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time.”
    Gabby frowned, confused. “Sorry?”
    Tyler realized he’d skipped an important beat.
    “My father wants to be home to die. I told him I’d organize things so that could happen, but I need to be in Woodend to do that in the short-term—”
    “Oh, Tyler. That’s so sad. I didn’t realize things were that serious. Are you okay?”
    He shrugged. “Of course.”
    “There’s no of course about it. He’s your father.”
    Tyler made a pointless mark on the page in front of him. “In name only.”
    Gabby shook her head. “You drive me crazy, you know that?”
    She rounded the desk and put her arms around him, resting her cheek against his. For a moment he was enveloped in her scent, still familiar despite the fact that it had been two years since they’d been lovers.
    His thoughts shifted to Ally. He’d caught a trace of her scent when she’d brushed past him this morning. Vanilla and spice. Completely different from Gabby’s lemon freshness.
    This wasn’t the first time his thoughts had drifted to his father’s next-door neighbor today. He’d thought about her on and off during the drive to Melbourne. The way her eyes lit when she laughed. The round fullness of her breasts. The look they’d shared when he’d glanced over his shoulder as he was leaving and caught her watching him.
    “It’s not a crime to accept a little comfort, Tyler,” Gabby said as she stepped back from him.
    “I don’t need comfort. I need time. Do you think you can do it or not?”
    “I might have to juggle some of the admin stuff, but I don’t see why not. How many weeks do you need?”
    “I only need a few days.”
    Gabby looked stricken. “He’s that bad?”
    “They don’t know. It could be weeks, it could be months.”
    “Then maybe we should think more long-term than a week so—”
    “I’m getting him a nurse. I just need some time to get things organized, that’s all.” How many times did he have to say this to people?
    “You’re not staying with him yourself?” He could hear the censure in her tone.
    “No.”
    Gabby looked as though she wanted to say more, but after a long moment she simply nodded, her lips thin. “It’s your life, Tyler. Tell me what you need me to do and I’ll do it.”
    “Thanks. I’ll draw up a list of appointments for you.”
    She nodded, then exited his office.
    He knew what she was thinking—that he was cold because he planned on hiring people to nurse his father in his final days.
    Maybe he was cold. Why not? He’d been taught by a master. Why should he know the first thingabout being kind when all he’d been fed as a child was intolerance, impatience and rage?
    For the first time it occurred to him that there had been no judgment in Ally’s face or voice when he’d told her his plans this morning. She’d simply heard him out and offered her help.
    She was an interesting woman. Generous, too—he’d been surprised when he’d learned she’d been living beside his father for only a few weeks. She’d been so fired up on his father’s behalf, he’d simply assumed their relationship was one of long standing.
    He frowned as he registered what he was doing—thinking about his father’s neighbor again.
    He couldn’t decide if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Obviously he was attracted to her. But he wasn’t exactly in a position to get involved with anyone or anything right now. Thanks to his father, his cup was about to runneth over.
    Which probably meant he should stop thinking about her. And that he should keep his distance when he returned to Woodend.
    He returned his attention to his diary. Reality check—he didn’t have the time to be thinking about a woman. Even one as interesting and attractive as Ally Bishop.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T HE SOCIAL WORKER CAME the following day. Ally showed the woman around Bob’s house, took note of her recommendations, then made a couple of quick phone calls before pulling Tyler’s business card from where she’d stuck it