A Family This Christmas by Sue MacKay Page A

stay. ‘I’ll keep it in mind.’
    ‘Here, let me help you up.’ Cam stood in front of her, hand extended. ‘That was some thump you took just then.’
    ‘Not sure what happened.’ Yeah, right.
    ‘I upset you again.’ Contrition blinked out at her from those disturbing eyes.
    Shaking her head from side to side, she said, ‘Not your fault. Anyone would make the same suggestion given the situation.’ Because they had no idea what she was up against. Placing her hand in his, the instant heat that warmed her had her making to tug away, except Cam closed his fingers around hers and held tight, pulling her to her feet.
    Raising her gaze to meet his, she sucked in a breath at the need and loneliness and understanding she saw. Just as suddenly she wanted something from him, too. Wanted friendship, closeness—wanted that fling she’d thought about earlier. It was there for the taking. She could see Cam’s need in his eyes, feel it in his raised pulse as he held her hand, smell it in the thick air hanging between them.
    Like a chrysalis slowly opening so that what lay inside could spread its wings and try to soar, it was as though her life was starting over. That she was being given a second chance. Her body swayed closer to his.
    She didn’t deserve a second chance. She pulled back.
    Cam continued to watch her as he leaned close again. She only had to lift ever so slightly on her toes and her lips would be on his. And then she’d know what it was like to kiss Cam, to taste him.
    Tugging her gaze away from that beautiful face looking down at her, she glanced around the room. Looking for? Approval? Condemnation? Toy trucks and a helicopter and a plane were stacked messily in one corner.
Toys, Jenny, toys.
Children lived here, with this man. They had first dibs on Cam, not her. She didn’t have any dibs. What had she been thinking? Maybe she
had
hit her head when she’d fallen. She’d sure been acting strange ever since.
    Jerking her hand free, Jenny hobbled sideways around Cam. ‘Sorry,’ she muttered. ‘I need to get some sleep.’ Then she might be able to put these out-of-left-field thoughts about Cam to rest.
    Silently he handed her the crutches, watched as she tucked them under her arms. His face gave nothing away. That need she’d seen moments earlier had been banished. Thank goodness. It was hard enough controlling her own wayward reaction, without seeing the same staring back at her from the man who’d sent her libido into a tango in the first place.
    ‘Goodnight, Jenny.’
    A sharp nod, a curt ‘Goodnight’ and she clomped down the hall to the bedroom she used.
    Now she really did have to find somewhere else to stay until she could get around more easily. Staying here any longer wasn’t fair on Cam—or herself.
    Tomorrow you’re going with Cam to Blenheim to see your surgeon. You could spend those spare hours afterwards ringing around motels, enquiring about a suitable unit.
    She could. It was the perfect solution. So why didn’t she feel ecstatic? Why wasn’t she hopping up and down with glee to know the end of staying here and being a pain in the butt for Cam was in sight?
    She didn’t want to leave. She liked it here, enjoyed the boys, nearly as much as their father. She felt comfortable, was even relaxing enough to start communicating more with her mum and dad.
    All the more reason to be moving on. Whether she wanted to or not was irrelevant. Cam Roberts certainly didn’t need the added distraction of her suddenly wide-eyed, ready-to-roll libido coming between them.
    Knock, knock
.
    She spun round. The crutches slipped, tangled around her legs and tipped her onto the bed. Pain sliced through her ankle, ripped up her leg, sent nausea crawling up her throat. She let out a strangled cry.
    ‘Hey, careful.’ Cam pushed open the door and was instantly at her side, reaching down to remove the crutches. ‘I’m sorry. I thought you’d hear me coming along the hall. I wasn’t trying to be