Playboy Doctor to Doting Dad

Sometimes she felt Charlie and Steph didn’t even consider she might have a life of her own. Certainly neither realised how time-consuming bringing up two very young children could be. What would they say if she left the children with them for a day and went out shopping, visiting the beauty parlour or just lying on a lounger, reading a magazine? She couldn’t help the small smile that twisted her mouth. They’d be horrified. As far as Steph was concerned, children definitely didn’t go with the image of a lawyer in one of the city’s top firms. Neither did Charlie think hotshot real estate salespeople should have kids clinging to their tailored suits. But they loved their niece and nephew, and her. As she loved them.

Six years younger than her, her sisters had always turned to her for help with things since the day she’d come home to nurse their mother. When their mum had died she’d kept right on looking out for them. At twenty-three they didn’t really need her to do that now, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Most of the time.

Stephanie was saying, ‘I wonder if Kieran would like to go to the party. The girls from the office would love him, especially with that divine accent. His gorgeous looks won’t hurt either.’

Abby’s stomach plummeted. She knew Kieran loved parties. Her brother had often talked about all the socialising they’d done together. Why shouldn’t he go? He was a free agent. Because he’d come here to work, it didn’t mean he had to be a saint for the duration of his stay. What he did in his spare time had nothing to do with her. He’d probably be glad of a distraction from the ‘children’ problem.

‘Is Kieran still there? I’d like to talk to him.’

‘Sure.’ But then she heard a car starting. At her front gate? Kieran? A low, throaty engine roared away. A sports car kind of sound. Definitely Kieran. ‘Seems I’m wrong. He’s just left.’

Without a word. Whatever happened to saying goodnight? Anger vied with disappointment. Surely she wasn’t asking too much? Even if he couldn’t handle being a dad, he could’ve poked his head around the corner and said something before he disappeared. Even if the situation had got too much for him and he’d needed to get away, how hard would that have been? Guess she didn’t rate too highly on his list of important people or things. Her shoulders slumped. Was she being impatient? Probably. But she didn’t know how to be any different.

Stephanie didn’t seem too concerned. ‘I’ll catch up with him later. I’ll bring my dress over on Friday. See you.’ Click. She’d gone, too.

Leaving Abby feeling incredibly lonely. At home with two children while their other parent, as such, raced back to town and presumably the safety of his new apartment. So where was the problem? She hadn’t expected him to make himself so comfortable that he’d stay to start taking over caring for the children. Give the guy a chance to get used to all this.

Two mugs stood on the bench. The kettle was warm to her touch. So he’d got that far with making the drinks. She boiled the water again and took her tea with her to check up on Seamus. Sound asleep, he looked angelic, which he was. Most of the time. A smile tugged at her mouth, despite her gloomy mood. Seamus always did this to her whenever she was out of sorts. One look and she felt better about her world.

Now she studied his face, so like the face that had haunted her over the last two years. Moving away, she sank onto the end of her bed, her thoughts automatically returning to Kieran. Today, when she’d met him at the airport, she’d seen that her memory had been correct. The sharp lines running down the sides of his mouth were still there, as was that lopsided smile that sliced through her every time. Those full lips that had done untold exciting things to her body were exactly as she recalled. Oh, yes, her body remembered him very well.

Too well. Now all she had to do was cope with him being around for two months when just looking at him sent all her hormones into a dance. That was all. That was all?

CHAPTER FIVE

DRESSED in non-matching panties and bra, Abby headed down the hall, vigorously towelling her freshly washed hair. How could she have slept in? How had she managed to sleep at all with everything going on in her mind? Mainly things about Kieran. He really had got to her in a very short time. She had to get herself under control, stop thinking Kieran at every turn.

Seamus played with a wooden truck in the bedroom, damp nappies drooping around his knees. She left him to go and start making toast. Olivia was chattering in the kitchen, probably telling Teddy what she wanted for breakfast. Had she dressed herself this morning? Some days she did so, with bizarre results, some days she wanted Abby to do it.

At the kitchen door Abby lowered the towel, looking for Olivia, and gasped. Her heart stopped, then with a thud resumed its regular beat.

‘Kieran. What are you doing here? How did you get in?’ Hadn’t she locked up before going to bed last night?

‘Good morning, Abigail.’ He looked past her. For Seamus? Surely that had to be a good sign?

‘Morning yourself,’ she muttered, then realised where his gaze had settled and hurriedly draped the towel around her body. Except the towel was too small and only covered from her breasts to halfway down her backside. Abby started backing out of the kitchen. She’d get dressed properly before asking why he was here.

‘I opened the door,’ Olivia informed her importantly.

‘Haven’t I told you not to open the door to strangers?’ Abby hesitated in mid-flight and eyed Olivia sternly.

Kieran explained, his gaze now in the vicinity of her face, ‘You can blame me. When I knocked and got no answer I came round to the window to see if you were about. Olivia saw me and let me in. There are advantages to being Uncle Kieran.’ At last his eyes met hers, twinkling at her. ‘Anyway, I’d hope I wasn’t a stranger.’

She knew he was referring to his relationship with her, not Olivia. She stuttered, ‘W-what b-brings you out here this early?’

‘I wanted to apologise for my abrupt departure last night. It was rude of me.’ He raised his hands and shrugged disarmingly. ‘I admit to being a little overwhelmed. Throw in exhaustion after that damned flight and everything caught up with me in a hurry. But I should’ve said goodnight.’

‘Apology accepted.’ He surprised her, admitting he’d been out of his depth. But right now she had to feed and clothe the kids, then get to work on time. No, first she had to get dressed before Kieran began sizing her up again in his toe-curling way.

He said, ‘I thought it best to see you before we get to work. It might be a bit awkward explaining in front of other people.’

‘Work?’ He was joking, right? ‘You’re not starting today?’ She’d been relying on having a few more days before he invaded her work space as well as her home.

‘Might as well. There’s nothing else on my agenda at the moment, and I understand Michael is already on leave.’

‘His son’s desperately ill and last week they got word of a liver that might be compatible in Brisbane.’

‘Then the sooner I start, the better. Let’s hope the operation on his son is successful.’

‘Everyone’s got their fingers crossed for that,’ Abby responded. ‘We’ve seen the pain the family is suffering.’

‘I can’t imagine being in their shoes.’ Kieran turned for the back door. ‘I’ll see you later on.’

Relieved that he was leaving, she couldn’t explain the little gremlin that made her say, ‘Since you’re here, can you put the kettle on and start making toast? I’m already running late and could do with a hand.’

He slowly turned back into the room, his eyes again roaming over her. The playboy was definitely to the fore this morning, not the overwhelmed man trying to deal with two very small relatives he couldn’t quite fathom. ‘Of course. Where do you keep everything?’

‘Fridge, cupboard and pantry.’ Abby beat a hasty retreat to her bedroom.

As she changed Seamus into shorts and T-shirt she could hear Olivia telling Kieran what she wanted on her toast and what Seamus liked, and that she wanted juice. ‘No, not in that glass. T

he other one.’

Then, ‘Abby doesn’t cut our toast like that. She makes it into squares.’ And, ‘Not that runny honey. It falls off the toast and messes Seamus’s shirt.’

Abby grinned in sympathy for Kieran. He was learning breakfast wasn’t as straightforward as he’d previously believed.

Time to rescue the man. Back in the kitchen she placed Seamus in his highchair and put his toast in front of him before grinning at Kieran. ‘I heard you getting your instructions from little miss bossy britches.’

Kieran placed a mug of tea on the table in front of her. ‘I never knew making toast could be so difficult. I hope your tea is to your satisfaction?’ He grinned back before looking over to the highchair.

His eyes fixed on Seamus poking food into his mouth and over his cheeks. A mask of indifference hid whatever he truly felt about his little boy and the situation he found himself in. Were his feelings good ones? Or did he still want nothing to do with the kids? Her heart squeezed for Kieran and Seamus. They needed time together, lots of it.

Seamus dropped a piece of toast on the floor. Wrong way up, of course. And Kieran grimaced. It didn’t seem to register with him there was a mess to clean up.

Abby grabbed a dishcloth and wiped the floor. He mightn’t have leapt in to do it but looking at Olivia’s jam-covered toast now cut into squares, albeit very large ones, he seemed to be getting the hang of breakfast under his niece’s tutelage.

Abby asked cheekily, ‘Do I get any toast?’

Kieran dragged his eyes around to her. ‘Coming up. Squares or oblongs? Jam or honey?’

‘Definitely squares and jam. What about you? Have you eaten?’

He ran a hand over his chin. ‘I think I’ve just gone off toast. I’ll head away to ED in a moment.’

Abby grinned to hide the flutter in her tummy. He looked totally unlike the perfectly turned-out doctor with a streak of jam now decorating his chin. She reached over with a paper towel and wiped it clean. ‘Rule number one with children. Never go out before checking in the mirror. You’ll be surprised what you might find.’