City Surgeon, Small Town Miracle

He frowned, abruptly certain he didn’t know enough about her. She’d opened up so much the other night. Wrenching details about her marriage and about her last moments with her husband. Was there more? If there was, she’d baulked at the idea of sharing it with him. Why? What could be worse than the things she had told him?

Perhaps his unease was because he sensed the trauma of the explosion and her husband’s death had left Terri with even deeper emotional scars than those she’d revealed. How could it not? Did a soul ever truly heal from such cruel wounds?

Despite the heat of the sun on his back, a chill spread across his skin. As though an unseen threat lurked just beyond his comprehension.

He huffed out a long breath, shrugging away the shiver of unwelcome intuition. The only thing he could do was take it one step at a time, build trust, hope they’d create something worthwhile together.

‘Okay, you two, let’s get this show on the road.’ He aimed a smile at them as he strode forward. ‘Plants. We need plants. Allie, you’ve got the list so you’re in charge of choosing. Terri, you’re with me behind the trolley.’

Allie giggled and relinquished the handle to him.

Luke captured Terri’s hand and tugged her to his side. ‘Now I’ve got you right where I want you,’ he said under his breath so only she could hear.

‘Luke!’ Her gaze flew to where Allie was comparing a tag to the list she held.

‘What? I’m only holding your hand.’ He gave her a wicked grin. He lowered his voice and said, ‘Would you like me to show you what I really want to do?’

‘No,’ she all but yelped. ‘No, absolutely not. Behave.’

‘Then you’d better hold my hand tight, hadn’t you, sweetheart?’ he said, his gaze roving over her anxious face.

‘What about Allie?’ Terri’s eyes were fixed on his daughter. She cared very much for Allie’s well-being.

Suddenly his peculiar mood dissolved and he relented. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve had a talk to her about going out with you.’

‘You have?’ Terri’s eyes came back to his, wide and uncertain.

‘She thinks it’s a good idea. In fact, I think I’ve gone up in her estimation. See what a good influence you’re being on me.’

‘Mmm.’ Her lips pursed in a moue of doubt and his pulse spiked. Conversation, concentrate on the conversation.

‘Yes, she even wanted to give me some dating advice.’ He strolled down the aisle towards Allie, who had moved on further. ‘I should take you to the movies and buy you ice cream apparently. It’s what all the girls like.’ He gave Terri a thoughtful glance. ‘What do you think…will it get me to first base?’

‘Not likely,’ she muttered darkly. ‘You promised we wouldn’t flaunt it.’

‘I also said we wouldn’t hide it.’

‘I think we need to have a discussion on definitions. Yours versus mine.’ Her tone was astringent. ‘I’m starting to sense a lack of compatibility.’

‘I’m always ready to discuss our relationship with you.’ He grinned at her. ‘Just say the word.’

He laughed when his impertinence was rewarded by an old-fashioned look. This subtle dance of courtship between them was a pleasure. It had been a long time since he’d done something just for the fun of it.

At the checkout, he said casually, ‘Mum’s issued a not-to-be-refused invitation to you for dinner tonight. Hasn’t she, Allie?’

‘Oh, yes, please come. Ple-ease,’ said Allie.

‘Dad said you used to be a regular at chez Daniels before we arrived.’ It was short notice and his pressure was less than subtle, but he didn’t care. He didn’t think Terri was the type to play games. If she was free, she would come. If she wasn’t, he wouldn’t like it but he’d have to be philosophical. He layered on some more pathos. ‘We’d hate to think we’d scared you off. Wouldn’t we, Allie?’

‘Yes.’ His daughter looked faintly confused but game to agree.

‘Since you asked so nicely, I’d love to,’ Terri said, her narrow-eyed stare letting him know exactly what she thought of his tactics.

He grinned, unrepentant, and tried hard not to look too smug. Judging from the look Terri gave him, he hadn’t succeeded.

He was falling hard and quick. Too hard? Too quick?

His senses told him Terri Mitchell was solid gold. His doubts weren’t about her. They were about her past and the pain she was still carrying.

With care and patience, they could handle anything that was thrown at them. He was sure of it…

He pushed away a second shadowy whisper of prescience.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

‘TERRI! You’re here!’ squealed Allie.

Luke’s head snapped around as his daughter dropped the cutlery she’d been setting out on the table to race over and hug their guest. Hard to believe from Allie’s behaviour that she’d seen Terri only a matter of hours ago. Though he certainly couldn’t chip her on her over-enthusiasm, given the great line of somersaults his own gut was doing.

‘Come and see where we’ve put the rose I picked for Mum,’ said Allie. ‘We planted it as soon as we got home. Granddad had the garden all ready.’

‘Give Terri a chance to say hello to everyone else before you start dragging her off, Allie,’ Luke said, placing the chairs he’d been carrying around the table. Give her a chance to say hello to me.

‘Hi, Luke.’ Terri’s smile was wary as he drew near and put his hand on her shoulder. He leaned forward to give her a peck on the cheek. Low down, right beside her mouth. Her skin was soft beneath his lips. She smelled delicious, fresh soap, light fragrance. All woman. All Terri.

‘I brought a bottle of wine.’ She stepped back and thrust a bottle into his hands.

He looked at the label, giving himself a precious moment to regroup. A South Australian white wine. ‘Thanks. You must be psychic. Mum’s baking fish on the barbecue.’

‘Not so psychic.’ She grinned. ‘I spoke to Vivienne when we got home from the nursery earlier.’

‘Clever, then.’

The back door opened. ‘About time you showed yourself around here, young lady,’ said Will as he carried the large bowl of salad to the table and then crossed to hug Terri. ‘I was starting to wonder what that new hospital director had done with you.’

Unexpected heat crept into Luke’s face. He knew what the new director had been doing with her.

And what he planned to do, given half a chance.

‘Oh, just the, um, usual. You know, work, work, work,’ Terri said with a weak laugh. Her cheekbones flushed becomingly as her eyes slid in Luke’s direction and then quickly away.

Will frowned. ‘Humph. I still say the board did the wrong thing by you.’ Luke stifled a sigh when his father shot him an ambiguous look. ‘I told Luke he was stepping on toes. You did an excellent job as acting director.’

‘Thank you, Will, but it’s working out well having Luke in charge.’ This time, when she slanted a look at Luke, she met his eyes. He enjoyed the tiny conspiratorial moment. ‘We’ve got the new boy licked into shape now and you know how much I detest paperwork. We don’t let Luke go home until he’s cleared his desk.’

‘Like me with my homework,’ said Allie with a big grin. The way his father and daughter responded to Terri was beautiful.

‘Exactly like that.’ Terri smiled as she ran a hand down Allie’s stubby ponytail. ‘Yes, I think your father’s proving to be quite satisfactory, Allie.’ She looked at him from under her lashes. ‘All things considered.’

‘Thank you for that faint praise,’ Luke murmured, feeling close to tongue-tied. She was flirting with him. His heart wobbled and then melted.

‘Oh, it’s important to give encouragement…where it’s deserved, of course,’ she said, obviously struggling to