by Judi Nolan
It was lucky he'd been wearing a T-shirt in the early morning heat. There was no clothing to adhere to the burned skin. Fortunately he appeared to have only first and second degree burns. Kate breathed a sigh of thankfulness.
As she worked, Kate felt rather than saw Spencer come up behind her. When she looked she saw he'd been followed by the second ambulance officer.
She turned back to her patient. "I'll give you something for the pain, Mr. Jackson. But you will need to keep the wound very clean."
"Leave me alone. Spencer can help me now," the old man grumbled. "He knows me."
"I'm very sure he does." Kate didn't look up from her task of placing a sterile dressing over the burned area. Bill continued to watch her work with mutinous suspicion.
Spencer pulled on a fresh pair of gloves as sank to one knee beside her. "So, how are you two getting on?"
"Women doctors," Bill spluttered. "It ain't right."
"Oh, I don't know, from the look of things, I think Dr Martin is doing a very good job."
Kate could hear the shades of anger and concern coloring Spencer's tone as he assisted her. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. How's Mrs. Jackson?"
Spencer didn't reply immediately as they continued to work over Bill's arm together. Kate managed to keep herself from staring at his strong hands moving with Kate full skill and dexterity for such a big man.
Finally Spencer said, "I'm very concerned about Martha. I'm going to send her off to hospital in the ambulance with Bill. I've managed to stabilize her. But we're going to have to increase her medication."
Concentrating on her work, Kate wasn't slow to pick up on his deliberately measured tone. "I see. And what's her prognosis, Dr. Stelanos?"
Spencer inhaled and shook his head, giving the ambulance officer a warning look. "I don't know. Scares like this morning aren't doing her any good. They're still working on her in the ambulance. Her angina will be tricky to control unless she has complete rest and no more sudden upheavals."
After a moment of tense silence the officer behind them shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. "I'll go and check on her." He hurried away.
Bill Jackson rolled his head and groaned. "All right, so I wasn't quick enough to get out of the way. Must be getting too slow in my old age. I won't do it again."
His faded eyes swung back to Kate's. "I love my wife. Martha means everything to me. I can't lose her. Not now. Don't let her die."
"Oh, I'm sure she'll be all right." Kate met his helpless look with a deep sense of sorrow and felt her throat close.
This was the kind of love she once thought she'd found with Eric. She glanced over at Spencer. Could she ever find that sort of love again with a man like him?
She felt suddenly breathless and out of control. She shook her head at her own foolishness. When would she ever learn?
Her future was already mapped out, simple and functional. It had no room for kids, dogs, horses or even lonely old people who still loved each other despite their many differences over the years.
Certainly her life had no room for blue eyed, dark haired pirates, no matter how undeniably gorgeous and disturbing.
CHAPTER SIX
No, her startled mind reacted with real alarm. He'll only break your heart if you let him get close, as surely as the sun rises every morning.
She fought back the threat of tears and clasped Bill's uninjured hand. "Your Martha will pull through. But she's going to need a lot of care when she comes home. You can't go on scaring her like this."
Bill shook his head as Spencer helped him to sit up. "I yelled for Martha to grab the hose straight away, like you're supposed to. I know I scared her, but I didn't mean to."
"Yes, you did the right thing. You were very lucky. This could have been a lot worse. But you must try and not be so independent. You must let other people look after you."
Bill groaned. "I don't know, I seem to attract trouble like dirt. Always in the wars, have been ever since I was a kid and drove my Dad's truck into the creek. No helping it, I guess."
"Well, you can help Martha now by seeing reason," Spencer said, in a brusque tone. "Both of you need help. I know you like doing things the hard way, Bill. But things have to change. If you want to stay living here with Martha."
"I guess so. But I don't like it."
"You don't have to like it, but you do have to live with it." Spencer took the old man's arm to help him to his feet and assist him towards the ambulance. "For Martha's sake."
"If I mend my ways, do you promise she's gonna to be all right?" Bill swung back to Kate in blind appeal.
She bit her lower lip, and then looked across at Spencer. "Let's get you into the ambulance and you can find out for yourself."
Bill rolled his eyes. "Women! Ya can't trust 'em. They never give you a straight answer on anything."
"Maybe that's not such a bad thing." Spencer's steady look once again held a shade of quizzical questioning as he watched Kate.
She tried to read his expression. He looked almost as if he had expected her to dismiss Bill's obvious love for his wife. As if it was of little importance in the face of more practical concerns. Kate chewed her lip.
Had his ex-wife Katerina dismissed Spencer's love in the same careless way? Did he now judge all women as being made in the same selfish mold?
The distracting thought tumbled through her mind without an answer. Kate ducked her head as together they helped the old man climb up to be with his wife. But she knew the decision about giving up the cottage had been made for her.
She simply couldn't live so close to Spencer. It was too dangerous and far too tempting. To keep her sanity she resolved to move as soon as possible.
"I'm truly sorry, Dr. Martin." The estate agent's voice was firm. "The Stelanos property was within your price range. I'm afraid we've had a strong run on rental properties recently, so there's nothing else currently available for rent. I had hoped you'd be happy with the house."
"No, I'm not unhappy there." Kate tried to voice her unease, but the words wouldn't come. "The house is ideal."
How could she explain that her unwanted feelings for Spencer were deepening from the very time they first met? That she needed to put some distance between them before she ended up doing something she knew she would regret.
"Good," the agent replied with satisfaction. "Dr. Stelanos has been most generous with his rental agreement. He could've asked a lot more. I know you work for him, so I'm sure if you talked to him, made him aware of your concerns, he would understand."
Tell Spencer Stelanos that she was contemplating moving out because he disturbed her more than she needed or wanted? Not in this lifetime.
"Oh no, I don't see there's any need to mention it to him." In the end she couldn't bring herself to ask about moving into town. She enjoyed the tranquility of the old cottage too much to leave.
"I...thank you for your help. Since there's nothing else, it would be better if we left things as they stand. Goodbye."
She replaced the receiver with care. "So much for trying to do the right thing."
She stared out of the window above her desk. It was now Friday. She hadn't seen Spencer since Tuesday afternoon, after they had returned to work from Bill Jackson's accident. She surmised he had taken personal time off to deal with his aunt.
His remaining appointments had been shared out. Kate had covered the last two nights for emergencies. Thankfully they had been quiet and she had managed to catch up on some much needed sleep. But now the weekend loomed and she was beginning to feel concerned.
"Don't be foolish," she sighed roughly, looking away from the view.
Spencer's personal life was none of her affair. Getting to her feet to see her next patient, Kate shook her head. "And make sure you remember that."
A few hours later Cheryl entered the room as Kate's last patient left. "I don't have any more for you tonight, Dr. Martin. Go home and relax."
Kate rolled her shoulders. "Thanks, Cheryl."
As she was finishin
g Jake Morgan walked into the room. "I'm covering Spencer's shift for emergencies tonight."
He sat down beside Kate's desk, pulling down the knot of his tie and undoing the top button of his shirt. "That's better. All right, any patients I need to know about?"
"Just two of them." Kate consulted her notes.
She passed over a file. "You may get a follow-up on Jane Pigott. I'm worried about her. She's only seven years old and has been a mild asthmatic until a recent change in her family's circumstances worsened her condition. Her parents are only young themselves and say they're being forced by government cutbacks to live in a derelict caravan in the local camping ground."
Kate frowned over the details. "Jane hasn't had any hospital admissions that I'm aware of. Her nebulizer is the old type that's being phased out. I've started her on steroids, given her parents a script for the new type of inhaler and afterwards Jane felt well enough to go home. I told her parents to make sure they increase her inhaler usage and to call the after hours number if she doesn't improve. Her flow rate's in her notes—not ideal, but better than expected."
"Good," Jake nodded. "I'll keep her in mind. Anyone else?"
"Yes, one of Spencer's patients." Kate did another quick scan of her notes. "Fifty-five year old woman with influenza. She insisted she was well enough to go home." Kate handed him the second file. "I told her husband to telephone if she deteriorates."
"Excellent." Jake's gaze became quizzical. "So, any plans for the weekend, Kate?"
"I think gardening will be about my speed. It's been a long week, I need some down time."
Jake chuckled. "Well, Spencer should be back some time this weekend. He'll be well rested. I'll tell him he needs to give you some help."
Kate raised a denying hand. "No, please, there's no need. I cope better on my own."
"Maybe you cope too well sometimes? I've noticed you like to keep to yourself."
Jake's eyes moved over her face, as they did the first day they met. Kate watched him taking frowning stock of her features. Again she puzzled over why everyone kept staring at her, but she had no answer.
Jake finally looked away, shaking his head as he stood up. "I'll get out of your way. Let you get finished. Enjoy your weekend."
Kate wasn't letting him escape. "Dr. Morgan, please, what is it? What do you see when you look at me?"
"See?" Jake looked back from the doorway. He passed a hand over the back of his neck. "Sometimes you remind me of someone I once knew." He dropped his hand. "Maybe it's because I need glasses for reading like Spence. Or maybe I'm just getting old." He grinned. "My wife Maddie, keeps telling me I'm too short sighted. I'm beginning to think she's right."
Kate could see she wasn't getting a straight answer to her question. She sighed and stood up. "I'll see you on Monday then."
"Fine. Enjoy your weekend." Jake quickly left the room.
"I will." Kate stared after him.
She got the distinct feeling he wasn't telling her the truth. She didn't like secrets. But short of chasing after Jake and demanding that he confess, what could she do?
"So, your first week is finally over." Cheryl bustled into the room. "You must be relieved. We got through them all and it's only five fifteen. Do you have any plans for tonight?"
Kate finished tidying her desk. "No, no plans."
"Well, I know it's really short notice, but my boyfriend and I are going out for a meal and then we'll take in a nightclub or two. You're welcome to join us. If you're at a loose end, that is." She paused. "I hope you don't mind, but Dr. Michaels said you lived alone. I mean, I know what it's like, arriving in a new town and you don't know anyone."
"I don't mind you asking." But going out with Cheryl to play third wheel in her romance? "Thanks. It was sweet of you to ask." She felt touched. "But, I think I'll grab an early night. I'm going to need it."
"Okay, but the offer's there. Anytime you feel like you need some company."
"Thank you. I'll keep it in mind." Kate watched the nurse leave the room. "What I need is ten hours of solid sleep." She straightened her arms above her head, stretching them out and down.
At least she had the whole weekend free. She wasn't on call. She had two whole days to spend whipping the cottage's garden into some semblance of order. Perhaps the physical exercise would finally clear her mind of the unsettling distraction caused by one tall, dark haired man and his little boy and the worrying thought that nobody was willing to tell her the whole truth.
Kate sat back on her heels. The early afternoon sun was becoming almost too hot. But she didn't want to give up and retreat inside until she'd finished this last bed. It was a personal challenge she'd set herself.
However she was beginning to feel a little light headed. Perhaps it was time to quit. She pushed her wide brimmed straw hat off her head, reaching for the bottle of mineral water in the cane basket beside her.
"Not nice." She pulled a face. The liquid was warm and tasted of plastic, but it was very welcome to her parched throat.
She looked around with satisfaction. Three large flower beds were now free of weeds and the soil turned ready for replanting with annuals. She'd found a measure of contentment in the hard, backbreaking work.
Straightening to her feet, she tossed the bottle of water aside before placing her hands in the small of her back, arching her spine. Despite the day's activity, she couldn't relax, or concentrate. Her senses were constantly tuned for the sound of the telephone or any sign of Spencer.
Any hint of his return.
It wasn't right. She was becoming addicted to seeing him. Making sure he was all right. Had she learned nothing about becoming too closely involved with a man?
Despite her misgivings, an hour later it was almost a relief to hear the deep barking of Lobo as he came running into the garden. Kate stood, dropping her gardening tools into the basket at her feet.
In almost an action replay of their first meeting, Jamie came next in the procession of gorgeous Stelanos males, his small legs pumping away at the pedals of his bicycle. Seeing Kate he waved one hand in greeting, coming perilously close to falling off the bike. He pedaled onto the paving stones between the beds, stepping off the bike, letting it fall sideways into the nearest bed.
"Hey, Auntie Kate." He stripped off his bike helmet and swiped a small hand across his damp forehead as he flopped down in the long grass in the shade of a nearby tree. "I'm really bushed."
"Here." Kate bent into the basket beside her, picking up an unopened bottle of water. "It's warm and it doesn't taste very nice." She held the bottle out. "Do you want it?"
"I s'pose so." Jamie reached to take it with a shy smile and a murmured thank you.
Lobo circled back from his investigations to flop down at her feet with a hopeful woof, his long tongue hanging.
"Okay, I get the message." Kate laughed, reaching to discard the remains of her lunch from its square plastic container into the basket and held it out. "Jamie, could you go inside and fill this with water for him?" She handed the make-shift bowl to Spencer's son.
"Come on, Lobo." Jamie called and together boy and dog went inside the cottage.
"Hey! What about me?"
The plaintive question brought Kate's head around sharply. The tip of her nose nearly connected with the broad expanse of Spencer's naked chest. The heated, masculine scent of him engulfed her senses, touching off a riot of clamorous need. As she fought it down, Kate felt her equilibrium tilt alarmingly, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her.
"Careful." Spencer's hands shot out to fasten on her forearms as she nearly lost her balance. He frowned down into her face. "Too much sun?"
"No!" Kate faltered. "No. I'm sorry. I just didn't see you there."
To her dismay, she found she couldn't turn her eyes away. Her heartbeat slammed into overdrive as she absorbed all of him. Why did he have to appear at all the wrong times?
Like now when she was bone tired and her resistance far too low to combat his mouthwatering appeal. The
broad sweep of his shoulder looked much too comfortable and she was almost tired enough to lean against him.
His thick dark hair was curling and damp, clinging to his head and neck while the darkness of more than two days growth of beard shadowed the firm line of his jaw. His brooding masculinity took her breath away.
Kate watched, fascinated, as a bead of perspiration trickled from the hollow at the base of his throat, arrowing down over his chest, heading for the waistband of his shorts—where they rode low on his hips—before it became lost somewhere along the way.
"Oh, help." Kate breathed, licking her lips and trying to force air into her starving lungs.
"Kate? What's the matter? Spencer came closer. "Are you all right?"
"Oh no. I mean, yes, I'm fine," she gasped, jerking her eyes upwards to encounter his hooded stare. "I didn't expect to see you today."
Spencer's mouth twisted, his hands dropped away as he said, "And here's me thinking I'm hard to miss."
No, Kate had to agree in all honesty, he wasn't hard to miss. That was the whole problem. Spencer Stelanos was taking up too much space in her mind for her comfort. Right now she was feeling acutely uncomfortable.
Her throat turned desert dry. He was a hard man to overlook under any circumstances. But today...she sighed, unable to prevent her wary eyes from tracking back to him.
Dressed in running shoes and black shorts, Spencer had stripped off his shirt, looping it around the back of his neck. He held the ends now in his strong hands, like a sports towel, using the hem of the shirt to wipe the sweat from his brow. With his eyes briefly covered, Kate couldn't help but stare.
The title of Greek god simply didn't come close to describing the man. In her mind's graphic image when he'd first invited her to go running with him, his smooth tanned olive skin was gleaming and oiled with perspiration. The sculptured muscles of his chest were overlaid with a fine dusting of moist dark hair that traveled in a narrow line down to his navel and beyond, disappearing beneath the waistband of his shorts. His abdominal muscles were hard and shaped, adding definition to a body that would make most women faint with desire.