Falling for Mr. December by Kate Hardy Page B

finally found someone different.
    But instead he’d gone on to break her heart. He’d asked her to marry him just before she’d had her scare, two years before. And then he’d ended it the day she’d got the results. He’d admitted that he couldn’t cope with the prospect of her having cancer again, but he hadn’t wanted to be the bad guy who’d dumped the cancer patient. Instead, he’d waited until they knew she was clear—and then he’d dumped her.
    Just as well they hadn’t actually chosen the engagement ring.
    Sammy had walked away with her head held high and her heart feeling as if it had been ground into sand. And she’d promised herself she’d never make the mistake of getting that close to anyone again. Yet, right now, she was taking a huge risk. This would be her third date with Nick—and she didn’t have an exit strategy in place.
    She dragged in a breath. Nick’s nephew had been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, so maybe Nick would understand more than the average person.
    But what if he didn’t?
    What if it made him back away? What if she repulsed him?
    Even Bryn—who’d been engaged to her—hadn’t coped with her scars. Not really. They’d always made love with the lights off, and he’d been careful never to look at her leg or touch it. She’d pretended that it didn’t matter...but it had.
    And it mattered now.
    She really wasn’t ready to tell Nick about her past yet.
    She didn’t want to call off their date, either; given that she’d already told him how much she liked going out for afternoon tea, she knew he wouldn’t believe a feeble excuse. And, being a lawyer, of course he’d ask questions.
    Probing ones.
    Ones where even a silent reaction would help him to see the truth.
    * * *
    Sammy still hadn’t worked out how to deal with the situation by the time she met up with her best friends for a long-planned evening with pizza at her flat.
    Except Ashleigh and Claire had known her for long enough to guess that something was wrong.
    â€˜Spit it out,’ Claire said.
    â€˜What?’ Sammy asked, feigning innocence.
    â€˜You’re very quiet. Which isn’t you, unless you’re concentrating on a shoot. So talk to us,’ Ashleigh said. ‘That’s what best friends are for. To listen, to tell you when you’re being an idiot, and to give you a hug when you need one.’
    Sammy actually felt tears pricking her eyes at Ashleigh’s words, and was cross with herself for it. For pity’s sake. She wasn’t one of those people who bawled their eyes out at the drop of a hat.
    â€˜Did you find another lump?’ Claire asked softly.
    â€˜No. Why does everyone
always
assume it’s the cancer come back, if something’s bothering me?’ Sammy asked, losing her cool.
    Ashleigh and Claire immediately put down their cutlery, stood up and enveloped her in a hug.
    â€˜We’re not assuming anything,’ Ashleigh said, stroking her hair. ‘But we’ve known you for years, we can see you’re upset, and we want to be here for you.’
    â€˜It’s just something stupid.’ Sammy swallowed hard to keep the tears back. She wasn’t weak. She was independent and strong. She could do this.
    â€˜Then it’s something we can help you with—and make you laugh about,’ Claire pointed out. ‘Don’t push us away. There’s a fine line between being independent and being too stubborn, you know.’
    She and Ashleigh returned to their chairs, but each of them kept hold of one of Sammy’s hands.
    â€˜I don’t know what to wear on a date,’ Sammy muttered.
    â€˜OK,’ Ashleigh said carefully. ‘Where are you going, and is it a first date?’
    â€˜Afternoon tea at a posh hotel.’ Sammy knew this was something she should have told them about before. Because they were her best friends