Flynn didn’t look fazed. ‘If she’s relaxed with you then that’s good. I’m not getting on my high horse because she’s my patient. What works for her works for me. Or we can both be there.’
‘Thanks.’ Why was she thanking him? Shrugging, she added, ‘Guess I’d better get on the road. My first appointment’s at nine and I haven’t looked at the map yet.’
Flynn gave her that devastating smile of his. ‘You’re not in Melbourne now. Come here and tell me who you’re visiting.’ He closed the door behind Jerome and Ally felt as though the air had been sucked out of the room.
What was he doing? Here? At work? Any minute someone could walk in for a coffee.
‘Here’s the clinic.’ Flynn tapped his finger on the back of the door. ‘Who’s first on your list?’
Ally’s face reddened as her gaze took in the map pinned to the door. ‘Um.’ Think, damn it, peanut brain. ‘Erika Teale.’
She watched in fascination as Flynn’s finger swept across the map and stopped to tap at some point that made no sense whatsoever. Running her tongue over her lips, she tried to sound sane and sensible. ‘That’s next to the golf ranch.’ Too squeaky, but at least she’d got something out.
He turned to stare at her. ‘Are you all right? Is map-reading not your forte?’
‘I’m better with drawing bloods.’ No one could read a map when Flynn was less than two feet away. Even a simple map like this one suddenly became too complex. Taking a step closer to the map—and Flynn—she leaned forwards to study the roads leading to Erika’s house. Truth was, despite moving from town to town every few weeks she’d never got the hang of maps. ‘So which side of the golf place is she on?’ Why did he have to smell so yummy?
‘What are you doing tonight?’
Gulp. Nothing. Why? ‘Eating food and washing dirty clothes.’ Like there was a lot of those, but she had to sound busy. Saying ‘Nothing’ was pathetic.
‘Have dinner with me. We could go to the Italian café. It’s simple but the food’s delicious.’
She gasped. Yes, her head screamed. I’d love to. Yes, yes, yes. ‘No, thanks,’ came from her mouth. Sanity had prevailed. Just. ‘You’re married.’
Flynn’s mouth flattened, and his thumb on his right hand flicked the tell-tale gold band round and round on his finger. The light went out in his eyes. ‘I’m a widower. My wife died two years back.’
Her shoulders dropped their indignant stance as his words sank in. ‘Oh.’ She was getting good at these inane comments. ‘I’m so sorry. That must be difficult for you and Adam. But he seems so happy, you must be a great father.’
Shut up, dribble mouth.
But he’s free, available.
Yeah. I’m a cow.
Guilt followed and she reached a hand to his arm, touched him lightly. ‘I don’t know what else to say. How do you manage?’ The way he looked at that moment, he’d be retracting his invitation any second.
‘Adam keeps me sane and on the straight and narrow. If it wasn’t for him, who knows what I might’ve done at the time?’ Sadness flicked across his face and then he looked directly at her and banished it with a smile. ‘For the record, you’re the first woman I’ve asked on a date in the last two years. The only woman I’ve looked at twice and even considered taking out.’ Then his smile faltered. ‘I guess it’s not much of an offer, going to the Italian café, considering what you must be used to in the city.’
‘Flynn, it’s not about where I go but who I go with. I’d love to try the local Italian with you.’ She meant every word. A wave of excitement rolled through her. A date—with this man—who set her trembling just by looking at her. What more could she want? Bring it on.
‘Then I’ll pick you up after I’ve put Adam to bed and got the babysitter settled. Probably near eight, if that’s all right?’ There was relief and excitement mingling in his expression, in those cobalt eyes locked on her, in the way he stood tall.
She was struggling to keep up with all his emotions. ‘Perfect.’ She’d have time for a shower, to wash and blow-dry her hair, apply new make-up and generally tart herself up. Bring it on, she repeated silently.
CHAPTER FOUR
SOMEONE SHOULD’VE TOLD the pregnancy gods that Ally had a date and needed at the minimum an hour to get ready. Seems that memo had never gone out.
As she slammed through the front door of the flat at seven forty-five, Ally was cursing, fit to turn the air blue. ‘Babies, love their wee souls, need to learn right from the get-go to hold off interrupting the well-laid plans of their midwife.’
Baby Hill thought cranking up his mum’s blood pressure and making her ankles swell was a fun thing to do a couple of weeks out from his arrival. Pre-eclampsia ran through Vicky Hill’s family but she’d been distressed about having to go to hospital for an evaluation, and it had taken a while to calm her down. Jerome had finally talked to his patient and managed to get her on her way with her thankfully calm husband.
Ally suspected some of Vicky’s worry was because she was dealing with a new midwife right on the day she needed Kat to be there for her. Ally had no problem with that. Being a midwife had a lot to do with good relationships and they weren’t formed easily with her, due to the come-and-go nature of her locum job.
The shower hadn’t even fully warmed up when Ally leapt under the water. Goose bumps rose on her skin. Washing her hair was off the list. A hard brush to remove the kinks from the tie that kept it back all day would suffice. If there was time. She’d make time. After slipping on a black G-string, she snatched up a pair of black, body-hugging jeans to wriggle her way into. The lace push-up bra did wonders for her breasts and gave a great line to the red merino top she tugged over her head.
The doorbell rang as she picked up the mascara wand. Flick, flick. Then a faster-than-planned brush of her hair and she was as ready as she was ever going to be.
She might not have had all the time she’d wanted, but by the look on Flynn’s face she hadn’t done too badly. His Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze cruised the length of her, making her feel happy with the hurried result.
‘Let’s go,’ he croaked.
We could stay here and not bother with dinner. Or we can do both.
She slammed the front door shut behind her and stepped down the path. ‘I’m starving.’ For food. For man. For fun.
Flynn knew he should look away. Now. But how? His head had locked into place so that he stared at this amazing woman seated opposite him in the small cubicle they’d been shown to by the waiter. He hadn’t seen her with her hair down before. Shining light brown hair gleaming in the light from wall sconces beside their table and setting his body on fire. He desperately wanted to run his hands through those silky layers, and over it, and underneath at the back of her neck.
‘Excuse me, Dr Reynolds. Would you like to order wine with your meal?’
Caught. Staring at his lady friend. Reluctantly looking up, he saw one of his young patients holding out the wine menu. ‘Hello, Jordan. How’s the rugby going? Got a game this weekend?’ He glanced down the blurred list of wines.
‘It’s high school reps this weekend. We’re going up to Melbourne on Thursday.’
After checking with Ally about what she preferred, he ordered a bottle of Merlot, and told Jordan what meals they’d chosen. Then he leaned back and returned his attention to Ally, finding her watching him with a little smile curving that inviting mouth.
‘How often do you get out like this?’ she asked.
‘Never. When I go out it’s usually with people from work.’ Comfortable but not exhilarating.
‘Who’s looking after Adam tonight? Not Marie?’
‘No, she needs her baby sleep. Jerome’s daughter came round, bringing her homework with her.’ Better than having a boyfriend tag along, like the last girl he’d used when he’d had a meeting to attend. He’d sacked her because of that boyfriend distracting her so she hadn’t heard Adam crying.
‘So they know at work that you and I are o
ut together?’ Her eyes widened with caution.
‘There’s no point trying to be discreet on Phillip Island. Everyone knows everyone’s business all too quickly, even if you try to hide it.’
The tip of her tongue licked the centre point of her top lip. In, out, in, out.
Flynn suppressed a groan and tried to ignore the flare of need unfurling low down. What was it about this woman compared to any of the other hundreds he’d crossed paths with over the last two years that had him wanting her so much? Admittedly, for a good part of those years he’d been wound up in grief and guilt so, of course, he hadn’t been the slightest bit interested. His libido hadn’t been tweaked once. Yet in walks Ally Parker and, slam-bang, he could no longer think straight.
The owner of the café brought their wine over and with a flourish poured a glass for Ally. ‘Signorina, welcome to the island. I am Giuseppe and this is my café. I am glad our favourite doctor has brought you here to enjoy our food.’
Ally raised her glass to Giuseppe. ‘Thank you for your welcome. Is everyone on Phillip Island as kind as you and the medical centre staff?’
‘Si, everyone. You’ve come at the right time of year when there are very few tourists. Summer is much busier and no time for the small chat.’