Rescued by Dr. Rafe

Rafe leaned back against the sofa cushions, chuckling. ‘All right. What have I let myself in for now?’

‘Well, there are a few little bits and pieces I could bring with me. Only if you wanted me to. My breadmaker, perhaps.’

‘Bring as much as you like.’ Rafe looked round at the sitting room. Plain walls. Good quality furniture. But it had always felt a little cold and empty. He’d known for a while now that there was one vital thing missing. ‘I said that this place needed a woman’s touch. What I actually meant was that it needs your touch.’

‘Really?’

‘Absolutely. There’s a bit of a space, up in the bedroom. I think it needs something...’

‘A washstand?’

Rafe laughed. ‘Perfect.’

‘I’ve got some other things up in the loft. Things we bought together. You could go up there and have a look around if you wanted.’

‘You didn’t throw it all away?’

‘No. I couldn’t bear to. I just didn’t want to look at it.’ She shifted in his arms and settled again comfortably. ‘Maybe this is how we do it. Keep the things we want, but make a new start.’

‘I’d like that.’

They were silent for a moment. Dreaming the same dreams.

‘What are you thinking, Rafe?’

Rafe bent to kiss her. ‘I was just thinking about coming home every day to find you in my bed. Naked. Or maybe something lacy...’

‘You will not.’ She poked her tongue out at him. ‘That’s only every other day. Alternate days, you’re the one who gets naked. In the kitchen.’

He chuckled. ‘Right. Okay, I see how this is going to go...’

‘And there are rules.’ She pulled herself up on to his lap and he curled his arms around her.

‘Yeah. I was really hoping for rules.’

* * *

She’d never felt so loved before. Never felt that she was so exactly in the right place.

‘Rule Number One...’ Mimi kissed the tip of his finger. ‘We talk about it. Whatever it is, however hard it is.’

‘Agreed. That’s a good one. Number Two...’ He laughed as she kissed his next finger. ‘You remember that I love you. And if I ever do anything to make you feel you’re not good enough, you make me crawl on my hands and knees to ask for forgiveness.’

‘I think you’re pretty safe on that score. But yes, I can do that.’

‘Good. Number Three...’

‘Hey, don’t I get to make the next one?’

‘Do you have one?’

She thought for a moment. ‘No. Not at the moment. Okay, you take Three and I’ll have Number Four.’

‘Fair enough. Number Three is that we don’t let the sun go down on an argument.’

‘Yes, that’s a good one. That can be Number Three.’ She kissed the top of his third finger. ‘Where did you get that one from?’

‘Remember the old guy we went to see?’ He frowned in thought for a moment. ‘Infected cut on his leg. What was his name?’