Resisting Her Rebel Doc (12 page)

Brodie mulled it over as he slid his fork into green beans. ‘I don’t know about that—the vulnerability thing. I’d want to make sure you were okay, no matter what.’ He ate thoughtfully for a second or two. ‘You could be right, though. Matt does tend to want to take control.’ He studied her as she picked up her own fork once more and began to eat. ‘He’s a fool, if he doesn’t see what he let go.’

‘Thanks for that. But perhaps it was for the best. I suppose it wouldn’t have worked out for us in the end. I wouldn’t want to be in a bad marriage. My parents were always good together, and their kind of relationship is what I want for myself.’

‘I can understand that. That’s probably why I’ve never felt the urge to try it. I don’t want to make a mistake like my mother did with my real, my natural, father and then again with my dad. If it had been a good marriage, he would have handled things differently.’

‘Perhaps...but they stayed together, so they must have had something pretty strong going for them.’

He seemed to be mulling that over. ‘I suppose so. I’ve been looking at things from a different angle.’

She tasted the medium-rare roast beef, savouring it for a moment on her tongue. His troubled background would always affect the way he felt about relationships. ‘Obviously, when it comes to marriage, you’re afraid,’ she said eventually. ‘That’s why you flit from woman to woman without making any commitments.’

His eyes narrowed in mock jest. ‘Who’s been talking?’

She gave a wry smile. ‘My mother, for one, and the hospital grapevine is rife with rumour as usual.’

He laid down his fork. ‘Your mother I can’t account for, and I won’t argue with her because I’m really very fond of her. But I can tell you now that whatever you’ve heard on the grapevine is pure conjecture. I haven’t dated anyone since I came back to Ashley Vale.’

She looked at him steadily. ‘Maybe you’ve been too busy.’

He gave a short laugh, returning her gaze with a penetrating blue glance. ‘Yes, maybe. Perhaps I’ve found someone special...someone who cares about me and makes me feel I might actually be worthy.’

The breath caught in her throat as she met his gaze. If only she could believe what he was saying. ‘That sounds...wonderful...something to be working on.’

‘I’m glad you think so.’ Smiling, he returned his attention to his meal.

Caitlin finished her main course and reached for her dessert, a Bramley apple pie topped with creamy custard. She didn’t know what to think. He was making out he was perfectly innocent but she knew him of old. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He would lure her into a false sense of security then when she was completely ensnared he would devour her and move on in search of new prey. Didn’t she know better than to fall for his charm? She’d already been hurt badly by Matt. She was feeling stronger now but surely she shouldn’t make herself vulnerable again if she could help it? All the same, she was so, so tempted.

‘Hey, you two, have you seen the pictures in the papers? You’ve even made the nationals—look.’

Cathy, the staff nurse from the children’s unit, came over to their table. ‘Am I interrupting?’

‘No, of course not,’ Caitlin said. ‘Are these the pictures from
Murder Mysteries
?’

Cathy nodded. ‘Yes, look. I bought the local paper and the
Tribune
. You’re both splashed over the TV feature pages—it’s mostly the main characters they’re showing, but you two are there as well. I can’t wait to see the series when it comes out. I’ll be watching out for your scenes all the way through.’

Caitlin and Brodie glanced through the papers. ‘Oh,’ Caitlin said, ‘They filmed the geese when they ran up to the camera!’ Brodie was in the shot, smiling as he looked at the startled cameraman. ‘I thought they would edit those shots.’

‘They probably have in the TV version—but the press will choose whatever appeals, I suppose.’ Brodie was amused. ‘Thanks for showing us these, Cathy.’

‘You’re welcome. I expect they’re in all the papers. All the nurses are talking about them.’

She went off to join her friends, leaving Caitlin and Brodie to finish their lunch. Afterwards, they went to spend some time with Caitlin’s mother.

‘The doctor says I should be well enough to leave here in a few days,’ her mother said, looking happy. Her cheeks were flushed with anticipation. ‘I’m so pleased. I can’t wait.’

‘It’ll be good to have you home,’ Caitlin said, giving her a hug.

They stayed for half an hour then left to meet up with the film crew once more back at the smallholding. David was already there, organising things. Caitlin had given him access to the house and grounds.

‘I thought Daisy and her puppies would like to be out in the sunshine for a bit,’ he said, coming over to greet them, ‘so I’ve put them on the lawn. They won’t be going anywhere,’ he added with a rueful grin. ‘The geese are keeping an eye on them. At least they’re leaving the camera crew alone today. They’re too busy guarding the newcomers.’

Caitlin smiled, seeing the geese gently nudging the puppies back on to the grass whenever they wandered near the edge of the lawn. They were just beginning to find their feet, but Daisy seemed happy to let the birds shepherd her flock while she simply lazed in the sunshine and gathered her strength. Thanks to good food and plenty of love and care, she was thriving, and her shaggy coat was beginning to take on a healthy glow.

The film crew spent some time working around the house and outbuildings, and then moved off to concentrate their attention on the wooded area around the smallholding. A couple of villagers acted as extras, wandering along the footpath that led from Brodie’s property to the copse beyond. The same man who’d been wheezing the day before was there. Caitlin stood and watched them go.

‘I think they’ve finished with us for now,’ Brodie said as he walked with her to the back of her house. He gave her a long, appreciative look. ‘It looks as though I have you all to myself at last.’

‘Is that what you want?’ she murmured.

‘Oh yes,’ he said. They came to a halt on the terrace overlooking the lawn and in the privacy of a jasmine-covered arbour he leaned towards her.

‘I never seem to get you alone, what with David being around, the film crew and whoever else decides on a whim to drop by.’ He slid his arm around her waist and tugged her towards him. ‘You’ve had all sorts of creatures demanding your attention: a rabbit, the quail, Daisy and the pups, three terrifying geese—and for all I know a motherless kitten could turn up at any minute to distract you. I’m all for moving in on you while I can.’

She smiled and lifted her face to him, rewarded instantly when he bent his head to hers and claimed her lips. She was ready for his kiss, wanting it, needing it, craving the feel of his arms around her. He eased her against the rustic trellis, supporting her with his forearm, raining kisses over her cheek and throat, nuzzling the creamy velvet of her shoulder beneath the loose collar of her shirt. ‘Do you think we could be together, you and I?’ he murmured. ‘A couple? Could we give it a go?’

The sweet fragrance of white jasmine filled the air as she moved against him, pressing her soft curves into his muscular frame. ‘Oh, yes...yes.’

She heard his gasp, revelled in his strength, and lost herself in his kisses, running her hands up over his chest, delighting in the swift intake of his breath as his body tautened against her.

‘Ah, Caity...you’ve made me so happy. I want you so badly. You know it, don’t you?’ His voice was roughened, the words thick against her cheek, her lips. ‘When I saw you first thing this morning, it took all I had to keep my hands off you.’ He kissed her again, hungrily. ‘You’re so lovely, so perfect, Caity. You’re everything I could ever want.’

‘Mmm... I want you too, Brodie,’ she murmured. She snuggled up against him, loving the way he needed her, exhilarated by the feel of him, by the delicious stroking of his hands as they moved over her curves, filling her with feverish excitement. If only it was true, what he was saying. Could she really be everything he could ever want? ‘I want you so much...’

She was seduced by him, by the heady perfume of jasmine that wafted on the air, the warmth of the sun on her bare arms and legs and by his wonderful, coaxing hands that seemed to know instinctively how to make her body yearn for more. Why shouldn’t she accept what he was offering, let him take her on that tantalising, breathtaking voyage of discovery?

‘Let’s go inside the house...’ His voice was husky, urgent, ragged with passion; she was more than willing to go along with him.

‘Okay.’ She didn’t want to break away from him and neither, it seemed, did he want to move away from her. He kept his arm around her as they walked the short distance to the kitchen door.

But before they made it as far as the kitchen, they heard David’s voice calling to them from across the garden. ‘Are you there, bro? I need to talk to you. Brodie?’

The geese started cackling at the intrusion and Caitlin gave a slow, heavy sigh, her fizzing, shooting senses coming back down to earth with a bump. Beside her, Brodie stiffened.

‘One of these days...’ Brodie said, gritting his teeth. ‘He’s my brother,’ he said under his breath, ‘and I’m very attached to him, but there are times, I swear, I could...’ He didn’t finish what he was saying.

David came around the back of the house. ‘There you are. I thought I saw you both in the garden a minute ago. There’s a problem with the look of the back of the house—your house, Brodie. It’s too neat. The director wants to know if we can put some plants there in place of yours—shrubs and so on—to make it look straggly and overgrown. We’ll put everything back how it was afterwards.’

‘Sure. That’s fine.’ Brodie’s answer was brisk and to the point. ‘Why don’t you go and see to it right away?’

‘Hmm. Am I sensing something here?’ David looked from one to the other. ‘The thing is, I would go away...but you need to come and talk to the director and see what he wants to do. There are papers you need to sign.’

‘You can sign them for me.’ Brodie’s impatience was showing and David studied him thoughtfully.

‘Sorry, no can do. Anyway, you did say you’d be available to deal with any queries that came up today.’

His glance went to Caitlin, who was waiting edgily through this back-and-forth chitchat. She was coming to realise how very close she’d come to burning her boats with Brodie.

‘He seems anxious to be rid of me,’ David commented. He raised his brows in a silent question that she decided to ignore. ‘I’m hugely jealous,’ he said, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. ‘You know that, don’t you? You always said you wouldn’t lose your heart to either of us because we would trample all over it.’

‘Leave it off, David,’ Brodie warned, his whole body tense. But David merely smiled, for all his worth playing the part of the irritating younger brother. He glanced at Caitlin, as though expecting an answer.

‘Did I say that?’ She sounded breathless, even to her own ears. ‘That was a long time ago.’

‘Yes, well, nothing much has changed. Except I’m the one you should go for.’ Again, that imp of devilment appeared in his eyes. ‘I’d make you happy.’

‘You’re right,’ she agreed. ‘Nothing’s changed, has it? I ought to know better than to listen to either of you. My father used to warn me about you two.
“Pair of young rascals,” he said. “Full of testosterone, looking for conquests and moving on.”’

She’d been very young when her father had died—fifteen years old and emotionally insecure. But her father had loved and cherished her; she knew that. He’d wanted the best for her and she’d missed him so much after he died. Perhaps his loss was the reason she’d tried so hard not to fall for Brodie...then and now. It hurt so much to lose someone you loved. Was she making the biggest mistake of her life?

David smiled. ‘Your father had a point. We were very young and immature.’ He started to move away across the terrace. ‘See you in a minute or two, bro.’

Caitlin turned to Brodie with a rueful smile. ‘Perhaps you should go and sign your papers. I think that motherless kitten has arrived.’

‘I guess he has.’ Brodie gave her a long, steady look. ‘Another time, then,’ he said quietly. ‘I’ve already waited a lifetime...what does a little longer matter?’

‘I don’t know about that, Brodie,’ she said equally softly. ‘I don’t know if I’m making a mistake.’

‘He was just teasing you.’

‘I know. But perhaps it’s a good thing that I have time to think. I’ve just finished one relationship. Maybe this is the wrong time to be stepping back into the fray.’

‘And, then again, it might be the perfect time. Sometimes you need to follow your instincts.’

She nodded. ‘Okay,’ she said softly, still troubled.

‘We’ll be fine,’ he said. ‘I promise.’ He gently brushed her mouth with his and then went off in the direction of the camera crew.

She watched him go, the memory of his kiss imprinted on her lips. David’s comments played over in her mind, though. He had given her food for thought and taken her right back to when this had all started. Brodie had pursued her since they were teenagers. He’d never faltered, taking up where he’d left off as soon as they’d met up again. He couldn’t resist a challenge.

Perhaps to him she was simply the one that got away and that was why he persisted in going after her.

CHAPTER SEVEN

C
AITLIN
WAS
NEARING
the end of her shift on Monday afternoon when the staff nurse asked her to look in on baby Olivia. ‘Her mum’s worried—she had her operation first thing this morning, and she started taking small feeds six hours later, but the poor little thing’s still vomiting.’

‘Okay, Cathy. Bless her—I’ll go and see her now. She’s still on a fluid drip until her full feeding regime is restored, so there aren’t any worries on that score.’

She hurried away to go and look in on the mother and baby. She and Brodie had been busy all day and hadn’t really had a chance to talk. Even at lunchtime he’d been involved in meetings with chiefs from the local health authority.

Now she went to see Olivia, checking the heart and respiration monitor, glad to find that all was well there. The infant looked reasonably content, squirming a little in her mother’s arms; every now and again her pink rosebud mouth made little sucking movements.

‘Hi,’ Caitlin said, going to sit down beside them. ‘I hear she’s having a bit of a problem?’

‘That’s right.’ The mother’s brow creased with anxiety. ‘She keeps being sick. Does it mean the operation hasn’t worked?’

‘Not at all. The surgeon reported that everything went very well. This type of surgery is very low risk.’ She stroked the baby’s palm and felt the infant’s fingers close around hers. ‘She’s lovely, isn’t she?’ A quiver of unforeseen, overwhelming maternal instinct ran through her, melting her insides.

The mother nodded and smiled. ‘Yes, she is. She’s so precious to us and this is all very upsetting.’

‘It
is
upsetting, but it’s quite usual for a baby to be sick after this kind of surgery. It happens because there’s often a bit of swelling after the operation, but that will soon go down and she should be able to feed normally after that. I’ll ask the nurse to check how often she’s being fed and how much, and to work with you on that. Things should soon settle. She just needs tiny feeds for the time being. I’m sure she’ll be fine.’

‘Thanks.’ The girl looked relieved. ‘I’m sorry to be such a pain...’

‘No, you’re not being a pain at all. I’m sure all new mums worry. It’s natural.’

Maybe one day she would be holding her own child in her arms, looking down at him or her with such love and tenderness. She already knew how good Brodie was with children; she’d seen him in action with children and animals and he was wonderful with them all. Did he want to have a family of his own? Would he ever contemplate taking that step? She’d dearly love to have children with him. He’d be a fantastic father.

A rush of heat rippled through her. She’d never once contemplated having a family with Matt, even when they’d talked about getting engaged. It was very odd but it simply hadn’t occurred to her.

She met up with Brodie as he was getting ready to leave the hospital for the day. ‘They’re filming at the village pub this evening,’ he told her. ‘David said he hoped we would both be there.’

‘Yes, he mentioned it to me.’

‘How do you feel about it? Do you fancy going along? We don’t have to do anything—the camera crew will be filming the actors and we’ll be in the background somewhere with the rest of the pub’s customers.’

‘Yes, okay. I’d like to go.’

He smiled. ‘Good. It’s a date, then. He said to come early—he wants me to meet someone, something to do with one of the photos that appeared in the papers. He says it’s important, but he didn’t go into details. I can’t imagine what that’s about.’

‘Perhaps a talent scout saw you on camera and wants you to do a hero doctor drama series,’ she said with a smile.

He laughed. ‘Of course, why didn’t I think of that?’

She walked with him to the car park and her expression sobered. ‘Are you and David getting on all right now? I was a bit concerned after the way you were sniping at one another yesterday afternoon.’

‘We’re fine. It’s just banter—on his part, especially.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘David was a demon for trying to wind me up when we were younger...you probably remember that?’

She nodded. ‘He hasn’t changed much, has he?’ she said with a smile.

He shook his head, sending her a sidelong glance. ‘Though I suspect yesterday’s comments came about because he has a big crush on you.’

She shook her head. ‘No, he doesn’t. He may have fancied his chances years ago, but now it’s all bravado—designed to get a response from you, I think. He only makes a play for me when you’re around. That’s a definite hangover from the old days.’

‘Maybe.’ They parted company as they reached their cars. ‘I’ll call for you in about an hour and a half,’ he said. ‘And we’ll stroll down to the pub together...is that okay?’

She nodded. ‘It’s the last of the filming sessions today, isn’t it? I heard they’d arranged a celebratory buffet meal for everyone in the lounge bar for when it’s all over.’

‘Sounds good to me.’

Caitlin rushed through her chores as soon as she arrived back at the house, feeding the animals and making sure Daisy and the pups had a run outside before quickly getting ready for the evening. She showered and dressed in slim-fit jeans and a layered top. Leaving her hair loose to flow in burnished chestnut curls to her shoulders, she applied a swift dab of make-up to her face, finishing off with a light spray of perfume.

Brodie sucked in his breath when he called for her a short time later. ‘You look beautiful,’ he said, his eyes darkening with appreciation. He stepped inside the house and moved towards her. ‘Shall we give the pub a miss and stay in?’

‘Behave yourself,’ she admonished him with a laugh. ‘Anyway, you know David will only come and find you if you don’t turn up—or else the director will decide it’s a good idea to do a final scene outside your house.’

‘I don’t care. I’m prepared to risk it,’ he murmured, walking further into the hallway and sliding his arms around her. As an afterthought he pushed the front door shut with his foot to give them some privacy then he lowered his head and stole a kiss.

Instantly, in an intuitive, innate response, her lips softened beneath his and she kissed him tenderly, wanting him, loving him, yet at the same time warring with herself about what she was doing. It had hurt so badly to be rejected when she’d been with Matt; she couldn’t help feeling she was storing up trouble for the future by getting ever more deeply involved with Brodie. The trouble was, she couldn’t help herself.

Brodie deepened the kiss, tugging her closer to him so that she could feel the passion burning in him. There was no mistaking his desire for her. His hands moved over her, making sweeping forays over all the curves and planes of her body, shaping her, tantalising her with his gentle, knowing expertise; all the while his lips teased the softness of her mouth and made gentle trails over the silken skin of her throat.

His fingers slid beneath the flowing hem of her top, slowly gliding upwards until he found the soft swell of her silk-clad breasts and lingered there. A shuddery, satisfied sigh escaped him. ‘Ah, Caity, you’re so lovely...’

A muffled gasp caught in her throat. His touch was heavenly, sensual, luring her into a state of feverish euphoria. It was pure seduction, taking her to heights of ecstasy she’d never known before, making her want ever more. She groaned softly, heat intensifying inside her as he moved against her. She felt the brush of his thigh against hers, his hard, muscular body driving her to distraction.

And then came the jarring, insistent bleep of a mobile phone and she blinked in bewilderment, her body recoiling in a spasm of shock.

‘What is it? Who can it be...?’ She stared up at him, dazed, uncomprehending. Her whole being was in a state of traumatic distress.

He shook his head. Perhaps he managed to recover his equilibrium faster than she did because he said cautiously, ‘It’s not my phone. It must be yours.’

‘Oh...are you sure?’

He nodded.

Befuddled, she searched in her jeans pocket with shaking hands and drew out her phone. It was the hospital calling and immediately she was on alert, worried. Was something wrong with her mother? Had she taken a turn for the worse?

She listened carefully to what the nurse had to say. ‘Thank you. Thanks for letting me know,’ she said quietly at last.

She cut the call and looked up at Brodie. ‘My mother can come home tomorrow—if her blood pressure, pulse and so on are okay. Her blood oxygen level is fine now, apparently. The consultant just paid her a quick visit while he was there to see another patient.’ She gave a rueful smile. ‘I think, actually, she probably badgered him into it.’

‘That sounds like your mother—she likes to get things sorted. She must be feeling a lot better.’

She nodded, looking at him, not knowing quite what to say. The mood had been totally disrupted. Now that she was thinking clearly again, making love right now didn’t seem like such a good idea. She might love him and want children with him but she wanted the whole package: love, marriage and a vow of eternal devotion. Was he even capable of that?

‘I guess we ought to head for the pub,’ he said reluctantly, gauging her reaction. ‘I suppose you were right earlier. David’s quite likely to come looking for me. He seemed particularly anxious for me to meet this person.’

‘A man?’

‘A woman, I believe.’

She frowned. ‘Do I need to be jealous?’

‘Would you be?’ He sounded almost hopeful and that surprised her a little. Didn’t he know how she felt about him?

‘Oh yes, very much so. I want you all to myself.’

‘Good. I’m glad about that.’ He opened the door and she stepped out onto the porch with him.

‘The trouble is, I never quite feel safe with you, Brodie...emotionally, I mean. I’m never sure if you’ll decide to look around and see if the grass is greener somewhere else.’

They started to walk along the country lane. ‘Have I ever given you any reason to doubt me?’ he asked. ‘Nowadays, I mean...since I came back here?’ He studied her, his expression suddenly brooding. ‘Surely I’m the one who needs to be on his guard? After all, you’re still hankering after Matt, aren’t you? How do I compete with him?’

She shook her head. ‘You’re wrong about that. I don’t even think about him any more. It’s over.’

He made a short, dismissive sound. ‘I don’t believe that’s true. His name came up the other day when we were having lunch and your hands were shaking. I don’t think you’re over him at all.’

She sent him a troubled look. ‘It was a shock, that’s all: what he did; the way he finished with me... Everything in my life changed overnight. It was just a reaction to what had been a harrowing episode in my life.’

‘Well, when you can be with him or think about him without trembling, maybe then I’ll believe you. Till then, it’s all up in the air.’

Caitlin pressed her lips together briefly. No matter what she said, she had the feeling he wouldn’t believe her right now. Yet, deep inside, she truly wondered why she’d ever thought she was in love with Matt. He was a good man—pleasant company, supportive—but he’d never made her feel the way she did when she was with Brodie.

‘You don’t need to worry about Matt,’ she said.

He reached for her, holding her briefly, his hands cupping her arms. ‘I want you, Caity. I want you all to myself, and I’ll do whatever I can to drive him from your mind. I’ll prove to you that I’m good enough for you, that I won’t let you down.’

Brodie made her insides tingle with longing, he made her blood fizz with excitement, and he made her yearn for him when he wasn’t around. If she explained that to him it would more than likely incite him to launch a full-scale, bone-melting sensual assault on her body and mind, no holds barred, right here in the lane. Much as she’d love that, she wasn’t at all sure she could handle the consequences.

She loved everything about him: the way he helped out around the smallholding without a care; the way he was there for her before she even knew she needed him; even the way he accepted her for what she was, without wanting to change her.

‘Ah, you made it. Good.’ David looked pleased to see both of them when they walked into the pub’s lounge bar and several of the villagers who were seated nearby or standing by the bar nodded acknowledgement. In the background the camera crew were setting up, getting ready for filming, and the actors were going over their scene in readiness.

‘Heard you’re doing good things up at the hospital,’ one of the men at the bar said to Brodie. ‘My sister’s little girl had to stay there for a day or so—they were very impressed.’

‘I’m glad to hear it, Frank. We aim to please.’

Frank Brennan had been one of Brodie’s arch accusers way back when Brodie had been an annoying teenager. He’d been subjected to trespass and minor vandalism and he’d borne the brunt of Brodie’s talents as a graffiti artist on his various outbuildings. Caitlin looked on and smiled at how things had turned full circle.

‘Also heard you had the offer of another job in London,’ Frank went on. Caitlin frowned at that, sending Brodie a quick, sharp glance. He returned her gaze fleetingly, looking slightly uncomfortable.

This was the first she’d heard about any forthcoming new job. If it was true, it meant Brodie had kept his cards very close to his chest, and it seemed as though all her fears were coming to fruition. She felt a painful, involuntary clenching of muscle in her abdomen. He wasn’t going to be staying around, was he? He was prepared to go all out after her, make her care for him beyond reason, then he would calmly leave as though it didn’t matter at all. Being with her was simply a ripple on a pool.

She looked at him once more. Perhaps it was just a rumour. Ought she not at least give him the benefit of the doubt?

Brodie sent Frank a quizzical glance. ‘News travels fast around here. How did you come to know about it?’

He wasn’t denying it, then. Caitlin let out a slow, fraught breath. Her nerves were in shreds.

‘Through my father-in-law. He works in admin at the hospital. Said the bosses at the local health authority were well taken with the way you’d changed things and wanted you to do the same thing at one of the London hospitals.’ He gave Brodie an assessing look. ‘So, what are you thinking? Will you be taking them up on the offer?’