Page 53 of Doc Defence

“In the pub the first day I met you and when you were introduced to all of us in the locker room,” Frost supplied.

“Shit. Yes. I did!” Hel was shocked that he remembered.

“Have you actually kneecapped anyone?” Frost asked innocently.

“No. I haven’t kneecapped anyone. But I did once flush a boy’s head in the toilet.”

“Okay,” Frost said slowly. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

“He deserved it. He spent the whole school year calling me ‘old lady Ethel’. He began a trend, and everyone else started doing it,” she growled at the memory, which, even after all these years, still annoyed her.

“And you held his head down the toilet.” Frost’s lips tugged up at the corner, but he managed to keep a straight face.

“Yeah, with a little help from Ken. It was a sneak attack when he wasn’t expecting it.” Hel shrugged nonchalantly but couldn’t stop a slightly evil giggle from escaping. Bradly Harris had deserved to have his head stuck down a toilet.

“And he stopped after that.” Frost bit his lip, clearly to stop the laughter she could see bubbling up inside him.

Hel nearly reached forward to touch his lips, her hand lifted, but instead, she grabbed her glass and took a sip of her water.

Clearing her throat, she continued the story. This time, she avoided looking at his face, instead speaking to her glass.

“Yeah. He’d had a wee and hadn’t flushed. I threatened to tell everyone he drank pee and loved it.”

“You are ruthless.” Frost’s laughter finally escaped.

Hel grinned and raised her eyebrows. “Don’t call me Ethel, and we’ll be great housemates.” A little thrill ran through her when she said the word housemates.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Frost promised.

A massive yawn broke free from Hel. “I am so sorry. It’s been a long week, and I have to get up for work tomorrow. Do you mind if I head to bed now?” It was only nine-thirty, and she was exhausted.

“Sure. That’s no problem. I should too. I need to sleep the last of this booze off.” Frost winced as he moved at the table. “Before you do, can you do me a quick favour?”

“Sure,” Hel agreed.

“My leg is killing me.”

“Right.” Hel frowned. She wasn’t sure where he was going with this.

“I don’t want to become the idiot I was earlier and turn to booze in the middle of the night if I can’t sleep. Could you possibly take all the alcohol out of the house and lock it in your car so I’m not even tempted.” Frost looked embarrassed.

“Of course.” She nodded.

“Thanks. I know you want to go straight to bed. I’m sorry I have to ask this.”

“That’s not a problem. I needed to go to the car anyway.” Hel was about to stand up when her eyes locked on his, and she froze.

She expected him to look away, but he didn’t. He gazed right back at her. She examined his green eyes. They looked tired, with circles under them and the start of crow’s feet tugging at the corners.

The tension thickened, and Hel’s heart began to race. She couldn’t take enough air into her lungs. She wanted to look at him all night. She wanted to move closer to him. She wanted—. Hel dropped her eyes to her hands, which were twisted in her lap.

“Which room will I be staying in?” she muttered.

“Mine is the master bedroom, it’s first on the left at the top of the stairs. The guest room with the en-suite is opposite.” His gravelly voice didn’t make it any easier for her to breathe, and she resolutely didn’t look at him as he spoke.

“Thanks. I’ll take the grog out to my car and grab my stuff.” Hel leapt to her feet and began to walk toward the kitchen. She needed to take the alcohol and get some air.

“What shift are you on tomorrow?” Frost asked.

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