About the Authors

SUE MACKAY lives with her husband in New Zealand’s beautiful Marlborough Sounds, with the water on her doorstep and the birds and the trees at her back door. It is the perfect setting to indulge her passions of entertaining friends by cooking them sumptuous meals, drinking fabulous wine, going for hill walks or kayaking around the bay—and, of course, writing stories.

TRACI DOUGLASS is a USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her stories feature sizzling heroes full of dark humour, quick wit and major attitude, and heroines who are smart, tenacious and always give as good as they get. She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, and she loves animals, chocolate, coffee, hot British actors and sarcasm—not necessarily in that order.

Also by Sue MacKay

Resisting Her Army Doc Rival

Pregnant with the Boss’s Baby

Falling for Her Fake Fiancé

Her New Year Baby Surprise

Baby Miracle in the ER

Surprise Twins for the Surgeon

ER Doc’s Forever Gift

The Italian Surgeon’s Secret Baby

Redeeming Her Brooding Surgeon

Taking a Chance on the Single Dad

Also by Traci Douglass

One Night with the Army Doc

Finding Her Forever Family

A Mistletoe Kiss for the Single Dad

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

The Nurse’s Twin Surprise & A Weekend with Her Fake Fiancé

Sue MacKay and Traci Douglass

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90211-7

THE NURSE’S TWIN SURPRISE & A WEEKEND WITH HER FAKE FIANCÉ

The Nurse’s Twin Surprise © 2019 Sue MacKay A Weekend with Her Fake Fiancé © 2019 Traci Douglass

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

Version: 2020-03-02

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Table of Contents

Cover

About the Authors

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

The Nurse’s Twin Surprise

Back Cover Text

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A Weekend with Her Fake Fiancé

Back Cover Text

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

About the Publisher

The Nurse’s Twin Surprise

Sue MacKay

Will this new beginning…

…lead to her forever family?

ER nurse Molly O’Keefe is starting over! But she isn’t ready to let sexy Dr. Nathan Lupton into her life. Still reeling from her painful past, Molly isn’t sure she can trust her feelings—especially as Nathan wants a family she may not be able to give him. But then their irresistible temptation spills over—and results in a double baby surprise that could bond them together forever!

CHAPTER ONE

FAKE IT TILL you make it.

Yes, sure. So easy. She did it all the time.

Try harder. Remember yesterday’s courier delivery.

The final lock had been undone. She was free. Single again. Two years of waiting for the legal process to finally be over. Today was the first day of the rest of her life, and it was going to be a doozy.

That was once she worked out how to proceed with a newer, wiser, not so damned cautious version of herself that yesterday’s delivery must shut the door on. Those baby steps she’d been making were fine, but the time had come to stride out, head high, wearing a ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude. Starting now.

Molly O’Keefe pasted on a facsimile of a smile and turned to glare into Mr Nathan Lupton’s eyes. And gasped. Those burnt-coffee eyes were spitting tacks. At her?

‘What’s wrong?’

That’s your idea of don’t mess with me? Try again.

‘That phone call. Something I need to know?’

‘I’ve just spent valuable time ringing round to put specialists on alert at five-thirty in the morning for a patient who’s now been taken to another ED.’ His hands gripped his hips.

‘The man found lying by the train tracks?’ Surely not even he was blaming her? They weren’t friends, but this was ridiculous. The thumping starting up in her chest was deafening. No, he wouldn’t be, but he was angry.

Not at me. I can handle this.

Really?

Absolutely. Fake it till—

Yeah, yeah, she knew that line back to front. Still needed some practice, that was all. Beginning right now.

‘I wonder why the ambulance was redirected to another hospital when we’re closest.’

Nathan was staring at her, though she wasn’t certain he was actually seeing her. ‘That’s something I intend finding out. It’s not happening again.’ He was still angry. Who could blame him when they’d been flat out busy when the initial call had come through? So much for the patients tapering off in the early hours. ‘Shouldn’t you be keeping an eye on Archie Banks?’ he barked.

Odd how on her first day in Sydney General’s emergency department when he’d growled at her to get the defib, which she’d already been in the process of wheeling towards the Resus unit, she hadn’t been afraid of him. Mightn’t like him much, though to be fair she didn’t know him except as a doctor, but she was never on guard around him or ever felt threatened by his grumpiness. Which said a lot. She’d think about that later. Right now an answer was required to placate him, because placating kept everyone happy—except maybe her—but it was an old habit she’d still not managed to dump. Game face, girl. Duh. Two seconds and her promise to herself had flown the coop.

‘I was coming to see if you’d take another look at him. His pain level is increasing, not decreasing.’ Nathan had administered a strong dose of painkiller forty minutes ago.

The anger softened. Of course it did. From what she’d seen around here Nathan adored children. ‘Anything from the lab yet?’

‘No, and I’ve only just checked,’ she added hastily, raising one of her grandmother’s glares in case he found fault with her. Another sign she might be getting her act together.

Dark eyebrows rose in that annoying manner of his that inexplicably riled her beyond reason. Then he swallowed and pulled up a smile. ‘Sorry. It wasn’t your fault the man was taken elsewhere after I’ve been chasing my tail preparing for his arrival.’

It wasn’t the greatest of apologies, but he had tried, and that was unexpected. ‘No problem.’ None he need know about. She had a list of them, but nothing to do with work. This was her safe place. ‘Archie?’

‘On my way.’ He strode off, his back ramrod straight, his jaw jutting out, yet she’d swear some of his tension had eased.

‘Good girl, not letting him rile you.’ Vicki nudged her, and brought her back to focusing on anything other than Mr Lupton.

‘You think?’ she asked around a tight laugh, her eyes still taking in the sight of Nathan despite trying to concentrate on what Vicki had to say.

‘I do.’ Her fellow nurse was also watching Nathan, now heading into a cubicle, and there was a thoughtful tone to her next question that unsettled Molly. ‘Still coming to breakfast?’

‘Wouldn’t miss it for anything.’ She meant every word, even after struggling with a strong reluctance to socialise and get too comfortable when she half expected to be nudged out of the way by people who wanted more from her than she was prepared to share. She had initially hesitated about accepting the invitation, then decided to give it a go. After all, Vicki had been friendly and helpful since she’d begun working in here two months ago.

A flicker of excitement warmed her. Look where faking it got her. Right into the middle of her colleagues, whose good intentions had brought her close to tears on occasion, even when she didn’t trust them enough to give back anything of herself. Getting out and about with this crowd might go some way to fixing the loneliness that filled her days and nights. Not being a team player had come at a price, one that needed to be dealt with if she was to be happy again.

‘Molly? Can you come here, please?’ Nathan had reappeared in the cubicle doorway, back to being calm and efficient.

Molly looked at the man and, hiding the uncertainty he created in her belly, nodded. ‘Need the phlebotomy kit?’ Her voice had returned to non-confrontational, Gran’s glare long gone. Situation normal. Previous normal. Lifting her shoulders, she reached for the bag of needles and tubes.

Nathan’s smile might be reluctant, but it actually seemed genuine. Meaning it was further unsettling. ‘Yes. I want liver functions done while we wait for the orderly to collect him.’

The boy, recovering from an appendicectomy last week, was back with pains in his gut and chest. Nathan suspected septicaemia and had started him on an array of intravenous antibiotics. They were now waiting for the children’s ward to collect him.

In the cubicle, she said, ‘Hey, Archie, I’m going to find you some dry pyjamas after I’ve cleaned you up.’ With the fever drenching him continually, the boy needed regular wiping down.

Archie was eyeing the kit with trepidation. No hiding what was coming from this kid. ‘I don’t want another needle.’

‘It’s annoying, isn’t it?’ Nathan said as he slid the tourniquet up the boy’s thin arm. ‘You’ll be able to tell all your friends how brave you are.’

Molly sponged Archie’s legs, in an attempt to distract him. ‘I hope you’re not ticklish.’ Not that she intended tickling him when Nathan was about to slide a needle into a vein. That would be taking distraction to the next level.

‘Mum tickles me.’ Archie’s eyes were on Nathan, apprehension blinking out of his big eyes.

‘There, all done.’ Moments later Nathan handed her the tube of blood to name and date. ‘Mark it urgent.’

‘Right.’ She headed for the hub to call for an orderly to take the blood sample to the lab.

Nathan had followed her. ‘How’re you settling in with us?’

‘Fine.’ I hope. ‘I really like the job, and the people I work with.’ Had she done something wrong he was about to mention? Wasn’t she good enough at her work? The usual worry over making herself stand out began chugging through her mind.

‘Good. We don’t like swapping staff too often.’ Then, ‘So what do you do when you’re not here?’ Nathan was being friendly? Abnormally friendly, since he wasn’t known for idle chitchat.

How to answer without giving herself away? ‘There’s always heaps of things needing attention where I live and people to check up on and shopping at the mall.’ Drivel spilled over her lips. ‘And I like going for walks.’ Definitely faking it. She rarely left the apartment other than to come to work.

He was regarding her like he was sorry he’d asked. Good, then he wouldn’t find any more questions for her. Wrong. ‘Sounds like your evenings are free so you’ll have time to come to our midwinter Christmas barbecue.’ Nathan was talking about the out of season party some Aussies celebrated that had come about because of English people living in Australia who missed a cold Christmas. He tapped a sheet of paper lying on the desk. ‘I don’t see your name here.’

That was because she had no intention of going. She wasn’t ready for that level of integration. An hour over breakfast was one thing, a full-on party quite another. Thought I was starting over, now that I’m free. ‘I haven’t thought about it.’ What excuse could she come up with? She tried to read the shift roster behind Nathan, but he was blocking her line of vision.

‘It’s a fortnight away but I like to know who’s coming well in advance. Bring a plate and your own alcohol. Meat provided.’ He was pointing a pen over his shoulder. ‘You’re not working that night.’

There went that excuse for not going. Little did he know about how hard it was for her to go anywhere that was attended by lots of people.

He hadn’t finished. ‘I encourage all the staff to join in. It’s good for morale, amongst other things.’

New beginnings, remember? Deep breath. Go for it. Taking the pen from his fingers, mindful of not touching him, Molly scrawled her name beneath Vicki’s and added Dessert next to it. ‘There. Done.’ And she hadn’t stopped too long to think about it. Definitely a first.

‘Good.’ His tone didn’t back his reply. Those toast-coloured eyes were focused on her as though she was a mystery he was trying to unravel. She’d probably surprised him by giving in so quickly when it was well known she didn’t go out with any of the staff to movies or breakfasts.

Amazed at how easily she’d signed up, she stood absorbing the slow wave of excitement rolling through her. She could do this. She really, really could. ‘Where’s the barbecue being held?’

‘At my place out in Coogee.’ He picked up a patient file and began reading the notes. Dark blond hair fell over his brow, making her itch to push it back in place.

‘Oh.’ The heavy pounding in her chest had returned, and her mouth began drying up like an overbaked sponge. Why hadn’t she noticed before that Nathan was disgustingly good looking? Probably her massive hang-up about getting close to men had kept the blinkers on until today, when she’d made the promise to move on, get a life. Did that mean finding love? Thump, thump, thump. It couldn’t. That’d be going too far, too soon. Molly had learned Paul’s lessons well. An absolute charmer, he’d sworn his undying love for her and wooed her completely. One year into their marriage the real Paul had come to light when he’d started hitting her whenever she’d disagreed with him, which was a sure-fire way of making her keep her mouth shut. Suddenly noticing Nathan as more than a doctor was scary. Wasn’t it?

‘Problem with that?’ Nathan asked without looking up.

‘Hell, yes.’ She wasn’t ready. It was too soon—wasn’t part of the plan to move on.

Puzzlement blinked out at her. ‘Why? It’s usual to go to someone’s house for a party.’

Embarrassment rose. She’d answered her question to herself out loud. This man was rattling her, which made no sense when, because of his self-assurance, she’d pretty much ignored him in the two months she’d worked here, unless it was to discuss a patient or argue over small things, like where the order for more syringes had got to. It’d been years since desire had lit her up, but if this tightness in her stomach and heat in her veins were any indication, she might be making up for lost time right now, in the middle of the ED. ‘Um, of course. I didn’t mean that. It’s fine. I’ll be there.’

The alarm sounded. Code one. Relief had her racing to Resus and the man sprawled on the floor, unconscious.

‘Cardiac arrest,’ Vicki said, her clasped hands pushing down regularly on the exposed chest.

Molly grabbed the electro pads, handed them to Nathan, who was right behind her. Next she snatched up the ventilator in preparation of a good outcome before kneeling down next to him.

‘Fill us in on the details,’ Nathan said as he prepared to administer a shock.

‘Geoff Baxter, forty-eight, chest pains, readings show a minor cardiac arrest an hour ago,’ Vicki intoned. ‘He was getting stroppy and didn’t want to stay on the bed. Started getting up and collapsed on the floor.’

‘Clear.’

On Nathan’s command everyone moved away from the patient. The lifeless body jerked. The line on the monitor remained flat. Vicki started back on the compressions and Molly squeezed the oxygen bottle when she reached thirty.

‘Clear.’ Nathan gave a second shock.

The line blipped, rose, then fell into an erratic pattern.

‘That’s better,’ Molly nodded. ‘Not perfect, but we’re getting there.’ She put the ventilator aside and got up to get the scoop stretcher so they could lift the man off the floor and back onto the bed.

Another nurse, Hank, attached an oxygen mask, then began wiping a bleeding abrasion on Geoff’s forehead. ‘He hit the floor hard.’

Nathan leaned close to the man. ‘Geoff, can you hear me?’

Geoff opened his eyes briefly.

‘You’ve had a cardiac arrest. We’re going to keep you in here for a while, then you’ll be admitted to the intensive care unit.’

Geoff shook his head once. ‘No.’

‘That’ll be a yes, then.’ Nathan gave one of his megawatt smiles.

Molly’s stomach stirred, and he hadn’t even been looking in her direction. He’d often smiled at her, particularly whenever he’d wanted something unpleasant dealt with, but not in that full-on, cramp-her-stomach way he saved for others. Not that she’d given him reason to. Unless working hard and caring deeply about their patients counted, and apparently it didn’t. That was expected of her, no reward given—or required.

Would a man ever again look at her and think, She’s lovely? One without hard fists? Did she want a man to notice her, get to know her? This new idea had to be part of moving forward, didn’t it? It was funny how in a previous, happy-go-lucky life she’d had her pick of gorgeous men, never had a problem finding a date for the glamorous occasions that came with being her entrepreneurial mother’s daughter. Not funny, really. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw no one to frighten her. Not that she expected to, but there were still times she just had to check, even though Paul would be in jail for many years to come. She’d lost a lot, but she was free.

Hold on to that. And, yes, think about maybe one day falling love.

Vicki nudged her. ‘Time to knock off, day shift’s here.’

Another night done and survived without too much drama amongst the patients. She could relax, except her muscles weren’t playing the game. The old tension tightened her stomach and neck, while her shoulder blades tried to meet in the middle of her back. Because of the past? Or did she put this down to the rare heat in her veins, stirred up by Nathan Lupton? Yeah, like that’d be a blast. It might be. As if. He’d have to get a lot friendlier first, though he had made an effort earlier. Were things looking up all round? Smiling at Vicki, she asked, ‘Which shoes are you wearing this morning?’

‘Those orange, thin-strapped ones you were green about last week.’ Vicki was a shoeaholic, with an incredible collection that made Molly envious—and that was only over the shoes she’d seen at work.

Molly laughed. Twice in one morning? Go for it. ‘Clothes are my go to when the urge to have some R and R in the malls beckons. Shoes always come second. Maybe I should try the shoe shops first next time because those ones are amazing. When you’re sick of them you know which locker’s mine,’ she said. ‘Let’s go change.’ As well as her trousers and blouse, she needed to put her game face on.

Nathan turned from the specialist taking over Geoff’s case. ‘You all right?’

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ There were a million reasons, but he knew none of them, and never would.

‘Because you look ready to bolt.’

Make that one million minus one reasons. Except this morning that had been the last thing on her mind. Disconcerting. She’d been laughing and he’d thought that? She hated that nearly as much as she’d hate him to see the truth. ‘Actually, I’m working on how to nab Vicki’s shoes without her noticing.’

His expression softened. ‘Good luck with that.’

‘I reckon.’ Unbelievable. They were having a normal conversation for once.

‘By the way, you were good with Geoff.’

Surprise stole the retort off her tongue. She hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary, and yet he was saying that in front of the other nurses? She looked around at Vicki, then Hank, before locking eyes back on Nathan.

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?’

The serviette was scrunched into a ball and dropped back on the table. ‘No kids,’ he muttered and looked away.

Back to upsetting him. She didn’t know what to say for fear of further annoying him. Time to talk to someone else. Leaning forward, she eyeballed Emma across the table. ‘When do you head over to Queenstown?’ The intern was going to New Zealand’s winter festival.

‘Thursday. I can’t wait. Have you been?’

‘Years ago. It’s an amazing event in an extraordinary location.’

Nathan wasn’t going to be ignored. ‘Did you go on the jet boat?’

‘Of course.’

‘You’re obviously into speed.’ When he smiled his whole face lit up in a way she rarely saw.

‘I guess I am. Not that I’ve done anything extreme. Nor will I be. Safe and sensible is me.’

‘Nothing wrong with that.’ Nathan was watching her in a way that suggested he wanted to know more about what made her tick outside work. But he waited, didn’t push.

Which had her opening up a little. ‘I liked my sports, sailing on large yachts, going to rock concerts, things like that.’

‘Liked?’ he asked quietly. ‘Not any more?’

Thump. Reality check. Hurrying to deflect him, she spluttered, ‘Still like, but I don’t seem to find the time any more. Neither do I know anyone in Sydney with a yacht the size I’m used to.’ Actually, she did, but that family was part of the past, so she wasn’t paying them a visit any time soon. In fact, never.

‘I don’t suppose a three-metre Paper Tiger would suffice?’ Nathan wasn’t laughing at her, just keeping the conversation going on a comfortable level, like he was trying to stop her tripping into the black hole that was her past. He couldn’t be. He knew nothing about it. ‘My brother-in-law’s got one.’

A laugh huffed across her lips, surprising her. ‘Me? Actually sail a small yacht? I don’t think so. I’d probably fall off or drop the sail at the wrong moment.’

‘All part of learning to sail.’ He grinned, then told her about his misadventures on his surfboard.

Nearly an hour later people had finished eating, and were beginning to gather their gear together.

‘Guess it’s time to head away,’ Molly said reluctantly. It had been fun talking and laughing with everyone, but especially with Nathan. He was different away from work, more at ease with her somehow, talking about Queenstown, his car, and other things. He even laughed and smiled often. He was a man she liked and wanted to spend more time learning more about.

Nathan leaned closer, said quietly, ‘Feel like a ride in my car?’ There was a cheeky smile on that divine mouth, and something in his eyes that asked if she was up to it. ‘I can drop you home.’

Molly’s mouth dropped open. She snapped it closed. Then spluttered, ‘That’s not necessary. I’m fine with the train.’

Across the table Vicki rolled her hand from side to side. ‘Train or top-of-the-range sports car. I know which I’d prefer.’

So did she. Except the car meant being squashed into a confined space with a man. Not just any man. Nathan. Standing up, she said, oh, so casually, ‘It’s a long way to Bondi Junction.’

‘It’s on my way. I live in Coogee.’ When she raised her eyebrows, he continued in a voice that suggested he was determined she’d go with him, ‘I didn’t even finish one glass of champagne so you don’t have to worry about my driving.’

‘I wasn’t.’

Nathan shrugged. ‘Let’s fix our bills and get the car.’

‘Nathan, you don’t have to do this.’ At least he hadn’t offered to pay for her meal. Thank goodness for something, because she’d have argued hotly. Paying her own way meant never owing anyone anything. Her stomach was doing a squeeze and release thing, while her head spun with the thought she’d be crammed into a car with a male she didn’t know very well. With Nathan Lupton, sex on legs, kindness in his heart and, don’t forget, someone who was quick to get grumpy with her, but who she trusted not to hurt her.

‘You said you like fast cars.’

True. She couldn’t contain the smile splitting her face. Her first car had been a racy little number bought by her mother for her eighteenth birthday. She’d loved it. ‘But you can’t get up any speed between here and my apartment.’

‘Now, there’s a challenge.’ He smiled back and flipped a coin in the air, caught it and laughed.

Nathan watched the conflicting emotions zipping across Molly’s face and damned if they didn’t make him want to spend more time with her, not to prove he could win her over but because he just might like her. The challenge was heating up. Though not in the way he’d intended. The offer of a ride home was because on and off throughout breakfast he’d warmed to her more and more, therefore he didn’t want the morning to end.

Today Molly intrigued him. He was not walking away. Nope. The genuine happiness lightening her gaze throughout breakfast had stirred him in places usually unaffected by other people, and had him wishing for more, had him remembering he’d once had a heart and thinking he just might like to get it back—if he could find the courage. She’d be a keeper, if he wanted to get involved, and that was the problem. He didn’t. Here was the rub. He might be ready to start dating on a regular basis but the thought of anything permanent still freaked him out. To fall in love and have his heart torn out of his chest a second time was unimaginable.

‘Ready when you are.’ The smile lifting the enticing corners of Molly’s soft mouth was real, and not that strained, ‘smile if I absolutely have to’ version she was so good at. Seemed she’d quite quickly got over trying to talk him out of giving her a lift.

Because he wanted to believe Molly’s smile had been for him, he’d risk being hit over the head by teasing her. ‘You could seem more excited.’

‘Sure.’ She leaned in to give Vicki a hug. ‘Happy birthday. If you need some company later, give me a call.’

Vicki’s eyes lit up. ‘I might just do that. Shoe shopping comes to mind.’

Molly was looking surprised about something. It wouldn’t be shoes. Everyone knew of Vicki’s fetish for footwear. Something else had put the stunned look on her face.

‘You could do worse than hanging out with Vicki.’

She glanced down at her high-heeled, black-with-a-bow shoes. ‘I reckon.’ Then she looked back at him and shrugged, said with caution in her voice, ‘No time like now to get back into it.’

Get back into friendships? Again that protective need nudged, stronger this time. He felt certain something had gone amiss with Molly, something that kept her on edge and wary around her colleagues. ‘Vicki, you right for getting home?’

That cheeky grin flicked from him to Molly, then disappeared, unhappiness replacing it. ‘I’m fine.’

Only because his car was a two-seater, he nodded. ‘See you around three.’

‘You don’t have to coddle me because it’s my birthday. Anyway, I’m going shopping with Molly.’

‘Yes, I do.’ Or Cole would have his guts for guitar strings. ‘Shop as much as you like but be home when I get there.’

Molly eyed first him then Vicki, who gave her a big smile before heading out the door. ‘You two are close.’ Something strangely like envy darkened her voice.

‘Her husband’s been my best mate from years back when we were into surfing. We continued our friendship into med school, and never stopped since.’ Cole had been there for him in the darkest days. Taking Molly’s elbow, he kept his touch light when he longed to pull her closer and breathe in that rich fragrance that was her. Funny but he hadn’t realised how often he’d smelled it until now. She really was doing a number on him, and didn’t have a clue. Which was something to be grateful for. That, and not how he was spending time with her, breaking down the barrier she kept between them.

‘You don’t surf now?’ When she tilted her head back to stare up at him it was almost impossible not to reach across to tuck some wayward curls behind her ear.

Resisting required effort, so it took time to answer. ‘Occasionally I chase a wave out where I live but not as often as I used to. Cole joined the army and I broke an ankle. That didn’t prevent me getting back on the board once the bones mended, but around that time specialised study began taking up all my spare hours.’

What was left had been for Rosie. Rosie. His heart wavered. The love of his life. Nothing like Molly. Would he have taken a second look if she had been? It would be too strange.

Hang on. Second look? There’d been a third, fourth and more. He shivered, suddenly afraid of where this might lead. All the moisture in Nathan’s mouth dried up. He might be getting closer to stepping off the edge in the hope of finding that deep, loving happiness he’d once known, but what if it all went sour? Turned to dislike instead? Or worse, what if he fell in love with a woman he couldn’t make happy because of his past?

They reached his car. ‘What’s your address in Bondi Junction?’

‘I’ll put it in the GPS.’ Molly settled into the seat and buckled in. ‘I know the way, but let’s play it safe.’ Seemed she wanted to get there as soon as possible.

They didn’t talk on the way, but when he pulled up outside the apartment block Molly indicated, he said, ‘I’ll walk you to the entrance.’ The sooner the better. He needed to breathe air not laden with Molly’s scent, and to put space between them. Then drive away, windows lowered and music on loud. He needed to stop, think about what he was doing getting to know Molly, before it got out of hand.

‘That’s not necessary.’ She grabbed her bag from the floor and elbowed the door open, snatching up the hairbrush that had fallen out of her bag.

The door shut with a soft click, but Nathan was already moving around to join her on the pavement. ‘When I see someone home I go all the way.’

Her emerald eyes widened as something akin to laughter sparkled out at him. ‘We don’t know each other well enough for that.’

‘You know what I meant.’

That was not disappointment blinking out at him. It couldn’t be. Then Molly proved it wasn’t. ‘That’s a relief. I wasn’t a hundred percent sure what you were saying.’ Her eyes cleared, but there was a little twitching going on at the corners of her mouth.

Hell, he’d love to kiss that mouth. He needed to know if those lips were as soft and inviting as they looked. His upper body leaned forward without any input from his brain, but as he began to lift his arms, common sense stepped in. Molly would kick him where no man wanted a shoe if he followed through.

Stepping back, he looked around the area. The entrance was accessed immediately off the footpath where a bus stop was outlined. Nothing wrong in that, but it was so ordinary and Molly was anything but. He sighed, long and slow. It had nothing to do with him where she chose to live. This was getting out of hand. He was making up stuff without Molly saying a word. But he had to ask, ‘How long have you lived here?’

She was focused on a pebble, rolling it round on the pavement with the toe of one classy shoe, then, raising her head, she eyeballed him. ‘Since I moved to Sydney a year ago. I worked in a medical centre down the road while looking for a job in an emergency department anywhere in the city.’

‘I’d have thought there’d be plenty of opportunities in that time. You picky, or something?’ He added a smile to take the heat out of his question.

‘I got a job within weeks of starting at the medical centre, but a nurse I worked with came down with leptospirosis and when the manager asked me to stay on until she was back up to speed I didn’t feel I could let them down. They’d been nothing but good to me from day one.’

How many questions could he get away with? Pushing her wasn’t being fair, but he needed to learn more. Maybe the answers would dampen the ardour taking hold of him. ‘I’d have thought you’d move closer to the city, where the shops and nightclubs are.’

‘I like it out here.’ For the first time he heard doubt in her voice. ‘Neither do I mind the train trip. It doesn’t take long. Judging by the traffic the few times I’ve driven in, I think the train probably gets me there in less time than it takes you in that fancy car.’

True. ‘Where did you move from?’ So much for shutting up.

‘Adelaide. Before that, Perth.’ The pebble flicked across the path as she turned away. ‘I’m heading inside for some sleep. Thanks for bringing me home.’

His heart skittered. What was wrong with his last question? ‘Wait.’ What the hell for? Despite the tightening in his belly and groin brought on by those curves outlining her jacket and trousers, he had to let her go. He wasn’t ready for this. He’d bet Molly wasn’t either.

She paused to look over her shoulder. ‘Go home, Nathan. Get some sleep too. Being Friday, tonight’s bound to be hectic.’

Ignoring that, he said, ‘You want to come with me sometime when I take this…’ he waved at his car ‘…for a blast along the highway?’ What happened to not ready, and thinking things through? Damned if he knew, other than he wasn’t giving up that easily now that he’d started.

She stared at him as if he’d just asked her to fly to the moon in a toy box.

He waited, breath stalled between his lungs and his nostrils, hands tightening and loosening. What was the problem? He’d asked Molly to go for a spin, which meant sharing the small space and breathing her scent some more. No big deal. Yet it felt huge. It was a date. So what? About damned time. There’d been the occasional romp in the sack with women who understood that was all he was offering.

He knew instinctively that Molly would not want that with him. Then again, maybe she would, and he could have fun and walk away afterwards. Shock hit him in the gut. He didn’t want that with this woman. All or nothing. No half-measures. All had to be out of the question. She wasn’t his type. So it had to be nothing. About to withdraw his offer of a ride, he got a second shock.

Molly was grinning at him, and it was the most amazing sight. Beautiful became stunning, quiet became gorgeous and cheeky. ‘Only if I get a turn at the wheel.’

His heart must’ve stopped. Nothing was going on behind his ribs. His lungs had seized. It didn’t surprise him when his knees suddenly turned rubbery. How could he refuse her? Leaning back against the car to prevent landing in a heap on the damp asphalt, he asked, ‘You like driving fast?’ Fast and dangerous? He hadn’t thought dangerous would come into anything Molly did. She appeared too cautious. Appeared, right? Not necessarily correct.

‘Strictly safe and sensible, that’s me.’ The grin dipped.

Phew. He could get back on track, be the colleague who’d brought her home—and ignore the challenge he’d set himself. If only Molly’s mouth hadn’t flattened, because that got him wanting to make her smile again. ‘I promise I’ll be so safe you’ll want to poke me with needles.’ He straightened, took a tentative step and, when he didn’t fall over, began walking up to the main door, making sure Molly was with him.

He got no further than the entrance.

‘Thanks, again.’ Molly punched a set of numbers into the keypad.

‘I’ll see you to your apartment.’

‘I’m on the third floor. Think I can manage,’ she muttered. ‘See you tonight.’ The lock clicked and she nudged the wide door open. ‘I’m glad I went to breakfast. It was fun.’

Warmth stole across his skin and he had to refrain from reaching out to touch her. ‘Glad you came. Now, I’d better get going. I’ve got things to do before I pick Cole up from the airport.’

A frown appeared between those fall-into-them eyes. ‘I thought he wasn’t going to be around for her birthday.’

‘It’s a surprise. He managed to wangle a weekend’s leave. The rest of his contingent is on the way home via Darwin, while he’s coming direct from KL.’

‘There goes the shopping.’ Molly smiled. ‘She can’t work tonight.’

‘I organised that without letting slip what’s going on. I’ll tell her when I drop Cole off.’

‘Good on you. It’d be awful if she had to waste this opportunity of having time out with her man.’ Though filled with longing—for what, he had no idea—at least Molly’s sigh was better than her quiet, mousy look.

Not mousy. Not any more. Sauntering towards his car, he called over his shoulder, ‘See you tonight.’ Time to put distance between them before he did something silly, like ask why it had taken weeks for her to front up and socialise with the people she worked with. That would put a stop to getting closer.

Nathan remained beside his car until Molly went inside and the door had closed behind her. Then he got in and drove on to Coogee and his small piece of paradise, his mind busy with all things Molly. She’d tipped him sideways by wanting little to do with him.

Except go for a spin in this beast.

No matter what else came up, he’d find time to follow through on that. Hopefully this weekend, so he could get to spend time unravelling the façade Molly showed the world.

Don’t think that’s going to happen in a hurry.

Better remember to get her number tonight.

Pulling up at traffic lights, Nathan tapped the steering wheel in time to the rock number playing on the radio. A strident ringing from the passenger side of the car intruded. Leaning over, he fossicked around until his fingers closed over a phone. Had to be Molly’s. His finger hovered over the green circle, but of course he couldn’t answer it. If for no other reason than she’d kill him.

A smile slowly spread across his face. Now he had a reason to return to her apartment and speak to her, and get her phone number at the same time.

CHAPTER THREE

‘HOT DAMN.’

Molly leaned back against her apartment door as it clicked shut and tried not to think about Nathan. Like that was going to happen.

A grin spread across her face. What a morning. They’d gone from grumping to talking to smiling and then he’d driven her home and insisted on walking to the entrance with her. He’d have come up here if she’d let him.

She looked around the tiny space, smaller than Gran’s chicken coop, and sighed, glad he wasn’t seeing this. The shoddy apartment block would’ve already given him reason to wonder why a nurse on a reasonable wage would choose to live here. But it was ordinary, wouldn’t attract attention.

She kept the apartment simply furnished with the bare basics in an attempt to make the rooms feel larger. The polished wood furniture came from her grandmother’s cottage after Gran died. The furniture had lain in storage until Molly had moved to Adelaide and set up house on her own. The only good thing about Gran’s passing was that she didn’t get to hear she had been right about Paul. She would’ve gone after him with her sewing scissors.

No one came to the apartment. Lizzie, her best friend back in Perth, kept saying she’d visit but never managed to make it happen with her job taking her offshore for weeks at a time. Molly missed her more than anyone from her previous life. They’d done so much together, shared a lot of laughs and tears, always been there for one another. But, more important, Lizzie had believed her right from the beginning when she’d said Paul hit her, and she hated him almost as much as Molly did.

Paul Bollard. Nathan Lupton. They were nothing alike. One evil. The other caring. Both could be charming, strong, over-confident. That spooked her. Paul had wooed her as though she had been a princess, at first making her feel like one. Nathan confused her, sometimes making her cross and occasionally, especially this morning, all soft on the inside.

She huffed the air out of her lungs. Nathan wasn’t wooing her and, by the expressions that crossed his face at times, had no intention of doing so. Fine. With a hideous marriage behind her, the wedding ring long gone in the bin, as of this week she was single and wanting to trust and love again, but she was very, very cautious.

Going out to breakfast had been the best thing to happen to her in a long while. She worked with a great bunch, and from now on she’d attend every get-together anyone proposed. She’d also get involved with more than the charity shop. Fake it till she made it. This latest and final version of herself would not be the socialite of the past, or the cowering abused woman. Married two years, separated for two, now alone. If nothing else, she’d become more caring and understanding of other people. Mrs Molly Bollard was gone for ever.

In the kitchenette she filled the kettle for a cup of tea. Sleep would be elusive while her mind was going over the morning. Pride lifted her chest. She’d managed to fit in with her workmates to the point she’d relaxed enough to forget everything that had brought her to that point. So much so, she’d even managed to sing ‘Happy Birthday’. Now, there was a step in the right direction, and she mustn’t stop at that. There was a city out there to get to know, and if she was careful not to keep her distrust to the fore, she didn’t have to carry on being alone, could make friends in all facets of her life.

Did Nathan go to the meals every time the staff got together? She chuckled. He wouldn’t do the shopping expeditions. She mightn’t be fully ready for a partner or even a lover, but spending time over a meal with a man who laughed, grumped, looked out for others, could not be time wasted.

The doorbell chimed. Molly spun around. No one visited her. Bang went her heart. Crunch went her stomach.

Knock, knock. ‘Molly, it’s Nathan. I’ve got your phone.’

Relief prodded her towards the door. How had he managed to get inside and up to her floor without knowing the apartment number? Peering through the peephole, she got a grainy view of the man who’d driven her home.

‘Molly?’ That familiar irritation was back.

She opened the door. ‘Sorry to be a pain. It must’ve fallen out of my bag with my hairbrush.’

Nathan was watching her with that intensity that was more familiar than his smiles. ‘You had a call. That’s how I found it.’

‘A call?’ she asked. ‘Who from?’

He shrugged. ‘I didn’t look. Figured you’d be cross if I did.’

‘You bet,’ Molly admitted sheepishly as she checked out the caller ID. An unknown number. Her smile snapped off.

‘Problem?’

‘What?’ She shook her head and glanced up at Nathan to soak up the warmth in his gaze. ‘No. Wrong number probably.’ As far as she knew, Paul only had access to the prison phone and that number was definitely in her contacts file so she could ignore it if he tried to get in touch. Anyway, he’d stopped calling her after his guilty verdict. Though who knew what receiving the divorce notice might’ve done to his narcissistic brain. He hated losing control over her more than anything.

The kettle whistled. Molly glanced toward the kitchenette. ‘Thanks for this.’

Nathan stepped through the door. ‘You into minimalist?’

Closing her eyes, she counted to four. Nathan should have left, not come inside. Yet it didn’t feel wrong. More like it was okay for this man to be inside her home; as if she wanted him here. Which was so far out of left field she had to stop and look at him again. All she saw was the good-looking man who’d brought her home gazing around her apartment as if it was a normal thing to do. It probably was, for most people. That had to be in his favour. She was not thinking about the pool of heat in her stomach. Not, not, not. ‘I’m making tea. Do you want one?’ Ah, okay, maybe that heat was getting the upper hand.

He hesitated, his gaze still cruising her living room.

He was going to say no. She got in first. ‘It’s okay. You’ve got things to do before picking up Cole.’ She wanted to feel relieved, but it was disappointment settling over her.

‘Thought you’d never ask.’ His gaze had landed back on her. His hands were in his pockets, his stance relaxed, yet there was something uncertain about him, like he didn’t know if he was welcome. Nothing to make her afraid, more the opposite. If such a strong, confident man could feel unsure then he was more real, human—flawed in a good way. ‘White with one.’

Her disappointment was gone in a flash. Replaced by a sudden longing for another chance at love. Truly? Yes, truly. Still had to go slowly, though. Turning her back on him before she fell completely under his spell and screwed up big-time, she said, ‘Would you mind shutting the door? I don’t like leaving it open. Never know who might wander in.’

‘No problem.’ A moment later, ‘In case you’re wondering, it was the old lady three doors down who told me which door to knock on after I described you.’

‘I guess that goes with the territory.’ She’d have to talk to Mrs Porter about telling strangers which apartment was hers. Except Nathan stood in the middle of her tiny one-bed home, waiting for a mug of tea. Not a stranger. ‘Take a pew.’ She nodded at the pair of wooden chairs at her tiny, gleaming wooden dining table. Her mouth dried as he sat and stretched those endless legs half across the kitchenette.

‘Not a lot of space for a party, is there?’ He smiled.

She could get to like those smiles far too much. They warmed her in places that had been cold for a long time, places she’d held in lockdown for fear of making another hideous mistake. Reaching for the two mugs on the tiny shelf above the bench, she answered, ‘As partying wasn’t on my agenda when I needed a roof over my head, I’m not complaining. This suits me fine in that respect.’

He looked around again. ‘You’re not happy with your neighbour telling people where you live.’

‘I’m a bit circumspect about giving out personal info to any old body.’ Shut up. Too much information. She was not telling Nathan why she felt that way. Anyway, she needed to move on from all that. Paul was locked up. No one else wanted to hurt her.

Nathan was watching her, apparently casually, yet she’d swear he wasn’t missing a thing going on in her head. ‘I suppose you wouldn’t want just anyone turning up unannounced.’

She needed to be on guard around him. Always. ‘Exactly.’ Glancing around the room that had gone from tiny to minuscule the moment he’d entered, a flicker of yearning rose. Everything about her lifestyle since moving to Sydney had been average. Average suburb, average apartment, average car. Her job was a lot better than that, but the one at the medical centre had been on a par with the other things in her life. Nobody noticed average, which had been the intention. Except now she was restless.

‘I like it here, but it might be time to move somewhere more spacious, a place I can feel more connected. I come and go every day, along with everyone else in the apartment block, and all we ever do is nod and smile at each other.’ Once, that had been perfect. Now it seemed to roll out in front of her like an endless dark mat leading to a door going nowhere.

‘Where would you like to live?’

The phone rang, saving her from having to find an answer. The idea was new, and using Nathan as a sounding board would be stretching their new relationship a bit far. But then, this morning she’d have laughed if anyone had told her he’d be sitting in her apartment drinking tea right now.

There was no caller ID on her phone, only the same unknown number as previously. It wouldn’t be anything untoward, would it? ‘Hello?’ Molly said, hearing the caution in her voice and forcing a smile on her face. ‘Molly O’Keefe speaking.’ Easier to be brave when Nathan was sitting opposite her.

‘Hi, Molly. It’s Jean from the charity shop. The shop phone’s playing up so I’m using my personal one.’

Relief threaded through the tension that had begun tightening her body. ‘What can I do for you?’

‘You said to call if we got stuck for staff. One of the ladies who works Mondays has been called away to look after her sick mother. Is it possible you could help out?’

‘I’d love to. I have to be at the ED by three. Does that work for you?’

‘Perfect. Thank you so much. See you then.’ A dial tone replaced Jean’s voice. Just like that?

She dropped the phone on the table. ‘That takes care of Monday morning.’

Nathan was looking at her as though expecting more from her.

‘I put in a few hours at a charity shop that supports the women’s refuge. Fill shelves, run up sales. That sort of thing.’ The shop raised quite a lot of money for abused women and their kids, and it gave Molly a sense of satisfaction to contribute to people she understood all too well without having to explain herself. Though sometimes she suspected Jean had figured out why she turned up.

‘Go, you,’ Nathan said. Then a frown appeared. ‘You must get to hear some horror stories. I don’t think I could cope with those.’

She hesitated, torn between dodging the bullet and being honest. ‘Most of the people I meet come in to spend money and support the charity. Rarely are they the women who’ve survived abuse. Those who have don’t usually talk about it.’ Stop. This man wasn’t stupid. He’d see behind her words if she wasn’t careful.

‘You’re probably right. The rare exceptions being those brave women who go public about their ordeals in order to raise awareness.’ Awe shaded his voice, his face and that steady gaze. ‘I don’t know how they do it.’

‘Neither do I,’ she muttered truthfully.

Draining his mug, Nathan stood up. ‘I’d better get cracking, get things done before heading to the airport. Sleep being one of them. You look like you’re in need of some too.’

She might look tired and messy, but for once she felt more alive and awake than a toddler after a nap. Ready for fun, not sleep. Was Nathan responsible for that? Away from work she didn’t get so wound up around him, took his comments on the chin. ‘I might go for a run first. That always helps clear my mind.’ Anything to shake you out of my head.

‘Running doesn’t wake you up?’

‘Not often. I’m usually exhausted and a hot shower finishes me off.’

His eyes widened briefly. ‘Right,’ was all he said, but he managed one of those devastating smiles.

When she could breathe properly, she growled, ‘I thought you were leaving?’

‘Can’t a guy change his mind?’

The smile was still going on and now her legs were starting to protest about keeping her upright. Legs that were supposed to take her for a run. The couch was looking mighty good right about now. With or without Nathan? She wanted Nathan? Hell, when she finally woke up she didn’t do it in half-measures. There hadn’t been any sex in her life for a long time and now every last cell in her body was sitting up, fighting to be noticed.

‘No,’ she muttered around the need clogging her throat. Not sure if the ‘no’ had been directed at Nathan or herself. This was not going anywhere. They worked together. He was confident, she wasn’t. That was a work in progress. He’d have a woman in his life. What gorgeous-looking man didn’t? She’d get over this lust as soon as he left. Or in the next hour while she was out jogging. Or while she was in bed sleeping. Or on the train going into work tonight. She would. It was only an aberration in her carefully controlled world. A damned distracting aberration, but it would pass. No choice.

‘Can I have your phone number?’ Nathan pulled his phone from his pocket.

So much for passing. He’d raised the ante. ‘Why?’

His dark eyebrows rose. ‘So I can call when I’m going to take the car for that spin. Is that all right?’

If she was supposed to be getting over her reaction to him, then why was the thought of going for a ride with Nathan winding her belly tighter than ever? Rattling off the number, she hoped she’d got it right. She could’ve given him the number for the zoo for all she knew. ‘I’ll look forward to it.’ She headed for the door and hauled it open, needing to get him out of her small space where he took up all the air and made her feel tiny and fragile, and so, so alive.

Guess this was what getting a life meant. She had to pause, evaluate what was happening, figure out why she felt like this with Nathan when no one else brought on these feelings. No, no more pausing, hanging around waiting to see what the universe threw at her next. Try taking control instead. Slowly.

Nathan stepped past her, leaving a faint trail of outdoorsy aftershave scent behind him.

She gulped. Were need, desire, hope rising because she truly was attracted to him? Or was this all about getting a new life and he was merely a stepping stone? It was something else to figure out.

‘See you tonight.’ Quickly closing the door, she leaned against it and tipped her head back to stare at the ceiling as though the answers to her questions were written there. The excitement tripping through her veins, warming her long-frozen heart, was real. There’d been nothing slow about this debilitating sensation rocking her. Oh, no. Wham, bam, Nathan Lupton had stormed in and turned up the thermostat, taking her by surprise, and she didn’t want to back off. Even if she should.

‘Hell and damnation.’ Nathan shook his head as he pulled into the drive and parked at the back of his large, sprawling house. Towards the end of last night’s shift, quiet Molly had shown another side to herself, had become interesting. Except, having spent time with her dressed in a figure defining, classy blouse and trousers, sexy kept coming to mind, raising more questions than answers about what made her tick than anything had during the previous two months they’d worked together. From now on her stereotype uniform was not going to negate those images.

And the short time he’d spent in her apartment had him wanting to know more about where she came from, the life she’d led before moving to Sydney.

Hah. Know more? Or feel more? Touch more? Enjoy more? Learning all about her had become important. He had no idea why, except his hormones got wound up whenever she was near. Hot, alluring, tempting came to mind.

Temptation? The groan that spilled out of his mouth tasted of shock and disbelief. Sure, Molly was beautiful, had his hormones in a dither, but tempting? Yes, damn it all to hell and back. Because this was starting to feel like he was seriously back in the real world, where dating might happen. He’d thought for a while he might be ready, but reality was scary.

Slamming the car door harder than necessary, he strode around the house and out to the fence lining the front lawn to stare across the public green space on the other side of a wide walking path to the Tasman Sea beyond. The light breeze meant no windsurfers doing their number on the waves. Which was a shame because right now he couldn’t think of anything he’d rather do than get up on a board—and no doubt fall off just as quickly, since it had been a while since he’d last surfed. At least that would occupy his mind and put these damned fool ideas to bed.

Bed? Nathan groaned. He was exhausted, and needed sleep more than anything before signing on again that night. More than thinking about Molly.

But the idea of sprawling over his couch in front of the television and trying to doze off turned his blood to thick soup. There’d be no sleep while she rampaged through his mind. The hell of it was he didn’t know why she was doing this to him when up until today he’d been more likely to get annoyed with her and wish she’d pester someone else. Sure, he was annoyed with her right now, but for all the wrong reasons. So much for getting her to put that cold shoulder to rest. Instead she’d been winding him up tighter than ever. At least she didn’t have a clue how badly she was rattling his cage.

You sure about that?

Good question. He’d been determined not to let her see his reactions to her, to the scent of limes from her fruit basket, to relaxing and laughing in her company.

Yeah, and what was that doubt in her face when she’d picked up her phone and seen no ID displayed? Because something had darkened her eyes and tightened her face. Certainly more reaction than called for by someone wanting to ask why she hadn’t paid the power bill or had she forgotten she was meant to be at the dentist. One thing he knew for certain—she’d never tell him.

The apartment had been a shock. ‘Poky’ had the place sounding larger than it was. It was tastefully decorated, though. Was that Molly’s taste? Or had she rented the place fully furnished? The late morning sun had shone through the large, sparkling windows to brighten the atmosphere. The place was spotless, her few possessions gleamed. The two mugs on the shelf, the two glasses and dinner plates, said lonely.

Turning back towards his house, Nathan hesitated. Molly had mentioned maybe looking for somewhere else to live with more space, a place that was connected to the outside world. There was a twist to her story. Maybe she came from a tight community and was missing that easy friendship with all the neighbours, except she didn’t like the way the old woman had told him which apartment was hers. He looked left, right and back to his house. He knew his neighbours. While they didn’t live in each other’s pockets, they were there for each other if the need arose.

Don’t even think it.

This place was further from work than her apartment, which meant a bus or car to the train station.

He strode towards the back, stopped and studied his house. Slowly that familiar sense of belonging, of having found his new place in the world right here, rose, pushing other annoying emotions aside. With each front room opening out onto the veranda that ran the full width of the house with an overhanging roof, it was a haven in summer and winter.

He’d said, ‘I’m buying it,’ the moment the real estate salesman had pulled up outside. An impulsive purchase, made two years after Rosie’s death, yet nothing had caused him to regret his decision. At the time he’d been stuck in the past, so he’d gone looking for a new home that didn’t echo with Rosie’s laughter.

Coogee might be a little way out of the city for travelling to work, but the vista at the end of his lawn cancelled out any annoyance about that. He’d weathered storms that had wrecked the cliffs, baked in unrelenting sun, and surfed the waves, and had finally known a quiet within himself that had been missing for far too long. The large house and sprawling, uncontained grounds were his sanctuary.

It couldn’t be more different from the small, cosy, modern home he and Rosie had shared. That one had been like her; everything had had its place and the colour schemes had been perfect, the neat gardens with their carefully spaced plants drawing passers-by to lean over the fence in admiration. While this place—it was more like him. Out of sync.

No. Molly doesn’t need something like this.

He didn’t need Molly in his space. It wouldn’t remain a tranquil place to go when the world got on top of him if temptation came to live in the attached flat.

Occasionally he had tenants for short periods, usually medical personnel moving to Sydney General from out of town who needed temporary accommodation while they got somewhere more permanent sorted. He liked it when people moved in, and he was equally happy when they left again. Easy come, easy go. It was a waste having the flat going empty, and occasionally he’d thought of asking around work to see if anyone wanted to rent it permanently, but then he’d got cold feet. What if they didn’t get on? Or if the noise level increased? Or if he plain wanted his whole house to himself?

The flat’s more spacious than Molly’s apartment.

Molly wouldn’t be noisy or intrusive. They did argue quite often. But today he’d learned they could get along just fine.

But he’d find it very difficult to ask her to leave if the day came where he wanted to be alone.

Far safer for him to leave things as they stood.

CHAPTER FOUR

‘YOU ALL RIGHT?’ Nathan asked from the other side of the counter in the department’s central hub where Molly was supposed to be writing up patient notes. Her head was so messed up with this new awareness of Nathan and wondering what he was doing that she hadn’t seen him approaching.

‘Couldn’t be better,’ she lied. ‘I managed some sleep after my run.’ It was true, though her kip had been filled with dreams of being held in Nathan’s arms while she drove his car. Why were dreams so ridiculous? On all counts? ‘What about you?’

He grimaced. ‘I managed an hour before going to the airport, and then a couple more after an early dinner.’

That explained the shadows beneath his eyes. ‘It goes with the territory.’ Night shifts played havoc with sleep patterns.

‘At least next week I’m on three to eleven. Back to…’ he flicked his fingers in the air ‘…normal.’

‘Me, too.’ She glanced at the clipboard in his hand. ‘You seeing Colin Montgomery next?’

His thick, brown-blond hair tumbled over his forehead as he nodded. ‘I see he’s got history of arrhythmia and is presenting with palpitations and chest pain.’

Molly followed him to their seventy-one-year-old patient and immediately noted down Colin’s pulse and other obs. ‘Did anyone come with you to the hospital?’

Colin shook his head. ‘I’ve lived alone since my wife died two years ago.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that. What about other family?’ There was nothing in the notes about relatives to contact.

He blinked, and his mouth drooped. ‘My son and I haven’t spoken in years. Last I heard he lives somewhere in Brisbane.’

‘How long have you had arrhythmia?’ Nathan read the heart-monitor printout and asked pertinent questions.

‘Twelve months, give or take.’

‘When did the pain start?’

‘Around eleven. When it didn’t ease off I phoned for an ambulance. I hope I’m not wasting everyone’s time. It’s very busy in here.’

‘A typical Friday night,’ Molly assured him.

‘Never think you’re wasting our time. With your known condition, it’s always best we check you out.’ Nathan listened to his chest through a stethoscope. ‘You’re on warfarin. How steady are your test results?’

‘Usually my bleeding times stay within the allowable range. Prothrombin, isn’t it?’ He didn’t wait for an answer. ‘But last week the test ran really high and I had to have the test every day until the results returned to normal.’

‘Although that’s not normal for people not on the drug, it is within the required range for someone taking the anticoagulant drug,’ Nathan explained.

Colin looked worried. ‘Isn’t that dangerous?’

‘It’s what’s preventing you having a stroke. That must’ve been explained when you first started taking it.’

Colin looked sheepish. ‘It probably was, but at the time I was too worried about everything, and not being medically minded just accepted that I needed to take the warfarin to stay alive. I could’ve gone on the internet to find out more but I’d have confused myself further.’

‘Relax. You’re not the first to react that way, and you won’t be the last.’ Nathan locked a steady gaze on his patient. ‘I’m referring you to Cardiology so they can run more tests to find out what’s going on with this pain and that spike in your prothrombin results.’

‘Better safe than sorry?’ Colin enquired, his worry-filled eyes glued on his doctor.

Nathan calmed him with his straightforward manner. ‘I don’t believe there’s a major problem but I’d prefer you spent at least the rest of tonight in the hospital, where you can be monitored and not at home alone, worrying about what might or might not be going on inside your chest.’ He was good. ‘That’d only raise your blood pressure, which we don’t want happening.’

Colin relaxed more with every sentence.

While Nathan called Cardiology, Molly went to check on eight-year-old Ollie Brown, who’d fallen out of his bunk and broken an arm. ‘Hey, young man, how’s that head?’ There was concern he’d got a concussion as well and a scan had been ordered.

‘Hurts like stink.’ Ollie grinned.

The grin vanished as his grandfather snapped, ‘You’re not on the farm now, lad.’

Molly chuckled. ‘So you’re a country guy? What are you doing in the middle of Sydney, then?’ She wanted to observe Ollie for signs of confusion or amnesia.

‘It’s the school holidays,’ Ollie said, as though she was the dumbest woman out. ‘Granddad always lets us come to stay so we can do townie things, like go on the ferries and eat take-out food and stuff.’ There was nothing wrong with his coherence.

‘You forgot to mention that fighting with your brother was why you fell out of the blasted bunk in the first place.’ The granddad scowled, but there was a load of love in his rheumy eyes.

‘Connor started it.’

‘You know better than to let him rile you, lad.’

Molly clapped her hands. ‘Okay, guys, the orderly is on his way down to take you for the scan, Ollie. Mr Brown, you can go with him, if you’d like.’

Mr Brown nodded. ‘Someone’s got to keep an eye on the young pup.’

Before Ollie could say anything, Molly cut in, ‘I’ll be here when you get back. Then the doctor will decide if you can leave.’

Suddenly the bright, brave eight-year-old slumped and looked at his grandfather. ‘I don’t want to stay here. I want to go home.’

‘Aw, shucks, lad. You’ll have a grand time. The nurses will spoil you rotten.’

Leaving them to it, Molly headed for Kath Burgess’s cubicle, only to have Hazel, the only female doctor on duty, call from the hub, ‘Molly, I want you with me when I examine Kath. She’s spent time with you already, and I think it’s important not to bring in too many new faces since you managed to calm her down.’

‘I agree.’ The woman had been distraught when she’d arrived, clutching her stomach like it was going to split open, howling that she might be losing her baby. It had taken ages to quieten her enough to get some obs done.

‘We all heard the commotion and our first instinct was to crowd in to see what we could do, until it quickly became obvious that the screeching was lowering to sobs and you had the situation under control. Nathan and I decided not to interfere unless you called for help. We didn’t want to fire her up again.’ Hazel was reading the triage notes.

‘Thank goodness you did. She refuses to be seen by a male doctor.’ That’d immediately put Molly on notice, wondering if Kath had been abused by a man, but when she’d tried to find out she had been told she’d fallen down the stairs at the back of her house. Molly had gone straight to Hazel to explain her concerns, but as Hazel had been about to suture a deep wound in a young male’s thigh, she’d flagged Kath’s notes instead and kept an eye out for whoever might be going into the cubicle.

‘That doesn’t sound good,’ Hazel commented as she led the way into the small space where Kath lay curled up on the bed, a bunch of tissues clasped in her hand.

Closing the curtains, Molly watched Kath closely as Hazel asked questions about what had brought her to hospital.

‘I fell down the steps.’

‘You’re complaining of abdominal pain. How did that happen?’

‘There was a toolbox there, all right?’ Kath’s voice was rising. ‘I must’ve landed on that.’

‘You don’t know for sure?’

‘I did.’ Tears streamed down the woman’s face.

Molly’s heart went out to her. If only she could hug her and say, ‘Tell us everything, and we’ll get you help’—but she knew where that’d lead. The police would have to be informed, and social services would send someone to help. Kath had to be ready for what that involved. It wasn’t as easy as someone who hadn’t been abused would believe. Of course, Molly could be wrong, but she doubted it. It was like looking into her own eyes from the past.

When Molly had removed the sheet covering Kath and lowered her jeans and panties, she stepped aside for Hazel’s examination, talking softly to Kath about anything that didn’t broach the subject of her husband.

Finally Hazel straightened and pulled up Kath’s clothes. ‘You’re not miscarrying. But I want you to remain in bed for the next few days, at least until the pain subsides. There’s still a risk of miscarriage.’

‘He won’t be happy,’ their patient said in a dead voice.

‘About you staying in bed, or about not losing the baby?’ Molly asked softly.

‘What do you think?’

Both, if she was on the right page. But she kept quiet. Kath was getting wound up again. Better to keep her calm and only mention help was available if she was receptive.

Molly opened the curtains so they could keep an eye on her from the hub.

‘Hey, you can’t come in here without permission,’ Hank said loudly from the other end of the department.

‘Try and stop me,’ came the angry voice of an unknown male.

‘Come here,’ Hank demanded.

‘Where is she?’

Kath gasped, ‘No,’ and curled in on herself.

Molly asked, ‘Someone you know?’

‘My man. He’s been drinking since early afternoon.’

Great. Just what they needed. The sound of curtains being jerked open and sliding doors rammed back made her skin crawl. He was getting closer, and it wouldn’t be long before he found who he was looking for.

‘Stop right there,’ Hank ordered.

‘This is going to be fun,’ Hazel muttered.

‘Stop. You are disturbing our patients.’ Nathan stood at the central counter, hands tense at his sides, his feet planted slightly apart. ‘Tell me who you’ve come to see and I’ll check if you can visit.’

‘You’ve got my wife hiding in here. I’m going to find her. Now,’ the man shouted.

Kath buried her head under the pillow.

Then her husband stormed into the cubicle, the rage in his face terrifying. ‘Get out of my way,’ he yelled at Hazel, raising a fist.

It was instinctive. Molly saw movement out of the corner of her eye. One step closed the gap. Her arm came up, locked with the assailant’s. Using his forward motion she hauled him toward her, dropped her weight forward and swung her upper body around, taking him with her, dropping him to the floor before landing on top of him, her knees pressing into his shoulders, her hand still tight around his lower arm.

Silence fell over the department.

Then the man began swearing. He struggled beneath her, trying to push her off, getting madder by the second.

She was about to be tossed aside by a raging man who had no brakes on his temper. Then Nathan planted a foot firmly in the small of the man’s back. ‘Stay still.’ Under his breath he added, ‘Or, hell, you’re going to regret it.’

She was probably the only person to hear that. Certainly the man underneath her either hadn’t or didn’t believe Nathan because he was still trying to get up.

Then Hank grabbed the man’s flailing arms and slammed them down on the floor. ‘Shut up, buster.’

Nathan tapped her lightly. ‘You can get off now. We’ve got him.’

She did, fast, not taking her eyes off her opponent until she’d stepped away. ‘Has someone called Security?’ Where had they been when this guy had got into the department? Taking a break? At least one security guard had to remain at the main entrance at all times.

‘Right here.’ Two uniformed men raced towards them and took over.

‘You okay?’ Nathan asked, his hand on her elbow.

‘Sure.’ She nodded.

‘Molly, he was going to hit me.’ Hazel nudged Nathan aside to throw her arms around her and hold tight. ‘I froze when I saw his arm come up.’

Molly squeezed back, a trembling starting up in her belly and spreading throughout her body. ‘Glad I didn’t.’

Hazel stepped back and wiped her eyes. ‘Seriously, you saved me. He was aiming for my face.’

‘You reacted so fast, it had to be instinctive. I’m impressed.’ There was something akin to awe in Nathan’s voice as his hand moved from her elbow to her shoulder. ‘Come and sit down. You look like you’ve been hit by a bus.’

Now that the adrenaline was ebbing, that was exactly how she felt. Flattened. Shocked. ‘I can’t believe I did that.’

‘How’d you know what to do?’ Nathan asked after he had her seated and parked his butt on the counter. ‘One second that man was attacking Hazel and the next you threw him on the floor and sat on him.’

‘Not quite. I had my knees on his shoulders.’ She gulped. That had been so close. Not once had she thought about what she was doing. When she’d caught sight of that swinging arm out of the corner of her eye the rest had followed naturally. As she’d been taught to do in her judo classes. If only she’d done martial arts when she’d been with Paul, she might have stopped him in his tracks permanently. ‘I saw a movement and instantly went into defence mode. I’ve got an orange belt in judo,’ she added when she saw the confusion enter Nathan’s eyes.

‘That explains it.’ Maybe, but that confusion remained.

Molly hastened to divert him. ‘I’ve always wondered how I’d react if I needed to. Now I know.’

‘Why did you learn judo?’ Straight to the point.

‘Nathan, not now. I need to get back to Kath. The attack proved what I suspected—she’s being abused. She’ll need reassuring her husband’s not going to get near her while she’s in here. We’ll also have to convince her to stay in hospital for the rest of the night.’

You’re talking too much. He’s going to see right through you.

Molly clamped her mouth shut and tried to stand up to pull away from those warm fingers still on her shoulder, but Nathan only tightened his hold.

‘Sit down. You’re as pale as the walls, and shaking like a leaf in a breeze. I’m getting you a strong coffee.’

Actually, she was damned pleased with herself. Who’d have believed she could take a man down? She opened her mouth to argue, but nothing came out when she locked her eyes with Nathan’s and found compassion there, and something else. Something hinting at him beginning to understand what made her tick. Her bout of verbal diarrhoea might bring unwelcome questions.

Then a shudder ripped through her. Sinking deeper onto the chair, she looked away, fidgeting with the hem of her top as nausea crept up her throat. That had been too close. What if he’d hit Hazel? Or her? The guy had been off the scale with rage. Not cold and calculating but hot and loose. Was that how he treated Kath all the time?

Molly’s heart pounded. She was safe, but Kath wasn’t. Seeing that man come charging through the department as though he had the right to do as he pleased with his wife had turned her blood to ice. And brought back memories of a fist hitting her stomach, slamming against her ribs, under her chin.

Nathan was crouched in front of her, his hands now covering hers. ‘Your reaction’s normal.’

She nodded, afraid that if she opened her mouth she’d never shut up.

‘There’s more to this, isn’t there?’

Another nod, sharp and uncontrollable.

‘Hank,’ Nathan called over his shoulder. ‘Molly and Hazel could do with coffee, please. Make them sweet.’

‘Onto it.’

Molly glanced around, away from those all-seeing eyes in front of her. ‘Hazel?’

‘I’m right here, and, like you, I’ve got the shakes. I’m also angry and would love a chance to tell that creep what I think of him, coming in here and trying to hurt people who want to help his wife.’ Hazel pulled a chair near to Molly’s. ‘How’re you doing?’

‘I’m good.’ She wanted to laugh and rejoice in being strong. She wanted to cry and hide, and go home. She wanted to bury her head against Nathan’s broad shoulder, breathe him in, and feel those warm muscles under his top against her face. She wanted to be comforted by this man she knew without a doubt would never hurt her. But it wasn’t happening.

One, they were in the hub of the ED, surrounded by staff and patients, and there was work to do. Two, what she wanted and what she’d get might be two different things, and right now she couldn’t handle the disappointment if she’d misinterpreted that look in Nathan’s eyes and he put her aside. So she’d toughen up, drink her coffee and get back to work. It was the only way to go. Once the shaking stopped, and some sense of equilibrium returned to her brain. ‘I’ll be right in a minute.’

Nathan said, ‘Don’t rush. We’ve got you both covered until you’re ready. Even if it takes the rest of the shift.’ He might be talking to them both but it was her hands he was gently squeezing.

Her bottom lip trembled. ‘Thanks.’

‘Take pride in what you did.’ His return smile slowed her stewing stomach. ‘I’d rather have you on my side than against me.’

‘Then you’re glad we’re getting on?’ No trembling in her smile now. Pride was appearing. She’d been strong, had helped Hazel. Did this mean that no man would ever again hit her? Not without a fight, anyway. Her chin lifted, and she eyeballed Nathan. ‘Seems things are looking up for me.’ Her new life was well and truly under way.

‘Here, coffee for two.’ Hank placed two mugs on the counter. ‘I pinched some chocolate biscuits out of the fridge as well. Thought they might be better than sugar in your drinks.’

Nathan stood up. ‘I’d better see to some patients. Don’t rush, either of you.’

Molly reached for her mug, paused. ‘Can I suggest only female staff work with Kath? She was leery of Hazel examining her. She’s not going to like any male staff approaching her.’

Nathan nodded. ‘I’ll ask Myra to take over.’ Myra had taken Vicki’s place for the night and was a midwife and nurse who did extra shifts in ED for the money.

As Nathan passed Molly to pick up a file, his hand brushed her upper arm, and when she looked at him he gave her another soft, heart-melting smile, but sorrow darkened his eyes.

Damn it, he knew. Without being told, he’d put the pieces together and come up with the correct picture. He would want to know more. Would demand to be told everything. No, he wouldn’t. They worked together, they weren’t best buddies or in a relationship. He might like to know but he wasn’t going to ask her for details. He was a gentleman. Wasn’t he? Guess she’d find out soon enough.

For the remainder of the shift Nathan had trouble remaining calm whenever he glanced around to check on Molly. Anger at an unknown man boiled up. Given half the chance he’d like to tear out of the department to go and find him, beat him to a pulp. Not that he’d ever hit anyone before, but sweet, gorgeous Molly did so not deserve to be beaten. Not that she’d said anything to suggest it’d happened, but he knew. The sudden grief that had filled her eyes as the shock of what she’d done to Kath’s husband had worn off told him there was a story behind her usually withdrawn manner.

‘Glad that’s over.’ The woman in his head handed a file to one of the incoming shift nurses. ‘I’m ready for my bed.’

Not so fast. ‘I’ll give you a lift home.’ Nathan put on his no-nonsense voice in the hope she’d agree without an argument.

‘The train will be quicker.’

He should have known it wouldn’t work. ‘Throw in breakfast and you’ll be able to justify going the slow way.’ He’d just asked her out? It might only be breakfast, but in a roundabout way it was a date. He hadn’t thought before putting his mouth into gear.

So you want to withdraw the invitation?

Nathan’s chest rose. No, he damned well didn’t. This wasn’t only about what’d happened earlier and the revelations that had come with it. He couldn’t deny the need to get to know Molly better, to learn exactly who was behind that façade she presented to the world most of the time. He sucked a breath. Which only showed how deep the mire he was floundering in had become. It had happened so fast he couldn’t keep up.

Molly was blinking at him like a possum caught in headlights. ‘Do you mean that?’

‘About breakfast? Yes. Why wouldn’t I?’

‘Because you’re kind and probably want to be a caring boss, making sure I’m all right. If that’s the case then believe me when I say I’m fine, and there’s food in my fridge that’ll suffice for breakfast.’

That scratched at his calm. He was not playing the boss here. He’d stepped beyond that comfortable zone—into what, he wasn’t quite sure, but knew he needed to find out. ‘Bet you haven’t got eggs and hollandaise sauce.’

‘Low blow.’ There was a wariness creeping into her eyes. She was worried what he’d ask about the martial arts.

He couldn’t deny he was ready to explode over what he perceived had happened in her past, but if she didn’t want to talk about it, that was her prerogative and he’d accept that. ‘That’s me. When I want something I’ll try everything in my power to get it.’ Except use my fists.

Molly obviously had no worries on that score because she gave him an exhausted smile. ‘I’d love a ride, and breakfast.’

‘Why didn’t you just say so?’ He grinned and took her elbow, wishing he could put an arm around her shoulders and tuck her in close. But they were still in the department and already there were a couple of raised eyebrows and knowing smiles going on. Neither were they that close.

‘Don’t like to be too obvious,’ Molly retorted. Then yawned. ‘Thank goodness for weekends. I’m over this week.’

‘Evening shift next week, here we come.’ After two days off, and hopefully a ride in his car. The Blue Mountains were looking good, and the weather was forecast to be fine and crisp. ‘You been to the Blue Mountains?’

‘That’s a long way to go for breakfast.’ Her tempting mouth gave him another smile that struck under his ribs and made his heart lift its pace.

The mountains wouldn’t be too far for the morning meal if they went there the day before and stayed over in a hillside lodge, enjoying the views and a superb meal, making the most of a large, soft bed throughout the night. But that wasn’t happening. Not yet. Nathan tripped over his own flat feet. Where the hell had that come from?

You were going to get her onside, not so close you’d get to know her so well.

He hadn’t forgotten, but the rules had changed the moment she’d taken Burgess down. He had yet to figure out where he went with this now. Molly was an enigma that he was getting more than interested in. First he had to find out if he was right about her past or way off the mark. It certainly explained her edginess over mixing socially with people. Until yesterday, when she’d participated in Vicki’s celebration, when she’d come out of her shell in a hurry, even singing ‘Happy Birthday’ in front of everyone. Not that Molly had realised what she was doing at first.

Nathan followed her to the lift, and when the door closed, he tapped the button for the basement and the car park. ‘You know people will talk about what happened?’

‘Fingers crossed, come Monday something else will have happened that’ll take everyone’s attention.’ She leaned against the wall, looking so tired he wanted to wrap her up and take her home for a few uninterrupted hours’ sleep. Followed by…

‘How about we go to Coogee for that breakfast?’

Her eyes widened. ‘That’s a fair way past my apartment.’

‘So it is.’ What would Rosie have thought of Molly? Would she have liked her? Yes, he thought, she would. Rosie had insisted he had to move on when she’d gone, wasn’t to sit around feeling sorry for himself. She’d gone as far as saying bluntly, ‘Find another woman to love, have that family you’ve always wanted. Don’t live in regret for what we’ve lost. That would make our time together worthless.’

But should he really take Molly to his home, show her the vacant flat? Should he start thinking ahead, instead of always looking over his shoulder at the past?

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