Read Online His Diamond Bride by Lucy Gordon - Free Book Online Page A

and a yell as the vehicle swerved violently and smashed into a fence. Mark was flung to the ground and lay still.
    â€˜Oh, no!’ Dee whispered, running towards him and dropping to her knees beside his frighteningly still form. ‘Mark! Mark! ’
    â€˜I’m all right,’ he murmured. ‘Go and catch that daft animal before he gets killed.’
    Catching Billy was easy as he’d come to a halt, staring atthe mayhem he’d caused and whining. As she secured his lead, Mark was already rising painfully from the ground.
    â€˜Are you hurt?’ Dee begged.
    â€˜No, just a few bruises,’ he gasped, rubbing himself.
    Doors opened. People came running out. Sylvia had seen everything through a window and was weeping as she threw her arms around him.
    â€˜I’m all right,’ he said, staggering slightly.
    Sylvia turned on Dee in fury. ‘Why don’t you keep that animal under control? Mark could have been killed.’
    â€˜But I wasn’t,’ he said. ‘It’s not Billy’s fault.’
    â€˜No, it was mine,’ Dee said quickly. ‘I’m sorry. Don’t stay out here. Let’s get inside quickly.’
    Leaning on Sylvia, he walked slowly into the house and sat thankfully on the sofa, throwing his head right back, eyes closed.
    â€˜Let me have a look at you,’ Dee said.
    â€˜I’ve told you, I’m fine.’
    For once she lost her temper. ‘ I’m the nurse,’ she snapped. ‘ I’ll say if you’re fine.’
    That made him open his eyes. ‘All right, nurse. All right, all right. Whatever you say.’
    She gave him a sulphurous look and started undoing the contraption he wore on his head. It was made of some light metal, barely covering his hair, and if he’d landed on his head it wouldn’t have protected him, but luckily he hadn’t. His shoulder had taken the full impact.
    â€˜Fine, let me see your shoulder,’ she said, becoming businesslike.
    Between them, she and Sylvia eased off his jacket, then his shirt, revealing bruises that were already turning a nasty colour.
    â€˜Now your vest,’ she said. ‘I want to see your ribs. That’s it, now lean forward so that I can see the back.’
    There were more bruises, but nothing was broken.
    â€˜You don’t know how lucky you are,’ Dee said. ‘But I’d like you to come into Accident and Emergency at the hospital tomorrow and they’ll take some X-rays.’
    â€˜What for?’ he demanded with cheerful belligerence. ‘I’ve had the best nurse in the business. If you say I’m all right, then I am.’
    â€˜Yes, but—’
    â€˜Stop making a fuss, Nurse.’
    â€˜Put your clothes on,’ Sylvia said.
    Something in her voice, perhaps a tense note, made Dee suddenly realise that Sylvia was jealous. She didn’t like anyone else to see Mark’s bare chest. Nor did she like Dee being free to touch it.
    The knowledge was like a light coming on, revealing what she hadn’t seen before, that Mark’s lean muscularity was as eye-catching as the rest of him. Functioning solely as a nurse, she’d run her hands professionally over that smooth torso, sensing only its medical condition. Now she wondered how she could have failed to notice the rich sheen of his skin, the faint swell of muscles that were strong but not over-developed.
    But that was forbidden thinking, so she turned away, saying gruffly, ‘Sylvia will help you get dressed.’
    Joe came in from the garage where he’d been examining the bike.
    â€˜How is it?’ Mark asked quickly.
    Joe sighed and shook his head. ‘Not good. The wheel’s bent and there’s plenty of other damage.’
    Mark groaned.
    â€˜It’s my fault,’ Dee said. ‘If I’d kept better hold of Billy’s lead, it wouldn’t have happened. I’ll pay for any repairs.’
    â€˜I don’t think