Twisted Fire (4 page)

“
Well that is an extra bonus and on your first day too.” Chelsea smirked.

“
He wasn’t very friendly though.”

“
Summerville women have that effect on men,” said Lucas, hugging Chelsea affectionately.

“
I don’t think the attraction was mutual.”

“
Did you find out his name or anything about him?” Chelsea asked.

“
Jared something, I didn’t get his last name as Dr Shaw doesn’t charge him because he’s a model citizen, a fire fighter,” she said flippantly before wandering off to change for dinner.

“
Chelsea, did she just meet Nathan’s brother?”

“
Sounds like it.”

“
Should we tell her?”

“
No, let her find out at the wedding. If there was an attraction there, what better place to find romance than at a wedding?” she said dreamily. “Besides she will knock him dead in that dress.”

Charlotte returned and they sat down for dinner. She told them all about her day and Chelsea updated her on Carrie and Mabel’s dress choices for the wedding. After dinner was finished and they cleared up, Charlotte headed upstairs to do some more studying and get an early night.

Once up in her room she found herself unable to concentrate again, so she ventured outside to sit on the balcony. Her thoughts went instantly to Jared. She recalled the jolt she’d felt when he took her hand to shake it and how it was unlike anything she’d experienced before.

She’d been attracted to lots of good looking men in the past but never like this and so instantaneously. She smiled when her heart fluttered as she recalled his handsome face. He was absolutely incredible. Disappointment suddenly filled her. The first time she’d ever encountered such a strong magnetism and he did not feel it in return.

* * *

After running his errands, Jared threw himself into cooking dinner, anything to take his mind off those incredible legs and edible lips. Once dinner was accomplished without incident, despite his lack of concentration, he headed out the back to sit with Max in the quiet darkness. His thoughts remained on the girl with chocolate eyes. Why couldn’t he stop thinking about her?

She was the most breathtaking woman he had ever set eyes on and he had discovered sensations that were new and unlike any before. Becoming involved with a shallow insincere woman would be a mistake. She had been very kind to Max but that was her job and perhaps she was just good at it.

Whilst she cuddled Max, he craved to have her arms around him instead of Max, to kiss those delicious lips. He was being whimsical and it needed to cease since anyone who did not take life seriously had no place in his life.

Chapter 4

Dr Shaw

Charlotte strived to forget about the gorgeous fire fighter with sea blue eyes and amazing smile but failed to achieve her goal. Of course, as her luck would have it, the most stunningly attractive man she’d ever met did not return the sentiment.

Dr Shaw had allocated some appointments for her, so thankfully she would be busy all day which would be a respite, she hoped, from ridiculous thoughts that would never be fulfilled. As she set up for the day, her mind began to wander nevertheless until her first patient arrived.

Jared’s attitude towards her the previous day had stung. He’d made it apparent that she was clearly not in his league. He was hot so evidently his attraction would be to someone just as hot as him. She would have to accept she wasn’t actually his type with her gangly legs and out-of-control curls. Despite this, her traitorous heart skipped a beat as she thought about his blonde locks and broad shoulders.

Dr Shaw appeared and she was relieved to be brought back to reality. She had work to do. First up this morning she was assisting him in the operating theatre.

“
So, Charlotte, how was your first day yesterday?” he asked her once they began.

“
Great. Thank you so much for the opportunity, Dr Shaw.”

“
Please call me Martin. If we are going to be working together, first names are better.”

“
OK, Martin,” she replied with a smile.

“
So, what do you do when you’re not here?”

“
Are you flirting with me, Martin?”

“
Maybe,” he smiled.

“
Well, I sometimes help my sister in her flower shop or in the garden. I also love to shop and go to the movies. I study a lot, though, and don’t get all that much time for anything else.”

“
Yes, I remember those days. They are almost behind you now, though.”

“
Yes, last year, finally. I’m looking forward to being Dr Summerville.”

“
So … what are you doing for dinner tonight?”

“
Probably just staying in with my sister and her fiancé. Chelsea is a great cook like our Mum, which is just as well because I’m not so good at it.”

“
Would you be interested in having dinner with me? I know this great restaurant you should try.”

“
I’m flattered, Martin, but I don’t think we should socialise if we work together.” Charlotte was grateful she could keep her eyes averted and on the task at hand. Turning someone down had always been difficult for her. For some reason she found his flirtation a little disconcerting.

“
If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have hired you.”

She frowned before answering. “Then you probably wouldn’t have seen me again to ask anyway.”

“
You could be right. Can’t blame a guy for trying. You have a unique beauty.”

“
Thanks, Martin,” she mumbled. “I’m not so good with compliments.” She blushed.

“
Oh, a coy side. How delightful.” She met his eyes and his attraction was obvious in his expression. Her blushing intensified and her cheeks burned as though she’d been standing too close to a fire. She also hoped his flirting wouldn’t continue.

“
Anyway, Martin,” she said trying to regain some composure. “What do you like to do?”

“
I’m quite predictable I’m afraid. I like to swing the golf clubs.”

“
I’ve never tried golf before. There is exercise involved and I’m afraid I’m allergic.”

He laughed. “You wouldn’t know it to look at you.”

She blushed again, feeling more than a little uncomfortable from the attention he was paying her. They continued in silence for the remainder of the operation and while Martin prepared to wake their patient, Charlotte cleaned up.

Her day was filled with all sorts of patients big and small, from mice to St Bernard’s. She wasn’t undertaking anything overly difficult at this stage but she knew eventually Martin would provide her with a more challenging role.

Thinking of Martin, she had to admit she was a little surprised at his attention and hoped she hadn’t offended him by refusing his offer of dinner. Although he appeared kind and a little fun, she was absolutely not interested in him in that way. Hopefully the message got through and their working relationship could still become a strong one and be unaffected by the rejection.

When she arrived home that evening, she found the house empty. A note from Chelsea told her they’d set off to the movies and some leftovers from last night were in the fridge for reheating. Oh, her considerate sister, what would she do without her? She heated her dinner and parked herself in front of the television while she ate without actually concentrating, merely staring.

More familiar with a full house, she found the quiet somewhat lonesome and she wished yet again for someone to share the silence with. It was pleasant living with Chelsea and Lucas but she constantly felt like the fifth wheel. Growing up with her parents, sister and brother, plus her grandparents, meant generally there was someone around. Feeling discontented, she thought about her family, hoping to lift her despondency.

Her grandmother had passed away some years before and she was deeply missed. Her Pa, a retired psychiatrist, with a fuzzy grey beard and hair, was always on hand for a shoulder and advice.

Her mother, Sarah, was a strawberry blond haired version of Chelsea and was always up for a chat or to lend moral support.

Her father, Bradley, was the local doctor where they lived. A tall, gentle and empathetic man with dark hair and the same chocolate coloured eyes as hers, he encompassed all that was good and true in the world to Charlotte. Her brother, Hayden, eight years her junior at sixteen, was a young version of their father and was thoughtful and sensitive. Charlotte held high hopes for her little brother and believed he would pursue the same occupation as their father. She thought he too had the potential to become a wonderful doctor.

Chelsea was the creative, sweet one in the family. Owning her own florist shop suited her personality immensely.

Thinking about her family made her homesick and it hadn’t helped lift her restlessness. She had only been away from home for a month and was grateful for Chelsea, but the ache of missing the rest of her family became strong as she sat alone in the empty house. Reaching over to pick up the phone, she called home and her mother answered.

“
Hi, Mum.”

“
Charlotte, honey, it’s so good to hear from you. We miss you. How is everything going with Dr Shaw?”

“
Great, the clinic is very busy so I’ve been seeing a lot of patients over the last two days.”

“
Is everything alright? You sound a bit down?”

“
Yes, I’m just a bit homesick. Chelsea and Lucas are out and the house is quiet, I guess I’m not used to it.”

“
You’ll come to appreciate it one day, dear. I like to sit out on our balcony sometimes and just listen to the quiet. It’s quite soothing.”

“
Yeah, maybe.”

“
Is there anything else wrong?”

“
I met this guy yesterday, Jared, and he was … abrupt but so gorgeous and I felt … something but he obviously didn’t feel the same.”

“
Maybe he’s shy, dear. Sometimes people seem different at first, from how they really are.”

“
Perhaps, but I suppose it doesn’t matter. I probably won’t see him again anyway.”

“
You might and you may find him different. Charlotte, you have a lot of confidence and some people find that intimidating. We love that you are so sure of yourself but it could be interpreted differently.”

“
I know. I’ve had this problem before. Usually I just shrug it off, plenty of fish in the sea, but I felt something different this time and I was offended by his disapproval.”

“
If that was actually what it was …. ”

“
You’re right, I’m probably reading into nothing, as usual. I have never felt so unsure of myself before, that’s all.”

“
Are you sure you’re alright?”

“
Yeah, I’m OK, Mum. I think I’ll go to bed now, I’m tired.”

“
Ok, honey. You know where I am if you need me. Love you, sweetheart.”

“
Love you too, Mum. Good night.”

She hung up the phone, switched off the television that she hadn’t actually watched, trundled upstairs and sat on the balcony. She now understood why Chelsea spent so much time out here as it was relaxing and therapeutic looking over the city.

She wondered whether somewhere out there was the right man for her and she found her mind drifting to the elusive Jared. Amazed by how one meeting had affected her so much, she tried to shake it off.

She didn’t succeed.

Chapter 5

Arson

Jared’s three days off passed quickly and his thoughts were filled with untamed blond curls and incredible legs. What astonished him most was how one woman, after one meeting, could invade his thoughts so much. He decided that loneliness, and nothing more, was obviously the reason for such a powerful attraction.

She’d clearly been the type of girl he’d sworn off so he decided it was time to move on and erase her from his memory. To aid with this, he volunteered to do some much needed maintenance at the station. Anything to occupy his wandering mind.

He was in the process of replacing worn attachments and parts on their equipment when the bell sounded. Jared raced down to their truck and did a head count before setting off. Sam was sitting in the passenger seat, talking on the radio obtaining the details of where and what they were heading to, when Jared climbed into the truck.