Bachelor Cure

‘Mike, I’m not asking you to marry me,’ she said, and somehow she forced her voice to stay light. ‘What I’m saying is that there’s something between us. Something…’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know what. It’s a feeling I can’t define. It’s a feeling I’ve never felt in my life before and I want, more than anything, to explore it. That sounds wanton, doesn’t it? As if I’m a loose woman. I’m not, Mike. I’m just… I just feel…’

And then her voice firmed, as if she was suddenly sure of her ground.

‘I feel as if you’re a part of me. That’s crazy, isn’t it? But that’s the way it is. So, tell me, Mike,’ she demanded. ‘Tell me that I’m a fool. Tell me that you feel nothing.’

‘I don’t want-’

‘I’m not asking what you want. I’m asking what you feel.’

And then, before he could answer, she took one more step forward, put her arms up around his neck, stood on tiptoe-and she kissed him for all she was worth. And it was done so suddenly that there was nothing he could do to stop it.

It was some kiss.

It was a kiss of pure bravado, but it was more than that. It was a kiss that was full of questions, and it was a kiss full of wonder.

Tess had never done such a thing in her life before. Her act might have seemed wanton-forward-but there was nothing of that in her kiss. Her lips were gentle, sweet and unsure, as if she really wanted to touch him. It was as if her body was drawn to him like a bee to honey, and she was half expecting to be drawn so far into the sweetness that she’d drown.

And he…

The last thing he wanted to do was to kiss this woman. He didn’t. And yet her lips were touching his and her body was soft and yielding and…and so lovely!

When her mouth touched his, the kiss slammed home the knowledge that this was something outside his ken. She was so desirable…

Sure, he’d kissed other women. Hell, he’d made a vow, but that vow hadn’t been one of chastity. His vow had been one of emotional detachment. He’d made love to women before, but they’d always known the rules. No involvement. There had never been any promises of tomorrow. There was only passion on his terms.

But this…this wasn’t on his terms. This was on no one’s terms because, as their lips met, it was like two pieces of a shattered whole being joined. More, it was like tinder to fuel. Apart they were nothing-cold and useless. Together they were fire.

Mike’s body stilled in shock, but Tessa’s arms came around him again, soft and yet urgent, pulling him against her, and suddenly nothing in his life had ever felt so right, so complete. There were forces working here that were beyond his control, he thought wildly. This was beyond anything he’d ever known before. The desire to respond to this lovely thing…this woman who was so unknown…was almost overwhelming.

Her lips were soft and warm and urgent. She smelt of flowers, of sunshine and of warmth, and he could no more resist her loveliness than he could stop himself breathing.

He wasn’t breathing. He wasn’t sure what he was doing.

He couldn’t help himself. He must respond. His hands fell to hold Tessa against him, glorying in the way her breasts pressed against his chest. His mouth responded to her kiss, tasting her…wanting her.

And wanting more…

Dear God, what could he do with this? He’d never known he could feel this way. His vow had been made without knowing this wonder, and if he’d known… If he’d known he had this need-that somewhere in the world was a woman like this-could he have made his vow? But he’d made the vow, and the vow still stood.

Somehow he managed to pull back. Somehow he managed to put her away from him and hold her at arm’s length, and he stared down at her with eyes that were confused and desperate.

‘Tess, no…’

‘Well, now I know,’ Tess managed, in a voice that was barely above a whisper and held an obvious tremor.

‘Know what?’

‘You’re certainly not gay.’ She tried to smile but it didn’t quite come off. ‘Wow!’

‘Wow’ was right. And where to go from here?

The phone. Glory be, the phone. Its shrill ring sounded from the living room and Mike headed there like a drowning man headed for a life-raft.

‘Hello?’

‘Dr Llewellyn?’ It was Mavis, at Reception. ‘Is that you?’ It obviously didn’t sound like him.

‘Yes.’ Mike cleared his throat, and with a superhuman effort managed not to look back to where Tess was standing, watching from the doorway. ‘Of course. Mavis, what is it?’

‘I’ve just had a call from Kylie Wisen,’ Mavis told him and her voice was apologetic. It was as though she knew she was interrupting something, and she’d just love to know what. ‘You know Kylie?’

Mike’s head clicked into medical mode with a visible effort and he gave his mental case file a quick search. ‘Kylie. That’s Bill and Claire Wisen’s kid. Seventeen years old. Peroxided hair and half a dozen earrings.’

‘That’s the one.’ Mavis sighed. ‘She’s looking after her sister’s two-year-old while her sister and her husband go out to dinner and then go on to the shire ball. But…’

‘But?’

‘But the little one-Sally McPherson-has stuck her big toe in the bath outlet.’ Mavis sighed again. ‘I’m really sorry, Doctor, but they’ve tried everything to get it out and I think you’ll have to go.’

Go? Of course he had to go. Thanks be…

‘I’ll be there in five minutes,’ Mike said strongly, still not looking at Tess. ‘Mavis, ring Kylie back and tell her I’m coming. Tell her the most important thing is not to let Sally pull. If the toe gets swollen from tugging then we’ll be in all sorts of trouble.’

He replaced the receiver and finally turned to face Tess again.

‘I need to go,’ he said.

‘I know.’ Her eyes didn’t leave his face. ‘I heard. Can I come?’

‘Tess…’

‘The sooner I get to know the people of this town, the better it’ll be for both of us.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘I have an hour before I promised Louise I’d mom-sit, and you have an hour before you need to go your ball. Strop’s not much company-so let’s go unstick toes.’

‘I-’

‘Don’t you want me?’ She let her face fall, like a child deprived of a lolly.

Hell, he couldn’t work with her, he thought desperately, watching her face and trying to figure out whether to laugh or to groan. He couldn’t!

But he sure as hell couldn’t tell her he didn’t want her.

‘Fine, then,’ he said in a voice that indicated he’d been goaded beyond belief. ‘Fine. Let’s go do some medicine. It might get your mind off sex.’

‘Hey, my mind’s not on sex,’ she teased gently, her eyes laughing up at him. And then the smile died a little. ‘My mind doesn’t get past your face.’ Then she gave an honest little shrug and her smile came back in full. ‘Well…for the moment.’

Sally was still attached to her bath. They arrived to find neighbours, two members of the fire brigade, a mechanic and a hefty plumber complete with dangerous-looking tool set, all trying to wedge into one small farmhouse bathroom. Mike had obviously been the last of a long line of people appealed to.

Sally McPherson was two years old and in deep distress. She was huddled naked and sobbing in the empty bath, and her sobs were those of a child who’d gone past expecting help. The noise in the little room was overwhelming.

‘Let’s clear this room,’ Tess suggested firmly, as Mike went straight to the little girl. He saw her need. The child was sitting alone in the empty bathtub, and why the hell wasn’t anyone in there holding her?

‘Right.’ Mike reached in and held the little girl’s shoulders, gripping her tight. ‘OK, Sally. We’ll get you out of here soon, but first let’s get you warm.’