A Family This Christmas by Sue MacKay Read Free Book Online

‘I don’t think so.’
    ‘Had to offer.’ Actually, she felt glad he’d turned her down. Those crutches were turning out to be a little trickier to master than she’d have believed. His kitchen was safer without her clunking around in there.
    ‘Is there anything you don’t like to eat?’ Cam asked.
    ‘Tripe, Brussels sprouts and broad beans.’
    ‘You’re more than safe here.’
    As Cam dug around in the pantry she studied his back view and found it still very delectable now her brain was clear of drugs and post-op fog. But, of course, finding herself here with a man she barely knew, she was bound to be overreacting to all sorts of things. Then Cam turned to place bottles of sauces on the counter and caught her staring.
    ‘Yes?’ His eyebrows rose, and that smile hovered on his mouth.
    Definitely ouch. Heat crept up her throat and spread across her cheeks. Caught, like a teenager ogling the teacher as he wrote on the board. ‘Nothing.’ Glancing around, she hurried to find something neutral to talk about. ‘You’ve got a lovely home. Spacious and light, warm and cosy.’
Home and Garden
reporter she was not. ‘Been here long?’
    ‘Two and a half years. I was looking for a less hectic work schedule. On a holiday at the family farm out in the sounds, someone mentioned Havelock needed a GP. So here we are.’
    ‘Is there enough work for a full-time doctor?’ The town was less than small.
    ‘I do mornings here four days a week and the rest of my time in Blenheim at the practice this one’s linked to.’
    ‘How do you manage? A GP’s life is never quiet. Then there are your kids.’
    ‘Solo parenting is a balancing act but I wouldn’t swap it for anything.’ He sprinkled oil onto the steaks and reached for the pepper grinder.
    As she watched those strong hands twisting the utensil, her stomach did a wee shake. Long, strong fingers. It didn’t take any effort to imagine them tripping over her skin. Her cheeks burned like a furnace. In fact, her whole body had come alive.
    ‘Did I knock my head when I fell yesterday?’
    Instantly Cam was wiping his hands and coming towards her. ‘Have you got a headache?’ There was nothing but concern on his face, bringing her up short as he stared into her eyes. Looking for signs of concussion?
    Abruptly shaking her head to break that searching look—who knew what he’d see in there?—she curled in on herself and muttered, ‘Sorry. Not a headache.’ Though one was beginning to tap behind her eyes. ‘I didn’t mean to say that out loud.’
    That concern didn’t lift. ‘I think you’re a dab hand at downplaying situations. So, do you have a headache or not?’
    ‘No. Promise.’ Just a dose of reawakened hormones. No problem. They’d soon get tired of not being let out to play and go back to their cave. But Cam wasn’t moving away so some explanation was apparently expected. Like what? Where were the twins when she needed their boisterous exuberance? ‘Promise,’ she reiterated, and tried for nonchalance as she lifted the glass of water. For the life of her she couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t have him packing her back into that four-wheel drive of his and delivering her to that backpackers’ lodge up the road.
    Finally he moved away, returned to his bench and dinner preparations. ‘You didn’t mention hitting your head yesterday, neither did you show any signs of a bang on the skull when I checked you out.’
    ‘As I thought.’ Sipping the refreshing water, she stared into the bottom of the glass. When was the last time she’d held a man, or been held in strong male arms? When was the last time she’d shared a kiss? Months ago, weeks before she and Colby had split.
    Colby. A man driven by his background of poverty, he didn’t know when to stop and enjoy what he’d achieved. He’d always wanted more, and had expected her to be into all that, too. When she’d mentioned that one day she hoped to have a family, he’d