by Annie O'Neil
A few minutes later, to her great relief, a black car with the clinic’s logo on the door pulled to a stop beside her.
She smiled as the driver climbed out.
“Ms. Longstreet?” A ruddy-faced, heavy-set man came around the back of the car.
“Yes.”
“I’m here to pick you up.” He pushed a button and popped the trunk lid, taking her luggage.
“I’m glad to see you.”
He gave her a brief smile, stowed her suitcase in the trunk, and then opened the passenger door. While she settled in he quickly returned to the driver’s seat, and they were soon moving.
She shivered. The air-conditioning blasted cold air. At least it would help keep her awake long enough to get to the apartment.
A swift movement outside the car caught her attention. A blond-haired man with long determined strides was hurrying toward the car. He carried a satchel over one shoulder and pulled along a small overnight bag. His suit jacket was slung over one arm and his tie had been pulled away from his neck. It lay twisted and askew, as if he had done it in frustration.
Her heart jumped.
Dr. Lucius West. She recognized him from her internet research on the Sydney clinic.
He raised his hand and the driver pulled to the curb. After a rapid tap on the front passenger window the driver lowered it. Dr. West glanced at her with tight-lipped agitation. He said to the driver, “I’m Dr. West. I expected you thirty minutes ago. Why are you late?”
Amanda sighed. She was too tired for this drama. Maybe Kirri hadn’t been exaggerating about her brother.
“Yes, sir. I was on my way to you.” The driver nodded his head toward Amanda. “I had another pickup to make first.”
Dr. West didn’t wait for the driver to get out and open the door for him. Instead he deposited his bag in the front seat and joined her in the back. Amanda quickly moved across the seat, fearing that if she didn’t he would sit in her lap. The space shrank with him inside. She hadn’t expected he’d be such a large man.
In addition to that unsettling fact, his pictures hadn’t done him justice. He was far better-looking in person. A sliver of silver at his temples in his wavy blond hair shimmered in the sunlight, giving him a distinguished look. One that meshed with his reputation and position. On one of the websites she’d seen he had made the shortlist of most eligible bachelors in Australia. Amanda wasn’t surprised. She couldn’t help but be awestruck and stare.
“You are...?” he demanded as he settled in, holding his satchel in his lap.
“Amanda Longstreet.”
Dr. West studied her for a moment. His eyes were a deep blue, like the ocean, instead of bright blue like his sister’s. There were creases at the corners and telltale dark smudges below. Had he been on a flight as long as hers?
“You’re American.” His words were flat, as if he were determining a diagnosis.
“I am.”
Why didn’t he recognize her name? Hadn’t he been told she was coming?
He continued to study her, as if trying to pull up something that was filed away in his mind.
He nodded slowly. “Ah, yes, I remember now. You’re the clinical nurse specialist in the exchange program. Kirri mentioned you.”
He should remember, since he had been one of the doctors to start it. His clinic and the clinic where she worked were two of the most prestigious and innovative in their care for mother and baby, with a special emphasis on infertility issues. Dr. Lucius West, along with Dr. Sawyer, the head of her clinic, had decided during a conference that a staff exchange to share information would be productive for both clinics. Kirri had come to Atlanta for six weeks and now, it was Amanda’s turn.
She gave him her sunniest smile. “Yes, that’s me.”
He continued to watch her. “I’m Lucius West.”
“Yes, I know. You resemble your sister.” And she had ogled his picture on the computer screen more than once. “It’s nice to meet you.”
The opportunity to work with the world-renowned Dr. Lucius West would be the honor of a lifetime. Although Kirri had warned Amanda that her brother could be difficult. She had already started to see signs of that!
“Mmm.” His attention remained on the electronic tablet he’d pulled from his satchel. “I’m sorry, I have work to attend to.”
“I understand.”
She did. He was the head of the clinic and she knew he must have many demands on his time.
* * *
A short while later Lucius glanced at the pretty woman huddled in the seat corner with her arms across her chest and her eyes closed. Was she asleep?
He’d forgotten all about the person coming from Atlanta for the staff exchange. It had been mentioned during one of the recent staff meetings, but he’d been checking his emails, only half listening. He’d paid no mind to the date and time of her arrival.
Not that it really mattered, but he had expected a man. Although the gender of the person was of no consequence, since he had little to do with the staff in Labor and Delivery. If he remembered correctly, that was where she would be assigned.
Giving her a closer look, he found her attractive enough, with short brown hair, clear skin and a faint tan. Her figure of full curves instead of bony angles enhanced her appeal. She wore little make-up—but that might be because she’d been on a plane for hours.
Further testimony to how drained she must be feeling was in the dark smudges that shadowed her eyes. Those green eyes which had brightened when she’d realized who he was. All in all she made for an interesting package—if he had been looking for one.
Despite her clear anticipation of working with him, he doubted he’d have much contact with her during her visit. He spent most of his time on the in vitro side of the clinic—not where she would be working. He did follow a few cases from start to finish, but there were many others on the staff who handled ninety-nine percent of the deliveries.
It would be awkward when she woke. He couldn’t remember her name...
Amanda. That was it.
He mentally rolled the name around for a second. Had he ever known an Amanda? Not that he could remember.
He looked at her again. Her hair curtained her face. In her sleep she slumped further into the corner, with her chin falling to her chest. She appeared uncomfortable.
Leaning toward her, he eased his arm around her back, pulling her upright with gentleness until her head rested on his shoulder. She released a small sigh and settled against him.
He returned to his electric pad to review his emails.
A stack of work always awaited him. He liked it that way. His work was his life. He had a major part to play in making great medical advances in infertility. Once he’d tried to have a life outside the clinic. But what had that gotten him? A shattered marriage and a disillusioned heart.
Amanda snored softly. Lucius smiled.
He was tired as well. The trip home from Melbourne after a three-day conference and a return flight delay had been topped off when his ride hadn’t been waiting for him. It hadn’t left him in the best of humors. Disruption of his timetable was a constant irritation. That must have shown in his manner. He undoubtedly hadn’t made a good impression on his visitor.
The driver was making excellent time through the city’s afternoon traffic. It wasn’t long until he pulled up in front of a small apartment complex in a neighborhood Lucius didn’t know well.
“Why are we stopping here?”
“This is where your young lady gets out.” The driver looked at him in the rearview mirror.
She wasn’t Lucius’s young lady. He hadn’t had one of those since his ex-wife had walked out on him.
Lucius cupped Amanda’s shoulder and shook her. “Amanda, wake up. You’re here.”
“Uh...?” Long dark lashes fluttered upward.
The action
mesmerized him. He hadn’t reacted to a woman like this in years. Not since the early years of his relationship with his ex-wife. Amanda’s eyes were the green of tree leaves in early spring. And there was a sparkle in them even though she’d just awakened.
“What’s wrong?”
Sleep had made her voice a little coarse. Sort of sexy.
He swallowed. That wasn’t a thought he should be having about a woman he’d just met.
“Nothing. We’re at your place.”
Her unfocused gaze met his and he watched as reality dawned on her.
Her cheeks turned pink as she pushed at her silky hair and quickly straightened. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”
“Hey, I’ve made that flight to America. I know what it takes out of you.”
He gave her a sympathetic smile. Now that his sister had moved there permanently he would be going a lot more often.
Amanda returned a weak one. “That doesn’t ease my embarrassment.”
“No reason to be embarrassed. We’re at your apartment.”
Lucius opened his door to climb out. Grudgingly, he conceded that her appeal grew with her confusion. Most of the women he met never appeared ruffled, or would never admit they were. He found Amanda’s obvious mortification utterly charming.
Not to mention her lovely accent...
* * *
Amanda scrambled from the car behind Lucius. The driver had placed her large suitcase on the sidewalk.
Lucius said to him, “I’ll be right back. Wait for me.” Then he pulled out the handle of her bulky bag and started toward the apartment building.
Stunned that this busy, world-renowned doctor planned to escort her, Amanda just stood there.
He stopped after a couple of steps and looked at her. “Well...?”
“It’s not necessary for you to see me to my apartment.”
“I was taught that a gentleman doesn’t leave a woman stranded on the side of the road.” He grinned. “Especially one who has come so far.”
Amanda blinked twice. Her first impression of him had been that he was a self-absorbed person, too busy for casual conversation. Yet he’d allowed her to sleep on his shoulder and now he was insisting on carrying her luggage like a bell hop.
Who was the real Dr. Lucius West?
“Surely the driver can help me with that?” She indicated her oversized suitcase.
“I’m sorry,” the driver said as he moved back around the car. “I’m not allowed to do more than load and unload the trunk and drive. It’s a liability issue.”
Amanda looked at Lucius for confirmation.
He nodded.
“Oh, okay...thanks.”
She followed Lucius to the apartment building entrance, conscious of the thump-thump of the tiny wheels of her heavy case on the sidewalk.
“Do you have a key, or do you have to call someone?” he asked.
“I have a key. I was sent all the information. I’m in Apartment 203.”
She held the glass door open for him to enter. She looked for an elevator, and finding none led the way up the stairs. “Well, at least I’ll be getting some exercise,” she said.
“Yeah, and you’re going to get plenty more of that at the clinic,” Lucius drawled behind her.
He must have switched to the carrying handle, because she didn’t hear the expected bumping of the luggage as they climbed.
“How far is the clinic from here?”
He placed the bag on the floor in front of the door with the gold numbers 203 tacked to it. “Maybe half a mile?”
“Great. That’ll be a nice walk every day.”
“I don’t know this neighborhood well, but you’ll need to be careful about being out at night by yourself. Get a ride with someone or take a taxi on late nights.”
Amanda stopped searching through her purse for the door key and met his look. “I’ll keep that in mind, but I’m very capable of taking care of myself.”
He studied her from head to toe, then brought his gaze back to hers. “If you say so.”
She wasn’t sure she liked his tone. Thankfully she found the koala bear key chain and pulled it out.
“I see you’ve already gone native.” He nodded toward her hand.
“I couldn’t resist. Bought it off the Internet. I was so excited about coming to Australia.”
“Is this your first time here?”
“Yes.”
Amanda slid the key into the lock, turned the knob and opened the door. This exchange had been a blessing. She’d needed to get away.
It had been only two months since John had left without warning, breaking off their relationship. Before that unforeseen night she’d thought he was the one. Then out of the blue he had announced they were over. His reason being he couldn’t compete with her. He’d said she intimidated him.
After that ugly scene she’d decided to put the priority on her career objectives. This trip gave her an opportunity to do just that.
Lucius picked up the bag. Again she waited for him to go first, and he stepped in and placed the luggage on the floor, beside a small sofa that stood in the middle of the room.
Amanda entered slowly, taking in the small but efficient-looking apartment. It consisted of one large room with a beige couch and chair, along with a TV on a stand. A galley kitchen was situated in one corner. She moved further into the room and looked through a door to find the bedroom. The space would be all she needed during her stay.
“I wondered what kind of place the board would put someone up in,” Lucius murmured. “I’ll have to admit this is about what I expected.”
“I’ll be comfortable here. I don’t have much more than this in Atlanta.” Amanda walked to the kitchen counter and put her purse down. “I’m hoping to spend more time at the clinic than I do here anyway. Thanks for bringing up my case. If I’d had to carry it up, I’d be out of breath. By the way, I’m looking forward to working with you at the clinic.”
He extended his hand. “It’s been nice to meet you.”
She placed her hand in his. A jolt of awareness spurred a quick withdrawal. The second Amanda did so she missed the size, heat and strength of his hold.
“I’m...uh...as I said, I look forward to working with you. I’ve heard some amazing things about you.”
He grinned. “I hope you don’t believe all my press.”
“I imagine at least some of it is true.”
Amanda walked toward the door. She needed him to leave so she could reorder her nerves, rattled by their brief contact.
“Thank you again.”
“Goodbye, Ms...”
“Longstreet.”
“Ms. Longstreet. I hope you enjoy your stay in Sydney.”
He closed the door behind him as he left.
For some odd reason it seemed as if all the electricity had left the room with him. Shaking off that odd notion, Amanda carried her luggage into the bedroom. There she found a double bed and a nightstand. Off to the left was a door that led to a small bath.
She left the bag near the bed and returned to the living area. Putting away her clothes could wait. She needed to find a place to buy some food and then she could tend to some other things. After that she’d get a shower and some sleep. Tomorrow would be a big day at the clinic.
Would she see Lucius?
That didn’t matter. She wasn’t here to dissect and admire Dr. West. Even if he was drool-worthy, with his fathomless eyes, sexy grin and square jaw.
Kirri had told Amanda he was brilliant, and everything Amanda had read about him confirmed that. However, Lucius West in person was larger than life.
Enough of that kind of thinking. She needed to get busy.
Seeing a notebook on the kitchen counter, she opened it. Inside she found typed details of places to eat, the closest g
rocery store, laundry, and drug store, along with general information about the area. She was grateful for it.
Now that she was actually here, in the apartment, she felt more invigorated than when she had first stepped off the airplane. All she’d wanted to do then had been to sleep. After her nap—on Lucius, no less—she wanted to do a little exploring and see if she could pick up some food.
Who knew when she would have another chance? There was no telling what the week ahead might bring. She at least needed to buy breakfast items.
All her life she’d been a Girl Scout type of person. Always prepared. In fact, she was known for it. Many a friend in college had turned to her because they knew she’d have what they needed.
Once her roommate had asked to borrow a stapler. Amanda had directed her to the middle desk drawer, in the back, on the left-hand side.
Her roommate’s response after she had located the stapler had been, “How do you do that?”
Amanda had answered, “I always put things back where they belong.”
That part of her personality hadn’t endeared her to her stepfather. Despite her being so prepared, and planning things down to the detail, he hadn’t accepted her. No matter what she’d done or how good she had been it had never been enough for him. Yet she was loved by the rest of her family.
After washing her face and brushing her hair, she slipped on a clean set of clothes and put on a pair of sunglasses. She needed to stay up for a little while to get acclimated to the time-change. To help with that she decided to walk around the neighborhood in search of the store she’d read about in the notebook.
Heading outside, she turned west along a tree-lined sidewalk. After a few missteps she soon found the small grocery store, not far down the street. She smiled at the girl behind the counter and went down the first aisle.
Picking up a couple of boxes of macaroni and cheese she could use in an emergency, she added a few more items that she could pop into the microwave. She would have liked to buy a gallon of milk, but that would have been too heavy to carry back with all the other stuff she’d gathered.
If she continued to do this type of shopping she would definitely need a rolling bag to make the transportation easier... And if she wanted a wider choice, like fresh produce, she would have to either rent a car or hire a taxi and go to a larger supermarket.
