The woman’s husband was slumped in an armchair, his head in his hands. As the door opened he lifted his head and looked at them.
Louisa could almost taste his fear.
He breathed out slowly, his eyes reddened and his face tormented. ‘Will she live?’
Mac ran a hand over the back of his neck, the tension visible in every angle of his handsome face. ‘At the moment she’s stable but it’s too early to be sure that she’s out of the woods. Her injuries were severe,’ he said quietly. ‘We’ve taken her to Theatre so that the surgeons can take a proper look at her chest. We’re doing everything we can and the surgeon is excellent. The best in the country.’
The husband let out a long breath. ‘You think she might die?’
Mac took a moment to answer. ‘I hope not,’ he said finally, his tone gruff. ‘I truly hope not. We’ll keep you informed every step of the way.’
* * *
He was as good as his word.
He stayed at the hospital until the woman was out of Theatre and stable in ITU. Then he spent more time talking to her husband and the surgeon.
‘Go home, Mac,’ Hannah urged. ‘You should have been off duty hours ago. You must be dropping.’
‘I didn’t want to leave until I knew what had happened in Theatre,’ he said heavily, and Hannah glanced at Louisa.
She hadn’t wanted to leave until she knew that Mac was all right. Which was ridiculous, she told herself firmly, because he didn’t need comfort from her. He didn’t need comfort from anyone.
His handsome face was shuttered. Blocking everyone out. No trace of emotion visible.
Louisa sighed.
Undoubtedly he was thinking of his wife.
Was this really the same man who had lost himself in her arms the night before?
‘It’s Christmas Eve,’ Hannah reminded them, her tone exasperated as she waved a hand towards the massive tree that stood in the waiting room. ‘You’re supposed to be off duty and at home. Go and enjoy yourselves.’
‘Yes.’ Unsmiling, his hard features strained, Mac gave them a brief nod and walked towards his office.
‘There goes a troubled man,’ Hannah said softly, and Louisa nodded.
Thanks to Rick, her car was working again and she had her own transport home.
But would he want her company?
Something told her that the magic of last night was well and truly over.
* * *
She found him sitting in the darkness of the living room, his eyes closed, his legs stretched out in front of him.
The remains of a fire still flickered in the hearth but the room had a distinct chill about it.
Louisa hesitated in the doorway, her eyes adjusting to the gloom. There was something about the stillness of his body that suggested that he didn’t want to be disturbed. But she couldn’t walk away. His pain was like a living force, so powerful that she could feel it.
‘Mac?’
For a moment he didn’t answer and then his eyes opened and she saw the desolation and emptiness.
‘Go to bed, Louisa.’ His voice was gruff and she bit her lip.
‘Not until I know you’re all right.’