The Last Doctor She Should Ever Date (16 page)

‘I’m the Jets doctor. They need me down there.’

Putting his hand on Zac’s shoulder the guard flashed a warning smile. ‘Yeah, yeah. And I’m the fairy godmother. Right now, I think they need me more.’

Really? A joker? Now? ‘You don’t understand...’

‘Oh, I do, mate. We’re all experts at a time like this, I know. But, sorry. You’re not going there. Now move along.’

Zac didn’t have time to play nicely. Time was running out. He had to get to Dani. He glared past the man, glimpsed a gap behind his bulky frame. Heaved in a breath. One, two, three... In a swift move he dodged to his right, round the man, and sprinted down the corridor.

As he swung open the medical annexe door he gauged Dani’s reaction. Saw the brief flutter of her eyelids as if saying a silent thank-you. The small smile on her lips, the questions running through her gaze. All that, in a moment. And more. Saw the love she’d never admitted. The softening of her shoulders. The renewed vigour in her strapping.

And the irritation that infiltrated her smile.

He stepped next to her and started to examine Manu’s shoulder. ‘You’d better tell security to send off the dogs.’

‘I don’t need saving. I’m fine.’

He grasped her wrist. ‘No, you’re not, Dani. Your eyes were dark out there on the field. You looked panicked. And you were chewing your hair again.’

‘It was a
temporary lapse
.’ How many times had he heard that? Her perennial excuse for any kind of perceived weakness. She shook her hand free. ‘I could have managed without you.’

‘I know you could. But isn’t it better to accept help every now and then? You don’t have to do everything on your own. Come on, you’ve got to admit you’re pleased to see me.’

‘Could you get any more self-centred?’

‘I doubt it.’

The flashes of irritation softened. ‘Okay. Manu can wait a second. I need you to stitch Taylor back together first, then talk to Jaxon.’

‘You’re the boss.’ He moved away, found a suturing kit and began to sew Taylor’s head wound, enjoying the hands-on work, but the eyes-on Dani more. His heart thumped a weird rhythm as he looked at her. Had he ever told her how beautiful she was? How much she made his day just by being close. He was going to tell her that every day. Starting now. Well, starting after the game. He was going to woo her, court her, make love to her. Take her on dates, go at her pace. Wherever she wanted to be.

She peered over his shoulder at his handiwork and he reeled at the exotic scent that made his head whirl. The aroma that had become ingrained in his clothes, his brain. That he didn’t think he’d ever get to smell again. ‘Nice stitches, Doc.’

‘Thank you. Now, Jaxon.’

She pulled him aside. ‘He’s delicate. Feeling the pressure and a little highly strung. I need you to be firm but gentle. Empathetic, but assertive. You get the picture?’

He pressed his hand to her cheek. ‘When do I get to kiss you?’

‘What?’ Her mouth twitched. She glanced towards her father, who stood in the corner of the room watching them.

Zac laughed. Hell, he was already in big trouble with security, he might as well upset the whole darned fun police. ‘At what point do I get to kiss you?’

But she moved his hand away. Let it drop by his side. ‘This is so inappropriate. We’re running out of time.’

‘Start as you mean to go on, I say.’

‘Patients. Win. Talk...I mean, really talk, Zac. Then...whatever...’ She ticked them off on her fingers. ‘In that order, you hear? We have two more minutes before the next half.’

‘Aye, aye. But I’m looking forward to...
whatever
.’ He saluted and went to find Jaxon. He was sitting apart from the other players, his head in his hands. ‘Jaxon, you okay?’

‘No. Not really.’ The kid’s eyes were haunted and dark.

‘I know this is massive pressure. But you’ll do fine. They’re hitting you because you’re the best. They want you to go down, to break your resolve. But you’re faster, lighter, smarter. Yeah?’

‘Yeah.’ Jaxon nodded, but looked far from convinced.

‘Get round them.’

‘I can’t.’

‘Think, Jaxon. Think back to those boys in the wheelchairs. Do they worry about what they can’t do? Do they feel sorry for themselves? No. So you’ve got to think about what you
can
do. You know you can beat them. You know you can outwit them. You can do this. Believe it.’

‘I don’t know...’ But his shoulders had straightened a bit. Fire smouldered behind his eyes.

‘Take the hits. Take a risk. You can do anything you want, you’ve just got to want it badly enough. This is your time, Jaxon. Reach out and take it. Don’t look back in years to come and wish you’d grasped what you wanted.’ It all became clear now. This speech wasn’t just about Jaxon, it was about himself. He wanted Dani and was going to do whatever it took to get her back. ‘Now get out there and win this damned game for the boys at Treetops. You have one chance. Don’t stuff it up.’

He ushered Jaxon out with the rest of the players, hoping he’d talked some sense into him, then grabbed Dani’s hand. ‘Come on, it’s starting.’

* * *

Don’t look back in years to come and wish you’d grasped what you wanted.
Dani saw the passion in Zac’s eyes. Did he believe that? And if he did, why had he walked away?

Why had he come back?

She dropped his hand immediately despite her fingers automatically curling into his. Drew herself away and walked down the tunnel alone onto the side of the pitch. Sure, he’d come back. But for what? More kisses? More meaningless fun? She couldn’t let herself get carried away with hope.

* * *

‘I can’t believe this is happening.’ Zac leaned into her as they sat at the end of the bench, another thirty-nine minutes of torture later. An uncertain silence hovered round the stadium. Jaxon stepped up to kick the ball. This was their last chance to secure the dream. One kick. Three points. One delighted Davide. Millions of happy people.

So much was riding on this. She couldn’t help but cling to Zac’s jacket, hold her breath. Watch Jaxon’s face. He glanced over to the bench and nodded.

Zac nodded back. Jaxon stepped up to kick. The ball soared towards the post. The whistle blew.

Then Zac’s arms were round her waist. His nose pressed against hers. ‘He scored! We won. My God, we won!’

She felt herself being lifted and swirled round. Heard the fuzzy noise of the crowd. Everything appeared to be in slow motion, the waving arms of sixty thousand people, the screaming players, the rising elation of being in his arms again.

As he lowered her to the ground Zac gazed at her. His mouth hitched into a smile as he tilted her chin. His eyes emanated such warmth it was hard not to be mesmerised by them. ‘I love you, Daniella Danatello.’

Oh. Not what she expected. She didn’t want it to be true, not unless he meant it with his heart and soul. ‘No, you don’t, you love the Jets. You love winning.’

‘Sure, I love that too.’ He nodded. ‘But most of all, I love you, Dani.’

Her chest tightened, her throat tightened. Her hand shook as she pressed it to her mouth. ‘Please don’t say it if you don’t mean it. I couldn’t bear it if you woke up tomorrow and realised you’d got carried away in the moment.’

‘I mean it with every part of my being. I’ve spent the past two weeks not knowing what I was doing, going round in a daze. I missed you so much and realised I was a coward to walk away from something so special. But I was scared. Scared of giving, of loving again. But I hurt, Dani. A part of me was actually in pain when I wasn’t with you. I don’t want to feel like that again. Please tell me you feel the same.’

She gasped, laughed. Cried. ‘I...don’t know what to say.’

‘I know I’m going out on a limb here, but you could say you love me too.’

‘Yes. Yes, of course, you idiot. I love you too.’

‘Excellent.’ Then he began to lower to one knee, in front of all those cheering people, the cameras, her father. Damn her father. Damn the crowd. ‘I know this isn’t the best place to do this. I’m sure you’d like it in a more private place, but I want to do it right now. Right. Now. Just so you don’t think any of this is a
temporary lapse
. And I’m guessing everyone’s looking at the players celebrating on the pitch, not at me. Doing this.’

‘Oh, my goodness.’ She grabbed his shoulder, tried to hitch him up. Still not believing he could mean it. ‘What about your job? My job. Our lives? We need to talk about things.’

‘I know if you love me like I love you we’ll work it out. If that means moving to Wellington, I’ll do it. Or you could come to Melbourne. Or we could meet in the middle somewhere.’

‘The ocean? Like that would work.’

‘I’m trying to compromise here. It’s a new concept...work with me a little. Whatever you want. You are the funniest, sexiest woman I’ve ever met and I’m totally lost without you.’ He shrugged and tried to stand, but she pushed him back down.

‘But what about your big-shot sports doctor dream?’

‘Will you quit with the questions?’ He grimaced and pointed to his bended knee. ‘This is starting to hurt.
This
is my dream. You and me.’

‘And Treetops?’

He grew serious, ran his thumb over the back of her hand. ‘I don’t want it to be a burden, but yes, take me, take Treetops.’

She looked at him half standing, half kneeling, with love burning in his eyes and knew she’d take whatever he offered. He wanted to spend his life with her. Treetops could be nothing but an additional joy. ‘Burden? Never. I’d love to help.’

‘Then, marry me?’

She pulled him to face her. Managed to squeeze the words out. ‘Yes, of course. Yes.’

‘Thank God.’ He whispered as he closed in, ‘And we have two thousand condoms to make a start on.’

‘Of course! The tournament’s over. No more sex-free sex.’ She snagged his shoulder, imagining what fun they could have. ‘Do you have a one-track mind?’

‘With you? Hell, yes.’

His arms circled her waist as he drew her to him, pressed his mouth on hers and clung to her as if he would never let her go. And she clung right on back, peace and excitement, joy and hope, rolling through her.

As if on cue, tiny pieces of white ticker-tape began to flutter down onto their heads, covering their shoulders like confetti. Another loud roar rumbled through the crowd like a Mexican wave, louder and louder until the whole stadium rang with the sound of cheers and clapping and stamping of feet.

‘They must be lifting the trophy.’

‘Oh. That.’ He rested his forehead against hers and they turned to face the screen. ‘No. It’s us. They’re cheering for us.’

Daniella felt the sudden rush of blood to her cheeks as she saw a huge picture of herself, laughing in Zac’s arms, beamed out across the globe. Into the homes of millions of people, and no doubt straight onto tomorrow’s front pages. And for once she didn’t care. Just ached for another kiss. Then another. And another...

Breaking News...

Lady Godiva Marries Sir Love-a-Lot

The
News Women’s Page
can finally confirm that the rumour mill is correct. After their very public display of affection following the Jets’ dramatic win of the Pan Asia Pacific Tournament six months ago, Dani Danatello and her fiancé, Zachary Price, allegedly married earlier today in a private ceremony.

   Sources close to the couple report that the nuptials took place at Zac’s holiday home in North Beach, north of Auckland, during a break away from his job at the Wellington Blues. A marquee was erected in the substantial garden and a local flower delivery company were overheard to comment that they have been particularly busy for the past few days. Dani’s sisters and father, entrepreneur Davide Danatello, are rumoured to be staying at the Castle, a local boutique luxury lodge close to North Beach. Zac’s father and mother, Marguerite and Rufus Price, have also recently been seen hiking the extensive ranges in the vicinity.

   Honeymoon details have been kept under wraps. But our sources report that a bright yellow campervan left the venue at three o’clock and was last seen heading south.

* * * * *

IMPRINT: Medical eBooks

ISBN: 9781460898499

TITLE: THE LAST DOCTOR SHE SHOULD EVER DATE

First Australian Publication 2013

Copyright © 2013 Louisa George

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the permission of the publisher, Harlequin Mills & Boon®, Locked Bag 7002, Chatswood D.C. N.S.W., Australia 2067.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its corporate affiliates and used by others under licence. Trademarks marked with an ® are registered in Australia and in other countries. Contact [email protected] for details.

www.millsandboon.com.au