Page 65 of Only for Christmas

‘Well, I am. Now, if you’ll excuse me—’

Stephen’s foot filled the gap before she could drag Fred away and shut the door. ‘Aren’t you going to invite me in?’

Fred was now barking and growling simultaneously, making his feelings on Stephen abundantly clear. ‘No, Stephen, I’m not.’

Stephen’s hand gripped the doorframe. ‘Why not?’

She tried to maintain eye contact, which was impossible when Fred was trying to escape her grasp. ‘Because that would be inappropriate.’

‘Inappropriate? You mean like posting pictures on Instagram of you and Doctor Moore out and about when you’re supposed to be off sick?’

‘I’m not off sick,’ she said, wondering if she should let go of Fred’s collar. Only a fear of Stephen calling the police and having her precious dog put down for being aggressive prevented her. ‘I’m on annual leave.’

‘Which you requested as an emergency because you’re supposedly sick.’ He gave Fred a filthy look and lifted his foot as if he was about to kick him.

What Sarah would have done next, she had no idea. Although she suspected it involved grabbing the hall lamp and lumping Stephen over the head with it. The sight of Lucas appearing up the stairs prevented her from committing ABH. The cavalry had arrived.

‘Stephen…? What are you doing here?’ His expression conveyed genuine shock as he crouched down and beckoned Fred over, dumping a bag of shopping on the floor.

Sarah caught Lucas’s eye and he nodded for her to let go of Fred. Trusting he had a plan, she released Fred’s collar and the dog raced over to him.

Stephen recoiled when Fred barked, but then tried to cover it with bluster. ‘I’m here in an official work capacity checking on an employee. Not that it’s any of your business.’

Lucas picked Fred up in his arms. ‘Is it normal practice for the medical director to show up at an employee’s home without warning?’

Stephen adjusted his tie. ‘I was concerned for Sarah’s welfare.’

Lucas raised an eyebrow. ‘Why?’

‘Well… because she’s injured; she had a fall.’ Pleased with his response, he gestured to Sarah’s injured hand. ‘She’s hurt her wrist.’

‘I know, I was the one who dealt with her injuries.’ Lucas came over to her doorway, forcing Stephen to shift out of his way. ‘My question is, how did you know she’d had a fall? She hasn’t been in work since.’

Stephen looked momentarily thrown. ‘She just told me.’

Lucas frowned. ‘But you said you were here to check on her welfare because she’d had a fall… and yet you didn’t know she’d had a fall until just now.’

Stephen clenched his jaw. ‘I knew something must be wrong for her to be absent from work.’

Lucas leant against the wall, his gait casual, his eyes astute. ‘So send her an email.’

‘I prefer the personal touch.’ Stephen was on the back foot. He rubbed his hands on his jacket, clearly sweaty from being challenged.

‘You’d do the same for any employee off sick, would you?’ Lucas gave him a questioning look. ‘You make a regular habit of showing up at people’s homes enquiring about their health?’

Stephen puffed out his chest. ‘I don’t have to explain myself to you.’

‘See, I disagree.’ Lucas pushed away from the wall. ‘You showing up at my girlfriend’s apartment uninvited isn’t something I’m happy about.’

Stephen fixed Lucas with a threatening gaze. ‘May I remind you I am your superior.’

‘Not outside of work, you’re not. This is Sarah’s personal space, and you’re intruding on her privacy. Mine too.’

Sarah held her breath, her eyes darting between the two men.

‘Careful, Doctor Moore, or you’ll find yourself out of employment.’ He made a move towards Lucas, but backed off when Fred growled.

‘Good boy, Fred.’ Lucas patted his head. ‘No skin off my nose. I finish this week anyhow.’

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