Playboy Doctor to Doting Dad (17 page)

‘G-string or no knickers at all. Your choice.’

‘Call that a choice?’ A nervous laugh escaped her lips. Steph and Charlie had dragged her to a lingerie shop and bought her underwear to match the dress. ‘Why the push-up bra? I’m starting to look like a woman on the make here.’

‘Then mission accomplished.’ At Abby’s gasp, Steph waved her hands in the air. ‘Live a little, sis, and stop being a mum
for a night. It’s New Year’s Eve and you’re going to a party with the extraordinarily good-looking Dr Flynn. You’ll have his attention firmly on you all night.’

Did she want Kieran’s undivided attention? Oh, yes. If he was the playboy, then for one night she’d be the toy. Then hopefully she’d have got him out of her system and could go back to being that mum, happy with her lot.

Abby ignored the knot of excitement that had been threatening to spring apart all afternoon at the thought of going on a real date with Kieran. Instead, she slipped the fine wire hooks through her earlobes and turned to hug her sister. ‘Thanks so much. It’s lovely to be wearing something that’s not stained with kiddy food. I feel like a real person for a change.’

‘You’re a real person all the time. Don’t you think we all appreciate you? Abby, your family loves you. But if a change of clothes makes you feel whole then I’m going to donate my wardrobe to you and start afresh for myself.’

‘I don’t go out enough to wear that many clothes.’

‘I’ll have you know I don’t have as many as you’re intimating.’

Abby merely rolled her eyes.

Steph laughed. ‘Hey, don’t knock it. I’m the sister with the same shape and size as you.’ She tipped her head to one side and walked around Abby. ‘Hair up or down?’

Abby tucked one hand under her ponytail and lifted it onto the top of her head. ‘Up kind of looks elegant.’

‘Down and loose looks sexy.’

Abby’s stomach knotted. Sexy. Her? Not really. Did she want to look sexy for Kieran? What sort of question was that? Of course she did. Already Steph was undoing the cord holding her hair in place and splaying it across her shoulders. Seems she didn’t have a choice. And it
did
look … um … sexy.

‘I’d better wear it up.’

‘Coward.’ Steph grinned at her then after a moment turned serious. ‘Come on, you’re keen on the guy. Show him what you’ve got. Mind you, he’d have to be made of plastic not to already have noticed. You are beautiful, sis.’

Words that Kieran unwittingly repeated when he picked her up half an hour later. His low whistle when she opened her front door to him was involuntary. One look at Abby and his insides turned to mush, warming him through and through. Sensational. Stunning. Desirable. But, then, when hadn’t she been?

But he couldn’t stop staring. ‘Abigail, you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever had the pleasure to take out.’

Abby’s cheeks suddenly matched the colour of her dress as she turned to lead him inside. Her words tumbled out in a rush. ‘Come in. The children have gone across to Dad’s but Steph’s hanging around to see you.’

Steph gave him a big bear hug and told him, ‘Wow, don’t you look a knockout, too.’ There was a wicked twinkle in her eye. What was she up to?

‘Aren’t you partying tonight?’ He’d bought three shirts that morning because he hadn’t been able to decide which matched his jacket best. A jacket he’d no doubt take off within minutes of arriving at Hamish Harrington’s home since the outside temperature was in the high twenties. But he’d wanted to look good for tonight. For Abby.

‘Of course I’ve got a party to go to. Two, actually. But I wanted to spend some time with Abby first. Sister bonding, and all that. I’m good for advice on some things.’

Abby took pity on him. ‘Do you want a drink before we go? Or shall we get out of here?’

‘We should get going,’ he replied with relief. These sisters were an act, one he didn’t always understand.

Driving back into the city and the Port Hills, where Hamish
lived, Kieran had his hands firmly on the steering-wheel and his mind stuck on Abby. He’d known she was beautiful, even though she seemed to go to extraordinary lengths to hide it, but tonight she was something else. Sophisticated. Breathtaking. The deceptively simple dress highlighted her superb figure, accentuating curves, including the slight swell of her tummy where his son had grown.

His mouth dried. This lovely woman sitting beside him had him hooked. Face it. Inexplicably he’d always been attracted to her. But now she was reeling him in, centimetre by centimetre, stirring his blood, charging his heart, bringing him alive in a way he hadn’t known before.

‘Stop. You missed the turn.’ Abby touched his forearm.

Heat sped through his veins. He braked too quickly. ‘Hell,’ he muttered, and slammed the vehicle into reverse gear, ignoring the perfectly styled eyebrows raised at him from the other side of the sports car. Thank goodness he’d kept this car when he’d gone back to the dealer to get a more practical vehicle. Tonight Abby deserved nothing less than a swanky car to go out in.

The massive home was easy to find with the numerous cars lining the narrow road and strains of music reaching their ears as they alighted from the car. Taking Abby’s elbow, he followed the laughter and voices until he found their hosts, glad to get among other people and put some space between himself and the woman causing his brain to fry.

Introductions over, Kieran turned to Abby. ‘Wait here while I get us something to drink.’

But Abby had other ideas and stuck with him as he headed to the bar.

‘Are you all right?’ she asked, a frown on her brow.

‘Couldn’t be better,’ he told her. ‘This should be a wonderful night. Everyone seems geared up to enjoy themselves.’

‘No doubt there will be the usual number of headaches tomorrow morning.’

‘Then I’m glad I’m not working.’ He took the glasses being pushed towards them. ‘Let’s go party.’

Kieran’s prediction was right. Everyone seemed set to have the best night of their lives. The only bad moment was when Hamish informed Abby that Michael’s son was extremely ill with everything that could go wrong with a liver transplant.

The evening flew by and Kieran couldn’t remember having so much fun in a long time. It rankled when he found he had to wait his turn to dance with Abby. ‘You’re a popular lady,’ he commented when he finally had another turn with her on the floor.

‘I don’t think anyone recognises me as Nurse Brown.’ She grinned. ‘It’s this dress that fascinates them all.’

He could understand that. ‘If the dress means I miss out dancing as often as I want with my date, we might have to tear it off you.’

Her eyes boggled at him. ‘Tear it off? I don’t think so.’ A flicker of doubt crossed those beautiful eyes. ‘Not even you would want to dance with me then.’

Want to bet? Putting his fingers under one shoulder strap, he teased, ‘Let’s find out, shall we?’

She shivered, and he relented. ‘Spoilsport. Want a cold drink? Out on the deck? It’s stifling in here.’

‘Good idea.’ She tucked her hand over his arm and strolled outside with him, where they scooped up two flutes of bubbly.

At the edge of the decking Abby leaned over the heavy glass siding to gaze out across the harbour lights. ‘Isn’t this view amazing? I wonder if Hamish ever gets used to it, takes it for granted.’

Kieran watched Abby, not the view she was referring to. ‘I don’t think I’d ever take it for granted.’

Abby leaned further over the edge and Kieran slipped his arm around her shoulders. ‘Don’t want you toppling over.’

It was an excuse to touch her. Dancing together hadn’t been enough, especially as most of that so far had been more about shaking and moving and less about holding and touching. He could only hope that before the night was out the band would play some slower tunes and he’d have a reason to hold Abby in his arms.

‘As if,’ she retorted, but thankfully didn’t pull away.

The music stopped.

‘Time to fill up your glasses, everyone. Five minutes to midnight.’ Hamish spoke above the babble.

‘Five minutes to a new year,’ Kieran spoke softly. ‘What are you hoping for, Abby?’ He knew what he wanted. To make love with this woman, to hold her body against his and stroke her skin, to inflame her desire until she begged him for release.

Abby turned and leaned back against the siding. Her eyes were unfathomable. Were her thoughts aligned with his?

She said, ‘More of the same, really. The kids to be happy and healthy, maybe a promotion at work, Dad to be okay, and the twins to get what they want.’

So much for being on the same wavelength. ‘That’s it? What about you? Don’t you have a big dream in there?’ He tapped her forehead. ‘Something just for you?’

‘Kieran, I’m a mother. Dreams are on hold. And, truly, I’m happy with that.’

So why did sadness lurk in those hazel orbs? He stared at her, trying to look beyond what she was showing him. ‘I’m not buying it.’

‘One minute to twelve,’ someone called out, and Abby straightened up, looked across to where everyone was gathering.

She took his free hand and tugged him along. ‘Come on. Countdown time.’

He went with her, joined in counting down to midnight, and raised his glass in a general toast, before turning to Abby and twining his arm around hers. ‘Happy new year to you, the wonderful mother of my son, and a beautiful woman I hold very close to my heart.’

Saying that out loud made it more real. Suddenly a chill settled over him. In four weeks he’d be heading home. Standing on this deck in the summer warmth, surrounded by friendly, caring people, holding Abby’s hand, the thought of returning to Dublin felt incredibly bleak.

‘Happy new year to you, Kieran. I hope this year brings you everything you want.’ She seemed to be looking for something as she watched him over the rim of her glass. She obviously didn’t find it because her shoulders rose in a slight shrug before she tipped her head back and drained her glass.

‘More bubbles?’ He reached for her glass.

‘No, thanks. I’ve probably overdone it already. Let’s have our first dance of the year.’ And once again she was heading for the dancing, still holding his hand.

Somehow he’d let her down. Damn it, he’d let himself down in some odd way that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. But if she wanted to dance with him then he was more than happy to oblige. Hadn’t he spent half the evening waiting for his chance to dance with her? Only to have her claimed by some other hot-blooded male before he’d had enough time with her?

And now, as he took her into his arms for a slow dance, he wanted her instantly, all of her. Again. Still. Abby felt right in his gentle hold. He drew her closer. Dropped his chin on top of her head. The familiar, sweet Abby scent teased him, embraced him. Stirred him.

Her feet followed his in time to the music. Her body
moulded into his. Her breath on his shirt warmed him. Her hand fitted perfectly in his, while her thumb caressed the back of his hand. In the pit of his belly a fire burned. The flames licked his soul, scorched his self-control.

Kieran’s hand squeezed her fingers so hard she missed a beat, tripped over his shoe. Slowly she lifted her head, tilted back in his arms, and looked up into smoky eyes that appeared ready to devour her. Against her stomach she felt his response to her. Instantly her body reacted in reply. She wanted him. No questions asked. No complicated conversations. Abby wanted Kieran. And the sooner the better.

Something flickered in his eyes. Recognition of her desire. Longing. A question. She nodded once. When he gripped her hand tighter she didn’t hesitate but led him away to the sports car. Totally out of character, so wanton, she leaned into him, sought his lips. He kissed her back, hard and fast, and then they were in the cramped car, speeding down the narrow, winding road. Her fingers tapped impatiently on his thigh. Blood pounded in her head. Desire spread out, licking through her body like flames.

Darkened houses blurred past. The night air cooled her fiery skin. Within moments Kieran had parked in his apartment garage. He had her out of the car and into his arms in less time than it took to say ‘Happy new year’.

They had to wait for the elevator, precious minutes they filled with hot, hasty kisses. Not those long, bone-melting kisses she’d come to expect from him but kisses that wound her stomach muscles tighter with each quick search by his tongue. Kisses that caught the corners of her mouth, teased at all her senses, drove her so close to the brink that she thought it would all be over before she’d even started.

‘Kieran, wait a.…’ She forgot the rest as his hands spread
down her back, cupped her bottom while his fingers did incredibly sexy things over her skin.

‘You were saying?’ he teased as his mouth trailed down her neck, making her gasp with need.

‘I don’t know.’ Her hands tugged at the buttons of his shirt. Her tongue tripped over his chest. Under her mouth she felt his shudders, and smiled.

A door crashed against a wall. Abby jerked her head up, stared around. ‘Where—?’

‘My apartment.’

How had she missed the elevator ride?

Kieran scooped her up hard against his chest and stepped inside, using his hip to close the door behind him, while his mouth claimed hers once more. Pushing her tongue past his lips, she tasted him and imploded at the heat there. Her hands snagged his shirt, hauled it up and over his head, barely breaking their kiss. Pressing her aching breasts against his chest wasn’t enough. She needed skin to skin. With one quick movement her dress flew over her head and landed somewhere across the hall. Kieran unhooked her bra and she shucked it off, tossed it away. His hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs circled her nipples, took her breath away.

Then they were kissing again; mind-frying, nerve-jangling, combusting kisses that acted like oxygen to flames. Her stomach ached with longing. Her legs trembled with need. Her shaking hands tracked over Kieran’s chest, his belly, circling, stroking, feeling him. Kieran. She wanted him inside her. Nothing else would do.

She wasn’t sure which of them fumbled with the buckle of his belt, jerked the zip down. His trousers bundled at his ankles. Quickly stepping out of them, Kieran kicked them aside. Then his hands were on her waist and her legs were wound around his and, yes, at last, she was sliding down, taking him into her, feeling that wonderful moment when her
body no longer seemed real. When all reality disappeared in a haze of desire and sensations that tripped her pulse and took her into another world. And Kieran came with her.