by Nell Dixon
“Dan told you this?” Erin’s mouth fell open with shock.
“Worse, she told Dan in front of me, Tom and all of our friends when we were getting ready for club.”
“Poor Dan.” Erin’s heart ached.
Tom returned to the car carrying a small bag. “Sorry, had to ring Dan and find out what he wanted me to bring.” He jumped into the car and started the engine.
Erin sat back in her seat as they headed for the hospital and thought about what Rose had told her. She couldn’t imagine anyone being so cruel, especially to Dan. It was no surprise that he’d been so cagey on the beach about his injuries. When she’d said no more secrets she’d hadn’t envisaged anything like this.
Tom swung the car into a vacant parking space near New Bay’s small hospital. “Dan’s in the accident and emergency unit. He said they’d taken Brad up to one of the wards.”
“We’d better go and find him, then.” Rose got out of the passenger seat and opened the back door for Erin.
She walked alongside Rose and Tom as they headed for the emergency department, her heart thumping like a drum with every step she took. The receptionist at the desk in the entrance beamed at them when they asked for Dan.
“Oh yes, he’s a real hero. The press have just left. He’s going to be in all the papers tomorrow.”
They followed her directions to a small room off the main lobby. Erin let Rose and Tom lead the way. Shyness engulfed her at the thought of seeing Dan with Rose’s recent comments still buzzing around inside her head.
Dan was in a hospital bed wearing a blue open-backed hospital gown.
“I thought you were the press coming back,” he remarked, grinning at them. “I hope those are my clothes in that bag so I can go home.”
“How’s Brad?” Rose asked.
“Not too bad, all things considered. They’re taking him to the operating theatre later to pin his ankle. It looks as if he won’t be hitting the surf again until spring.”
“At least he’ll be able to surf.” Erin shuddered at the thought of what would have happened if Dan hadn’t gone into the water to rescue him.
“We’ll pop up and see him. It’ll give you two a chance to be alone together.” Tom handed Dan his bag and he and Rose left the room.
“Would you rather I waited outside while you got dressed?” Heat burned Erin’s cheeks.
Dan hesitated in the act of pulling his tee-shirt from the bag. “You should probably know that I have some bad scars on my shoulder.” His eyes met hers and she remembered what Rose had said in the car.
“I’ll go if that’s what you want.” She swallowed hard, conscious that he needed to make the decision about whether he felt ready to share something so personal with her this early in their relationship. She didn’t feel that she should be the one to decide.
Dan dropped his gaze and shook his tee-shirt out. “I could use a hand to undo the ties at the back here.” He shifted his position on the bed.
Erin nibbled her lip and pulled the string ties holding the gown closed. She held her breath as Dan slid the hospital robe free of his shoulders. The scarring wasn’t as dramatic as she’d feared from Rose’s description. A livid, jagged line ran around his chest wall and up near his collarbone. She could see where the skin hadn’t healed well leaving puckered and ridged lines.
Dan quickly pulled his white tee-shirt over his head. Erin’s eyes filled with tears as she saw the dull, red flush that over-laid his cheekbones.
“I warned you it wasn’t a pretty sight.”
“It’s just a scar, Dan.” She didn’t know what else to say to reassure him.
He swung his bare legs over the edge of the bed ready to pull on his jeans.
“I’ll be just outside.” Erin darted for the door.
* * * *
The door banged shut behind Erin and Dan threw the hospital gown on the floor in disgust before tugging on his jeans. She couldn’t bear to be in the same room as him just like his ex. He finished dressing and stuffed the carrier bag containing his wet things into the holdall, ready to leave. His injured shoulder ached as much as his heart from the exertion of the sea. The painkillers the nurse had given him would relieve the pain in his arm, but only Erin could relieve the rest of his agony. He wondered if she’d left already, unable to face him now she’d seen the extent of his injuries.
Dan picked up his bag and opened the door, hoping Tom and Rose would be waiting to give him a lift home. His spirits lifted when he saw Erin perched on a chair in the corridor, twisting her bright pink cap in her hands as she waited for him. He’d been certain she would be long gone. She leapt to her feet as he came out.
“Rose and Tom are waiting for us. Brad wants to see you before you leave.” She stood a little way away from him and his initial elation at seeing her still there faded.
“He’s on the Swift Ward isn’t he?” Dan chanced a look at Erin’s face as she walked beside him to the lift. He longed to put his arm around her and feel the warmth of her body next to his, yet she kept a small distance from him, as if he repulsed her. Maybe he did - just like his last girlfriend.
Erin pressed the call button for the elevator. “Rose said Brad was on the first floor.”
They travelled the short distance up to the ward in silence. Dan wished he knew what Erin’s thoughts were.
“Hey dude and dudette!” Brad was in the bed nearest to the door.
“Hi Brad, thank goodness you’re okay.” Erin smiled at Brad and Dan felt a little stab of jealousy at the warmth in her voice.
“Thanks to Dan the man here. I told those guys from the press all about it, dude. You should get a medal or something. I thought I was a goner when that wave hit.”
“I only did what anyone else would have done.” Dan felt embarrassed by Brad’s effusive praise.
“Well I agree with Brad. I was there too, remember, and I thought you were amazing.” A delicate wash of pink coloured Erin’s cheeks as she chimed in.
“I wanted to say thanks before they take me off to fix up my foot.” Brad clasped Dan’s hand in a hearty grip.
“It’s okay. Like I said; anyone would have done the same thing.” Dan extricated his hand from Brad’s with a little difficulty as a nurse came over to shoo them away.
“See you dude and thanks again,” Brad called as the nurse drew a curtain around his bed.
Erin walked alongside Dan as they headed back to the lift.
“I think Brad was right. You were really brave.” She stuffed her pink cap into the pocket of her jacket as the elevator doors pinged open. He followed her inside and reached out to press the button for the ground floor at the same time as Erin.
Her hand brushed his and he felt that tingle of excitement that he always got whenever she came near him.
“Sorry,” he apologised automatically as the doors rumbled shut.
Erin stood quietly next to him and in the confined space he could smell the soft fragrance of her skin mixed with the salty air from the sea. Rose and Tom were waiting opposite the elevator doors as they opened on the ground floor. Tom had his arm draped over Rose’s shoulders and Dan envied them their obvious happiness in each other’s company.
“Ready to go?” Rose asked.
“Yeah just need to let the receptionist know.” He would be glad to get home and back to the quiet comfort of his flat.
“I’ll tell her,” Rose volunteered.
Tom relieved him of the holdall and stowed it in the boot while they waited for Rose to rejoin them. She slid into the passenger seat next to Tom, so Dan got in the back seat next to Erin. There wasn’t much room in Tom’s car and the heat from Erin’s leg warmed Dan as she pressed against him. At least she didn’t snatch it away, though, so he relaxed a little as he fastened his seat belt.
“Do you want us to drop you both off at your place, Dan?” Tom asked.
Dan hesitated, waiting for Erin to protest and say she wanted to go home.
“That would be great. Thanks, Tom.” Her word
s took him by surprise. He had been certain that the day’s events had killed any hope of a relationship.
Rose and Tom stopped the car at the curb outside Dan’s block.
“So you want to come in for coffee?” He still half expected her to make her excuses and bolt.
“That sounds nice.”
Not quite believing his luck, he took the lead on the stairs up to his flat. Dan pulled the keys from his pocket and opened the front door.
“Come in and make yourself at home.” He dropped his bag on one of the armchairs and waited for Erin to follow him inside.
“Hey, if I hadn’t been with you all day I’d have sworn you’d tidied up especially.” She smiled at him.
“I’ll put the kettle on.” Dan headed for the kitchen with a spring in his step. He must have misread Erin’s reaction to his scars. Once he’d pulled the mugs from the shelf and spooned in the coffee he popped his head round the door to see that Erin had taken off her jacket and was sat down on the sofa.
“Do you take sugar?”
“Two please and a big splash of milk.” She looked totally relaxed and at home on his couch.
Dan went back to making his coffee, unsure if he should trust the little flicker of hope in his heart. He was about to place the sugar jar back on the shelf when he realised Erin had come to stand in the kitchen doorway. Now she’d taken off her padded pink jacket, he noticed she wore a white clingy top that highlighted her slim curves.
“Coffee’s ready.” He handed her a mug.
“Dan, we have to talk.” She cradled the drink carefully in her hands and studied the steaming surface.
Dan braced himself for the other shoe to drop. “We have to talk”, usually meant “goodbye Dan” based on his past experience with women. She turned away and walked back into the lounge to the sofa. Dan wished he had something stronger to drink as he carried his coffee through and placed it on the round occasional table.
He took a seat at the opposite end of the sofa, settling back a little on to the brown leather so he could fully see the expression on Erin’s face. She placed her mug down next to his.
“Rose told me about your last girlfriend, about what happened.” A rosy pink flush covered Erin’s cheeks as she spoke. Dan sighed. He wished Rose hadn’t said anything. It looked as if Erin had braced herself for a big speech. He could tell from the rigidity in her spine and the way she struggled to meet his eyes.
“Erin, look it’s not big deal. I know my shoulder doesn’t look good, and I should have told you about it earlier. Especially after you said you needed me to be honest with you. Its okay, I understand if you don’t want to date me. We can still be friends.” He knew his words were hollow. He didn’t want to be just friends with Erin, but if she didn’t fancy him any more then there was nothing he could do to change her mind.
“That wasn’t what I was going to say. I understand why you didn’t say anything before. Unless, of course, you’ve changed your mind about dating me?” Her blue eyes were wide and worried.
“No.” Dan hurried to reassure her. Of course he hadn’t changed his mind about her! After what happened earlier, he admired her more than ever. She’d kept a cool head on the beach and led the kids back to safety. Plus, he fancied her more than ever – especially when she looked at him the way she was now.
“So you trust me now?”
“Yes.”
“Take your shirt off.”
He blinked, not sure if he’d heard her request clearly. His every instinct protested at what she’d asked.
“Why?” He shifted in his seat, unsure about her motives.
“Do you trust me?” Her gaze was direct, pinning him to the spot.
He mumbled a curse under his breath and, as an answer, pulled his shirt over his head and flung it in a crumpled heap onto the floor. Big mistake. He felt stupid sitting there with out the protection his clothes had always afforded him.
Erin slid along the sofa closer to him. He felt the warmth of her breath on his bare skin. A tingle of electricity ran through him as she raised her hand and traced a delicate path along the puckered ugly ridge of skin. He fought the urge to snatch her hand away from its exploration.
Her fingers stilled as if sensing his discomfort. “Oh, Dan.” She moved closer, linking her hands around his neck and placing her lips on his. His arms closed around her without any conscious thought. He felt the heat of her breasts through the thin material of her top against his naked skin.
“Um, Erin, you realise what you’re doing to me, kissing me like this?” He lifted his head to look in her eyes.
She stroked a hand across his chest and the blood rushed in his ears at her touch. “I wanted to show you how I felt. I knew you wouldn’t believe me if I just told you. I thought the best way was to show you.”
She squeaked as he lifted her with his good arm up onto his lap as he claimed her mouth again with his lips.
* * * *
Dan called a taxi for her just before eleven, since his car was still down on the car park on the far side of town. She sighed happily as she settled in the back seat for the short drive back to Mrs Fuller’s.
She had cooked Dan some supper and washed up before leaving. He was pretty exhausted from the adventure at the beach. His shoulder had been troubling him more than he was willing to let on, and she suspected he was ready for more painkillers and his bed. An image of Dan in his bed bare-chested beneath the quilt, popped into her head making her feel hot all over again.
She had taken a big risk when she’d asked him to take off his shirt, since she hadn’t really known how he would react to her request. It had been important to her, to both of them that they finally trusted each other. She paid the taxi driver and ran up the steps to her lodgings.
Her mobile rang as she let herself into her room.
“Just making sure you’re home safe.”
Erin sat on the edge of her bed and kicked off her boots as she listened to the husky rumble of Dan’s voice. Her lip still tingled from his kisses, and for the first time in a long while, she felt loved.
“I’ve just got in,” she reassured him and was answered by the low sexy sound of his chuckle.
“As Brad would say, goodnight Dudette, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Dude.” She smiled as she rang off, it looked as if tomorrow would be truly righteous.
A Cornish Christmas
Copyright © 2011 Nell Dixon
To the Coffee Crew, with love.
CHAPTER ONE
Meg didn’t have to look out through Beach Diva’s shop window to guess at the cause of the commotion in the street. Adam had run past her shop only a few minutes earlier, tugging off his tie as he’d sprinted towards the lifeboat station.
Her hands shook as she concentrated on folding the new delivery of soft cashmere sweaters. Anything to keep herself busy so she didn’t have to think, or worry, about what might be happening out on the ocean.
She slid the neat pile of jewel-toned sweaters onto the narrow mahogany shelf. The street outside the shop had emptied, and she guessed that the small crowd had gone to the lifeboat station to watch the boat launch. Unable to resist the impulse any longer she wandered across the shop floor and peered through the glass straining to see the boat house at the end of the promenade.
The sky outside was grey and stormy and a sudden gust of wind from the seafront rattled the glass, making her jump.
The doorbell pinged and Meg’s mum, Val, entered the shop in a swirl of wool and damp, salty air. “It’s a blowy one out there today, and no mistake. I just heard the boat go out. I hope some poor soul isn’t in too much trouble.”
She took off her coat and headed for the small staff room at the back of the counter.
“Are there many people in town?” Meg stepped away from the window.
“It’s filling up nicely despite the cold. I expect people are coming early for a spot of shopping ahead of the carnival weekend.” Val re-entered the shop rubbing her hands tog
ether to warm her fingers.
The New Bay Winter Carnival, held the week before Christmas, was a big draw for the town. During the day, a continental market was open in the town park, and on Friday evening a torchlight parade was held through the streets followed on Saturday night by a firework display. All the money raised during the weekend went towards the lifeboat station.
“I promised Erin and Dan I’d go and help them tonight with the final costume touches for the youth group float,” Meg said.
“Will Adam be there, too?”
Meg frowned at her mother. Val heartily approved of Adam and was never able to resist urging Meg into agreeing to date him.
“I don’t know. I expect he’ll be at the Mermaid later. It depends if he’s on call, I suppose.” Meg shrugged. Adam usually appeared at the local pub if he thought there was a chance she might be there, unless he was covering for one of his partners at the town’s medical practice.
“He’ll be exhausted if he is. What with morning surgery, the lifeboat duty and evening surgery, he works far too hard.” Val’s forehead creased with concern.
Meg bit back a sigh. She knew the unspoken subtext went something like, ‘he needs someone to look after him’. Her mother’s views on women’s roles were as dated as the perm and set hairstyle she favoured.
“I’m just going to pop out to the deli for a sandwich. I won’t be long.” Meg scooped up her jacket from the staff room and left her mum to look after the shop. Much as she loved her mother she really didn’t want another lecture about why Adam would make a great boyfriend.
Meg hurried along the seafront towards the tiny deli situated on a side street. It wasn’t as if she didn’t like Adam. She liked his dark eyes and the way they crinkled at the corners when he laughed, his broad shoulders and slow, gentle smile. If only he wasn’t involved with the lifeboat then she would have taken him up on his offer of a date like a shot. It was the one thing she and her mother disagreed on, and Meg would have thought that her mother of all people would have been the one to understand after what had happened to her father.
