‘I sort of thought I might be useful,’ she said, sounding uncertain. ‘Seeing Tansy’s away. If there are more emergencies. If you want me to.’
‘Is this because of the dog?’
She tilted her chin at that, a gesture he was starting to recognise. ‘I have friends in Melbourne who’d take her in. For a few days at least until I’m sorted. But I’m offering to stay here for Easter. Only if you can use me, though. I won’t stay unless I can be useful.’
She wanted to stay for Easter?
The thought took his breath away.
There were all sorts of reactions Dom ought to be feeling.
He ought to be furious she’d landed not only her dog but also herself in his care.
He ought to be wary. Charles’s body language had been un-mistakeably possesive. There was no way he wanted to be landed in a domestic dispute and this had the makings of a doozy.
He ought to be cautious about…well, about the way she was looking right now. She was a qualified doctor-a colleague-but she looked a waif. And then he thought, no. She was wearing torn jeans and a stained windcheater. She’d ditched his boots by the door and was wearing a pair of his too-big socks.
What she looked was really extraordinarily beautiful, but there was no room in his life for what he was thinking right now.
Except he was thinking it. What warm-blooded male could help but think it?
‘So you won’t kick me out?’ she asked, and her eyes warmed, just a little. As if she guessed his thought.
How could she?
‘You cook a mean hot cross scone,’ he said, cautious.
‘I can do all sorts of neat tricks,’ she said. ‘Mind, I’m a bit restricted.’ She sat down and held up a socked foot. ‘I think my dressing’s coming off.’
‘I’ll re-dress it. Do you need a painkiller?’
‘Yes,’ she said promptly. ‘Painkiller first. Then dressing.’
‘You’re telling me how to practise medicine?’
‘I’m bossy,’ she retorted, recovering spirit. ‘You need to learn that about me. I plan to run a very efficient emergency department.’
‘Run?’
‘I accepted the top job last week.’ She tried not to sound cocky-and failed. He had to smile.
‘Where?’
‘Melbourne East Emergency.’
‘How old are you?’ he demanded, astonished, and it was her turn to grin.
‘How rude. Next you’ll be asking about my love life.’
‘I’m assuming your love life is currently driving off in a huff and a Porsche.’
‘How insightful. Driving off into the sunset.’ She sighed. ‘Don’t worry about it. I’m sure I’ll make a great spinster. I’d planned to keep cats but now…maybe it’s bulldogs.’
‘You’re serious?’
‘Serious?’
‘Your boyfriend’s angry?’
‘He is so not my boyfriend,’ she said, and glowered. ‘He sort of assumed he was-he assumed all sorts of things-and when I realised…’ She shrugged. ‘Sorry. This is not your problem.’
‘So…’ He wasn’t sure where this was going. ‘Your plan is?’
‘To help you,’ she said. ‘If you admit you need help. Which, seeing you’re male, might be difficult but if you try hard I’m thinking you might come round.’
She smiled.
Her smile was extraordinary.
This woman’s life, whichever way he looked at it, was in turmoil. In the last twelve hours she’d almost died, she’d been thrown into someone else’s Easter, she’d gained a dog and she seemed to have lost a perfectly good boyfriend. And yet she could still smile.
He was feeling…stunned, he thought. He was feeling like the wisest course was to get her out of here fast.
‘You have a house in Melbourne?’
‘I have a hospital apartment. On the fourth floor.’
‘So that means…’
‘I guess I have to find another place to live.’
‘You’re swapping Charles for Marilyn?’
‘Hey, I’m not living with Charles,’ she said. ‘I’m not even sleeping with him. He’s just assumed all sorts of things I wasn’t assuming. You know, I suspect my life’s been leading up to this moment for years. I’ve spent my life pleasing my parents, pleasing my family, pleasing Charles. Then, this week, two shocks. A proposal of marriage. A near-death car crash. It’s enough to give any girl an epiphany.’
‘An epiphany,’ he said faintly.
‘Yep. Um…You know that painkiller?’
‘Your foot really does hurt?’
‘My foot really does hurt.’
Excellent. When in doubt, revert to priorities. Triage. Sore foot.
‘Okay, painkillers,’ he said, rising. ‘You want me to carry you to the surgery?’
‘Nope,’ she said. ‘No more of that, thank you very much. If I’m to be stuck here for Easter, I intend to be independent.’
‘Fine,’ he said, and had to suppress a jab of disappointment. Lifting Erin last night had been…an epiphany?
It wasn’t anything of the sort, he told himself. It was simply because he was a male and she was a female and he’d been alone too damned long. Of course his body would react like…like it really wanted to get to know Erin better.
‘No,’ she said, and he blinked.
‘Pardon?’
‘Um…’ She blushed suddenly and he stared down at her, fascinated.
‘No, what?’ he repeated, and she blushed some more.
‘I didn’t…I mean I was probably mistaken in what you were thinking. But if I’m not…’ she said, fighting for recovery and becoming suddenly astringent. ‘If I’m not then definitely no. Let’s get back to basics. Do you want me?’
Did he want her? Yes and yes and yes.
‘And enough of that, too,’ she said astringently. ‘You know very well what I meant. Do you want me as kid sitter, dog minder and medical associate over Easter?’ ‘Yes,’ he said. And he wasn’t saying a word more. This woman saw too much.
‘Then painkillers followed by lunch,’ she said. ‘And then the boys and I might like to try making another batch of hot cross buns. This time with yeast. While you go and do your doctoring, wherever you do your doctoring.’
‘I’ve told the locals I can’t come out at Easter.’
‘Then do your doctoring in your surgery,’ she told him. ‘Or paperwork or something. The boys and I will be in the kitchen. You’re free to do as you like.’
‘And if I want to be in the kitchen?’
‘That’s your choice,’ she said, suddenly prim. ‘But I’m offering you freedom to get your work done. It’s my thanks for having me and Marilyn to stay. If you want to throw a gift horse in the mouth…’
‘I believe that’s look.’
‘Sorry?’
‘You don’t throw gift horses,’ he said, and suddenly she was pink again. He liked it, he decided. He really, really liked it.
‘Whatever,’ she said, sounding suddenly breathless. ‘Same difference. All I’m saying, Dr Spencer, is that you’re free to do what you want. Treat me as your cook and child companion for Easter and get on with your life.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ he managed, and put a hand down to help her up.
