by Lucy Clark
‘I’m more than happy to fill the gap while you wait for your sister Cora to return to Newcastle,’ he’d told her when they’d met last week to sign the legal contracts.
It had been on the tip of her tongue to ask him why he was happy to help out here and there, but it really was none of her business. Perhaps he was content to get things settled for Nell without having the stress of a full-time workload hanging over his head. All that mattered was that Pierce was a qualified doctor who was willing to help her out.
She had to leave it at that, had to keep her emotional distance from him, because he was definitely an enigmatic man who was able to make her feel as though she were the most important person in the world. The way he smiled at her, the way he shook her hand, the way he gave her his undivided attention when he talked… All of those little things were things that Robert had never done.
She closed her eyes as an image of Robert’s stern face came to mind. Her ex-fiancé, although professing to love and care about her, had never really shown it. She’d always rationalised it—Robert wasn’t the demonstrative type—but now that she’d had quite a bit of time to reflect on her failed relationship she’d come to realise that he simply hadn’t loved her as much as he’d said.
He’d never held her hand in public, never leaned over and whispered something intimate in her ear, never looked at her across a crowded room as though he wanted everyone to instantly disappear just so he could be alone with her.
When she’d been sitting at her consulting room desk, with Pierce on the other side, carefully reading the locum contract, Molly and Winifred both hovering around and chatting, Stacey had been far too aware of him. His broad shoulders, his thoughtful brow, his twinkling blue eyes when he’d lifted his head and looked at her, somehow making her feel as though he could see right into her soul…
And that had been the moment. That one true moment in time when nothing else seemed to matter. Her mouth had instantly gone dry, the other people in the room had disappeared from her view and it had been just the two of them, Pierce had stared into her eyes and she’d stared back into his. Neither of them had moved, and she could have sworn that the spinning of the earth had actually slowed down, capturing them both in a bubble of time. It had been an odd sensation, but for that one split second Stacey had felt…accepted. Without reservation, without condition.
She shook her head, clearing it of the image. ‘And he’ll be working here,’ she murmured as she made herself walk into the consulting room he’d been assigned.
Even now she could picture him sitting behind the desk, looking up at her as she came in to speak to him about something, their eyes meeting and holding once more. Did she yearn for that sensation again because he’d made her feel accepted? Or did she fear the sensation because he’d so easily been able to penetrate the fortress she’d worked hard to put in place after Robert had broken her heart?
She glanced around the room, opening one or two of the cupboards to ensure they were properly stocked with everything he might need. She wanted today to go well, for Pierce to be happy working here.
After she’d left his home over two weeks ago Stacey hadn’t been sure which way to turn. She’d known basically nothing about the man, and yet there he’d been, offering his services to help her out. Was he just being kind or was he a bit loopy?
All she could remember doing at the time was murmuring a polite reply to his declaration that he was going to work with her and then excusing herself. Her thoughts had been in such a jumble that she’d almost forgotten to check on Mike Edelstein—which had been the main reason for her being in that part of town. She’d walked out to her car to retrieve her medical bag, and been surprised to find Pierce waiting by the Edelsteins’ front door by the time she reached it.
‘We may as well review him together,’ he’d stated, before knocking on the door.
Stacey had barely had time to collect her thoughts before Edna had opened the door and welcomed them both inside.
The other woman had hugged Stacey close. ‘It’s good to see you again, love,’ Edna had said as she’d embraced Stacey. ‘Although I wish it was in better circumstances. But at least now that you’re here we might finally get Mike to see some sense, eh? He always had time for you, Stace.’
Mike had indeed been happy to see her, but when Stacey had insisted upon giving him a check-up he’d fussed about, telling her she was blowing the entire thing out of proportion.
He stabbed a finger at Pierce. ‘If this young whipper-snapper hadn’t been hanging around the side fence the other day he never would have heard me coughing.’ Mike glared at Edna. ‘At least that’s what he said. But chances are Edna dragged him inside because she was stressing over nothing.’
‘Mike—’ Stacey began, but Mike was in full swing, his words peppered by coughs.
‘Came right over, he did. Sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong, telling me I had problems with my lungs. Well, of course I do. I’ve had asthma for most of me life, and I know when it’s bad and when it’s good and right now it’s fine. Just fine, I tell you.’
But the instant Mike finished protesting his body was racked with a coughing spasm.
Stacey instantly rubbed Mike’s back, encouraging him quietly to relax and breathe slowly. Her soothing tone must have done something, because Mike’s bluster seemed to disappear.
‘There’s one thing I want to remind you of,’ she said as she placed her medical bag beside his comfortable lounge chair.
‘Yeah? What’s that?’ he asked, lifting his chin and meeting her gaze, pure stubbornness reflected in his eyes.
‘You may be stubborn, but I’m my father’s daughter—which therefore means that my stubbornness trumps yours every time.’
Edna laughed. ‘She’s got you there, Mikey.’ And then, as though everything was now right with her world, Edna declared that she’d go and put the kettle on.
With resigned reluctance, Mike agreed to the check-up.
‘Pierce was right,’ Stacey said as she packed away her stethoscope and closed her medical bag once her review was complete. ‘Your asthma is very bad and your ears are red. Your throat’s not the best, either. You’ll need some antibiotics, and I want you up at the hospital first thing tomorrow for a chest X-ray to check you’re not on the way to contracting pneumonia. Spring is notorious for ailments such as chest infections, and right now it’s the last thing you need—what with the rabbit jumping season quickly approaching.’
‘Oh, we don’t compete any more,’ Edna said in a loud whisper as she carried in a tray of tea and biscuits. ‘Our ol’ Vashta passed away a few years ago. What a champion that rabbit was.’ Edna sighed and looked wistful for a moment, before shaking her head once more.
‘But you still go to watch, don’t you?’ Stacey asked, ‘I was telling the children about it just last night and all of them were eager to go. Lydia was even asking if we could get a rabbit ourselves. She adores them.’
‘Really?’ Light shone in Edna’s eyes as she’d placed the tray on the table and stood next to Stacey.
‘I was also hoping that if I was stuck at the clinic, or if Molly was in surgery, you two might be able to take the children to the rabbit jumping show for me?’ Stacey’s tone held a hint of pleading, and as she watched them closely, knowing Mike had always loved to help others, especially when it concerned his favourite animals, she saw a flicker of light come back into his old eyes.
‘Lydia’s interested, eh? How old is she now?’
‘She’s seven—and just as stubborn as me.’
‘Hmm…’ Mike stroked his chin with thumb and forefinger. ‘Seven, you say? Seven’s just about the right age to start.’
Edna reached out and held Stacey’s hand as they both watched Mike closely. He contemplated this information seriously for a moment or two before nodding.
‘OK, then. I’ll go to the hospital and take the antibiotics and do whatever else it is you want me to do—but only because it’s important that I’m
there to instruct little Lydia right from the beginning. There are many responsibilities that go hand in hand with wanting to raise a champion jumper. This isn’t a normal pet we’re talking about. She has to be one hundred per cent committed to the entire process.’
‘Excellent. I’ll inform Lydia when I get home tonight. She’ll be ecstatic. But…’ Stacey levelled Mike with her best no-nonsense look ‘…you must do everything I, or Pierce, or any other doctor who treats you prescribes. Deal?’ She held out her hand, never once breaking eye contact with Mike.
Mike sat up a little straighter in his chair and held her gaze before he reached out and shook hands with Stacey.
‘Deal.’
Edna squealed with delight and clapped her hands. ‘Mike agreeing to treatment and the chance to pass on our love of rabbit jumping to the next generation!’ She kissed Mike’s cheek and then gave Stacey a big hug.
Stacey smiled before packing up her equipment into the medical bag and handing the prescription for antibiotics to Edna.
‘Well played,’ Pierce whispered close by.
Stacey hadn’t realised he was standing so close. She looked at him over her shoulder.
‘Gotta have a few tricks up your sleeve when it comes to persuading Mike to do something.’
‘So I see.’
He accepted the cup of tea Edna offered him, as did Stacey. Mike started to breathe more easily, thanks to the medication Stacey had given him. He relaxed back in his chair, a smile on his face, as he regaled them with anecdotes about his beloved sport of rabbit jumping and exactly what he’d need to teach Lydia.
By the time they left Mike was settled and Edna was happy.
‘It’s good to see that you have an excellent bedside manner,’ Pierce said as he walked her across the road to her car.
Stacey unlocked it and stowed her medical bag in the back seat. ‘Thank you.’
‘I’m going to enjoy working alongside you, Dr Stacey.’
And then he’d taken her hand in his, gently shaking it, and the action had been more slow and intentional than in a normal brisk business handshake.
‘Very much.’
Stacey closed her eyes and rubbed her hands together, the memory of that handshake, the memory of his deep, sensual tone, still managing to make her tremble. What was it about him that seemed to tilt her world off its axis? When she thought about Pierce she had the oddest sensation of excitement, of anticipatory delight. But she’d had those sensations once before, with Robert, and look how that had turned out.
Opening her eyes, she turned away from Pierce’s consulting room, forcing herself to stop thinking about the way it had felt to have her hand wrapped securely in his, or the way his eyes had seemed to be able see right into the depths of her soul. He was just another doctor who was helping her out. Nothing more. The slight buzz of awareness she felt whenever she was around him was simply because she was grateful.
There was no need for her to try and figure him out, to understand why he was content to work in part-time jobs, helping out here and there in a medical capacity. The fact of the matter was that his help was needed and she’d accepted it for the next three months until Cora’s return. Where or what Pierce Brolin did after that was nothing to do with her.
She headed to the kitchen and turned on the coffee machine, checking there was sufficient milk in the fridge to get them through the rest of the day. ‘Business,’ she told herself sternly. ‘It’s all just business.’
‘Knock, knock.’
Stacey gasped at the sound of the deep male voice, spinning around so fast she bumped her hip against the fridge door.
‘Pierce!’ She rubbed at her hip.
‘Are you OK? Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you. I thought you would have heard the bell as I opened the front door.’ He twirled a small key chain around his finger before putting the keys into his trouser pocket.
‘I was…thinking.’ About you, she added silently, and quickly turned away, busying herself with making coffee.
‘So I heard. It’s all just business, right?’
Stacey closed her eyes for a second, unable to believe he’d heard her talking to herself but glad that at this moment he couldn’t see her face. ‘Something like that.’ She needed to change the subject. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ She turned to face him. ‘Tea? Coffee?’
‘No, I’m fine.’ He pulled out a chair and sat down at the small kitchen table. ‘Thought I’d get in early and go over my patient notes for the day.’
‘Fair enough.’
‘How about you? Couldn’t sleep?’
She frowned for a moment, knowing she could never tell him that she’d awoken around five-thirty that morning from a dream in which he’d been caressing her cheek, his gaze intent on hers, seeing into her soul once more and making her feel more alive than she’d ever felt before.
‘Er…busy thoughts.’ Well, that was sort of true.
‘Aha. Anything to do with rabbit jumping?’
When she angled her head to the side in slight confusion, he elaborated.
‘I was talking to Mike last night—who, I must say, is doing much better. Anyway, he mentioned that you’ve recently bought two potential champion rabbits.’
Stacey forced herself to relax and nodded. The rabbits. A very safe topic. ‘Yes. Lydia and George insisted on having one rabbit each.’
‘How old is George?’
‘Nine. He said if Lydia was old enough to get a rabbit then he was doubly old enough because he was two years older.’
Pierce watched as she moved around the kitchen, making herself a cup of coffee. How was it she could perform the simplest of tasks with such grace? All her movements were fluid and seamless, and he was entranced. In fact ever since he’d met Stacey Wilton he’d been intrigued. Bit by bit he was discovering more about her, and each new piece of the puzzle was unique as well as confusing.
George? Who was George? He’d presumed that the seven-year-old Lydia she’d mentioned was her daughter. Did Stacey also have a nine-year-old son? If so, where was the father of these children? She didn’t wear a wedding ring, and there had been no mention of a husband. He tried to remember whether Mike or Edna had said anything, but Mike had been far more interested in discussing the rabbits rather than the children.
‘Sounds fair.’ He kept his tone at a neutral level whilst his mind tried to compute any new information he might uncover. ‘I know Nell’s very interested, but I don’t think we’ll be buying a rabbit any time soon.’
‘She’s more than welcome to help Lydia and George if she likes. We only live two blocks away from you, so our houses are within easy walking distance.’
‘Thank you, Stacey.’ He seemed genuinely surprised by the offer. ‘That’s nice of you.’
She pulled out a chair and sat at the opposite end of the table to him. ‘Having Nell come round might actually prove a worthwhile diversion for Jasmine.’
‘Jasmine?’
‘She’s just turned fourteen, so at the moment she’s nothing but hormones.’ Stacey slumped forward a little and sighed.
A fourteen-year-old as well! Stacey must have been a young mother. Either that or she was older than he’d initially thought. He managed to hide his surprise. ‘Ah. I remember that phase with Nell—which, believe me, wasn’t easy. Trying to explain hormones and why she would feel such extremes in her emotions was difficult, especially as our parents had passed away only a few years before. But we figured it all out in the end.’
Stacey sipped her drink. ‘That helps put things with Jasmine into perspective. The teenage years are the worst, in my opinion. But of course Jasmine doesn’t think I understand. She’s still mad at me for dragging her away from all her friends in Perth, three-quarters of the way through the school year, to the other side of the country.’
‘I guess it’s not easy for you—especially without your parents around.’
‘No.’ She sat up a little straighter and stared down into her coffee cup. ‘Cora keeps telling me
that Jasmine will settle down, and Molly’s really good with her, but she blames me for everything at the moment, whether it’s my fault or not.’
‘It’s just a phase, Stacey. She’ll grow out of it.’
‘Let’s hope she does that before I lose complete and utter patience with her.’
Pierce chuckled. ‘Where are the kids now?’
Stacey checked the clock on the wall. ‘Probably finishing off their breakfast and getting ready for school.’
‘How do they get to school?’ Did she have a nanny?
‘Molly’s on a late shift. She and I usually co-ordinate if we can, but now that Jasmine’s a little older she’s responsible for getting George and Lydia to school each morning.’
‘Jasmine won’t be tempted to cut class if there’s no one to check up on her?’
‘Oh, gosh. I hadn’t even thought of that.’ She stared at him for a moment, holding his gaze, the despair slowly disappearing from her face.
Did the woman have any idea just how beautiful she was? Especially when she looked at him like that, all vulnerable and soft. Right at this moment in time he didn’t really care how many children she had, or what sort of shenanigans she might be facing at home. All he was aware of was how lovely Stacey Wilton was. She was the reason why he’d been unable to sleep that morning, with his thoughts turning to what it might be like to work alongside her, to see her on a regular basis, and whether or not something else might be brewing between them.
Then she blinked, and with an abruptness that startled him she stood and finished her coffee before taking the cup to the sink and washing it.
‘At any rate, I’d best go and review my own set of patients before the busy day begins,’ she mumbled.
And within another moment, Pierce found himself alone in the small kitchen.
‘Uh…’ She poked her head around the door. ‘Just let me know if you need help with anything. And er…welcome to Shortfield Family Medical Practice.’ She didn’t quite meet his gaze as she spoke, and as soon as she’d finished her little spiel she headed off once more.