The Nurse's Twin Surprise

by Sue MacKay

  ‘Guess you didn’t know me very well.’ Hell, she hadn’t realised how far down the ladder she’d dropped. Yet all of a sudden she was here, getting out and looking for fun, not just hoping it might come her way if someone had time to spare for her. When she’d determined to get out and start living she hadn’t expected it to happen so fast. It was Nathan. By believing in her, he’d pushed her boundaries and helped her open up some more. ‘I’m adept at keeping hidden in plain sight.’

  Past tense, Mol. You’re over that now.

  Georgia’s gaze was on every move happening on the court. ‘I figured.’

  Coach was the second person she’d opened up to, though only briefly. There’d been no in-depth talk about Paul and the abuse, but just admitting she had problems had been huge and had felt good in a way she’d never have believed.

  It was good the barriers were dropping here too, but there were some she wouldn’t let go. The likelihood of infertility for one. Today Nathan had learned more than she was prepared to share with just anyone. She’d spent so long trying to make people believe she was being abused it was hard to let go of the reticence to talk about it now. What if she woke up tomorrow to find it was all a load of bulldust and she wasn’t any further on? That people thought what happened was her own fault?

  Then you’ll try again, and again, until you get it right. Until people accept you for who you are.

  Nathan hadn’t laughed or told her she was attention-seeking. No, he’d believed her from the get-go. Her grin had slipped, so she dug deep for another and found it wasn’t as hard to do as it used to be.

  Molly focused on the game.

  The score was twenty-seven all.

  The opposing team called for a substitute.

  Coach stood up. ‘Eloise on. Carmen off.’

  At half-time the team swilled water from bottles, wiped faces with towels, crowded around Coach for instructions, and said hi to Molly as though she’d never been away.

  The third quarter got under way, and the score continued to climb, each team matching the other, the Roos getting ahead only to have the Snakes catch up and pass them, before they took back the lead.

  Sarah snatched the ball, blocked an opposition player and swung around to throw for a goal, and tripped over the other player’s foot. Down she went, hard, her elbow cracking on the floor, reaching out with her other hand to prevent hitting the deck with her head. Pain contorted her face as she cried out, pulling her wrist against her midriff.

  The coach’s expletives were the more damning for being spoken quietly. ‘That’s the last thing Sarah needs. To do her wrist in again.’

  Molly rushed on court with Georgia and knelt down beside Sarah. ‘Tell me where the pain is.’

  ‘Same place as last time.’

  ‘Where you fractured it?’

  Sarah nodded abruptly, her lips white. ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Can I take a look?’

  Another nod, and Sarah pushed her arm towards her. ‘It feels just the same as before. It’s broken again.’

  Molly carefully touched the rapidly swelling wrist, then felt up Sarah’s arm and over the hand. ‘Okay, I agree with you. We need to get you to the emergency department.’

  A first-aider sank down on his knees beside them. ‘Let me look at that.’

  Georgia glared at the young man. ‘Molly here’s an emergency nurse, and she thinks Sarah has broken her wrist. I’ll take her word on it.’

  ‘All right, then. We need to get her to hospital.’

  Molly stood up. ‘I’ll take her.’

  Sarah glared at them. ‘I’m not going anywhere until the game’s finished. I want to watch the last quarter.’

  ‘That’s not a great idea. You’re in pain,’ Molly said.

  ‘You’re telling me?’ The woman’s eyes widened. ‘I know what the damage is, know how the pain works, and I can deal with it for a little while longer. Now, help me off the court so the game can resume.’

  Molly smiled at her courage as she took an elbow and Georgia put an arm around her waist. ‘You’re one tough cookie.’

  ‘Better believe it,’ Sarah said, then gasped with pain. Locking eyes on Molly, she growled, ‘Don’t say a word.’

  ‘Okay.’ But she wanted to bundle her up and rush her to an ED to get painkillers on board.

  Once they had Sarah settled on the bench, and the game was under way again, Georgia leaned close to Molly. ‘I don’t suppose you’ve got some sports shoes with you?’

  Her heart thumped once, loud and hard. ‘Yes. But I’m out of practice.’

  ‘You still run every day?’

  ‘Yes. What about the other players?’ The ones who turned up every week all season.

  Standing up, Georgia growled, ‘Don’t you want us to win this game?’

  That was one mighty compliment. ‘Back in a minute.’

  Shorts and a shirt in the bright yellow team colour were shoved into her hands. ‘Put these on while you’re at it.’

  * * *

  ‘Bottoms up.’ Eloise raised her glass and tipped the contents down her throat, and most of the other team members followed suit.

  Molly sipped her sparkling water. It tasted like the best champagne out there. They’d won. She’d scored eight points. Unreal.

  ‘Glad you dropped by,’ Georgia muttered beside her. ‘But don’t think you’re getting out of Wednesday night practice from now on.’

  So she was back on the team, whether she liked it or not. Thing was, she loved it. And this getting together with everyone. Once, she’d gone out of her way to avoid it; now she felt like she belonged with these women. ‘One problem. I’m on shift this Wednesday night from three to eleven.’

  ‘Some of the girls are working out here tomorrow at nine. Don’t be late.’

  ‘Yes, boss.’

  ‘Better believe it.’ Georgia winked. Then pulled her phone from her pocket. ‘Sarah’s texted. She’s having surgery tomorrow. That’ll put an end to her playing for the rest of the season.’

  ‘Unfortunately you’re probably right.’ A second fracture on top of the previous one was not good. Molly felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. ‘Nathan’ showed up on the screen. Her heart went flip-flop. He was the last person she’d expected to hear from, despite their harmonious morning. ‘Hi. How’s things?’

  ‘I saw your car parked downtown and thought I’d see what you were up to, if you’d like some company. But...’ and he chuckled ‘...it sounds as though you’re in the middle of a party.’

  ‘I’m at the Lane Bar with the Roos basketball team. I used to play for them.’

  Played for them today and made some points. Yeeha.

  ‘Feel free to join me. Us.’ He wouldn’t come. She’d been rash suggesting it. ‘Some of the others’ partners are here.’

  ‘Two minutes.’ Gone.

  She stared at the phone. Had that really just happened? Nathan was coming to have a drink with her? Her heart raced.

  You did kiss him this morning. Maybe he wants another.

  He could get as many kisses as he wanted from most single females he crossed paths with. He was drop-dead gorgeous and damned nice with it. Nice? Okay, kind, considerate, opinionated and bumptious. But if he made to kiss her again then she wasn’t saying no. Yeah, well. She sighed. The kiss had been pretty darned awesome. Her knees still knocked thinking about it.

  That might be exhaustion from charging around the court, not desire, Mol.

  Sipping her drink, she stifled a yawn. It had been a long, emotional roller-coaster of a day and suddenly she felt shattered. Just when Nathan was about to join her.

  * * *

  One good thing about Molly’s red hair was she was easy to find in a crowd. Another—maybe not so good?—she drove him wild with need, but that was on hold as he tried to slow down his pursuit of her. Yeah, right. If th
at was so, why was he here? The challenge had got out of hand fast, to the point he didn’t know who was challenging who. Hopefully Molly was unaware she rocked him off his usually steady feet.

  He stood watching her for a moment as she chatted with the women surrounding the table they stood at, her finger running down her cheek as she laughed over something someone said. This was a whole new Molly from the one he thought he knew in the ED. Yet the vulnerability was still there in the guarded way she stood, one shoulder slightly turned, ready to spin around if she sensed trouble approaching.

  ‘Hey, Molly,’ he called, a little louder than necessary, not wanting to disturb her comfort zone.

  The curls flicked left then right as her head shot up and around. The smile spreading across her mouth hit him hard in the belly. ‘Hey, you, too.’ She shuffled sideways to make room for him.

  Nathan stepped up beside her, happy when she leaned his way so that their arms touched. ‘Looks like you’re all celebrating.’ He nodded at the array of glasses on the table.

  Her smile extended into a grin. ‘We won. Against the hardest team we have to play all season.’

  ‘We? You played?’ Hadn’t she said she was going to watch a game?

  ‘Since Coach knew me she asked if I’d fill in for the last ten minutes after one of the girls broke her wrist. Re-broke it.’

  ‘Why did you leave in the first place?’

  Molly’s look told him to shut up, so he did, for now.

  ‘What Molly’s not telling you is that she scored eight points,’ one of the women said in a very loud voice.

  Molly shook her head. ‘It was a team effort. Nathan, let me introduce everyone.’ She went around the table, stumbling when it came to naming the men and laughing when they teased her about her memory. ‘This is Nathan Lupton, a—a friend of mine.’ Colour filled her cheeks. ‘We work together.’

  She didn’t have a definite slot to fit him into. Friend, colleague. What else? He had no answer either. ‘Can I get you a drink?’ He needed a beer, fast, before he came up with some whack-a-doo ideas and put them out there.

  Molly shook her head. ‘No, thanks. I’m good.’

  ‘Be right back.’ Don’t go anywhere. Luck was on his side. The bar was momentarily quiet, no doubt a hiatus in a busy night. ‘Thanks, mate.’ He took his beer and handed over some cash before returning to his reason for being there.

  She was toying with her glass. ‘I was struggling with fitting into the group. On court, fine. Off court, not so good.’

  Nathan nodded. ‘Same as you’ve been with your workmates. I’m picking same reasons too.’

  ‘Yes. At least I’m doing something about it now.’ Her eyes met his. ‘Were you headed somewhere in particular when you saw my car? How did you recognise it, by the way? It’s so ordinary even I have trouble finding it in a parking garage.’

  ‘I wasn’t a hundred percent certain. That’s why I gave you a buzz instead of checking out the bars first. How long have you been here?’ Molly looked tired, and her eyes were a little glassy. Too many of those bubbly wines that she seemed to be enjoying? That on top of last night’s shift, and only a few hours’ sleep today, would knock anyone off their perch.

  She glanced at her watch, and gasped. ‘It’s after ten? I think we got here around five thirty. No wonder I’m zonked.’ Then she glanced at him, and guilt filled those eyes. ‘Sorry. That’s rude when you’ve just arrived. We had a celebratory drink, then a meal and some more drinks. Everyone’s stoked to have won. I’m going to the training session tomorrow morning since I can’t make Wednesday night practice. I’ll probably ache in places I don’t know I’ve got afterwards.’ She drained her glass and dropped it back on the table with a thud. ‘Damn, I’m talking too much.’

  ‘Yes, but it beats the cold shoulder routine.’ He smiled to show he wasn’t looking for trouble. ‘I like the Molly I’m getting to know.’

  She stared at him.

  ‘What? Have I grown a wart on my nose?’

  ‘Not quite.’ Finally she dropped her eyes to focus on her hands clasped together in front of her.

  ‘Molly?’

  She blinked, sighed, looked at him again, this time with remorse clouding her expression. ‘Thank you for not running a mile when I told you everything this morning.’

  Oh, Mol. ‘As if I’d do that.’ Nathan lifted one of her hands and wrapped his fingers around it.

  ‘I knew you wouldn’t before I told you or I wouldn’t have said a word. It was blatantly clear you’d have my back right from the moment I tossed that creep onto the floor. Actually, I think I’d already reached that conclusion before then.’

  ‘So what’s the problem?’

  ‘I probably haven’t got one that a good night’s sleep won’t fix.’

  ‘Then let’s go.’

  Her curls flicked. ‘You just got here.’

  ‘I can leave just as quickly. Come on.’

  A tight smile flitted across her mouth. ‘Okay. Sorry, everyone, but I’m heading home. I’m knackered.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah.’ Someone laughed. ‘Your man turns up and suddenly you’re tired. We get it.’

  Heat spilled into Molly’s cheeks, but she didn’t give one of her sharp retorts. Instead she managed a quiet, ‘Whatever,’ and slung her bag over her shoulder to walk out of the bar, her hand still firmly in Nathan’s.

  On the footpath Molly turned right.

  Nathan tugged her gently to the left. ‘My car’s this way.’

  Pulling her hand free, she nodded. ‘Mine’s the opposite way, as you must know if you saw it parked.’

  ‘I’ll give you a lift.’

  Those curls moved sharply. ‘I’m fine. I need my car in the morning.’

  Okay, now he had to be brutal. ‘Molly, you’ve been drinking. You cannot drive.’

  Her mouth fell open. Her eyes widened. Then she found her voice. ‘You think I’m drunk?’ she screeched.

  ‘Yes, I do. You said you’ve been in the bar for hours. Drinking was mentioned.’ No way was she getting behind the wheel of her car. ‘Your eyes are glassy and you were talking the hind leg off a rabbit in there.’ He jerked a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the bar. ‘Which is unlike you.’ Unless she was nervous, but he didn’t believe her nerves had anything to do with this.

  ‘You’re wrong.’ She spun away to storm down the road.

  ‘Molly.’ He caught up with her. ‘Please be sensible and let me take you home. It would be safer for everyone.’

  She stopped so abruptly he had to duck sideways to avoid knocking into her. ‘I had one alcoholic drink when we first arrived. Since then I have been downing sparkling water by the litre. I am not a danger to anyone.’

  ‘Right.’ Even to him his sarcasm was a bit heavy as he stepped in front of her.

  Stabbing his chest with her forefinger, she glared at him, the anger ramping up fast in those wide eyes. ‘I am tired. Not drunk. Please get out of my way. Now.’

  ‘Even exhaustion is a good reason not to drive.’ Lame, but true. And desperate. He didn’t want her driving. Giving her a lift would make him happy. Apparently not her. He should let this go, but deep inside was a clawing itch that made him try harder to win her over. Reaching for her hand, he tried to pull her in the opposite direction.

  She jerked free, stretched up on her toes and said in the coldest voice he’d ever heard, ‘Out of my way, Lupton. Damn, but you’re so cocky and infuriating.’

  When he didn’t move she stomped around him and continued down to her car, head high, boots pounding the tarmac. ‘I’ll follow you,’ he called, and headed for his vehicle so as not to lose her. He was going to make sure she got home safely, one way or another.

  Cocky and infuriating. What the hell was that about? Putting him in his place? He’d laugh if it didn’t sting. Here he’d been thinking they were getti
ng somewhere. Into a deep, murky hole at the moment.

  Slamming the stick into drive, he pulled out and caught up to her at the lights. So he’d infuriated her. No surprises there.

  He’d insisted she get into his car.

  He hadn’t listened to her when she’d said she hadn’t been drinking.

  He had tried to force his opinion on her.

  Starting to sound like her ex.

  One very big difference. He would never, ever, use his fists. Molly knew that, or she wouldn’t have gone to his house with him that morning. Wouldn’t have fallen asleep on his couch, leaving herself vulnerable.

  She might not have kissed him either. Keeping a respectable distance, he followed Molly’s car to her apartment.

  He owed her an apology for being such a prat.

  Even if he still thought she should’ve come with him, he had to say sorry. This argument was bigger than what he’d wanted her to do. It was about not believing her, not letting her make her own decisions—in other words, control. He didn’t do control, unless it was about himself. People were allowed to make their own mistakes, unless they endangered someone else in the process. Unfortunately he didn’t want Molly making a hideous mistake and so he’d overreacted. She’d had her share of bad deals. She didn’t need any more.

  Now he had to find a way back into her favour.

  * * *

  Molly closed her door with a firm click, leaned back against it and stared up at the ceiling. ‘Damn you, Nathan. Your bossy manner had me reacting faster than a bullet train.’

  Her bag slid off her shoulder and hit the tiles with a bang, making her jump. She was wired. And cold. Driving home with her window down to blast the tiredness and keep her alert had chilled her while her temper had combated some of the cold. Now both were backing off. She’d let Nathan get to her—again. Back to how it’d always been between them before birthday breakfasts and judo throws and spilling the beans about her past. It might be for the best. If she hadn’t kissed him and been kissed back. Because now she wanted more. Lots more. If she could forgive him for believing she was drunk—and telling her what to do.