Reforming the Playboy

by Karin Baine

  ‘Good.’

  ‘Did, uh, Hunter pick you up from the hospital?’ She was grasping for a rational, painless explanation for his absence. If Gray had discharged himself, as she suspected, he would’ve sworn any accomplice to secrecy until the deed was done.

  ‘I phoned a cab. Where is he anyway?’ He turned his head as much as his injury would allow to scour the building.

  ‘He had to...er...take care of something. I said I would manage here until he got back.’ The lie burned her tongue as well as her cheeks in the knowledge he hadn’t trusted her with any such courtesy.

  As it turned out, Hunter didn’t make an appearance until training was over, and then without a hint of urgency in his swagger.

  ‘You do know the season isn’t over yet?’ Gray arched an eyebrow at him, clearly not amused by his sudden unreliability.

  Hunter shrugged off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. ‘I do know and I’m here with plenty of time to spare before the big game.’

  ‘I hope so, for your sake.’

  ‘Uh, Gray? I need to have a word with you. In private.’ He flicked a glance at Charlotte, sufficient to justify her paranoia.

  Only a few hours ago he hadn’t wanted to leave her side. Now it appeared she was somehow in the way, a nuisance he couldn’t wait to be rid of.

  ‘Don’t mind me. I’m only here to do a job after all.’ She bristled past the two men before her anguish at her dismissal manifested in not very professional tears of self-pity.

  When it came to Hunter choosing between her and, well, anything, she knew she’d lose every time.

  ‘I do hope your personal problems aren’t leaking into your career prospects again,’ Gray said as they both watched Charlotte storm off.

  There was no point in pretending he had the wrong idea about their relationship when she showed her emotions so clearly for everyone to see. Right now, they could both see she was royally ticked off at him.

  ‘That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid and why I wanted to talk to you.’ He inhaled a lungful of air to fortify himself. It wasn’t going to be an easy conversation with any of those affected by his future plans.

  Gray fixed him with a steely stare. ‘You’ve been given a second chance here.’

  ‘For which I’ll be eternally in your debt. I don’t want to mess things up with Alfie, that’s why I’ve had to make a few tough decisions.’

  ‘That doesn’t sound good. You do know I’m recovering from my injuries here and my team, which has just been in a road accident, is about to play in the final? Couldn’t this wait?’

  Hunter understood Gray’s frustration. It was bad timing, like every other major event in his life. The difference was that he was taking control this time, not simply letting events carry him along.

  * * *

  Work got in the way of the talk he so desperately needed to have with Charlotte. Although they’d been given the all-clear last night, a lot of the guys were suffering from more aches and pains than usual as a result of the accident. The trauma and exposure had kept him up to his elbows in deep-tissue massages for most of the morning. He was running out of time to set the record straight with her but he couldn’t let the team down now. This was the last time he’d have the opportunity to show Gray he’d been worth the risk. If he got the Demons fighting fit to win this final they might forgive him for trying to walk out on them. Even if Charlotte couldn’t.

  They kept missing each other, with players coming and going between them, and having to grab breaks where they could. Not that this conversation was ever going to be one they could squeeze in between patients.

  It wasn’t until near the end of the game she ventured down into the tunnel, away from the bench and a mass audience.

  ‘About this morning...’ This wasn’t the time or place he’d been hoping to have this conversation, with the soundtrack of bodies slamming into the hoardings playing in the background, but he needed to explain what had happened.

  ‘Is it a done deal?’

  ‘Pardon?’ Her need to get straight to the point always threw him. That’s why it had made her reluctance to talk through the end of their relationship so hard to come to terms with.

  ‘Is it too late?’

  ‘For what?’

  ‘Us.’

  It took a moment for the line of her questioning to register and when it did it felt as though a weight had been lifted off his chest. That didn’t mean he was happy to be left guessing exactly what it was she wanted this time.

  ‘What are you saying, Charlotte? It was only yesterday you were telling me there was no way this could work, that you didn’t want to be part of my and Alfie’s lives.’ He still had to be careful that she meant this—that she knew exactly what she was getting into and didn’t run out on him again when it hit home.

  ‘I was scared, Hunter, afraid to get close in case I’m not enough to keep you happy. Last night when I thought you might get hurt...it made me realise it doesn’t matter how much I fight it, I’m already in love with you. I’m sorry I let my fears get in the way of what we had, what we could have if you’ll still have me. I should’ve been prepared to take a risk, the way you did in letting me into your life with Alfie. Is there still a chance? Do you love me?’ She barely took a breath and left Hunter dizzy with the rapid speed of her admissions, but there was only one thing that mattered at the end of all this. She loved him.

  ‘Of course I love you!’ When she’d been hurt last night it had become very clear to him how much she meant to him. He would’ve swapped places with her himself if he’d been able to and taken away even the slightest discomfort for her. He loved her and it was time to stop running away from the fact.

  When she’d had doubts about being part of his family he’d snatched hold of that excuse and used it to justify a move to London. She was right, the first sign of trouble and his instinct was to run. Not any more. This time he was prepared to stay and fight.

  Last night had made him see everything in a different light. She hadn’t given a thought for her own safety in the chaos, following him back to the accident site to ensure his. Then there’d been her concern for Alfie, the boy she’d tried to convince herself and him she could never get close to. They were meant to be together, to be a family, if only they could face their fears instead of being overwhelmed by them.

  She took a deep breath. ‘That’s all I needed to know... If London is where you’re going to be, I’ll come too. I’m sure I can set up my practice there just as easily. I’ll do whatever it takes for us to make a real go of this. You and Alfie are worth the risk.’ Her smile as she handed her heart to him on a plate just about broke him. He’d never imagined anyone could love him enough to give up everything for him.

  ‘You would really do that?’

  ‘I’ll go and hand my resignation in to Gray as soon as the match is over.’

  ‘You don’t have to, Charlotte. I’m not going to London. I met with CC this morning to tell him I’m staying put. Everything I want is in Ireland and right here.’ When he’d sat at that desk across from his prospective new boss and the life he’d laid out before him it had all seemed so cold and impersonal without Charlotte in it. He’d almost had the perfect family he’d always wanted and had been close to throwing it all away. He’d been willing to crawl to the ends of the earth to retrieve that final missing piece of the puzzle. Charlotte had simply got there first. ‘Perhaps I was keeping you at a bit of a distance because I was worried I’d hurt you the way I hurt Sara. There’s one glaringly obvious difference between then and now. I never loved her the way I love you.’

  ‘But—but what about Gray? Have you handed in your resignation already?’

  ‘That’s why I wanted to speak to him, for confirmation I would still have a job with the Demons next season so I know I have something to offer you other than another
dead-in-the-water career.’ He’d been honest with Gray about what had happened, risking their friendship over the betrayal, but he was a father too and he’d understood his motives. Right before he’d told him to move his butt and get back to work before face-off.

  Goal!

  As they turned to face each other and confront the situation, the celebrations around the arena stalled the response he’d been waiting to hear all day. They were so locked in that moment, intent on finally resolving their status, neither even turned to see who’d scored. Although they did share a smile when the announcement came that Anderson had put the Demons ahead.

  ‘I guess our jobs are safe for another season, huh?’ He cracked a joke because he was afraid those three words he’d waited a lifetime to say had come too late. This wasn’t Hollywood, there was no guarantee they’d just run titles and walk off into the sunset because he’d broken out the ‘I love you’ speech.

  Charlotte was stunned by the news that he’d given up a new job and a move to London all for her. ‘You really mean it?’

  ‘I really mean it.’

  He grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest. A definite ploy to stop her from thinking straight when that solid muscle beneath her fingers brought back memories of their night together, exploring each other’s bodies until she’d known every inch of him.

  ‘Do you feel that? My heart is pumping with adrenaline, waiting for you to tell me that you want to be with me and Alfie.’

  ‘You were, are, the best thing to ever happen to me. I didn’t know what living was until you two came along.’

  She could tell how much he’d struggled, trying to combine parenthood with everything else. The worry lines were etched deeply on his brow and she dared to move closer to test the theory this wasn’t the same man who’d planned to run away from her when the going got tough.

  ‘I love you, Charlotte. I still want that fresh start but this time I want it with you. No secrets, no pretending I know what’s best for everyone else, just open and honest discussion about what we want, or where we go, as a family.’

  ‘A family?’ She needed someone to pinch her and prove this was real, not a dream conjured up by her broken heart.

  ‘You. Me. Alfie. Together. For ever.’

  ‘I couldn’t think of anything more perfect.’ She wound her arms around his neck and snuggled in close, willing to risk everything she had for a chance of happiness.

  Somewhere far away the final klaxon sounded and declared the Demons play-off champions, but it was Charlotte who felt like the real winner now they’d both shaken off the shadows of the past for a future together.

  EPILOGUE

  ‘HOW DID IT GO?’ Charlotte hadn’t been able to settle all afternoon, waiting to hear how Hunter’s meeting had gone with Alfie’s teacher.

  It had been a whirlwind of a year for all of them and she hoped it hadn’t affected his schoolwork. There’d been the move into the cottage and getting used to living together as a family and the rushed wedding when they’d decided life was too short to waste any more time. It was a lot for a young boy to deal with all at once.

  And her.

  That parental guilt she’d worried about all along had well and truly kicked in but she wouldn’t be without either of them for the world.

  Hunter sat on the end of her desk. ‘It went great. Mrs Patterson said he’s top of the class for reading and maths.’

  She could stop sweating now she’d been reassured his new stepmother wasn’t responsible for a decline in his grades. He didn’t appear unhappy with the new arrangement, he was as good as gold for her. She simply worried constantly about his well-being. It was taking a lot of willpower not to become a helicopter parent. Especially when she might be in danger of upsetting the family dynamic again.

  ‘I’m so glad. He’s been through a lot.’

  ‘To quote his favourite teacher, “He’s a happy, well-adjusted little boy.”’

  Hearing that made her well up because it was so important to her. Plus she was a tad hormonal these days.

  ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t make it in time. My appointment overran, otherwise I would’ve been there too.’

  ‘I know, sweetheart. It’s fine. You were there for his school play when I couldn’t make it. That’s part of the reason we make such a good team. There will always be at least one of us there waving pom-poms for him.’

  It was true, they were a great team in all aspects of their lives. Gray had been only too happy to sign them both on for the new season and when the office next door to hers came onto the market Hunter had been able to set his own private practice up too. They shared the parenting as much as they could, with a little help from the O’Reillys every now and then.

  ‘Where is he?’

  ‘With his grandparents. They suggested we might like to go out to dinner or something while they babysit tonight.’

  ‘Or something?’ She hadn’t missed the fact he’d locked the door on his way in. A clear indication they wouldn’t make it out in time for dinner.

  His cheeky grin said he had more than food on his mind too. ‘Are you finished here?’

  ‘For now. I need to write up a few progress reports for Gray but I can do that before the next match.’

  ‘I can’t believe it’s play-off season already. That means a certain one-year anniversary. Perhaps we should celebrate?’ He waggled his eyebrows. As if she needed reminding what they’d got up to this time last year. They’d done a lot more since.

  ‘We can celebrate but it’ll have to be minus the alcohol.’ The news she’d been hiding was bubbling to the surface.

  ‘You’re not feeling sick again, are you?’ He reached out to feel her forehead.

  ‘I have a confession to make. I had an appointment today but as a patient, not a doctor.’

  ‘You’re scaring me now. Why didn’t you tell me there was something wrong?’ He scrambled off the desk and took her hand, his concern touching.

  ‘I wanted to confirm my own diagnosis first. I think we’re on our way to starting our own little hockey team.’ She moved his hand to her belly, which was apparently full of more than Hunter’s maple syrup pancakes.

  ‘You’re pregnant?’ His eyes were like saucers as his slack jaw gradually widened into the happiest, sexiest smile she’d ever seen. She hadn’t known men could get the pregnancy bloom too but he was beaming from the inside out.

  ‘We’re pregnant. I expect you to be with me in this every step of the way.’ As happy as she was at the news too, there was a little trepidation at what the next few months had in store.

  ‘Don’t worry, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here.’ He placed a soft kiss on her belly to confirm they were in this together.

  This baby was a new beginning for all of them. One they all deserved.

  * * * * *

  If you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Karin Baine

  FALLING FOR THE FOSTER MOM

  THE COURAGE TO LOVE HER ARMY DOC

  THE DOCTOR’S FORBIDDEN FLING

  A KISS TO CHANGE HER LIFE

  All available now!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THEIR DOUBLE BABY GIFT by Louisa Heaton.

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  Their Double Baby Gift

  by Louisa Heaton

  CHAPTER ONE

  SHE WAS RUNNING LATE. Very late. And as she stared at the clock on the car dashboard it seemed to be whizzing through minutes, as if a mischievous imp was maniacally pressing down hard on the fast-forward button.

  Why was this happening today? Today of all days? Her first day back after maternity leave. Her first day as a single working mother, back in the A&E department she loved. A department that would now be all the quieter because Jen wasn’t in it.

  Dr Brooke Bailey had so wanted this day to start well. Because if it did—if she got through it—then that would be all the proof she needed that her decision to do this on her own was a good one.

  It had seemed doable in the early months of her pregnancy, when bravado and optimism had got her through the days. She didn’t need a man. She didn’t need anyone. Only herself—which was just as well, seeing as there wasn’t a whole lot of people she could turn to now. Millions of other single mothers held down a job and coped, didn’t they? Why should it be any more difficult for her?