Playboy Doctor to Doting Dad (11 page)

Then Abby said, ‘It took a while to really grasp the fact that David and Morag were never coming home again.’ She swallowed hard. It still hurt. ‘Despite the funeral and having Olivia to raise, for a long time it had just felt like David had
gone on another sojourn overseas and would one day turn up on the doorstep with a hug and a smile, saying, “How’s things, sis?”’

As kids, David had looked out for her at school, then at university. Even when he’d moved to London to specialise, he’d kept in touch regularly, making sure she was okay. The menu shook in her hand. No one did that for her any more.

Kieran reached over and laid his hand over hers for a moment. The gesture made her feel closer to him. They had something in common apart from the children. Some of the hurt dissipated.

When his gaze met hers she saw he felt the same. He said, ‘It’s the same for me. Morag and I never had a lot of time together, with me being at boarding school.’

‘Didn’t Morag go away to school?’

‘No, she stayed with our father, going to local schools. They were living in the States by the time she reached college level. I didn’t see so much of Morag then. Her skiing took up so much of her time.’

‘I never knew she skied.’

He withdrew his hand, reached for his beer. ‘She was tipped to make the British Winter Olympics slalom team.’ He stared out the window, obviously seeing something far removed from Nelson. ‘There was an accident. In my flat. At a party my flatmates held. Someone spiked Morag’s drink. She didn’t usually have more than one, maybe two. But someone got to her. She tripped and fell down the flight of stairs leading to our front door.’

‘The injuries meant the end of her skiing?’

‘Yes. My fault.’

What? ‘Kieran, no. How can you blame yourself?’

But he did. The truth shadowed his eyes. ‘As my father said, I couldn’t take care of an egg in a carton, let alone look out for my sister.’

‘Wait a minute. You said your flatmates had a party. Were you there?’

‘No. I’d swapped shifts in ED so one of the guys could go to the party. He’d done most of the organising so it seemed fair, and I really didn’t mind. I didn’t even know he’d invited Morag.’

‘That would’ve changed your mind about attending?’

He swivelled around to look at her, his expression bleak. ‘I doubt it. I thought Morag was capable of looking after herself. How wrong I was.’

Recognition of his pain, of the reason behind his vehemence about being unable to care for Olivia and Seamus crunched in Abby’s mind. Finally she was beginning to understand. Finally in a roundabout way Kieran had let her know what drove him to be aloof from what remained of his family. How could a man like Kieran forgive himself? Especially when his father obviously laid the blame squarely at his feet.

‘Kieran, you can’t go on blaming yourself. There’s only one person to blame and that’s the horrible individual who spiked Morag’s drink.’

‘Tell that to my father.’

Their meals arrived then and Abby took time to savour her fish and let Kieran regain his composure. Then as he began eating she changed the subject. ‘How are you finding working in Nelson?’

‘Great. Everyone’s friendly and helpful, and well trained. Their goal is the same as mine, to help people. Yes, I am enjoying it.’

She smiled at him. ‘You look surprised.’

‘I hadn’t really stopped to think about it.’ He smiled at her. ‘Too many other things going on outside work.’

‘The children.’ She put her fork down. ‘Are you beginning to feel at ease with the concept of being a father?’

His eyes widened, and he took his time answering. Finally, ‘I think I’m starting to accept it. I don’t deny I got a shock when you called me Daddy on Friday night. And more than a shock when Seamus actually brought me that opener. Though I’m not convinced he understood you.’

‘I agree, but with each time I say something like that he’s going to learn who you are. And with each little thing you do for him he’s going to understand what a daddy is.’

‘Steady on. I’m still getting used to the idea.’

‘Don’t take too long.’

‘Don’t push me too hard.’ Kieran shoved back in his chair, feeling cornered. ‘I’ve only been here a week.’

In front of him he saw hesitancy in Abby’s face then she seemed to shrug mentally, as though thinking, What the hell, and said to him, ‘Then you’ve only got seven weeks left.’

He jumped in his seat. What? How dared she? Wasn’t he doing his best? Abby obviously didn’t think so. Less than two weeks since first learning about Seamus and he was taking too long?
How long did he need?
Which was Abby’s point exactly.

‘Easy for you to say,’ he murmured.

‘I wasn’t born a mother or an aunt. I had to learn, as does every parent. Unfortunately kids don’t come with a manual.’

He stared at this determined woman sitting opposite him. She was only trying to do the right thing for her children. If that meant harassing him, then harass him she would. She was courageous, and honest, and very warm and loving. How many other women did he know who’d give up their dreams to look after, first, her mother, and then someone else’s child? Not one. Her revelation about quitting med school had stunned him, but it had also highlighted her decent, selfless nature.

He’d do well to follow her example.

Her knife and fork rattled on her plate. Her hands were
shaking. Because of him? His reaction to her suggestion? Reaching for her hands, he squeezed gently, surprised to feel her trembling. ‘You’re right, there’s not a lot of time. I’ll work on speeding things up.’

Caution flicked through her eyes before she drew a breath and said quickly, ‘Then you’ll be coming to the staff Christmas barbeque next weekend. Everyone takes their partners and kids and we have a ball. Play cricket, swim, run three-legged races on the beach. I’m taking Seamus and Olivia.’ She hesitated. ‘And you.’

Gobsmacked at her spunk in light of his earlier irritation, he sat looking at her, thinking how marvellous she was. Then a laugh rolled up his throat. ‘Oh, no, you’re not.
I’ll
take you and the kids.’

She grinned back. ‘In that tiny sports car?’

‘I’ll change it for something more suitable.’ She deserved that at least. But darn. He did enjoy driving around in that car. ‘Now, let’s look at the dessert menu. My sweet tooth will not be ignored.’

‘I’ll settle for coffee.’

‘You don’t want to share some cheesecake? Or brandy snaps?’ Coffee be damned. He could see the longing in her eyes. So why not indulge? It wasn’t as though she had to worry about her figure. That was perfect. ‘Cheesecake and brandy snaps,’ he told the hovering waitress.

And when dessert came he made sure she ate some by holding a brandy snap to her delectable lips. Big mistake. Her lips parted to take the end of the treat. Her teeth bit through the crisp confection. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, the tip of her tongue slid past her lips and licked a dollop cream from the snap. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. His spoon shook. He might think he had everything in control when he was around Abby but his body was making a liar of him.

Abby reached for the rest of the brandy snap, taking it between her fingers, holding it as though it was a precious
jewel. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He certainly couldn’t swallow the piece of cheesecake clogging his dry mouth.

Abby’s eyes were huge. Her expression startled. He saw her swallow. Waited for her to take another mouthful. Wished she wouldn’t. His system couldn’t take it. Willed her to. Sighed when she placed the snap on the plate.

The waitress appeared, placed Abby’s coffee on the table. And gave Kieran time to gather his senses. What had happened there? Apart from his hormones going on the rampage?

He pushed the dessert aside and asked for the bill. The restaurant had got too hot and stuffy. He needed fresh air, and lots of it. But it was just as uncomfortable outside. Had they heated up the universe? Without thinking, he reached for her hand and felt a zing of current between them. She moved closer, her sweet honey scent teasing his nose, crashing into his senses.

‘Abby …’

She turned to face him, her eyes opaque. Desire? She swayed closer. He caught her shoulders, steadied her. And then he kissed her. Her lips were soft. The scent of her teased his nose, racked up the tension that had begun inside the restaurant. And then he tasted her. His senses exploded.

Wrapping his arms around her, he hauled her in against him, trying to make her a part of him. And he kept kissing her. Like a dehydrated man drinking. Everything between them had boiled down to this moment. One heady kiss. A kiss that enmeshed her in his heart. A mind-blowing kiss that sent waves of desire rocketing through his body. A dangerous kiss.

Slowly they pulled apart. Abby stared up at him, swallowed. ‘I’ve never been kissed like that before.’

Only one woman in the whole wide world had ever kissed him back like that. Abigail Brown.

‘You look like you’ve been knocked down by a tornado,’ Sally chirped when Abby arrived at work the next morning. ‘A bad night with the kids or a great night with Kieran?’

Abby dropped her bag under the desk and rubbed her aching back. ‘I slept on that lumpy old couch of mine. Charlie had snagged my bed and when she sleeps she spreads out like a starfish leaving no room for anyone else. How her previous boyfriend managed I don’t know.’

She wouldn’t mention that the lumps in the couch hadn’t had as much to do with her restless night as images of Kieran feeding her that brandy snap. She got hot all over just thinking about it. If Sally knew, she’d never let it go.

‘Here I’d been thinking you and Kieran were having a good time together. He’s wearing similar shadows under his eyes.’

‘Kieran’s here already?’ So much for arriving before him.

‘Cubicle four. Robyn from the night shift is with him until one of the day shift shows up. That’s you.’

‘Sally, could you put Barbara with him today?’ As well as those food images, shockwaves from last night’s kiss were still rolling through her body.

‘You know it doesn’t work like that.’

‘Why do I get to be his right-hand nurse all the time? Give someone else the experience for a change.’ She glared at Sally. ‘And stop playing matchmaker. It isn’t going to work.’ Unfortunately. Gulp.

Sally nudged her. ‘Cubicle four. A five-year-old boy has been brought in by his neighbours after being found hiding in their laundry. He’s badly bruised around the head and has suspected fractures to one arm and a finger.’

Abby shuddered. The poor little guy. ‘Where are the parents?’

‘Apparently the police were called out last night to a violent argument between them. The boy must’ve been overlooked
or had already hidden, too terrified to come out. When the neighbour found him and took the boy home, no one answered his knocking.’

‘How can parents be like that?’ Her heart thumped her ribs as she thought of her two children; their trusting eyes, happy faces, soft cuddles. How could anyone want to destroy that?

‘Someone from Social Welfare will be here any minute,’ Sally told her.

‘They should’ve been there before he got beaten.’ Abby stuffed her fists in her pockets. Some people didn’t deserve to be parents.

When she slid between the curtains of cubicle four, she had her anger under control. Kieran raised his head as she stepped up to the bed, and the compassion in his eyes for his young patient softened her heart. He’d never do this to his son. Wouldn’t that knowledge make him feel more secure as a father?

‘This is Joey.’ Kieran nodded to the thin child curled up tightly on the bed.

Large brown eyes watched Abby warily as she moved to the bedside. No other part of him moved. Ugly purple bruises stained his arms and forehead. Abby wanted to lift him into her arms and cuddle him for ever.

‘Hi, Joey. I’m Abby and I’m going to look after you now.’ Those fearful eyes flicked to her face, but he kept quiet. The poor little guy looked exhausted.

‘How old are you?’ Abby tapped her finger on her lips and screwed up her nose. ‘Let me guess. You look too clever to be three, but I could be wrong.’

Nothing.

‘Just teasing. You’re really four. Although you’re quite big for four.’

Joey turned his head slowly to one side and back.

‘Okay, I’m really dumb, aren’t I? You’re six.’

Again the head moved from side to side. Then Joey blinked. His mouth opened enough for him to whisper, ‘I’m five.’

‘Go on, you’re not.’

‘Am so.’ The whisper was now a little stronger.

‘A schoolboy. Wow. Cool bananas.’

‘I like school.’

Kieran tapped her on the shoulder. ‘We need to get Joey out of his clothes and into a hospital gown. Robyn’s getting a warm blanket. I’m surprised he’s not hypothermic.’

A middle-aged man spoke from the corner of the cubicle. ‘When I found him he was curled up in the washing basket amongst the clean washing so he probably kept warm throughout the night.’

‘Thank goodness he went to your place and didn’t hide outside, or we could have a whole different scenario on our hands,’ Kieran acknowledged, before nodding to Abby to follow him out where he spoke quietly. ‘You’re doing great with Joey. That’s the most we’ve got from him so far. Can you stay with him while we sort out what’s going to happen next?’

‘Of course.’ Try and keep her away. This child needed her.

‘Joey’s undersized for his age. Hopefully the paediatrician will admit him for a full assessment.’

‘Then what? He’ll go home to more of the same.’ Abby couldn’t help the despair breaking through her resolve to be totally professional with this case. How could she be? That gorgeous little boy was hurting, inside and out. He needed loving, not beating.

‘Unfortunately we have to hand him over to the system.’ Kieran’s finger touched her cheek briefly, his eyes full of the same emotions she felt. ‘In the meantime, let’s make him as comfortable as possible and show him not everyone’s a monster.’ Digging into his pocket, he withdrew some money.
‘I’m sure there’s something in the cafeteria that little boys love to eat.’

‘Definitely far more exciting things than what the main kitchen will come up with.’