Playboy Doctor to Doting Dad

‘That’s my boy. Give it to Daddy.’

Kieran gasped. ‘What did you say?’

The air whooshed out of her lungs. Where had that come from? She’d intended discussing with Kieran what she should call him when talking to Seamus before she mentioned the D word. She stared at Kieran, aghast. He looked as shocked as she felt. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I—’

She spun around to the bench, staring at her shaking hands as she tried to pick up a knife to slice the tomatoes. He’d never talk to her again. At least not for the rest of the night—if he stayed now.

‘Abby, it’s all right.’ Kieran’s hand touched her shoulder, pressured her to turn to face him. ‘I should have a name, and I guess I am Seamus’ father.’

Seamus bumped between their legs, startling them both into looking down. He held the opener up to Kieran.

Shock drained the colour from Kieran’s cheeks. ‘Did he really understand you? Does he know I’m his father?’

Kieran stared at his son, speechless. Then slowly he crouched down and took the opener in one hand. He ran the other hand over Seamus’ head, and whispered, ‘Thanks, boyo.’

Dear Reader

Sunny Nelson is truly one of New Zealand’s gems. I moved there eighteen years ago and instantly felt at home. The city is small, but vibrant. It is picturesque, with a harbour at the front door and mountains in the background. I learnt to fly at Nelson’s airport—the one mentioned in this book. Hope does exist, and I have regularly bought fruit at the orchards lining the roads. I met my husband in Nelson, so for me it is the perfect setting for a romance.

Abby and Kieran have a lot to overcome when they come together. But they both have so much to give to each other—and to little Olivia and Seamus—that they can’t go wrong. If only they can put the past behind them …

I hope you enjoy following their journey as they move forward to a rewarding and loving life together.

Cheers!

Sue MacKay

www.suemackay.nz.co

With a background working in medical laboratories, and a love of the romance genre, it is no surprise that SUE MACKAY writes Medical™ Romance stories. An avid reader all her life, she wrote her first story at age eight—about a prince, of course. She lives with her husband in beautiful Marlborough Sounds, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, where she can indulge her passions for the outdoors, the sea and cycling. She is currently training as a volunteer ambulance officer.

Recent titles by the same author:

THEIR MARRIAGE MIRACLE

To Louise Groarke, my wonderful critique partner.

And to Iona Jones, Barb Jeffcott Geris,

Margie Stewart, Deborah Shattock and Emily Gee—

of the very supportive Blenheim Writers group.

PLAYBOY

DOCTOR TO

DOTING DAD

SUE MACKAY

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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CHAPTER ONE

ABBY BROWN stared out of the window at the long, neat rows of nectarine trees with their small fruit that were just beginning to fill out. Her father’s orchard: the one constant in her life. Each season brought its own routine and, with summer officially starting this week, December meant spraying and crop thinning.

Stop procrastinating. This had to be done. On a long, indrawn breath, she pressed redial. The one phone call she did not want to make, had tried making for two years. She knew the number off by heart she’d rung it so often. But this time she actually had to let the phone ring. Had to wait for Kieran to answer. This time she could not hang up in a panic. She could no longer put off telling him.

This was her third attempt to reach him tonight, and the only reason she kept trying was because having this particular conversation face to face with him would be worse. A whole lot worse.

The ringing stopped as the phone was picked up somewhere in Dublin. ‘Kieran Flynn speaking.’

Words died on Abby’s tongue. That sweet Irish lilt reminded her exactly why she’d got into this situation in the first place.

‘Hello? Anyone there?’ Kieran asked, a smile in his voice.

She couldn’t do this.

She had to do it. Quickly, before she could slam the phone down, she answered, ‘It’s Abby Brown.’

‘Abigail? Really? Where are you? I mean, are you here? Or are you calling from New Zealand?’ Measured surprise lifted his voice.

‘I’m at home.’ How could she afford to travel to Ireland? ‘I thought it was about time I made contact with you.’

‘What a coincidence. I’m coming down your way in a few days.’ Kieran paused then added, ‘I’m working in your local hospital for two months, managing the emergency department.’

‘I heard. The hospital grapevine is in good working order. I had hoped you’d have been in touch before coming out.’

‘I thought I’d wait until I’d settled in, get to know my way around first, before giving you a call. I also wondered if I might possibly spend some time with Olivia.’

Yeah, sure. His niece. The little girl they had joint guardianship of. The child he barely remembered to send birthday and Christmas presents to. Had he really intended calling? Or did he think this was the right thing to say now that she’d contacted him? Obviously he hadn’t realised he’d see her at the hospital. Heaven help her. It wasn’t going to be easy if they didn’t get past the news she had for him. ‘We’ll be working together.’

‘We will? That’s fantastic. For some reason I thought you were nursing in Paediatrics.’ Charm thickened the lilt.

It also sent the muscles in her stomach into spasms, which was plain stupid because she didn’t hold any special feelings for this man. Really? ‘I transferred to ED nearly a year ago. I prefer it to Paediatrics.’ These days she didn’t like dealing with sick children all the time. It made her worry too much. At least in ED she worked with a variety of patients.

‘Then we’ll have plenty of time to see each other, and catch up on things. Should be fun.’

Things? A child was not a thing. ‘That will be great. Olivia needs to get to know her Irish family.’

‘I guess so.’ He sounded unsure. Backing off already?

‘Of course she does. It’s an important part of her heritage. I think I’m right in believing you’re the only living relative on her mother’s side.’

‘No, there is her grandfather, but I haven’t a clue where he is these days. I don’t think there’s any hurry for Olivia to meet him. In fact, she’s probably a whole lot better off never knowing him.’

‘That’s kind of sad.’ She couldn’t imagine not knowing where her father was, or any member of her family for that matter. ‘Olivia adores her Kiwi grandfather.’

‘Then she’s very lucky and we should leave the situation as it stands.’ His tone suggested she’d be wise not to argue.

Okay, so she could be patient, give him time to get to know Olivia better before raising the point again. But right now she was being sidetracked from the purpose of this call. Again a deep breath.

But Kieran spoke before she could gather the courage to tell him.

‘Look, Abigail, I hate to rush you but I’ve got lots to do before I catch my plane out. Two months is a long time to be away from my job here. Did you ring for a specific reason? Or is this a welcoming call before I arrive in Nelson?’

Here it was, the moment she’d been dreading. ‘I have to tell you something that I think it best you know before you get here.’ Before she saw him again, and read the shock and anger that would surely fill those startling blue eyes that haunted her every day. Tell him, get it over. ‘I have a son, Seamus. He’s fifteen months old.’ The words poured out in a torrent, her mouth dry.

‘Oh, right. A playmate for Olivia, then. That must be good for her.’

He paused, and Abby waited, her stomach in a knot, her heart thumping in her chest.

Then she gasped, surprising hurt spiralling through her, when he said, ‘Of course, I didn’t know you were in a relationship. Have you married since we last saw each other?’

Didn’t he get it? Come on, Kieran. Do the sum. Fifteen months plus nine? What had they been doing together two years ago? Had he forgotten that night they’d spent making love? A night that had never faded completely from her memory. But, then, he didn’t have a young child running around his home to constantly remind him of that time, so he probably had forgotten. Strange how disappointed that made her feel.

She blurted, ‘Seamus is your son.’

There, she’d told him. She couldn’t take the words back. The truth was out. And the silence was deafening. Of course she’d been wrong not to have told him the moment she’d seen the blue line on the pregnancy testing strip. But his career was very demanding and he’d been afraid of having anything to do with Olivia. He’d told Abby bluntly that he believed the child would come a distant second to his job. He’d warned he’d probably send Olivia to boarding school as soon as she was old enough. Providing financial backing seemed to be his share of the guardianship issue. And Olivia was only his niece. What chance was there that he’d go the extra distance for their son? So Abby, concerned about the emotional damage Kieran believed he was capable of inflicting, had taken the easy option and kept quiet.

Huh. Easy? That’d be the day. She’d agonised over her decision every single day, knowing Kieran should be told about his child. All those aborted phone calls she’d made to him. And then there were the many letters she’d written and not posted. The photos of Seamus she’d taken and not sent. None of that counted for anything now.

‘Kieran?’ she finally whispered.

‘Are you sure he’s mine?’ The charm had disappeared now, replaced by uncertainty.

Thanks a bunch. ‘I don’t make a habit of sleeping around.’ But she had spent one passionate night with this man, a night that had been totally out of character for her. She’d been numb with grief for her brother and sister-in-law, and Kieran’s arms had been warm and comforting. Too comforting.

He continued, ‘What I meant was I used precautions each time.’

‘Ah, well, there was once when, um, we kind of forgot.’

‘I never forget. The last thing I have ever wanted is to be a parent. Because of that I make doubly sure something like this won’t happen. Ever.’ His voice snapped out that last word.

Sorry, buddy. I’ve got the evidence. ‘Seamus is the spitting image of you. Your colouring, that slight lift of the right side of your mouth when you smile. I wouldn’t be surprised if, when he starts talking, he has an Irish accent.’

Again silence fell between them. Abby twisted her hair around her fingers as she stared outside. Dusk was falling, softening the view. She’d told Kieran. At last. Even if he exploded at her, called her every miserable name he could think of, she felt as though a huge weight had finally been lifted. Not telling Kieran about Seamus had never sat comfortably with her. She mightn’t trust him to do the right thing by his child, or by her. She might believe he’d back out of their lives so fast he’d be like a train without brakes; but it went against all she believed in not to have told him the truth. Sound reasons or not.

‘Am I to understand that you’re only telling me now because I’m coming out to Nelson this week?’

‘Yes.’ She waited for the explosion, shoulders tense, fingers white where they gripped the phone.

‘There’s an honest answer.’ Were his teeth grinding? ‘Why didn’t you tell me the moment you knew you were pregnant?’

‘What would you have done about it, if I had?’

‘How do I know? I haven’t got a clue what to say now, so as to what I’d have said or done two years ago is beyond me. But I would’ve had time to get used to the idea.’ He didn’t sound like he’d really grasped what she’d told him. As in really, truly, understood that he had a child. Too much to take in?

She tried to explain the inexcusable. ‘You had made it abundantly clear how you felt about having a child of your own.’ On two occasions. ‘I’m talking about your reaction to becoming Olivia’s guardian. You were so adamant you didn’t want anything to do with her upbringing that I …’ She faltered. ‘I figured if you couldn’t cope with helping bring up your niece, the last thing you’d want to deal with would be a child of your own.’ Don’t forget the financial side. ‘I know you’ve provided well for Olivia, very well, but I didn’t want you to think I was asking for that for Seamus.’

‘That gave you the right to decide I shouldn’t know about this boy? My son?’ His words were like bullets, slamming into her with piercing sharpness. ‘You made this choice? For me?’

She would not apologise. She’d seen the trepidation clouding his eyes at the thought that he might have to raise Olivia. Trepidation that in truth she’d never fully understood. Had she done the guy an injustice? Probably. The guilt twisted her gut. But what hope was there that he’d have been willing to become a father to Seamus? In his own words, no father at all was better than a random one, and he’d told her they didn’t come more random than he’d be. ‘Kieran, rightly or wrongly, I had my reasons. But now that you’re coming here, you need to know.’ Hopefully he’d have calmed down by the time she got to see him at work. ‘And I want Seamus to know his father.’

There was a sharp intake of breath at the other end of the line. Had she gone too far?

If so, he didn’t divulge his feelings. ‘I won’t have much spare time during my tenure at your hospital, so I hope you’re not expecting a lot from me.’

Only some time with your niece, who really needs to get to know her mother’s brother. Only an acknowledgement of your son, and maybe a softening of your heart towards him. Only your understanding and forgiveness. Too much to expect? Probably.

He continued, ‘Spare time or not, we have a lot to discuss. I’ll set up a meeting with you once I’ve settled in.’

Set up a meeting? Her shoulders slumped. That’s not the way to go about this. But she’d leave it for now. ‘I’m sorry you had to find out this way, Kieran.’

What happened to not apologising? The trouble with that notion was that she felt incredibly guilty. Not only had Kieran missed out on so much of his son’s life, if he’d wanted to be a part of it, but Seamus had also missed out on too much. And right at this moment she suspected Seamus would continue losing out for a very long time to come. Maybe, when he was an adult, he’d be able to approach his father and see if they could establish a bond.

Unless she could patch things up with Kieran. She didn’t like her chances.

Five days later

Abby blinked. Nelson Airport terminal already? It seemed only moments ago she’d pulled out of the hospital car park. Had she been speeding? Not when she didn’t want to be here, surely? Not even running ten minutes late would’ve made her speed today. Meeting Kieran Flynn was right at the bottom of her ‘want-to-do’ list. Right there after going to the dentist.

But he’d emailed to ask, no, demand, that she meet his flight. Michael, the department head Kieran was temporarily replacing, had thought it an excellent idea. ‘A friendly gesture,’ he’d said. So why hadn’t Michael thought of meeting the man? And saved her the anguish of being squeezed inside her car with a hostile Irishman?

She stopped her old Nissan Bluebird in the two-minute pick-up zone and shoved out into the searing mid-afternoon heat that not even the offshore breeze helped to cool. Her skin instantly prickled with perspiration as she slung her handbag over her shoulder. Sucking in her churning stomach, she locked the car door, all the while fighting the urge to leap back in and race away.

Gritting her teeth, she headed for the main entrance. As her sandals slapped the hot, sticky pavement she practised a welcoming smile. And failed. Miserably.

Today she would have to face Kieran for the first since telling him he was a father. The ramifications of what she’d done, or not done, were about to start. She’d thought the hardest part had been phoning him the other day, but now she had to actually see him. No doubt he’d have spent the thirty-plus hours flying to New Zealand, thinking up truckloads of horrible things to say to her. Unfortunately, she knew she probably deserved them.

The yoghurt she’d eaten for lunch curdled in her stomach and her mouth soured. She hesitated. It would be so easy to turn around and head back to work, bury herself in broken bones and chest pains.

Merely delaying tactics. Kieran would still catch up with her.

Dragging her feet through the main doors, her eyes scanned the noisy crowd for the tall, dark-haired Irishman who’d haunted her dreams for the past two years. No sign of him. A wave of relief engulfed her. Maybe he wasn’t coming? Maybe he’d changed his mind.

But common sense prevailed. Of course he hadn’t changed his mind. He’d made a commitment to the hospital and if she knew one thing about Kieran Flynn, it was that he didn’t break commitments. Especially when they involved his work. But a commitment to a child? He hadn’t broken one to Olivia because he’d never made one. Abby knew that Kieran’s strong belief that he’d be an inadequate father had been behind his decision not to be a part of Olivia’s upbringing. And behind her own decision not to tell him about Seamus. She rubbed a hand down her cheek as she remember the slap of his hand on the lawyer’s desk as he had stated categorically that she should never expect him to be there for Olivia in any role other than a distant uncle who’d finance the child’s education. Abby now realised that she needed to learn more about what was behind this, for both the children’s sakes.

There would be plenty of time. Again she wondered why Kieran’s stellar career as an emergency specialist had brought him to a small city way downunder in New Zealand. Could he have been thinking about Olivia when he’d applied? Was this his way of touching base with his niece without getting too involved? She doubted it. He hadn’t exactly inundated the child with his attention since her parents had died. His communication over that time made a mute person seem verbose.

Abby tugged her blouse down over her hips and crossed to read the arrivals screen. Just where was this guy who had her little household all in a twitter? And who made her head spin with worry?

Kieran peered through the window down onto the glittering sea of horseshoe-shaped Tasman Bay. What a damned long way to come for two months’ work. But he’d have gone to Siberia if that’s what it took to please the chairman of the Board and further his own career. He sighed. He still didn’t understand why the old boy thought it necessary for him to take a secondment overseas before he put in his application for head of the emergency department of Mercy Hospital in Dublin.

He’d been heading to Adelaide, Australia, for his secondment until this one in New Zealand had suddenly appeared. Adelaide had been the obvious choice. A much larger facility with higher patient numbers, which would look good on his CV. But Nelson required someone urgently as the current head of department had a very ill child needing care in Australia. Something about a liver transplant.

Even then Kieran had resisted, but whenever he’d glanced at the travel brochure on Nelson an image of a woman and one heated night of passion, the likes of which he’d never known before or since, had kept flicking across his mind.

Abigail. She lived in Nelson. Not that he intended picking up where they’d left off that night. No, thank you. That was a road to disaster. But the mental pictures of her and that one night had caused him to fill in the wrong set of papers.

Don’t forget Olivia. It had broken his heart to watch her at the airport in Dublin, clinging to Abigail’s hand as she had disappeared from his life through the bland doors of Immigration. Even knowing he’d done the best thing for Olivia hadn’t made the pain any easier. He missed his sister, and Olivia was the only connection he had left to her. Two losses in one week had been horrendous. But no way would he change the arrangement. Olivia was far better off living with Abigail.

Kieran’s hands clenched against his thighs as the plane shook and bucked. Why couldn’t the pilot fly it in a straight line? Sweat slithered down between his shoulder blades, plastering his shirt to his skin.

A gnarled hand tapped his forearm. ‘It’s a bit bumpy, isn’t it, dear?’

Kieran flicked a glance sideways at the elderly lady sitting beside him, her crotchet momentarily still in her lap. She didn’t seem at all fazed by the turbulence. A benevolent smile and sparkling, washed-out blue eyes focused on him.

‘Just a little,’ he concurred, dragging out a smile.

‘We won’t be long now.’

‘I certainly hope not.’ He peered out the window looking for a distraction. But his mind quickly turned back to Abigail.

Of course, if he’d known of the bombshell she had been about to drop on him he’d definitely have chosen Adelaide. His muscles tensed. Would he? Truly? He shrugged, trying to ignore the multitude of questions that had buzzed around his skull since that phone call from her. Now here he was, minutes away from landing in her town. He shivered. Nelson. Where a whole bundle of difficult issues and decisions awaited him. And none of them medical.

A son. Abigail said the lad looked like him. Some alien emotion stirred within his chest, a feeling he didn’t recognise. Surely not curiosity? Or pride?

Was it the familiar fear that he’d let Olivia down? And now Seamus? But how did a man who’d never experienced love from his parents love his own child? As his father had said often enough, he’d make a terrible parent. He didn’t have it in him to love and care for children. The sooner he explained so that Abigail understood, the sooner her expectations about his role in the children’s lives would disappear. For ever.

Just grand. He’d been coming for work, and now that had been pushed to the back of his mind with thoughts of Abigail and the children, making him feel rattled. Inadequate, even.

At least he’d be busy putting in long hours covering for staff on leave over Christmas and New Year. Apparently this was the time of year that Kiwis took their major holidays, spending weeks at the beaches, out in the mountains or following major sports events. At least there’d be time to get used to the idea of being a father and to decide how to deal with it.

‘Don’t bother. You’ll make a mess of parenting, like you make a mess of most things in your life.’ His father’s voice slammed into his brain. The words that had spurred him to become an exceptional emergency specialist.

Bitterness soured his mouth as the old litany made its umpteenth rerun in his skull. He wasn’t good at looking out for people he cared about. He’d known that since the day when Morag, his sister, had tripped and broken her ankle during a student party in his flat. She’d wrecked her chances at the European ski championships. In a blind fury their father had unfairly laid the blame firmly at Kieran’s feet, telling him he was incapable of thinking of anyone except himself.