City Surgeon, Small Town Miracle

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.’

‘Oh. All right, then, I guess.’ She plucked the hem of her shorts. ‘Will you kiss her?’

Definitely.

Absolutely.

One hundred percent guaranteed.

But was Allie ready to hear that yet? She was used to seeing him and Terri holding hands but was more going to be difficult for her to handle yet?

A split second later, she said, ‘I think you should. Otherwise she won’t know that you like her.’

He swallowed. ‘Okay, then I’ll make sure that I do. Are you ready to go over to Nana and Granddad’s?’

‘Yep.’ A small resigned sigh escaped as she stood and picked up her backpack.

‘Got your pyjamas? Toothbrush?’ He reeled off the items as they walked through to his parents’ wing.

‘Yes, Dad.’

‘Inhalers? Drawing book?’

‘Yes, Dad,’ she said with a roll of her eyes.

‘Pencils, Rubbers? A kiss goodnight for your father?’

She giggled. ‘Probably.’

After he’d dropped Allie off with his mother, Luke jogged down the steps to his car.

It was his birthday.

He knew what he’d like from Terri as a present. Perhaps she’d let him put his order in.

He grinned. Or perhaps not.

Whatever happened, he was looking forward to having a great time. Slow and sensible might be agonising for him on one level but it was worth it. Terri was letting down her defences, relaxing with him. That was worth every bit of physical suffering.

Terri’s heart lurched when she heard the knock at her door.

Luke.

Fortifying herself with a deep breath, she smoothed her hands down the heavy silk of her cheongsam and walked through the hall.

She’d shared wonderful family outings with Luke and Allie recently but this was different. This was their first real date.

The man waiting for her at the front door was starting to mean more to her than was sensible.

She turned the handle and opened the door, her pulse tripping crazily. He looked formal and so handsome dressed in a charcoal-grey suit.

‘Hi.’ Her grin felt wobbly.

‘Hi, yourself.’ His voice was husky. The broad smile on his face faltered as he ran his gaze down her length and slowly back up. ‘You look fabulous.’

His eyes were dark and intense when they focussed on hers again, his mouth moving in a small enigmatic smile that had her catching her breath.

‘Thank you,’ she managed. ‘You, too.’

He stared at her a moment longer. ‘Ready to go?’

‘Yes. I just need to get my purse from the kitchen.’ She should have brought it with her to the door, she thought as he followed her down the hall.

She grabbed it off the table and turned to find him right in front her. Her eyes were level with his mouth.

He leaned forward, still not touching her. Her fingers tightened on her purse. The tiny beads pressing into her skin as her breath caught in her chest.

All she had to do was step back.

She didn’t move.

His head tilted, moved closer, lips hovering over hers.