Ideal Girl (Irish Girl, Hospital Romance 1)

by Jenny O'Brien

  ‘Well what do you suggest we do then?’ She said into the phone, trying to get some advice. But the only advice on offer was for her to contact Bridie’s dad and that when she’d already told them that he wouldn’t be in time.

  ‘Well Happy Christmas to you too.’ She mumbled under her breath, slamming the receiver back into its cradle. But turning to leave the office she found her way barred by none other than Professor Merrien leaning against the door frame.

  ‘Staff just told me what happened to Miss Jenkins. I’m sorry Liddy, but her brain injury was just too extensive. You do know that, even if she had pulled through she would have spent the rest of her days being looked after by others.’

  She stared at him blankly. No, she bloody well hadn’t known that she’d never get better. How would she - it’s not as if anyone had bothered to tell her or anything being as she was only a student nurse.

  ‘All she wanted was to know her cat was safe and we’ve failed her. I can’t get anyone to help me and her father isn’t coming over for days yet when it’ll be too late.’ She flung back, her voice suddenly hoarse. She hadn’t cried since her own father had deserted her and she wasn’t about to start now, especially in front of the likes of him.

  Mitch raised his eyebrows before closing the door silently behind him.

  ‘What cat? There wasn’t anything mentioned in her medical records, I’m sure I’d have spotted it yesterday. Was that what your phone call was about?’

  ‘Yeah, I phoned the social work department, but they told me they’re just too busy to help. I finally worked out that the confusion thing we’d all being seeing about bats was actually about her cat and before… Before she died I promised her that I wouldn’t let anything happen to it. But now it seems as if I’ll have to break my promise...’ She stopped speaking and turned to face the window. There was nothing left to say. It was too late, far too late for just words.

  ‘Hold on a minute,’ he interrupted. ‘Are you saying that Miss Jenkins cat’s locked up at her home, probably without food and water by now and no one’s bothered enough to look into it?’ Turning back she watched him remove the stethoscope dangling from around his neck and ram it unceremoniously into his pocket. ‘I thought we were meant to be the caring profession, but obviously not! What time are you finished?’

  She glanced at the clock on the wall over his head. ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’

  ‘I thought we could go on a cat hunt?’

  ’Really?’ She smiled back at him, all thoughts of tears erased. Five days wasn’t too long. Surely a cat would be able to manage for a few days at least? ‘I’m off at two.’

  ‘Good - I’m in the mood for an adventure. Let’s just be positive.’ He walked over to the desk and picked up the pen lying there, adding it to the assorted collection already inhabiting his top pocket. ‘I’ll be waiting in the car park - if you can see if she had a door key and write down her address?’

  ‘I think she had a handbag - Billie will know if there was a key, although I’m not sure if we should?’

  ‘I can always go by myself. Maybe it would be better...’

  ‘No!’ She fastened her gaze to his. ‘It was my promise so I’ll go.’

  ‘Don’t worry - I’ll take full responsibility if we get arrested for breaking and entering, it’s important to keep your promise.’

  Chapter Nine

  It was nearer to three when Liddy entered the car park. She hurried across the pot holed tarmac, an excuse and an apology ready to traipse off her tongue. Although, being late off duty wasn’t unusual – it would have been unusual if she’d been off on time and, as for being off early – no chance! There were six bells ringing and, as usual, no other nurse in sight. In fact, it was lucky she was here at all, come to think of it. Head bowed she made her way to the consultant’s section, hoping against hope he’d be waiting. She didn’t fancy having to make her way across town on the bus, especially as she didn’t know what she’d find. Five days was a long time for a human let alone for a little cat.

  Wrapped up in her own thoughts she suddenly found herself grabbed from behind and held in a vice like grip. Too surprised to think, too surprised to struggle, too surprised even to breath she just stood there, unmoving as she felt hair and then a chin start to press against her; nuzzling into her neck like some intrepid lover. Her heart stumbled to a halt before resuming its erratic beat. Surely to God he’d have a bit more finesse than to grapple with her in public? But he was the only one that would be waiting, unless a stranger had…

  Before she’d a chance to think any further she felt a damp patch on her neck, where a set of limpet lips had started to drool against her skin.

  Donal Cartwright! She should have guessed. She’d bloody kill him for scaring the hell out of her.

  ‘Hello babe, where have you been hiding yourself, Hmm? I’ve popped up to the unit at least six times since yesterday.’

  She should have known it would be him. Even his hands were damp come to think of it, as she felt them grabbing onto her wrists like a wet flannel - was she in need of a shower or what. She could still feel a drip of saliva rapidly cooling on her neck, just as she could still feel the trail his hands left across her flesh.

  ‘What the hell Donal! What makes you think you can attack me like that; I’ve never given you any encouragement.’ She wrenched herself from his grasp before adding. ‘Why can’t you just leave me alone?’

  She stumbled across to the Morgan, parked silently in the corner with a stern faced Mitch staring fixedly out of the window. A minute before she’d been thinking it was him. That was laughable for a start. He couldn’t even bear to look at her, let alone bear to touch her if last night was anything to go by. She shuddered as a wave of embarrassment washed over her. If he had liked her a little, and that was a huge if, there was no way he’d feel the same after what he’d just witnessed. She blushed scarlet at what he must be thinking of her, even as she remembered Iris and her bitchy comments. Perhaps it was her fault. Perhaps she did flaunt herself at men. Perhaps she should just give up hiding herself away for all the good it did. For all her baggy unattractive clothes the likes of Donal still came sniffing around for whatever they could get.

  She’d reached the car now, her fingertips inches from the handle – should she pull the door open, or should she just run away and hide? But she couldn’t run away - of all the options left to her and her tattered pride choosing to let Bridie down wasn’t one of them. She’d been let down by too many people in her own life to do it to someone else, and certainly not a helpless cat. She looked at his unblinking outline and she wanted to say something – something to make it right, something to sweep away the last few seconds, but what?

  She wanted to tell him that Donal’s attention was unwarranted, but she couldn’t think of the words. She could always just burst out and say. ‘Oh and by the way I’m a virgin and not a slapper.’ But she could just imagine his response.

  ‘And you are telling me this because?’

  Mitch saw everything through his window and knew all was lost. John had been wrong in thinking his registrar had failed, just as he’d been right about Liddy being perfect. He’d watched Donal’s lips trail kisses across her face with an enthusiasm he’d been struggling not to think about and he suddenly realised that this slip of a girl had stolen his heart. That could be the only reason for the feelings of loss and despair that were rapidly engulfing his whole being.

  He didn’t know how, or even why it had happened. He hadn’t set out for any conquests and he certainly wasn’t looking for a relationship, unless it was handed to him on a plate. Whilst quite pretty, Liddy wasn’t his usual type and that had nothing to do with how she looked, he reminded himself honestly. He couldn’t remember any of his previous girlfriends being able to sew on a button let alone knit anything.

  He dragged his eyes away so that he wouldn’t have to watch the kiss that was sure to follow and reached for the key. He had the whole afternoon stretched before
him and all he wanted to do was find a hole to crawl into. It was just as he’d suspected all along. It was too late, he was too late – she was already taken. He shifted into first, only to pause in surprise as she wrenched open the door and clambered in beside him.

  ‘Sorry about that. I managed to get the address and Billie found her keys locked in the ward safe, although I don’t know that I should have taken them...’ Her voice dwindled to a question.

  ‘Prof?’

  He pulled himself together with a struggle, his mind still a muddle of ‘what ifs and could have beens!’ But there was time enough to reflect on his feelings when he was alone. There would be plenty of time later on to think about how he could have changed things, how he could have made her love him.

  He ran his hand through his hair. God, he’d never put himself down as a romantic before - he sounded like a love sick teenager. No, he sounded like his brother! What he needed to do was drag her into bed as quickly as possible; only then would he have any chance of exorcising the demons running rampant in his head. He’d rescue the cat and she’d be so grateful that she’d allow him have his very wicked way with her, His eyes gleaming with anticipation. He’d never thought he’d have anything to be thankful to a cat for, but if it turned out to be safe he’d make sure it was the best looked after cat this side of the border!

  He forced his face into a smile before turning towards her - how anxious she looked; her eyes wide and her cheeks so pale. It was as if she was the worried one and not him. She had nothing to be worried about. She had at least two men cradled within the palm of her hand. If he knew her better he’d advise her on what a dangerous game she was playing.

  ‘Hey - call me Mitch, at least off the ward. So where are we headed then for this rescue mission?’

  Liddy offered the glimmer of a smile before handing him a scrunched up post-it note.

  ‘Okay, that’s not far is it, the only problem being where to leave the car as I don’t think there’s parking nearby.’

  Five minutes later saw him skilfully reversing the Morgan into a tight space behind a bright green Mini. He jumped out to open the passenger door - at least he’d have the opportunity to demonstrate he had good manners if little else. Walking side by side over the Ha’ Penny Bridge they spared little time to notice the low winter sun beaming its weak reflection against the slow moving river. Reaching the end Liddy stumbled on the uneven surface and would have fallen if Mitch hadn’t reached out a supporting hand on her arm and there it remained until they stopped outside Bridie Jenkins home.

  This turned out to be a narrow two storey pebble dash town house with no garden to speak of. Walking up the three terracotta tiled steps to the front door she let go of his hand to pull out a single key from her pocket before placing it on his outstretched palm.

  ‘Why don’t you wait here for five minutes while I have a look around?’

  Liddy just shook her head, her heavy plait swinging from side to side across her shoulders. This was her responsibility, her promise to Bridie and, whilst she didn’t relish the thought of what they might find she had no intention of wimping out at the last minute.

  ‘No, I’ll be fine, let’s get it over with.’

  He turned the key in the lock and pushed the heavy red door open. Walking into the hall she stooped to pick up the letters scattered across the doormat before placing them on the hall table. Only then did she lift her eyes to take in her surroundings.

  Ahead of them lay a dark hall with black and white chequerboard tiles and dark heavy mahogany furniture set against the wall on the right. On the left was a steep staircase with a threadbare carpet, which they ignored, heading instead for the first of two rooms on the ground floor.

  The first door was closed, but when open revealed an untidy office complete with laptop and wall to wall shelves filled to the brim with as assortment of mismatched books and photo frames – of a cat, however there was no sign. The next room was more hopeful as its brown stained door stood wide open. This turned out to be the kitchen, small and spotlessly clean with white melamine cupboards and a well-scrubbed wooden table pushed up against one wall. They were about to turn away when Liddy pulled away from him.

  ‘Look Mitch, under the table!’ She said, pointing at two empty dishes with the word cat scrawled across in black letters. As she looked up she couldn’t suss out why he had a huge grin sprawled across his handsome face, not realising in her excitement this was the first time she’d called him anything other than Professor.

  ‘Okay, okay so there is a cat.’ He turned towards her. ‘For all we know she could have been a master bat keeper!’

  She followed as he made his way back into the hall. ‘Puss, Puss - come out where ever you are.’

  Continuing upstairs they quickly excluded the bathroom, but where else could it be? There were two rooms left, one with its door open whilst the other door was firmly shut.

  She felt him squeeze her hand as he asked, ‘which room first, then?’

  They both knew that hope was running out fast. If there was a cat here that was still alive it would surely have heard them by now. It’s not as if they’d been quiet tramping through the house.

  ‘It doesn’t matter - it’s too late; we’re too late!’ She said, her voice flat, but she started off towards the open door all the same. That’s when she heard it, a little plaintive meow as soft as a sigh. She ran ahead to the wardrobe and, with shaking hands pulled the door open to reveal a very small, very scared ginger cat shivering in the furthermost corner.

  ‘Oh you poor darling, you’re little more than a kitten.’ She whispered, gently lifting him out and onto the floor before crouching beside him to stroke his cold fur.

  ‘Well I wonder how many of his nine lives this little fellow has used up; you can bet it’s more than one.’ He said, reaching down and tickling the bedraggled fur on the top of his head.

  ‘Poor little mite. If we hadn’t got here when we did…’ Standing all alone she suddenly felt for one brief moment enveloped by Mitch.

  The urge to sink her head against his frame was nearly too much to bear. She couldn’t remember the last time someone had cared so much as to just hold her. Okay there was Donal, but that was more of a grope than a hug.

  There was nothing sexual in the way he held her. She knew he’d provide the same comfort to his children when, sometime in the future they fell and scraped their knees. But still she couldn’t help the thumping of her heart against her ribs, just as she couldn’t help common sense taking over and reality setting in. He was only being kind after all. He was only making sure Bridie’s animal was alright. He was, in fact only doing his job and that because of the social work department’s inability to pick up the pieces.

  With a sudden movement she ended the embrace. She’d rather be thought of as unappreciative of his kindness than turned on by it.

  The hug; broken as suddenly as the promise it offered left them both standing there somehow bereft with their hands hanging loosely by their sides.

  She looked away; a deep blush etching itself across her cheeks. In truth all she wanted now was for him to fling her on the bed and start ripping her clothes off. She wanted to feel his lips against her skin, just as she wanted to feel his warmth next to her.

  If it was alright for five days another ten minutes wasn’t going to make any difference – Better make that fifteen!

  She dragged her arms across her chest in an effort to ward off her thoughts. God almighty, what had gotten into her? Perhaps she was turning into a slapper after all; perhaps Iris was right? The man standing across from her was only trying to do his duty to a patient. There was no way he’d be interested in someone like her was there?

  To hide her embarrassment she reached down and, picking up the little bundle, buried her face in his fur.

  ‘It’s alright Liddy. There’s no harm done that a few good meals won’t sort out.’

  Liddy felt her pulse slow as she cradled the cat’s soft fur against her skin. She just
didn’t know what to think any more and there was so much to think about. First Donal; what the hell was that all about anyway? She’d have a chat with Sorcha; she’d know what to do about him.

  And Mitch? She glanced up briefly to find him looking at her. What the hell was she going to do about him? She couldn’t ask anyone about him - she wasn’t prepared to think about him just yet, let alone share any part of her thoughts or feelings. He must like her a little surely? Sorting out a patient’s cat was beyond the remit of a professor, wasn’t it?

  And what about her? Wasn’t she the one who was prepared to be ravished only seconds before by someone she’d only known five minutes? She’d never understood her friends and their one night stands until that moment but, until that moment she’d never really understood herself. She was just like them, prepared to give up everything for the feel of a man’s body. She shook her head as she eased the cat’s needle like claws from her top before gently lowering him to the ground. She’d just have to concentrate on what was real; what was true. First and foremost there was the cat to sort out.

  ‘What are we going to do now? We can’t very well leave him here, but I can’t take him with me - I’m not allowed animals. I suppose there’s always the RSPCA….’

  ‘I’ve already thought of that,’ he interrupted. ‘He’ll just have to come and live with me. The previous owners used to have animals so there’s already a cat flap in the back door - if it’s okay with you that is?’

  ‘If you’re sure, it would be the ideal answer - I don’t think her dad will be interested, but I can let the social work department know tomorrow. So how are we going to get him to the car?’ She said, narrowly avoiding his gaze as she started to look around for something to carry him in.

  They eventually found a sturdy cardboard box on top of one of the kitchen cupboards, which they placed the now nervous cat in alongside a cuddly rabbit that they found strewn on the floor. They also took the cat’s dishes and half a box of cat food so that they wouldn’t have to stop at the supermarket on the way home.