Hell. Was she going to leave him in limbo? Luke swallowed and stood to pick up the plates. Surely she wouldn’t be so cruel.
A second later she looked him squarely in the eye. ‘All right, then. Yes. Slow and sensible.’
He stifled the yell that threatened to rip out from gut level and managed a moderate ‘Great.’
She nodded. ‘See you back at work.’
‘Yes.’
As soon as the door closed behind her, he let his smile escape. Yes! Now all he had to do was get the balance right. He didn’t want her to feel crowded or stampeded by him, but he did want them to spend as much time together as they could.
Terri’s heart somersaulted wildly. She’d just agreed to have a relationship with Luke Daniels. Should she applaud herself for bravery for taking the step or chastise herself for being foolish? Apologise to Luke for leading him on? For not telling him all the reasons why he shouldn’t get involved with her?
She was too weak. The love that shone between him and Allie beckoned her closer. Made her want to catch some of the warmth for herself. Was it so wrong of her?
Somehow she would find the courage to tell him what he had a right to know. Soon. Before they got too deep. First she would store precious bright moments in her memory.
She shivered as she walked through the warm spring afternoon. Was she fooling herself?
Everyday routine stuff, he’d said.
She was very much afraid that the normal, everyday could be addictive with Luke.
CHAPTER TEN
FIVE days since Terri had agreed to a relationship with him.
Five days of caution and restraint.
Five whole days.
Not long in terms of world affairs. Not even a week.
In terms of self-control, it was an aeon.
Luke looked across to where Allie was showing Terri the information tag on another nursery plant. At his daughter’s behest, Terri obediently bent to sniff a white bloom. Helpless to resist, he watched the way her red shorts clung to the curve of her buttocks as she leaned forward. A familiar tug of desire caught him low in his gut and he suppressed a groan. Frustration was his constant companion these days.
He’d played it cool all week, not making any overt moves, not giving Terri any excuses to retreat, to change her mind. The first few times he’d joined her for coffee in the staff tea room, he’d felt her wariness. As though she expected him to say something, do something, in front of the other staff. As though she’d known how hard he’d had to tether his need to stake a public claim on her.
By the end of the week she’d almost relaxed and he congratulated himself that his softly, softly approach was working.
Allie flitted to another plant like an overly fussy worker bee. Her face radiated enthusiasm as she turned over the tag, read it, then moved on. He smiled. She’d inherited her mother’s love of gardening.
His eyes slid back to the woman who followed a pace behind his daughter. Long dark hair formed a thick gleaming mantle across Terri’s shoulders.
Five whole days since he’d kissed her. Since he’d held her in his arms…threaded his fingers deep in her hair.
The sable silk would look glorious spread over his pillow…as her lips moved in a mysterious, womanly smile, inviting his kiss, inviting his touch. Inviting-
‘Dad-dy!’
The plaintive cry slapped him out of his fantasy. He focussed to find himself staring straight at Terri. Her soft brown eyes held a quizzical expression. His pulse stopped and then lurched into an erratic bounding rhythm.
Hell. What was she reading from his face?
He swallowed.
‘Sorry, miles away.’ He walked towards them, forcing his mouth into the best smile he could manage. It felt feeble. ‘What did I miss?’
‘I want this rose for Mummy’s garden.’ Allie looked at him anxiously. ‘Do you think Mummy would like it, Dad? It’s not exactly the same as the one at home but the colour is so pretty.’
He looked from his daughter’s wistful face to the plant with its cluster of small coral-pink buds. ‘I know your mum would love it because you chose it, sweetheart. It’s perfect.’
Allie beamed. ‘Cool. Can we get some small plants, too? I talked to Granddad and he said we should. He gave me a list to choose from.’
‘Did he? Then if Granddad said so, we’d better get some.’ He grinned.
‘We need a trolley. They’re over there.’ Allie pointed then skipped away.
‘It’s lovely to see her so happy.’ Terri’s husky voice sent a quiver down his spine.
‘Yes.’ He watched as his daughter manoeuvred an awkward flat-bottomed trolley back towards them. He tilted his head towards Terri, his eyes following the line of her jaw to her stubborn little chin. ‘Have I mentioned how much I appreciate you giving me my daughter back?’
‘You might have a time or two.’ Her grin was alive with mischief.
‘Perhaps I should mention it again,’ he murmured, reaching out to capture a ringlet of hair that had caught on the simple gold chain of her necklace. Masculine satisfaction surged at her quick shiver as he stroked the strand back over her shoulder.
‘It’s not necessary.’ There was a slight catch in her voice and when her eyes darted up to his they held a dark flare of awareness.
His gaze moved down to her mouth, watched as she caught her bottom lip. Her teeth sank into the tender flesh until he wanted to protest, wanted it to be his teeth nipping at the plump cushion.
‘Terri-’
She blinked and looked away, a strained smile curving her mouth. ‘Well done, Allie. Let’s grab your rose and see what else we can find.’
Rooted to the spot, Luke watched as one of the attendants lifted the pot of the chosen rose onto the trolley. His daughter chattered to Terri and pushed the trolley a little further along the aisle. When they stopped, a trick of the light bathed the two of them in a glowing, ethereal halo. Terri bent her head towards Allie, whose upturned face was filled with trust and hope.
And love.
He stared at their smiling profiles. The seconds moved with a syrupy slowness as his heart compressed painfully. A shudder ran through him as though a foundation had shifted deep in his psyche.
He blinked and looked away, waiting for normality.
He wanted Terri badly.
He ached for her, but this sensation was something more. Something powerful, elemental.
Frighteningly important.
He’d promised to take things slowly and sensibly but there was nothing temperate about the emotions storming through him.
He frowned, abruptly certain he didn’t know enough about her. She’d opened up so much the other night. Wrenching details about her marriage and about her last moments with her husband. Was there more? If there was, she’d baulked at the idea of sharing it with him. Why? What could be worse than the things she had told him?
Perhaps his unease was because he sensed the trauma of the explosion and her husband’s death had left Terri with even deeper emotional scars than those she’d revealed. How could it not? Did a soul ever truly heal from such cruel wounds?
Despite the heat of the sun on his back, a chill spread across his skin. As though an unseen threat lurked just beyond his comprehension.
He huffed out a long breath, shrugging away the shiver of unwelcome intuition. The only thing he could do was take it one step at a time, build trust, hope they’d create something worthwhile together.
‘Okay, you two, let’s get this show on the road.’ He aimed a smile at them as he strode forward. ‘Plants. We need plants. Allie, you’ve got the list so you’re in charge of choosing. Terri, you’re with me behind the trolley.’
Allie giggled and relinquished the handle to him.
Luke captured Terri’s hand and tugged her to his side. ‘Now I’ve got you right where I want you,’ he said under his breath so only she could hear.
‘Luke!’ Her gaze flew to where Allie was comparing a tag to the list she held
.
‘What? I’m only holding your hand.’ He gave her a wicked grin. He lowered his voice and said, ‘Would you like me to show you what I really want to do?’
‘No,’ she all but yelped. ‘No, absolutely not. Behave.’
‘Then you’d better hold my hand tight, hadn’t you, sweetheart?’ he said, his gaze roving over her anxious face.
‘What about Allie?’ Terri’s eyes were fixed on his daughter. She cared very much for Allie’s well-being.
Suddenly his peculiar mood dissolved and he relented. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve had a talk to her about going out with you.’
‘You have?’ Terri’s eyes came back to his, wide and uncertain.
‘She thinks it’s a good idea. In fact, I think I’ve gone up in her estimation. See what a good influence you’re being on me.’
‘Mmm.’ Her lips pursed in a moue of doubt and his pulse spiked. Conversation, concentrate on the conversation.
‘Yes, she even wanted to give me some dating advice.’ He strolled down the aisle towards Allie, who had moved on further. ‘I should take you to the movies and buy you ice cream apparently. It’s what all the girls like.’ He gave Terri a thoughtful glance. ‘What do you think…will it get me to first base?’
‘Not likely,’ she muttered darkly. ‘You promised we wouldn’t flaunt it.’
‘I also said we wouldn’t hide it.’
‘I think we need to have a discussion on definitions. Yours versus mine.’ Her tone was astringent. ‘I’m starting to sense a lack of compatibility.’
‘I’m always ready to discuss our relationship with you.’ He grinned at her. ‘Just say the word.’
He laughed when his impertinence was rewarded by an old-fashioned look. This subtle dance of courtship between them was a pleasure. It had been a long time since he’d done something just for the fun of it.
At the checkout, he said casually, ‘Mum’s issued a not-to-be-refused invitation to you for dinner tonight. Hasn’t she, Allie?’
‘Oh, yes, please come. Ple-ease,’ said Allie.
‘Dad said you used to be a regular at chez Daniels before we arrived.’ It was short notice and his pressure was less than subtle, but he didn’t care. He didn’t think Terri was the type to play games. If she was free, she would come. If she wasn’t, he wouldn’t like it but he’d have to be philosophical. He layered on some more pathos. ‘We’d hate to think we’d scared you off. Wouldn’t we, Allie?’
‘Yes.’ His daughter looked faintly confused but game to agree.
‘Since you asked so nicely, I’d love to,’ Terri said, her narrow-eyed stare letting him know exactly what she thought of his tactics.
He grinned, unrepentant, and tried hard not to look too smug. Judging from the look Terri gave him, he hadn’t succeeded.
He was falling hard and quick. Too hard? Too quick?
His senses told him Terri Mitchell was solid gold. His doubts weren’t about her. They were about her past and the pain she was still carrying.
With care and patience, they could handle anything that was thrown at them. He was sure of it…
He pushed away a second shadowy whisper of prescience.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
‘TERRI! You’re here!’ squealed Allie.
Luke’s head snapped around as his daughter dropped the cutlery she’d been setting out on the table to race over and hug their guest. Hard to believe from Allie’s behaviour that she’d seen Terri only a matter of hours ago. Though he certainly couldn’t chip her on her over-enthusiasm, given the great line of somersaults his own gut was doing.
‘Come and see where we’ve put the rose I picked for Mum,’ said Allie. ‘We planted it as soon as we got home. Granddad had the garden all ready.’
‘Give Terri a chance to say hello to everyone else before you start dragging her off, Allie,’ Luke said, placing the chairs he’d been carrying around the table. Give her a chance to say hello to me.
‘Hi, Luke.’ Terri’s smile was wary as he drew near and put his hand on her shoulder. He leaned forward to give her a peck on the cheek. Low down, right beside her mouth. Her skin was soft beneath his lips. She smelled delicious, fresh soap, light fragrance. All woman. All Terri.
‘I brought a bottle of wine.’ She stepped back and thrust a bottle into his hands.
He looked at the label, giving himself a precious moment to regroup. A South Australian white wine. ‘Thanks. You must be psychic. Mum’s baking fish on the barbecue.’
‘Not so psychic.’ She grinned. ‘I spoke to Vivienne when we got home from the nursery earlier.’
‘Clever, then.’
The back door opened. ‘About time you showed yourself around here, young lady,’ said Will as he carried the large bowl of salad to the table and then crossed to hug Terri. ‘I was starting to wonder what that new hospital director had done with you.’
Unexpected heat crept into Luke’s face. He knew what the new director had been doing with her.
And what he planned to do, given half a chance.
‘Oh, just the, um, usual. You know, work, work, work,’ Terri said with a weak laugh. Her cheekbones flushed becomingly as her eyes slid in Luke’s direction and then quickly away.
Will frowned. ‘Humph. I still say the board did the wrong thing by you.’ Luke stifled a sigh when his father shot him an ambiguous look. ‘I told Luke he was stepping on toes. You did an excellent job as acting director.’
‘Thank you, Will, but it’s working out well having Luke in charge.’ This time, when she slanted a look at Luke, she met his eyes. He enjoyed the tiny conspiratorial moment. ‘We’ve got the new boy licked into shape now and you know how much I detest paperwork. We don’t let Luke go home until he’s cleared his desk.’
‘Like me with my homework,’ said Allie with a big grin. The way his father and daughter responded to Terri was beautiful.
‘Exactly like that.’ Terri smiled as she ran a hand down Allie’s stubby ponytail. ‘Yes, I think your father’s proving to be quite satisfactory, Allie.’ She looked at him from under her lashes. ‘All things considered.’
‘Thank you for that faint praise,’ Luke murmured, feeling close to tongue-tied. She was flirting with him. His heart wobbled and then melted.
‘Oh, it’s important to give encouragement…where it’s deserved, of course,’ she said, obviously struggling to keep a straight face. Her lovely brown eyes were alight with laughter. ‘And a reprimand where it’s not. I’m sure, as the new director, you’d agree, Luke.’
‘I do agree.’ Luke smiled, sending a promise of private retribution in his gaze.
Her answering smirk had his overworked pulse leaping about in anticipation.
His father’s expression eased into a relieved grin. ‘As long as the two of you are working it out.’
Luke could see Terri’s teasing had been a thousand times more effective than all his attempts to soothe his father’s concerns.
‘Now, can I show Terri the garden?’ said Allie in long-suffering tones.
‘Sure,’ said Luke. ‘Don’t be too long, though. Dinner’s nearly ready.’
‘Come on, Terri.’ Allie took Terri’s hand and tugged her along the path.
As they disappeared round the side of the house, his father said, ‘Perhaps I should go, too. Terri might appreciate my tips for growing roses.’
‘Perhaps another time, Dad.’ With only the smallest trace of guilt Luke handed the wine bottle to his father. ‘Terri brought this. Would you mind putting it on ice?’
He set off down the path after Terri and Allie, leaving his father to draw his own conclusions.
‘Oh, this is gorgeous,’ said Terri, when she saw the neatly laid-out garden.
‘Dad put up the arch and we both planted the rose. See, it’ll grow up all over the trellis.’ Allie waved her hands expansively to demonstrate. ‘I put in the little plants where Granddad said. And we have this bench. Come and try it.’ Allie sat on the concrete seat and patted the area beside her. ‘T
here’s thyme on the ground underneath. It grows flat so when you stand on it, it smells nice.’
‘You’ve all done a fabulous job.’ The fresh clean aroma of the herb rose to greet Terri as she sat on the bench.
‘Yes.’ Allie’s face held deep satisfaction. ‘Dad said Mummy would like it.’
‘I’m sure he’s right,’ Terri said, a lump in her throat. Sue-Ellen had been a much-loved wife and mother. What a wonderful epitaph to have earned.
‘Yes.’ Allie leaned sideways and rested her head on Terri’s upper arm.
The simplicity of the moment was a gift that had Terri’s heart stuttering. A snug, warm band tightened around her chest as she looked down on the dark head.
‘And how are you now, Allie?’ she asked softly.
‘I’m good. Daddy said you and him might go out sometimes.’
‘Did he?’ Terri swallowed. ‘Well, we might. Is that okay with you?’
‘I think it’d be cool and I’d be able to come, too, sometimes, wouldn’t I? Like today with the plants.’
‘Of course. I’d like that.’
Terri looked up and saw Luke. He’d propped one shoulder against the smooth trunk of a gum, hands in the pockets of his jeans. He’d obviously showered and changed not long before she’d arrived because his hair was still dark and spiky with dampness.
His face, as he looked at Allie, glowed with love and pride. But when he moved his eyes to her, Terri read something different altogether. Dangerous. Seductive. Irresistible.
Her heart jolted, her defences crumbling. In that moment she realised she had little hope of protecting herself against this man and his daughter. By sharing themselves so unconditionally, they’d made a serious chink in her armour.
It was more than she’d ever thought she’d have in her life.
More than she deserved.
A shadow passed over her spirits. Would she end up letting them down, failing them in some way she couldn’t predict?
She would have to make sure she didn’t.
Terri worked her magic effortlessly on his whole family, Luke realised as he looked around the table a couple of hours later.
City Surgeon, Small Town Miracle Page 28
