Hard to admit, but she’d missed him. Badly. The week at the other location had been exciting. Different vehicles to work on, some of which she’d never seen, meaning she’d had the challenge of learning about new parts, layout, and engineering. But at the end of each shift she went to the dining hall alone, bolted down her meal, and tried not to look for a certain handsome doctor who wasn’t there. She may as well face it: she enjoyed time with him, no matter how often her head cautioned her heart to back away.
Aware of her appearance and pungent odor, she cringed. Would she be able to stay downwind of Ron? If he thought their last conversation was awkward, wait until he got a whiff of her on the way to the barracks. Should she turn him down to prevent embarrassment for them both or just give him fair warning?
His smile wavered, and he ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry. Did you have plans? I shouldn’t have assumed you were free.”
“No.” She held up her hand. “That’s not it. I’ve…uh…been working, and I’m not exactly fresh as a daisy. Are you sure you want to be close to me?” Her face warmed. Great. Now she’d drawn attention to how dirty and unfeminine she was. She wouldn’t have to worry about him wanting to pursue a relationship after all. If she was lucky, he’d still want to be friends at a minimum, but perhaps after she’d showered.
“As a physician, I’m not put off by a little bit of perspiration.”
“How about a lot?”
He threw back his head and laughed. Long and hard.
Her cheeks heated even more, and she scowled. “Are you making fun of me?”
“Absolutely not.” Still smiling, he crooked his elbow. “I’d be honored to walk you home if you’ll allow me.”
Doris shook her head. “I’ll walk with you but without any contact.”
“Fair enough, but there’s no need to be embarrassed.” He reached over and tugged on a stray lock of hair that had tumbled from under her cap. “You’re more beautiful than any gal, even after a full day at work.”
“Let’s keep the compliments to a minimum.”
He shrugged. “Okay, but at some point I will convince you of your loveliness, both on the inside and the outside.”
To avoid responding, she picked up the toolbox and set it on the bench, so it would be ready for the next shift. A quick glance around the garage told her everything else was stowed away. She’d stalled long enough. “I’m ready.” She stuffed her hands into her pockets and sauntered out of the building by his side.
Ron rubbed his jaw. “Look, before we talk about anything else, I wanted you to know I’ve given our conversation a lot of thought, and I want to apologize for my behavior.”
She opened her mouth to reply, but he held up his hand.
“You are right when you say my behavior is erratic. I don’t want to be overbearing and obnoxious, but those traits keep winning out over the man I’m trying to become. Please forgive me. I’d like to be your friend, if you’ll let me.”
“Friends?”
“Yes. I’d like more, but you don’t, so I need to respect your decision.”
She tugged at the collar of her shirt that suddenly felt too tight. “I like this man better than the obnoxious one.” She liked him a lot.
“Me, too.”
The sun hadn’t quite dropped behind the trees, and the fiery ball cast shards of orange, pink, and red across the meadows that flanked the path leading to the stone cottage that had been converted to lodging for the medics and Red Cross girls. The so-called cottage was larger than any of the mansions on the rich side of town at home. The nurses stayed in another building farther down the lane.
“This property is something else, isn’t it?” Doris gestured toward the vacant stables that could easily house two dozen horses. Maybe more. “The garage is nicer than my parents’ place. Do the owners use all this space?”
He nodded. “A tremendous number of staff are required for the upkeep of an estate like this. Even more were necessary in decades and centuries past when the tasks were all done by hand, without benefit of machinery.”
“I didn’t think about the lack of modern conveniences causing so much work. Life is easier for us, isn’t it?”
“I take it your quarters are acceptable?”
“They’re gorgeous. Gleaming wood floors, lovely wainscoting, and lots of windows. Spacious, too.”
“Excellent. How many gals share your room?”
“Two, but one of the gals works nights, so we rarely see each other. Apparently, she’s always worked the eleven-to-seven and volunteered for it as soon as she arrived.”
“I don’t mind nights once in a while, but I wouldn’t want to make a career of it.”
“Me, neither.”
“If we’re going to be friends, I want to tell you a bit about my history, so you’re not blindsided later.”
Her mouth went dry. “Should I be worried?”
“I’ll let you decide.” Ron nudged her shoulder. “Kidding. I’m kidding.” He cleared his throat. “I was engaged once.”
Doris gasped then clapped her hand over her mouth.
“You’re shocked anyone would want to marry me, aren’t you?” His smile took the sting from his words.
“No.”
“It’s okay. I’m as astounded as you, but she came to her senses before the process went too far. She’s a lovely girl, and she’ll make some lucky guy a wonderful wife. A man better than me. Someone who will cherish her as I should have before I let my schooling and my profession take the front seat in our relationship.” He pulled at his ear. “Residency is brutal on both the doctor and his family. We work horrendous hours, often sleeping at the hospital. When we do go home, we’re groggy and irascible. Phoebe grew tired of excuses as to why I was too busy to see her or help plan our wedding.”
“You didn’t have a choice about the hours you were putting in.”
“I should have made her a priority in my life, or I shouldn’t have asked her to marry me until after I’d completed the residency, and perhaps even waiting until I’d set up my practice.”
“Well, it’s her loss.”
Ron turned toward her, his eyebrow raised. “You think I’m a catch?”
“With a little bit of work, yes.”
He snorted a laugh. “Touché.”
She giggled, and her palms slicked with moisture. It felt good to laugh and shed the day’s stresses.
“What about you? Any boyfriends or fiancés in your past?”
“I dated occasionally but nothing serious. To be honest, most guys can’t seem to get past my height.”
“The male ego is a fragile thing.”
“Apparently.” She shot him a wry smile. “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
He grabbed his chest and feigned a heart attack. “If only you knew how sensitive a guy I really am.”
“I’m beginning to realize it.”
They approached the cottage, and Doris quelled her disappointment. She’d enjoyed the walk more than she wanted to acknowledge. Being hurt in the past needed to stay in the past. She shouldn’t let the bruises cloud her willingness to explore another relationship, but the regret in Ron’s voice was heavy when he spoke about Phoebe. Was he still in love with her?
Doris wrapped her arms around her middle. “Thanks for walking me back. I’ll see you…uh…sometime.”
“Your forgiveness means a lot, Doris. If I keep messing up, I’m afraid you’ll give up on me. I promised you we could be friends, and only friends, but I hope you’ll consider something more eventually. You’re an alluring, intelligent woman who takes away my breath. And you keep me on my toes. I like that.” He leaned toward her, eyes glittering with desire.
Her breath caught as he pressed his mouth on hers, warm and inviting.
In an instant, his lips were gone. He touched the brim of his hat. “Good night, Doris.”
Heart hammering, she stumbled inside, then closed
the door and leaned against it. Was there a future with this man who infuriated her one minute and tantalized her the next?
Chapter Twenty
Doris rolled over in bed and put the pillow over her face to block out the sunshine that streamed through the window. Suffocating, she groaned and tossed the cushion away, then sat up with a yawn. Two days had passed since Ron walked her home and made his intentions clear. Forty-eight hours of avoiding him so she could figure out what she wanted, how she could juggle her job and fears with her growing feelings for him.
He’d given her space, waving from afar in the dining hall and twice outside the hospital when she caught sight of him on her way to the garage. His smile was wide and genuine, setting off twinges of guilt about her inability to make up her mind. Her stomach quivered as if the entire cast of Swan Lake performed inside her belly. She’d never felt like this in the past when she was sure she was in love.
Sheryl worked the last two nights so wasn’t available for Doris to consult. Instead, she’d argued with herself nearly every waking moment, which had been entirely unproductive. She practically sleepwalked through her days then tossed and turned once she’d crawled into bed.
She owed Ron an explanation and sooner rather than later. His patience had to be wearing thin. Hers certainly was, and she was the culprit.
The door to the bedroom opened and hit the wall with a bang.
Doris jolted.
“Sorry, Doris.”
Her roommates, who both worked nights, stumbled into the room. Sleep was definitely no longer an option even if she wanted to.
“I’m getting up anyway. Anything special I should be aware of today?”
“Yeah, ambulance number three threw a rod, and number eight got a hole in the oil pan, so it needs to be replaced.”
Good. A full day of challenge to keep her mind and hands occupied. She’d volunteer to handle both of them. “Thanks.” She slipped from the bed, grabbed her clothes, and headed for the bathroom to change, so the exhausted girls could hit the hay immediately.
A quick fifteen minutes later, she was ready for work. She hurried out of the cottage and headed to the hospital, where she could grab a quick bite before clocking in. She wasn’t very hungry, but the work required on the two malfunctioning vehicles meant she would miss lunch.
She ascended the stairs into the building then made her way toward the cafeteria. The familiar aroma of fried potatoes melded with the scent of sausage, or bangers as the British called them, wafted through the corridor. Different from the American version, she’d grown to love the spicy meat.
Half-full, the room buzzed with conversation punctuated with laughter and the clank of cutlery on metal trays. Doctors, nurses, medics, orderlies, mechanics, and administrative staff mingled regardless of hierarchy. Doris smiled. Next to working on the vehicles, the casual familiarity among the employees was her favorite thing about being stationed here.
She queued up behind a trio of nurses in the food line. They chattered like magpies while they moved forward and selected their meals. She followed along, mouthwatering at the choices. One of the cooks had made fresh biscuits, and a bowl of oranges beckoned from the tea station. The Red Cross was well connected, but she hadn’t seen citrus since her arrival. The succulent fruit would go like lemonade on a hot day in Georgia.
Her tray full, she surveyed the room for an empty spot near the window so she could soak up some sun. With both vehicles out of commission, she wouldn’t be able to get them outside the garage to work in the beautiful weather. In the far corner, a group of doctors rose and vacated a perfect location. She gripped her tray tighter and threaded her way through the crowd to the table then sat with a sigh.
Bowing her head, she gave thanks for the meal. And Lord, please help me figure out what to do with my battered heart. Ron deserves an answer. She opened her eyes then swallowed a laugh. Apparently, God thought it was time to handle the situation. Ron stood by the table, tray in hand, and a questioning look on his face.
“Would you like to join me?”
He smiled and lowered himself into the chair across from her before setting down his food. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He took a swig of tea and grimaced. “As much as the British think their tea is better than coffee, I’ll never agree. That’s the real reason for fighting the Japs, you know. They’ve taken all the islands we need for coffee, rubber, and silk, but mostly coffee.”
She snickered. He had such a great sense of humor. “Not me. You can have it.” She speared a potato chunk and poked it into her mouth so she wouldn’t have to talk. Let him carry the conversation.
Ron spread jam on his toast then piled a bit of scrambled eggs on top of the bread before taking a bite of the concoction.
“Eww. You ruined a perfectly good piece of toast with that move.” She wrinkled her nose and ate more potatoes. She’d save the orange for later.
“Your problem is being a finicky eater. All the food goes the same place. What does it matter how I eat it?”
“First of all, I don’t have a problem with my eating habits.” She cocked her head and grinned to show she knew he was kidding. “Second, the chef would be horrified to see what you’ve done with his creation.”
He wiped his lips with a napkin and returned her smile.
Her gaze went to his mouth, and her face warmed when she realized he noticed her attention. She took a swig of water then coughed when it went down the wrong way. Covering her mouth with a napkin, she hacked and wheezed. If she wasn’t choking to death, she’d roll her eyes at herself for yet another ungraceful moment. What did he see in her?
Ron jumped up and stroked her back.
A few more coughs, then the pain in her lungs eased, and she took a tentative breath. Her throat felt like sandpaper had scraped it, but she didn’t gag. She nodded. “Thanks. I’m okay.”
Concern etched lines on his face. “Are you sure? I’m a doctor, you know.”
“Yeah, I got that from your lightning response. You can stop rubbing my back.” She jerked her head toward the diners. “They might think you’ve changed disciplines to massage therapy.”
He dropped his hands as if scalded then chuckled. “Got me with that one. See? Keeping me on my toes.” He picked up her glass. “You should take a few sips to ease the roughness in your throat.”
“You really are a physician, aren’t you?” She grinned and allowed him to hold the cup up to her lips. “Your medical knowledge is astounding.”
“Award winning.”
She took the glass from him, and their fingers brushed, sending tingles up her arm. Yeah, she had it bad, and there was no time like the present to tell him. How would her revelation change things?
j
Ron bent over Doris and evaluated her condition. She seemed recovered, but something was amiss. Myriad emotions flitted across her flushed face. Pink from exertion, the color was also a result of embarrassment as chagrin settled into place in her expression. His heart rate returned to normal.
She waved him back into his seat, and he acquiesced.
“Thanks. If I can’t handle my drink, how am I going to manage with dangerous tools today? Could get dicey in the garage.”
He loved how she tried to laugh off her discomfort, and he would play along so she could regain her composure. “Perhaps cutting gloves from the kitchen are in order. Should you call out sick…or incapacitated? I could give you a doctor’s note.” He pretended to pull a pen from his jacket pocket.
“Would you? That’d be great.” She snickered, a musical sound that made his brain turn to mush. His chest tightened. She’d called his bluff in such a delightful way.
Setting down her glass, she folded her arms, and her expression sobered, but the ghost of a smile continued to tug at her lips. “Listen, Ron. I’m glad you came by. And not just for saving me from a choking attack. I wanted to talk to you…not that this is the best place, but our paths rarely cross elsewhere. I’m sorry I�
�ve been such a mess about whether to be friends…or more. If you can’t already tell, I’m terrified for a lot of reasons, and I’m still not convinced starting a relationship in the middle of a war is the best idea, but I’d like to give it a try. That didn’t sound too good, did it?” She sighed. “I’m rambling, aren’t I? Believe it or not, I rehearsed what I wanted to say.”
His breath whooshed out as if he’d been struck, and he gripped the table to keep from leaping up and grabbing her in an embrace that might squeeze the life from her. Doris cared about him. She didn’t say the words, but her body language told him what he needed to know.
“Say something. Is it too late? Have you given up on me?” A frown creased her forehead.
“No. Frankly, I’m stunned…but in a good way.” He allowed himself to reach for her hand, and she nestled her fingers in his, deepening the desire to draw her to him. “I’ve got news about the transfer I told you about. I hope you’ll be as thrilled as I am.”
Her face took on a guarded expression, and he gave himself a mental kick for his insensitivity. She must think he was leaving her behind.
“I’m taking the position at Frogmore Hospital, and you’re going with me. While speaking with the regional director, I discovered the facility is short on mechanics and drivers. They recently lost four in some sort of accident giving us the perfect opportunity to explore our relationship.”
She gaped at him, mouth moving but no sound coming out.
“Wait. That sounded too clinical.” He squeezed her hand. “I want you to be my girl, and a fresh start at a new hospital might be the ticket.”
“Are you asking me to go steady, Dr. McCann? If so, I accept, and the transfer sounds wonderful.” A shy smile lit up her face, and she returned the pressure in his fingers.
“You’ve made me the happiest man on earth, Miss Strealer.”
Her smile turned saucy. “You’re welcome, Dr. McCann.”
His guffaw split the air, and the group at the next table turned to stare for a brief moment. “You are a firecracker. The assignment starts on Monday, so we’ve got a few days to tie up our work here and do any turnover required.” He rubbed his hands together.
The Mechanic & the MD Page 11
