LITMIR.BIZ

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about. She had a list of them, but nothing to do with work. This was her safe place. ‘Archie?’

      ‘On my way.’ He strode off, his back ramrod straight, his jaw jutting out, yet she’d swear some of his tension had eased.

      ‘Good girl, not letting him rile you.’ Vicki nudged her, and brought her back to focusing on anything other than Mr Lupton.

      ‘You think?’ she asked around a tight laugh, her eyes still taking in the sight of Nathan despite trying to concentrate on what Vicki had to say.

      ‘I do.’ Her fellow nurse was also watching Nathan, now heading into a cubicle, and there was a thoughtful tone to her next question that unsettled Molly. ‘Still coming to breakfast?’

      ‘Wouldn’t miss it for anything.’ She meant every word, even after struggling with a strong reluctance to socialise and get too comfortable when she half expected to be nudged out of the way by people who wanted more from her than she was prepared to share. She had initially hesitated about accepting the invitation, then decided to give it a go. After all, Vicki had been friendly and helpful since she’d begun working in here two months ago.

      A flicker of excitement warmed her. Look where faking it got her. Right into the middle of her colleagues, whose good intentions had brought her close to tears on occasion, even when she didn’t trust them enough to give back anything of herself. Getting out and about with this crowd might go some way to fixing the loneliness that filled her days and nights. Not being a team player had come at a price, one that needed to be dealt with if she was to be happy again.

      ‘Molly? Can you come here, please?’ Nathan had reappeared in the cubicle doorway, back to being calm and efficient.

      Molly looked at the man and, hiding the uncertainty he created in her belly, nodded. ‘Need the phlebotomy kit?’ Her voice had returned to non-confrontational, Gran’s glare long gone. Situation normal. Previous normal. Lifting her shoulders, she reached for the bag of needles and tubes.

      Nathan’s smile might be reluctant, but it actually seemed genuine. Meaning it was further unsettling. ‘Yes. I want liver functions done while we wait for the orderly to collect him.’

      The boy, recovering from an appendicectomy last week, was back with pains in his gut and chest. Nathan suspected septicaemia and had started him on an array of intravenous antibiotics. They were now waiting for the children’s ward to collect him.

      In the cubicle, she said, ‘Hey, Archie, I’m going to find you some dry pyjamas after I’ve cleaned you up.’ With the fever drenching him continually, the boy needed regular wiping down.

      Archie was eyeing the kit with trepidation. No hiding what was coming from this kid. ‘I don’t want another needle.’

      ‘It’s annoying, isn’t it?’ Nathan said as he slid the tourniquet up the boy’s thin arm. ‘You’ll be able to tell all your friends how brave you are.’

      Molly sponged Archie’s legs, in an attempt to distract him. ‘I hope you’re not ticklish.’ Not that she intended tickling him when Nathan was about to slide a needle into a vein. That would be taking distraction to the next level.

      ‘Mum tickles me.’ Archie’s eyes were on Nathan, apprehension blinking out of his big eyes.

      ‘There, all done.’ Moments later Nathan handed her the tube of blood to name and date. ‘Mark it urgent.’

      ‘Right.’ She headed for the hub to call for an orderly to take the blood sample to the lab.

      Nathan had followed her. ‘How’re you settling in with us?’

      ‘Fine.’ I hope. ‘I really like the job, and the people I work with.’ Had she done something wrong he was about to mention? Wasn’t she good enough at her work? The usual worry over making herself stand out began chugging through her mind.

      ‘Good. We don’t like swapping staff too often.’ Then, ‘So what do you do when you’re not here?’ Nathan was being friendly? Abnormally friendly, since he wasn’t known for idle chitchat.

      How to answer without giving herself away? ‘There’s always heaps of things needing attention where I live and people to check up on and shopping at the mall.’ Drivel spilled over her lips. ‘And I like going for walks.’ Definitely faking it. She rarely left the apartment other than to come to work.

      He was regarding her like he was sorry he’d asked. Good, then he wouldn’t find any more questions for her. Wrong. ‘Sounds like your evenings are free so you’ll have time to come to our midwinter Christmas barbecue.’ Nathan was talking about the out of season party some Aussies celebrated that had come about because of English people living in Australia who missed a cold Christmas. He tapped a sheet of paper lying on the desk. ‘I don’t see your name here.’

      That was because she had no intention of going. She wasn’t ready for that level of integration. An hour over breakfast was one thing, a full-on party quite another. Thought I was starting over, now that I’m free. ‘I haven’t thought about it.’ What excuse could she come up with? She tried to read the shift roster behind Nathan, but he was blocking her line of vision.

      ‘It’s a fortnight away but I like to know who’s coming well in advance. Bring a plate and your own alcohol. Meat provided.’ He was pointing a pen over his shoulder. ‘You’re not working that night.’

      There went that excuse for not going. Little did he know about how hard it was for her to go anywhere that was attended by lots of people.

      He hadn’t finished. ‘I encourage all the staff to join in. It’s good for morale, amongst other things.’

      New beginnings, remember? Deep breath. Go for it. Taking the pen from his fingers, mindful of not touching him, Molly scrawled her name beneath Vicki’s and added Dessert next to it. ‘There. Done.’ And she hadn’t stopped too long to think about it. Definitely a first.

      ‘Good.’ His tone didn’t back his reply. Those toast-coloured eyes were focused on her as though she was a mystery he was trying to unravel. She’d probably surprised him by giving in so quickly when it was well known she didn’t go out with any of the staff to movies or breakfasts.

      Amazed at how easily she’d signed up, she stood absorbing the slow wave of excitement rolling through her. She could do this. She really, really could. ‘Where’s the barbecue being held?’

      ‘At my place out in Coogee.’ He picked up a patient file and began reading the notes. Dark blond hair fell over his brow, making her itch to push it back in place.

      ‘Oh.’ The heavy pounding in her chest had returned, and her mouth began drying up like an overbaked sponge. Why hadn’t she noticed before that Nathan was disgustingly good looking? Probably her massive hang-up about getting close to men had kept the blinkers on until today, when she’d made the promise to move on, get a life. Did that mean finding love? Thump, thump, thump. It couldn’t. That’d be going too far, too soon. Molly had learned Paul’s lessons well. An absolute charmer, he’d sworn his undying love for her and wooed her completely. One year into their marriage the real Paul had come to light when he’d started hitting her whenever she’d disagreed with him, which was a sure-fire way of making her keep her mouth shut. Suddenly noticing Nathan as more than a doctor was scary. Wasn’t it?

      ‘Problem with that?’ Nathan asked without looking up.

      ‘Hell, yes.’ She wasn’t ready. It was too soon—wasn’t part of the plan to move on.

      Puzzlement blinked out at her. ‘Why? It’s usual to go to someone’s house for a party.’

      Embarrassment rose. She’d answered her question to herself out loud. This man was rattling her, which made no sense when, because of his self-assurance, she’d pretty much ignored him in the two months she’d worked here, unless it was to discuss a patient or argue over small things, like where the order for more syringes had got to. It’d been years since desire had lit

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