The Family Practitioner

by Leah Martyn

  ‘I’ll walk out with you.’ There was a taut edge to Matt’s voice and his gaze skimmed over her discerningly. He frowned a bit. She must be out on her feet.

  ‘Joanna…’ Deb brought her head up. ‘Thanks for, well, everything. I’m so grateful…’

  Joanna swallowed hard on the tightness in her throat. ‘No thanks needed, Deb.’ She bent and squeezed the other’s shoulder, then turned and began walking quickly towards the exit.

  Matt was right beside her.

  ‘Will you be all right?’ He pushed through the entrance doors and drew her to a halt in the shadowy light outside.

  ‘I’ll be fine.’ Joanna brushed a strand of hair back from her temple. ‘I left your car in the doctors’ car park and Deb has the keys.’

  ‘Thanks.’ A muscle flickered in his jaw as he raised his hands to curve them around her shoulders, leaving her no option but to look at him. ‘I feel as though I’ve short-changed you this evening, Joanna. I should’ve been taking you home. Instead…’

  ‘I know…’ She drew a shaky breath. ‘But you have to stay with your sister, Matt. Just let’s pray Scott recovers quickly.’

  ‘Yes. I was damned glad to have your help this evening.’ His hand shifted to brush across her cheek. ‘But you’re right,’ he added ruefully. ‘I’ll have to stay with Deb. There’s no way she’ll go home until she’s checked on Scott.’

  ‘No.’ Joanna’s response was automatic. Her mind flew ahead and she wondered when she’d see Matt again. Would it be soon or would he be all tied up, helping Debra sort out her immediate problem? But somehow she knew she would see him. ‘Matt…’ Suddenly, she could almost feel the tension vibrating between them, shakenly recognising her own riot of emotions. ‘I should go.’

  ‘I know you should…but I don’t want you to…’

  His husky tones lapped at the edge of her resistance and she felt him draw her closer. Confusion and want shimmered across her eyes at the realisation he was going to kiss her—and she gave in to the desire that she wanted him to. Needed him to. She breathed in, the musky scent of his cologne stirring her senses, sending shivers all along her spine.

  Her eyelids fluttered down and she felt the touch of his lips on hers, tasting her, until she opened her mouth to his. He made a sound in his throat, accepting her invitation to deepen the kiss, exploring the softness of her lips with a tenderness that was utterly sweet.

  After the longest time, his mouth left hers and he stroked her hair. ‘Come.’ His chest lifted in a long sigh. ‘I’ll see you safely into a cab.’

  It was the following Saturday before she saw him again.

  That morning, after Jason had left for work, Joanna had thrown her energies into the housework and had just finished cleaning the oven—a job she’d decided she’d put off for too long—when the doorbell rang. And rang again.

  ‘All right, all right,’ she muttered, tugging off her rubber gloves and tossing them into the sink. ‘Coming,’ she called, puffing a wayward strand of hair from her forehead as she made her way along the hallway to the front door.

  ‘Yes, what is it?’ She flung open the door, expecting to see a local child brandishing some school raffle tickets or whatever. ‘Matt…’ she said softly, flustered.

  ‘Bad timing?’ He gave a mocking lift to his eyebrows, his gaze homing in on her hand clutching the neckline of her faded T-shirt.

  ‘Well, you’ve just missed the oven-cleaning.’ She gave a stilted laugh to cover her embarrassment. ‘So, from your point of view, it’s probably good timing.’ She stood back to let him in.

  ‘I should’ve rung, perhaps?’

  ‘No—it’s fine. Honestly.’ Joanna had seen his look of uncertainty and hastened to put him at ease. ‘Come through.’ She led the way to the kitchen. ‘I’ve a couple of chores to tidy away. Coffee?’

  ‘Ah.’ Matt gave a crooked smile and followed her. ‘I wondered if you’d like to have lunch actually.’

  ‘Lunch.’ Joanna stared at him, bemused.

  ‘Yes—you know, as in go to the pub and order a glass of wine and some food and so on.’

  ‘Um…yes…OK, then.’

  Noticing her slight hesitation, he frowned. ‘Am I treading on anyone’s toes here, Joanna?’

  ‘Toes?’

  His hand reached out briefly to snag her wrist. ‘I’ve been assuming you’re not committed.’ His gaze slanted over her, a question in his eyes, and a brief smile touched his mouth. ‘I think that’s the politically correct term they use now, isn’t it?’

  ‘I’m not.’ She shook her head, looking down to where his hand curved over her wrist. His touch had had a strange effect on her, a sensation of instant fire that raced through her bloodstream. ‘Only to my son, of course,’ she added softly.

  ‘I understand. So, then, Dr Winters…’ Matt drew her hand up and playfully rubbed her knuckles across his chin. ‘We can do lunch?’

  ‘We can.’ She shook her hair back and laughed shakily. ‘I just need a few minutes to shower and change.’

  ‘You’ve got it.’ Matt crinkled a smile and let her hand go.

  ‘The weekend papers are in the lounge.’ Joanna turned away, hastily aiming some bits and pieces at the bin and then straightened towards him. ‘Make yourself comfortable. I won’t be long.’

  She threw herself under the shower, aware her heart was revving. And when she was dressed, she felt like a girl again in her snug-fitting jeans and sleek little ribbed jumper. She bit back a startled laugh. She looked good. And she had a lunch date with a very handsome man.

  With an impatient flick of his wrist, Matt dropped the copy of the Weekend Australian back on to the coffee table. He may as well have been reading it upside down for all he’d taken in.

  He blew out a long breath, standing abruptly and pacing across to the window. His hands in the pockets of his jungle-green chinos, he peered out at the garden bed of mauve and white flowers that ran along the inside of the brick fence. He didn’t know what they were called but their perfume as he’d come through the gate had been heady with a distinctive spicy smell.

  And why on earth was he wittering on, albeit silently about flowers, when in reality his mind couldn’t get past Joanna Winters and the powerful effect she was having on his equilibrium?

  His expression became shuttered, blade-sharp desire hitting him out of nowhere. Hell! He clenched his hands in his pockets. His stomach felt tied in knots, as though a very bad surgeon had been let loose on his guts…

  Where do you think you’re going with this? Joanna stared into her dressing-table mirror, as if demanding an answer from her wide-eyed reflection. Suddenly, reality in the form of a prowling Matt McKellar just inches away beyond the dividing wall had set up a hard knot of uncertainty in her stomach. She drew in a quivery breath, automatically settling a lock of hair behind her ear. She’d allowed herself to open up to Matt because it had felt so natural, so right. But in doing so, had she left herself even more vulnerable?

  For a long time now, she’d been content to let her life jog along with Jason at its centre. But now her life was changing even as she stood here. Because now a new player had entered the stage. Now, there was Matt McKellar…

  CHAPTER FOUR

  ‘ANYWHERE in particular you’d like to eat?’ Matt slid the car smoothly away from the kerb.

  ‘I’m easy.’ Joanna cringed inwardly. What a pathetic way to have expressed herself.

  ‘The Federal serves a reasonable counter lunch.’ Matt sent her a fleeting look. ‘Shall we try there?’

  ‘Fine with me.’ Joanna’s teeth caught her bottom lip. Suddenly, she felt unaccountably nervous, out of kilter. ‘How is Scott doing?’ she asked into the growing silence between them.

  ‘Well, it’s only been a week.’ Matt gave a twitch of his shoulder. ‘Progress is understandably slow but the consultant is sure they’ll save the arm.’

  ‘How is Deb managing?’

  He frowned. ‘She’s determined to keep their programmes going at Feat
herdale. At the moment she’s being assisted by a couple of students from the agricultural college. They’re classing it as work experience. And I’ll keep an eye on things where I can.’

  Joanna knotted her fingers together in her lap. ‘I did phone the hospital to enquire about Scott but got only the standard reply. And I didn’t want to intrude on Deb—’

  ‘You could have called me.’

  She felt a little rush of colour flood her cheeks, mentally fending off the mild rebuke. It wasn’t justified anyway. She had thought about ringing Matt. Endlessly. She’d even lifted the receiver once, only to slam it down, recoiling as the nerves in her stomach had gathered and clenched as though they’d been attached to a thousand fine wires.

  Her head went back on the soft leather. ‘I meant to. I wanted to, but…’

  ‘You sat looking at the phone instead.’

  ‘Snap.’

  His mouth kicked up in a wry smile. ‘For intelligent people, we let the craziest things faze us, don’t we?’

  Joanna smothered a smile. ‘You, too?’

  ‘You bet. All the time. Should I? Shouldn’t I?’

  ‘I expect we’re afraid of making fools of ourselves. Or perhaps we’re just afraid…’

  Matt grinned. ‘I’d settle for plain wimping out.’

  ‘Well, I’m glad you didn’t wimp out today,’ she said softly, turning to meet his gaze, as they halted for a set of traffic lights.

  ‘Me, too,’ Matt replied, his tone gruff.

  Joanna took a shaken breath. In the few seconds while they waited for the signal to turn green, he reached across and took her wrist, his thumb massaging her pulse point almost absently. Within the space of a heartbeat the whole of her arm was tingling, the dizzying feeling winging all the way to her backbone and beyond.

  ‘I haven’t been here before.’ Joanna cast her gaze around the pleasant surrounds of the hotel, taking in the soft colours of the décor, the patina of old timber furniture, the glow from the copper pans used as decorative features behind the bar.

  ‘There’s a blackboard menu.’ Matt placed a guiding hand at her waist. ‘I gather you’re hungry?’ He sent her a fleeting grin.

  ‘A bit,’ she understated. ‘Housework seems to do that to me.’ But even as she made the light-hearted remark, Joanna’s throat was tightening and she doubted whether she’d be able to swallow anything.

  ‘The fish is usually good.’ Thoughtfully, Matt stroked a finger across his chin. ‘Whiting skewers with ginger and soy. Sound OK?’

  ‘Lovely.’ She gave him a shaky smile.

  Their fish came with an Asian salad, and with the warming effect of a rather dry white wine, Joanna began to relax and enjoy her meal. ‘I wish I were a more adventurous cook,’ she lamented, tasting the fresh tang of lime juice in the salad dressing.

  ‘It takes time and practice,’ Matt responded evenly. ‘And I don’t imagine you’ve much of the former.’

  ‘Possibly not.’ Joanna paused, picking up her wine-glass and looking at him. ‘What about you, Matt? Do you like to cook?’

  He smiled, a mere sensual curving of his lips. ‘Will you dump me if I say no?’

  ‘It’s a possibility.’ His low, suggestively teasing comment had her thoughts whirling giddily, and for a moment it seemed as if life had snatched her up and begun propelling her too fast into a wide uncertain future.

  ‘I can do a simple meal.’ His tone was softly wry. ‘And I always keep a large packet of cornflakes in the pantry for when I’m not more inspired.’

  ‘Back-up,’ she murmured through a throaty laugh. ‘Very wise. You make good coffee anyway.’

  ‘Ah…’ He made a face. ‘Gracie Storer, our cleaner at the club, usually does all that before she leaves for the day.’

  Joanna clicked her tongue and laughed again. ‘You don’t have much going for you at all, then, Dr McKellar.’

  ‘Then let’s thank heaven, you do, Dr Winters.’ Matt spoke softly, leaning across to trap her hand between his palm and the soft fabric of the tablecloth. ‘So, what are we going to do about it?’

  She swallowed unevenly, her suddenly downcast lashes fanning darkly across her cheekbones. ‘I…don’t understand what you’re asking…’

  ‘Come and work with me.’ He released her hand and sat back in his chair, regarding her through narrowed eyes.

  Her lashes flew up. ‘But I know nothing about delivering sports medicine,’ she forced out jerkily.

  ‘I’d be your mentor,’ he said, his blue eyes fixed on her. ‘With some intensive training, we could cover everything you’d need to know within a reasonable time span. You have much of the background anyway.’ He lifted a shoulder dismissively. ‘It’s just a matter of reactivating everything you were taught about physiology in med school and combining it with some specialised know-how. And I’d always be around for back-up.’

  Joanna blinked. His proposition had come out of nowhere, leaving her confused, startled. ‘Why me?’

  ‘Why not you?’ Matt had quietly resumed his meal. ‘The centre urgently needs another doctor, more particularly a female doctor. And from what I’ve seen so far, you have the qualities we need. You were quick and intuitive at Scott’s accident. You didn’t dither. You went in boots and all. And you have a natural empathy with people.’

  Well, it was all very flattering. Joanna moistened her lips. ‘What if I said I was interested?’

  ‘I go with a recommendation to the board and that’s it. You’re in.’ He named a salary that left her head spinning.

  ‘Heavens!’ Her hands shook slightly as she locked them around the stem of her glass and gazed across at his bent dark head. ‘That seems unusually generous.’

  ‘It’s the going rate.’

  ‘What if I made a mess of it?’

  ‘You wouldn’t, Joanna. I’d see to that.’

  Joanna blinked through a long pause. ‘What kind of hours would I be required to work?’

  ‘Different, I’d guess, from what you presently work as a GP.’ Matt placed his knife and fork neatly together on his plate. ‘But more flexible.’

  And that meant she’d possibly see more of her son. Joanna ran a finger around the base of her glass, admitting that even though at the back of her mind she’d been toying with the idea of moving on from general practice, this proposition from Matt had placed an urgency on her decision.

  ‘How long do I have to think about it?’ she asked.

  ‘Not long.’ His look sharpened and then he grinned. ‘What about a coffee in the meantime?’

  Surely he was joking? He couldn’t expect her to give him an answer in five minutes—even in five days! She’d need to give the idea much more thought. Yet, rationally, what was there to think about? her inner voice urged. Either you want a career change or you don’t. But I might hate working with him, she reasoned.

  Well, isn’t it better to find out now than—?

  ‘Coffee for two.’ Matt placed the cups on the table.

  ‘Hi, Mum.’

  Joanna jumped guiltily, her fingers tightening involuntarily on the pile of laundry she’d been sorting. ‘Jason…’ she smiled a bit awkwardly. ‘I was miles away. How was work?’

  ‘OK.’ The youth slammed his push-bike against the wall of the laundry. ‘Where were you at lunchtime?’

  ‘Lunchtime?’ Joanna felt a dull flush crawl up her throat and over her cheekbones.

  Jason tugged off his stack-hat and tossed it onto the bench. ‘I tried to call you in my break. Daniel asked if I’d like to go to Speedway at Calverston tonight. His dad got some tickets through his work. I called you to check it was OK.’

  Joanna knew it was time to be honest with her son about her growing involvement with Matt, but she stalled for time. ‘Wasn’t the answering machine on?’

  Jason shook his head.

  ‘I must have forgotten. Actually, Matt called by and asked me to lunch.’ Hastily, she resumed folding the freshly laundered towels.

  The boy set his head at an e
nquiring angle. ‘Why’d he do that?’

  Joanna’s mind emptied. ‘Um…we enjoy each other’s company, I suppose, and it seemed a nice thing to do.’ Her resolve firmed. ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t here to get your call, Jase, but you know it’s usually OK for you to go with Daniel and his dad to things…’

  ‘Yeah…well…’ Jason set his mouth in a mutinous line. ‘You always say I should ask.’

  Sighing inwardly, Joanna picked up the basket of towels for despatch to the linen cupboard. Obviously they needed to clear the air. Just lately too much had been left simmering. And she certainly didn’t want things to develop into a confrontation with her son. She sent him a quick smile. ‘Let’s go inside, love. I want to talk to you.’

  In the quiet cosiness of the kitchen, they sat over mugs of steaming chocolate. Joanna took a deep breath, moistening her lips before addressing her son. ‘Matt’s asked me to join the staff at the sports clinic.’

  Jason’s eyes flicked up and locked with his mother’s, so like her own in every way. ‘Why would you want to do that? You like working at the Strachan, don’t you?’

  Joanna bristled at his assumption that her work situation was everything she wished for and at having to explain herself to her child. ‘As a matter of fact, I’ve been thinking of making a change. I didn’t know to quite what but then Matt made his offer. And it’s genuine,’ she reinforced, as Jason gave her an old-fashioned look from suddenly widened eyes.

  Joanna sighed abruptly. ‘I thought you’d be pleased. The hours would be much more flexible and I wouldn’t have to leave you on your own so much.’

  Jason made an irritated hissing sound between his lips. ‘Mum, I’m sixteen, not six!’

  ‘All the more reason for you to understand that I might just possibly want a change in my work environment,’ she snapped, and then relented. ‘You like Matt, don’t you?’