by Sue MacKay
Collecting a few wake-up calls today. What was next? ‘I like it that you feel that way. No one should be forgotten when they’ve been such a special part of your life. Hearing you talk about her says a lot about you, all good.’ Her smile wavered, but since he wasn’t watching her she got away with it. She wasn’t going to be as special to him because even if he wanted that, she couldn’t allow it to happen.
Instead she had to back off in case he did start to fall for her. That’s when the day would come that she’d have to tell him the very long odds of her ever getting pregnant. Already she knew a quickening of her pulse whenever she heard Nathan’s voice or laugh. Felt a softening of her limbs when he touched her. This had to stop. He’d been hurt once, she wasn’t giving him a second blow.
‘It helps you understand.’ Nathan turned back to the barbecue. ‘I’d better take over before the guys burn the steaks.’ He hesitated, faced her again. ‘We’ll have some time to ourselves later.’
‘I need to head home early. Catch up on sleep. And I’m working in the charity shop tomorrow.’ She needed to think all this through. Unfortunately leaving now would be awkward after she’d helped set out the food and had said she couldn’t wait to sample the salads.
‘If that’s what you want to do.’ Nathan nodded abruptly. Sensing her withdrawal?
As soon as dinner was over and the kitchen cleaned up, she’d go home and revert to the Molly he used to know. No, not that. She’d be friendly and outgoing, but no more kisses. Already, walking away wouldn’t be simple. Not when she’d finally come out of a drought to find she could be aroused by a man—one in particular.
But they weren’t a couple. It was presumptuous to hope there might be more to Nathan’s invitations and kisses than having a good time. It was quite possible he wanted to have some uncomplicated fun, and wasn’t looking for a more permanent arrangement, and that she was reading too much into his friendliness. Something she’d be better thinking about than getting her knickers in a knot because he was the one helping her step back out into the real world.
Molly shoved aside all the reasons for not spending time with Nathan and said, ‘It isn’t, really. I don’t know what came over me.’ Except she did, and it wasn’t going to disappear. She should leave, now. If only it was that easy. When she finally came out of her cave she didn’t want to go back into the dark, cold space that her life had become.
‘Gun-shy? I’m not surprised after meeting all this lot. It’s enough to scare anyone off.’
‘More that I feel very comfortable with them—too comfortable, maybe.’
He ruffled her hair like she’d seen him do with his nieces. ‘Nothing wrong with comfortable.’
Yes, there was, if it led to greater expectations than were reasonable. But for tonight at least she’d relax and continue enjoying herself. And Nathan.
* * *
The family didn’t leave early. It was as if they knew they were frustrating him. Nathan ground his teeth. Molly had said she’d leave after dinner, then changed her mind. Finally the brothers-in-law had made sounds about heading away and he’d had the front door open with embarrassing speed. But if they hadn’t gone soon Molly might have, and he didn’t want that. He wanted time with her not being interrupted by one of the children asking for more ice cream or a sister quizzing him on his next holiday plans.
‘At last.’ He shoved his hands in his pockets before he could haul Molly into his arms and kiss her senseless.
‘You don’t mean that.’ She smiled as she stood in front of him, looking sensational with the riotous curls and that perfect body.
‘Normally I’d agree, but tonight I just wanted to be with you for a while.’ Hell, he wasn’t going to be able to not kiss her.
Her breasts rose on an intake of air. ‘I’m still here.’
‘Tell me something I don’t know.’ He had to touch her. Had to. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he drew her closer. And closer. Until she was up against him, those breasts nudging his chest, her mouth so near to his. Then his mouth was on hers, kissing, tasting, drinking her in. As he kissed Molly he waited to see if she’d pull back or tense even a little, but, no, her arms were winding around his neck and her hips were pressing into his. Giving up on caution, he went deeper with the kiss, savouring Molly, her softness, her scent, all of her. Everything about her woke him up.
Then her mouth was gone. ‘Nathan?’ she gasped, blinking rapidly, no disappointment blazing out at him this time. But hope was, and enough desire to drown in.
‘Yes, Mol. I’d like to take you to bed.’
She sank back against him, and returned to kissing the minutes away, until he couldn’t take any more. Swinging her up into his arms, he asked, ‘Bedroom?’
‘No. Right here. Now.’
As he walked her up to the wall, he said, ‘I’ll be gentle.’ No way did he want to frighten or hurt her.
‘Don’t you dare.’ She lifted a leg to his thigh, freed her hands from his and wound them around his neck. ‘I won’t break.’
The corners of his mouth lifted. ‘Tell me something I don’t know.’ Then he claimed her mouth, and placed his hands on her butt to lift her higher. When she wound her legs around him and settled against the growing evidence of his sex he had to take a deep breath and hold onto the need trying to break free. This wasn’t just about him.
‘Nathan,’ she growled.
He returned to kissing, drawing out the exquisite moment for as long as possible. His mouth trailed below her ear, down her throat, to the neck of her jersey. ‘Damn it. This has to go.’
How she did it he had no idea, but within moments her lace-covered breasts were before him, drying his mouth and tightening his groin to breaking point. Molly first. He pushed between them, slipped his hand under her trousers, then her underwear, and found her centre, and touched, caressed, and felt her blow apart with one hard, swift stroke.
She clung to him, hauling in gulps of air, her eyes barely open.
He waited, kissing her forehead, her breasts, her arm.
‘Nathan, let me.’ She wriggled in his hold, trying to unwind her legs from his torso.
‘Steady,’ he whispered against her feverish skin.
‘Inside. I want you inside. It’s your turn.’
‘Shh. It’s not about turns. I’m here, with you. We’ll get together as soon as we remove the obstacle.’ But, yes, he was more than ready.
She blinked. ‘Obstacle?’ Of course. ‘Then let me down. I’ll be quick.’
‘You’d better be,’ he grunted as he lowered her carefully and held her as she got rid of the rest of her clothes.
Then she was back in his arms, her legs wound around his waist. Lowering herself over his sex.
He couldn’t halt the trembling throughout his body as he pushed deep inside. Molly held on tight as he withdrew and returned, winding her tighter and tighter until she exploded again. Then he let go, and rode the wave of desire, passion and need. Unbelievable.
* * *
Nathan stretched out in his bed, one hand behind his head, the other on Molly’s breast as she slept. Earlier she’d been exhausted, and now after two bouts of lovemaking she’d succumbed, and had been comatose for a couple of hours.
Not that he minded. Lying here with her, listening to the soft snuffles she made, he couldn’t have felt more relaxed or happy, in a way he hadn’t expected to ever feel again. Though lately he’d been open to it, he just hadn’t believed it might happen. Certainly not with Molly O’Keefe. Here was a woman who’d turned out to be nothing like the face she presented to the world. It could be that he hadn’t known what to look for and her feisty, strong personality had been simmering in the background all along. Or it might be that with the divorce papers in her hands she’d found the hope and courage to go in search of the life she wanted.
Whatever it was, it didn’t really matter, as long as he
was a part of the future she unravelled. This had started as a challenge to make her like him, to be friendly towards him, but now the challenge had changed. He thought he might want her in his life—in all ways possible. Since Rosie no other woman had made him want. Love, a partner, family. Molly did that. Rosie. His heart slowed. He still missed her, but not as severely as in the past. Was he getting over the crippling loss? Did he want to have a future with another woman? Yeah, he thought he might. The only problem was that it was happening fast. Too fast?
‘I’m glad your family turned up today or this might only be wishful thinking.’ Molly’s sleep-filled voice sounded sexy as hell.
As his body reacted in the only way it knew, he grinned, and caressed her breast, extracting a gasp of pleasure from her. ‘You have an open invitation to visit any time you like.’
The sleep was rapidly disappearing from those sensational eyes, replaced with a sparkle that warmed his heart as Molly reached for him, wrapping her hand around his obvious attraction for her. ‘Knock, knock, I’m here.’
‘Can’t argue with that,’ he muttered as he leaned in to kiss that exquisite mouth, before exploring her body with his mouth. He couldn’t get enough of her.
* * *
Hours later he woke suddenly as the bed rocked sharply.
‘Look at the time.’ Molly sounded frantic as she tossed the covers aside, along with the arm he’d had around her waist. ‘Ten past eight. I’ve got to be at the arena by nine.’
‘There’s plenty of time.’
‘No, there’s not. I can’t be late, or Coach will send me packing permanently. I don’t intend letting her down again.’ She disappeared out the door, returned with last night’s clothes, still yabbering. So unlike the Molly of the past. ‘I have to get my gear from home and clothes to wear to the charity shop afterwards.’
Shoving the covers aside, Nathan stood up and stretched, and she didn’t stop to notice. She was definitely on a mission. ‘I’ll put the coffee on. You want something to eat? Toast? Cereal?’
Finally she stopped and came to kiss him, a brief touch of those lips on his stubble-covered chin. Nowhere near enough. ‘No, thanks. I’ll grab something at home.’ Then she was in the bathroom, the shower spraying out water and the extractor fan making a racket.
He knew when he was not needed. But if Molly thought he’d toe the line that easily, she was going to have to think again. In the bathroom he opened the shower door and joined her, taking the soap from her hands to wash her skin, starting at her neck, and working his way down to her feet. ‘No complaints, madam?’ He grinned through the water pouring over his head.
She waved a hand in the narrow space between them. ‘How quick can you be?’
‘Let me show you.’
When Molly dragged herself out of the shower not too much later and began drying her glistening skin, Nathan watched her while soaping himself. ‘You’re beautiful.’
Her head shot up, surprise widening her eyes.
He repeated himself. ‘You are beautiful.’
Her hands hesitated in the process of towelling her stomach, and dropped to her thighs.
His gaze followed, then backed up to her lower belly. ‘How’d you get that scar?’ It was small, and stark against her pale skin.
The towel came up instantly, and the shutters came down over her eyes. ‘I had an accident.’ Then she was gone, out into his bedroom.
Snapping the shower off, Nathan picked up another towel and followed her. ‘Molly, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by my question. I didn’t even think before I asked.’ The result of one of her ex’s rages? Gritting his teeth, Nathan dried himself hard and fast.
Her face was blank. ‘It’s nothing, okay?’
No, it wasn’t okay, but nothing would make him say so. His thoughtless question had already upset her. He was ready to murder someone.
Pausing in her rapid dressing, Molly looked at him with sadness pouring off her in waves. ‘Sorry to rush off like this.’
He suspected she was apologising for something entirely different. It took all his strength not to wrap her in his arms and tell her everything would be all right. Because he didn’t know for sure that it would be, and making false promises was not the way to go. Instead he placed a hand on her cheek. ‘Go impress Coach. I’ll see you later, though probably not today.’ He needed some space while he thought through everything that had been happening between them.
Molly didn’t look unhappy with that. ‘It’s fine. I’ve got stuff to do after basketball.’ She was already making her way to the door, where she paused and looked directly at him. ‘I had the best night.’
Steal his breath, why didn’t she? ‘So did I, Molly. So did I.’ It was true. So true it was scary. And exciting. And something to think about.
CHAPTER NINE
‘HI, VICKI. I’M not going to ask how your weekend went. It’s written all over your face.’ Vicki had headed north to Darwin to spend time with Cole when he wasn’t on duty.
Molly banged her locker shut and pocketed her key. When Vicki didn’t reply she looked closer. ‘Oh, hell. Come here.’ Regretting her comment, she reached to hug her friend.
Palms out towards her, Vicki shook her head. ‘Don’t. I’ll fall apart if you’re kind to me.’
‘Fair enough.’ How awful to have her husband heading away so soon for who knew how long. Molly went for a complete change of subject. ‘I see you’ve gone all out today. Love that shade of purple in your top, and as for the boots, I’m drooling.’ Relief glittered out of Vicki’s sad eyes. ‘Took me weeks to find boots to match my outfit. Finally found them in a second-hand shop. This is not my usual style of clothes. I’m more the black on black type. Except for the shoes.’
‘Except for the shoes,’ Molly said at the same time, and they burst out laughing. Leaning back against her locker, she waited while Vicki changed into her uniform. ‘Hope we have a quiet night.’
‘I want it so busy I don’t come up for air.’
‘One of us should get lucky, then.’ Her ears were straining for the sound of Nathan’s voice out in the department. She hadn’t seen him when she’d arrived, and as he was always early he had to be tied up with a patient already.
‘You been for a spin in Nathan’s fancy car yet?’
‘I was too busy.’ Doing other things with Nathan, and avoiding certain issues that weren’t going to go away no matter how much she wanted them to.
‘Doing what?’ Disappointment blinked out at her.
Vicki wanted her to get with Nathan? Then she’d be pleased to know what had gone on between them, but Molly wasn’t spilling the beans. She didn’t do juicy gossip, and when it involved herself she remained especially tight-lipped. She straightened up. ‘Better get cracking and start earning my living.’ Away from the questions that were likely with Vicki needing a distraction from her aching heart.
‘I’ll be right there.’
Joining the rest of the shift waiting for change-over, Molly still couldn’t see or hear Nathan. She should be relieved, not sad. Having decided to go for friendly and easy with him, disappointed wasn’t an option. Saturday night had been sensational. Not a lot of sleep, though. Instead she’d had quite a workout, and still wanted more.
‘Morning, everyone. Hope you had a good weekend.’ Nathan strode in with a large smile and sparkling eyes as he scanned the room, pausing for a moment when he saw her. The smile brightened briefly, then he seemed to remember where he was, who he was with, and he straightened. ‘Right, let’s get the show on the road.’ He came to stand beside Molly, though.
Her body was doing the happy dance on the inside while externally she tried to keep her face still while listening to Mick run through the patients in the department. It wasn’t easy when she was fighting the desire to curl into Nathan, struggling with the need to touch him, to feel his warm skin under her palms.
‘You okay?’ Nathan asked quietly as everyone dispersed to get on with the shift.
Why was he asking? ‘I’m good. Did you get the place cleaned up yesterday?’
‘Eventually.’ His smile was devastating.
‘You went back to sleep.’ She grinned.
‘Quiet, woman, unless you want everyone knowing why I was so exhausted.’ His whispered words sent a thrill of excitement down her spine.
How was she going to remain focused on not getting too close to this man who’d woken her up from her dull and cautious life?
Mick was talking to the triage nurse and now turned to Molly. ‘Can you take this one? Twenty-one-year-old male, stab wounds to his face and arms. I’ll send someone else to help you in a mo.’
‘On my way.’ She checked which cubicle to use, glad of something to keep her busy and away from Nathan, because even standing beside him made her weak at the knees.
Got it bad, Mol?
Yeah, she was beginning to think so.
‘I’ll check the man out with Molly, Mick. Those stab wounds might need my sewing skills.’
So much for putting space between them. But what could she say? She liked working with him, even when they hadn’t been comfortable together. He was a superb emergency specialist, and she learnt from watching him. So she went to meet her patient and settle him on the bed in cubicle eleven as the triage nurse gave them the details.
