Resisting the New Doc In Town

by Clark, Lucy

  Richard closed his eyes for a second, pleased he’d managed to figure things out. She was upset because she was jealous. He never would have guessed, especially when she had no need of the emotion.

  ‘Bergan.’ He walked quickly round the desk and came towards her, instantly sliding his arms around her waist and drawing her close. She gasped at the suddenness of his movements but her shock soon turned to delight as she rested her hands against his chest.

  ‘I don’t know where this attraction between us might lead. I don’t know what’s going to happen when I get back to Paris, but I can tell you I’ll be focused on my work, not on seeing how many Parisian women I can date.’

  ‘I just thought that now that you’ve…you know, sort of broken your drought and started enjoying a relationship with me, that when you went back…’ She stopped and closed her eyes. ‘I sound ridiculous.’

  ‘No. No, you don’t,’ he replied. ‘I’m as much out of my depth as you are, but what I do know is that right here, right now, being with you, I’m happy. I won’t make empty promises to you because at the moment my future’s in limbo. I don’t know what’s going to happen once the fellowship’s over, once I get back to my apartment, my work, my life in Paris.’

  He looked away from her for a moment, but she’d seen the confusion in his eyes.

  ‘I won’t bring my uncertainty into your world, Bergan, especially when you’ve experienced so much uncertainty most of your life. All I am certain of, at the moment, is that being with you makes me happy and I haven’t felt truly happy in a very long time.’

  Bergan swallowed over the dryness in her throat, his words having affected her far more than she’d realised. Her heart was pounding against her chest, and she wanted him to know that she didn’t expect a life plan from him, neither did she want definite answers to her questions, because even the thought of Richard telling her this thing that existed between them, this natural chemistry that had turned their worlds upside down in such a short space of time, wasn’t going to last was enough to pierce her heart with pain.

  ‘Is that why you haven’t kissed me? Because you can’t make any promises?’ She forced her words into the room, needing to at least know the answer to that question.

  ‘Oh, Bergan.’ He lifted one hand to cup her cheek as he gazed down into her upturned face. ‘As I’ve said before, you control how fast this relationship moves.’ Gently, tenderly, he brushed his thumb over her plump lips. Bergan gasped, her lips instantly parting at the touch. Richard slid his other arm more firmly around her waist, drawing her close once more.

  ‘If you want me to kiss you, all you have to do is say so.’

  Bergan gazed up into his mesmerising blue eyes, knowing that even now, if she didn’t say anything, he wouldn’t push her. Here was a man who was desperate to continue proving to her that he was trustworthy, that he kept his word.

  She still wasn’t sure what was going to happen once he left Australia and returned to Paris. Would he forget her? Would he ever return? She shoved the thoughts back into their box, not wanting to deal with them but rather enjoy the man who was holding her close, looking at her as though she really was the most precious thing in the world.

  ‘Kissing,’ she said softly as she began to slide her hands up towards his neck, ‘is very personal. It’s powerful and it’s far more important than people realise.’ The instant the words were out of her mouth, the atmosphere between them seemed to intensify one hundred per cent. She continued to push forward, breaking through barriers she’d spent years erecting.

  ‘Yes.’ The word was barely a whisper and his parted lips didn’t move. He simply continued to drink her in, the way she looked, the touch of her hands on his body, the way she was driving him completely insane.

  ‘When two people touch their lips together, it’s not about the pressure, it’s not about the need. It’s about two worlds melding into one. It’s about giving and receiving in equal measure. It’s about trust and honesty and belief.’

  ‘Yes,’ he repeated, but this time when he swallowed, her gaze dipped to watch his Adam’s apple slide smoothly up and down his neck, just above his shirt collar and tie. The desire in him increased when he realised he might finally be able to follow through on the one thing he’d wanted to do since the moment he’d first seen her.

  ‘Even with the anticipation of a kiss,’ she continued, her soft words winding their way seductively around him, binding them together, ‘bodies flood with desire, with longing, with a need so powerful it can make your head spin, make you swoon, wondering if your thirst will ever be quenched.’

  ‘Yes.’ The word was more of a soft growl, and although he had one hand at her waist and the other cupping her cheek, he still kept all his repressed desire perfectly contained.

  ‘Yes,’ she breathed, and stood on tiptoe, sliding her fingers around his neck and urging his head down so that finally, finally, their lips could meet.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  RICHARD KNEW HE had to remain calm and in control. Even though he was surging with elation at being invited by Bergan to kiss her, something he’d been longing to do for quite some time, the last thing he wanted was to scare her away. Enthusiasm was one thing, but unleashing his—

  The phone on Bergan’s desk shrilled to life, as did both their pagers. They could perhaps ignore one. They certainly couldn’t ignore all three. Richard still kept his arm around her waist, not wanting to let her go but knowing, eventually, he must.

  ‘Hold that thought,’ she said, pressing a kiss to her finger and then placing her finger gently on his lips. Smiling, she turned and reached across her desk to answer the phone. ‘Dr Moncrief,’ she said into the receiver. ‘All right. Give me the details.’ She shuffled around her desk and quickly picked up a pen to jot down a few notes.

  ‘I’ll be right out,’ she said a moment later, then paused and looked up at Richard. ‘I’m sure Richard’s not too far away, especially as his shift has already started.’ With that, she rang off.

  ‘Why didn’t you say I was in here with you?’ he asked as she picked up the piece of paper she’d scribbled notes on and headed for the door. ‘It’s hardly uncommon for the two of us to talk in private.’

  ‘I just don’t like everyone knowing my business.’ Her words were sharper than she’d intended but instead of apologising she switched her mind into professional mode. ‘Besides, duty calls. A building has collapsed downtown.’

  ‘Good heavens!’ Richard was shocked. ‘What are the preliminary details?’

  ‘A heritage-listed building, three stories, used as professional rooms.’ She looked at the piece of paper in her hand as they headed into A and E. She’d had half a mind to ask him to wait a few minutes so no one saw them heading into A and E together but he’d been right. There was no reason why it would seem odd if the two of them were alone in her office.

  She’d overreacted when Katrina, the triage sister, had mentioned being unable to find Dr Allington and had blurted out the first thing that had come to mind. She wasn’t used to being flustered about her personal life, primarily because prior to meeting Richard she hadn’t really had one.

  ‘There you both are,’ Katrina said as they entered the nurses’ station. The phones were ringing, several nurses telling the staff who had been called in about the latest emergency requiring the Sunshine General retrieval team to assemble. ‘Here’s the latest report from the police, who have not long arrived on the scene.’

  Bergan scanned the information.

  ‘What’s the suspected headcount?’ Richard asked.

  She looked up at him for a moment, seemingly not having heard him, but after a moment she returned her attention to the sheet. ‘In excess of twenty, possibly up to fifty. The building housed the offices of a lawyer, doctor and dentist.’

  ‘Any preliminary conclusions about the cause of the collapse? Burst water mains? Gas explosion? Bad foundations?’

  Bergan scanned the report and then nodded. ‘Fire crews suspect a gas e
xplosion.’ She glanced at him again. ‘Have you…been involved in a retrieval like this before?’

  ‘Unfortunately, yes. Buildings may not collapse every day but, yes, I’ve been involved with this sort of retrieval in the past.’

  ‘Good. Well, if you have any tips,’ she said as quite a few of the retrieval team started to gather in the nurses’ station, ‘don’t be afraid to speak up.’

  ‘Oh, I will.’ Richard gave her one of those small smiles that never failed to make her heart flip-flop. She wished he wouldn’t, especially now when she was trying desperately to concentrate and put what they’d been so close to finally achieving back there in her office completely out of her mind. It wasn’t like her to be so unprofessional, but there it was—she was affected by him even in the midst of a crisis. Surely that wasn’t right?

  Once the majority of the retrieval team had arrived, Bergan accepted the latest updated information from Katrina, who had just finished a phone call from a police officer on the scene, and began the briefing, pleased that her friends, Mackenzie, Reggie and Sunainah, each qualified specialists in their own right, would also make up part of the team heading out to the accident site.

  ‘We’ve contacted the Red Cross and they’ll be setting up a temporary triage station at the local community hall, which is only half a block down from the collapsed building,’ Bergan stated. ‘Katrina and Sunainah, I’d like you to go there and work with the volunteers to get things set up as quickly as possible. At the moment the count is at least thirty people trapped in the collapsed building, but that doesn’t take into account patients or clients who may have been in the waiting rooms of the three different businesses.’

  She looked across at Sunainah. ‘The dentist’s rooms were holding a school clinic today, which is why I’ll need you there as lead paediatrician,’ she told her friend.

  Sunainah nodded in acceptance and Bergan continued. ‘The collapse has also affected traffic. Several chunks of the building have fallen onto the footpath and the road so we could be looking at more than sixty possible patients. Some might have scratches and bruises, but others will definitely need more treatment. Extra staff have been called into A and E and both emergency and elective theatres are preparing for the influx.’

  ‘I take it the police have cordoned off the entire block?’ Richard asked.

  ‘But we still have access to the community centre?’ Mackenzie checked.

  ‘Yes.’ As Bergan continued to give out jobs and direct her team, she couldn’t help being highly conscious of Richard standing just off to her right. As she looked around at the staff, some already dressed in their bright blue and yellow retrieval overalls, she tried to avoid looking directly at Richard. Just the sight of his bluer-than-blue eyes, eyes that were so expressive they had the ability to make her knees turn to jelly with one simple look, was enough to ruin her concentration.

  She’d been about to kiss him. To really kiss him! She’d dreamt of it often enough during the past few weeks, and while she’d been delighted that he hadn’t pressured her, that he’d let her set the pace, she honestly hadn’t expected him to hold back as much as he had. Had he honestly been waiting for her to give him permission to kiss her? That in itself spoke volumes about his character, about his trustworthiness, about how he was showing her she could rely on him to stay true to his word.

  Bergan had given up years ago ever thinking a man like Richard Allington existed. A man who was honourable, giving and caring. He often treated her as though she were some sort of queen, his considerate nature showing her that he wanted nothing more than to make her happy. Was it possible? Could she allow herself to be happy? Not just for now but for ever?

  She made the mistake of glancing at him just as she started to wrap up her instructions, and at the serious look of concentration on his face Bergan once again felt her heart melt. He cared. He really cared about his work, about people, about the patients they were about to go and help. And he really cared about her, too.

  For so long she’d kept her heart wrapped up tight, locked behind imaginary doors, knowing if she went to great lengths to protect herself, no one could ever hurt her again. And they hadn’t. She was a strong, proud and very independent woman, but when she was alone with Richard, especially sharing a quiet night just sitting and chatting, or watching a television show with his arm securely around her as she snuggled into him, Bergan had to admit she felt happy and feminine but also incredibly vulnerable…and it was the last part she didn’t like.

  ‘What about me?’ Richard asked. ‘You haven’t given me a job yet. Floating between the site and the community centre?’

  ‘No. You have experience with this type of rescue, so you’ll be with me.’ She cleared her throat as she said the last words then nodded to everyone else gathered around her. ‘That’s about it.’ As people started to disband, to go and do as she’d instructed, Bergan called out, ‘And don’t forget to ensure your walkie-talkies are switched to the right frequency.’

  She let out a long sigh as she turned to face Richard, who was now leaning against the desk.

  ‘How are you holding up?’ he asked.

  ‘OK.’

  ‘Retrievals are never easy—emotionally, I mean. I think that’s when we all really need be totally professional in order to deal with the unusual situation we’re walking into.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You do very well, preparing the staff, giving everyone jobs. Holding it all together.’ He nodded. ‘You’re an expert at that.’

  Bergan frowned. ‘Is that a back-handed compliment?’

  ‘What?’ Richard looked surprised. ‘No. Of course it isn’t. I’m saying I admire you, Bergan. I almost envy the way you’re able to keep it all together.’

  She shifted her weight to the other foot and crossed her arms, looking him directly in the eye. ‘Are you saying you can’t?’

  He stood up straight, giving her a quizzical glance. ‘What’s wrong? Why are you being so antagonistic towards me?’ His words weren’t rude, just confused, and Bergan didn’t blame him. It wasn’t fair of her to snap at him simply because he had the ability to break through her barriers, to get her excited, to make her feel vulnerable.

  ‘Nothing.’ She closed her eyes for a second and shook her head. ‘I’d better get changed.’ Without waiting for a reply, Bergan headed off towards the female change rooms, leaving a very confused Richard watching her walk away.

  *

  When they arrived at the accident site, the police waved through the mini-van carrying the staff and the two ambulances that had come to take the first of the injured back to the hospital. The members of the team began to disperse, each one knowing exactly what to do and where he or she was needed.

  ‘Bergan.’ A man dressed in a firefighter’s rescue uniform came up to her.

  ‘Palmer. I was told you were the man in charge of everything. Good.’ She jerked her thumb over her shoulder. ‘This is Richard Allington. We’ll be working point with you at the site.’

  ‘Terry Palmer,’ the man said, and quickly shook hands with Richard, before leading the two of them through the maze of police cars and fire trucks towards the rubble that had previously been a place of business.

  ‘Status update?’ Bergan and Richard both carried large medical kits as they followed Palmer, taking in the sight of destruction as well as the smell of despair and devastation.

  ‘You couldn’t have timed it better. We’re about to pull the first of the survivors from the rubble. There are several pedestrians and motorists who require medical attention, but now that your teams are here, they’ll no doubt take care of them.’

  ‘That’s what they’re trained to do,’ Bergan replied as she navigated around a large section of broken sandstone. ‘It was reported as a gas explosion.’

  ‘That’s the preliminary finding but we won’t know for sure until later. At this point we’ve taken the necessary precautions and shut down all non-essential services to this area.’

  ‘And
the community centre?’ Richard asked. ‘I understand that’s close by. Does it have water?’

  ‘Yes. Also, it doesn’t have gas pipes, it’s all electric, so the medical teams and the Red Cross volunteers should be able to do what needs to be done.’

  Bergan continued to look around them as they drew closer to the centre of the blast. ‘Oh, my goodness!’ she gasped, placing her free hand over her mouth, more from shock at what she was seeing than to protect herself from the dust cloud, which seemed to be suspended in the air.

  The actual site looked more like an anthill than a building. Several of Palmer’s men, in their bright reflective yellow clothes, were clambering on the mound, carefully moving pieces of rubble with their gloved hands, while others where setting up the heavier machinery that would be required to lift the large sections.

  ‘It doesn’t matter how many times you see it, you’re never fully prepared for the devastation.’ Richard placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a little reassuring squeeze, showing her he understood exactly how she was feeling. It was strange how alike they were, how they seemed to think the same. It was another thing she wasn’t quite used to, having a man actually understand the way she thought.

  ‘Palmer!’ one of the firefighters called, and immediately Palmer went over, scrambling over the rubble as easily as a mountain goat. A moment later Palmer was calling them over.

  Richard and Bergan made their way towards him and by the time they arrived, one young girl, about eleven years old with braces on her teeth, was being lifted carefully onto a stretcher.

  ‘Where do you want her?’ the firefighter asked.

  Bergan quickly looked around, her mind snapping into professional mode, and pointed to a more level part of the rubble. ‘Just there. Let me assess her.’

  ‘We’ve got another one,’ one of the men called, and Richard only had to glance at Bergan for them to communicate effectively what needed to be done. She knelt down by the young girl and opened her medical kit as Richard went off to attend to the next patient. They both knew that the sooner people were pulled from the rubble and treated, the better the outcome.