‘I hardly see how,’ he remarked dryly. ‘Unless you’re trying to recreate the Arctic Tundra in there.’
Effie wasn’t sure what took her aback the most. The fact that they were sparring about this, on her doorstep, or the fact that they were sparring at all. Surely it didn’t matter to him one way or another whether one of his colleagues had heating in their home or not?
More than that, there was the fact that something had changed between them. So subtle that she couldn’t exactly put her finger on what it was, but there seemed to be a deeper affinity there now.
Then again, he had very recently talked her through drilling a burr hole into a brain at the roadside. Surely that had to alter any relationship?
Still, she couldn’t stop her eyes from flickering over his shoulder and along the corridor beyond. If Mrs Appleby saw him—again—the rumour mill would really start cranking up.
‘If that’s what you came for, perhaps you should now go.’
There was no justification for the way her mouth fought against her uttering the words. Or for the way her heart skipped so merrily when he didn’t move. If anything, he seemed to root his feet to the cracked hallway floor all the more.
‘It isn’t what I came for.’
‘Then what?’
It was almost indiscernible, his hesitation, as if he was trying to think quickly of something to say. But then he continued and Effie realised she must have imagined it.
‘I thought you might like to know how your first brain surgery patient is.’
She was torn. A sense of self-preservation warred with the professional side of her, which ached to know that she hadn’t caused any harm to her RTA casualty.
‘She’s okay? I did okay?’
His mouth curved softly at one corner. ‘You did okay,’ he confirmed. ‘Better than okay. You saved her life.’
‘Thanks to you, talking me through it so concisely.’
Pride whooshed through her, making her feel at least ten feet tall. She couldn’t control the smile as it took her over her face, her eyes locking with Tak’s. For a moment he looked as though he was about to say more, but then changed his mind.
‘Obviously. Now, if you don’t want the whole building buzzing about the strange man on your doorstep, perhaps you should let me in.’
She ought to refuse, stand her ground. Instead she found her fingers reaching for the bolt, her hand shaking a little too much with eagerness.
‘Hurry up.’ Agitation and excitement vied for supremacy in her tone. ‘Before someone sees you.’
The temperature hit him the moment he entered.
‘It’s really is like the tundra in here.’
It sounded more like an accusation than a comment. It was all she could do to eye him with disapproval. No doubt he wouldn’t be used to that. When was the last time anyone had eyed Tak Basu with anything other than approval? Admiration? Lust?
She pushed that thought out of her head in an instant. ‘Why are you here, Tak?’
‘Did the repair guy even turn up?’
‘Tak—’
‘Did he turn up?’ he interrupted.
She glared at him. ‘Yes.’
‘But he didn’t repair it?’
‘Oh, he did.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘But Nell and I don’t use it because we like it this cold.’
‘Why didn’t he repair it?’ Tak chose to ignore her sarcasm.