The Nurse's Christmas Wish. Sarah Morgan

glanced at the array of dishes and felt his taste buds spurt. ‘You made curry?’

      He was starving.

      ‘That’s right.’ She went back to the oven and removed several more dishes. ‘That’s a lamb rogan josh and a chicken pasanda—very creamy with almonds. Rice, naan bread, spinach with garlic and green beans. Enjoy.’

      Deciding that difficult conversation could definitely wait, Mac helped himself, piling his plate with food and then turning his attention to his brother. ‘So—what happened today?’

      Without lifting his eyes from his plate, Josh reached for his beer. ‘Usual story. Too many patients. Too few staff. Any chutney, Lu?’

      Louisa pushed the dish towards him. ‘It’s fresh chutney. Tomatoes, red onion, coriander—try it. It’s better for you than that sugary stuff you had hanging around in the fridge which, by the way, expired a year ago so I threw it out.’

      Josh gave a sheepish smile. ‘Oops.’

      ‘The forecast is bad. It’s going to be a difficult Christmas,’ Mac said, forking lamb curry into his mouth. For a moment he sat still, savouring the flavour. A fabulous mix of spices exploded onto his palate and he just managed to stop himself groaning with pleasure. ‘This is amazing.’

      ‘Glad you like it.’ Louisa helped herself to some chicken. ‘Why are you so busy at work? Surely there aren’t many tourists at this time of year?’

      ‘Difficult to attract staff to deepest Cornwall,’ Mac said, chewing slowly, his eyes fixed on her face. ‘Which makes me wonder what you’re doing here.’

      Why would she agree to come and live with strangers at Christmas?

      Josh choked on his beer. ‘For crying out loud, Mac, finish the food before you insult the woman. If she deprives us of seconds, I’ll kill you.’

      Mac didn’t smile, his eyes still on her face, searching for clues. What exactly was she expecting from him?

      She held his gaze. ‘I’m making your life easier, Dr Sullivan. That’s what I’m doing here.’

      He glanced round his kitchen. ‘Housekeepers don’t usually work out.’

      ‘Because they keep hearing wedding bells.’ Louisa’s tone was placid and her eyes twinkled with humour. ‘Josh told me. Don’t worry, Mac, you’re very good-looking but you’re not my type.’

      ‘So what’s your type?’ The question left his lips before he could stop himself, but she simply laughed.

      ‘I haven’t met him yet, but when I do, I’ll let you know and I’ll invite you to the wedding. More curry?’

      Mac sat unresisting as she spooned the rich sauce onto his plate. ‘Are all your meals as good as this one?’

      ‘Well, if you’ll let me stay, you’ll find out,’ she said cheerfully, a dimple appearing in her cheek. ‘If you throw me out, you’ll never know.’

      It occurred to Mac that she smiled more than any woman he’d ever met.

      But he was still going to ask her to leave. As soon as he’d finished eating.

      ‘So you’re an A and E nurse?’

      ‘That’s right.’ She poured herself a glass of water. ‘I left my last job a few weeks ago.’

      ‘Why?’

      Josh let out an exasperated sigh. ‘For goodness’ sake, Mac. You sound like the Spanish Inquisition.’

      ‘Are you always this suspicious?’ Louisa sipped her water and then put the glass down on the table. ‘I’m a perfectly competent nurse, if that’s what’s worrying you. Your unit sister has my references if you want to check them.’ She broke off and hesitated briefly. ‘And I left because I didn’t want to be in London on my own at Christmas.’ She stood up and started stacking plates into the dishwasher. ‘I always get restless at this time of year.’

      Mac sat back in his chair. ‘You don’t like Christmas?’

      ‘Oh, I love Christmas,’ she said softly, closing the dishwasher with a click. ‘It’s my favourite time of year.’

      He sensed that she was going to say something more and then her mouth closed firmly and she carried on clearing up. He watched as she busied herself around the kitchen and wondered what she was hiding.

       Because he had a feeling she was hiding something.

      He took a deep breath and prepared to question her further, and then he caught the warning gleam in his brother’s blue eyes. ‘All right. You can stay.’ What the hell was he saying? ‘Just for now. Once you start working in the department you’ll find you won’t have time to clean up after us.’

      She’d get fed up and leave and that would save him the bother of sending her away.

      The tension seemed to ooze out of her. ‘I can stay? Really?’ Her voice was husky and curled itself around his insides like velvet. ‘Thank you.’

      Josh grinned and put down his fork. ‘Thank goodness for that. She would have been a pretty difficult Christmas present to send back.’ He raised his glass and winked at Louisa. ‘To a decent Christmas dinner for once in our lives.’