The Nurse's Christmas Temptation / A Mistletoe Kiss For The Single Dad

CHAPTER SEVEN

HARMONY WOKE UP to an almighty roar and clatter, which got louder and then seemed to be coming into the surgery itself. They were back to their usual nine o’clock opening schedule, and normally she would have been awake long before seven, but she’d hardly slept and had hit the snooze button a few times.

“What on earth…?”

The noise was coming around the corner of the building, and she could swear that everything in the place, including her teeth, was rattling.

Kneeling on the bed, she pulled back the curtain and saw, in the gray morning light, two large lorries and a caravan going past. As she watched someone jumped out of the first truck to open the gate leading to the Manor and the cavalcade drove through. It was only when the trucks were going up the path that she realized there were a couple of SUVs following behind, as well.

She watched until the last vehicle was through, and the gate was closed behind them, before letting the curtains swing shut again. Reaching over and turning on the bedside lamp, now wide awake, she wondered what was going on. More vehicles than she’d seen on the entire island had just passed her window.

Sliding out of bed, she reached for her bathrobe, resigned to getting an early start on the day, although she’d planned to spend another half an hour in bed. Mum was working afternoons, starting yesterday, so there was no early-morning prework call to look forward to, and no good reason to be up earlier than necessary.

Not that she could talk to her mother about the main thing on her mind—Dr. Cam MacRurie, who’d cost her sleep and had her mind and body in a tailspin. While her mother was no prude, Harmony knew the fact that her daughter seemed to be going ga-ga over a man she’d literally just met wouldn’t sit well with Delilah Kinkaid.

Heck, it didn’t sit well with Harmony either, but she couldn’t get the darn man out of her head.

Tossing and turning half the night, thinking about Cam, had left her frustrated and testy, wishing she could stay in the apartment all day and not have to face him. However, there were tasks that needed to be done in the surgery, and despite Cam telling her there was no rush she preferred to be ahead of the game, rather than stressing when a deadline loomed and she was unprepared.

Having showered and had some oatmeal, she went downstairs to the surgery and was surprised to see, through the front window, a crowd of people on the village green.

Going closer, to look out through the glass, she realized there was more than just people. There were a couple of pieces of what appeared to be farm equipment, some open-back vans, and lots of ladders, loaded pallets, coils of rope and large wooden boxes.

Harmony blinked a few times, trying to figure out if she was seeing things. There were only two hundred and fifty people on the island, give or take, and it appeared that all of them, probably plus a few more, were milling about on the green.

“What are they…?”

She almost had her nose pressed to the glass, trying to see what was happening. In the midst of it all was a figure in a Santa hat she was almost sure was Dora, who was gesticulating this way and that like a conductor on a podium.

Another figure broke from the group and came toward the surgery, and Harmony hurriedly scooted back to her desk.

She’d met the man in the pub—Broderick Thompson—and wasn’t sure she liked him very much. He was a smooth talker, a little too full of himself for her liking, and his light gray eyes had seemed to be undressing her rather than holding her gaze.

Hopefully he wasn’t on his way to the surgery, but if he was she’d rather present an air of professionalism rather than be caught gawking out of the window.

Sure enough, the door to the entryway opened a few seconds later, and the man who was the gallery owner came in, sleek smile in place, sandy blond hair ruffled by the wind, exposing his scalp.

“Harmony, beautiful lady! I saw the lights come on and came over to ask if you’d be joining us.”

“I’m afraid not, Mr. Thompson,” she replied, not returning his smile. “I have work to do.”

His eyes took a break away from crawling all over her chest to glance around the empty waiting room. When he looked back at her his eyebrows were raised in exaggerated surprise.

“I can see how busy you are. So busy that I guess you wouldn’t have time for a coffee with me? But I know the surgery doesn’t officially open until nine, and Lalli’s has opened early for the workers, so I’m sure you can spare a few minutes.”

“No, I actually don’t have the time.”

She made no effort to soften the refusal, and she thought his eyes hardened, although his smile stayed in place. Unfortunately, instead of leaving, as she’d hoped, he actually had the temerity to come over and plunk his skinny bum on the corner of her desk.

“Come on, now. All work and no play makes for a less than harmonious life.”

Harmony just barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes at his heavy-handed banter. “I really have to get on with my job, Mr. Thompson. Was there anything else you wanted?”

He leaned forward, almost in her space, but Harmony held her ground, clenching her teeth as his gaze dropped to the front of her shirt again.

“Well…”

He let the word trail off suggestively, and Harmony narrowed her eyes. If this twit thought she was going to put up with any of his nonsense let him try her! She was ready.

“Broderick. Not lending a hand outside?”

Cam had come in through the back so quietly neither of them heard him. Harmony jumped with surprise, and when a wave of embarrassed heat rose in her chest she berated herself for it.

She wasn’t doing anything wrong.

Broderick Thompson got up and stretched. “Just came in for the First Aid kit. Dora sent me.”

Lying creep, Harmony thought, furious enough to want to smack him over the head with the kit once she’d fetched it from the store room. Instead she placed it on the desk, doing her best not to glare.

He picked it up, and gave her another of his smarmy smiles.

“So, what time for coffee later?”

Behind her she heard Cam’s office door open, but his footsteps stopped. She knew he was listening, and the thought of him believing she’d go out with Broderick Thompson made her more curt than perhaps she should be.

“I already told you no, Mr. Thompson, and I tried to be polite about it too. If you’d prefer I be rude, ask again.”

Broderick’s cheeks reddened, but to his credit he just shook his head as he picked up the kit and said, “Can’t blame a chap for trying. See you both later.”

She restrained the urge to make a rude noise as the door closed behind her, but it was hard not to kiss her teeth. Very aware of Cam, still standing by his door, she reached for the supply list on her desk, intent getting on with the audit she’d put at the top of her day’s to-do list. He’d explained that he usually put in a big order for a number of medical necessities just before the festival, in case they were needed, but much of it lasted the rest of the year.

“Whoa,” he said, and the amusement in his voice made her want to blush all over again. “Remind me not to rile you up.”

With her nose in the air she swept past him, on her way to the medical stores.

“I think it’s be almost inevitable that you will at some point,” she retorted, before she could stop herself.

The sound of his laughter smoothed the last of her ruffled feathers and she found herself smiling too as she set to work.

Cam was still chuckling to himself as he sat at his desk to switch on his computer.

Originally he’d come down to see if the noise of the arriving equipment had woken Harmony, and to tell her to take part of the afternoon off since she’d started so early. He truly loved this time of year, despite the stress of putting on the festival, but his excitement had shriveled on finding Broderick Thompson leaning close to Harmony, as though about to kiss her.

Her guilty start when he’d spoken had made the rest of his good humor flee, but hearing her give the other man that set-down had restored it. Clearly she had the good sense to see through that Lothario.

Even though Broderick ran a profitable business at the gallery, somehow acquiring really good artwork and having successful yearly exhibitions, he was a bit of a menace otherwise. The women on the island who had known him longest had learned of his wandering eyes over time, but to him every new arrival was fair game.

Cam wasn’t surprised he’d tried it on with Harmony, but her clear and cutting refusal had been a thing of beauty.

Would she do the same to him, should he try to kiss her?

He realized he wanted to—badly. Every movement of her lips, whether they were smiling, pursed, or speaking, made him want to taste them.

And he wanted to know what she’d feel like in his arms. Those amazing curves snuggled against him, her arms around his neck, his mouth on that long, lovely throat.

Or anywhere else on her body she’d let him get at.

Arousal hit him, heating his blood. Shifting in his seat, he tried to banish the vision of a naked Harmony from his mind, so as to not cause himself any more discomfort. For goodness’ sakes—what was he? Fifteen? Getting turned on just daydreaming over a woman he hardly knew?

Mind you, Harmony would make any red-blooded man think dirty thoughts.

And she made him completely forget what he was supposed to be doing—like actually turning on his computer instead of starting blindly at the still blank screen.

Hitting the switch, he waited for the machine to boot up.

The physical attraction would be so much easier to quell if he didn’t actually like her so much. Yes, she was fussy, and bossy, and on a couple of occasions she had reminded him of why he preferred a single life by giving him one of those “oh, really?” glances that activated his stubborn independent streak. But none of that negated his very real desire to get to know her better.

Much better.

Intimately, even.

She was his employee, though. Temporary, but on his payroll nonetheless. Professionalism dictated that he not get involved with her, no matter how short a time she was supposed to be on the island. Besides, there was an innate danger in getting too close to a woman like Harmony, even for a little while. She had the kind of forever vibe he assiduously avoided.

He might be an adrenaline junkie, but forever was one heart-stopping trip he didn’t want to go on. Not when it would mean changing the life he enjoyed so much, and having someone else to consider every time he wanted to make a decision.

His childhood, stunted by his mother’s fear over his diabetes and his own need to allay her panic, had made him recognize his need to be free of those types of entanglements. Even now, when he was speaking to his mother on the phone, he omitted telling her too much, knowing she’d be frightened to hear about his adventures. That was about enough of an emotional burden as he could manage.

The computer beeped, the cursor flashed, waiting for him to put in his password. Doing so absently, Cam found himself remembering Harmony’s sadness when she’d spoken about how much she missed her grandmother.

He understood, completely. The first Christmas after Grand-Da died had been the hardest of Cam’s life. Only the fellowship of the islanders, who missed the old man as much as Cam did, had eased the pain. It was a shame Harmony and her mother wouldn’t be together to remember the old lady and all the good times the three had shared.

Then he frowned as the first notification to pop up on his screen was an email from Dora entitled To-Do List.

“Really?” he muttered to himself. “Don’t you think that after four years I know what needs to be done?”

Yet still he opened it, and sat running through the various points until the phone rang.

Since Harmony was in the back, he called out, “I’ve got it!” and picked up the receiver.

“Cam MacRurie speaking.”

“Cam? Are you coming by today?”

“Hello, Hillary,” he said, noting the strain in the woman’s voice. “Is everything all right?”

“Oh, yes, of course. I just wondered…”

“My new nurse, Harmony, is scheduled to come out and see you, Hill,” he said gently. “Will that be okay with you?”

“Oh, yes, of course,” she replied, and the automatic answer told him more than her words. “It’s just that I don’t know her. How will I know it’s her? And I haven’t had a chance to tidy up…”

“Don’t worry about it, Hill. I’ll come out with her and introduce her properly. That way next time you’ll know who it is. Will that suit?”

“I… I…”

She faltered, and Cam waited, guessing she was trying to gather her thoughts.

“So you’ll come, then?”

“Yes, Hill. I will.” He infused as much of a soothing tone into his voice as he could. “I’ll see you in a little while.”

“Thank you.” The relief in her voice was patent. “Thank you, Cam.”

After he’d hung up the phone, Harmony, who’d come to the door, asked, “Her anxiety getting the best of her?”

Cam nodded, pleased that she’d picked up on that from the file. Hillary Carstairs had been born with spina bifida, yet had lived life to the fullest, getting around with leg braces and a cane until her later years. She had two children, one of whom still lived at home and helped his father on the farm.

Now confined to a wheelchair, Hill had developed agoraphobia and an anxiety disorder, which made her increasingly isolated. He’d prescribed antianxiety medication, which she’d refused to take, and offered to refer her to a specialist, but again she’d refused—perhaps because of having to go to the mainland for appointments.

It was at times like this when Cam felt the restrictive nature of the island keenly, and chafed at not being able to provide what was necessary.

“I’ll ride out with you,” he said to Harmony. “It’ll allay some of her stress, and hopefully she’ll be okay with you coming alone the next time.”

“Okay, but it seems a shame to interrupt your day that way. No doubt you have scads of stuff to do.”

Cam happily closed the email from Dora and grinned. “It’s not an issue. Hill’s health is the most important.”

Besides, Hillary and Gavin’s farm was in one of his favorite parts of the island, and showing it to Harmony suddenly seemed like a great idea. In fact, there was nothing he’d like more—although why that was wasn’t something he wanted to think about too deeply.

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE CARSTAIRS’ FARMHOUSE was filled with the evidence of Hillary’s weaving business, although Harmony had seen no sign of the alpacas when they drove up, which was disappointing.

Hillary Carstairs was stressed and apologetic, but Harmony was adept at handling patients with anxiety disorders, and had her calmed down in a fairly short time. Hillary even agreed to allow Harmony to do her examination and change her catheter.

“Everything looks good,” Harmony told the older lady as she helped her back into her wheelchair. “But I see from your chart that you’ve refused treatment for your anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. May I ask why?”

Hillary’s eyes shifted away and she knotted her fingers together. For a moment Harmony thought she didn’t intend to answer. When she finally spoke there was an air of surrender in the words.

“I’ve been poked and prodded and I’ve taken medication my entire life. Why would I add even more? Besides, going anywhere in this contraption takes so much effort. It’s not fair to Gav.”

Harmony tweaked the ends of Hillary’s skirt so it lay flat, thinking through her answer before saying, “You realize what an anomaly you are, right?”

Hillary frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you’ve lived to be in your sixties with spina bifida. Had two children and a full life. It’s only in the last few decades that spina bifida has been considered something other than a childhood disorder, since people diagnosed with it weren’t expected to live very long. Why give up now?”

Hillary shrugged, but she was obviously listening, her gaze steady on Harmony’s face, so she continued speaking.

“You already have some limitations placed on you by your disorder. Why not deal with what you can, so you can continue enjoying your life to its fullest?”

There was no reply, but as Harmony packed up her kit she left it at that, hoping she’d given her patient some food for thought.

They left the bedroom and found Cam and Gavin, Hillary’s husband, in the large farmhouse kitchen, leaning on the counter, sipping from teacups.

Gavin was a short, stocky redhead with an infectious grin, who asked, “All right, then, love?”

“Yes,” Hillary said, smiling back at him. “Everything is fine.”

But Harmony found herself the recipient of a piercing interrogatory glance from Gavin, who only visibly relaxed when Harmony nodded her agreement.

“Good, good… Want a cup of tea, ladies?”

At their affirmative responses he set about pouring cups for them from the pot, while a black-and-white collie came over to say hello to Harmony. She bent to pet it, getting a lovely cold nose in her neck and a couple of licks before the dog slunk off in typical collie style to flop down on a cushion in front of the fireplace.

Gavin said, “I was just telling Cam that I’ve moved the flock up to the old croft, which is why they weren’t hanging over the fence watching to see who was arriving.”

“They’re a nosy lot,” Hillary said. “I miss seeing them when I look out the window.”

“I was hoping to get a glimpse of them when we arrived,” Harmony said, adding a murmur of thanks as she took the cup from Gavin.

“Cam can take you up to get a look,” he replied, turning to Cam as he continued. “Take the four-wheeler.”

“I will,” said Cam.

“Oh, that’s not necessary,” Harmony said, at the same time.

Cam laughed. “I think it’s a grand idea. And, if you don’t mind, I’d like to show her Ada Tor.”

“Go right ahead,” Gavin replied, resting his hand on his wife’s shoulder as he passed. “I don’t need the UTV again until later this evening.”

Everyone else looked pleased as punch at this idea, and Harmony realized she’d look churlish and ungrateful by refusing, so she plastered a smile on her face. But she wondered what kind of vehicle it was they’d be taking, what kind of terrain they’d be traversing, and if any of this was safe.

She got her answer after they’d finished their tea. While she stowed her bag in True Blue, Cam and Gavin went into the barn. After a short time there was the clatter of an engine, which sounded like a large lawn mower, and a small four-wheeled vehicle came stuttering out. It had two seats, a flatbed in the back, no doors, and it bumped across the farmyard as though it had a complete lack of shocks.

Filled with trepidation, she cautiously approached as Cam brought it to a halt nearby.

At least it probably couldn’t go very fast, she thought as she got in.

But with the way Cam drove it over the rutted tracks it might as well have been a race car. Even terrified half out of her wits, and hanging on for dear life, Harmony had to admit he handled the little vehicle well, with the kind of casual capability she couldn’t help but admire.

When they got to a gate she got out rather shakily to open it, and then closed it behind the UTV once he’d driven it through.

“All right, there?” he asked with a grin as she got back in, before setting off again after her curt nod.

The land undulated, but Harmony got the sense they were going more uphill than down—a supposition that was proved as they went around a rise and she looked back to see the farmhouse below them. Ahead in the distance was a stone building, and even farther away what looked like a jumble of boulders all piled up together.

At the sound of the UTV, the alpacas came moseying out, and Harmony couldn’t stop her little squeak of pleasure on seeing their cute, curious faces. Cam brought the vehicle to a halt and Harmony got out for a closer look.

The alpacas kept their distance, with the one in the front eyeing her suspiciously. As she got closer to the fence it huffed, and she stopped.

Cam came up beside her and pointed. “That’s Sandro—the male. He’s pretty protective of his flock. Not much of a spitter, according to Gav, but I wouldn’t chance going much closer when his ears are flat like that.”

“I was hoping to pet one,” Harmony replied. “They look so soft…”

“Got their winter coats on,” he replied, and she saw him looking at her out of the corner of her eye. “You really like animals, don’t you?”

“I do. Gran had a little scruffy dog for years, and he and I were best buds. She didn’t want to get another after Hobo died, and I was so busy I didn’t think I’d have enough time to care for an animal myself, but recently I’ve really been thinking about getting a pet soon.” It was her turn to look at him, now, wanting to see what his expression told her as she asked, “Don’t you like animals?”