City Surgeon, Small Town Miracle / Bachelor Dad, Girl Next Door

by Marion Lennox / Sharon Archer

  ‘I don’t care.’ He wiped the mushroom caps then sliced them thinly with a sharp knife.

  ‘What do you mean, you don’t care. This isn’t London,’ she said tartly. ‘We’re doctors in a small community. You have to care.’

  ‘Nope. Do you want to cut up the onion for me?’ He looked at her hopefully.

  ‘No, damn it, I don’t want to cut up your blasted onion.’

  ‘Pity. Okay, I’ll do it.’ Suppressing a smile at her palpable frustration, he began slicing the vegetable thinly.

  ‘Luke. Are you listening to me?’

  ‘Absolutely.’ He leaned down and got a frying-pan out of the cupboard and put it on the stove over a low heat. ‘You’re worried that the hospital grapevine has got us over here indulging in a bout of hot sex.’

  A quick glance showed him that she was standing with her mouth open. He would be willing to bet that it wasn’t because she was speechless. Much more likely that she had too much to say and didn’t know which scathing retort to fire at him first.

  ‘Knives and forks in that drawer, salt and pepper on the worktop.’ He whisked the eggs and tipped them into the warm pan. Using a spatula, he lifted the edge of the mix to stop it from sticking.

  With the eggs cooking gently, he risked another look at Terri. ‘Don’t you think the people you’ve worked with for six months have a better opinion of you than that?’

  ‘Maybe.’ She sighed. ‘Probably.’

  He spread the chopped and grated filling over the top of the egg and reached up to grab a couple of plates out of the cupboard. With a deft flip, he folded the omelette then cut it.

  ‘Let’s eat,’ he said, carrying the laden plates across to set them on the table.

  Terri followed slowly and slipped into the chair opposite his. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Bon appetit.’ He reached for the pepper. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her pick up her utensils.

  They ate in silence for a few moments.

  ‘You’re right, you do cook a mean omelette,’ she said. ‘It’s delicious. Thank you.’

  ‘My pleasure.’

  Feeding her filled him with a warm glow. Basic, instinctive. Primal. He was surprised how much he wanted to provide food and shelter for this woman. Get close to her, to pet her and love her. To have her return his feelings.

  He waited until she took the last mouthful of omelette. There was no easy way to start this discussion so he may as well plunge right in. ‘If we’re going to have a relationship, we need to set some ground rules up front.’

  She stared at him, her mouth stopping briefly in mid-chew, then he could see her trying to force the food down her throat.

  He got up to fill a glass with water then took it back to the table and held it out to her. ‘Here.’

  She waved it away. ‘A relationship? Are you crazy?’

  ‘No, not at all.’ He put the glass on the table. ‘We agreed last night that we’re attracted to each other. There’s chemistry between us.’

  She gave him a hunted look and pushed away her plate. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Good.’ He let out his breath. For a moment he’d thought she was going to deny him, but she was no coward.

  ‘Luke, this is a small country town. We work together. You’re my boss. Any sort of entanglement outside work has disaster written all over it.’

  ‘We’ll go slowly, be sensible. Start off with normal social interaction. Everyday, routine stuff. See where it takes us.’ He watched the expressions flit over her face. ‘I’m not suggesting that we flaunt it with public displays of extravagant affection but neither do I want to hide it away as though it’s a furtive hole-in-the-wall affair.’

  ‘What if we get down the track and realise it isn’t working?’

  ‘We’re adults, professionals. We deal with it.’

  She looked at him sceptically. ‘What about Allie?’

  ‘She’d be delighted. My daughter thinks you’re the best thing since sliced bread. I know you care about her and I know that wouldn’t change.’ He leaned his elbows on the table and looked into her eyes. ‘Even if you thought her father was the biggest swine this side of the black stump.’

  She gave a snort of surprised laughter. ‘And is he?’

  ‘He tries hard not to be.’

  Terri was still looking at him doubtfully, but Luke sensed he’d crossed some invisible boundary with her.

  He smiled. ‘So how about it?’

  ‘Slow and sensible?’

  ‘As you want.’ And may the powers give him the strength to keep his word without causing him physical injury.

  A loud discordant beep made her start. She reached for the paging unit on her waistband and looked at it. Tucking it back into position, she got to her feet. ‘I’d better go.’

  Hell. Was she going to leave him in limbo? Luke swallowed and stood to pick up the plates. Surely she wouldn’t be so cruel.

  A second later she looked him squarely in the eye. ‘All right, then. Yes. Slow and sensible.’

  He stifled the yell that threatened to rip out from gut level and managed a moderate ‘Great.’

  She nodded. ‘See you back at work.’

  ‘Yes.’

  As soon as the door closed behind her, he let his smile escape. Yes! Now all he had to do was get the balance right. He didn’t want her to feel crowded or stampeded by him, but he did want them to spend as much time together as they could.

  Terri’s heart somersaulted wildly. She’d just agreed to have a relationship with Luke Daniels. Should she applaud herself for bravery for taking the step or chastise herself for being foolish? Apologise to Luke for leading him on? For not telling him all the reasons why he shouldn’t get involved with her?

  She was too weak. The love that shone between him and Allie beckoned her closer. Made her want to catch some of the warmth for herself. Was it so wrong of her?

  Somehow she would find the courage to tell him what he had a right to know. Soon. Before they got too deep. First she would store precious bright moments in her memory.

  She shivered as she walked through the warm spring afternoon. Was she fooling herself?

  Everyday routine stuff, he’d said.

  She was very much afraid that the normal, everyday could be addictive with Luke.

  CHAPTER TEN

  FIVE days since Terri had agreed to a relationship with him.

  Five days of caution and restraint.

  Five whole days.

  Not long in terms of world affairs. Not even a week.

  In terms of self-control, it was an aeon.

  Luke looked across to where Allie was showing Terri the information tag on another nursery plant. At his daughter’s behest, Terri obediently bent to sniff a white bloom. Helpless to resist, he watched the way her red shorts clung to the curve of her buttocks as she leaned forward. A familiar tug of desire caught him low in his gut and he suppressed a groan. Frustration was his constant companion these days.

  He’d played it cool all week, not making any overt moves, not giving Terri any excuses to retreat, to change her mind. The first few times he’d joined her for coffee in the staff tea room, he’d felt her wariness. As though she expected him to say something, do something, in front of the other staff. As though she’d known how hard he’d had to tether his need to stake a public claim on her.

  By the end of the week she’d almost relaxed and he congratulated himself that his softly, softly approach was working.

  Allie flitted to another plant like an overly fussy worker bee. Her face radiated enthusiasm as she turned over the tag, read it, then moved on. He smiled. She’d inherited her mother’s love of gardening.

  His eyes slid back to the woman who followed a pace behind his daughter. Long dark hair formed a thick gleaming mantle across Terri’s shoulders.

  Five whole days since he’d kissed her. Since he’d held her in his arms…threaded his fingers deep in her hair.

  The sable silk would look glorious spread over his pillow�
�as her lips moved in a mysterious, womanly smile, inviting his kiss, inviting his touch. Inviting—

  ‘Dad-dy!’

  The plaintive cry slapped him out of his fantasy. He focussed to find himself staring straight at Terri. Her soft brown eyes held a quizzical expression. His pulse stopped and then lurched into an erratic bounding rhythm.

  Hell. What was she reading from his face?

  He swallowed.

  ‘Sorry, miles away.’ He walked towards them, forcing his mouth into the best smile he could manage. It felt feeble. ‘What did I miss?’

  ‘I want this rose for Mummy’s garden.’ Allie looked at him anxiously. ‘Do you think Mummy would like it, Dad? It’s not exactly the same as the one at home but the colour is so pretty.’

  He looked from his daughter’s wistful face to the plant with its cluster of small coral-pink buds. ‘I know your mum would love it because you chose it, sweetheart. It’s perfect.’

  Allie beamed. ‘Cool. Can we get some small plants, too? I talked to Granddad and he said we should. He gave me a list to choose from.’

  ‘Did he? Then if Granddad said so, we’d better get some.’ He grinned.

  ‘We need a trolley. They’re over there.’ Allie pointed then skipped away.

  ‘It’s lovely to see her so happy.’ Terri’s husky voice sent a quiver down his spine.

  ‘Yes.’ He watched as his daughter manoeuvred an awkward flat-bottomed trolley back towards them. He tilted his head towards Terri, his eyes following the line of her jaw to her stubborn little chin. ‘Have I mentioned how much I appreciate you giving me my daughter back?’

  ‘You might have a time or two.’ Her grin was alive with mischief.

  ‘Perhaps I should mention it again,’ he murmured, reaching out to capture a ringlet of hair that had caught on the simple gold chain of her necklace. Masculine satisfaction surged at her quick shiver as he stroked the strand back over her shoulder.

  ‘It’s not necessary.’ There was a slight catch in her voice and when her eyes darted up to his they held a dark flare of awareness.

  His gaze moved down to her mouth, watched as she caught her bottom lip. Her teeth sank into the tender flesh until he wanted to protest, wanted it to be his teeth nipping at the plump cushion.

  ‘Terri—’

  She blinked and looked away, a strained smile curving her mouth. ‘Well done, Allie. Let’s grab your rose and see what else we can find.’

  Rooted to the spot, Luke watched as one of the attendants lifted the pot of the chosen rose onto the trolley. His daughter chattered to Terri and pushed the trolley a little further along the aisle. When they stopped, a trick of the light bathed the two of them in a glowing, ethereal halo. Terri bent her head towards Allie, whose upturned face was filled with trust and hope.

  And love.

  He stared at their smiling profiles. The seconds moved with a syrupy slowness as his heart compressed painfully. A shudder ran through him as though a foundation had shifted deep in his psyche.

  He blinked and looked away, waiting for normality.

  He wanted Terri badly.

  He ached for her, but this sensation was something more. Something powerful, elemental.

  Frighteningly important.

  He’d promised to take things slowly and sensibly but there was nothing temperate about the emotions storming through him.

  He frowned, abruptly certain he didn’t know enough about her. She’d opened up so much the other night. Wrenching details about her marriage and about her last moments with her husband. Was there more? If there was, she’d baulked at the idea of sharing it with him. Why? What could be worse than the things she had told him?

  Perhaps his unease was because he sensed the trauma of the explosion and her husband’s death had left Terri with even deeper emotional scars than those she’d revealed. How could it not? Did a soul ever truly heal from such cruel wounds?

  Despite the heat of the sun on his back, a chill spread across his skin. As though an unseen threat lurked just beyond his comprehension.

  He huffed out a long breath, shrugging away the shiver of unwelcome intuition. The only thing he could do was take it one step at a time, build trust, hope they’d create something worthwhile together.

  ‘Okay, you two, let’s get this show on the road.’ He aimed a smile at them as he strode forward. ‘Plants. We need plants. Allie, you’ve got the list so you’re in charge of choosing. Terri, you’re with me behind the trolley.’

  Allie giggled and relinquished the handle to him.

  Luke captured Terri’s hand and tugged her to his side. ‘Now I’ve got you right where I want you,’ he said under his breath so only she could hear.

  ‘Luke!’ Her gaze flew to where Allie was comparing a tag to the list she held.

  ‘What? I’m only holding your hand.’ He gave her a wicked grin. He lowered his voice and said, ‘Would you like me to show you what I really want to do?’

  ‘No,’ she all but yelped. ‘No, absolutely not. Behave.’

  ‘Then you’d better hold my hand tight, hadn’t you, sweetheart?’ he said, his gaze roving over her anxious face.

  ‘What about Allie?’ Terri’s eyes were fixed on his daughter. She cared very much for Allie’s well-being.

  Suddenly his peculiar mood dissolved and he relented. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve had a talk to her about going out with you.’

  ‘You have?’ Terri’s eyes came back to his, wide and uncertain.

  ‘She thinks it’s a good idea. In fact, I think I’ve gone up in her estimation. See what a good influence you’re being on me.’

  ‘Mmm.’ Her lips pursed in a moue of doubt and his pulse spiked. Conversation, concentrate on the conversation.

  ‘Yes, she even wanted to give me some dating advice.’ He strolled down the aisle towards Allie, who had moved on further. ‘I should take you to the movies and buy you ice cream apparently. It’s what all the girls like.’ He gave Terri a thoughtful glance. ‘What do you think…will it get me to first base?’

  ‘Not likely,’ she muttered darkly. ‘You promised we wouldn’t flaunt it.’

  ‘I also said we wouldn’t hide it.’

  ‘I think we need to have a discussion on definitions. Yours versus mine.’ Her tone was astringent. ‘I’m starting to sense a lack of compatibility.’

  ‘I’m always ready to discuss our relationship with you.’ He grinned at her. ‘Just say the word.’

  He laughed when his impertinence was rewarded by an old-fashioned look. This subtle dance of courtship between them was a pleasure. It had been a long time since he’d done something just for the fun of it.

  At the checkout, he said casually, ‘Mum’s issued a not-to-be-refused invitation to you for dinner tonight. Hasn’t she, Allie?’

  ‘Oh, yes, please come. Ple-ease,’ said Allie.

  ‘Dad said you used to be a regular at chez Daniels before we arrived.’ It was short notice and his pressure was less than subtle, but he didn’t care. He didn’t think Terri was the type to play games. If she was free, she would come. If she wasn’t, he wouldn’t like it but he’d have to be philosophical. He layered on some more pathos. ‘We’d hate to think we’d scared you off. Wouldn’t we, Allie?’

  ‘Yes.’ His daughter looked faintly confused but game to agree.

  ‘Since you asked so nicely, I’d love to,’ Terri said, her narrow-eyed stare letting him know exactly what she thought of his tactics.

  He grinned, unrepentant, and tried hard not to look too smug. Judging from the look Terri gave him, he hadn’t succeeded.

  He was falling hard and quick. Too hard? Too quick?

  His senses told him Terri Mitchell was solid gold. His doubts weren’t about her. They were about her past and the pain she was still carrying.

  With care and patience, they could handle anything that was thrown at them. He was sure of it…

  He pushed away a second shadowy whisper of prescience.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  �
�TERRI! You’re here!’ squealed Allie.

  Luke’s head snapped around as his daughter dropped the cutlery she’d been setting out on the table to race over and hug their guest. Hard to believe from Allie’s behaviour that she’d seen Terri only a matter of hours ago. Though he certainly couldn’t chip her on her over-enthusiasm, given the great line of somersaults his own gut was doing.

  ‘Come and see where we’ve put the rose I picked for Mum,’ said Allie. ‘We planted it as soon as we got home. Granddad had the garden all ready.’

  ‘Give Terri a chance to say hello to everyone else before you start dragging her off, Allie,’ Luke said, placing the chairs he’d been carrying around the table. Give her a chance to say hello to me.

  ‘Hi, Luke.’ Terri’s smile was wary as he drew near and put his hand on her shoulder. He leaned forward to give her a peck on the cheek. Low down, right beside her mouth. Her skin was soft beneath his lips. She smelled delicious, fresh soap, light fragrance. All woman. All Terri.

  ‘I brought a bottle of wine.’ She stepped back and thrust a bottle into his hands.

  He looked at the label, giving himself a precious moment to regroup. A South Australian white wine. ‘Thanks. You must be psychic. Mum’s baking fish on the barbecue.’

  ‘Not so psychic.’ She grinned. ‘I spoke to Vivienne when we got home from the nursery earlier.’

  ‘Clever, then.’

  The back door opened. ‘About time you showed yourself around here, young lady,’ said Will as he carried the large bowl of salad to the table and then crossed to hug Terri. ‘I was starting to wonder what that new hospital director had done with you.’

  Unexpected heat crept into Luke’s face. He knew what the new director had been doing with her.

  And what he planned to do, given half a chance.

  ‘Oh, just the, um, usual. You know, work, work , work,’ Terri said with a weak laugh. Her cheekbones flushed becomingly as her eyes slid in Luke’s direction and then quickly away.

  Will frowned. ‘Humph. I still say the board did the wrong thing by you.’ Luke stifled a sigh when his father shot him an ambiguous look. ‘I told Luke he was stepping on toes. You did an excellent job as acting director.’