you’re forgiven since you’re in need of food.’
Nathan shook his head. He’d learned more in two minutes than he had in the past weeks. More than Molly being a superb nurse with a special way with the younger patients that came their way so they all fell in love with her, even when she was cleaning a wound that stung or sliding a needle into their arm. He could also admit to seeing her wearing stunning—and expensive—figure-enhancing outfits when she strode onto the ward heading for the staff changing room at the beginning of her shifts. Not that her figure needed enhancing; it did a damned good job of filling out her uniform and her day clothes all by itself.
Bondi Junction, eh? And here he’d been thinking she probably lived in one of the upmarket suburbs near or on Sydney Harbour’s waterfront.
Expensive clothes, average address. Once had money, now getting by? Throw in not mixing with people, the loneliness that sometimes blitzed her eyes, and he had to wonder if she’d been let down big-time. That protective instinct raised its head again. Guess he’d never know what was behind Molly’s attitude since she wasn’t likely to spill her guts over breakfast. Especially not to him. ‘Let’s hope she enjoys herself.’
‘We’ll do our best to make sure she does.’ Another wink came his way.
‘Stop that. Whatever that wicked mind of yours is coming up with, it’s not happening. You have a birthday to focus on, not someone else’s problems.’ Suddenly Nathan was more than pleased Molly was here. He understood loneliness, knew how it could drag a person down deep. After Rosie had died he’d holed up in their home, only coming out to attend lectures or work a shift at the hospital, doing what was required to qualify—no more, no less. None of his friends or family had been able to prise him out into the real world to become involved with people and life other than what was required for patients and qualifying as an emergency specialist.
To get past the pain of losing Rosie he’d focused entirely on those things and it had worked for the first couple of years. Then he’d begun to understand he wasn’t any use to the people who needed his medical skills if he didn’t get out and about, and that he owed the people he loved for sticking around.
‘We’re having champagne this morning.’ Vicki laughed.
‘Already sorted,’ he agreed, his mood lightening further in anticipation of spending time with this group of chatterboxes.
And Molly. No, forget that. She wouldn’t start yabbering on to him. Maybe by the end of breakfast they’d be a little further ahead in knowing each other, but that was all. Bet she’d still have his hands tingling and his gut tightening, though. ‘Shows we’re in need of a life when this is as exciting as it gets.’
Nathan hated admitting it, but he’d been looking forward to breakfast. His heart felt lighter, and the blood seemed to move faster in his veins. Molly had nothing to do with the happy sensations in his chest, or the sudden urge to be on his best, most charming behaviour. That needed a bit of practice anyway, and she’d see straight through him and ignore his attempts.
AS THE GROUP approached the café entrance, Molly smoothed down her trousers and jacket, hauled her shoulders back so that she looked and felt confident, before following everyone inside to the reserved table where Nathan was pulling out a chair on the far side.
Why did she seek him out? Because his mood had improved? Out of doctor mode and into something friendlier, less gruff than usual. Still handsome and mouth-watering. He didn’t often come across as too confident and charming, even though he could enchant a screaming patient into quietly accepting an injection and his medical knowledge was second to none. Experience had taught her to look behind a man’s character traits to find out what really made him tick.
‘Vicki?’ Nathan indicated the chair he’d pulled out.
‘The birthday girl gets to sit at the top of the table.’ Hank pulled out another chair.
‘You’re right.’ Vicki grinned and sat down on Hank’s chair. ‘Molly, why don’t you take that chair Nathan’s holding?’
Because Nathan had already slung his jacket over the one next to it. Looking around the table, Molly saw seats were filling rapidly, leaving her little choice. Fake it… Forcing a smile on her mouth and lifting her chin like nothing was wrong in her world—because it wasn’t any more—she strolled around to plonk down on the chair Nathan was holding out. ‘Thanks.’
‘You want a coffee?’ he asked, surprise and something else she couldn’t interpret flitting across his face.
Thoughtlessly putting a hand on his arm, she said, ‘I’ll get it.’ She jerked away. She never touched a man. Showed how safe she felt around Nathan, despite his attitude.
He said in his I’m-here-to-help-you voice usually reserved for patients, ‘I’m going to check the champagne I’ve ordered to toast Vicki’s birthday is coming out soon. I’ll put our coffee orders in at the same time.’ His gaze was intent, his eyes searching for something in her expression.
Okay, lighten up. ‘That’d be great. A flat white, thanks.’ Her tongue felt far too big for her mouth. Just another way he tipped her world off its new axis. ‘Are we all putting in for the champagne?’ But he was gone, slipping through the crowd building around other tables, aiming for the counter, head and shoulders above everyone he passed.
Since she’d run away from Paul she hadn’t gone out with a man, never let one in her home or talked about her past to anyone. At first she’d struggled facing the world as most people she knew had blamed her for Paul’s arrest. He was so charismatic they’d believed him until the truth had come out in court and those same people had begun fawning over her, wanting to get back onside. She’d struggled not to turn bitter. At the time, dating men had been an impossibility.
Until now. Looking at Nathan, she thought he’d be protective of those he loved. He always stood up for a patient whenever a family member tried to force proceedings in the department that were wrong. No doubt he’d protect anybody who got into danger if he was close by.
Downright crazy to believe that without proof. Look what happened the last time I trusted a man.
Paul hadn’t been kind and gentle with those less fortunate than himself, instead he’d enjoyed showing how much better than others he was. Something she hadn’t seen until it had been too late. Hadn’t known to look. Paul had been the catch every woman wanted, and with her mother actively encouraging her, she’d gone for him and won. Then lost. The first year of her marriage had been bliss, then the cracks had started appearing. She was a lousy hostess, a simpleton, useless at any damned thing. Then she’d fallen pregnant and it was all over.
Molly shook her head. Stop right now. She was out with a bunch of great people. She needed to forget the self-pity and enjoy herself, not turn in on herself and repeat the mistake she’d made with the Roos, the basketball team she’d been a member of. The regret she felt every weekend when she looked up the team’s results from the Saturday game made her ache, made her wish she’d stopped worrying about letting anyone close for fear of being hurt and got on with enjoying being a part of a great bunch of women. If only she hadn’t given in and quit, she might’ve moved on with getting a life sooner.
So, get cracking and enjoy this morning.
Straightening her spine and breathing deeply, she then fell into another old habit, checking out the latest suits to walk into the café, swinging briefcases and checking their phones. But today she wasn’t looking for trouble, instead comparing the men with Nathan. He came out top every time. Something to think about once she was back in her apartment.
‘Here you go. Coffee’s on the way.’ A glass of water appeared before her. ‘As is the champagne,’ Nathan told Vicki.
‘Great.’