Читать книгу The Best Of The Year - Medical Romance - Carol Marinelli, Amalie Berlin - Страница 55

HER JEANS JUST did up.

Nervous and a little excited, just as she had been the first time he’d come to her door, she opened it the next morning with a smile.

‘I’m ready,’ she said, ‘or did you want a drink first?’

‘No, thanks,’ Steele said. ‘It’s probably better that we get going. I’ve got a lot to get on with today.’ He couldn’t not comment. ‘You’ve been crying.’

‘I had a rather big argument with my parents last night.’

‘You told them?’

‘I did.’ She blew out a breath. ‘And I told them a few other things too. Anyway, we’re not talking about all that stuff today. I really do want a day off from it.’

‘Fair enough.’ He smiled. ‘But can I just say that I’m really proud of you for telling them.’

‘Thank you.’

‘You’ll enjoy your holiday far more without that hanging over you.’

‘I shall.’

They went out to his car and were soon on the motorway. ‘First up,’ Steele explained, ‘I’m going to look at the new wing of the hospital, which might bore the hell out of you. You can go for a walk or to the shops if you like.’

‘No, I’d love to see it,’ Candy said, ‘unless explaining me makes things awkward for you.’

‘I never feel the need to explain myself,’ he said, and then he amended that slightly. ‘Actually, I did cancel dinner with my parents tonight, you would have taken some explaining.’

‘Oh, sorry,’ Candy said, ‘I didn’t want you to change your plans for me.’

‘I was more than happy to change them. I’m moving closer to them in a few weeks.’ He turned and smiled again. ‘Though not quite close as you are to yours, but they’ll be seeing more of me than they do now.’

‘What are they like now?’

‘They’ve mellowed,’ Steele said. ‘They’re much nicer as old people. Though I have to admit that when they start asking questions about my life, my love life, I’m often tempted to tell them to back off, given that they showed little interest in me when I was growing up.’ He gave a roll of his eyes. ‘I wouldn’t do that to them, though.’

Candy knew that he wouldn’t. He was too nice.

‘You like old people.’

‘I do,’ he said. ‘I don’t like all old people. It’s not a free pass to being a good person but I like how they’ve let go of the stuff that’s not important. I like how they say what they think and share what they know. I like it even when my patients drive me mad with their stubbornness. I learn something every day, every single day, from how to put a brass doorknob on a house I’m renovating to how to face death.’

They arrived at the hospital and Steele shook hands and introduced her to Reece, a consultant who’d clearly had a lot of input into the new wing.

‘Any chance of you starting sooner?’ Reece joked. ‘Emergency is full.’

‘No chance.’ Steele smiled. ‘I don’t need you to show me around if you’re busy.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘Of course.’

‘I’ll see you at the meeting, then.’ Reece nodded. ‘Make sure you put a hard hat on.’

‘I feel like a builder,’ Candy said as she put hers on.

‘Come on, Bob,’ Steele said, and he took her through the building. It was near complete in parts and the roof was going on in others. ‘This is going to be the acute geriatric unit,’ he explained as he showed her a huge area where the wiring was going in. ‘Very high-tech computer system,’ he said. ‘It has its own occupational therapy assessment area.’ He took her in. There were two kitchens and various sets of stairs being built, as well as showers and baths of various heights so that patients could be assessed on how they would manage at home. ‘I’m aiming for a forty-eight-hour admission time. Either home afterwards with support or admitted to the correct ward, but most of my patients will first come through here—well, that’s the plan.’

‘Forty-eight hours isn’t very long.’

‘Best time frame,’ Steele said. ‘It gives us enough time to put proper support in place for when they return to their homes.’

Steele showed her the other wards—a palliative care ward and also the acute medical unit—and then he opened a door and they stood in a huge empty space.

‘This is the dream,’ he said. ‘It’s not happening yet. We’re facing lots of obstacles and red tape, insurance issues and things, but I’m hoping this space will be a gym.’ He smiled. ‘Actually, I’m not allowed to call it that. I’m hoping this space will be utilised for healthy living …’

‘Sorry?’

‘Well, I always feel a bit of a bastard when I know someone’s lonely and that a cream cake at three in the afternoon means not only a cream cake but a walk to the shops and some conversation too. Instead of asking them to give it up, I’m hoping that they can come here and have a chat with friends and maybe a bit of exercise. I’m hoping for a slimming or exercise club or something like that. It’s all a bit of a pipe dream at the moment, but at least we have the space earmarked for it, if we ever do get to go ahead.’

‘How long’s your contract for?’ Candy asked.

‘Two years,’ he said. ‘They wanted five but I wouldn’t agree to it.’

‘Because?’

‘Because I’ve never stayed anywhere for more than two years. I like fresh starts. I like putting everything into it and building things up …’

Or rather he had.

They drove to a pub and had a lovely lazy lunch overlooking a huge village green.

‘Gorgeous, isn’t it?’ Candy said, and he nodded.

‘Even if we don’t get the go-ahead for the gym, I’ll probably start a walking club over there.’

‘You’re going to go start a geriatric walking club!’

‘Yep, I walk with my dog every morning that I can. Why not have company?’

‘You have a dog?’

‘I do.’ Steele smiled. ‘You have me pegged as a loner— no friends to go to the movies with, no pets. I have a dog, I have nice furniture and I have, when I’m not sleeping with Nurse Candy, a very busy social life.’

‘Where’s your dog now?’

‘At my parents’,’ he said. ‘He’s a chocolate Labrador called Newman.’

‘Newman?’

‘You’ll …’ Steele stopped. He had been about to say she would see why when she met him but that wasn’t what today was about. No pressure, he reminded himself. Today was doing her good, he could see that already. Her cheeks were pink and she seemed more relaxed than she had since … well, since Macey had opened her mouth and knocked their worlds off their axes, but they were starting to spin again, tentatively, though. ‘He’s got blue eyes,’ Steele said instead. ‘And he’s the love of my life and he knows it.’

‘Does he sleep on your bed, Steele?’

Steele shook his head. ‘He sleeps on his bed for about seventeen hours a day and graciously lets me share it at night.’

After lunch they walked across the green and Candy laughed as she looked at it through what she imagined were Steele’s eyes. ‘I have this vision of all these old people doing Tai Chi …’

‘So do I.’

She stopped walking. ‘And then you’ll leave.’

‘That was the plan,’ he said. ‘Though this is a huge project …’ He looked around. Since his divorce he had never been able to imagine staying in one place for very long. Here, though, he was close, though not too close to his parents; here was the job he had been working towards his entire career. He looked over as a car pulled up and a man got out and gave them a wave as they walked over to him.

‘That’s the estate agent,’ Steele explained.

‘Oh.’

‘And that’s the renovator’s delight I’m hoping to buy, but I’m not telling him that.’

It was a huge rambling house with a small wooden gate, overlooking the green.

‘Are you going to come and take a look?’ he said.

‘I think I might just take another walk,’ she said. She didn’t want to see his future home, so she walked on the green as Steele inspected the house.

He looked at the cornices and the hanging-off doors; the windows would all need to be taken out.

Don’t start on the electrics, he thought as he flicked lights on and off.

And as for the plumbing! The estate agent tried to distract him from turning on taps but Steele was not easily distracted and when he turned on the taps the whole house seemed to rattle. Steele grinned as, in his head, he knocked another five grand off the asking price.

It was magnificent, though.

‘Could you give me a moment?’ he said to the agent. ‘I’d like to walk through it again on my own for a minute.’

The estate agent agreed and Steele took way more than a minute.

The last time he had looked at a home this size had been with his ex-wife. The natural assumption at that time had been that the bedrooms would soon be filled.

The natural assumption as he walked around now was that the bedrooms would be filled too.

It was more than an assumption. It was a feeling it was how it should be. He looked out of a window and could see Candy idly walking around. He wanted to go and fetch her, bring her in, ask her her thoughts, yet her thoughts were cluttered enough now.

His weren’t.

He thanked the estate agent and said that he’d be in touch then he walked over and joined her.

‘Maybe I can explain you after all,’ he said.

‘Sorry?’

‘I could just say to my parents that you’re a friend from work who needed a day out. You can meet Newman.’

‘No, thanks,’ she said.

‘Candy, can we talk—’

‘Please, not now,’ she said. ‘I just need this day. I just need a day of not dealing with it and then I need my holiday to start dealing with it on my own.’

Steele nodded. It was what they had agreed to after all.

They drove back to his flat to collect her case, which was no longer in the car, and Candy needed it as she flew tomorrow.

Candy, of course, fell asleep in the car but now it just made him smile.

She awoke to his lovely deep voice and the sight of his flat and then she turned and there he was.

‘I’ll go and grab your case,’ he said.

‘Can I borrow your loo?’ Candy said, because, as she was starting to find out, this was something she would be saying rather a lot in the weeks and months ahead.

She went to the loo and remembered the last time she’d been here—when her pregnancy had just started to become a possibility. As she looked in the mirror while washing her hands, she remembered the fear that had been in her eyes then.

The fear was gone now.

Yes, she was confused and exhausted and nervous about how she would provide for two children, but the terror was leaving and, after such a wonderful day’s reprieve, she was starting to feel a little more like herself.

‘Thank you for a lovely day,’ she said.

‘Do you want a cup of tea?’ he offered, and she nodded.

‘Make yourself comfortable.’

‘Ha-ha,’ she said, and stood and watched him make the tea instead.

Meaning …

She lifted her top and showed him the straining zipper that had simply refused to go all the way back up.

Only Steele didn’t really see that. He saw pink lace and a teeny flash of jet hair and the stomach that his mouth had kissed over and over.

And as she put down her top Candy looked at the teabag he was squeezing the hell out of with his spoon and, yikes, there was a sort of gravelly note to his voice as he asked her how many sugars she had in her tea.

‘The same as last time,’ Candy said.

‘Sorry, I’m a bit distracted.’ Steele smiled. ‘Two?’

‘Two.’

‘Do you really want tea?’ he checked.

‘No.’

‘Because I don’t,’ Steele said. ‘I want a glass of wine but I’m driving.’

‘Poor Steele.’ She smiled. ‘It really is a problem.’ Candy thought for a moment. ‘I know!’ she said brightly.

‘Do tell.’

‘Why don’t you have a glass of wine and drive me home later?’

He turned and faced her. ‘That’s so clever, but you’re stuck in those uncomfortable jeans. I insist you take them off …’

They started to kiss, the best kiss ever, because she’d got so lost in babies and feeling massive and unsexy but his tongue swiftly took care of that.

It hadn’t really entered her head that he might want her again in that way. Now his fingers were at her zipper and somehow she felt back to the woman she had been.

Out of her jeans, she moaned in relief.

‘Nice?’

‘Nice,’ she said to his mouth.

‘That bra looks a bit tight too.’

He unhooked it and took it out through her arms and it was lovely to be all loose and floppy and to rest a moment in his arms.

‘Feels so good,’ she said.

‘It does,’ he said. There would be no rushing. He loved feeling her all relaxed against him.

‘Get your wine.’

They headed over to the sofa and it was nice to be back there. Steele sat and Candy lay down as he drank his wine and played with her hair. It was good not to talk. She remembered the mornings with Macey and her nonna, and the bliss of hush when words could only serve to make you sad.

‘Are you all packed for Hawaii?’ he said finally.

‘Nope.’ Candy sighed. ‘We’re here to get my case, remember?’

This time tomorrow she’d be at Heathrow.

‘Can I paint your toenails?’ she asked.

‘Er, why?’

‘It relaxes me and my mum’s still sulking at me so I haven’t been able to do hers.’

‘Do you have some nail varnish with you?’

‘In my bag.’

He was so laid back and yet so austere. It was a lovely mixture that made her stomach curl and also gave her a peace that she could be herself.

And she was.

He lay down and she sat on his calves and started on his right foot. ‘I like men’s nails,’ Candy explained, ‘because they’re bigger.’

‘Have you painted a lot of men’s nails?’ he asked, and then let out a moan of surprise. ‘Oh!’

‘What?’ She smiled as she painted his big toenail.

‘I have nail-painting jealousy issues,’ Steele said. ‘I just felt it burn. I’m looking at your bum and enjoying the view when I suddenly got the Annie burn that you had.’

‘I’ve never painted another man’s toenails from this angle.’ Candy smiled again.

‘Take your knickers off, then.’

She did as told and then got back to painting the toenails on his left foot but she made a terrible mess of his long second toe because she heard his zipper slide down.

‘I’m making a bit of a mess here, Steele,’ she said.

‘I forgive you,’ he said.

‘Steele.’ She was arguably the most turned on she had ever been. She had never thought she’d feel sexy again, had never thought sex would ever be fun again, and yet here they were and it was bliss. ‘Can I turn around?’

‘You’ll finish what you started,’ Steele warned.

She gritted her teeth and did the last three toes really quickly. ‘Done.’ She turned around on his calves to the delicious sight of him and she moved up to sit on his thighs and lowered her head and they shared a long, deep kiss. Her breasts flattened against his chest and she could feel his erection pressing against her stomach.

She brought the kiss to a giddy halt and stared at him. He looked right back at her in a way that had her almost feverish. She started placing small kisses over his cheeks as his hands moved to her breasts, working her nipples.

‘Candy …’ Steele nearly said something he shouldn’t. Today wasn’t a day for confusing her, today wasn’t a day for declarations, it was about keeping it light and he felt her sudden tension at the tender tone to his voice. ‘Time for your hula lesson,’ he said, and got the reward of her laugh in his ear.

She lowered herself onto him and he held her hips and had her sway a little and circle, and then Candy could not play any longer and she started moving of her own accord. His hands exploring her breasts had her greedy for more and she leant forward, lowering her breasts to his mouth, dizzy with the sensation of his hands now on her hips, grinding her down a little harder as his mouth worked her tender nipples.

‘Steele …’ There was almost panic in her voice, a delicious panic because her body wasn’t hers any more but was moving into a rhythm of its own.

His mouth left her breast and she looked down at him. His lips were slightly parted and there was tension in his expression, just as there was in hers.

Steele adjusted the angle of his thrust just a fraction and she let out a sob. It was an actual sob as Steele started to come.

And then another sob and it was one of relief as somehow, some way, as she came to him, all she was at that moment was Candy.

Not pregnant, not scared, not worried at all.

The world felt a lot better when she was in Steele’s arms.