Bride on the Children's Ward / Marriage Reunited: Baby on the Way (9 page)

‘Do they know I’m in Sydney?’

‘They know about Sasha’s accident. They’re smart enough to figure out the rest. And as you’re planning on staying for a while, the longer you leave it, the harder it will get.’

‘The voice of reason?’

David’s smile was small, but it radiated kindness. ‘If you like.’

‘I’ll sleep on it.’

‘Good—and speaking of sleep, how about I get you back to your hotel?’

‘Nice segue, Dr Montgomery.’

‘Thank you, Dr Caplan.’

As they left the restaurant, Eden realised the temperature had dropped. It still didn’t compare to the wintry weather in the Ukraine, but it was cool enough to make her shiver. Without a word, David slipped off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.

‘Thank you.’ They’d taken but a few steps when Eden tripped, but David quickly steadied her. ‘Sorry. I told you I wasn’t too good at walking in high heels.’

‘I remember.’ He had his arm about her waist and decided it was probably easier to keep her warm and support her by leaving it there. Glad he’d found a logical reason to hold her close, to torture himself with her soft body against his, he started them on their way back to her hotel. When they stopped at a pedestrian crossing, Eden leaned against him, closing her eyes and breathing in deeply.

‘Mmm. You smell like you,’ she mumbled, and he realised she was getting sleepier by the minute…and more difficult to resist.

‘We’re almost there.’ He put his other arm around her, holding her firmly as they waited for the light to change. He closed his eyes and tucked her head farther into his chest, breathing her in. Eden. Gorgeous, impetuous, delectable Eden. He’d been hard pressed the whole night long to stop himself from doing what he was doing now…holding her close.

He ignored the rational side of his mind—just this once—not wanting to be bothered about analysing exactly what this meant. Instead he allowed himself the luxury of simply enjoying her being this close, snuggled into him, resting sleepily against his chest. Even all those years ago he’d never held her like this, and although they were now surrounded by the sounds and colours of city life it didn’t seem to matter.

The fact that she fitted perfectly into his arms, that her body moulded against his as though they’d been made for each other,
did
matter—and it was something he knew he’d get used to far too quickly. He’d been surprised and then touched when she’d told him how much she’d missed him the year after he’d left Sydney.

Feeling jostled from behind, David opened his eyes and belatedly realised that they’d missed their turn at the lights. Eden was now dozing against him, her exceedingly long day finally catching up with her. The need to protect this woman surged within him once more, and as he watched the traffic flow by he knew the feelings he was trying to deny wouldn’t stay hidden for ever.

When the lights turned green, he managed to rouse her long enough to get her across the road, into her hotel and in the lift up to her room. ‘Where’s your key, Eden?’

She sighed as she leaned into him, and mumbled something which sounded like ‘purse’. He took it from her hands and found the swipe card to open the door. He managed to prop the door open, but by that time she was barely able to stand on her feet. It appeared jet lag had finally hit, and he sympathised with her.

Lifting her into his arms, he carried her over the threshold and into the room, thankful that the maids had been round to turn down the bed. He slipped his jacket from her shoulders, then laid her down before removing her shoes and the clip from her hair. She snuggled instantly into the pillow and David folded the bedcovers over her.

He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. ‘I missed you, too.’ He brushed her hair from her face, his fingers grazing the softness of her skin. The touch electrified him and he quickly stepped back, looking at the sleeping woman, his heart pounding out a tattoo.

Never had he felt this way about any woman, and that was a scary thought. She was Sasha’s best friend, she was Hal’s daughter and she would soon become a temporary hospital employee. To become more involved with Eden would not only hurt her…it would hurt him as well.

T
HE
next morning Eden woke to the incessant ringing of the phone beside her. Reaching out, she grabbed the receiver and lifted it to her ear.

‘Hello?’ she mumbled, her eyes still closed, the remnants of an incredible dream involving David Montgomery swirling around in her mind.

‘Wakey, wakey. Rise and shine,’ a deep, rich voice said down the line. It sounded just like David, and she snuggled deeper beneath the covers, thinking she was still dreaming.

‘Hmm. Instead of me rising, why don’t you come over and I’ll show you how we can both shine together.’

‘Eden!’

He lowered his voice, and she chuckled at the veiled desire she could hear threaded through his tone. She’d always been able to razz David up. It had been one of her favourite things to do, and she was enjoying the way he now seemed to be accepting her teasing and wanting her to continue. Mmm, this was a very good dream. A little more intricate than the ones she usually had about him, but still, she wasn’t going to quibble with her imagination.

Her laughter ended on a sigh. ‘I’ve missed you, David. Why do you have to be so far away? Come and cuddle me. I know you’ve always wanted to cuddle me, to hold me close in a nice big bed.’ She knew her bed in the PMA dorm wasn’t what you would call big, but they could squeeze in.

‘Eden…’

Her fuzzy mind started to wake a little, and she idly wondered when she’d had a phone installed beside her bed. There was the phone in the corridor outside her room. That was the one which usually rang at all hours. She frowned and opened one eye, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Where
was
she? Her mind frantically began to sift through the last memories she could recall as she moved in the bed, discovering that it was indeed big.

‘Sasha!’ She sat up suddenly, remembering where she was and why.

‘Sasha’s fine,’ David said down the line. ‘Are you all right?’ There was concern in his tone and Eden closed her eyes in embarrassment as she recalled exactly what she’d just said to him. Hopefully, though, he’d think she was just being her usual teasing self—yet in actual fact she’d been serious…seriously dreaming of him. Again.

‘Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. I’m OK. So…what time is it?’ She turned to look at the digital display on the hotel clock. ‘After ten! My goodness. I didn’t realise it was as late as that. Poor Sasha. I said I’d have breakfast with her.’

David chuckled. ‘Perhaps you could make it lunch instead? At any rate, if you’re able to come in to the ward to sign a few papers, your VMO status can be finalised.’

‘That was quick.’

‘I need your expertise, Eden.’

‘Oh?’ She smiled, taking his words out of context. ‘Do you, now?’ Her tone was rich and saucy, and she heard him breathe heavily into the phone.

‘And then, later on today, I thought I might take you to see your family.’

She pouted. ‘You don’t play fair.’

‘Neither do you. How are you feeling? Still fuzzy from the jet lag?’

Eden thought for a moment, then looked down at what she was wearing. ‘I’m still in my dress.’ The words were said with total surprise.

‘Do you remember much about last night?’

‘Of course I do. Except for getting back to the hotel. That’s all a bit blurry.’

‘You were exhausted.’

‘I take it you were the one to tuck me safely up in bed?’

‘Well, it was a toss-up between myself and the night concierge, but he was a bit of a weakling and wasn’t strong enough to carry you.’

‘You
carried
me?’

‘It was either that or let you sleep in a puddle on the floor.’

‘I guess thanks are in order, then—both for not leaving me in a puddle and for tucking me safely into bed.’ She leaned back against the pillows. ‘Thank you, David.’

‘You’re welcome, Eden. Now, what time can I expect you in?’

‘You’re all business this morning.’

‘Some of us have to work.’ There was something in his tone which let her know that things might not be going the way he’d hoped.

‘Dart?’

‘No change. It’s so odd. I’m going to order the MRI.’

‘Can we get him put into a private room? If his symptoms are puzzling, then perhaps he should be isolated.’

‘Yes. I was thinking along those lines, too. If possible, I’d like you there for the MRI.’

‘Let me know what time and I’ll be there…Well, after you tell me where the MRI unit is situated, that is.’

‘Thank you, Eden.’

‘OK. I’d better ring Sasha and apologise for sleeping through our breakfast date.’

‘She’s at Physio at the moment, but I told her that you were exhausted last night.’

Eden raised her eyebrows at this news. ‘Sash knows we went out to dinner?’

‘Yes. Anything wrong with two old friends enjoying a meal together?’

She smiled at his words. ‘No. Nothing at all—so long as you don’t think it was
only
two old friends enjoying a meal together. From what I remember, there was quite a bit of flirting going on, too.’

‘You’re the expert.’

‘I am.’

‘So…I’ll see you soon?’

‘Give me half an hour and I’ll meet you on the ward.’

‘Half an hour? To get ready and walk to the hospital?’

‘I’m used to moving quickly,’ she supplied.

‘See you then.’ David replaced the receiver and leaned back in his chair. She was definitely moving quickly—moving quickly into his mind, into his heart, into his life. From the instant he’d laid eyes on her he’d found it increasingly difficult not to think about her. After holding her so close last night, feeling the softness of her skin, the silkiness of her hair…it had been impossible not to dream about her.

It was just the way it had been all those years ago—the way he’d thought about her, looked forward to spending time with her even though she’d been helping him study. Never before or since had study been so…evocative. Having her quiz him on the bones of the body whilst her scent had surrounded him. The way her laughter would mesmerise him if he got the answer wrong. How she’d lie on the floor with her sexy legs resting on his bed, medical textbooks surrounding her auburn locks as exhaustion started to set in.

Back then he would dream about her every night, which hadn’t helped with his concentration when it came to actually sitting the exam. Now, though, he and Eden were adults. They had no parental interference, they’d qualified, had their careers firmly on track. It should all seem so simple. But it wasn’t. He’d had one failed marriage and there was no point in even pursuing another one given that the outcome would be the same.

Women wanted children. Eden would want children. He couldn’t give them to her, which meant she was better off with someone else. The problem was he was having a difficult time following through on his own plan. How hard
was
it to keep his distance from her?

Apparently very hard, because right now he was watching the clock, waiting for the next half hour to pass as quickly as it possibly could. He was still stunned at how open she’d been with him last night, telling him about her darkest time overseas. What was gnawing at him now was that he’d had an equally dark point, which had changed
his
life, and there was no way he wanted her to know.

As it stood, Jacqueline was the only person who knew what had happened to him—and that was only because she’d been there when the verdict of his sterility had been passed. His parents, Sasha, none of his closest friends had any idea of the accident he’d been involved in almost seven years ago.

He’d dealt with it. He didn’t need to rehash old war wounds with Eden. Besides, despite what he was feeling for her, he knew deep down she wouldn’t stay in Sydney. She was a lone reed, blowing where the wind took her, helping people who needed help. Right now that was Sasha, but he was sure that once Sasha was back to her old self Eden would leave again.

Was that why he’d been wanting her to make peace with her family? To give her stronger ties and keep her coming back to Sydney? David shook his head. Eden needed to heal the rift with her parents if for no other reason than to help take away some of the sadness he’d seen behind her eyes.

The protectiveness surged within him again, and he knew if he didn’t stop just sitting around thinking about her, he’d get nothing accomplished before she arrived at the hospital. He looked at the clock and groaned. He’d wasted another ten minutes thinking about Eden. The woman was trouble…but it was a trouble he was drawn to.

‘Hi, Francie,’ Eden said as she walked towards the nurses’ station. ‘How are things this morning?’

‘Frantic,’ Francie replied. ‘I have an eleven-year-old girl suffering from an eating disorder in Room 3, refusing to let me put a drip in.’ Francie gathered supplies as she spoke. The phone was ringing, but someone else quickly answered it, and two sets of visitors had just come into the ward.

‘Want a hand?’

Francie looked at her, a little protective, and Eden quickly continued, ‘I have dealt with this sort of problem before. Unfortunately anorexia nervosa and bulimia are disorders the world over.’

‘OK. If you can convince her to let me put the drip into her arm, then I’ll be mighty grateful.’

‘Room 3?’ Eden pointed to the left.

Francie nodded. ‘Rooms 2 and 3 have cameras in them. Sometimes it’s necessary for the patients own wellbeing that we monitor them at all times.’

‘I understand completely.’ The two women headed into the room, where Eden was introduced to Chelsea. ‘Hi. I’m Eden. I’m a paediatrician.’

‘I haven’t seen you before.’ Chelsea’s sunken eyes looked uninterestedly at Eden for a moment, before moving to gaze out of the window once more.

‘I’m only a visiting doctor here. I usually work overseas.’

‘Yeah?’ The tone was still bland, but Eden managed to pick up something else. The smallest hint of interest. She guessed Chelsea wanted to know more, but she certainly wasn’t going to ask. If she didn’t interact with those people trying to help her, then it was easier to hear the voices in her mind—the voices which told her not to eat.

‘I’ve been all over Europe, and to China, India and Argentina. I’ve worked in Ethiopia, Africa, and until recently I was in the Ukraine.’

‘Yeah?’ That same tone, but this time Chelsea was looking at Eden as she spoke. If she could keep it up, establish some sort of bond with Chelsea, then that would be the first hurdle over. She wanted to make it clear to Chelsea that she was only here temporarily, that she wasn’t a permanent employee of the hospital or some specialist brought in to talk to her. Sometimes if patients knew you weren’t going to be around for long they would more often than not open up and tell you things they wouldn’t tell their local doctor.

Eden felt David’s presence behind her. She had no idea whether he was in the room or just outside the door, but she knew instinctively he was there. A small, delightful shiver of awareness trickled throughout her body, and whilst she wanted nothing more than to turn around and drink him in, she pushed her impatience aside and focused on the girl before her.

‘Travelling is great. I love it. So many places to see. So many things to do. So many adventures to have.’ Eden smiled as she remembered her last trip to Egypt. ‘Do you know where Cairo is?’

‘Duh! Egypt.’

That one answer was enough to show Eden that this girl had a desire…and one desire was all it might take to get her back on the rails again. Most eleven-year-olds had no idea where Cairo was, but it appeared Miss Chelsea was quite a smart little cookie.

‘Right—well, the last time I was there I was in a market and there were lots of pushy men trying to sell me things. One wanted me to buy watches, another had scarves, some had food, but one very pushy salesman wanted me to buy a carpet—a rug.’ Eden came around the bed and sat down on the edge. Chelsea shifted away from her. It didn’t matter, though, because she was still looking at Eden. ‘Now, you might not think anything was wrong with buying a carpet. He even tried to tell me that his carpets were of the flying variety.’

Chelsea scoffed at that idea. ‘A flying carpet! Did they think you were dumb?’

Eden smiled. ‘I must have looked it. Anyway, I was looking at one carpet that was hanging up, admiring the work and the pattern, when I thought I saw something move to my right. I looked over, but all I could see were other carpets, rolled up in a big, bulky way. I went back to my study of the carpet I was considering buying. And just then…’ Eden leaned forward, her voice dropping a notch or two ‘…I heard a noise.’

Chelsea’s eyes widened with interest. ‘What sort of noise?’

‘It’s hard to describe, but it was sort of like a far-off sound of someone talking—sort of muffled talking. It was really strange. The carpet seller tried to cough to cover up the noise, and it was then I realised that I
had
heard something.’

‘Otherwise he wouldn’t have tried to cover it up.’ Chelsea spoke with authority, but Eden was just pleased she had the girl’s attention.

‘Exactly. So I pointed to the rug which was rolled up on the ground, and I said, in my bravest voice, “I’d like to see this one, please.” Well, the owner tried to talk me out of it, pointing to other rugs and different carpets hanging up, already unrolled, giving me excuses and telling me he couldn’t unroll it because it was too heavy and would take too long. He wanted me to buy, and buy quickly. He was becoming quite insistent.’

‘What did you do?’

‘I kept pointing to the one which was rolled up. “I want to see this one,” I kept saying, and he kept trying to put me off. He was all dressed in robes, but as he moved I saw the folds of material shift back and noticed there was a gun in a holster on his back.’

‘What?’ Chelsea was in shock. ‘Oh, my gosh! What did you do?’

‘I kept insisting I wanted to see the rolled-up carpet, and in the end I actually leaned down and started to push the carpet so I could roll it out. He hadn’t been joking when he’d said it was heavy, but I persisted—even though he was trying to stop me, to pull me off.’

‘But he might have shot you!’

‘I know, but by then, we’d caused such a scene that other tourists had stopped to see what was going on. At first I think they thought it was a theatrical performance.’ Eden shook her head and Chelsea rolled her eyes.