‘Play “Living on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi,’ he instructed.
He could totally get on board with the chorus of that song. He was, literally, almost halfway there already.
* * *
This couldn’t be right, surely...
Flick slowed her bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle as she turned past ornate, wrought-iron gates to find herself on a tree-lined driveway that was so long she couldn’t even see a house. It looked like the entrance to a National Park. Or a residence of a minor Royal, perhaps? But, then, Julia had told her that Mrs McKendry wasn’t a ‘Mrs’ at all. She was Lady Josephine because her now deceased husband had been knighted for his services to cardiothoracic surgery or something. She’d also said the family was seriously wealthy and that the house she was going to had probably had McKendrys living in it for centuries.
‘You’ll love it, Flick,’ she’d added. ‘A real taste of old-fashioned, upper-class England. Bit different from what you grew up with in Australia, I’m guessing.’
A ‘bit different’ was already an understatement. Finally coming to the end of the driveway, Flick felt her jaw dropping as she took in the circular drive with a central garden and ornate fountain and the enormous house behind it. The beautiful stonework and countless lead-lighted windows, a slate roof that looked many hundreds of years old and the sense of history it evoked sent a shiver down her spine. The stories that would have seeped into those stones...
Flick had worked in many different places in the years she’d been with various medical locum agencies based in both Sydney and London. She’d worked with aeromedical retrieval services, in both private and public hospitals, general practice clinics, private homes and even on superyachts but she’d never felt like she was stepping back in time like this. She should be in a small carriage, being pulled by a couple of horses, she decided, as she parked her little yellow car nearest the door at the top of a wide sweep of steps. She should be wearing a long, boofy dress and any second now the doors would be flung open to reveal a butler ready to show her into...ooh...a drawing room, perhaps? Or a library? She stood at the bottom of the steps for a moment longer, staring up at the walls of the house as a smile stretched across her face.
She was still smiling as she turned at the sound of gravel being spat out from beneath fast-moving tyres but it faded as an expensive-looking silver car came to a stop that was abrupt enough and close enough to send small pebbles to hit her boots and it was completely gone by the time the driver emerged from the car and walked towards her.
* * *
Wow...
It wasn’t a coherent word in Lachlan’s head. This was more like a sensation that had started in his eyes but was now trickling down to every cell in his body. A rather overwhelming sensation but that was entirely appropriate, given that he was actually walking towards what had to be the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen in his life.
She had blonde hair that didn’t quite touch her shoulders and it was parted in the middle. Not quite curly but wavy enough to make a delicious frame for a face that was, quite simply, perfect. Big blue eyes. A cute snub nose. A generous mouth that looked as if it was made for laughter.
The rest of her body was just as amazing. It only took the briefest of glances to take in slim legs covered in faded denim and tucked into knee-high boots, a soft white shirt that hung loose onto her hips. The denim waistcoat and a couple of unusual, silver chain necklaces told him instantly that this woman had her own style and personality. That she was...different...
It was only a fraction of time before he looked back at her face but there was no hint of a smile there. That didn’t stop Lachlan from finding his own—the one that never failed.
‘My day just got a whole lot better,’ he told her. ‘If you’re the Felicity Stephens that’s come from London Locums, that is.’
She was staring at him.
‘If you’re who I think you are, I was told that you’re a doctor?’
‘That’s right. I’m Lachlan McKendry. It’s my—’
She interrupted him. ‘A plastic surgeon, yes?’
‘Also correct.’ That direct stare was a little disconcerting now. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Well, I’m wondering if it’s in a professional capacity that you’re assessing my body in quite such an obvious manner.’ There was a definite hint of a smile on her face now, as she turned away from him. ‘I’m quite happy with my boobs as they are, thanks.’
Oh...he wanted to say that he agreed wholeheartedly but he wasn’t about to open his mouth again in a hurry. He’d never had a slap like that when he’d tried to turn on the charm. Okay...flirt a little. Who wouldn’t when they met the most beautiful girl in the world? And maybe that was the problem. Looking like that, this locum nurse probably had to deal with being hit on all the time. No wonder he had annoyed her and that was the last thing he wanted to do.
He needed to fix this.
And fast.
Felicity Stephens was the key to his being in control of this current disturbance in his life and Lachlan couldn’t afford to antagonise her. Taking the steps two at a time, he caught up with her just before she reached for the lion’s head brass door knocker. He also caught her gaze.
‘I’m so sorry, Felicity,’ he said quietly. ‘I was a little overexcited to see you—but it’s because I’ve had a rather difficult day and I suspect you might very well be the answer to my prayers.’
She held his gaze, as if gauging whether his apology was genuine or not. Lachlan could almost feel himself lowering his guard—just enough that she would see a glimpse of a version of himself that nobody ever really got to see.
She blinked. ‘And I probably overreacted,’ she said. ‘I could blame jet lag because I only got off a flight from Australia at lunchtime today. Or...’ There was a flash of humour in those astonishingly blue eyes. ‘It could be being called “Felicity” that got my back up. I’m Flick, except for official identification, like in my passport.’
Flick...
A name that was as different as she was. This woman was getting more intriguing by the minute but Lachlan didn’t say anything. He just nodded as he pushed open the enormous front door of his childhood home.
‘Please come in,’ he invited. ‘I’m quite sure that my mother is going to be just as delighted to meet you as I am.’
Copyright © 2021 by Alison Roberts
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ISBN-13: 9781488074783
A Pup to Rescue Their Hearts
Copyright © 2021 by Alison Roberts
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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A Pup to Rescue Their Hearts Page 17
