City Surgeon, Small Town Miracle

goodnight, then?’

‘If we’re taking things slow and sensible, they should be zero.’ Her voice was ragged as he curved his fingers around the back of her neck and tilted her chin up with his thumb.

‘Should be?’ He bent and brushed his mouth across hers. Once, twice. She resisted him. On the third brush, her mouth softened, moved. Heaven. Sensitive nerve endings in his lips revelled in the warmth and sweetness. His muscles quivered as he ruthlessly suppressed the need to take more, take it deeper.

Take it all.

He caught her lower lip between his and sucked gently before moving his mouth across her cheek to the column of her throat just below her ear. When she arched her neck slightly to give him better access, he nibbled his way down to the nape.

‘Oh. You are too good at this,’ she moaned as a shudder ran through her. ‘W-we should s-stop now. Please.’

He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent as he reached for control. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead in the curve of her shoulder. Her skin felt warm and alive beneath his brow.

‘This is a bad idea.’

‘Right this minute, it feels pretty good to me.’

‘Yes,’ she breathed. ‘Me, too.’

He pressed his lips to her throat, felt the frenzied beat of her carotid pulse, felt her muscles move in a swallow. His heart leapt with the confirmation that she was as affected as he was.

‘But that’s in this moment.’ Her voice was more determined. She shifted, inching away.

He let her. She was going to make him go. He moved back, his hand still braced on the doorjamb. His eyes moved over her face, taking in each fine feature. ‘You don’t think we should seize the moment, explore the possibilities.’

‘It’s not necessarily a bad thing. To leave possibilities unexplored.’

‘Only if we’re faint-hearted. Are we going to be faint-hearted, Terri?’

‘Tonight? I…Yes. Yes, I believe we are. Goodnight, Luke.’ She groped behind her back and the door swung open. He saw a gleam of white as she smiled then backed inside. ‘Thank you for the escort home. See you on Monday.’

He smiled back. ‘Monday.’

The door closed gently. He lifted his hand, spread his fingers on the wood and after a moment said softly, ‘Lock your door, Terri.’

‘I will.’ Her voice came from just the other side of the door.

The latch clicked into place. In spite of his frustration there was some small comfort in the thought that she’d loitered there. Was she as torn as he was? He’d like to think so.

Terri pressed her hand to her sternum, feeling her wild thump of her heartbeat begin to settle as she listened to Luke’s footsteps.

She felt so much, wanted so much when she was near him.

He made her wonder just how truly deep and beautiful a relationship between a man and a woman could be. Made her wonder what it could be like between them.

How foolish she’d been to think they could agree on slow and sensible and keep things under control. Her hunger was unnerving and she sensed Luke’s matched it. They were both too eager to take the next step.

It had taken all her willpower to resist inviting him inside.

Regardless of how tempting it was to throw caution to the winds, there was too much at stake for both of them. Professionally, personally and emotionally.

CHAPTER TWELVE

TWO weeks later, Luke shrugged into his grey suit jacket and straightened his red tie.

Red for confidence, red for determination.

Red for passion and daring.

Excitement spiralled through his lower abdomen. He hadn’t been this wound up about a date since he’d been a teenager.

An evening with Terri. Alone. Just the two of them…He chuckled softly. And a restaurant full of people, of course.

He picked up his car keys and wallet from the end of the bed then walked along the hall to his daughter’s bedroom.

‘Allie, let’s go.’ He tapped at her door. There was no reply. ‘Allie?’

The door was slightly ajar so he pushed it open to see his daughter sitting on the edge of her bed, looking glum.

He frowned. ‘Honey, what’s wrong?’

‘Nothing.’ She studied the tips of her new sandals, refusing to meet his eyes.

She’d been fine half an hour ago when he’d gone to have his shower and get dressed for tonight. What had happened between then and now?

‘Are you sick?’

A shake of her head.

He crossed to sit beside her, his hand automatically moving to her forehead. Her skin was cool to his touch and she wasn’t having any obvious trouble with her breathing.

Silent alarm bells went off. Was it a return to the troubled days where Allie had been sullen and uncommunicative? His earlier excitement fizzled out abruptly. He wasn’t going to leave it this time. He wasn’t going to let her shut him out.

Maybe Allie didn’t like the idea of him dating Terri after all. They’d discussed it but perhaps she’d changed her mind now that it was about to happen.

‘Come on, Allie. What’s going on?’

Her bottom lip wobbled.

‘I’m staying right here until you tell me.’

‘You can’t.’

He took a slow deep breath in and let it out as he strove for patience. He couldn’t believe it. Over the last couple of weeks he and Allie and Terri had spent a lot of time together. It’d been fantastic. But now it looked as though Allie’s morose mood was to do with Terri.

‘I can. You and I are getting to the bottom of this even if it means I have to cancel tonight. Terri will understand.’

‘Oh, no!’ Allie’s gaze flew to his, wide with dismay. ‘You can’t do that.’

Her vehemence made him raise his eyebrows. ‘So talk to me.’

She looked back at her shoes. He clenched his jaw and set himself to wait for as long as it took. After a moment, she mumbled, ‘I don’t see why I can’t come, too. I’ll be good and I can help.’

‘Help?’ He heard the strangled note in his voice.

The relief was so overwhelming, he had to work to suppress a great shout of laughter. Allie was happy for him to go out with Terri-she just objected to being left behind.

‘Yes.’ She looked at him, her face suddenly alight with enthusiasm. ‘You know. With ideas and stuff. We had heaps of fun at the movies, didn’t we? And Terri likes me.’

‘We did have fun and I appreciate that you want to suggest things to do,’ he said carefully. ‘But I’d like some time with Terri so we can talk about things that would be boring for you.’

‘You mean like work things and that.’

‘Like that.’ He nodded.

‘Will Terri want to do that, too?’ Allie looked doubtful

‘Yes,’ he said firmly. ‘She will.’