She nodded. ‘That’s right. All I remember is the food. Delicious, and exactly what I’m in the mood for.’
‘Walk?’
‘Absolutely.’ She tightened her hold on his arm. ‘At least that way I get to be closer to you for longer.’ She waggled her eyebrows up and down. David didn’t comment, but merely smiled politely. ‘Add to that fact you can help support me in these shoes. I am definitely not used to wearing high heels.’
David chuckled at this information.
‘What’s so funny?’
‘You. You breeze into the lobby as though you’re so sure of yourself, turning everyone’s head, portraying a woman who is as stable as she is sexy, and then you go and confess you’re not as confident as you appear.’
‘Well, you try walking in these things. They’re not too bad in the comfort department, but it’s early on. Who knows? By the time the night is over you might be giving me a piggyback all the way home.’
David grinned at the image this produced. ‘Why are you wearing them, then?’
‘Because they go perfectly with the dress. They complete the picture.’ She spoke as though he’d asked the most ridiculous question possible.
‘Right. That explains it all.’
‘Ahh…you may feign nonchalance now, but your look back at the hotel told me otherwise.’
‘What look?’ David kept his eyes straight ahead, knowing that if he looked at the woman beside him she would see far too much. So much for guarding himself around her.
‘The one that said you wanted to devour me.’
David was stunned. Had he been so transparent? He closed his eyes for a brief second, his mind working frantically as he tried to decide the best course of action. He eventually decided upon humour. Keep it light and friendly.
‘You’re trying to razz me up again, aren’t you?’
‘Is it working?’
He glanced down at her, their gazes melding. ‘I’m already razzed.’ The soft words were out before he could stop them. He saw surprise and then total appreciation in her eyes.
‘And you’re admitting this to me?’
David exhaled slowly. ‘It seems pointless not to. All day long I’ve struggled against the way you make me feel. It’s there. It exists between us. Is there any point in denying it?’
‘No. No.’ Eden was astonished. ‘Not at all. This new, not-afraid-to-admit-his-feelings David is a delightful find.’
‘It doesn’t matter, because we both know nothing can ever come of it.’
‘Why?’
‘You don’t live in this country, Eden. You work overseas, and we’ve been a wrong fit right from the start. You forget that I know you better than the plethora of men you usually play with.’
‘Play with?’ She quirked an eyebrow at him, trying to hide the way his words were making her feel. First elation, then excitement, then dejection.
‘There will have been plenty of men over the years—none of them serious, though. Am I right?’
Eden considered his words carefully before answering. ‘Not entirely.’
‘Some serious, then?’ A surge of jealousy instantly coursed through him, catching him completely off guard. The picture of Eden with her arms wrapped around another man, pressing her body, her full, delicious mouth to his, was more than David could bear. He blinked fiercely, the vision dissipating.
‘Not as such. Just not as many men as you’re referring to. You forget I’ve been working overseas in remote areas for the past few years. Not a lot of socialising goes on.’
‘All work and no play?’ Now, why had her words made him feel happier?
‘Exactly. Hence the need to dress up and enjoy myself tonight.’ They stopped at a red light and she looked up at him, wondering just how far she could razz him. ‘Besides, there was this guy I dated when I was seventeen, and he kind of set the bar as far as men were concerned.’
David cleared his throat and swallowed nervously. ‘Is that so?’
‘That is most definitely so. You rocked my world back then, David.’
He swallowed again, and forced himself to look away from her mesmerising eyes. ‘Light’s green,’ he choked out, and was rewarded with a little chuckle from the woman beside him—the woman who could still tie him in knots with just a few words.
The restaurant was only a few doors past the crossing, and soon they were seated at an intimate table. The candlelight reflecting off her hair almost gave her a halo effect. Eden? A halo? He smiled at the idea. Sure, she fought for worthy causes, righted wrongs and generally supported the underdog—but a halo? Then he remembered what she’d been through a few years ago and the main reason why he’d decided to take her out to dinner. Perhaps she did deserve that halo after all.
Once they’d ordered, David raised his glass of wine to her. ‘To new beginnings,’ he said, and tapped his glass gently with hers.
‘Are you talking about you and me?’ Her curls bounced softly around her, and he couldn’t believe how incredibly beautiful she was.
He nodded.
‘Do we need a new beginning?’ she asked. ‘Because I like the one we already have.’
He thought for a moment. ‘So do I. However, I was referring to the way I annoyed you earlier today.’
‘You didn’t annoy me, David. You excite and confuse me, but you don’t annoy me.’
He groaned. ‘Don’t say things like that when I’m trying to apologise.’
‘Apologise? For what?’
‘For pressuring you to tell me why you didn’t make it to Sasha’s wedding.’
‘Oh.’ Eden looked down at her glass for a moment, before meeting that rich, chocolate gaze of his once more. He was so handsome, and just being here, sitting opposite him, made her heart pound wildly against her ribs. ‘You didn’t pressure me. Well, not much—and it’s all right. I understand that you were confused. After all, Sasha and I are so very close. She’s the only person who’s ever really cared about me.’
That wasn’t true. He certainly cared about her, but telling her might only bring them closer and he was trying to make sure there was distance between them. ‘I read your articles. I read between the lines.’ David reached across the table and took her free hand in his. ‘Eden. I’m sorry.’
Eden looked down at their entwined fingers, a lump forming in her throat. She’d resigned herself years ago to the tragedy which had occurred. She’d had counselling, she’d worked through her emotions, and yet now, with David displaying such honest tenderness, all the helplessness she’d felt back then surged to the forefront.
‘They were so small. Tiny, undernourished children. Disgusting living conditions and disease at every turn.’ She raised her eyes slowly, meeting his. ‘It was horrible, David. Their pain, their suffering. It was there in their big wide eyes. Those looks still haunt me. They looked to me to help them, to make them better.’ She pursed her lips together to try and control her emotions. closing her eyes. ‘I couldn’t. The sounds of mothers wailing as their children were taken from them. The lifelessness of those little bodies—bodies I had held in my arms, willing them to hold on, praying for a miracle. The smell of death in the air, the breaking of hearts, the utter desolation.’
A tear slid down her cheek, but she made no attempt to wipe it away. ‘On a day that was supposed to be so important to me—the day my best friend got married—I was attending a mass funeral instead.’
‘Eden.’ David tightened his grip on her hand and leaned over to brush the tear from her cheek with his thumb.
Her eyes snapped open and she pulled back from his touch as though burnt. Letting go of his hand, she clasped hers together, dragging in a cleansing breath.
‘Sasha wanted to postpone her wedding until I could be there, but I had no idea when that might be so I encouraged her to proceed without me. I needed to know that at least she was happy. You have no idea how much comfort that thought gave me in those dark days. My Sasha. Happily married to a man who adores her.’ Eden blinked again. ‘Anyway,
if you’ll excuse me?’ She stood from the table, taking her purse with her. ‘Won’t be long.’
David watched her go, feeling almost as drained as she had looked. He’d been moved by her words, astonished that she’d opened up, that she’d shared with him, and yet at the same time he wanted her to stop torturing herself by reliving it yet again. How many times had she done that? Spoken about that dark time? She’d written about it in a medical journal, sharing the facts of what had happened in an analytical fashion. She’d no doubt been treated by a therapist. And yet despite the passage of time, and the fact that she and her team had eventually discovered a cure, he knew she felt each and every one of those deaths every day. He knew that because he knew Eden.
She might come across as flirty and thriving, but there was another side to her, a deeper side—far deeper than he’d previously realised. When she’d spoken of Sasha being adored by Robert there had been a wistfulness in her tone.
Ever since he’d first met her she’d been this person with so much energy. Helping others. Giving everything of herself. It was no wonder she’d ended up in the career she now had. He’d always thought that that satisfied her, that helping others was enough, but in her vulnerability she’d shown him something else.
She’d shown him that she wanted more. In fact, she wanted the fairytale. She wanted to find that special someone—that man who would love, cherish and adore her. The man who would understand her need to help others and yet provide the help that she needed. Sasha had found that with Robert, and Eden envied that.
David’s heart stirred as he watched her walk back towards him, her body swaying in such a provocative way. He wasn’t sure she was conscious of how incredible she looked. A surge of protectiveness flooded through him for the second time that day, but this time it wasn’t the protective instinct of a brothersister relationship.
This was the protectiveness of a man who was falling in love with a woman.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE instant the revelation hit, he emphatically denied it.
It was completely and utterly impossible that he was in love with Eden. She was like a sister to him and the feelings he felt were purely those of a big brother. Although a tiny voice said this was totally different from the way he felt about Sasha.
He’d just seen too much of her today. It was like an Eden overdose, which had brought back so many memories of when he’d been younger. Even back then he’d had trouble keeping his feelings for her under control, preferring instead to focus on the long slog of medical school which had been before him. That wasn’t the case now. Sure, he had a highpowered, pressured job, but he was well trained and knew how to control his stress. He’d succeeded in so many of his goals, and yet in others he would never succeed. He would never be a father.
Yes, he was attracted to Eden. He admitted that. But it was the fact that he cared for her so much in a brotherly way and he didn’t want to see her hurt. He knew if he let things get out of hand that he would indeed hurt her. She was a woman made to be the mother of a gaggle of her own children—little imps with wild curls and cheeky green eyes.
He could never give her that.
He could, however, help her to be strong for Sasha. He could even help her to heal the rift she had with her family. He would do everything he could to make her happy, to make sure the pain and vulnerability which remained behind her eyes was protected. He could do all of this as a platonic friend. He could help her help herself. Deep down inside she appeared to be lost, and he could help her find herself.
‘Now,’ she said as she sat back down at the table, an overly bright smile on her face, ‘let the feast begin.’
‘You’ve certainly ordered enough food.’ He took a sip of his wine, pleased he had a more logical footing on his thoughts.
‘You’re not being a tight date, are you David?’ She tuttutted. ‘After all these years we finally make it out to dinner, and you’re complaining about the cost.’
He gulped on the mouthful of wine, swallowing too quickly. ‘I am not a “tight date”, as you so eloquently term it, nor am I complaining about the cost. I was merely stating the fact that you’ve ordered a lot of food for someone so small.’
‘Ahh, I may only be five feet six—which is no doubt short compared to your over-six-foot, muscled and well-toned frame—but I’ll have you know in some countries I’m considered tall.’
He smiled at that. ‘Really?’
‘Don’t sound so surprised—and besides, I’m counting on you to help me eat the mountain of food that’s coming. It’s been ages since I’ve eaten here…well, eaten at any restaurant for that matter…and I intend to thoroughly enjoy myself.’
The smile was back—the true smile of Eden—and David relaxed. Platonic friends. Good company. Flirty banter. He could deal with that. So long as he kept his hands by his sides and didn’t touch her.
When their first course arrived, David watched as she lovingly savoured every mouthful. Again and again she showed her appreciation and delight for the food as they continued to talk about a variety of topics. ‘Mmm…delicious,’ she declared again as she slurped her spaghetti, a drop of the sauce landing on the side of her mouth.
David looked at it. Couldn’t help but focus on it. And he wasn’t at all surprised at the powerful urge to lean over and kiss it away. She had the most luscious lips, full and inviting, and sitting opposite her, breathing in her scent, he was starting to lose his will-power.
‘David?’
He dragged his gaze back up to meet hers, realising he’d been staring at her.
‘Hmm? Sorry? What were you saying?’
Eden took a mouthful from her water glass and swallowed, letting her thoughts calm for a moment. David had been looking at her as though he wanted to toss the table and all its contents aside, scoop her into his arms and devour her one inch at a time. It was heady stuff.
She’d been surprised earlier when he’d admitted that she razzed him up—that she, in essence, got his blood pumping—but to see him gazing upon her in this way was almost too much for her to ignore. She might be tired, exhausted and starting to feel the initial effects of jet lag, but that wouldn’t stop her from encouraging him…if he intended to actually do something about it.
This was David. The man responsible for her first real love. It was a love which had been growing and festering with the passing years. It was quite true that he was the man she measured all others by, but could it be that her feelings for him were far deeper than she’d previously thought?
‘You shouldn’t look at me like that.’ Her tone was soft, barely a whisper, but he heard it. In fact, he felt her words more than heard them, such was the connection between them.
He cleared his throat, shifting in his seat, feeling highly self-conscious. ‘Er…like what? How am I looking at you?’
‘As though you still want to devour me.’ She blinked slowly, then leaned forward onto her elbows. ‘It’s all right, you know. I don’t mind.’
‘Eden!’
The bubble which had encapsulated them burst, and she couldn’t help but laugh sweetly at the expression on his face. It held a mixture of disbelief, doubt and desire.
‘You’re not supposed to say those sorts of things to a man. Is this how you usually conduct your dates?’
‘Ahh…so you’re admitting this is a date? Interesting.’
‘It’s dinner. Between friends.’
‘That look you just gave me said you’d like to be very friendly.’ She was deadly serious in what she was saying, but kept her tone light, jovial. If he thought she was just teasing, perhaps she’d be able to get more out of him. With all she knew about him, for all the history they shared, he was still a difficult man to read—especially when it came to affairs of the heart.
David took a deep breath in and let it out slowly, deciding the best way to calm things down was to be honest with her. ‘Eden, I’m not a blind fool who doesn’t recognise the attraction, the tension which exists between us. Of cours
e I find you attractive, but I also admire and respect you far too much to think of changing the strong friendship we currently have. You have your life. I have mine. Our paths have crossed again because of Sasha. That’s it.’
Eden frowned. ‘What does that mean?’
‘It means that if Sasha hadn’t been in this accident you wouldn’t have come back home. I wouldn’t have been an insensitive clod and we wouldn’t be having dinner together.’
‘But all of that did happen and here we are. Sitting at a candle-lit table in an Italian restaurant, discussing the way you were just looking at me. I know you have your world nicely under control and would rather not have it upset, but sometimes when our worlds are turned on their heads we find out more about ourselves.’
‘Is that what has happened to you? Working overseas, helping so many people—has it helped you to know yourself better?’
Eden thought on his words. ‘In a way it has, and in other ways I think I’ve lost myself even more.’ The mask was off. There was no flirting, no laughter in her words. She was trusting him with a much deeper side of herself. ‘It’s strange. Coming home like this…I didn’t realise how much I’d…missed.’ She played with her food for a moment before putting the fork down and pushing the plate away.
‘Do you mean your family?’
Eden sighed and met David’s eyes. There he was. In the role of confidant, the man she could trust, could talk to, could rely on to tell her what to do. ‘I left Sydney with such anger, such determination to show my parents that I didn’t need their money to have a wonderful life.’
‘And on the whole has it been wonderful?’
She nodded. ‘It hasn’t been too bad. I supported myself through medical school, and I’ve worked in some incredible places, met some amazing people and travelled the globe. I love helping people.’
‘I know.’
‘It’s very fulfilling—especially where there is poverty. Being able to make such a difference, to see that what you personally are doing is changing things for the better. It’s a nice feeling.’
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