Her heart stuttered in defiance. Why not? He’s the only man who’d ever made her pulse beat as though she’d run a marathon, made her body feel starved until he touched her.
She gasped. What’s happening here? She’d tracked down Mitch for Jamie’s sake, not because she needed him. Not because she’d never forgotten him. Or because she’d never stopped wishing he was still a part of her life. Within two days all those pent-up emotions and feelings that only Mitch could evoke were roaring around her head, through her body, centring at her core. Making her want to drag him off to bed and have her wicked way with what she knew that superb suit covered.
Heat swamped her face and she turned aside before Mitch could read the emotions that surely must be spreading through her eyes, over her cheeks and curving her lips into a sultry smile.
‘Want a coffee? I have to warn you, I’ve only got instant.’ Not that she wanted another hot drink but she did want to keep her hands busy and away from Mitch.
*
‘No, thanks.’ Mitch watched Jodi’s lips press together with worry as she dropped onto the arm of one of the two chairs in the room.
He needed her, wanted her, had the urge to haul her into his arms and hug her until she finally relaxed and smiled that beautiful, gut-wrenching smile he always used to look for at the end of the shift when he finally walked through the front door of the flat he’d shared with her.
It might be a dumb move but he put all his reservations aside and moved to lift her up and wrap his arms around her thin frame. Damn, but she needed feeding up. ‘Hey, let me hold you for a moment. You look shattered.’ Pulling her against his chest, he tucked her head neatly under his chin and held her. Right where she belonged: in his arms.
Until this moment he hadn’t realised he’d missed her so much. Hadn’t understood that he was only half a man without Jodi in his life. Until now he’d believed he’d had everything he needed. That there was no room in his life, his heart to fit someone close. Someone special. Jodi. He’d known he’d screwed up. But now it was as though someone had taken a bat and banged him over the head until he got the message. Jodi was the only woman for him.
He’d neglected her back then. Big time. He’d let her kick him out, taking the easy option, thanking his lucky stars that he’d escaped unscathed. But he’d been lying to himself. Pleased that he’d proved she wasn’t a stayer.
Unscathed? Yeah, right. As if. If that cold, lonely town house of his, the one-night stands that he never took back to his place, no one to share a birthday or Christmas with, was what he really wanted, then fine. Go for it. Enjoy it. Make the most of what he had. If that was his definition of unscathed and happy then he was a sad puppy.
He’d definitely been lying to himself. All along. Worse—he’d always known he had been.
So what now? Declare his feelings? Tell Jodi he actually cared for her, about her? That he wanted to be right at her side over the next months as Jamie battled for his life? That he wanted to be there for her beyond that? His stomach crunched, his heart dived for cover. Go ahead, tell her all that and then stand back while she laughs herself sick.
Jodi was not stupid. She would not believe a word of it. And who could blame her? Certainly not him.
So what now? Slowly, slowly, sort one problem out at a time. Over her head he stared at the crappy motel room, the marked walls, the grimy windows and shabby furniture. Unwinding his arms from around her body, he stepped back. ‘Have you done anything about finding a flat to move in to?’
She tensed. ‘I’ve hardly had time.’
‘Good.’ He reached into his back pocket. ‘The key to my front door. It’s only a small place, and we’ll be a bit squeezed, but pack your bags and move in. Today.’ When her mouth fell open, he couldn’t help adding, ‘For as long as you need somewhere to live in Auckland.’
It felt great to surprise her in a good way. He caught up one of her hands, wrapped her fingers around the key. ‘You can’t stay in this motel. It’s awful. Not good for a sick child. Not exactly cheerful for you either. Oh, and here’s another key. Get rid of that heap on wheels you’ve rented. From now on, my vehicle is yours.’
Those brown pools fixed on him, filled with amazement and gratitude. ‘Are you sure? There are three of us. Mum’s not going back down south until Friday.’
‘No problem. I’ve got two spare bedrooms. Anyway, I’m not there very often.’
‘To sleep and shower, according to your cleaning lady.’ Jodi looked guilty. ‘I met her on Saturday when I went looking for you.’
‘I wondered why you turned up at the hospital in the evening. Get tired of waiting for me to come home?’ Just like old times. He swallowed the bile rising in his throat. Hell, home wasn’t his favourite place. Not a lot going on there.
‘How will you get around if I’ve got your car?’
‘I’ll grab a taxi. Or give you a call.’ It was less than two months until he left for Sydney. Oh, hell. Sydney and the job of a lifetime. So much to sort out. So much to consider. Too much to think about. Slowly, slowly, one small thing at a time. ‘I’ll go and talk to the motelier while you pack up.’
*
Jodi watched Mitch stride across to the motel office, his shoulders back and his chin forward. So full of confidence. His way was the right way. No doubts at all. ‘You still don’t ask what I’d like to do.’ Her mouth curved upward. ‘You just tell me.’ Funny how today she couldn’t care less when in the past she’d have refused just to spite him.
‘I take it you’re not talking to yourself.’ Mum spoke from the doorway, laden down with full recycle grocery bags. ‘And as I see Mitch disappearing into the poky space the owners of this dump call an office, you must be berating him.’
Jodi opened her hand to show the keys. ‘We’re moving into his house as soon as Jamie wakes up. And the other key is for that fancy four-wheel drive parked outside.’
Mum dumped her shopping on the bench and turned to study her daughter in a disconcerting, this-is-your-mother-talking kind of way. ‘Good. He’s come through for you both. Always thought he would if he was pushed hard enough. And there’s nothing harder than being confronted with the son he didn’t know he had. Good man.’
So much for wondering if Mum would move into Mitch’s place with them. She’d probably have come up with the idea herself in a day or two if Mitch hadn’t beaten her to it. ‘Mum, you’ve never liked the guy. Remember all the things you used to warn me about? Newsflash—most of them came true.’
‘Selective memory, my girl. I also used to say Mitch Maitland would make a fabulous husband if he ever got over his past. It can’t have been easy, growing up without his parents there and never seeing his twin brother. He’s done amazingly well considering the circumstances.’
Jodi gaped. ‘You knew all that? How? He never even told me.’
‘You didn’t think I wouldn’t check up on my grandson’s parentage, did you? I always thought there was more to Mitch and Max than was obvious. They might be charmers who’re used to getting what they want from everyone they cross paths with but essentially they’re good men.’ Mum winced. ‘I should’ve told you what I learned but I figured you had enough on your plate with Jamie’s illness. How di
d the hospital consultation go, by the way?’
Stunned at her mother’s revelation, Jodi took a moment to answer the sudden question about something totally different, and then she didn’t have to.
Mitch answered for her as he came inside. ‘Lucas Harrington is excellent and I have every confidence in him. But even though I knew what was coming, he still managed to shock me to the core. I presume Jodi’s heard what he had to say before, but hearing it again rattled her too.’
‘It’s so different when it’s my…’ Jodi swallowed. ‘When he’s talking about our child. It doesn’t matter how many discussions I’ve had with Jamie’s specialists, the details still scare me sick.’
Mitch’s eyebrows rose endearingly. ‘Yes, that must be it. Not any old patient but our son.’
Mum looked from Mitch to her and back again. ‘So, is this Dr Harrington putting Jamie on the transplant waiting list?’
‘Yes. We’ve got an appointment with the transplant team tomorrow afternoon.’ Mitch moved closer to Jodi and casually dropped an arm over her shoulders.
His warmth and strength immediately filtered through to her, touching that chilly place where all things to do with Jamie’s health hid. She snuggled even nearer. Drawing a breath, she told her mother, ‘Max is arranging the appointment. We bumped into him at the canteen and the moment he heard about Jamie’s problem he gave us a time to go and see him.’
Mum didn’t even blink. ‘I’m glad. We want the absolute best treatment for Jamie, and in Max’s hands he’ll get it.’
So she’d known Max worked at Auckland General too. Just how much had Mum found out about the Maitland twins in that research she’d done? And why hadn’t she talked about this before now? Could’ve saved some worry about how to tell Mum that both brothers were here and that there was every possibility they’d both have something to do with Jamie’s care.
Mitch shook his head. ‘We’re waiting to see how tomorrow’s meeting goes before deciding that.’