The Nurse's Twin Surprise / A Weekend With Her Fake Fiancé

He got the message fast. ‘So were you two.’ He nodded. ‘Right, get out of here while you can.’ This time he was talking directly to Vicki.

Molly knew she could relax now that Nathan was no longer focused on her, but it wasn’t happening. Instead her body was winding up tighter than a ball of twine, and just as rough. Why did this man in particular make her feel a little lighter in the chest, as though hope was knocking? Hope for love one day? Sadly, never for family. That dream had been smothered as a wet sack would a flame by a fist in her belly that had stolen her baby and quite likely any chance of another.

She looked at Nathan as he laughed with Vicki over something, and her heart dropped. If only she had the courage to let a strong, confident man close enough to trust. Until now it never occurred to her to want the things Paul had stolen. But it couldn’t be this man waking her up. They were mostly civil with each other, but it took more than civility for a relationship to succeed. Or maybe it didn’t. There hadn’t been any of that going on in her now defunct marriage.

Flip-flop went her heart. Her stomach softened as the tension started backing off. As though her body was telling her it was ready to have fun. Had certain parts of her anatomy forgotten the pain of the past? It wasn’t wise. Or safe. But very tempting. And eye-opening. One thing this newer version of herself had in common with the last one was that it needed a man who had his own world sussed and wasn’t afraid to stand up and be counted. As long as he didn’t hurt her.

Nathan knew he’d overreacted to Molly O’Keefe’s false smile about the barbecue, but he’d had enough of those. Two months and not once had she joined the staff for a meal, let alone anything else, despite everyone trying to persuade her. Whether she thought she was too good for them, or she believed she wasn’t good enough, the jury was still out.

Yet she’d been quick to sign up for the barbecue. Part of him questioned whether she’d actually show up; another suggested maybe Molly didn’t back down once she’d taken a stance. Despite working alongside her, often in trying circumstances, he didn’t know her at all, which was unusual given the work they did. She didn’t fall over backwards to get on with him. That might make him egotistical, but nothing added up. He got on well with most folk, and socialised enough not to return to being the hermit he’d become after Rosie’s death.

Molly’s a challenge.

He stumbled, righted himself, his eyes seeking out the woman doing this to him. Did he want her to like him? Now, that sounded needy. Hardly true when he had his pick of friends, even women. His gaze cruised across the department to the locker-room door from where a burst of laughter came. Vicki was doing her best to be happy on her thirtieth birthday, but her heart was sad because Cole was supposedly deployed offshore with the army.

He couldn’t wait to see her face when he dropped his best friend off at their apartment this afternoon. It would be a big surprise, one he couldn’t justify when he saw the sadness lurking in the back of Vicki’s eyes. He’d prefer to tell her the truth, and have her meet Cole, but he’d given his friend his word, and promises were not to be broken.

Molly appeared in the doorway, a rare genuine smile lighting up her face and causing those emerald eyes to sparkle, though she’d glared at him earlier. He shouldn’t have pushed her buttons but, hell, it’d been impossible not to when he was exhausted after eight hours dealing with what felt like half of Sydney coming through the ED’s doors.

Molly rattled him in ways he couldn’t believe. He was not used to having his libido captivated by a woman who wasn’t interested in him. What libido? Since Rosie’s death there’d been little going on in that department, and when there was it was for relief, not involvement. He couldn’t imagine being lucky enough to find love for a second time, hadn’t been ready to consider it because who got that lucky? Yet today Molly had him questioning that.

Nathan shrugged. So there might be more nous behind Nurse O’Keefe’s non-confrontational looks and that beautiful, heart-stopping face than he thought. He should’ve wound her up weeks ago if the flaring temper in her expression was the result. Far more interesting than quiet and mousy, as he’d believed. A shiver ripped down his spine, but not because her haughty glare daunted him. Not a bit. Instead it gave him a sharp awareness of the woman behind the glare.

Molly was waking up his body, which he preferred to leave in sleep mode until he decided otherwise. The sense of being slightly off balance had come out of left field the day she’d started in the department, and now he’d had enough of feeling out of whack. This morning it’d been time to push her boundaries over not joining in staff events so he could get relief from these frustrating sensations. This reaction confused him, and made him feel more than annoyed. Yeah, frustrated. But as in sexually or more? He didn’t have a clue.

‘You all going to spend the day in there?’ he called out. No way did he intend heading to the café without making sure Molly didn’t do a runner, because, say what she liked, she had looked edgy for a moment. Vicki liked her a lot, so Molly doing an about-face wasn’t happening.

‘Pretty much. How come you waited?’ Molly’s enticing shoulders had returned to their normal, slightly sloped position and her chin had softened back to quiet and mousy.

Except he no longer trusted his interpretation of that look. There was more to Nurse O’Keefe than met the eye. Deep down, had he always suspected so? And reacted accordingly by keeping his barriers in place to protect himself? For better or worse, there was a need ticking inside him making it impossible to look away, or deny how she intrigued him, or pretend he did not want her in his bed, underneath him. Or on top if she preferred. Jeez. He scrubbed his hands down his face. What was wrong with him?

‘You run out of words?’

Something like that. ‘I’m making sure no one gets lost.’

Her smile didn’t slip a notch. ‘I told Vicki I’d be there, and I never go back on my word.’ Then doubt—or was it guilt?—slid through her sharp gaze and she looked away.

‘Glad to hear it.’ What was that about? Had she let someone down? In a big way that had come back to haunt her? Behind his ribs a sense of confusion lurched and an unreal feeling of protectiveness crept over him. For Molly? Hardly. There was definitely far more to this woman than he’d realised, but why spend time wondering what made her tick when it was obvious she wouldn’t have a bar of him? She was a challenge. And causing a pool of desire to settle in his gut.

Could be hunger for food doing a number on him. Not Molly. He’d missed snack breaks throughout the night—always a bad thing. But nothing was dispelling that softening sensation in his belly as he watched her. Without even trying, she was doing a number on him. Bet he was the last person she wanted to spend time with, even if only over coffee. Was it time for a change? On both their parts? Could be it was time for him to step outside his secure bubble and poke at life, see where it took him.

As long as it wasn’t more than he was prepared to give. More than he was able to give. He’d given his heart to Rosie, and she’d taken it to the grave with her. Or so he’d believed, until—until now and the thin ray of hope beginning to pierce his long-held belief that he couldn’t be that lucky.

He and Rosie had been childhood sweethearts and so in love it had been unreal at times. Except reality had got in the way of their plans for a house and babies in the form of leukaemia. From the first day Rosie had complained of lethargy and swollen, sore glands they had been on a one-way road to hell. It had been a short trip, lasting little more than three months. He’d been glad for her sake it was over quickly, but for himself he’d only wanted her never to leave him, taking his dreams away for ever.

The disease that had taken Rosie’s life had a lot to answer for. He used to picture them together, raising their kids, having a great life. The past four years had been long, and lonely in a way he wouldn’t have believed before she’d died.

‘Nathan?’

He pulled out of his reverie to find Vicki watching him with amusement forming crinkles at the corners of her eyes. ‘Yes?’

‘Lead on. We’re all good to go.’ Her wink was slow, and downright mischievous, reminding him how she and Cole thought it was time he came out of his cave. Grabbing his elbow, Vicki strode ahead of the group, tugging him along with her.

‘I’m hangry,’ he warned around a smile. His friends cared about him so he let them off their interfering ways.

Vicki only laughed. ‘I heard you giving Molly a bit of a roasting this morning about the winter party. One she didn’t deserve, by the way.’

‘Someone had to tell her to get over staying on the fringe around us.’

Vicki jabbed him with an elbow. ‘Others have told you they’ll be there and not signed the list. Who needs a list anyway?’

‘I do.’ He huffed a breath. ‘Why did she do that pen-snatching thing and scrawl her name across the page large enough to suggest I might be blind?’

‘To rile you? It worked, by the way.’

I know that. Damn her. ‘Right.’ A spurt of resentment soured his mouth. He swallowed it away, and managed to laugh at himself. So Miss Mousy had got one over him. Game on, Molly O’Keefe.

Vicki hadn’t finished. ‘I’m glad you nudged her about joining in. It’s good for her.’ Another jab from that blasted elbow. ‘She needs to get out more.’

Nathan stared at his friend. ‘Since when has she talked about anything that’s not to do with patients?’ He’d never heard Molly say something as simple as she’d been to the hair salon. And, yes, he knew when she went because those short, red curls would be quiet, in place, for a few days before returning to their riot of crazy colour. He preferred the wild to the tamed.

A tingling itch sometimes crept over his palms as he wondered about pushing his fingers through her hair. Then he’d remember he didn’t have a heart any more and would go and see a patient. See? Early on she had disturbed him in ways only Rosie had ever done, yet they were opposites. Rosie had mostly been calm, with little that would upset her. On the other hand, Miss Quiet and Mousy, red head contrasting with her temperament and all, managed to upset his orderly existence without even trying, especially when he was overtired or pressured by a particularly ill child. As of now he was going to delete mousy from the nickname.

Vicki tapped him none too gently on the shoulder to bring his attention back to her. ‘Molly lives in an apartment on the third floor of a block in Bondi Junction, takes the train to work, has a regular car that doesn’t stand out at the lights, and likes to watch comedy shows on TV. Oh, and she has lots of amazing clothes that suggest a previous life that wasn’t so lean.’

‘You two are close.’

‘Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.’ Vicki grinned. ‘But you’re forgiven since you’re in need of food.’

Nathan shook his head. He’d learned more in two minutes than he had in the past weeks. More than Molly being a superb nurse with a special way with the younger patients that came their way so they all fell in love with her, even when she was cleaning a wound that stung or sliding a needle into their arm. He could also admit to seeing her wearing stunning—and expensive—figure-enhancing outfits when she strode onto the ward heading for the staff changing room at the beginning of her shifts. Not that her figure needed enhancing; it did a damned good job of filling out her uniform and her day clothes all by itself.

Bondi Junction, eh? And here he’d been thinking she probably lived in one of the upmarket suburbs near or on Sydney Harbour’s waterfront.

Expensive clothes, average address. Once had money, now getting by? Throw in not mixing with people, the loneliness that sometimes blitzed her eyes, and he had to wonder if she’d been let down big-time. That protective instinct raised its head again. Guess he’d never know what was behind Molly’s attitude since she wasn’t likely to spill her guts over breakfast. Especially not to him. ‘Let’s hope she enjoys herself.’

‘We’ll do our best to make sure she does.’ Another wink came his way.

‘Stop that. Whatever that wicked mind of yours is coming up with, it’s not happening. You have a birthday to focus on, not someone else’s problems.’ Suddenly Nathan was more than pleased Molly was here. He understood loneliness, knew how it could drag a person down deep. After Rosie had died he’d holed up in their home, only coming out to attend lectures or work a shift at the hospital, doing what was required to qualify—no more, no less. None of his friends or family had been able to prise him out into the real world to become involved with people and life other than what was required for patients and qualifying as an emergency specialist.

To get past the pain of losing Rosie he’d focused entirely on those things and it had worked for the first couple of years. Then he’d begun to understand he wasn’t any use to the people who needed his medical skills if he didn’t get out and about, and that he owed the people he loved for sticking around.

‘We’re having champagne this morning.’ Vicki laughed.

‘Already sorted,’ he agreed, his mood lightening further in anticipation of spending time with this group of chatterboxes.

And Molly. No, forget that. She wouldn’t start yabbering on to him. Maybe by the end of breakfast they’d be a little further ahead in knowing each other, but that was all. Bet she’d still have his hands tingling and his gut tightening, though. ‘Shows we’re in need of a life when this is as exciting as it gets.’

Nathan hated admitting it, but he’d been looking forward to breakfast. His heart felt lighter, and the blood seemed to move faster in his veins. Molly had nothing to do with the happy sensations in his chest, or the sudden urge to be on his best, most charming behaviour. That needed a bit of practice anyway, and she’d see straight through him and ignore his attempts.

CHAPTER TWO

AS THE GROUP approached the café entrance, Molly smoothed down her trousers and jacket, hauled her shoulders back so that she looked and felt confident, before following everyone inside to the reserved table where Nathan was pulling out a chair on the far side.

Why did she seek him out? Because his mood had improved? Out of doctor mode and into something friendlier, less gruff than usual. Still handsome and mouth-watering. He didn’t often come across as too confident and charming, even though he could enchant a screaming patient into quietly accepting an injection and his medical knowledge was second to none. Experience had taught her to look behind a man’s character traits to find out what really made him tick.

‘Vicki?’ Nathan indicated the chair he’d pulled out.

‘The birthday girl gets to sit at the top of the table.’ Hank pulled out another chair.

‘You’re right.’ Vicki grinned and sat down on Hank’s chair. ‘Molly, why don’t you take that chair Nathan’s holding?’

Because Nathan had already slung his jacket over the one next to it. Looking around the table, Molly saw seats were filling rapidly, leaving her little choice. Fake it… Forcing a smile on her mouth and lifting her chin like nothing was wrong in her world—because it wasn’t any more—she strolled around to plonk down on the chair Nathan was holding out. ‘Thanks.’

‘You want a coffee?’ he asked, surprise and something else she couldn’t interpret flitting across his face.

Thoughtlessly putting a hand on his arm, she said, ‘I’ll get it.’ She jerked away. She never touched a man. Showed how safe she felt around Nathan, despite his attitude.

He said in his I’m-here-to-help-you voice usually reserved for patients, ‘I’m going to check the champagne I’ve ordered to toast Vicki’s birthday is coming out soon. I’ll put our coffee orders in at the same time.’ His gaze was intent, his eyes searching for something in her expression.

Okay, lighten up. ‘That’d be great. A flat white, thanks.’ Her tongue felt far too big for her mouth. Just another way he tipped her world off its new axis. ‘Are we all putting in for the champagne?’ But he was gone, slipping through the crowd building around other tables, aiming for the counter, head and shoulders above everyone he passed.

Since she’d run away from Paul she hadn’t gone out with a man, never let one in her home or talked about her past to anyone. At first she’d struggled facing the world as most people she knew had blamed her for Paul’s arrest. He was so charismatic they’d believed him until the truth had come out in court and those same people had begun fawning over her, wanting to get back onside. She’d struggled not to turn bitter. At the time, dating men had been an impossibility.

Until now. Looking at Nathan, she thought he’d be protective of those he loved. He always stood up for a patient whenever a family member tried to force proceedings in the department that were wrong. No doubt he’d protect anybody who got into danger if he was close by.

Downright crazy to believe that without proof. Look what happened the last time I trusted a man.

Paul hadn’t been kind and gentle with those less fortunate than himself, instead he’d enjoyed showing how much better than others he was. Something she hadn’t seen until it had been too late. Hadn’t known to look. Paul had been the catch every woman wanted, and with her mother actively encouraging her, she’d gone for him and won. Then lost. The first year of her marriage had been bliss, then the cracks had started appearing. She was a lousy hostess, a simpleton, useless at any damned thing. Then she’d fallen pregnant and it was all over.

Molly shook her head. Stop right now. She was out with a bunch of great people. She needed to forget the self-pity and enjoy herself, not turn in on herself and repeat the mistake she’d made with the Roos, the basketball team she’d been a member of. The regret she felt every weekend when she looked up the team’s results from the Saturday game made her ache, made her wish she’d stopped worrying about letting anyone close for fear of being hurt and got on with enjoying being a part of a great bunch of women. If only she hadn’t given in and quit, she might’ve moved on with getting a life sooner.

So, get cracking and enjoy this morning.

Straightening her spine and breathing deeply, she then fell into another old habit, checking out the latest suits to walk into the café, swinging briefcases and checking their phones. But today she wasn’t looking for trouble, instead comparing the men with Nathan. He came out top every time. Something to think about once she was back in her apartment.

‘Here you go. Coffee’s on the way.’ A glass of water appeared before her. ‘As is the champagne,’ Nathan told Vicki.

‘Great.’ Molly sat up straighter. Today she might even celebrate her divorce. One sip of champagne for that, and no one at the table would be any the wiser.

Her gaze returned to Nathan, and instantly her heart forgot that memo about not thumping too hard. Crazy. He was just another male she worked with—one who happened to be bone-meltingly good looking, and currently making her aware of him in ways she’d hadn’t known around men for a long time. Yet there was something about him that had her wondering what it would be like to curl up against his chest, be held in those strong arms and just relax, be happy. No, it wasn’t happening. She wasn’t ready. Could she give it a go? Probably not.

Nathan handed her a menu. ‘Here, take a look. Most of us know this off by heart. There are some great choices.’

‘Suddenly I’m starving.’ Molly began scanning the page.

Nathan grunted. ‘I’m past hungry. Could eat a whole sirloin.’

She laughed. ‘How about tofu and grains?’

His eyes widened. He hadn’t thought she’d tease him? Last week she wouldn’t have. ‘You can’t pull that one. Like I said, I’ve been here before.’

‘Okay, so one whole sirloin, and what?’ The whole steak wasn’t on offer, but he could order two helpings. ‘Chips or hash browns, as well as eggs and bacon?’

‘Stop right there.’ He was smiling directly at her, and it was making her stomach feel like hot chocolate dropped into cream, swirling, warming, tempting. ‘Don’t mention food like that when I’m this hungry.’

‘But you’re smiling.’ When she was starving she couldn’t smile.

‘Don’t trust it.’

Sorry, Nathan, but I do believe you. Gazing at him, and especially at his smile, Molly felt no qualms. No fear of him erupting into a rage because he needed to eat now, not in ten minutes. Again, she felt that rare sense of safety around him. Needing to put mental space between them, she’d join in the conversations going on around her and enjoy the birthday celebration. After she told the hovering waitress she’d like the eggs Benedict, that was.

The room was crowded, with a queue waiting at the counter for take-out coffees and pastries. In their corner her group was out of the way and could talk without yelling. The champagne arrived and glasses were filled.

Nathan stood up. ‘Happy birthday, Vicki. May all your wishes come true.’

Vicki blinked. ‘Thanks. I only have one, and it’s not happening.’ Another blink, and she raised her glass. ‘Cheers, everyone, and thank you for joining me today.’

Molly wanted to hug Vicki and wipe away that sadness. Spontaneous hugs not being her thing any more, the best she could manage was to have fun, and not bring her past into the room. Suddenly she was very glad she’d come. Today she’d started to live, not just exist. It was a tiny step in the right direction, but it was a bigger step than usual. There’d be plenty more. Yes, there would.

Nathan sat down and picked up his glass of water. ‘Anyone want to start singing “Happy Birthday”? Not me, I’d empty the place.’

‘That’d make it a memorable day for Vicki,’ someone joked.

Without a thought, Molly began singing ‘Happy Birthday’. Instead of everyone joining in, they stared at her. She faltered to a stop. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing,’ everyone cried. ‘Carry on.’

Embarrassed, she shook her head and sipped her water. ‘Someone else can have a turn.’

‘Not after that, they can’t,’ Nathan muttered. ‘You sing like an angel.’

For a moment she forgot everything except the memories of singing, especially with Gran, and how happy it had made her. ‘I inherited my grandmother’s singing gene.’ Gran had paid for her lessons until she’d decided she didn’t want music as a career but rather a happy go-to place. ‘She sang for the national opera company.’ She’d also been the only one to question her love for Paul before the wedding.

Not now, Moll. Having fun, okay?

She turned to Nathan. ‘That’s some car you’ve got. I saw you arrive at work last Wednesday when I drove in for a change.’

Again he was watching her intently, but at least there was no tension lurking behind his gaze this time. And he went with her change of subject. ‘Not bad, eh? I only bought it a month ago and haven’t had time to take it for a spin out on the highway. But it has to happen soon, or else I might as well sell it.’

‘That’d be a waste.’ She couldn’t think of anything more exciting than speeding along the road in that amazing car, forgetting everything and enjoying the moment.

Wrong, Moll. Being with Nathan would be more exciting.

Molly spluttered into her coffee.

Nathan held out a serviette. ‘Here, wipe your face.’

Trying to snatch the paper serviette from his fingers only caused her to touch him, and she pulled back. Heat that had nothing to do with stopping the spluttering and everything to do with longing began unfurling deep inside her. It came with a growing awareness of herself as a woman, and of the man beside her. ‘You a dad, by any chance? You have a thing about goo on faces?’