The Doctor's Return

by Narelle Atkins

  “We’ll have plenty of time to look at the cottage,” he said.

  She nodded. “I’ll need a lift.”

  “Okay.” He glanced at his watch. “I have to give something to my sister first, and she should be in the hall cleaning up after the children’s program.”

  “That’s fine,” Megan said.

  “We can meet at my Jeep in the back parking lot?”

  “Sure.” She slung her purse over her shoulder. “See you soon.”

  Luke joined the queue of parishioners walking toward the side door leading to the hall.

  Kate stifled a giggle. “Well, you can’t blame me for this one. I thought you were planning to avoid spending extra time with him.”

  “I’d rather avoid the gossips more, and I do need to find somewhere to live soon.”

  “I’ll miss you if you move into town.”

  “If I stay at home too long, my mother will drive me crazy. I don’t know how you and Jack coped while waiting for your house to be built.”

  Kate smiled. “Your parents traveled around Australia for nearly a year after our wedding.”

  “True. That does make a difference.”

  “You know, I’m pleased you and Luke are friends.”

  She nodded. It seemed as though she couldn’t avoid seeing Luke. If only he didn’t still inspire feelings in her that she’d rather ignore.

  Chapter 3

  Luke unlocked his Jeep and glanced around the parking lot. Megan walked toward him, long dark hair flowing down her back and knee-length dress swirling around her legs.

  He drew in a deep breath, marveling again at her beauty. Old feelings resurfaced and he squashed them down, intent on extinguishing the power she still commanded over his thoughts and feelings.

  His sister had forgotten her house keys, and he’d given Rachel his keys rather than meeting her after church at their home. He didn’t intend to let Rachel know he was having lunch with Megan.

  He rolled his shoulders, releasing a tension knot in his back. Speculation within his family regarding the state of his relationship with Megan was already too intense for his liking.

  A brilliant smile covered Megan’s face as she approached him. “Thanks for volunteering to show me the cottage.”

  “No problem. I know Amy and Ben are really busy until they finish apple picking.” He opened the passenger door and she stepped up into the leather seat.

  He made his way around to the driver’s side and switched on the engine.

  She relaxed into her seat. “Which street is Amy’s cottage on?”

  “Berkley, around the corner from the clinic and two blocks from the hospital.”

  “Sounds perfect. And the health club is in walking distance, too.”

  He nodded, reversing out of the parking spot. “It’s a convenient location in a nice neighborhood you probably won’t recognize since many of the homes have been renovated.”

  She smoothed her skirt over her knees and looked at the passing landscape.

  They turned onto Berkley, and he parked in front of a quaint English-style cottage.

  He cast a critical eye over the garden and small patch of lawn. A dozen rosebushes bloomed behind the white picket fence. The cottage was in immaculate condition, and he understood why Amy had liked living there.

  Megan walked along the path leading to the house. “The garden is pretty.”

  He nodded. “The roses require a little bit of attention, otherwise it’s easy to look after.”

  She paused, inhaling the scent of a scarlet rose. “I don’t mind gardening, although it’s not something I’ve done for many years.”

  “Did you live in an apartment in Sydney?”

  “Yes, not that I was home very much.” She spun around and met his gaze. “I paid my share of the rent all year round and used it as a base.”

  “Are you keeping the Sydney apartment?”

  She shook her head. “I boxed up all my belongings before I left, and they’re ready to be transported here.”

  He raised an eyebrow and strolled beside her to the front entrance of the cottage. “You were confident you’d stay in Snowgum Creek?”

  She nodded. “I’d already decided that I wanted the hospital job, and I also had the option of staying with Mom and Dad if I couldn’t pick up extra work to supplement my income.”

  His professional respect for her increased by a couple of notches. He couldn’t deny he was intrigued to learn she’d been prepared to commit to living in Snowgum Creek without the added benefit of leasing a room in his clinic. Maybe he’d underestimated her.

  He unlocked the front door and strode inside, pointing out rooms and commenting on the layout.

  “Wow, this space is very functional.” She walked over to the large windows overlooking the private backyard.

  “There’s a bit of lawn to mow.”

  “That’s okay. I can borrow my dad’s mower.”

  “A good idea. Rachel and I also have one you could borrow.” He smiled, picturing Megan pushing a mower around the yard without any trouble or raising a sweat. Her fitness level was phenomenal, and left him behind in the breeze. “Overall, the gardens are fairly low maintenance.”

  She nodded. “You sound like a Realtor.”

  He laughed. “My little brother must have taught me a few tricks.”

  “Speaking of Caleb, what’s he doing these days?”

  “Real estate in Sunny Ridge.”

  “I can see him doing well in that job.” She walked through the kitchen, opening cupboards, checking out the oven and dishwasher. “Everything looks good. I’ll contact Amy tomorrow.”

  “Do you want to look at the backyard?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve seen enough. Can we make a time this week to look at the consulting room in your clinic?”

  “Sure. I’ve no idea what my schedule is like, and I also have a couple of extra shifts at the hospital to cover.”

  “You sound crazy busy.”

  “This is normal.”

  Her eyes widened. “Really?”

  “Yep. It’s probably easier to call my receptionist and book a half-hour slot at your convenience.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  His phone beeped and he grabbed it from his pocket, reading the brief message from the on-call doctor at Snowgum Creek Hospital.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “I may need to stop by the hospital a bit later.” He glanced at the time on his phone. “We probably should head over to the restaurant.”

  She nodded. “Did you know I was invited to lunch?”

  “To be honest, I can’t remember if Jack mentioned it.” He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck, fatigue assaulting his muscles. “I did a late shift at the hospital Friday night, and I wasn’t really awake when Jack called me yesterday morning.”

  She twisted the strap of her purse around her fingers. “Kate was worried we’d think they were trying to set us up.”

  He chuckled, having endured a number of setups from well-meaning friends and relatives in recent years. “We’ll be working together, and it’s inevitable we’ll run into each other socially.”

  “True.”

  He held her gaze, mesmerized by the warmth emanating from her gorgeous blue eyes. “I’d like to think we can still be friends.”

  “Yes, me, too.” She scraped her teeth over her lower lip. “I know I was immature years ago, and I could have handled things differently.”

  He nodded. “We were both young.”

  She blinked, a sheen of moisture filling her eyes. “I’m sorry I ran away and hurt you.”

  He gulped in a shallow breath, having not expected to receive an apology. “It’s not all your fault, and I should have kn
own you weren’t ready to get married.”

  “My mother despairs that I’ll never be ready to settle down.”

  “At least Jack is providing a grandchild, and a welcome distraction that will take some of the pressure off.”

  “Very true.” She relaxed her mouth into a slight smile. “Thanks for being understanding.”

  He nodded, remembering how much he had missed their friendship. If he kept his focus on their professional relationship, he might survive the next twelve months with his heart intact.

  * * *

  Two days later, Megan walked along the short path leading to the front entrance of the Snowgum Creek Medical Clinic. Luke’s contract was folded up in her purse, and she was ready to sign it today if the consulting room met her specifications.

  She pushed open the door and walked into the waiting room.

  An older woman who looked vaguely familiar smiled and greeted her by name from behind the reception desk. “Luke said he’ll be ready to see you in a few minutes. He suggested you go ahead and check out the room.” She pointed to a closed door on the far side of the waiting room.

  “Thanks.” She crossed the room and opened the door. A modern desk dominated the far corner, and three leather chairs were arranged around the desk. A row of cupboards ran along one wall, with counter space on top and a sink at one end. The carpeted floor and paintwork looked brand-new, the muted shades of blue creating a professional and friendly atmosphere.

  Luke appeared in the doorway. “What do you think?”

  She smiled. “The leather seats are a nice touch.”

  “I did have a doctor from Sunny Ridge using this room but he retired a few months ago. We also have a staff room with a kitchen attached. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?”

  “Coffee would be great.”

  “Okay, I’ll show you the kitchen.”

  She followed Luke to the reception desk, where he introduced her to his receptionist, Janice, before leading Megan to the staff room. They entered a large room, a long table on one side and a full-size kitchen on the other.

  An expensive coffee machine sat on the kitchen counter.

  She lifted a brow. “I’m impressed, and I’ll be tempted to drop in every day for coffee.”

  “Amy makes the best coffee out of everyone here. My barista skills need work, and unfortunately Amy isn’t here this afternoon.”

  “I once worked in a café in Italy, although I haven’t used one of these machines in ages.”

  His smile widened. “You’re more than welcome to have a go now. No doubt you’ll do a much better job than me. I’m just a doctor.”

  She placed her purse on the counter and inspected the machine. Luke fetched a container of ground coffee and a carton of milk. She set to work, percolating the coffee and frothing the milk. “Cappuccino or latte?”

  “Latte, please.”

  She found coffee mugs in an overhead cupboard and made two lattes, swirling the froth into a spiral pattern. “Should I make one for Janice?”

  He shook his head. “She only drinks English breakfast tea and has a fresh cup on her desk.”

  They carried their lattes back to Megan’s new room. She sank into the soft leather chair behind the glass-topped desk. “I could sit here drinking coffee all day.”

  “Couldn’t we all. Do you have any questions about the contract?”

  “No.” Her business advisor had mentioned that the financial penalty for breaking the contract was steeper than industry standard. A frustrating minor detail, but she understood Luke’s need to protect his business interests and why he believed she was a flight risk. A belief she was determined to dispel over the coming months by proving she could fulfill her twelve-month contractual obligations.

  She inhaled the aromatic brew before taking a sip. “Not bad for my first attempt.”

  “It tastes great.”

  “I’ll get better with practice.” She rifled through the junk in her purse, locating a pen and the envelope containing the contract. She flattened out the folded sheets of paper on the desk. “I’ll sign it for you now.”

  “Are you a hundred percent sure this is what you want to do?”

  She sucked in a deep breath. “Okay, I’m going to tell you something and you must promise not to tell anyone, especially Jack.”

  He nodded. “You have my word. What’s wrong?”

  “There is a reason why I’m not going back to the ski resort this year.”

  “Did something happen?”

  “That’s the problem. I can’t prove it but my instincts are usually right.”

  He frowned. “Megan, you’re worrying me. What’s going on?”

  “It’s a long story, and I’ll try to give you the short version.” She flicked the pen between her fingers. “There’s this guy who started working at the resort two seasons ago. Last year things got a little intense.”

  “Was he your boyfriend?”

  She shook her head. “He did ask me out ages ago but I declined. I thought I’d made it clear that I wasn’t interested.”

  “But he didn’t take no for an answer.”

  “Not exactly. He never said or did anything inappropriate, but as the season progressed he was always hanging around wherever I was.”

  “At work or socially?”

  “Both. You have to remember the resort village is like a small community and we all tend to hang out together outside of work hours.” She dropped her gaze and sipped her coffee. “He’s also a ski instructor, and he changed his roster to coincide with my work hours. He always attended the weekly gym class I instructed, and he seemed to be around wherever I turned.”

  “Did you make a complaint?”

  “And say what?” She pressed her fingertips to her forehead, feeling the tension forming in her head. “I figured if I took a break from the resort for at least one season, he’d either forget about me or find someone else to obsess over.”

  He drained his coffee mug and placed it on her desk. “You could have a lodged a complaint with the police.”

  “Would they believe me? My friends in the village joked about how he was always around, but I got the impression they thought he was harmless.” She tucked her hair back behind her ears. “And what if I was wrong? I didn’t want to ruin his reputation by overreacting to the situation.”

  “He could be unbalanced. What’s his name? How old is he?”

  “Jason, and he’s about twenty-five, maybe younger.” She sighed. “I don’t want you to make this into a big deal.”

  “It’s obviously a big deal to you, otherwise you’d be working at the ski village this year.”

  “Maybe not. Jack and Kate’s baby is a pretty good incentive to stay here.” She smiled.

  “Have you told anyone else about this guy?”

  She lowered her lashes. “No. I’m only telling you so you’ll understand why I’m committed to staying in Snowgum Creek. I don’t want you to overreact—”

  “It sounds like harassment to me. I’m not overreacting when I say that bullying and harassment are a real problem in the workplace.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw, his brows drawn together. “I’ve seen it before, and I have zero tolerance for this kind of behavior.”

  “I just want to forget about it.”

  “Did you confront this guy and make it clear you wanted him to stay away?”

  She shook her head. “I didn’t have any concrete evidence, and it could have all been a coincidence.”

  “Not likely.” A steely tone entered his voice. “If you hear from this guy, I want you to promise me that you’ll do something about it.”

  “Okay. I’m not planning to go to the ski resort this season, and it’s very unlikely I’ll see him here.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “If you do see
him in Snowgum Creek, then you’ll know you have a problem you need to address.”

  She flicked through the documents and signed the agreement. “Here you go. Let’s forget about him and talk about something more positive.”

  He nodded. “Congratulations on your new business venture.”

  “Thank you.” She finished her latte and lounged back in her chair, confident the problems with Jason were in the past. And confident she could build a working relationship with Luke. She had squandered her opportunity to have a relationship with him, and any thoughts in that direction were futile.

  Chapter 4

  Luke gripped the edge of the counter in front of the coffeemaker, resisting the urge to thump the confounded machine. Why had he let Amy talk him into buying it?

  Megan strolled into the staff room. “Is everything okay?”

  He frowned. “The machine won’t work.”

  “Really?” She picked up a coffee mug from the shelf. “Is it broken?”

  “Not exactly. Amy usually makes my latte.”

  Her lips curved into a smile. “Where is Amy?”

  “At a school assembly for my niece, and my next patient arrives in ten minutes.”

  “I’m totally shocked that I can do something you can’t do.”

  “Yeah, why don’t you rub it in and make me beg.”

  Her wide smile highlighted a dimple on her cheek. “Okay, I’ll make your latte for you.”

  The hint of mischief in her tone lightened his mood. “Thanks, I owe you.”

  “You do know there’s instant coffee in the cupboard?”

  He nodded. “I used to happily drink instant until my sister-in-law converted me to the superior flavor of coffee from this wretched machine.”

  She chuckled. “How do you cope when Amy’s not here?”

  “I call in my order and collect it from the café up the road.”

  “Wow, I didn’t know you’d become a coffee snob.”

  He rolled his eyes. “By accident rather than choice.”

  “Yeah, right.” She set to work brewing two coffees.

  He rested his hand on the counter beside her. “How are you settling in? Do you have many appointments booked?”