City Surgeon, Small Town Miracle

She was wrong. Though he couldn’t point that out. Not right now.

Not when he could see how devastated she was.

Not when his own system was shaking and shuddering in the aftermath of the kiss.

He didn’t understand what was behind her reaction but he needed to find a way to soothe her. He lifted a hand to reach out, make a tiny physical connection…

She nearly leapt away from him.

‘Terri-’

‘I have to go.’

He watched her long legs powering her away from him, agitation clear in every rapid step.

She didn’t want anything more than a professional relationship, that much was clear. But it didn’t alter the fact that she’d kissed him back.

Wildly.

Wantonly.

He felt like a teenager, giddy and stupid after the voluptuousness of his first kiss.

And it was a first…his first passionate kiss since his wife had died. He scrubbed his hands down his face. Why had he done it? He hadn’t felt as though he had a choice-once she had been in his arms, blind instinct had taken over. For both of them.

He didn’t want to think about replacing his wife. He wasn’t ready.

Was he?

He could almost feel his reality shifting around him. He swallowed. Maybe he was ready.

Kissing Terri didn’t feel like the betrayal he’d have predicted if there’d been time to consider before acting.

Quite simply, the kiss was the most important thing to have happened to him, as a man, for two and a half years.

It’d been electrifying. Physical, demanding, consuming.

Utterly sublime.

Twelve years ago her kiss had been sweetly innocent with a hint of the spice to come. Now her flavour was piquant, rich and complex.

Terri tasted right.

He wanted to kiss her again, explore the spark between them. To rejoice in being alive and savour the stirring of his masculinity.

But they had some issues to sort out first.

Luke huffed out the breath. He was sorry he’d upset her. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her. He needed to talk with her, find out what the problem was, help her deal with it.

He made up his mind. She had until tomorrow to calm down. Then he was going to apologise for ambushing her and get to the bottom of her reaction.

He walked out slowly to find Mick.

The next day, Luke spotted Terri at the bench in the emergency department kitchenette. He ran his eyes hungrily down then back up the green scrubs that draped her slender body. He smiled wryly. She had no business looking so damned desirable in the baggy work gear. Her hair was caught in a loose bun at the nape of her neck and he itched to tug out the tortoiseshell comb holding it in place, sink his fingers through the long silky strands.

He took a deep breath and dredged up some self-control. He was here to apologise, smooth over any awkwardness. Not create new problems. He needed to talk to her, pave the way for them to discuss what had happened at the racetrack.

Arranging his face in what he hoped was an affable, non-threatening expression, he went into the room. Her head was bent, the nape of her neck looked so vulnerable he wanted to reach out, to comfort. She seemed to be staring into the drink she was preparing. She held an empty teaspoon over the rim of her mug as though she was trying to decide what to do with it.

‘Terri?’

She started violently, jerking the handle of the mug in her hand. Dark liquid slopped over the bench. She muttered something under her breath, put the teaspoon down and reached for the dishcloth.

‘Luke.’ A quick flush of red ran under her pale skin.

He stopped beside her. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said gently. ‘I didn’t mean to startle you.’

‘Did you want something?’ Her voice was even as she mopped up the spill. The pattern on the bench would be scoured off if she was any more thorough.

He stifled a sigh. ‘I wanted to see you-’

‘Well, here I am.’ She still hadn’t looked at him.

‘I wanted to see how you were.’

‘I’m fine.’

‘Terri…’ Voices in the doorway made him glance round. At least one of the people obviously intended to come into the room and Luke didn’t want to be interrupted or risk the discussion being overheard. ‘We need to talk. Somewhere private.’

‘Talk? As hospital director to doctor on duty or something else?’ She rinsed the cloth under the tap and hung it over the tap.

Refusal was plain in her stiff spine and he was tempted to lie. ‘Something else. Personal.’

‘In that case no, I can’t spare you any time just now.’ She topped up her mug from the urn, then flicked him a brief glance. ‘If you’ll excuse me…’

He held his hand out in a motion of appeal and she froze. Then took a small step back and looked at him fully. Her eyes were puffy and tired and all the colour had drained out of her cheeks. She looked fragile, as though she hadn’t slept well.

He nearly groaned with the need to put his arms around her. ‘Terri-’

‘I need to go. Please.’ The words were calm. Yet he had the distinct impression she was holding herself together by willpower alone. Guilt stabbed at him.

‘Of course.’ He curled his fingers into his palm and dropped his hand. She waited until he stepped aside before she moved past him.

His gaze followed the graceful sway of her hips until she turned into one of the offices. She must intend to catch up with some paperwork.

He ran a hand through his hair and smiled philosophically.

Terri wasn’t going to make it easy for him.

Sue-Ellen would have. His wife had smoothed his life for him wherever she could. He’d appreciated it. Their love had been a quiet, comfortable emotion. Not a grand passion.

Nothing like the volatile mixture of emotions he was starting to feel for Terri.

He sighed. She was complex. Combustion to Sue-Ellen’s serenity.

Terri tested the limits of his self-control-which, to his chagrin, were diminishing with each passing day.

What the hell was he going to do about her?

He had to think of something or they were both going to be wrecks by the end of their time together. Though he realised he didn’t like thinking of that in terms of a finite period.

CHAPTER EIGHT

TERRI sifted cool sand through her toes beneath a shallow wave. Her walk along the beach had restored a degree of calmness.

Seeing Luke today, being near him after the explosive embrace yesterday, had been impossible. She’d reacted like the gauchest schoolgirl. Embarrassing, but she’d been unable to help it. He’d seen, of course. The pity in his eyes had been hard to take. What did he think of her now? She’d wager that the glowing opinion he’d expressed the other day had been amended.