There was a flicker of panic in Mac’s eyes and Josh struggled to keep his expression straight. ‘You know—’ he kept his tone casual ‘—I read an interesting report in one of the medical journals last week about this mother who unexpectedly produced twins. Something to do with the lie of the babies—they’d missed one on the scan. Imagine the shock of that.’
Mac opened his mouth, caught something in Josh’s expression and the next thing he knew, Josh was lying on his back on the sand, with his brother glaring down at him.
‘Next time you decide to irritate me, step out of the way first,’ he growled. ‘And if you say anything similar to Louisa and panic her, I won’t be responsible for my actions.’
Helpless with laughter, Josh wondered what it was about fatherhood that turned grown men into gibbering wrecks. Then he saw the anxiety in his brother’s face and his laughter faded. He hadn’t realised that his brother was quite so tense about the whole thing.
‘It was just a joke! I wouldn’t tease Lu, you know I wouldn’t. I love her. Hell, I set the two of you up. What’s the matter with you?’
‘I don’t know. Impending fatherhood, I suppose.’ Mac let out a breath and then reached out a hand and dragged his brother to his feet. ‘Believe me, no matter how many times you reassure patients, it’s different when it’s your own. I’m a wreck, I admit it.’ He raked a hand through his hair and gave a helpless shrug. ‘I worry about her and I worry about the baby. Try having a baby of your own and you’ll find out what I mean.’
‘A baby? Me?’ Josh brushed the sand from his shoulders, appalled by the mere suggestion. ‘Nappies, sleepless nights and goodbye two-seater sports car with the top down? No, thanks. Fatherhood is definitely not for me.’
Mac shot him a curious look. ‘You seriously think you’re immune, don’t you? You think you can carry on dating every woman who takes your fancy and that you’re never going to get emotionally involved?’
Josh gave an easy smile. ‘Hasn’t happened yet,’ he said smugly. ‘Nor is it likely to. Relationships go in stages. The trick is to recognise each stage as it happens so that you don’t get caught.’
‘Stages?’
‘Yeah, first there’s the spark. You see someone, they see you and there’s that special chemistry, something that makes you want to take it further.’ He removed his shades and winked at his brother. ‘So you do—’
‘Well, you do,’ Mac interjected dryly, ‘not everyone does.’
‘Can I help it if women find me irresistible? So you take it further and then you start seeing each other. Then there’s the passion.’ He gave a slow smile. ‘And obviously that’s the best bit.’
Mac rolled his eyes but Josh ignored him.
‘Then at some point, usually somewhere between the first time she leaves her toothbrush at your place and the time she starts staring hopefully into prams, there’s a slight shift in the relationship. Spotting that shift is the key to remaining a happy bachelor. Miss it and before you know it the highlight of your life is buying baby car seats to fit in your people carrier.’
He gave an exaggerated shudder and Mac stared at him in exasperation. ‘You’re thirty-two, Josh. Don’t you ever want to settle down?’
Josh thought of his home, an abandoned lifeboat station that he’d converted himself, slogging away in what little spare time he had to lovingly convert it into a stunning home. He thought of his plasma-screen TV, his high-performance car and the boat he was restoring. He thought of the punishing hours he spent at the hospital in the accident and emergency department and the fact that he lived life to his own timetable. He didn’t want to change a thing. ‘My life works well just as it is.’
‘And does that make you happy? Being on your own…’ For a moment Mac’s tone was serious. ‘Is that really what you want?’
Josh gave a wicked grin that was totally male. ‘I’m not often on my own. And when I am…’ he replaced his shades in a smooth movement ‘…I’m resting.’
Mac laughed and shook his head in exasperation. ‘So who’s the lucky woman at the moment? I haven’t seen anyone around.’
‘There’s currently a vacancy,’ Josh said airily, ‘but I’m considering a few applicants. I always enjoy the interview process.’
‘When are you going to grow up?’
‘When Cornwall runs out of decent-looking women.’ Josh glanced at a girl running towards the waves in a minuscule bikini. ‘Which judging from today isn’t going to be any time soon.’
Mac followed his gaze. ‘You are as shallow as the average rock pool, do you know that?’
‘Me?’ Josh planted a hand in the middle of his chest and looked affronted. ‘I’m just terribly misunderstood. I’m a dedicated doctor who needs an antidote to the stress of daily living. You, on the other hand, have turned so respectable since I sorted out your love life that I’m reluctant to be seen in your company in case you damage my reputation as a heartless playboy.’
‘You don’t choose who you fall in love with,’ Mac said mildly, glancing round for the dog, ‘and one of these days it’s going to happen to you. And I’m going to be there to rub your nose in it.’
Josh turned his gaze back to the waves, wishing he were out there. The sea glistened and sparkled in the summer sunshine and the waves curled and foamed as they hit the beach.
The female surfer was up on her board again and he sucked in a breath as his eyes slid down the girl in masculine appreciation. ‘How the hell does she balance?’
‘Same way you do,’ Mac said wearily, ‘by using her feet and her body.’
‘I haven’t got that body.’ Josh shook his head in wonder. ‘She shouldn’t be able to balance. According to the theory of relativity, she should be tipping forward.’