How To Resist A Heartbreaker

by Louisa George

  Oh, no.

  She shifted her gaze. Over his perfect nose. Past some freckles she hadn’t noticed before, dark, thick eyelashes. Up to his bright blue eyes. Saw the sparkle, the promise. The heat.

  Bad move.

  She swallowed and edged backwards out of immediate kissing range. ‘Your nephew needs a solid loving family behind him.’

  ‘And he has that. We all adore him. Surely you can see that everything we do, we do for Jamie?’ His hand cupped her chin. ‘You really care about him, don’t you? What’s that all about? What’s it to you?’

  How the hell had this shifted to being about her?

  At his touch her breath hitched. She couldn’t handle him touching her again, not here. Not ever. Didn’t want the flash of need that he instilled in her, which she’d just about kept under control for ten days. The way he made her forget everything. Made her feel alive and hopeful.

  But, God, he felt good. Smelt good. And she knew how great he tasted.

  Smacking her lips together, she moved his hand from her chin and tried to focus on the conversation. ‘I care about them all. That’s why I took up paediatric nursing. They don’t choose to get sick. They don’t choose to grow up in a world that’s fighting. Or have a say in how they’re parented. Or by who.’

  She sucked in air, trying to clear the tight knot that had lodged in her stomach. It wouldn’t budge. And then it fused with the mish-mash of emotions Max stirred up in her until she didn’t know what she was doing. What she was saying. She tried to refocus. ‘I want them all to have a nice life. Adults have too much to answer for.’

  Before she realised it, he was on her side of the desk, standing over her, his hand in her hair. Fingertips stole their way up the back of her neck, into her ponytail. He tugged it loose. And she let him get away with it.

  His mouth dipped to her ear. ‘Your kids are going to have a great mum. A bit scary…but you’ll be fighting their corner. That’s good.’

  He didn’t mean anything by it. It was just a statement, but he’d hit a nerve. He made a habit of doing that one way and another. The man had a lot of annoying habits. ‘What’s that got to do with anything? I don’t want kids. A family. I don’t want any of that.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I forgot. You don’t want more. That right? You don’t want commitment. You don’t want more sex. And now you don’t want kids. Life’s just peachy as it is.’ His eyes darkened for a second, his breathing coming fast and erratic. She could feel how turned on he was as he pushed against her. ‘But you’re wrong, Gabby. All women want more.’

  ‘Well, I don’t.’ And she didn’t. She really didn’t.

  But there was his mouth again. So close. A breath away.

  Okay, the guy was a mind-reader. He was right, she did want more. More of him. More kissing. More lovemaking.

  But that would get her damned to hell. ‘No. I don’t. Want. More.’

  ‘Sure you do. Every part of you tells me so.’ His hands fisted in her hair and he pulled her to him. For a second he stared at her with questions running through his eyes. He looked as confused as she felt. Weirded out by the wild rush of pure feral need.

  But then his focus cleared and his mouth was pressing hard against hers. His tongue stroked her lips apart then dipped into her mouth, filling her with an ache, a heat that she’d never imagined was possible, and now never wanted to lose.

  As he ground her against the desk she grasped his shoulders, rocked against him. Knowing that at any instant someone could barge into the office and find them. Knowing this was every kind of wrong. And dumb. And too risky.

  But knowing that made her want him even more. It was like an illicit secret addiction that she had to feed. Each glance, each touch, stoked a need for the next fix. She moaned against him as he dragged her top up and palmed her breast through her bra.

  She sighed with delight as he parted her legs and fitted his body between them. Through the thin fabric of her scrubs she felt the length of him, hot and hard. Scraping her nails down his back, she sat on the edge of the desk and wriggled against him.

  His hot, wet mouth made her clamour for more kisses, his touch fired every nerve ending, every cell in her body into a frenzy of intensity. Putting all doubts aside, she writhed against him, and he ground back harder and faster. She heard gasps and moans, realising, with a shock, they came from her throat as he licked it.

  And then, when she thought he just had to be inside her, somehow, condom or no condom, a release she wasn’t expecting shuddered through her. He gripped her more tightly as she rubbed and rocked against his erection. Stilled as she let go. Finally let go. All the emotion and frustration and confusion, all the avoiding what was so totally obvious—that she wanted him with a passion that almost scared her—knotted into a tight, sharp fierce ball and exploded into a million pieces.

  He held her gently and kissed her with tenderness as she came down from her high, smiled into her hair as she found her senses again. Stroked her head against his chest as she steadied her breathing.

  Who the hell was this man who could satisfy her with just a touch?

  Too soon he pulled away. Left her in her office, her mind a blur, her scrubs dishevelled and creased, the smell of him everywhere.

  As he reached the door he turned and pierced her with a steely look. ‘You do want more, Gabby. You just have to decide how much.’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ‘HOW ARE THE FIRST few weeks going? Settled in okay?’ Rachel, the senior staff nurse, put her glass of wine onto the pub table and squeezed into the empty seat between Gabby and Andrea, the ward clerk. Somehow they’d all convinced Gabby that the weekly ward night out at The Shed would help break the ice with the team.

  And, secretly, she surmised, they’d try to find out what made her tick, where her soft centre was.

  Which was why she was sticking to lemonade. She was all out of showing people her soft centre, especially people like Max. She’d shown him way more than she’d planned. Those mojitos had been the beginning of the ruin of her.

  But having people to laugh and joke with without endlessly feeling she was being judged was like a breath of well-needed fresh Auckland air.

  ‘If you mean have I managed to unpack yet, then no. There never seems to be enough time between shifts. Roll on my next day off.’ When she’d probably still not be able to manage the gargantuan task of putting those heart-twisting boxes away. ‘But I love the new place. The flatmates are great. And as for the job, it’s everything I hoped it would be.’

  ‘Great, yeah? There’s a good vibe on that ward. Even better now you’re there.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Heat rushed to Gabby’s cheeks. Since that mind-blowing orgasm she’d barely been able to look at her desk without sinful thoughts. Which had had a seriously detrimental effect on her organisational management.

  What had started as efficiency had puddled into just about satisfactory. She really did need to put Max out of her head. She was not kissing him again. Ever. ‘I hope I’ve made things easier, but tell me if I get too bossy. It’s my first charge nurse job and I don’t want to blow it.’

  ‘It was manic before, but you’ve organised us. We certainly needed it.’ The woman’s eyes lit up. ‘I know, you should come on the ward trip to do the twilight kayak over to Rangitoto Island. It’s in a few weeks. Put your name down. There’s a list behind the nurses’ station.’

  ‘Ooh, I don’t know. A kayak? Me?’

  ‘Ah, you’ll be fine. And if it’s too much for you, there’s always a double kayak. I’m sure we could find a burly volunteer to paddle you across.’ Rachel winked. ‘Randy Roger the porter’s always looking for opportunities.’

  Gabby was well aware of Roger the porter’s heat-seeking palms. Her backside had come into contact with them way too many times already. By accident, of course—so he’d assured her. ‘I’m sure I’ll manage.’

  ‘It’s great fun. We paddle over, have a picnic, then kayak back with lanterns as the sun sets. It’s gorgeous. Think ab
out it. We’d love you to come.’

  Gabby got the impression Rachel was being genuinely friendly rather than trying to suck up to her. The heat from her cheeks settled into a general warm glow all round. It had been a great idea to move here. She wished she’d done it sooner. She was surrounded by warm-hearted, fun people who accepted her, seemed to like her. Regardless of her mother’s taunts that had turned into the usual begging and manipulation, now down the telephone instead of in Gabby’s face, this had been a very positive move.

  Across the bar the door swung open and in strolled Max. The happy vibe Gabby had been relishing wobbled, spiked, dropped, then swirled around in her stomach for a few excruciating seconds.

  She felt a sharp nudge in her ribs as Rachel did a mock swoon. ‘He’s got his name down for the kayak trip… Would that entice you?’

  ‘Me? Max? No!’ The words came out too sharply, too quickly. If Rachel muttered anything about ‘protesting too much’ she’d just about die.

  It had been a one-off thing. That had morphed into a two-off thing. But it was still no big deal. Not anything to get worked up about, despite her heart doing a silly jig.

  Her friend’s eyebrows dipped. ‘Come on. What’s not to like? Those Maitland brothers make great eye candy. Double trouble and twice the fun. Especially Dr Make-You-Weep over there.’

  Her colleague had been more than happy to share her inside information on Max in the past so Gabby tried to pump her for more. Doing a silent three Hail Marys for being so sneaky, she asked, ‘So what’s the deal between the twins?’

  ‘Well, no one knows for sure because it all happened in Dunedin.’ Rachel cupped her hand over her mouth and leaned into Gabby’s ear. ‘But apparently Max had a thing with Mitchell’s girlfriend. Word is, they haven’t spoken a civil sentence to each other since.’

  An affair? Max? With Jodi?

  Now, that was interesting. Shocking. And would also explain the rift and the edge between Max and Jodi. But it didn’t seem right. He might be a player and a charmer but Max wasn’t the kind of man to do that. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Sure as eggs is eggs. Their lives are, oh, so complicated. None of us even knew Mitchell had a child until a few weeks ago. Strange, don’t you think? There’s a lot more to their story.’

  ‘I don’t believe it.’

  ‘Don’t believe what?’ Max was leaning over her, the hint of a teasing grin fluttering over his lips.

  Earth, swallow me up now. He had quintessentially bad timing. ‘Oh…er…nothing. I mean…’

  ‘Speechless isn’t a word I’d usually associate with you, Nurse Radley.’ Placing a glass on the table—a large glass, with a paper umbrella and lime squeezed onto the rim—he grinned. ‘Your usual. Just the one. Wouldn’t want you to get drunk, now. Don’t know where that could lead.’

  ‘Er…but…no…thanks. I don’t…’ And he damned well knew it. Knew she was here with her work colleagues. That she had no desire to be reminded about what had happened the last time she had been in here. With him. Drinking mo-bloody-jitos. And now to top off her mortification her words had got lost somewhere en route from her brain to her mouth. Judging by the wicked smile he gave her, he thought it was due to his hyped-up animal magnetism.

  He was probably right.

  His eyes locked with hers, glinting with mischief. ‘Oh, go on. Have a sip. Taste it. Then you could give me a score…out of ten? For the drink…obviously.’

  Before she could answer he’d taken everyone else’s order and disappeared to the bar.

  Rachel grabbed the glass. ‘Well, if you don’t want it, I’ll do the honours.’ She took a long gulp. ‘Delish. And tell me, Gabby, how does Max Maitland know what your usual is?’

  From the heady heights of fun and relaxation things were rapidly going downhill. Gabby played the indifference card and shrugged. ‘He probably asked the barman. I was in here a few weeks ago and tried the cocktails.’ It wasn’t technically a lie.

  ‘Probably ’cos you’re the charge nurse,’ Rachel whispered, ‘trying to get into your good books. Always good to have the boss on side.’

  Trying to get into my… No. Do not go there. ‘Yes, probably.’

  ‘Or maybe you’re in already…’ Rach nudged her. ‘You know what I mean? But be warned; he’s broken a few hearts already, that guy. Won’t commit. Maybe he’s still in love with Mitchell’s girlfriend.’

  Gabby choked on her lemonade. ‘I doubt it. On all accounts.’

  Did he? Was he?

  A small knot of anxiety tightened in her gut. She just couldn’t imagine a scenario where Max would sleep with his brother’s girlfriend.

  If he knew the gossip machine wheels were greased by lies about his love life the man would be mortified. And worse… If they were true? Did she want to get involved with a man who’d do that to his brother?

  Involved? Yeah, right. She was definitely getting ahead of herself.

  Too soon he was back, edging into the gap Andrea had left. He slipped into the space, slipped into the conversation. Slipped far too easily back into the forefront of Gabby’s focus.

  She watched him laughing and joking with the others, the attention he gave the women. The jokey camaraderie with the guys. He dominated the conversation. The life and soul of the party. The centre of the group. All ideas bounced off him. All his comments were noted with due respect.

  She watched the way he chatted with Rachel, her new knowledge in him tainting the way she read his behaviour. Charming, funny, attentive, but definitely not stepping over the line. Not like the other night when something had connected between him and her.

  And hopefully he didn’t kiss other charge nurses the way he’d kissed her the other day. Maybe he did. Maybe kissing charge nurses was his hobby. Others did motocross or tennis. He did kissing. Hell, he’d perfected the art.

  Perhaps Mitchell had read too much into a flirty conversation between Max and Jodi. Perhaps… Oh, the whole scenario was making her brain hurt.

  But asking him?

  As if. How could she insist he didn’t ask her questions and then break that very rule herself?

  How she managed to get through the next two hours was beyond her. The more she focused on him, the more aware she became of the tiniest touch, the merest glance in her direction. The way he ran his hand through his hair when he talked about serious stuff. Or when his smile hit his eyes and she felt like the sun was shining.

  Somehow she agreed to join the ward touch-rugby team. Stumbled through a conversation about the latest boy band to hit New Zealand. The best ski lodges for parties. The merits of beer versus spirits.

  All the time trying not to inhale his scent. Trying not to react to the brush of his skin against hers. Ignoring the fire raging in her belly when he leaned back against her or when he glanced in her direction for her opinion on the dangers of snowboarding. When he caught her eye and gave her a cheeky wink or the heat of his palm on her thigh when he shifted to allow someone out of the group.

  And the way that simmering tension between them seemed to grow exponentially until she felt she’d go mad if she didn’t touch him. Run her finger down his cheek, through his hair. Press her lips against his.

  Suddenly Rachel looked at the emptying table and checked her watch. ‘Oh, goodness. Look at that, it’s getting late. Got to dash. I’m on an early tomorrow. But it’s been great. We should do this again.’

  Gabby gathered her rapidly diminishing senses as she watched Rachel leave, realising that if she didn’t go she’d be left alone with Max. ‘Oh. Yes. I need to go home too.’

  ‘You live in Boston Road, don’t you?’ Rach paused. ‘I live round the corner from there—do you want to walk back with me?’

  Did she? No. She wanted to lie in bed with Max Maitland. To stare out of his penthouse window at the sparkling harbour lights. Listen to his regular breathing as he slept with her in his arms.

  But most of all she wanted him to make love to her. ‘Yeah, okay, I’ll come with you, Rach. Hang on a
second, I’ll just put my coat on.’

  Max’s hand on her wrist gave her pause. He turned her away from Rachel and hissed into her ear, his breath warm against her neck. ‘Oh, no, you don’t. Not so quick.’

  ‘What? Why?’ Please don’t touch me. Her body remembered how he’d felt inside her. Every nerve ending screamed for his touch. Her nipples hardened as she brushed against him, her legs already weakened with desire. How could a man make her feel this alive? She had no idea how to deal with the stirred-up hormones racing through her system.

  There was only one release, could only be one release. With him. But she couldn’t go there again.

  Vivid blue eyes fixed on hers, offering promises and chances, and a night of wicked pleasure. Hers for the taking.

  ‘There’s only one place you’re going tonight, Charge Nurse Radley. And that’s with me.’

  *

  ‘Don’t think you can spend the whole evening flirting and teasing without some kind of comeback.’ His hands were in her hair now as the lift sped them towards his apartment.

  He brushed her curls back from her face and peered into those large, dark eyes that had such a strange hold over him. Running a thumb along her cheek, he watched her pupils dilate. They told him how much she wanted him, too. Again she wore a buttoned-up blouse that covered her skin. Again it was the sexiest thing he’d ever ached to remove from a woman’s body.

  All evening the only thing on his mind had been this moment. It had been inevitable from the first second he’d seen her in the bar.

  He’d gone from determination not to act on his impulses to trying to work out how the hell to get her alone again. And now, after all his promises to the contrary, they were headed back to the penthouse.

  Pressing his lips against hers, he drank her in. This time he wanted to treasure the taste, learn everything about her, hear her moan, feel her shiver under his touch. He backed her up against the lift wall, his hands zoning in on those curves that kept him awake at night.