Page 67 of The Christmas Holiday
‘Oh my God! Mia! That’s a hell of a lump! You need to get it checked out. Now.’
‘No. Honestly, I’m all right. And it’s smaller than it was.’
Five pairs of eyes focused on me and I got the feeling my last statement probably hadn’t helped my case. ‘Liv—’
‘Liv, nothing! Can you imagine howawful we’d feel if you went ahead today and something happened? All for the sake of some stupid bungee jump?’
I opened my mouth, aware the situation was rapidly slipping further out of my control.
Liv continued, ‘Sandy? Do we know anyone who could see Mia today?’
‘Oh, you don’t need to—’
‘Already on it,’ Sandy replied, lifting his mobile to his ear as he cut across my protest.
‘I don’t believe this.’ I balled my fingers into fists and felt the nails digging into my flesh.
‘Told you she could be quite determined when she wants to be.’
‘I’d rather you didn’t speak to me right now, if that’s OK with you,’ I snapped at Hunter, keeping my eyes on the horizon. ‘And bearing in mind there’s a two-hundred-foot drop right there, you might prefer not to as well.’
‘It’s not personal, Mia.’
I spun to face him. ‘Of course it’s personal! I am, after all, personally the one you just humiliated!’
‘I didn’t humiliate you, for God’s sake! I’m trying to keep you safe! I’m just looking out for my team.’
‘Then do me a favour! Don’t.’
His gaze went back to the horizon, his whole body looking as tense as mine felt. ‘That’s not an option.’
‘Great!’I threw my hands up. ‘Then the sooner I’m no longer part of your team, the better.’ I turned my back on him and stalked off to stare down the gorge, trying to ignore the fact that my stress levels had shot as high as this damn bridge, and my head was now thumping twice as badly as it had been.
‘Here.’ Sandy appeared next to me, handing me a scrap of paper on which a name and address had beenscribbled. ‘Wade will check you out and you’ll soon be back joining in with all the craziness.’ I nodded my thanks and took the slip. ‘It’s best to be safe, Mia. That’s all any of us wants. Especially Hunter.’
‘He’s bloody obsessed with “his team” and “safety”,’ I grouched, adding emphasis with curly bunny fingers.
Sandeep gave a maybe yes, maybe no gesture with his head. ‘He has his reasons.’
There was something in his voice that made me forget my ire for a moment and turn to face him. He nodded at me. ‘It’s the right thing to do. Hunter will take you. I’ve arranged for a car from the hotel to collect us.’
‘I can find my own way.’
‘I know you can, but I’d rather you weren’t driving until we get the OK from the doc.’
I blew out a sigh. ‘And I don’t suppose a taxi is anoption either, is it?’
Sandy grinned. ‘Nope.’
‘I should have known,’ I replied, resigned. ‘All boys together.’
Sandeep laughed, squeezed my shoulders and gave me a kiss on the cheek. ‘But, of course.’
‘What about the photos he’s supposed to take of you two here?’
‘It’s all good. We’ve rearranged to do it tomorrow now anyway.’
‘Oh God!’ I sank down onto a rock, its surfacewarm from the California sun. ‘Now I’ve screwed up the schedule too!’
