Hired: GP and Wife / The Playboy Doctor's Surprise Proposal (16 page)

‘C’mon, then. You kids can help me get my board set up. Your dad has to help too.’

As the two men walked away, two excited children off their shoulders, Brianna turned to Caitlin.

‘Well, what do you think?’ she said, her green-grey eyes twinkling.

‘About what?’ Caitlin replied, although she knew full well what her sister meant.

Brianna smacked Caitlin playfully on the shoulder.

‘About Andrew, of course.’

‘What about him? He seems very nice. Rescuing me and all that. Very civil of him,’ Caitlin said dryly.

‘C’mon, Cat,’ Brianna said warningly. ‘Don’t you think he’s gorgeous?’

‘I suppose some people would think he’s good looking,’ Caitlin replied slowly, studiously ignoring her sister’s look of incredulity. ‘But he’s a bit Crocodile Dundee for my liking.’

‘I don’t believe you don’t find him sexy as hell,’ Brianna retorted. ‘Every single woman I have ever seen meet him gets that same ga-ga look as you have. It’s written all over your face.’

‘Okay.’ Caitlin laughed. ‘He’s a hunk. But he’s so not my type.’

Her sister sighed. ‘Just as well, I suppose, because I hate to tell you, sis, you haven’t a hope as far as Dr Andrew Bedi is concerned.’

Caitlin popped a sun hat on her head and scrabbled around for her glasses. The world swam back into focus. Andrew, Niall and the two children had returned to the beach carrying a board and a sail. It looked like a windsurfing board to Caitlin, although she wasn’t an expert. Andrew had pulled on a wetsuit over his Bermuda shorts and the fabric clung to his body, emphasising his height and muscular build.

‘Why do you say that?’ Caitlin asked. ‘Not that I’m remotely interested, of course.’ The two sisters shared a smile. ‘You know me, Bri, I’m much too happy with my life as it is to want to get involved. Men and kids aren’t part of the plan. Not for a few years anyway. But I’m a bit offended that you think I haven’t a chance. What makes you think he’s so out of my league?’

Caitlin had never really thought about whether men found her attractive. She had been happy with David for the last few years and, until a few weeks ago, had thought that one day they would marry. Undemanding and not the least bit resentful of the time she spent at work, they had rubbed along well enough. And if it hadn’t been the most exciting relationship, at least it had been comfortable. However, Caitlin had been surprised at how easily they had parted when she’d told him she was coming to Brisbane for six months. David had told her that she was mad to jeopardise her career just when it was really taking off. But to Caitlin there was no competition. Her sister needed her and that was that. They had split up with surprisingly little regret on either side.

‘Oh, you’ll find out about Andrew in good time. But let’s just say he’s a man who likes women and seems determined to have as much fun with as many as possible before settling down—if he ever does. And you, my darling sister, are far too serious for a fun-loving guy like him.’

Caitlin let out a low whistle, then wrinkled her nose disapprovingly. She looked over to the water’s edge. Niall and Andrew had rigged the sail on the board and were pointing it towards the sea. Then with a push of his foot, Andrew was on the water and heading out away from the shore. Within seconds he was racing across the sea. With her glasses back in place, Caitlin could see him attach something that looked like a rope to the sail and then, as he leant back, the board seemed to leap forward, skimming over the waves. Within minutes he was a speck on the horizon.

‘No, you’re right. Men like Andrew have never appealed to me. If I marry, it will be to someone who likes the same things I do. Someone solid and steady.’

‘Someone boring, you mean. Like David. That didn’t work very well either.’ Brianna laughed.

Brianna had met David on the one occasion she and her family had come back to Ireland for a visit to show off the children to their mother when Ciaran had been two. Caitlin realised that they had never discussed David. She’d assumed Brianna had liked him. Everyone did.

‘Hey, you never said you didn’t like David. I thought you two hit it off.’

‘I didn’t say I didn’t like him, Cat. I just never thought he was right for you. If you ask me, he squeezed the fun right out of everything. You two were like a couple who had been married for years. You never really struck me as two people in love.’

Caitlin was taken aback. She’d had no idea that Brianna had thought that. But she was right. She had never felt anything more than a deep fondness for David.

‘Ah, excitement and passion. Surely that fizzles out in time anyway? Isn’t that why marriages fail? Once it’s gone, couples are left with nothing to say to each other,’ she said. But a tiny bit of her, a side she didn’t care to acknowledge too often, wondered what it would be like to experience an all-consuming passion. She pushed the thought away. She was a scientist, and scientists were ruled by their heads—not their hearts.

Brianna looked at her sharply. ‘Maybe you and Andrew have more in common than I thought. But, love Andrew as I do, I would advise any sane woman to keep her distance, particularly someone like you, who would have no idea how to handle a man like him.’

‘Don’t worry, Bri. By the sound of it, he is not my type either.’ Caitlin felt a momentary stab of regret. Dismayed at her reaction, she shook her head. Good looking he may be, but her sister was right. Even if she were interested in a relationship so soon after David, the last man on earth she would be interested in would be Andrew Bedi. She didn’t think men like him still existed in this day and age. She picked up a tube of sun block, keen to change the subject. ‘Fancy putting some on my shoulders?’

Brianna smiled. ‘Oh, Cat, I’m so glad you’re here. I know I told you not to come, but now that you’re here, I’m so happy.’ Her voice shook slightly.

‘You know I would have been here sooner if I could.’ Caitlin took Brianna’s cool hand in hers. ‘If you hadn’t convinced me not to come. Shouldn’t I have believed you?’

‘But I
was
fine. After all, I had Niall—and Mammy.’ The two sisters shared a smile. Although they loved their mother dearly, they both agreed she could be a bit much after a while. Mrs O’Neill insisted on treating her daughters as if they were still about twelve years old and incapable of managing without her. ‘I have to admit, Cat, that I was glad when she told me she had to go back home to Dad. She fussed so much, it drove me mad. She would never have agreed to go back to Ireland if you hadn’t been coming out.’

Caitlin could only imagine how much her mother had fussed over Bri. Since her elder daughter had been diagnosed with breast cancer, their mother had been determined that Brianna wouldn’t face her illness alone. If it weren’t for the fact that her three sons were needed back home to help on the horse farm their parents owned, Caitlin was sure that their mother would have ordered her whole brood to Australia. Strapping young men though her brothers were, they were no match for Mrs O’Neill when she made up her mind about something.

‘I should have come sooner, Bri,’ Caitlin said softly. ‘I can’t believe it’s been three years since we saw each other! Why on earth did we leave it so long?’

The sisters shared a look. Why
had
they left it so long? They had always been close, and when Brianna and Niall had decided to emigrate to Australia, they had promised each other that they would visit at least every couple of years. But it hadn’t worked out like that. Apart from that one visit to Ireland three years ago, Brianna hadn’t made it back. And Caitlin had never managed to come to Australia. Work had always got in the way.

But then, three months ago, Brianna had phoned with the devastating news that she had discovered a lump in her breast. A biopsy had confirmed their worst fears. It was cancer. Caitlin wanted to fly to her sister’s side immediately, but her mother and Brianna had persuaded her to wait and apply for a sabbatical. That way her career wouldn’t suffer while she was away. Indeed, having secured a post at the prestigious Brisbane hospital, there was every chance her career would be helped by her time in Australia.

Despite being pleased at the way it had worked out and delighted to be in Australia with her sister at last, Caitlin wished the circumstances had been different. She couldn’t bear to think about what would happen if Brianna didn’t get better. Caitlin shook her head to get rid of the negative thoughts. They all had to remain positive and believe that Brianna would make a full recovery.

‘If it hadn’t taken so long to arrange the work visa, I would have come as soon as I heard. Or at least been here to help you through more of the chemo.’

Brianna reached over and squeezed her hand. ‘You’re here now and that’s what matters.’ Caitlin saw the tears in her sister’s eyes before she could blink them away. ‘You know we have Andrew to thank for getting you the job,’ Brianna continued.

‘It seems that I’m in his debt quite a bit,’ Caitlin said reluctantly. She hated being beholden to people.

Both women turned their gaze seaward. Niall and the children were finishing off the sandcastle. Out at sea, Caitlin caught her breath as Andrew and his board somersaulted into the air, turning over before landing and shooting along the water.

‘What is he doing?’ Caitlin asked, impressed. ‘I’ve never seen anyone windsurf like that before.’

‘It’s called kite boarding,’ Brianna replied. ‘It’s a bit like windsurfing, but with tricks. Andrew’s very good. He’s been trying to teach Niall, but it’s not as easy as it looks.’

‘It doesn’t look easy at all,’ Caitlin said as Andrew did another series of flips. ‘What happens if he crashes?’

‘He crashes fairly often.’ Her sister laughed. ‘But it doesn’t put him off. He just climbs back on, and away he goes again.’

The two women watched in silence for a while.

‘He says the Queensland Royal is delighted to have someone of your calibre there even for six months. It was good luck that one of the specialists wanted to spend time in the UK. I guess you’ll see a fair bit of Andrew at the hospital.’

Caitlin knew she would. As a specialist obstetrician she would be working a lot with the paediatricians, of whom Andrew was one. She wondered what kind of doctor he was. An image of him lounging around flirting with the nurses and female doctors flashed across her mind. She felt unreasonably disappointed. She had no time for doctors who didn’t take their work seriously. However, it was none of her business.

The sun had dried her damp skin and she slipped on her sundress. She stood, wincing slightly at the stab of pain in her calf.

‘It’s getting late, and everyone’s bound to be getting hungry. Shall we go back to the house and make the salads?’ When Caitlin had seen where her sister and her family lived she had been gobsmacked. Their house, an enormous lowslung affair, was perched on a hill just a few metres from the beach they were sitting on. It had several rooms, a hot tub and an infinity pool and views out over the sea. She had known her brother-in-law was doing well but had had no idea his fledgling business had been so successful.

‘Good idea,’ Brianna said, unwinding her long legs. ‘I’ll call Niall to start the steaks.’

‘No need to disturb him,’ Caitlin countered. ‘We can put them on when we get back.’

‘A word of warning, sis,’ Brianna said, laughing. ‘Men out here take their barbies seriously. Women are allowed to make the side dishes, but that’s it. The cooking of the meat is a man’s job.’

Caitlin laughed, then, seeing Brianna was perfectly serious, stopped. ‘Fine by me. You know I hate cooking anyway. Salads are about my limit. If the men want to cook, more power to them.’

By the time the two women returned with salads and rolls, Niall and Andrew were by the fire, flipping burgers and steaks. As the smell tickled her nostrils, Caitlin realised she was starving. She had taken a couple of minutes back at the house to have a shower to rinse the sand out of her hair and off her body, and a little longer to blow-dry her hair, returning it to its smooth waves. She had tied it back in a ponytail to prevent the breeze that had whipped up from blowing it into her eyes and finally had changed into a pair of lightweight trousers and T-shirt. Impulsively, without examining her motives too closely, she applied some lip gloss in the lightest shade of pink. Putting her glasses back on, she looked at her reflection and wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction. Not normally concerned with make-up, for the first time ever Caitlin wished she took more time and care with her appearance.
To impress Dr Bedi?
a small voice niggled at the back of her mind. Caitlin dismissed the thought immediately. Definitely not! she told herself. The important thing was that she felt and looked in control once more. Back to Dr O’Neill, obstetrician and consummate professional.

When she returned to the beach, the scent of cooking meat was drifting tantalisingly on the slight afternoon breeze. The two men seemed to be taking their cooking duties very seriously, Caitlin thought, amused as she heard them discuss whether a steak needed more marinade. Andrew had turned his wetsuit down to his hips, revealing his muscular chest. Despite herself, Caitlin felt her eyes travel over his torso, admiring the tautness of his abdomen and the defined muscles of his chest. Andrew turned, as if sensing her approving look, and caught Caitlin’s eye before she could look away. He winked and she felt herself grow flustered again. Damn the man, she thought crossly.

‘How’s the leg?’ he asked innocently.

‘As you predicted, it feels a bit bruised, but otherwise fine. Thanks again. I feel such an idiot.’

‘Australia can take a bit of getting used to. I’m sure once you’ve been here a bit longer you’ll know what’s safe and what isn’t. The coast here has some fantastic beaches, as you will see, but you have to be very careful about where you swim.’

Niall heaped food onto plates and everyone helped themselves to salads and buttered rolls. Niall had set up a table and chairs under the shade of an orange bougainvillea and as Caitlin ate she breathed in the tang of sea air. For the first time in months she felt energised. There was something about being here that made her realise how boring her well ordered life back in Ireland had become. As if he’d read her thoughts, Andrew turned to Caitlin.