Single Father, Wife Needed

by Sarah Morgan

  Evanna nibbled at her sandwich. ‘They’re mostly family,’ she muttered, apparently absorbed by what was on her plate. ‘Kirsty will be fine.’

  ‘You’re not eating much.’

  She put the remains of her sandwich down and stood up. ‘I’m not that hungry. I’ll clear up here and get back to the surgery because I still have some paperwork to catch up on before the immunisation clinic this afternoon.’

  ‘You’ve had less than half an hour.’ He frowned at her. ‘I know we’re busy but don’t overdo the work, Evanna.’

  ‘It’s fine. I’m fine.’ She gave a quick smile and backed towards the door.

  If he hadn’t known better, he would have said that she was anxious to get away from him and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong with her.

  Pushing away thoughts of that entirely disturbing conversation over lunch, Evanna tried to concentrate on her work.

  Her first patient of the afternoon was Sonia, who was thirty-four weeks pregnant. Evanna noticed that she looked hot and bothered. ‘How have you been?’

  ‘All right.’ Sonia sank into the chair and rubbed a hand over her swollen abdomen. ‘I wish it wasn’t so hot. This is Glenmore. We don’t normally have heat waves. Suddenly I’m longing for a good old storm to clear the air. I brought you a sample. I assume you wanted one?’

  Evanna nodded and took the sample. ‘I’ll just test this quickly and then check your blood pressure.’ She used a dipstick and checked that there was no protein in the sample. Then she checked Sonia’s blood pressure. ‘That’s a bit on the high side, Sonia. Why don’t you lie down on the couch and I’ll feel the baby and then I’ll check it again.’

  She skilfully palpated Sonia’s bump, feeling the lie of the baby, and then she used her tape measure to check the size. ‘Well, that’s all as it should be.’

  ‘Apart from the blood pressure.’

  ‘I’m going to try that again now that you’ve sat down for a few minutes.’

  Sonia watched anxiously while she checked it. ‘Well?’

  ‘It’s still a bit high, Sonia.’ Evanna recorded the result. ‘I’m going to mention it to Dr MacNeil and I’ll pop round to your house on my way home and check it again.’

  ‘Will it be different in my home?’ Sonia sat up and wriggled off the trolley.

  ‘It might be.’

  Sonia bit her lip. ‘Will I have to go to the hospital?’

  ‘I hope not. We certainly need to keep an eye on that blood pressure but there’s nothing to worry about so far. Are you feeling plenty of movements?’

  Sonia picked up her bag. ‘Oh, yes. I’m definitely having a footballer. It kicks and moves all the time.’

  Evanna smiled and slipped her pen into her pocket. ‘That’s good. I’ll see you later, Sonia.’

  ‘I’ll make sure to have the kettle on.’

  Evanna watched her go and then walked across to talk to Logan, who had just finished his afternoon surgery.

  ‘I’m taking Kirsty down to the beach for a paddle. Do you want to come?’ His hair was rumpled, his jaw slightly darkened with the beginnings of stubble, and he gave her a sleepy, sexy smile that made her breath catch.

  She gazed at him wistfully and then reminded herself that playing happy families was not a good idea. ‘Actually I can’t,’ she said truthfully. ‘I have a few things to do here and then I have to call on Sonia.’

  ‘She was just in surgery.’ He pushed some papers into his bag and closed it. ‘Why would you be calling on her?’

  ‘Because her blood pressure is up a bit. It’s one-forty over ninety.’

  The smile left his face. ‘Did you test her urine?’ His voice was terse and Evanna wondered how long it would take him to stop treating pregnant women as if they were unexploded bombs.

  ‘Of course. It was negative and her fundal height measurement was fine—thirty-five centimetres.’

  ‘Is the baby moving around?’

  ‘Yes. Plenty of movement. I’ve arranged to call with her later to check her blood pressure again, but I just wanted to let you know.’

  Logan nodded. ‘If her blood pressure is still up, ask her to come to surgery tomorrow so that we can take some blood. We’ll do a single estimate serum urate, urea and electrolytes, full blood count and platelets, and repeat blood pressure recording and urinalysis.’

  Evanna gave a soft smile. He was the most thorough, dedicated doctor she’d ever worked with. He let nothing slip past him. ‘All right.’

  ‘And Evanna—’ he picked up the case and walked towards the door ‘—don’t forget about the barbecue on Saturday.’

  Evanna thought of the dress in her wardrobe. The new dress. ‘I won’t forget.’

  ‘Good.’ He gave a nod of approval and reached for his car keys. ‘See you tomorrow.’

  Evanna called in at Sonia’s on the way home to check on her and found her blood pressure was still slightly high. Evanna felt a flicker of unease as she closed her bag and thought carefully about the best course of action.

  ‘Dr MacNeil wants you to come to surgery tomorrow and have a blood test,’ she said as she walked towards the door. ‘And can you bring another sample?’

  ‘Of course.’ Sonia winced slightly and rubbed her bump. ‘I must admit I’m starting to find it quite uncomfortable. It’s the heat, I suppose. Next time I’m going to make sure that I’m pregnant in the winter. Glad I’m not having triplets.’

  Evanna smiled. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, Sonia.’

  She climbed back into the car, lining up the facts and deciding on the best course of action. Tests tomorrow and then careful monitoring. And, if in doubt, she’d send Sonia to the hospital for a check. She wouldn’t take any chances.

  Suddenly she felt excited about Saturday. Maybe Kyla was right. When had she ever really dressed up for Logan? The answer was never. Yes, they sometimes went to social events at the same time, but she’d never dressed to attract his attention.

  He obviously liked her company and there was no doubt that Kirsty loved her.

  Perhaps it was just a question of showing him that she was interested—of showing him that, as well as his friend and colleague, she was also a woman.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  SATURDAY evening arrived and Evanna hovered outside Logan’s house, feeling ridiculously self-conscious. She’d walked through his garden gate at least a thousand times in her life and never even hesitated. So why should a glamorous dress and a pair of high heels suddenly make her nervous?

  The answer, of course, was because she felt…different.

  Normally, when she joined Logan for one of the frequent barbecues at his house, she pulled on her oldest pair of jeans and pushed her feet into a pair of trainers. It was true that occasionally she’d worn a dress in the hope that he’d notice her, but it had never worked. But she’d never worn a dress as glamorous or feminine as the one she was wearing now.

  Lifting a hand to her hair, she drew in a breath and opened the gate.

  ‘Evanna, you look wonderful!’ Meg, Kyla’s aunt who owned the café on the quay, stepped forward, a drink in her hand. ‘I’ve never seen your hair down like that! It looks amazing.’

  ‘I—I thought I’d have a change from curls.’ Evanna’s eyes slid nervously around the garden, which was already crowded with Logan’s friends and family. ‘Where’s Kirsty?’

  It was ridiculous, she thought to herself, hiding behind a child. But suddenly that was what she wanted to do.

  ‘Last seen clinging adoringly to her father, but you don’t want to hold her while you’re wearing that gorgeous dress. She was squashing raspberries into her mouth a moment ago and most of the juice was stuck to her.’

  Evanna laughed. ‘She loves fruit.’

  ‘There she is.’ Meg smiled benignly across the garden. ‘And Logan is looking well, don’t you think? That blue shirt with his eyes—it’s no wonder the girls all trip over themselves when he passes. He’s not going to be on his own for long, that’s for sure
. Someone is going to snap him up really soon.’

  Were they?

  Wondering how she’d cope with that, Evanna kept her smile fixed firmly in place, relieved to see Kyla walking across to them, her hand in Ethan’s.

  ‘Good to see Kyla so happy, too,’ Meg said, nodding approvingly as Ethan paused to kiss his new wife on the lips. ‘Ethan may not be an islander born and bred, but you wouldn’t know it to look at him. He fits right in.’

  Evanna nodded. It was true that Ethan fitted in. He’d arrived as a locum GP to help Logan and had fallen in love with Kyla and stayed. It was a situation that suited everyone. ‘He was always meant to come here.’

  ‘You mean because he’s Kirsty’s uncle?’ Meg lowered her voice. ‘I must admit I wasn’t surprised when he revealed that he was actually related to Logan’s late wife. Her brother, imagine! There was always something secretive about him. And about her, come to that. She certainly never mentioned a brother.’

  ‘They weren’t close. That’s why Ethan took the job here. To try and learn more about her. I’m sure that if she hadn’t died, they would have developed a relationship.’ Kyla hadn’t shared much of it with her, but Evanna knew that Ethan and Catherine had shared a difficult family background.

  Meg sniffed. ‘Well, he’s a good doctor and that’s what matters. Oh, look at that.’ She waved a hand. ‘Kirsty has spotted you. And Logan.’

  Evanna felt her heart rate double. ‘I’d better go and say hello.’

  ‘You do that. And watch that dress.’

  Evanna caught Kyla’s whispered ‘Nice cleavage’, took a deep breath and plucked up courage to walk across the lawn.

  ‘Hello, Kirsty,’ she said, clasping the raspberry-stained fist in hers and giving it a swift kiss. ‘No need to ask what you’ve been eating.’

  Kirsty chortled with delight, a huge smile on her plump cheeks.

  ‘I’ve given up trying to keep her clean,’ Logan murmured, dropping a kiss onto his daughter’s silken blonde curls. ‘It’s a losing battle. I’ve decided that I’m just going to turn the hose onto her before she goes to bed.’

  ‘It’s a good job I know you’re joking.’ Evanna felt her heart hammer against her chest as he turned to look at her. His blue eyes were shielded by thick, dark lashes and her stomach flipped as she fell into that sleepy, masculine gaze.

  Suddenly she felt agonisingly nervous.

  What if he hated the way she looked? What if he thought she looked ridiculous? What if—?

  He smiled at her. ‘I’m glad you came early.’

  Didn’t he notice anything different about her? Evanna shook her head gently, allowing her smooth, shiny hair to spill over her shoulders.

  Kirsty gave a delighted gurgle and immediately reached out and grabbed a handful.

  ‘Don’t pull Evanna’s hair,’ Logan drawled, prising the little girl’s fists open and giving Evanna an apologetic smile. ‘You know what she’s like with hair. Leaving it down was asking for trouble. You should have worn it in a ponytail, like you usually do.’

  Evanna swallowed back her disappointment.

  That was it?

  That was all he was going to say?

  That she should have worn her hair in a ponytail? ‘Yes,’ she croaked, ‘I probably should.’

  Kyla stepped up to them, a bowl of plump, glossy black olives in her hand. ‘Olive, anyone? Doesn’t Evanna look fantastic with her hair like that, Logan? It’s stunning, Evanna. Really stunning. You should wear it down more often.’

  ‘Well, it certainly makes it easier for Kirsty to pull,’ Logan said absently, stretching out a hand and helping himself to an olive. ‘I’m going to put the baby to bed now. Then I’ll come down and cook. Did you know that Meg has offered Fraser free ice creams for the whole of the summer as a reward for his quick reactions last week?’

  ‘That’s a bit rash, isn’t it? I’ve seen how much that boy can put away.’ Kyla grinned and held out her arms to Kirsty. ‘Come to your Aunty Kyla. I’ll put her to bed. You chat to Evanna. You two never have time to talk properly and I’m sure you have lots to catch up on.’

  Logan looked surprised. ‘All right, thanks. But I’m going to talk Evanna into making a salad while I get the barbecue going.’

  ‘Evanna is not making salad while she’s wearing that dress,’ Kyla said firmly, and Logan frowned slightly.

  ‘She could wear an apron.’

  Kyla gritted her teeth. ‘Ethan is going to finish off the cooking. You two just spend a bit of time together.’ She walked off with the toddler in her arms and Logan watched her go.

  ‘Well, perhaps we should take her up on her offer. To be honest, I was trying to work out a way of getting you on your own before everyone else arrives. This seems like as good a time as any.’ He closed a hand on her arm and pulled her across the grass to the weeping willow. Green tentacles spilled downwards, providing shade and privacy.

  His touch was firm and purposeful and Evanna felt her heart start to pound. What could he possibly want to say to her?

  He pushed aside the soft curtain of leaves and led her into the cool, shaded centre of the tree. Although they were still in the middle of the garden, it felt secluded and private and suddenly Evanna started to shiver. Trapped in such an intimate atmosphere, she was acutely aware of him and she couldn’t look away. He was a strong man in every sense and that strength showed in the rugged planes of his handsome face and the easy, confident way he dealt with everyone on the island.

  ‘L-little Jason is d-doing really well,’ she stammered. ‘I called in to see them in their holiday cottage. The hospital kept him in for a few days and then sent him home so they were able to continue their holiday. I gave them some advice on the baby. I think she was just hot and uncomfortable, that’s why she was crying so much. They were putting too many layers on her and not giving her enough fluid.’

  ‘You’re a genius.’ Logan leaned his shoulders against the wide trunk of the tree. ‘It always amazes me how little thought people give to the weather. I stopped the car this morning to tell a couple to put sun cream on their baby.’

  ‘What did they say?’

  He grinned. ‘I think their comment was, “Who do you think you are?” To which I replied, “The guy you’re going to see when she’s burnt and miserable.”’ He lifted his beer to his lips. ‘Funnily enough, that seemed to shut them up. I saw them in the shop later, buying sun cream by the bucketload.’

  Evanna laughed. She’d always liked that about him. The way he wasn’t afraid to speak up when he saw something that he didn’t agree with. ‘I’ve never understood why people insist on putting small babies in the sun.’

  ‘Ignorance. I really do need to talk to you,’ he drawled softly, lifting a hand and removing a leaf from her hair. ‘And I honestly don’t know how you’re going to react to what I’m going to say. You’re probably going to refuse.’

  Refuse?

  When had she refused him anything?

  Her legs were shaking so badly that she stepped backwards and leaned against the broad trunk of the tree for support. ‘Just say it, Logan.’

  ‘All right. But if I’m overstepping the bounds of our friendship then I want you to tell me. Do you promise to give me an honest answer?’

  Overstepping the bounds of their friendship?

  Hope and anticipation made her suddenly dizzy. ‘Yes,’ she mumbled, her hands fisting by her sides. ‘Of course.’ The weeping willow provided a lush, delicate screen from the rest of the garden and suddenly the atmosphere seemed impossibly intimate. It was just the two of them, everyone else forgotten.

  He took a deep breath. ‘I wondered if you’d consider looking after Kirsty for me on Wednesday afternoons. I know it’s usually your afternoon off, but it wouldn’t be for ever. Just until I find someone to replace Amy Foster.’

  Evanna stared at him. The words he’d spoken were so different from the ones she’d longed to hear that it took her a moment from the meaning to sink in. ‘You want me to look afte
r Kirsty? That’s what you wanted to ask me?’

  ‘Yes. I know it’s a lot to ask. You’ve often looked after her before, but not on a regular basis. Is the answer going to be no?’ He strolled towards her, powerfully built and handsome. The man she’d loved for the whole of her life.

  She looked away for a moment, struggling to compose herself. Then she cleared her throat carefully. ‘Logan…’ Her voice cracked. ‘Can I ask you something?’

  ‘Of course. Anything.’

  What do I have to do to make you notice me? ‘Why ask me? Why me?’

  ‘Because you’re completely reliable, a wonderful cook, incredibly uncomplicated and Kirsty adores you. That’s just a start but I could go on for ever.’ He gave a shrug and a lopsided smile. ‘If I didn’t need you in the practice so badly, I’d fire you and employ you to look after Kirsty full time.’

  So he was happy for her to care for his daughter.

  That was a compliment, of course. But it was so much less than she wanted.

  Evanna stood for a moment, thinking of the heat and the passion she saw in Ethan’s eyes when he looked at Kyla. Then she looked at Logan. And saw humour and a faint question in his gorgeous blue eyes.

  For him, their relationship was all about friendship. Nothing else.

  ‘Evanna?’

  She realised that he was waiting for an answer. And how could she refuse? She loved him. She’d loved him all her life. She’d loved him when he’d been a boy at school and she’d loved him when he’d grown into a man and married another woman.

  And she loved Kirsty.

  How could she refuse to help him? What sort of a friend would that make her? It wasn’t Logan’s fault that her feelings towards him were entirely more complicated than his were for her.

  He deserved all the help she could give him, even if it proved to be torture for her.