enough kids’ tantrums in a day’s work…’ She gave a small shrug. ‘You get the picture!’

      ‘I do.’ Nick grinned back. And it was funny, Eden mused, that even after a year of relative silence they could slip back so easily into their own shorthand, pick up on the tiny vibes without explanation. ‘And I suppose the fact that Becky’s also a strict vegan had nothing to do with it.’

      ‘Caught.’ Eden managed a weak smile. ‘I guess if I want my turkey and ham, I’ll have to cook it myself.’

      ‘There’s always the canteen.’

      The look Eden shot him wasn’t particularly friendly but Nick merely roared with laughter. ‘It will probably be in the high thirties,’ Nick pointed out. ‘The last thing you’ll want is a huge roast.’

      ‘Wrong.’ Eden pouted. ‘I love Christmas dinner, pudding, mince pies…’ She closed her eyes for an indulgent second, imagining her parents’ dining room at home, the air-conditioning on full blast as the table groaned under the weight of ham and turkey, roast pork, little sausages wrapped in bacon and mountains of Christmas crackers with their cheesy presents and even cheesier jokes. But Nick threw a bucket of water over her fantasy.

      ‘Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’d love to have your problem. I’ve practically begged to work this Christmas but the powers that be have decided, given my circumstances, that they know best, and that what I really need is a nice little break over the festive season with my family.’ Nick’s low groan told Eden that it was the last place he wanted to be, and she blinked at him in bewilderment.

      ‘But it’s Christmas!’ she said, and it should have been explanation enough, but as Nick just grimaced, Eden let out a wail of indignation. ‘It’s Christmas,’ she said again. ‘How could you not want to spend it with them? I thought you adored your family?’

      ‘I do.’ Nick rolled his eyes. ‘And they adore me, so much so that they want to see me happy, which I am, of course, but they beg to differ. Happy to them means…’

      ‘You can say it, Nick.’ Eden smiled.

      ‘OK.’