# Waking Up To Dr Gorgeous

Emily Forbes

Luci Dawson’s guide to getting over your ex:1. Leave your troubles behind, and escape to Sydney for a temporary house-swap.2. When a gorgeous stranger walks into your bedroom—smile, you’ve hit the jackpot!3. Indulge in a hot fling with said stranger!But little does nurse Luci know that her fling is about to become so much more. Because Doctor Seb Hollingsworth has ways of making her feel alive again. With Christmas just around the corner suddenly Luci knows exactly what she wants under her tree!The Christmas SwapA holiday they won’t forget!

Luci Dawson’s guide to getting over your ex:

1. Leave your troubles behind and escape to Sydney for a temporary house swap.

2. When a gorgeous stranger walks into your bedroom, smile—you’ve hit the jackpot!

3. Indulge in a hot fling with said stranger!

But little does nurse Luci know that her fling is about to become so much more. Because Dr. Seb Hollingsworth has ways of making her feel alive again. With Christmas just around the corner, suddenly Luci knows exactly what she wants under her tree!

Dear Reader,

I wrote my first ten books with my sister, and in my experience the first thing everyone asked was, ‘How do you do it?’ The truth was I’d never written a book any other way—that was all I knew. I have now written fifteen stories solo, but when I was asked if I would be interested in writing a duo with Amy Andrews of course I said yes. We have known each other for a long time, and Amy has also written books with her sister, so we’re both used to plotting with other writers—and sometimes negotiating! ☺

Working out our characters and our stories and how we were going to fit them together was great fun. Our brief was simply to write two stories in which our characters swapped houses; the rest was up to us. We took one character from the country and sent her to the city, and moved one hero in the other direction. One country girl, one city boy—both out of their depth.

Seb and Callum Hollingsworth are gorgeous, smart, sexy brothers, and Luci and Flick are best friends. Even though it might have made sense to make the girls sisters, as that is what we both know so well, it was more interesting to make the boys siblings—two brooding loners in need of a bit of loving.

I really hope you enjoy both stories.

Happy reading,

Emily

Waking Up to Dr Gorgeous

Emily Forbes


www.millsandboon.co.uk

EMILY FORBES is an award-winning author of Medical Romances for Mills & Boon. She has written over 25 books and has twice been a finalist in the Australian Romantic Book of the Year Award, which she won in 2013 for her novel Sydney Harbour Hospital: Bella’s Wishlist. You can get in touch with Emily at emilyforbes@internode.on.net or visit her website at emily-forbesauthor.com.

Books by Emily Forbes

Mills & Boon Medical Romance

The Hollywood Hills Clinic

Falling for the Single Dad

Tempted & Tamed!

A Doctor by Day...

Tamed by the Renegade

Sydney Harbour Hospital: Bella’s Wishlist

Breaking the Playboy’s Rules

Daring to Date Dr Celebrity

The Honourable Army Doc

A Kiss to Melt Her Heart

His Little Christmas Miracle

A Love Against All Odds

Visit the Author Profile page at

millsandboon.co.uk for more titles..

For anyone who has ever fallen in love when they didn’t intend to—it’s never the wrong time!

Praise for Emily Forbes

‘The Honourable Army Doc was a wonderful, emotional and passionate read that I recommend to all readers.’

—Goodreads

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Praise

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

‘OMG, FLICK, I wish you’d been able to see this place.’

Luci had spoken to her best friend several times already today but she couldn’t resist calling her again to update her on her good fortune.

‘It’s nice, then?’ She could hear the smile in Flick’s voice.

‘Nice! It’s amazing.’ Luci wandered around the apartment while she chatted. ‘It’s right on the harbour. The beach is just across the road. I’m looking at the sea as we speak.’ She could hear the waves washing onto the shore and smell the salt in the air. ‘I don’t know how Callum is going to manage in my little house.’

It was a bit odd to be walking around a stranger’s apartment. Luci had spent her whole life surrounded by people she knew so to travel halfway across the country to swap houses with a stranger was odd on so many levels. It had all happened so quickly she hadn’t had time to consider how it would feel. Callum Hollingsworth’s apartment on the shores of Sydney Harbour was modern and masculine. While her house wasn’t particularly feminine it was old and decorated in what she guessed people would call country style. No surprises there, it was definitely a country house. It was clear that her house-swap partner’s taste in decorating was quite different from hers. She felt self-conscious, wondering what he would think of her place, before she realised it didn’t matter. She didn’t plan on meeting the guy.

She heard the whistle of the Indian Pacific through the phone. The two friends had spent the past few days chilling on Bondi Beach, a girls’ getaway that Flick had suggested before Luci settled into her house swap and study course in Sydney, and Flick returned to South Australia on the iconic trans-continental train.

‘Are you on the train?’ Luci asked.

‘Not yet,’ Flick replied. ‘I’m just grabbing a coffee and waiting to board.’

‘Make sure you call me when you get home,’ she told her.

‘Of course I will. What are you going to do with the rest of your day?’

‘I think I’ll take a stroll around my new neighbourhood. The hospital is a half-hour walk away so I might head in that direction. Work out where I have to be tomorrow. I don’t want to be late.’ Luci was enrolled in an eight-week course in child and family health being run through the North Sydney Hospital and she needed to get her bearings. ‘Look after my mum and dad for me.’

That was her one big concern. As an only child of elderly parents—her mother called her their ‘change of life’ baby—Luci was nervous about being so far away from them, but Flick had promised to keep an eye on them. It wasn’t hard for her to do as Luci’s dad was the local doctor and Flick worked for him as a practice nurse.

‘I will. Enjoy yourself.’

Luci ended the call and had another wander around. It wasn’t a massive apartment—there was an open-plan kitchen, living and dining room with a large balcony that looked out to the beach across the road. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a small laundry finished it off, but it had everything she would need. She dumped her bags in the spare bedroom. Having the two bedrooms was a bonus because she didn’t feel comfortable about taking over Callum’s room. That felt too familiar.

The sun shone on the water of Sydney Harbour, white boats bobbed and the houses peeked out between eucalyptus trees. Luci couldn’t believe how perfect it looked. She’d grown up in country South Australia, born and bred in Vickers Hill in the Clare Valley, and she’d never travelled far. Her father very rarely took holidays and when he did they spent them on the coast, but the coast she was familiar with was the Gulf of St Vincent with its calm waters, like a mill pond. It never felt like the real ocean.

Then, when she’d married her high-school sweetheart at the age of twenty-one, they’d had no money for holidays. She’d married young, as had most of her friends, but she hadn’t found the happy-ever-after she’d wanted. Like so many other marriages, hers hadn’t lasted and she found herself divorced and heartbroken at twenty-five.

But now, perhaps, it was time to travel. To see something of the world. She couldn’t change what had happened, the past was the past. She had grieved for a year, grieved for the things she had lost—her marriage, her best friend and her dream of motherhood—but she was recovering now and she refused to believe that her life was over. Far from it. She had a chance now to reinvent herself. Her teenage dream needed some remodelling and this was her opportunity to figure out a new direction, if that’s what she decided she wanted. She was finally appreciating the freedom she had been given; she was no longer defined by her status as daughter, girlfriend or wife. No one in Sydney knew anything about her. She was just Luci.

It was time to start again.

* * *

Luci turned off the shower and wrapped herself in one of the fluffy towels that she’d found in the guest bathroom. She pulled the elastic band from her hair, undoing the messy bun that had kept her shoulder-length bobbed blonde hair dry, then dried herself off. She was exhausted and she was looking forward to climbing into bed. She was far more tired than she’d expected to be. She’d spent the past three days sitting in lectures. She’d thought that would be easier than the shift work on the wards that she was used to, but it was mentally tiring.

Still, it was almost the end of her first week. Only two more days to go before the weekend. Perhaps then she’d have a chance to see something of this side of Sydney. She and Flick had walked from Bondi to Bronte and back and had spent the rest of their time relaxing. Sightseeing hadn’t been high on their agenda but Luci had never visited Sydney before and she wanted to get a feel for the city.

She was familiar with the route from Callum’s apartment in Fairlight to the hospital on the opposite side of the Manly peninsula as she was walking that route every day. She was getting to know the local shopkeepers and was exchanging ‘good mornings’ with a couple of regular dog walkers. It was a far cry from Vickers Hill, where she couldn’t take two steps down the main street without bumping into someone she knew, but she was starting to feel a little more at home here. She kept herself busy, not wanting to give herself a chance to be homesick. Being somewhere new was exciting, she told herself, and she had limited time so she needed to make the most of her opportunities.

The people in her course were getting friendlier by the day. It seemed city folk took a little longer to warm up to strangers but Luci had gone out to dinner tonight with a few of them, just a burger in Manly, but it was a start and Luci knew she’d feel even more at home after another week.

She knew where to catch the ferry to the city and she’d walked on the beach but she hadn’t yet had time to test the water in the tidal swimming pool that was built into the rocks. That would be added to her list of things to do. She hadn’t done nearly as much exploring as she had planned to, and if all the weeks were this busy, her two months in Sydney would fly past. She’d have to make time to see the sights, but first she needed some sleep.

She hung the towel on the rail in the bathroom, went through to her bedroom and slid naked between her bedsheets. She kept the window blinds up and the window slightly open. From the bed she could see the stars in the sky and the sound of the ocean carried to her on the warm spring air. The ocean murmured to itself as it lapped the shore. It was gentle tonight and she could imagine the waves kissing the sand, teasing gently before retreating, only to come back for more.

She dozed off to the sound of the sea.

* * *

It felt like only moments later that she woke to an unfamiliar sound. A slamming door.

She was still getting used to the different sounds and rhythms of the city. She could sleep through the early morning crowing of a rooster and the deep rumble of a tractor but the slightest noise in the middle of suburbia disturbed her. Rubbish trucks, the tooting of ferry horns, slamming of car doors and the loud conversations of late-night commuters or drinking buddies on their way home from the pub all intruded on her dreams, but this noise was louder than all of those. This noise was close.

She heard footsteps on the wooden floorboards and saw light streaming under her bedroom door as the passage light flicked on.

Shit. There was someone in the house.

She put her hand on her chest. Her heart was racing.

What should she do?

Call out?

No, that would only draw attention to herself.

Find a weapon of some sort? She’d seen a set of golf clubs but they were in a cupboard near the front door. She couldn’t get to them and there was nothing in the bedroom. Maybe a shot of hair spray to the face would work—if only she used hairspray.

Should she call the police? But how quickly would they get here? Not fast enough, she assumed.

She had no idea what to do. She’d never had to fend for herself.

She sat up in bed, and scrabbled for her phone in the dark. She was too afraid to turn on the light, worried it would draw the attention of the intruder. She clutched the sheet to her chest to cover her nakedness. Perhaps she should find some clothes first. She didn’t want to confront a burglar while naked.

She could hear him crossing the living room. The tread of the steps were heavy. Man heavy. She could hear boots. The steps weren’t light and delicate. He wasn’t making any attempt to be quiet. There was a loud thump as something soft but weighty hit the floor. It didn’t sound like a person. A bag maybe? A bag of stolen goods?

Her heart was still racing and the frantic pounding almost drowned out the sound of the footsteps. That made her pause. This had to be the world’s noisiest burglar. She hadn’t had much experience with burglars but surely they would generally try to be quiet? This one was making absolutely no attempt to be silent. Plus he had turned the lights on. Definitely not stealthy.

He was a terrible burglar, possibly one of the worst ever.

But maybe he thought the house was empty? Perhaps she should make some noise? Enough noise for two people.

She heard the soft pop as the seal on the fridge door was broken. She frowned. Now he was looking in the fridge? Making himself at home. She was positive it wasn’t Callum. Luci had spoken to Flick earlier in the day. Callum had well and truly arrived in Vickers Hill and according to her friend he was creating a bit of a stir. Luci hoped he wasn’t going to prove difficult—he was supposed to be making things easier for her dad, not harder, but she couldn’t do much about it. All it meant to her was that it wasn’t Callum in the apartment. And she was pretty sure by now that it wasn’t a burglar either, but that still meant a stranger was in the house.

She needed to get dressed.

She switched on the bedside light and was halfway out of bed when she heard the footsteps moving along the passage. While she was debating her options she saw the bedroom door handle moving.

OMG, they were coming in.

‘You’d better get out of here. I’ve called the police,’ she yelled, not knowing what else to do.

The door handle continued to turn and a voice said, ‘You’ve done what?’

When it became obvious that the person who belonged to the voice was intent on entering her room she jumped back into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin, grabbing her phone just in case she did need to call the cops.

‘I’ll scream,’ she added for good measure.

But the door continued to open and a vision appeared. Luci wondered briefly if she was dreaming. Her heart was racing at a million miles an hour but now she had no clue whether it was due to nerves, fear, panic or simple lust. This intruder might just be the most gorgeous man she’d ever laid eyes on. Surely someone this gorgeous couldn’t be evil?

But then Ted Bundy sprang to mind. He was a good-looking, charming, educated man who just happened to be a serial killer. ‘Don’t come any closer,’ she said.

He stopped and held his hands out to his sides. ‘I’m not going to hurt you, but who the hell are you and what are you doing in my room?’ he said.

‘Your room?’

Was this Callum? She was certain she’d chosen the guest bedroom but, anyway, what was he doing here? He couldn’t have got back to Sydney that quickly. He was supposed to be a thousand miles away, staying in her house. That was how a house swap worked. ‘Why aren’t you in Vickers Hill?’

‘What the heck is Vickers Hill?’

Luci frowned. ‘Who are you?’

He couldn’t be Callum. So whose room was she in exactly?

‘Seb. Seb Hollingsworth.’

Seb.

‘You’re not Callum?’

A crease appeared between his superb blue eyes as he frowned. ‘No. I’m his brother.’

Luci almost missed his answer, distracted as she was by the thick, dark eyelashes that framed his eyes.

‘Brother!’ Why hadn’t Callum warned her? She sat up in the bed, taking care to make sure the sheets prevented any sort of indecent exposure. ‘Callum didn’t mention you.’

‘So you do know Cal, then?’

‘Sort of.’

He lifted one eyebrow but said nothing.

Luci could play that game too. And she used the silent seconds to examine the vision a little more closely.

He truly was gorgeous. Tall, really tall, with thick dark hair, chestnut she’d call it. He had eyebrows to match that shaded piercing blue eyes and a nose that may or may not have been broken once upon a time. His lips were full and pink, and a two-day growth of beard darkened his jaw.

His torso was bare but he held what appeared to be a black T-shirt in his hand. Just what had he been planning on doing? she wondered, before she was distracted again by his broad shoulders and smooth chest. He reminded her of someone, she thought as her eyes roamed over his body.

The statue of David, she thought, brought to life. He was made of warm flesh instead of cool marble but had the same, startling level of perfection.

Her heart was still beating a rapid tattoo. Adrenaline was still coursing through her system but not out of fear. Now it was a simple chemical, or maybe hormonal, reaction.

‘I think you have some explaining to do,’ said the living, breathing statue.

In Luci’s opinion so did Callum, Seb’s absent brother, and she was blowed if she was going to explain herself while she lay in bed naked. She clutched the sheet a little more tightly across her breasts. ‘Let me get dressed and then we can talk.’

The corner of Seb’s mouth lifted in a wry smile and there was a wicked gleam in his blue eyes. Luci felt a burst of heat explode in her belly and she knew that the heat would taint her body with a blush of pink. She could feel the warmth spreading up over her chest and neck as Seb continued to stand in the doorway. Did he know the effect he was having on her? She had to get rid of him.

‘Can you give me a minute?’ she asked.

‘Sure, sorry,’ he replied, looking anything but sorry. ‘And while you’re at it,’ he added, glancing at the phone that was still clutched in her hand along with the sheet, ‘do you think you could ring the police and tell them it was just a misunderstanding? I don’t want the neighbours getting the wrong idea.’

‘I didn’t actually ring the police,’ Luci admitted.

He turned and left the room, pulling the door closed behind him, and she could hear him laughing, a deep, cheerful sound that lifted her spirits.

Luci waited to hear his footsteps retreat before she was brave enough to throw off the sheets once more. She climbed out of bed on shaky legs and pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of shorts. She padded down the hallway to the open-plan lounge and kitchen to find Seb with his head in the fridge, giving her a very nice view of a tidy rear covered in denim. His bare feet poked out of the bottom of his jeans.

She stepped around a pile of luggage that had been dumped beside the couch. A brown leather jacket was draped over a duffel bag and a motorbike helmet sat on the floor beside a pair of sturdy boots, the boots that had been stomping down the passage. There was a thick layer of reddish-brown dust covering everything.

She ducked through the kitchen and into the dining area, where she stood on the far side of the table, putting some distance between them. Despite the fact that he looked like something created by Michelangelo and appeared to be related to the owner of the house, she wasn’t prepared to take his word for it just yet. Until she’d decided he wasn’t a serial killer she wasn’t taking any chances.

He stood up and turned to face her. His chest was now covered by his black T-shirt—that was a pity—and he had two small bottles of beer in his hand.

‘Beer?’ he asked as he raised his hand.

Luci shook her head.

He put one bottle back in the fridge, closed the door and then twisted the top off the other bottle and took a swig. He watched her as she watched him but he didn’t seem as nervous as her. Not nearly.

He stepped over to the table, pulled out a chair and sat down. He pushed the chair back and stretched his legs out. He was tall. His legs were long. He was fiddling with the beer bottle and she couldn’t help but notice that his fingers were long and slender too.

He lifted his eyes up to meet her gaze. ‘So, sleeping beauty, do you have a name?’

‘Luci.’

‘Luci,’ he repeated, stretching out the two syllables, and the way the ‘u’ rolled off his tongue did funny things to her insides.

‘So where’s my big brother? And why are you in my bed?’

Luci swallowed nervously. His bed? Of course, his room, his bed. That warmth in her belly spread lower now, threatening to melt her already wobbly legs just a little bit more.

‘I didn’t know it was your bed. I didn’t know anyone else lived here.’

Callum hadn’t said anything but she’d never actually spoken to Callum. Not that she was about to divulge that bit of information. That would just come across as odd. Her dad’s practice manager had organised the whole house-swap thing. Luci had exchanged emails with Callum and had been intending on meeting to swap keys but he had messaged her to say his plans had changed. He’d left Sydney a day earlier than they had discussed so he’d left a key under a flowerpot for her, but she was certain he hadn’t mentioned a brother. Not at any stage.

So what did this mean for her house-sitting plans? Would Seb ask her to leave? Would Callum?

‘So where is he?’ Seb wanted to know. ‘Should I be checking the rest of the house? You haven’t done away with him, have you? Did he treat you badly and you’ve sneaked in here to have your revenge?’

Luci laughed and wondered about the type of women Seb associated with if that was the direction his thoughts took him. ‘He’s in Vickers Hill.’

‘Ah, Vickers Hill. You mentioned it before. Where is that exactly?’ Seb arched his right eyebrow again and Luci found herself wondering if he could also do that with the left one. The idea distracted her and she almost forgot his question.

‘In South Australia. In the Clare Valley,’ she explained as she stepped into the kitchen. She needed to put some distance between them. To give herself something to do, she switched the kettle on, taking a mug and a green tea bag from the cupboard.

Seb took another pull of his beer. ‘What is he doing there?’

‘He’s gone to work in a general practice. It’s part of his studies.’ She didn’t mention that he was working with her father. If Callum wanted his brother to know what he was up to, he could tell him the finer details. But Seb not knowing Callum’s movements only led to more questions. Where had Seb been? Why didn’t he know what was happening? His room certainly didn’t look inhabited. It had looked exactly like a guest room, which was what Luci had expected. There had been no sign of his presence other than a few clothes in the wardrobe, which she had assumed was the overflow from Callum’s room. But perhaps those clothes belonged to Seb.

‘So, if Cal’s in Vickers Hill, what are you doing here?’

‘We’ve done a house swap,’ she replied as she poured boiled water into her mug.

‘A house swap?’ he repeated. ‘How long are you staying?’

‘Eight weeks. Until Christmas.’ Please, don’t ask me to leave tonight, she thought. She was half-resigned to the fact that her plans were about to change but she really didn’t want to pack her bags and find somewhere else to stay in the middle of the night. This was her first trip to Sydney. ‘If that’s all right,’ she added, pleading desperately. She had no idea where she’d go if he asked her to leave. Back to Bondi, she supposed, but the prospect of doing that at this late hour was not at all appealing.

Seb shrugged. ‘It’s Cal’s house, whatever plans you’ve made with him stick. I just crash here when I’m in town. I called it my room but, I guess, technically it’s not.’

Luci wondered where he’d been. Where he’d come from. But she was too tired to think about that now.

‘I’ll stay in Callum’s room,’ he added.

‘Thank you.’ She threw her tea bag in the bin and picked up her mug. ‘I guess I’ll see you in the morning, then.’

She took her tea and retreated. Seb looked interesting and she was certainly intrigued. He was giving her more questions than answers and she needed, wanted, to find out more, but it would have to wait. She had to get some sleep.

But sleep eluded her. She tossed and turned and wondered about Seb. Maybe she should have just stayed up and got all the answers tonight. Instead she lay in bed and made up stories in her head, filling in all the blank spaces about the handsome stranger with imagined details.

It wasn’t often she got to meet a stranger. And a gorgeous, fascinating one to boot. In Vickers Hill everyone knew everyone else and their business. Meeting someone new was quite thrilling compared to what she was used to. Excitement bubbled in her chest. A whole new world of possibilities might open up to her.

She smiled to herself as she rolled over.

Things had just become interesting.

CHAPTER TWO

SEB PUT HIS empty beer bottle down on the kitchen table and stared out at the dark ocean through the branches of the eucalyptus. He could hear the waves lapping on the shore and could see the lights of the yachts rising and falling on the water. He’d missed the sound of the ocean but he wasn’t thinking about the water or the boats or the lights now. He was thinking about the woman he’d found in his bed. The absolutely stunning, and very naked, woman.

It had been a surprise, to put it mildly. He detested surprises normally—experience had taught him that they were generally unpleasant—but he couldn’t complain about this one. He’d found women in his bed unexpectedly before but he couldn’t recall any of them being quite as attractive as Luci.

He closed his eyes but his mind was restless and he couldn’t settle. He should be exhausted. He’d had a long and dusty eight-hour ride from Deniliquin and he’d been looking forward to a shower, something to eat and then bed. In that order. That had been his plan until he’d discovered Luci in his bed. His plan had been delightfully disrupted by a gorgeous naked woman.

He wasn’t sure that he really understood why she was here. Or why Cal wasn’t. He hadn’t spoken to his brother for several weeks. They didn’t have that sort of relationship. Seb wasn’t even in the habit of calling ahead to let Callum know he would be in town. They were close but unless there was a reason for a call neither of them picked up the phone. And when they did their conversations were brief, borne out of necessity only and usually avoided if possible.

Seb had tried to talk to Cal after Cal had been injured in a cricketing accident, an accident that had almost cost him his left eye, but even then they had never got to the heart of the problem. Neither of them were much good at discussing their feelings.

But despite their lack of communication they still shared a brotherly bond. They had relied on each other growing up. The sons of high-achieving surgeons, they had spent a lot of time by themselves, supervised only by nannies. Perhaps that was why they had never learned to discuss their feelings—the nannies certainly hadn’t encouraged it and Seb couldn’t remember many family dinners or even much support in times of crisis. Not that there had been many crises, just one big one for each of them in their adult lives. They’d been lucky really.

But their childhood bonds had remained strong and Cal had always had a bed for him. Until now. Which brought him back to the question of what Luci was really doing here. And what did it mean for him?

He ran his hands through his hair. It was thick with dust and sweat from hours encased in a helmet. He still needed a shower. The sea breeze wafted through the balcony doors, carrying with it the fresh scent of salt. Perhaps he should go for a swim instead. The cool water of Sydney Harbour might be just what he needed to stop his brain from turning in circles.

There was no light coming from under Luci’s door so he stripped off his jeans in the living room and pulled a pair of swimming shorts from his duffel bag. He left his house key under the flowerpot on the back balcony and jogged barefooted down the stairs and crossed the road to the beach. The sand was cool and damp under his feet and the water was fresh.

He didn’t hesitate. He took three steps into the sea and dived under the water. He surfaced several metres offshore but the water was shallow enough that he could still stand. The sea was calm and gentle and refreshing but it wasn’t enough to stop his head from spinning with unanswered questions.

Vickers Hill, South Australia. He’d never heard of Vickers Hill. How the hell had Callum ever found it? But if the girls there looked like Luci, he couldn’t blame him for wanting to visit.

He turned and looked back across the beach to the apartment block. It was a small complex, only three floors, and Callum’s apartment took up the top floor, but there was nothing to see as it was all in darkness. But he could imagine Luci, sleeping in his bed. The image of her, at the moment he’d first seen her, filled his mind.

In his bed with the sheets pulled up to her chin, her blue-grey eyes huge with apprehension. He’d got just as much of a shock as she had but at least he’d been semi-clothed. He’d been unable to see anything but he’d known that beneath those sheets, his sheets, she had been as naked as the day she was born.

As she had sat up in bed the covers had slipped down, exposing the swell of her breasts, before she’d clutched the sheet tightly, pulling it firmly across her chest. He’d had his T-shirt in his hand, halfway to the shower when he’d discovered her, and he’d had to surreptitiously move his hand so the T-shirt had covered his groin and his reaction. It had been pure and primal. Lust, desire.

He knew he’d let his eyes linger on her for a few seconds too long to be considered polite. Had she noticed?

Her eyes had watched him carefully. Her face was round with a heart-shaped chin and she had lips like a ripe peach. She was thin but not skinny and she had firm, round breasts that it was impossible not to notice. He’d seen them rise and fall under the sheet as she’d panicked. He could have happily watched her breathing all night.

His eyes had been drawn to four small, dark freckles that made a diamond shape against the pale skin on her chest. One sat about an inch below her collarbone, another on the swell of her right breast with a matching one on the left, and the fourth one, the one that formed the bottom of the diamond, was tucked into her cleavage. The pattern was stamped on his memory.

He should have given her some privacy, backed out of the room, but he’d been transfixed.

He closed his eyes now and floated on his back but he could still see Luci’s pale skin decorated with the perfect diamond imprinted on the backs of his eyelids. It was late and he was physically exhausted but he knew there was no way he’d be able to sleep. Not yet.

He flipped onto his front and swam further into the harbour. In the pale starlight he could see the outline of his boat tied to its mooring. With long, fluid strokes he passed several other boats floating on the water as he swam out to his cabin cruiser.

His hands gripped the ladder at the stern and he pulled himself up onto the small ledge at the rear. He ran his hand over the smooth, sleek lines of the cabin as he made his way round to the large, flat bow. He stretched, resting his back against the windscreen. This boat was his sanctuary. He’d bought it almost three years ago as a project. It had good lines and plenty of potential and had been advertised as needing some TLC or a handyman’s touch. He was no builder but he was good with his hands and he’d figured the learning curve would keep his mind occupied, which was just what he’d needed at the time. He had needed a project, a focus, something to keep him busy, so he could avoid dealing with his alternate reality.

Three years down the track he had made good progress emotionally but he couldn’t say the same about the boat. It was still far from finished, although he had managed to get it to the stage where he could enjoy a day out. The engine worked, as did the toilet, but the kitchen and sleeping berths still needed serious attention. That was his current project, one he intended to finish while he was back in Sydney this time. He had an appointment scheduled for tomorrow evening to meet a cabinet-maker who was, hopefully, going to make new cupboards for the kitchen. While it was far from perfect, it didn’t matter. It was perfect for him.

The boat represented freedom.

Seb didn’t want to be tied down and the boat gave him a sense of having a place in the world without commitment. Eventually, when the renovation was completed, he planned to live aboard. Having a boat as his place of residence appealed immensely as he could close it up and leave or take it with him. It would be a fluid living arrangement, transient enough that he didn’t have to think of living aboard as settling down. It wasn’t a big commitment.

He wasn’t ready for commitment. He’d tried it once, with disastrous results.

Luckily for him Callum didn’t show any signs of settling down either, which meant he always had a place to crash. It was reassuring to know that he had a place to stay that didn’t require any commitment from him. Was that immature behaviour? Perhaps. Irresponsible? Maybe. He hadn’t thought about what he’d do if Callum ever did settle down. At least he hadn’t until tonight.

Seeing someone else in his room—he always thought of it as his, even though he was an infrequent visitor—seeing Luci in his bed, made him wonder what he would do if Callum ever wanted to make changes. What if he wanted to rent out that room or live with a girlfriend? Either one would put him out on the street.

Was he being selfish? Taking advantage of Callum’s generosity? Was it time he grew up and stopped relying on his big brother?

But no matter what Cal’s intentions were, being tossed out onto the street by Luci was still a possibility if she was uncomfortable about having him share her space. He’d told her he would stick with Callum’s plan but what if she decided she didn’t want him there?

One thing at a time, he decided. He’d only been back for five minutes. It wasn’t worth wasting time worrying about things that might not happen. It was far more enjoyable to spend his time thinking about a pretty blonde who was curled up in his bed.

Seb laced his fingers together and rested his hands behind his head as he looked up at the sky. There were no clouds, the sky was dark and clear, the stars bright against the inky blackness. He picked out the Southern Cross, its familiar diamond shape marking the sky reminding him of the other diamond he’d seen earlier.

Things were about to become interesting.

* * *

Luci was up early. She showered and grabbed a piece of fruit for breakfast, trying to keep the noise to a minimum. There was no sound from Seb’s room and she didn’t want to disturb him. She hadn’t heard him come back in last night but his motorbike helmet, jacket and boots were still piled on the living room floor so she assumed he was sleeping. She stuffed her laptop into her bag and slung it across her body, biting into her apple as she walked out the front door.

Today was her last full day of lectures. Tomorrow she and the other nineteen registered and enrolled nurses would have orientation at whichever child and family health centre they had been assigned to for their placements, and the course would then become a mixture of theory and practice. Luci was looking forward to getting out of the lecture room and dipping her toe into the world of family and community health.

The lectures had been interesting but she wasn’t used to sitting down all day. The training room was an internal one in the hospital. It was small and windowless and by the end of the day Luci was itching to get outside into the fresh air. She was planning on taking a walk along Manly beach to clear the cobwebs from her mind. She stretched her arms and back and rolled her shoulders as the group waited for the final lecturer of the day. The topic for the last session was indigenous health, which had the potential to be interesting, but Luci didn’t envy the lecturer their four o’clock timeslot. She doubted she was the only one who was thinking ahead to the end of the day.

Luci heard the sound of the door click open and swing shut. It was followed by a murmur from the back of the room that intensified in volume as it swept down the stairs. The room had half a dozen rows of tiered seating and she was sitting near the front. The room was buzzing and Luci turned her head to see what had got everyone so excited.

Seb was at the end of her row, about to step down to the front of the room. What on earth was he doing here?

He shrugged out of his leather jacket and dropped his motorbike helmet on a chair. He was dressed casually in sand-coloured cotton trousers and a chambray blue shirt that brought out the colour of his eyes.

He looked seriously hot.

He pulled a USB stick from his shirt pocket and plugged it into the computer. He was the lecturer?

He looked up, ready to address the room, and his eyes scanned the group, running over the twenty or so attendees. Luci’s stomach was churning with nerves and her palms were sweaty as she waited for him to pick her out in the room. It didn’t take long.

He spotted her in the front row and smiled. His blue eyes were intensely bright in his ridiculously handsome face and Luci swore the entire room, including the two male nurses, caught their collective breath. Her knees wobbled and she was glad she was already sitting down.

‘Hello.’ He was looking straight at her and everything around her dissolved in a haze as she melted into his gaze. ‘I am Dr Seb Hollingsworth.’

Dr! Did he just say Dr? The motorbike-riding, leather-jacketed, living, breathing marble statue was a doctor? Somehow he’d let that little piece of information slide.

Luci missed the rest of his introduction as she tried to remember if she’d told him what she did. She’d talked about the house swap but perhaps she hadn’t told him she was a nurse, which might explain why he hadn’t mentioned he was a doctor. It was hard to remember anything when he was standing right in front of her, looking at her a bit too often with his bright blue eyes.

His voice was strong and deep and confident and Luci could feel it roll through her like waves rolling onto the shore. His voice caressed her and she was tempted to close her eyes as she listened. Maybe then she would be able to concentrate.

He was talking confidently about the cultural differences between the indigenous communities and those families with European backgrounds and the impact that had on the health of the children.

‘Indigenous families are often reluctant to bring their children to the health clinics because of the lessons history has taught them. Many are fearful but we know that early intervention and health checks save lives. Education is the key, not only by the health professionals but also by the schools. We know that educated people have a better standard of living and better health. We have been running playgroups and early learning sessions to encourage the families to come to the clinics and the hope is that the parents will then feel comfortable enough to enrol their kids in school. Our current focus from a health perspective is on nutrition and family support so for any of you who will spend time working with these communities during your placements you’ll need to be aware of the cultural sensitivities.’

Luci knew she should be taking notes but she was too busy watching and listening. She hadn’t been able to keep her eyes closed. It was too tempting to watch him. And she knew where to find him if she had any questions.

‘Funding is an issue—nothing new there,’ he was saying, ‘but the health department will continue to lobby for that. Our stats show there are benefits with these early intervention health programmes.’

There were lots of questions as Seb tried to wrap up his session. Luci guessed they all wanted to prolong the time that he spent in the room and even when he dismissed the class several of them crowded around him like kids around the ice-cream truck.

Luci gathered her notebook and laptop and shoved them into her bag. She wasn’t going to hang around. If he was finished by the time she was packed up she’d stop and talk to him, otherwise she’d leave. She picked up her bag and started up the steps.

‘Luci! Can you wait a moment?’ Seb’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

She hesitated. She had nowhere she had to rush off to. She had no reason not to wait. She dumped her bag on a chair and sat down, aware that some of the other girls were looking at her curiously. That was okay. She was used to being stared at and talked about.

Seb finished his discussions with the other students and came over to her.

‘Dr Hollingsworth?’ Luci was determined to get the first words in but that didn’t seem to faze Seb.

‘Nurse Luci.’ He was smiling at her, making her insides turn somersaults. Again. ‘Have you got time for a drink?’

‘Why?’

‘It seems we have some things to discuss, I thought it might be nice to share our secrets over a drink.’

‘I don’t have any secrets,’ she fibbed.

His grin widened. ‘Everyone has secrets,’ he said. He had his jacket and helmet tucked under one arm and he picked up Luci’s bag with his other hand. ‘Come on, I’ll give you a lift.’

‘Where are we going?’

Seb smirked, obviously sensing victory, and replied, ‘The Sandman, it’s about halfway down the beach.’

The bar was on North Steyne Street, a little over a kilometre away. Luci had walked past it before. ‘I’ll meet you there,’ she said. The walk would give her a chance to clear her head and hopefully time to get over her jitters. She wasn’t sure if this was a good idea but she couldn’t think of an excuse on the spot. She couldn’t think of anything much when Seb looked at her and smiled.

Luci took her bag from Seb and slung it over her shoulder. When she reached the beach she rolled up the legs of her khaki pants and slid her canvas sneakers off her feet and walked along the sand. The late-afternoon sun bounced off the waves, turning the water silver. Kids with surfboards ran in and out of the ocean, their shouts drowning out the screeching of the seagulls. The beach was busy. She didn’t know a soul but she was fine with that. Back home she couldn’t walk down the street without bumping into half a dozen people she knew and it was a pleasant change to have anonymity, especially after the past six months. It wasn’t always so great having everyone know your business.

She stepped off the beach opposite the bar. She walked on the grass to brush the sand from her feet then slipped her shoes back on. Seb had beaten her there and he lifted a hand in greeting as she crossed the street. As if she wouldn’t have noticed him—the bar was busy but he was easily the most noticeable person there.

Somehow, despite the crowd, he’d managed to grab a table with a view of the beach. He stood up as she approached and offered her a stool, his motorbike helmet on a third stool, like a chaperone.

‘What can I get you to drink?’

‘What are you going to have?’

‘A beer.’

‘That sounds great, thank you.’

Sturdy Norfolk pines lined the foreshore, guarding the beach, and Luci watched the ocean through the frame of the trees. She took her phone out of her bag as Seb went to the bar and snapped a photo of the view. She sent it to Flick captioned, After-work drinks, could get used to this! But she resisted saying anything about the company she was keeping. There was no way to describe how he made her feel. Nervous, excited, expectant. She was silly to feel those things, she knew nothing about him, and she knew she couldn’t share her thoughts, Flick would think she’d gone crazy.

She slipped her phone into her bag as Seb came back to the table.

He handed her a glass. ‘So, you’re a nurse?’

‘And you’re a doctor.’

‘I am. Is that how you met Callum? Through the hospital? How come I’ve never met you?’

Luci laughed. ‘Which question do you want me to answer first?’

‘Your choice.’

He was looking at her intently and her heart pounded in her chest. He made her feel nervous—a gorgeous man paying her attention. It was such an unfamiliar situation but she would have to admit she rather liked it. She didn’t even mind the nerves. It was exciting.

She took a sip of her beer as she thought about which answer to give him.

‘I’ve never actually met your brother. And I’ve never been to Sydney before, which would be why we’ve never met. Callum needed a place to stay and so did I. The house swap was convenient for both of us. Nothing more than that.’

Luci had been restless since her divorce and Flick had been pushing her to get out of Vickers Hill, but she’d needed more than a push. She was buying her ex’s share of their house and she couldn’t afford to pay her mortgage and rent elsewhere so it wasn’t until the house-swap idea had been suggested that she’d been brave enough to actually put a plan in motion. Having the opportunity to study and have free accommodation had been a big deciding factor for her. Which brought her back to the matter at hand. Where was she going to be able to stay now? It would be extremely inconvenient if she had to change her plans.

‘Callum didn’t tell me that he had any other tenants,’ she said. ‘I suppose I could look into nurses’ accommodation through the hospital if you want me to move out. Do you know if the hospital has any student accommodation? I’m afraid I don’t know anyone in Sydney to stay with.’

Seb shook his head. ‘You have more right to be there than I do. I told you, whatever plans you made with him stick. It’s his place and I’m not even technically a tenant. I only crash there when I come to town. I can ask one of my mates to put me up.’

‘When you come to town?’ Luci queried. ‘You’re not employed at North Sydney?’ She had assumed he was a staff doctor. ‘Are you just a guest lecturer?’

‘Not exactly.’ Seb picked up his glass and Luci’s eyes followed the path of his drink from the table to his lips. She watched as he took a long sip. She could scarcely believe she was sitting at a bar, having a drink with a stranger. She’d never been out with a man she’d just met. Not one on one. For as long as she could remember she had been part of a couple.

Seb made her feel nervous. But it was a good kind of nervous. An exciting kind.

He swallowed his beer and continued, ‘I’m employed by the state health department and I’m based out of North Sydney Hospital but I spend most of my time in rural areas. There doesn’t seem to be much point paying rent in the city, especially not at Sydney prices, for the few nights a month that I’m in town so I crash at Cal’s.’

Disappointment washed over her. He was only in town a few nights a month. Did that mean he’d be gone again soon?

‘If you’re only here for a few days then I’m sure we can manage to share the space,’ she suggested, hoping she sounded friendly and hospitable rather than desperate, but the truth was she’d quite like the company. While she was enjoying her anonymity she’d never lived on her own before—she’d left home and moved into university accommodation and then married Ben. She was finding Callum’s apartment a bit too quiet. She liked the idea of having company and she had a feeling she could do a lot worse than Seb’s.

‘I need to be honest,’ he replied. ‘I’m here for longer than a few days this time, it’ll be closer to six weeks, and in the interests of full disclosure I’ll be working out of the community health centre attached to the hospital. Where will you be doing your placement?’

‘There.’ Because Luci was from interstate she’d been given the most convenient placement.

‘So we’ll be working together too,’ Seb added, ‘but if you’re happy to share Cal’s space for a few days, we could give it a trial and see how we go.’ He smiled at her and Luci’s heart flipped in her chest. ‘If it doesn’t work out, I’ll find somewhere else to stay. How’s that sound?’

It sounded all right to her but she paused while she pretended to give it some thought. She nodded. ‘Okay.’

‘That’s settled, then.’ He tapped his drink against hers. ‘House mates it is.’ He sipped his beer and asked, ‘So tell me about Vickers Hill. Your family is there?’

Luci nodded. ‘My parents. I work at the local hospital.’

‘Is it a big town?’

‘Big enough to need a hospital. Your typical country hospital. We have obstetrics and some aged-care beds and we do some minor surgery as well.’

‘So why the change to family and community health?’

‘I needed to get out.’

‘Of the hospital?’

Luci shook her head. ‘Of Vickers Hill.’

‘Why?’

Luci sighed quietly. There was no point keeping everything a secret as she figured he’d find out most of it eventually anyway. His brother was in Vickers Hill, working with her father. There would be no secrets. Not that her father would talk about her but Luci knew there were patients who couldn’t resist gossip. And if Callum looked anything like Seb did, Luci knew there’d be no shortage of patients booking appointments with the new doctor. ‘I got divorced six months ago and I just felt I needed to get out of town for a while.’

‘Has it been messy?’

‘Not messy so much as awkward. My dad is the local doctor—Callum has gone to work in his clinic,’ she explained, ‘so everyone, and I mean everyone, knows me. My ex-husband and I grew up together, we dated since high school, got married at twenty-one and divorced at twenty-five.’

‘You were together, what, ten years?’

‘About that.’

‘That’s a long time. This must be tough for you.’

No one else, other than Flick and her parents, had really understood how her divorce had impacted on her but Seb had hit the nail on the head immediately.

Her divorce had turned her world upside down. Every day of her life had included Ben. He was part of her history. Their friendship and relationship had shaped her into the person she was today and it had been difficult to separate herself into her own person. Ben was wrapped up in her identity and she was having to shape a new one for herself. It had been tough. Really tough.

Perhaps it was the distance lending Seb perspective. Everyone at home seemed to be having just as much difficulty adjusting to Luci being single as she was, which was partly why she had decided, or agreed with Flick’s suggestion, to leave. The locals weren’t moving on as quickly as she would like, which had made things even more difficult for her. It had taken her a lot of adjusting but she was finally coming to terms with the end of her marriage, and she felt the process would be faster if she didn’t have to contend with local opinion as well.

‘It has been rough,’ she admitted. ‘I reckon a divorce is sad and stressful enough, without having an entire town involved. Because everyone knew us, had seen us grow up, they all seemed to think that our divorce was somehow their business. I was tired of everyone either feeling sorry for me because I couldn’t keep my husband or offering to set me up with their nephew, grandson or best friend’s boy.’

‘So you ran away?’

He was watching her closely and Luci could feel herself starting to blush. She wasn’t used to such close attention. She turned away, breaking eye contact. ‘It was time for a change.’

Feeling sorry for herself was self-indulgent. She needed to move on but in a town where everyone knew her business that was hard to do. The truth was she hadn’t coped well at all but that was none of their business. That’s why Flick had been able to talk her into this crazy idea to take a study break in Sydney, and looking around her now she had to admit that it hadn’t been such a mad idea after all. She was actually feeling like she was able to put her marriage behind her. But the demise of her marriage had also cost her the chance of motherhood and that wasn’t so easy to come to terms with.

But she preferred to think she was running towards her future rather than away from her past. She didn’t want to get pigeonholed, which was the danger if she’d stayed put, but there was no need to explain everything. Seb didn’t need to know it all. Unlike at home, she could choose to keep her secrets. This was her opportunity to tell people only what she wanted them to know and she intended to make the most of it.

‘Well, I reckon there’s plenty in Sydney to keep you so busy that you won’t have time to think. And I promise not to introduce you to any eligible men. Unless you ask me to,’ he added. He finished his beer, pushed back the cuff of his shirt and looked at his watch. ‘I have a meeting to get to but can I give you a lift home first?’ he asked as he picked up his helmet.

‘That would be great,’ she said, but she should have said no.

Seb offered her his leather jacket to wear for protection, just in case something untoward happened. His hands brushed hers as he slid the jacket over her arms and when his fingers brushed her neck as he fastened the strap of his spare helmet under her chin Luci thought she might melt on the spot. And she still had to get on the bike and sit behind him and wrap her arms around his waist. She wasn’t sure her brain could be trusted to convey all those messages.

She should have declined his offer, she’d remember that next time.

But it was too late now. She’d been on a motorbike before. It was probably no different from cycling—it would all come back to her once she got on. Her ex had a trail bike that he’d used to ride around his parents’ property and to school. He would pick her up every morning and give her a lift, but they’d been seventeen then. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d ridden on the back of his bike, and as she wrapped her arms around Seb’s waist and felt his body heat radiating into her she thought she certainly didn’t remember feeling like this.

The bike vibrated between her thighs. She pressed her legs into the seat as she held on tight. Her face was tucked against his shoulder blade and she could smell him. He smelt fresh and tangy; there was a trace of citrus in his aftershave, lime perhaps.

She probably should have walked home but she was glad she hadn’t. She was quite happy right where she was.

CHAPTER THREE

LUCI’S MORNING STARTED with orientation at the family and community health clinic attached to North Sydney Hospital. She spent the morning getting her ID, setting up her email and running through the safety policies and procedures for the site. Once the administration side of things had been dealt with, she would start work. The course participants would be given a case load as the service tried to get through their waiting list. The system was under the pump, there were always more people who needed the service.

Her diary showed her running an immunisation clinic. It was an easy, straightforward introduction that didn’t require her to have detailed backgrounds or rapport with the clients. She worked steadily through the hours after lunch. She had bumped into Seb once but it seemed that the staff worked autonomously and she was almost able to forget that he was there. Almost.

But all that changed when her two-thirty client didn’t keep her appointment. Melanie Parsons had booked her son, Milo, in for his six-month check and immunisations. When she failed to arrive Luci pulled up her file on the computer. There were numerous entries and lots of red flags.

This woman was a victim of domestic violence. Her past medical history included three full-term pregnancies, one miscarriage and a long list of broken bones and medical treatment for bruising and lacerations. And they were only the things she’d consulted a doctor about. Luci would bet her house that there were more incidents that had gone unreported.

Luci picked up the phone and dialled the client’s number. The community health centre’s policy stated that all no-shows had to be followed up with a phone call. She checked the file again. It was possible that Melanie had just forgotten her appointment or was catching up on some sleep; it couldn’t be easy having three children under the age of five.

But the phone went unanswered.

Luci needed to be able to record a reason for the non-attendance. In instances where that wasn’t possible she had been told to let the co-ordinator know. She went to discuss the situation with Gayle, the health centre co-ordinator, to find out what the next step in the process was.

Gayle brought Melanie’s notes up in her system.

‘Can you discuss this with Dr Hollingsworth?’ she suggested. ‘He knows Melanie, he’s treated her before.’

Luci heard the unspoken words and she’d seen the supporting evidence in Melanie’s file. Seb had treated her for injuries sustained at the hands of someone else.

She knocked on Seb’s open door.

‘Have you got a minute?’ she asked. He was entering notes into the computer system. He looked up and smiled. His blue eyes sparkled and Luci felt herself start to blush.

‘Sure.’

She stepped inside and closed his door. She didn’t want anyone else to overhear the conversation. ‘Melanie Parsons. Do you know her?’

Seb nodded. ‘Is she here?’

‘No. She had an appointment to get her baby’s six-month immunisations but she hasn’t shown up. Gayle suggested I talk to you about her.’

‘Have you called her?’

‘Yes. There was no answer.’

‘Do you know her history?’

Luci nodded. ‘I’ve read her file.’

‘Someone will need to call past her house and check on her. What time do you finish?’

‘I don’t think I should be the one to do a home visit,’ Luci objected. ‘She doesn’t know me from a bar of soap.’ She was not the right person for that particular job. Someone who had already established some rapport with Melanie would be far more suitable.

‘I agree. But if our timing is right we can go together. You can immunise the baby and I’ll see what’s up with Melanie,’ Seb replied. He clicked his mouse and opened his diary. ‘I should be finished by three-thirty. Let me know if that works for you.’

* * *

Seb was waiting at Reception for her when she finished her clinic. ‘Do you want me to drive or navigate?’ he asked her as he signed out one of the work cars and collected the keys.

‘I don’t think I’m game to drive on your roads,’ Luci replied. The streets of Sydney were narrow, winding and steep, not at all like the wide, straight roads she was used to. ‘But I should warn you, my navigating skills might not be much good either as I’m not familiar with Sydney.’

‘No worries. I’ll get the map up on my phone.’ Seb handed her his phone and she followed him out to the car.

It wasn’t long before Seb pulled to a stop in front of a squat red-brick house. It had a low wire fence and a front lawn that needed mowing. There was an old station wagon parked under a carport at the side of the house and a couple of kids’ bikes were lying abandoned behind the car in the driveway. The house could do with a coat of paint but it looked lived in rather than neglected. Luci had seen plenty of houses just like it in country towns in her district.

The driveway gate squeaked as Seb pushed it open, announcing their arrival. He closed it behind Luci before leading the way up the concrete path to the veranda. He knocked but there was no answer. The screen door was locked but the front door was ajar. Someone was home. Luci could hear the sound of children playing.

‘Melanie?’ Seb called out. ‘It’s Dr Hollingsworth. You missed Milo’s appointment at the clinic. I need to know that you are okay.’

* * *

Through the screen door Luci could see movement in the dark passage. A woman came to the door but didn’t unlatch it. She stood, half-hidden behind the door with her face turned away from them to her left.

‘Hello, Melanie.’ Seb struck up a conversation as if it was perfectly normal to talk through a door. ‘Milo was due for his six-month check-up and vaccinations today. This is Luci Dawson.’ He lifted a hand and gestured towards Luci. ‘She’s a nurse at the health centre. Seeing as we’re here and you’re home, can we come in and see the kids?’

Melanie nodded. She unlocked the door and stepped aside. She was thin. Luci knew they were the same age but Melanie looked older. Her shoulder-length brown hair was lank but her skin was clear. However, Luci didn’t really take any of that in. She couldn’t when all she could see was Melanie’s black eye. Her left eye was slightly swollen and coloured purple with just a hint of green. The bruise looked to be a day or two old.

‘Thank you,’ Seb said, as he stepped into the hall and reached for Melanie’s chin. Luci expected her to flinch or pull away but she didn’t. She must trust Seb.

Luci knew Seb had looked after her before. He’d filled her in on his involvement on the drive over here but Luci hadn’t anticipated that she would see the evidence of Melanie’s husband’s abuse for herself. She hadn’t been expecting that.

Seb turned Melanie’s face to the right.

‘You’re hurt.’

‘I knocked into the corner of the car boot.’ Melanie’s eyes were downcast.

‘I haven’t heard that one before.’

‘It’s nothing. I’ve had worse. You know I have,’ she said, as she turned away and led them into the house. They followed her into a tired-looking sitting room. The arms of the couch were ripped and stained but Melanie had put a sheet over the cushions in an attempt to brighten the room or maybe disguise the state of the furniture. Everything looked well worn and tired. A bit like Melanie.

She collapsed onto the couch and Seb pulled an upright dining chair closer to the couch and sat on it, facing Melanie. ‘What was it this time?’

‘It’s not his fault, Dr Hollingsworth. I’m pregnant again.’

‘And how is that not his fault?’ Seb’s voice was quiet. He wasn’t judging her but Luci could tell he was frustrated.

‘He says we can’t afford more kids.’

‘It takes two, Melanie. He can’t blame you.’

Melanie kept her eyes downcast. She had her hands in her lap, clenched together, and Luci knew she was close to tears. Luci wanted to tell Seb to let it go but she knew he couldn’t. They couldn’t ignore what was going on here. She knew from Melanie’s file that she already had three kids—Milo, who was six months old, a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler and a four-year-old. That was a handful for anyone, let alone a woman with an abusive partner.

Seb had told her that he had advised Melanie to take her kids and leave. She had left once but had then gone back, making the usual excuses about him being the kids’ father and saying that she loved him. Luci knew it was a difficult decision and something that was hard to understand unless you’d been in that position yourself or had worked with victims of domestic violence. The women were often trapped by their circumstances and Luci suspected that would be the case for Melanie. With three kids under five it was unlikely she had time to work, which meant she had no source of income if she left. And potentially no roof over her head either.

Even while Luci realised it wouldn’t be easy, she couldn’t stop the twinge of jealousy that she felt when she heard that Melanie was pregnant again. Luci would give her right arm for a family.