by Lucy Clark
‘Yes.’ Melissa swallowed over the lump in her throat.
‘My real sister?’
‘Yes.’
‘Fair enough.’ He raised a glass bottle of light beer to his lips and took a swig. ‘Enjoy the party.’ He took a few steps away and then turned back. ‘Oh, and Happy New Year. Hope it’s a good one for ya.’
‘Thanks. And for you, too.’
He shrugged, then was swallowed up by the throng of people. Melissa closed her eyes, trying to control the rising mix of emotions which were surging through her. Confusion, disappointment, anxiety, frustration, elation. They were all jumbling around together.
When she opened her eyes, she found Joss watching her very closely.
‘You all right?’
‘Yes.’ She let go of the breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. ‘Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.’ She pursed her lips and gazed out into the crowd standing around in the street, most of them with a drink in hand, the pub doing a roaring trade. ‘I don’t know what I was expecting, but…’ She shook her head. ‘That wasn’t it.’
‘He’s a very private man.’
‘He seems very…personable.’ She caught a glimpse of him laughing raucously with a bunch of mates.
‘He is, but the real Dex is locked up deep inside. You’re a potential threat to that. Still, he admires you for having the guts to come.’
Hope flared in Melissa’s eyes as she looked up at Joss. ‘He said that?’
‘Not in so many words, but I can read it in him.’
‘How long have you known him?’
Joss thought for a moment. ‘Well over a decade. We’ve been friends since medical school.’
‘Then you’re the perfect person.’
He eyed her sceptically. ‘The perfect person for what?’ But it was too late. He already knew what she was about to say.
‘The perfect person to help me to get to know him.’ With that, she finished the glass of refreshing ginger ale she’d been holding and smiled up at him. ‘Now, are we going to mingle some more? I’m sure there are at least another hundred people simply dying to meet me.’
Joss found it difficult to move for a second, as the smile she’d just aimed in his direction had been a bright and trusting one which had made her brown eyes sparkle with delight. Her whole being radiated instant happiness. Something stirred deep within him—a feeling he hadn’t felt for such a long time. Admiration? Attraction? Whatever it was, he didn’t want it. He just wanted to do his job, to live his life, and not have to worry about the pain and consternation pretty women caused.
Still, he played the host and stayed by her side, watching the relaxed and friendly way she was with everyone they met. As he’d predicted, the men in the town most certainly appreciated the new doctor, but where he saw leering grins and ulterior motives Melissa saw only Outback hospitality and friendliness.
When the time came for the big countdown there were quite a few men standing close to her, getting ready to swoop down and kiss her as midnight arrived. She was jostled from behind, and it was purely a protective instinct which made him put his arm around her. He steadied her and decided to let his arm stay exactly where it was, glad of the excuse to draw her a little closer to him, away from the men around them.
‘Get ready everyone,’ the Mayor called from the small podium which had been hastily erected in the centre of the only crossroad in town. There was an enormous crowd, and they were all packed in like sheep around the stage. ‘It’s time for the final countdown.’
‘Ten!’
‘Nine!’
‘Eight!’
Melissa was pushed again from behind, and felt Joss’s arm tighten around her. She couldn’t help the tingles which spread through her body at his touch. Was he protecting her from the other men crowded around them? Or was he displaying an interest which was more than friendship for his new colleague? She wasn’t at all sure, but decided the easiest thing she could do was to do nothing.
What she did know was that, whatever cologne Joss wore, the spicy, heady scent was driving her to distraction. The warmth of his arm against her skin almost burned through her sun-dress, and as the countdown got lower she found her mouth going dry.
‘Three!’
It was getting closer. Melissa parted her lips, the pent-up air escaping. No man had kissed her since Renulf, and whilst she knew this kiss wouldn’t really be real, in that it wouldn’t mean anything, she was still a little over-awed at the prospect of a total stranger kissing her. It was also very exciting.
‘Two!’
She licked her lips and turned to look up at him.
‘One!’
His arm tightened, drawing her closer.
‘Happy New Year!’ everyone yelled, and Joss looked down into her upturned face. It was only then she realised that, thankfully, he’d removed the ridiculous corked hat.
‘Happy New Year, Lis.’
‘Happy New Year, Joss.’
And, with that, he bent his head and brushed his lips across hers.
CHAPTER TWO
SHOCK.
It was the first emotion he felt. Shock. The way the touch of his mouth against hers, even though it was the most whisperish of kisses, made his body tense with the excited need for more.
Simple.
This wasn’t supposed to be a complicated moment. It was New Year and he was fulfilling the tradition to kiss the woman nearest to him as a token of celebration. The fact that he’d made sure Melissa was the woman nearest to him was purely for the sake of the clinic. Now, though, now that his mouth was on hers, the innocent pressure increasing to something signifying more than innocence, Joss wondered at the deeper psychology of his actions.
He edged away, allowing the smallest breath of air to flow between them. He stared at her, unsure of what had just happened.
Melissa had never in all her years been kissed with such delicacy. It was supposed to be a simple New Year’s kiss, and as the countdown had fallen she’d looked at the strangers around her and been ever so grateful when Joss had slipped his arm about her waist.
Then, when she’d looked up at him, the world around her had melted away. The throng of people had become nonexistent as she’d waited with mounting apprehension for his lips to be pressed to hers. Now that they had she couldn’t believe the way her heart was pounding double time against her chest. Nor the way her stomach seemed to be flip-flopping with delight. Or the way her knees had turned to jelly, causing her to lean into him some more. The hard, solid muscle of his chest pressed up against her, filling her with overwhelming warmth and excitement.
They were jostled again from behind, and Melissa stared up at Joss as he stared down at her. Both of them were looking at each other with wide-eyed shock and surprise. What was meant to be a brief peck of a New Year’s kiss had turned into something more…something untapped…something sensual.
Fireworks were bursting high above them, spreading their colour, sound and smell far and wide in the cloudless night sky. As the loud bang from the explosions reverberated around them she felt as though her own set of fireworks were going off inside her. Honestly, what had just happened?
‘Right. Now, move over, Doc,’ a bloke said from just behind Joss. ‘It’s my turn.’
‘And then me,’ another said.
‘I’m next in line,’ chorused yet another.
Joss broke his gaze from Melissa’s to turn and look at the men in question. ‘This isn’t a kissing booth,’ he joked as he took a step away from her, needing some distance. ‘You’ve gotta wait for the Australia Day Fair for that to happen.’ It was a throwaway line, and said in complete jest, but that wasn’t the way it was taken.
‘The new sheila doc’s doing a kissing booth at the Fair?’ one of them asked.
‘Whoo-ee!’ The other clapped his hands together. ‘I’ll be looking forward to that.’
‘No. That’s not what I mea—’ Joss tried, but it was too late. Word was spreading like wildfire, and he looked
down at Melissa and shrugged.
‘There’s a kissing booth at the Australia Day Fair?’ she asked, a little perplexed at this town’s idiosyncrasies. ‘Bit outdated, isn’t it?’
Joss crossed his arms over his chest. ‘Outdated, eh? What would you suggest in order to bring Didja into the present century? A booth where you can dunk someone in water?’
‘Well, why not? It’s still fun.’
‘Would you be willing to be dunked?’
‘Better than a kissing booth,’ she murmured, trying not to speak too loud in case she offended any of the men surrounding her. ‘And by outdated I meant that in this day and age, with knowledge about communicable diseases and the like…’
‘So you’re telling me you’ve just given me a disease?’
‘That’s not what I meant.’ Melissa sighed, feeling completely exasperated. What had happened in the last few seconds? One moment Joss had been kissing her, and now he seemed to be teasing her. She just didn’t understand.
She hadn’t come here to become romantically involved with anyone. In fact, it was the last thing on her mind. One failed engagement was enough for her, and when Renulf had ended the engagement she’d once more been left all alone. Scared and alone. It had seemed to be the way her life was destined to be…until Dex had agreed to meet her. Therefore romantic entanglements were way, way down on her list of priorities.
So where did that delicious kiss from Joss fit into her new world? He was her colleague, her new boss and her neighbour. He was Dex’s best friend. She shook her head, unable to believe she’d allowed herself to lose her head for a moment. She would forget it had ever happened. That was what she’d do. Joss certainly seemed unaffected by it. And yet…the feel of his mouth brushing across hers was still so very real, so very new, and her heart was still racing from…
‘Hello, darl. This must be the newest addition to our family.’
Melissa’s attention was wrenched away from her confusing thoughts about Joss as she was enveloped in a warm hug from a woman just a little shorter than her.
‘Welcome, darl. I’m Bub.’
‘Oh. The nurse from the hospital.’
Bub smiled at her. ‘Glad to see Josiah has covered all the important particulars. That and making sure you had someone to kiss at midnight.’ Bub chuckled as she spoke.
Good Lord. Had the whole town seen their kiss? Inside Melissa was mortified—not because Joss had kissed her, but because she’d allowed him to. Two seconds in this town and she’d completely lost all her common sense.
Deciding it was best not to say anything at all, Melissa merely smiled politely and glanced at Joss. He was raking both hands through his hair, which only made him look more gorgeous with the way it spiked out at different angles. She looked back at Bub, wanting to move away from the subject of the kiss, which was still causing havoc within her body.
‘I hear you rule the hospital with a heart of gold and a rod of iron?’
Bub laughed loudly. ‘Sounds like something my Josiah would say. Honestly, though, between him and Dex I have to rule it with a rod of iron. Two boys, playing around in a big world and having fun. That’s not what medicine is all about. It’s serious business.’ Although Bub’s words were spoken sternly, Melissa could see the twinkle in her eyes as she looked up at Joss.
‘Agreed.’
‘It’s going to be nice having another sheila around full-time.’ Bub hugged Melissa close again. ‘Welcome to Didja, darl, and don’t you ever think of leaving.’
‘Oh.’ Melissa wasn’t sure what to say to that. She hadn’t actually thought about what she’d do once the contract was over. ‘I’ll…uh…’
‘What am I saying?’ Bub tapped her forehead absentmindedly. ‘Of course you’re not going to leave—not when your brother’s here.’ She looked around. ‘Speaking of which—where is Dex? I thought he would have been over here with you to see in the New Year. It’s a new start for you two. Happy families.’
‘I hope so.’ Melissa’s words were spoken softly. Dex hadn’t minded her coming to Didja, but neither had he been enthused. His reception tonight had only confirmed that. But Melissa was a woman on a mission—a mission to get to know her brother. He was all she had left and she had a whole year to make it work.
‘Dex?’ Joss, who towered above both women, looked around the crowd. He needed some space between himself and Melissa, and finding Dex might be just the diversion he was looking for. ‘I think I saw him go back into the pub.’
‘Sounds like Dex. He likes being surrounded by people. Well…girls mainly—but still, as he’s such a good-looking bloke, it seems only natural.’ Bub looked at Melissa. ‘You’ve met him, right?’
‘Joss introduced us,’ Melissa agreed, but it was difficult to hide the hint of disappointment she’d felt at Dex’s reception.
‘He’ll come around.’ Bub patted her arm, clearly picking up on the undertones. ‘Give him time. Dex’s the type of man who takes for ever and a day to process information. Having a sister he knows nothing about turn up in town—well, it’s bound to shake a man and make him really take a good look at his life. Everything will work out fine. I have a good feeling about it.’
‘Thank you, Bub. It’s kind of you to say so.’ Melissa had taken an instant liking to the woman before her, and was pleased she seemed to have at least one ally. Was Joss an ally, too? She wasn’t sure at this stage.
‘Good girl.’ Bub looked up at Joss. ‘Now, as you’re still protecting Melissa from the throng of would-be sloppy kissers—which, I must say, was a very good idea on your part—why not take her into the pub and get her another drink? This is a brand-new day of a brand-new year.’ Bub looked pointedly from one to the other. ‘Anything can happen.’
As they entered the pub, which was chock-full of people, a chorus of ‘Happy New Year!’ went up and more glasses were clinked in celebration. The publicans behind the bar were working hard, but still enjoying themselves in the festivities.
‘Looks as though it’s going to be an interesting night,’ Joss said close to her ear. She could feel him standing behind her, the warmth from his body surrounding her. ‘Let’s see if we can’t score a couple of chairs and possibly a table.’
‘Hey! Doc! Over here,’ someone called, and Joss placed his hand in the small of Melissa’s back and urged her in the direction of Nev and Kev, two men in their early twenties.
‘Happy New Year!’ both men chorused.
‘Happy New Year!’ the crowd roared again.
‘Happy New Year,’ Joss and Melissa replied, more sedately. Joss made the introductions and Nev quickly stood to offer his chair to Melissa.
‘Thank you.’
‘Anything for you.’ The young man looked at her as though she’d just hung the moon. It was an odd sensation to be such a superstar in a town where you didn’t know anyone. ‘I hear you’re doing a kissing booth at the Aussie Day Fair?’
Melissa turned to glare at Joss, who merely grinned. ‘Actually, I’m not,’ she told Nev. ‘Sorry.’
‘Oh.’ He looked so disappointed Melissa almost thought about feeling bad. She shook her head as though to clear it. This was a new year and she wasn’t going to be a people-pleaser any more, just to keep the peace. She started chatting with Nev and Kev, asking them to tell her more about the town.
Joss listened and watched the way she interacted with them. He wasn’t at all sure what was wrong with him. He sat there in a crowded pub, aware of no one else but the woman beside him. Mesmerising. That was what she was. Mesmerising Melissa. He still couldn’t believe he’d kissed her. It was New Year’s Eve. It was supposed to be an innocent little kiss.
She had a nice smooth voice, sweet and sultry. The desire to lean over and press another delightful kiss to those lips was almost irresistible. To think of her doing a kissing booth…To think of other men wanting to sample that perfect mouth of hers…A powerful, protective need surged through him and he was astonished by the ferocity of it.
He needed room
. Air. Anything. He stood up too quickly, accidentally knocking his chair to the ground. A few people turned to look; others just cheered and called ‘Happy New Year’ again. Nev, Kev and Melissa were all looking up at him with surprise.
‘Just going to go get a drink.’ He righted his chair. ‘Ahh…Melissa? What can I get for you?’
‘The line-up at the bar’s a mile long,’ Kev told him.
‘That’s OK.’ He needed distance between himself and his new colleague. ‘I don’t mind.’
‘Ginger ale would be fine,’ she told him, when he looked at her again. He really did have the most piercing and gorgeous blue eyes. She had the feeling she could simply look into them all day long and do nothing else but sigh. At that thought, she quickly turned her head. ‘Uh…thank you,’ she added.
‘Right.’ He took drink orders from Nev and Kev before disappearing.
‘So…you’re Doc Dex’s sister, eh?’
‘That’s right.’
‘The one he didn’t know he had?’
‘That’s right,’ she answered again, forcing a smile.
‘We should get him over here. Best you two start to get to know each other, eh?’
Before Melissa could say a word Nev was calling Dex’s name, even though no one seemed to know where Dex was.
Joss stood in line at the bar and watched Melissa closely. At least with a bit of distance between them he felt a little safer. The woman had incredible brown eyes, soft skin, silky hair and a gorgeous mouth. He closed his eyes, blocking the image of her from sight.
Who was she? She’d burst into his life a few short hours ago and ever since he’d been hard pressed to stop thinking about her. She intrigued him no end, and no woman had intrigued him this much since Christina. That in itself should be evidence enough for him to keep as far, far away from Melissa Clarkson as possible.
‘Dude? You OK?’
Joss opened his eyes and looked directly at Dex. ‘What are you doing here? You should go and talk to Melissa.’
Dex shrugged. ‘Maybe later.’
‘She’s here, Dex. She’s come to Didja to get to know you.’
‘I thought she’d come to be our OB/GYN for a year.’
