Midwife...to Mum!

‘Well, if he does turn up, the good news is he’s a seriously good-looking dude and definitely sexy.’ Didn’t set her hormones dancing but plenty of women drooled over him.

No, her hormones got a kick out of a certain doctor living here on the island. She had to get a grip, put any stupid concerns behind her and get the job done. Three weeks to go. Twenty-one days. Couldn’t be too hard to have some fun and not get involved with the source of that fun. Face it, Flynn no more wanted or needed anything more connected than she did. He definitely wouldn’t want Adam getting too attached to her, and she felt exactly the same. More than anything, she couldn’t abide hurting that cute wee boy because she understood more than most what it was like to be left behind or shunted on. And she certainly would never be moving into their home and becoming super-mum.

‘You still with me?’ Lilia interrupted her musings.

‘All ears. When are you coming down to Melbourne next?’

After Lilia hung up, Ally went to tug on her running shoes and shorts. A good hard pounding of the pavement would help what ailed her and put everything back into perspective.

‘You’ve got a busy morning stacked up,’ Flynn greeted her the moment she walked into the medical centre the next morning. ‘Seems word’s out that we’ve got a great new midwife and everyone who’s pregnant wants to meet you.’ His smile was friendly, but there was caution in his eyes. Did he think she might start considering staying on?

Returning his smile, she shrugged. ‘I won’t be delivering most of them. Kat will be back before long.’

His smile dipped. ‘The islanders are friendly, that’s all it’s about. Bet you get an invitation or two for a meal before the morning’s out.’

‘Cool. But I’m all booked up—most nights anyway.’ She locked eyes with Flynn. He hadn’t changed his mind on her joining him and Adam for dinners, had he? Of course, she should be backing off a little, but how when right this moment her body was bending in his direction in anticipation of being woken up again? Back off. Easy to say, hard to do.

‘So you’ll come to dinner tonight. I’m glad.’ At last the caution disappeared. His smile widened, brought a different kind of warmth to her.

A warmth that touched her deep inside in that place she went when alone. A warmth she hadn’t realised she’d needed until she’d walked in and seen him. She’d missed him overnight. Had reached out to hug him and come up empty-handed—empty-hearted as well. ‘Babies withstanding, I’ll be there at six. Is that okay?’

He leaned close, whispered, ‘Bring your toothbrush.’

That warmth turned to heat, firing colour into her chilled cheeks and tightening her stomach. ‘Think I’ll buy a spare,’ she whispered back, before entering the office to collect the notes in her tray.

Megan winked at her. ‘Have a good weekend?’

How much had she heard? Ally bit back a retort. She and Flynn would have to learn to be far more careful. ‘I went to San Remo.’

Megan laughed. ‘Was that you I saw out running late yesterday?’

‘Running?’ Flynn looked surprised.

‘As in putting one foot in front of the other at a fast pace.’

‘That explains…’ He spluttered to a stop as Megan’s eyes widened. ‘A lot,’ he added lamely. ‘Come on, meeting time.’

As she led the way to the staffroom, she wanted to turn around and wrap her arms around him. She wanted to feel his body against hers, his chest against her cheek, his shoulder muscles under her palms. She kept walking, facing directly ahead. She wouldn’t be distracted by Flynn at work. She wouldn’t. It was all very well for the others to know they’d had a meal out together, might even be aware they’d spent hours doing things over the weekend, but she couldn’t show how her body craved his.

‘Meeting’s cancelled.’ Faye barrelled out of her office. ‘Flynn, we’re needed at the school. Two kids on bikes have been hit by a car. Where’s Toby?’

‘Do you need me to come along?’ Ally asked.

‘No, we’re sorted.’ Faye sped to the back door and the car park, her medical bag in one hand.

Flynn glanced around, quickly dropped a kiss on Ally’s mouth. ‘See you later.’ And he was gone.

Leaving her with her finger pressing her lips, holding that kiss in place. Yeah, she really had missed him all night. But she’d be seeing him tonight. The knot in her tummy loosened as she headed to her room and prepared for her first mum of the day.

Her relaxed mood stayed in place all day, and when she knocked on Flynn’s door that night, she didn’t hold back on her smiles.

‘Ally, you came,’ Adam swung the door wide, inadvertently letting Sheba out.

‘Sheba, no,’ Ally made a grab for her collar. ‘Inside, you big lump.’

Sheba replied with a tongue swipe on her hand.

‘Now the woman insults my dog.’ Flynn stood behind Adam, grinning at her.

Were they both as happy to see her as she was them? Stepping inside, she closed the door behind her, shutting off the world and entering the cosy cocoon that was the Reynolds home. ‘Sheba knows I think she’s awesome.’ Then she had a brainwave. ‘I could take her with me when I go running.’

Flynn’s eyebrows rose. ‘She’d probably have a heart attack. Walks are one thing, but a run?’

‘I’m not very quick. More of a snail.’ She followed Flynn and Adam into the kitchen, suddenly very aware that by making that suggestion she’d committed herself to this little family for the rest of her stay. As she had that morning when she’d said she would be here for dinners. Nothing wrong with that, as long as she kept everything in perspective. As long as Adam didn’t get too close and miss her when she left.

Flynn said, ‘See how you go. You might find you just want to get on the beat and not have to swing by to collect her.’

Was he having second thoughts, too?

‘Can I run, too?’ Adam asked hopefully.

‘No,’ Flynn said emphatically.

As his little face began to crumple, Ally explained. ‘It’s usually very early when I go.’

‘It’s not fair.’

‘Adam, you can’t do everything just because you want to. Ally’s told you why you can’t go with her so leave it at that.’ Worry filtered into Flynn’s eyes as he watched his son stomp away. When Adam turned on the TV, Flynn growled. ‘Turn it off, please.’

Ally glanced from Flynn to his boy’s sulky face. ‘Has he been naughty?’

‘He’s not allowed to watch TV often. Anna was against it.’

Ah, Anna’s rules. ‘Surely a little time watching kids’ programmes can’t hurt?’ Mind your own business. ‘Other kids don’t turn out as delinquents because of it.’ Shut up.

Flynn stared at Adam, not her. ‘It’s hard to let go. You know?’

No, she didn’t. ‘Fair enough. But Adam needs to fit in with his peers at times.’

‘You have a point, I guess.’ Then he changed the subject. ‘How was your day? Angela called me, full of praise for the way you’ve handled Chrissie’s crisis. She doesn’t want you leaving before the baby’s born.’

Sliding onto a stool and propping her elbows on the bench, she shook her head. ‘Chrissie will be fine with Kat.’

Flynn nodded. ‘Sure she will. It’s just that with Chrissie being so young and this not being a planned pregnancy, she’s taken a shine to you and won’t be keen to start over. But it’ll work out.’

‘It has to.’

‘It does, doesn’t it?’

Ally stared at him. What did that mean exactly? ‘I was never going to be here any longer than the month Kat’s away.’

He locked his eyes with hers. ‘I know. But sometimes I find myself wishing you were.’

Pow. That hit right in the solar plexus, and knocked her heart. Never in a million years would she have thought he’d say something like that. ‘A month’s long enough for a fling. Any longer and we’d have to start wondering just what we were doing.’

‘You ever had a

long-term relationship?’ He picked up a wooden spoon and stirred the gravy so hard a glob flicked out onto the stovetop.

‘No.’ She reached for a cloth to wipe up the gravy.