The Seduction Challenge

‘I’m a GP with this practice,’ Joel pointed out smoothly. ‘I need to start seeing patients some time. It might as well be now.’

Michael shot him a warning glance and Joel smiled.

‘Go out and heal the sick, big brother. I promise to behave myself.’

‘You better had. Nick and I are watching you. I’ll see you later, then.’ Michael followed Ros out of the room and Richard caught Joel by the arm to stop him following.

‘Joel, I need to talk to you. I know Lucy’s pretty, but Nick and Michael are right. She’s not your type.’ His father’s tone was sharp. ‘You’re to leave her alone.’

Joel looked his father in the eye. ‘Where’s she living?’

Father looked at son. ‘Joel!’

Joel clapped a hand to his broad chest and looked innocent. ‘Did I say a word?’

‘You didn’t need to. I’ve known you for thirty-three years and women have always been at the top of your agenda,’ his father said dryly. ‘Especially pretty ones. Come on, Joel, you’re a national heartthrob after that TV series. You’re not short of female company and you never have been. You don’t need Lucy.’

Oh, yes, he did.

Joel lifted his chin. ‘What’s the story, Dad?’

His father sighed. ‘She doesn’t want us to discuss it, so I’m not going to, but let’s just say that there’s no way a girl like her is going to want anything to do with a man like you.’

‘A man like me?’ Joel lifted his eyebrows and glanced down at himself. ‘Two legs, two arms, a good pair of shoulders—what’s wrong with me?’

‘Nothing.’ Richard gave a wry smile as he ran his eyes over his son’s muscular frame. ‘There’s nothing at all wrong with you, as you well know.’

‘So?’

Richard sighed and shook his head. ‘She doesn’t want anyone, Joel. And I warn you now, I won’t have her pestered. The girl’s been through enough.’

What had she been through?

Joel’s voice was quiet. ‘I’m not in the habit of pestering women, Dad.’

‘No, because they usually fall at your feet,’ his father agreed, his tone dry. ‘But Lucy is different. She came here for a quiet life and that is exactly what she’s going to have. She’s out of bounds, Joel, and please remember that or your mother will kill me. And she’ll kill you too, probably.’

Joel wasn’t giving up. ‘It was a man, presumably.’ His expression was grim as he contemplated the possibilities. ‘Did he hit her? Hurt her in some way? Maybe Mike, Nick and I could find the guy—’

His father cut him off with an impatient gesture. ‘Put your fists away, Joel. This isn’t your battle.’ Richard gave a long sigh and rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers. ‘We all want to help, but she won’t accept more than we’ve done already. I suspect that what she really needs is friendship. She must be very lonely. Your mother and I keep inviting her round but she always refuses.’

‘I make a good friend,’ Joel said softly, and his father frowned.

‘No, Joel! I don’t want—’

‘Relax, Dad.’ Joel put a hand on his father’s shoulder, a confident smile playing around his firm mouth. ‘You need to learn how to chill out! You’re getting too old for all this stress.’

‘Too old!’ His father choked and spluttered and Joel grinned.

‘Trust me, Dad! I’m not going to hurt Lucy. I promise.’

But he’d like to hurt the person who’d done this to her.

His mind still churning over the possibilities, he turned on his heel and sprinted down the stairs before his father had time to warn him off again. One thing was sure: he was going to get to the bottom of what was behind the sadness.

It was the blue-eyed doctor from the accident.

Lucy stopped breathing and stared as he came down the stairs, long limbed and staggeringly handsome.