by Lucy Clark
He was still annoyed he’d been forced to take a sabbatical from the excessively busy hospital where he’d worked non-stop for the past six years. When he’d ranted and raved to his sister, Melody, rhetorically asking her what he was supposed to do with his time, especially as he’d finished working on his research project, she’d pitched the idea of being a locum in a quiet country town.
‘It’s four hours’ drive from Sydney. You’ll be able to breathe in fresh air, rather than city smog. You’ll be able to handle the work of a general practice with your eyes closed, and on weekends you can go for long drives in your car,’ Melody had told him.
Ethan had to admit that the drive from Sydney to Pridham today had indeed been a relaxing one...at least after he’d managed to leave the city outskirts behind. Melody would be pleased he was trying to relax. His family had been worried about him, especially after he’d suffered a mild heart attack. ‘A warning shot across the bows,’ his cardiologist had told him. At least he was being proactive. At least he was trying to change by taking a break from his stressful job.
All of these thoughts went through his head as he followed CJ Nicholls’s car back to her house...the house he was supposed to live in for six months. She drove carefully and responsibly, indicating with enough time for him to follow, and eventually she pulled into a driveway—with a double garage—across the road from the medical clinic and local district hospital. At least everything was nice and close.
Ethan helped her to unpack the car and carried the groceries into the kitchen, telling her to sit down and just point to where things went. CJ poured herself a glass of water and did as he suggested, lifting her feet to rest them on one of the other chairs at the table. He needed to gather more information, to find out whether there was anywhere else he could stay. Once the shopping was put away, he leaned against the bench and watched as she sipped her water.
‘Ah. That’s nice and cool.’ She shifted slightly, rubbing her stomach. ‘I could just curl up and sleep for a few hours.’ Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back, exposing a long expanse of neck. Ethan swallowed, his gaze drawn to it. It looked soft and smooth and—
He forced himself to look away and cleared his throat. What on earth was wrong with him? He didn’t do relationships, not since... He stopped the thought. Now was not the time to think about his past. ‘Uh...so the house. Does it belong to you or...does the clinic own it...or...are there other places I could stay...or...’ He let his words trail off and looked out the window next to the kitchen sink.
‘You don’t want to stay here?’ Her eyebrows hit her hairline in surprise.
‘Uh... I was just asking. I don’t want to impose.’ He indicated her pregnant belly. ‘You’re going to have your hands full very soon. Do you really want a stranger living here, cramping your style?’
CJ’s answer was to take another sip of her water, clearly thinking over her words before she spoke. ‘I have no objection to sharing the house. It’s certainly big enough and I sincerely doubt you’ll hear the baby crying all the way from your end. The walls are well insulated.’
‘Part of your remodelling?’
‘Yes. It’s an old house but over the years I think I’ve gutted almost every room and redone it.’
‘You like renovating?’
‘I do. Houses. Cars. I like taking something old and making it new and functional, whilst at the same time still maintaining the essential character of the object.’
He nodded. He knew exactly what she was talking about because that’s the way he’d felt about his car. ‘You’ve lived here a long time?’
CJ nodded. ‘The house was originally attached to the medical practice. The part you’re in was the consulting area with a small emergency area out the back. The rest of the house was where we lived.’
‘We? You and your husband?’
‘No. My dad, my sister and me. I was thirteen when we moved in.’ She grinned and he had to admit that when she did, it lit up her face. ‘It was an old place but one we filled with love.’ CJ rubbed her stomach, her words nostalgic and melancholy. ‘We moved here after Mum had passed away. This town was our new beginning and that’s exactly what we got.’ She sipped her water. ‘Five years later, the clinic across the road was built but Dad kept that part of the house...’ she pointed in the direction of what would be his living area ‘...for his study, and the little surgery at the back became his bedroom.’
‘Has he passed away?’
CJ nodded. ‘Last year, after a three-year battle with Alzheimer’s. He stayed here as long as he could before my sister found a great care facility in Sydney close to where she lives, and I stayed here to continue running the practice.’
‘Is that what you wanted?’
‘That had always been the plan.’
‘Your plan, or his?’
‘Both.’ Her smile was natural and instant. ‘I love this house, I love the town, I love the people.’
‘And your husband? Was he also a local boy, too?’
‘No.’ CJ finished her drink, then stood and took her glass to the dishwasher. ‘We should get over to the clinic.’
‘I didn’t mean to pry.’
‘You didn’t,’ she said with a shrug before walking out of the house, not bothering to lock the door behind her.
‘Uh...do we need to lock up?’
She shook her head. ‘Crime is low in the town but if locking the doors makes you feel better, then lock away.’ She didn’t stop walking as she spoke, only gesturing back to the door. Her bright, jovial tone had disappeared completely and her words were flat. He really hadn’t meant to pry, especially as she’d been quite happy to chat about her family. At least he now knew the topic of her husband was off limits.
As CJ opened the door to the clinic and headed inside, she couldn’t help but notice the way Tania’s eyes turned all dreamy at the sight of Ethan.
‘Hi, handsome. Good to see you back,’ Tania openly flirted.
‘Any patients for me this afternoon?’ CJ asked, trying to shift the receptionist’s gaze from Ethan to herself.
Tania snapped out of it. ‘Just two.’
‘How many does Donna have?’
‘She told me not to tell you. Just see your two patients, do your ward round and go home to rest. You know that’s what you want to do, CJ.’
She sighed. ‘I guess. When’s my first patient?’
‘Five minutes.’
‘Good.’ She walked down the small corridor into her consulting room, pleased that Ethan had followed. ‘Did you meet Donna when you came in earlier? She’s my partner.’
‘No.’
‘OK. Then I guess you haven’t been shown around so I’ll do that once I’m finished with the patients. You may as well sit in, start to learn the ropes.’
‘Agreed.’
CJ sank down into the chair and sighed. ‘I am getting more tired than normal and that frustrates me.’
‘You’re so used to being busy?’ He could certainly relate to that.
‘Yes. Come Monday, you’ll be taking over my consulting work. I’ll be doing house calls with you this weekend...and maybe the odd one here and there over the next few weeks if it’s OK with you. I just don’t want to get bored and I know I will.’
‘Was it Donna who insisted you get a locum to cover your maternity leave?’
‘Donna, Tania, the nurses, the patients and the majority of the town. Yes.’ CJ couldn’t help the sad sigh that escaped her. ‘I feel so useless and it makes me think back to when my father’s health began deteriorating. I was the one trying to pick up the slack and take over from him without him realising it, but of course he did and—’ She stopped talking and sighed again. ‘I just feel big and useless and...fat.’
‘You’re not fat. You’re having a baby,’ Ethan calmly pointed out. ‘And you’re not useless. Your body is growing a
human being! You studied anatomy, you know how difficult that is—to grow a human being. I can’t do it. You can, so how about, as my first act as locum to this practice, I advise you not to be so hard on yourself and your temporary limitations.’
His warm, smooth words washed over her in such a relaxing fashion that she felt her earlier tension begin to melt away. ‘I suppose you’re right.’
‘I know I’m right.’
She smiled at that. ‘Well, I’ll accept the advice, even though you don’t officially start consulting until Monday.’
‘That’s very big of you, Dr Nicholls.’
‘I thought so.’ The phone on the desk rang and she picked it up. ‘Yes?’
‘Jed’s here,’ Tania said down the line.
‘OK. Send him in,’ CJ replied before hanging up. Then she pointed to the phone. ‘This is an internal line—usually Tania or Donna—and these two lights are your outside lines.’
‘Always good to know. So, who are we seeing first?’ Ethan stood and came closer, leaning over and pressing a button on the computer, pleased when Jed’s file came up. ‘Good. The same computer programme I’m used to.’
‘Great. Sometimes it’s the little things that can trip us up.’ Like the way his spicy scent seemed to wind its way around her senses. It was nice. She liked it. She momentarily closed her eyes and gave herself a mental shake. That was the hormones speaking. Spices smelled more vibrant to her and she liked it. As Ethan moved back to his chair, ready for the consultation, CJ reset her mind where her new colleague was concerned.
Sure, he might be good looking and, yes, he smelled wonderful and had gorgeous eyes...and was tall enough to help her out when she needed it, but he was just a locum...just a man who would be out of her life in six months’ time. She shouldn’t get attached.
When Jed came into her consulting room, CJ smiled brightly and introduced Ethan. The two men shook hands and when Ethan closed the door behind Jed, CJ smiled her thanks then focused on her patient.
After the consult, she quickly typed up her notes about Jed’s treatment on the computer.
‘Do you usually go out to the waiting room and call the patients through?’ Ethan asked.
‘Usually, but at the moment, getting up and down is difficult so Tania rings through when the patients have arrived and I tell her when to send them in.’ The phone on the desk rang, the light for an internal call blinking.
‘I’ll go,’ he stated. ‘What’s the patient’s name?’
‘Chandra.’ And before she could say another word, Ethan had disappeared to the waiting room, returning a moment later with four-year-old Chandra and her mother. His actions, although well meant, only made CJ feel like an expectant whale once more. She knew it wasn’t for ever and she knew that part of the way she was feeling was due to her overactive hormones but...she still didn’t like it.
Once Chandra and her mother had left, Ethan watched as CJ quickly typed the notes into the computer. Before she could finish, though, a sharp pain gripped her abdomen and she moaned, feeling very uncomfortable.
‘What is it?’ Ethan was instantly by her side, his gaze roving over her, visually checking for signs of labour.
CJ shoved away from the desk and stood up, walking back and forth as she rubbed the side of her belly. ‘It’s nothing. Just a swift kick from junior to mother. Ugh. I swear this kid is going to be a footballer.’ She rubbed her stomach again and when the baby responded, without thinking she reached for Ethan’s hand and pressed it to her stomach. ‘See? Feel that? As a fellow doctor, you have to agree that that’s one strong kick!’
When he didn’t answer, she looked up. Their gazes locked and the atmosphere around them seemed to zing with newly charged electrons. Even deep inside her she felt them explode and she sucked in a ragged breath. It was unusual, it was unexpected and it was most certainly unwanted.
Ethan was stunned by the sensation. Not only was he alarmed by feeling her baby kick, a sensation he hadn’t felt for quite a number of years, but also he hadn’t expected the jolt that had travelled up his arm and ripped through his body. He was attracted to this woman! How was that possible? There was no way an attraction to anyone was paramount at the present time.
It took a few moments for him to realise she’d released her hold on his wrist. Still, he left his hand on her stomach for a fraction longer before jerking away and walking briskly from the room.
CHAPTER TWO
ETHAN OPENED HIS eyes and stared at the ceiling, furious with himself for not being able to sleep. Why had she put his hand on her belly? Feeling an in utero baby kick had been the last thing he’d wanted to do. It was also the last thing he wanted to think about right now.
He sat up, swinging his legs to the floor, then slowly looked around the room, lit by veiled moonlight. The wardrobe had sufficient coat hangers at one end and ample drawer and shelf space at the other. There were also several fluffy bath towels on one of the shelves.
In the corner of the room was an Australian jarrah desk, with a comfortable chair pushed beneath. The desk was functional but also kept with the decorated theme of the room, which, he had to admit, was very masculine. Well, CJ had mentioned that this part of the house had originally been her father’s. Ethan looked more closely at the three framed pictures on the wall, which were all of vintage cars. Nice cars, too. Were they her father’s pictures? Was that her father’s old desk? If so, it leant a more personal touch to the room and he felt privileged she had chosen to have her memories on display for others to share. Perhaps seeing her father’s things around also helped her to cope with the loss.
He hadn’t done that. When he’d suffered great loss, he’d arranged for movers to come to his house and pack everything into boxes before delivering it to a storage locker...a storage locker he still paid for six years later. Then he’d sold the house and bought a sterile apartment near St. Aloysius Hospital. If he hadn’t been forced to take time off, he’d be there right now, working and forgetting his past.
Sighing, Ethan raked both hands through his hair, keeping his thoughts on a tight leash. He was here, which was far better than lying on some beach, being bored for six months. As he took another look at the pictures, peering closely at the detail of the cars, he had to admit that CJ had gone to a great effort to make him comfortable, but what type of woman liked vintage cars?
He supposed a lot of women did but he’d never come across them before. It was a refreshing change. The restoration of his car had been a bone of contention between himself and Abigail. She’d accused him of spending more time with the car than with her.
‘I don’t mind you being at the hospital until all hours, Ethan. That’s your job, I get it. But when you’re home, I want you to spend that time with me, not your car.’
He stood and started pacing around the room. He still felt uncomfortable about sharing accommodation with CJ. He wasn’t used to living with anyone and he wasn’t sure he wanted to adjust. He liked his life the way it was...or the way it had been before his imposed exile from the hospital.
Why had his body betrayed him like that? A prime candidate for a major heart attack? The medical tests had to be incorrect—even though he’d insisted the results be repeated. He exercised. He ate right. Sure, he was stressed but everyone else he knew was also stressed and they hadn’t been told by the CEO to take a six-month sabbatical and de-stress. Why had it been—?
His thoughts halted as he heard a sound nearby. A door being opened and then closed? He strained, listening for more sounds. Quiet footsteps. Was there someone in the house? He shook his head, reminding himself that he was now sharing a house with someone else. Was CJ up or was there someone at the front door? An emergency? Did she need help?
He quickly pulled on a T-shirt, his legs already covered by a pair of pyjama pants. Deciding this was still too informal to greet a possible intruder, he grabbed his robe, belting it loosely bef
ore opening his bedroom door. When another sound came, he decided to go and investigate, his entire body alert. He crept into the hallway, keeping to the shadows as he made his way towards the kitchen. Peering around the doorway, all the tension left him as he saw CJ standing in front of the open fridge door, peering inside.
‘Couldn’t sleep?’ he asked, walking into the room.
She jumped sky high and spun to face him.
‘For heaven’s sake, don’t go creeping up on me like that.’ CJ placed one hand over her heart and the other on the baby. She grinned at him and flicked her loose, golden hair over her shoulder. ‘Although, if I do go over my due date, you could always scare me into labour.’ She returned her attention back to the fridge and pulled out the pickles and bananas. As she moved, Ethan took stock of what she was wearing. She was dressed in an oversized nightshirt, her robe open and hanging down her back, and pink fluffy slippers on her feet.
‘Baby won’t settle,’ she offered by way of explanation as she put the food onto the table. ‘Would you mind getting the chocolate spread down from that cupboard, please?’ She pointed in the direction of one of the high kitchen cupboards before turning back to the fridge. ‘Want anything?’ She pulled out a large bottle of ginger beer.
‘No.’ He put the chocolate spread on the table. Her silky hair was cascading smoothly over her shoulders and the urge to run his fingers through it surprised him. It had been a long time since he’d had such an urge, and he instantly quashed it. He’d met his first love at university, sweet Abigail. He ignored the surge of guilt that always came whenever he thought about her. Why, oh, why hadn’t she let him help her? He clenched his jaw. Nothing could be done to change the past. He was done with love. Over. Gone. Finished.
Living here wasn’t what he wanted. He didn’t want to be around people, having to deal with emotions. He didn’t want to be attracted to anyone. He didn’t want to make compromises in his private life and if he’d had any doubts before, seeing his pregnant colleague shift around the kitchen only emphasised that he needed to live somewhere else.