Diagnosis

by Lucy Clark

  Charli smiled at him. ‘I know the feeling.’

  ‘We probably shouldn’t—’

  ‘But we are,’ she finished for him, and started walking again. ‘Now, let’s find me some Aussie food to try.’

  ‘You got it, mate.’ Logan tightened his grip on her hand, wondering if he’d ever be able to let go. In the next block down, he led them to a take-away, and as they went inside he dropped her hand and removed his sunglasses. ‘G’day, Cedric. How’s business been today?’

  ‘Quite good, mate. Quite good. What can I get ya?’

  ‘Two pies with sauce.’ Logan peered at the cakes. ‘Got any lamingtons?’

  ‘I’ll just check with the missus.’ Cedric disappeared out the back for a moment while Charli perused the large fridge full of drinks.

  ‘So, is there a typical Aussie drink I need to try or can I just opt for a cola?’

  Logan grinned and the effect went straight to her heart. ‘Whatever you like. Grab one for me as well.’

  ‘We do have some lamingtons,’ Cedric announced on his return. ‘Two?’

  ‘That’d be beaut, mate.’ A few minutes later, their lunch in paper bags, they headed out of Cedric’s store. Charli was pleased when Logan managed to juggle their purchases so he could take her hand in his once more as they headed back to the soccer oval.

  It was now deserted and he led them to a bench and reluctantly let go of her hand. ‘Take a load off,’ he said as he straddled the seat, placing his lunch before him. Charli did the same, sitting opposite him, and was pleased when she caught him sneaking a glance at her legs.

  He took the pie out of the bag, then the sauce satchet. He squeezed the sauce on top of the pie pastry, watching as Charli mimicked his actions.

  ‘So what’s inside?’

  ‘Probably better if you don’t ask,’ he said with a laugh. ‘Meat with gravy.’

  ‘And you put tomato sauce on top?’

  ‘Sure do, ma’am,’ he said in an American accent.

  ‘Are you making fun of me?’

  ‘Sure am, ma’am.’

  Charli could only grin and watched closely as he raised the pie to his mouth and took a large bite. She took a deep breath and followed suit. ‘Here goes.’ She took a bite, the sauce going over her upper lip, a few flakes of pastry falling down onto her top and the hotness of the meat inside mildly burning her tongue.

  Logan swallowed and then cheered as she licked her top lip. ‘We’ll make an Aussie out of you yet, Dr Summerfield. What do you think?’

  She swallowed. ‘About being made into an Aussie or the pie?’

  ‘Let’s start with the pie.’

  ‘Not bad. Not bad at all. It’s spicier than I thought it would be.’ She took another bite, chewed and swallowed. ‘In fact, it’s quite good. Is there any more sauce, or real ketchup for that matter?’

  He pulled another sauce satchel from his bag. ‘I always get a spare.’

  ‘My hero.’

  They ate their pies, grinning at each other before moving on to the cake covered with chocolate syrup and coconut.

  ‘Now, lamingtons I could get to love,’ she mumbled through her mouthful, bits of coconut flying.

  Logan laughed. ‘You’re all class.’

  Charli swallowed. ‘I can’t explain it, Logan. I feel so…so…free. It’s wonderful.’

  ‘Pies and lamingtons! Who knew that’s what it would take for you to feel that way.’

  ‘It’s not just them and you know it.’ She ate her last mouthful and had a drink. Logan stood and disposed of their litter before returning to his seat.

  ‘What is it then?’

  ‘Pardon?’

  ‘If it’s not the food, what else is it that makes you feel free?’

  ‘Fishing?’

  A slow smile spread across his face. ‘Perhaps. Are you going to bite?’

  ‘You? Only if you’re good.’

  ‘Charli!’ Logan was a little shocked and surprised at her attitude. ‘The woman I met at the conference last weekend would never have said anything like that.’

  ‘How would you know? Did you know me that well?’

  ‘No.’ He reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face. He tucked it behind her ear and began to caress her cheek.

  ‘So what gives you the impression I’m behaving out of character?’ She took his hand in hers and raised it to her mouth, carefully kissing each knuckle.

  Logan sucked a breath in. ‘Well, you didn’t do that, for starters.’

  ‘Does it bother you?’

  ‘Very much so.’ Her gaze flew to meet his. ‘But in a good way.’ His heart rate had increased and he knew she could see the desire in his eyes.

  ‘Why haven’t you kissed me?’

  Her question only served to add more fuel to the fire that was now raging within him.

  ‘Because I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop.’

  Slowly she nodded her head. ‘What a shame you have such a good answer.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because it makes it impossible for me to hold a grudge against you.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear that.’

  She watched his throat as he swallowed, wanting to press her lips to his Adam’s apple.

  Logan groaned. ‘Don’t look at me like that.’

  ‘Like what?’ The two words were whispered as she edged closer to him.

  ‘Like you’re ready to devour me, like you did that lamington.’

  ‘And if I am?’

  Logan pushed a shaky hand through his hair and shuddered. ‘We can’t!’ His self-control was almost at breaking point.

  ‘I know, I know. It’s insane. We’re setting ourselves up for future hurt. I understand all that and so do you.’

  ‘I have two children to think about.’ He said the words, hoping they’d have the effect of a bucket of cold water, but Charli was still moving in, her gaze flicking between his eyes and his lips.

  ‘I know, and you’re a great father, Logan. It’s just another one of the things I like about you.’

  ‘You like that?’ He shook his head in astonishment. ‘You are full of surprises.’

  ‘Are you going to keep stalling or are you going to kiss me.’ It was a statement, not a question, as he was positive she already knew the answer.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  LOGAN knew that actions spoke louder than words and so, instead of stalling any longer, he tenderly brushed his lips across hers.

  ‘How was that?’

  Charli’s gaze met his as she pretended to think for a second. ‘Nice, but not quite what I had in mind.’

  ‘Oh. So you were hoping for something more like this?’ Again, Logan lowered his mouth to hers, one hand sliding around her neck to fist in her hair, holding her head in place. Again he brushed his lips across hers, testing, tasting…teasing. Sweet, slow torture. That’s what he wanted to do to her and to himself. He wanted this moment to last for ever, to be permanently burned on his brain. Two, three more times, he pressed his lips to hers.

  The fourth time, he edged his tongue between the softness of her lips and was rewarded with a small gasp from her. Power at the pleasure he could give her soared through him and he continued his attack—his planned, calculated and careful attack.

  Charli had never been kissed this way before in all of her thirty-one years. The fact that she had no memory of those thirty-one years made no difference at all. She was positive she’d never been kissed this way before. She felt it deep down inside and as his lips moved over hers, she opened her mouth to him, wanting to drug his senses as much as he was drugging hers.

  She had no idea how much longer she could take this unbelievably pleasurable, sweet torture. It was as though a spring was winding itself ever so slowly and she knew she was almost at the point where she was about to explode.

  Again, his tongue slipped between her lips, teasing her. Her breathing was hard and fast, her heart was pounding fiercely against her ribs and she felt decidedly light-headed. S
wooning! She was actually swooning.

  She pulled back for a second to drag a shaky breath into her lungs, her eyelids heavy and unable to open.

  ‘You all right?’ The words were whispered near her ear as he pressed kisses to her cheek. He then worked his way around, nibbling her earlobe and again she gasped—a flood of goose bumps cascading over her. She shivered slightly and he shifted in closer, his fingers at her nape making small soothing circles.

  ‘Hmm.’ She rested her head on his shoulder.

  ‘Are you going to sleep?’ he asked, the deep resonance of his voice washing over her.

  ‘No. I wouldn’t dare miss whatever is coming next. I’m just so…relaxed. I can’t believe it. My eyes feel like lead.’ She sighed. ‘How do you do it? How do you make me feel so calm and comfortable when only moments ago—’ She broke off as a yawn escaped her. ‘See?’ She leaned back so she could look at him. ‘How?’

  ‘Endorphins.’ He watched her for a moment. ‘Come on. I’ll take you home.’

  ‘No!’ The word came out faster than she’d anticipated. ‘Let’s just stay a bit longer. I think you need to kiss me again.’

  Logan eased back a little and slowly shook his head. ‘I don’t know if that’s safe.’ His words made her smile, which only made matters worse for him.

  ‘Kiss me, Logan.’

  He groaned and brought his mouth down to meet hers once more. Again he teased and tantalised her lips but this time she was ready for the sensations. Instead of being surprised, she welcomed them, and after a few seconds of sweet torture she found she couldn’t take it any longer.

  Shifting closer, she plunged her fingers into his hair and moved her mouth over his in an intimate but demanding manner. He stilled—for a fraction of a second—before the heat flooded through him and he met her enthusiasm head on.

  His control had snapped. She had snapped it! He couldn’t believe how incredible she was—exotic and unique—and he knew he was hooked. His mouth moved hungrily over hers, their needs evident, their passions mutual, their desire burning out of control.

  It was as though he’d been in a drought all his life and now, by some miracle, the rains had come and he was alive once more. Nothing mattered. Nothing, except the two of them. The rest of the world fell away as he gave in to emotions which had been dormant for years and others which had never seen the light of day.

  The need to keep her with him, the small spark which had begun only a few days ago when they’d met, was now a raging bush-fire burning out of control, and there was nothing at all he could do—and he didn’t want to—to put it out.

  She knew she’d be able to break his control and a surge of feminine power passed through her, quickly followed by a feeling so foreign to her she gasped. He wasn’t the only one out of control. Her mind was racing, trying to process everything, focus on every emotion she felt, and it was all starting to get too much for her.

  She’d dreamt about him kissing her but there was no way her dreams had matched what was happening right now. If she’d thought herself breathless before, it was nothing compared to now. Her heart hammered out a tattoo as she gave everything she had to the kiss.

  As she leaned in closer, her mild scent continuing to wind its way about him, he didn’t think this moment would ever end. She tasted of sweetness and sunshine and everything good, and he knew then and there that he was addicted.

  Finally, it became too much for both of them and they broke away at the same time, dragging air into their lungs. Neither was able to speak for quite some time, Charli resting her head on Logan’s shoulder, Logan resting his head against hers.

  ‘You all right?’ he murmured, and shifted back so she could lift her head.

  ‘Hmm?’ She gazed up at him and then whispered, ‘Wow!’

  His smile captivated her. ‘My sentiments exactly. When we can move, I think it’s time for us to head back to reality.’

  ‘Do we have to?’

  Logan looked down into her beautiful face, once more mesmerised by her. There was sadness in his tone as he said, ‘Yes.’ For the first time in five years he felt resentful of his responsibilities. Not only the children but his private practice, his work here in Stawell at the hospital. Right now he wanted it all to go away, for there just to be Charli and himself, and that train of thought surprised him.

  He stood and tugged Charli to her feet. Neither of them spoke as they walked hand in hand to the car. On the drive he noticed her eyelids begin to droop and soon she was snoozing. He didn’t blame her. He wouldn’t have minded a bit of a kip himself.

  He was just pulling into the driveway when Charli sat bolt upright and spouted off a large number.

  ‘Where did that come from?’ Logan was astonished.

  ‘I have no idea.’

  He scrambled around in the car for a piece of paper and pen. ‘Say it again.’

  Charli repeated the number.

  ‘That’s a fifteen-digit number. Do you know what it’s for?’

  Charli thought hard. ‘No.’

  Logan reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone. He wrote down the corresponding letters to the number. ‘Something’s not right.’ He looked at it again. ‘Oh, I get it. You’ve used text shorthand for the word “your”.’

  ‘Well, what is it?’ Her impatience was mounting.

  ‘Believe in urself.’ He looked at Charli. ‘Does this mean something to you?’

  ‘I don’t know. I mean, it’s what I keep telling myself over and over, to believe in myself.’

  ‘Why do you remember everything in numbers, rather than just the phrase?’

  ‘I’m left-brained.’

  ‘Pardon?’ Logan frowned at her.

  ‘I’m more left-brained than right-brained. As a general rule, people who are excessively one or the other think differently. Right-brained people—creative types—are more likely to remember in pictures. Left-brained people—logical types—are more likely to remember in numbers.’ She shrugged.

  ‘But where did “Believe in urself” come from?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Charli closed her eyes, willing her brain to co-operate, and amazingly she had another brief flash of memory. It was of a wall with a Monet painting on it. She thought hard but she couldn’t unlock anything else.

  Logan watched her. ‘Leave it, Charli.’ He took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. ‘It’ll come.’

  She opened her eyes and sighed with frustration. ‘But I’m so close. I can see a Monet picture on a wall but I don’t know where the wall is.’

  ‘Perhaps there’s a safe behind the picture and the number is the combination for it.’

  ‘That’s what I was thinking.’

  ‘What’s in the safe?’ Logan pondered.

  ‘Good question.’

  He shifted in his seat to look at her. ‘It makes you uneasy.’

  ‘Yes. I don’t know what it is…I just get a bad feeling about it.’

  Logan let go of her hand and placed his hand on her shoulder. ‘Whatever it is, I’m here to help you, Charli. I’m on your side.’

  ‘I know.’ She gave him a shaky smile and he felt himself weakening. Logan slid his hand from her shoulder up to her neck, urging her closer. He brought his head down and pressed his lips to hers. He hoped the kiss would be reassuring, letting her know she wasn’t alone in the world.

  A pounding on the windows of the car made him jerk back so suddenly he hit his head on the visor. He was out of the car so fast Charli barely had time to blink.

  ‘Dad, Dad, guess what?’ Owen was jumping up and down, full of excitement.

  ‘Dad?’ Trinity was looking at him, completely confused. Her gaze swung over as Charli climbed from the car and came to stand beside them.

  ‘What is it, mate?’ He picked the boy up and then turned to look at his mother’s house, where he knew Rose would be standing at the door, making sure the kids had crossed the road safely. ‘Thanks, Mum.’ He waved and then headed inside, leaving Charli and
Trinity to follow. ‘What are you so excited about?’

  ‘We won the soccer match.’

  ‘I know, mate. I was there, remember.’

  ‘Oh, yeah. Is Cam’s leg hurt?’

  ‘Yes. He’s got a cast on and he said he wants all the soccer team to write their names on it.’

  ‘Cool. That is super-wicked, Dad.’

  Logan smiled at his son’s expression as he took him into the kitchen and deposited him on a stool.

  ‘And when we got home, do you know what Grandma did? She let us have chocolate ice cream with bananas and cream and topping and sprinkles.’

  ‘Wow, now, that’s what I call a treat. Was it nice?’ Logan looked towards the door, surprised Trinity and Charli hadn’t followed. What was keeping them?

  ‘It was so yum. Can we have something special here, too, Dad? Grandma wouldn’t let us have two of the banana things.’

  ‘Why do you think she didn’t?’

  ‘Because we’d get sick?’

  ‘Exactly. You don’t want that, especially when I think we should go to Ararat for a special celebratory dinner tonight.’

  ‘Wow! So many treats. This is wick-ed!’ He slid off the stool. ‘I’m going to tell Trin.’ He ran off through the house, calling his sister’s name. Moments later, Charli came into the kitchen, her expression concerned.

  ‘Something wrong?’

  ‘Trinity. She saw us kissing and then she told me to stay away from you.’

  Logan groaned and shook his head. ‘Where is she?’

  ‘She ran off behind the house.’

  ‘OK. I’ll go talk to her.’

  ‘You know where she is?’

  ‘Yes. She has a favourite hiding spot, has done ever since she was little.’ He headed out of the kitchen, only to be accosted by Owen.

  ‘Dad, where’s Trin?’

  ‘She’s outside. Leave her for the moment, Owen. Why don’t you tell Charli about the surprise?’ Logan met Charli’s gaze over his son’s head and conveyed the unspoken message that he needed her to keep Owen occupied. Charli nodded.

  ‘Tell me all about it,’ she said, holding out her hand to the five-year-old, who went willingly with her. Logan walked to the back yard, continuing down to the far right corner of the garden where a large weeping willow hung, its branches making a circular curtain, providing a private place inside them.