Wrestling with her temper, she struggled to find her voice. 'No, Dr Graham,' she croaked shakily, 'I'm not all right for the ball.'
Philip frowned and looked pointedly at Andreas. 'If you don't mind, I'd like to have a conversation with Libby on my own.'
Andreas didn't budge an inch, his usually warm dark eyes suddenly cold. 'I mind.'
Philip coloured slightly. 'We have personal matters to discuss-'
'We have nothing whatsoever to discuss,' Libby said tartly, relieved that Andreas hadn't abandoned her to her fate. 'And I most certainly won't be going to the ball with you.'
'Oh … ' Philip looked slightly taken aback. 'But we agreed-'
'If you're short of a partner, I'm sure your wife would be happy to oblige,' Libby said sweetly, aware that Andreas had leaned his broad shoulders against the wall and was watching the encounter with an ominous expression on his handsome face.
Philip coloured unattractively. 'I've already explained to you that we're separated,' he muttered, and Libby lifted an eyebrow.
'Separated?' Sparks of anger lit her blue eyes and she curled her fists into her palms. 'Well, you certainly didn't look separated when I saw you the other morning.'
Philip gritted his teeth. 'I can explain, Libby. Listen to me-'
'No, you listen to me.' Libby took a step towards him, deriving considerable satisfaction from the fact that he backed away from her. 'You are a scumbag, Philip,' she said tightly. 'And if you want to talk to someone, I suggest you talk to your wife.'
Philip flinched. 'I can tell that you're angry and I can understand that you'd rather not go to the ball in the circumstances,' he said stiffly. 'It's going to take you a while to get over this.'
Libby's mouth fell open. 'Believe me, I'm over it,' she said acidly. 'And as for the ball, I never said I wasn't going. I'm definitely going. I'm just not going with you.'
Philip looked first taken aback and then horrified, obviously envisaging embarrassing scenes. 'You're never going to find anyone else to go with you at this late stage.'
Making an instantaneous decision, Libby flashed a dazzling smile at Andreas. 'I'm going with Andreas.'
She stepped closer to him and gazed into his eyes with all the adoration of someone who'd met the love of her life. 'You did manage to get the evening off, didn't you, darling?'
Andreas didn't hesitate. 'Of course,' he drawled, lowering his head and kissing her lingeringly on the lips.
Libby's brain ceased to function and she melted against him. She forgot Philip and she forgot the ball. She forgot that she was determined to resist Andreas. She was aware only of sensation. Delicious, tantalising, brain-swamping sensation.
And then Andreas lifted his head.
He brushed her cheek with his knuckles and gave a lopsided smile. 'Libby and I are hoping that there'll be fireworks,' he purred, laughter in his eyes as he looked down at her.
Stunned by the overwhelming chemistry between them, Libby flushed scarlet and Philip glowered at them both.
'Well, if that's the way you want to play it.' He turned on his heel and strode briskly out of the ward without looking back.
'You didn't have to kiss me,' Libby muttered, peering out of the room to make sure that Philip had left.
Andreas narrowed his eyes and surveyed her with all the lazy confidence of a man who knew he had the upper hand.
'I was trying to make it convincing,' he said helpfully, and she managed a scowl, even though her heart rate was still behaving strangely.
'Don't get any funny ideas, Dr Christakos. It's no big deal. I just needed someone to go with and you happened to be standing there.'
A lazy smile settled on his handsome face. 'Of course.'
'If I don't turn up, it will look as though I'm at home, pining for him, and I can't have him thinking that.'
'Of course you can't.'
She glared at him. 'This is not a date.'
'Of course it isn't.'
'It's just two colleagues on an evening out. Very platonic.' She bit her lip. 'No kissing or anything.'
His dark eyes gleamed with humour. 'No kissing?'
'Definitely no kissing,' she muttered, dragging her eyes away from his and concentrating on finding the dressing packs she needed. 'So, do you want to come?' She bit her lip, wondering why on earth she'd invited him. Talk about torturing herself. 'It's in three weeks' time. If you're busy it doesn't matter. I can ask someone else.'
Someone who didn't kiss like him.
Someone who didn't turn her brain to porridge.
He stepped closer and touched her flushed cheek with a lean finger. 'I'll take you to the ball, Cinderella, but I'm not promising to keep it platonic.'
Her stomach flipped over. 'Andreas-'
'Every time you see Philip, we seem to kiss,' he pointed out with impeccable logic, 'so we may as well both accept the way it's going to be. If we're spending a whole evening together and you're intending to convince Philip that you're over him, then I predict a significant amount of kissing.'
Libby closed her eyes.
What was she doing?
For a girl who was trying to avoid men, she was doing a pretty lousy job!
She suddenly decided that she needed an urgent talk with her sister.
Chapter 5
They were both on a late shift the following morning and met for a late breakfast in a café next to the river.
'Hi.' Libby dropped her bag onto the padded chair and stooped to kiss her sister. 'You look knackered.'
Katy gave a wry smile. 'Thanks for the compliment.'
Libby looked at her closely. 'Are you ill?'
'No.' Katy dropped her eyes and rummaged in her handbag for her sunglasses. 'Just tired.'
'Hmm.' Libby frowned and looked thoughtfully at her sister but before she could question her further, the waiter arrived to take their order. 'Two regular cappuccinos, please. And a chocolate brownie. I'm starving.'
Katy glanced shyly at the waiter. 'Actually, I don't want a cappuccino. Could I just have a mint tea, please?'
The waiter gave a friendly nod and Libby's eyes narrowed.
'Mint tea? All right, now I know there's definitely something going on. You always drink cappuccino. You're addicted to cappuccino.'
A soft flush touched Katy's perfect complexion. 'I'm just a bit off coffee at the moment.'
Libby sat back in her chair and stared at her sister. 'You're pregnant.'
Katy sank her teeth into her lower lip and adjusted her glasses. 'Libby, I don't-'
'I'm your sister,' Libby reminded her softly, leaning forward in her chair. 'Why can't you tell me?'
Katy sighed and removed her glasses, rubbing the bridge of her nose with her fingers. 'Because it's very early days and I'm scared,' she admitted finally. 'I lost the other baby … '
'And you're afraid that you might lose this one too,' Libby finished, suddenly understanding why Katy had been reluctant to confide in her. 'Have you told Jago yet?'
'Last night.'
Libby grinned. 'I bet he was over the moon.'
Katy rolled her eyes and blushed slightly. 'You know Jago-macho Spaniard to the last. You'd think it was his achievement alone. A public declaration of his manhood and virility.'
Libby laughed. 'How many weeks gone are you?'
'Only six.' Katy let out a long breath. 'Ridiculous, isn't it? Getting excited so early. Something will probably go wrong.'
Detecting a hint of tears in her sister's eyes, Libby leaned forward and squeezed her hand. 'Nothing will go wrong, angel. It will be fine.'
'But the last one-'
'You fell, Katy,' Libby reminded her softly. 'You had a really bad fall. And it was more than eleven years ago. That's a long time.'
'Do you think so?' Katy looked at her, desperate for reassurance, and Libby grinned.
'You're the doctor, honey. You should be telling yourself these things. Have you spoken to Alex? He's convinced he's God's gift to pregnant women at the moment.'
Katy shook her head. 'Not yet, but Jago and I are meeting him for supper on Friday. Any chance of you coming?'
Libby shook her head. 'I'm working. And, anyway, Alex isn't my favourite person at the moment. We've had a sort of falling-out. I don't think I could spend an evening in his company without physically abusing him.'
Katy sighed. 'I knew that it was a mistake for him to move into the flat when I moved out. The two of you are always arguing about something. What is it this time?'
'He didn't buy me at the auction,' Libby said darkly, and Katy's eyes widened.
'Was he supposed to?'
'Yes.' Libby scowled at the memory. 'I didn't want to be forced to go on a date.'
'And he forgot?'
'Of course he didn't forget.' Libby's mouth tightened. 'You know Alex. Why miss an excuse to wind me up? Don't worry. I'm going to the ball so we can all get together then and I'll tread on his toes.'
Katy stopped with her cup in mid-air. 'You're going to the ball? But I thought-'
'I know, I know.' Libby pulled a face. 'I sort of trapped myself into it.'
Katy put her cup back down on the table so hard that the tea slopped into the saucer. 'You're not going with Philip?'
'No!' Libby gave a shudder. 'I most certainly am not going with Philip. I wasn't going at all but then he implied that I was obviously too broken-hearted to go out so I was forced into a corner. If I stay at home he'll think I'm pining for him and there's no way I want him thinking that. Arrogant rat.'