Her New Year Baby Surprise

‘Being social.’ No need to scare the pants off him. Now there was a thought. Her eyes did a quick cruise over his butt. A brilliant thought. Tempting. And would certainly put the kibosh on being friends afterwards.

*

Rosie was exhausted after her exciting afternoon and went to bed unexpectedly early without a whimper. ‘Goodnight, sweetheart.’

‘I want Nixon to tuck me in.’

Take a back seat, Mummy.

‘Nixon, you’re required.’

He strolled into Rosie’s bedroom, taking up all the space, and leaned over the bed. ‘Hey, sport, you did good on that pogo stick. And you got a soccer goal.’

‘I’m clever, aren’t I?’ Rosie gave an impish grin and held out her hand to high five.

‘Very clever. But it’s time you went to sleep. You’ve got school tomorrow.’

Emma choked. Nixon sounded like a regular dad. He’d probably got it from his uncle speaking to him as a child. The number of times she said things to Rosie, told her off for a misdemeanour or praised her, in the exact same words and tone as her mother had used with her had her expecting to find her mum was sitting on her shoulder putting the words in her mouth.

Moving to the other side of the bed, she bent down and kissed her gorgeous girl. ‘Goodnight, darling. Sleep tight, make sure the bedbugs don’t bite.’

‘There’re no bugs in my bed.’ Rosie shuffled further down the bed, tucking the blanket around her cute little face. ‘Night, Mummy…night, Nixon.’ Then, ‘Mummy, is Santa coming tomorrow?’

‘Not for some more days.’

‘He’s taking for ever,’ Rosie sighed. ‘I can’t wait that long.’

‘You’re going to have to, my girl.’

Out in the kitchen Emma put the kettle on. ‘Tea or coffee? Or there’s beer if you want some.’

‘Coffee, ta.’ He came to stand beside her, that enticing butt parked against the edge of the bench. ‘I enjoyed today.’

‘Nothing wrong with a good old street party with the kids and oldies all mixed in. Abbie and I started it our first year here. Some of the older folk don’t have family in the area and the busy build-up in the weeks before Christmas with parties and celebrations seemed lonely for them so we went door knocking and told everyone let’s have a barbecue on the street.’ Now it was an annual event.

‘What I meant was I enjoyed hanging out with you and Rosie, with your friends. It was comfortable and fun, and…’ he raised a hand to lift a curl off her cheek ‘…and perfect. I could get to wanting to do it regularly.’

Knock me down. ‘You can join in any time you like.’

‘It’s that simple?’ He breathed out the question.

Emma shook her head. ‘It’s getting to be, the more time we spend together.’

‘Is that how you approach everything, Em?’ His eyes locked onto hers. ‘You didn’t mind stepping out of your comfort zone and going flying with me. You obviously love your job and nothing seems to daunt you there. You’re bringing up Rosie single-handedly for all the world like it’s a breeze. But I see moments of wariness and worry clouding your eyes when you think no one’s watching. I know you have trust issues, and understandably so, but are you really so at ease with me, with us?’

‘Blimey. Don’t hold back, will you?’ He was asking things he would not answer if she reciprocated. She spooned coffee into a mug and dropped a teabag into another. ‘Everyone has moments of uncertainty. I’ve told you some of mine. Having Grace gave me a huge jolt and got me thinking there was more out there if I’d just grab it. I’ve been afraid I’d get it wrong again if I ventured into the world of men and love, but suddenly I’m sick of hesitating. I want to put my toes in the water and to hell with the consequences. I’ve survived the past. I can survive the future.’

‘You kissed me. Should I take that as a compliment?’ Serious face on. Meaning?

‘You’re the first man I’ve kissed in many years.’

‘Definitely a compliment.’ A teasing smile appeared.

Emma dropped the teaspoon and leaned closer to him, drawn in by that smile and the intensity in his eyes, by the muscular body dwarfing her small frame, by the man scent pervading the air between them. ‘You like compliments?’ she whispered.

‘Let me give you one.’ Then his hands were on her arms, bringing her close, his head dipping to find her mouth. His lips covered hers, possessed hers, sent need spiralling out of control to every corner of her taut body. Melting against him, she returned the kiss, gave herself to him with no barriers in the way. Nothing but them. Together. Kissing. Needing. Wanting. Complimenting each other.

‘Mummy, I’m thirsty.’

Emma jerked away from Nixon, her cheeks flushed, her heart disappointed. ‘The real world of a single mum.’ She sighed and grabbed a glass to fill with water. ‘Sorry.’

‘Don’t be. It’s how it is. Real.’

The smile Nixon gave her took the strength from her knees, leaving her incapable of moving while she took some deep breaths. Real? Was this sensation of losing her grip on reality real? This need for love and family clawing through her? Was that real? Should she be following up or heading for the hills while she could still think?

‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I should be heading home before we take this too far.’ There was a load of regret behind his words negating her sense of being dumped when things were heating up. ‘You have a child in the next room we have to be mindful of.’

‘It’s not just about us.’

‘No, Em, it’s not.’

How many men would’ve considered Rosie when wanting to get close to her mother? They’d have been focused on that kiss and heading down the hall to her bedroom if the altering shape of Nixon’s jeans was anything to go by. He wanted her. Her. The woman who’d had a baby not long ago and wasn’t looking slim any more. Stretching up on her toes, she caressed his chin with her lips. ‘Thank you. And goodnight.’ She’d just fallen even further into the pool.

CHAPTER TEN

‘THE CHOPPER CAME in as I padlocked my bike to the rack,’ Nixon told Emma the next morning. He’d been watching out for her at the hospital car park, feeling like a lusty teenager any time one of his staff went past and he didn’t walk in with them. But he was busting to see her face, listen to the cadence of her voice. Yeah, right, what he really wanted was a repeat of last night’s kisses. Out in the car park? Got it bad, man. Then Emma arrived and he couldn’t deny the happiness spreading throughout his body.

‘Wonder what we’re getting.’ Exhaustion flattened her voice.

‘Not much sleep last night?’ Sleep had been elusive for him with a certain nurse bouncing around inside his skull. Watching her with Grace yesterday had settled something within him. Emma was coming to terms with what she’d done. Her bravery and strength stole his breath away and yanked at his heartstrings. She was one courageous woman. The kind of woman he could imagine spending the rest of his life with—if he found the same courage to let go of his lifelong hang-ups. How did he learn to do that? If he’d really copied Henry to becoming the man he was there were no examples to follow out of the quagmire.

‘Darling daughter was up and down all night. Demanded drinks, needed the bathroom, wanted a story—didn’t happen—had to talk. Wanted Santa to visit.’ Emma shivered. ‘The joys of motherhood.’ The soft smile she wo

re belied her shudders.

‘Nights like that happen often?’ How did she cope with work when they did?

‘Sometimes she has a run of them then sleeps through ten hours for weeks on end.’ Emma tried stifling a yawn, but it won out. ‘I thought I’d have trouble waking her up this morning.’

Nixon’s phone pinged. A quick glance, and, ‘We’re on. The chopper’s patient is being taken into ED.’ There was a spring in his step as they headed inside. Being an emergency specialist made him useful and needed. Helping people at their most vulnerable gave him huge satisfaction. Add in a weekend filled with Emma and it was surprising his feet even touched the floor.

Then he saw his patient and the gloss diminished. Trish and her husband Bill owned the greatest little bagel cart, his favourite go-to for quick, delicious food when on a bike ride. ‘Trish, what brings you here?’ Nixon walked beside the stretcher being pushed into the department.

Callum filled him in. ‘Trish was walking her dog when she fell down the power track out at Arrowtown. We airlifted her to avoid a three kilometre hike out with the stretcher. Suspected broken ankle and sprained wrist. Obs are normal so it doesn’t appear likely an event precipitated the fall.’

‘Punch saw a hedgehog and took off, and I ran after him,’ Trish grumped.

‘Where’s the dog now?’ Her white and brown bitsa was a legend for lapping up attention outside Trish and Bill’s cart.

‘One of the ambulance crew that walked in took him out to meet up with Bill.’

‘Bill’s not here?’ Nixon asked.

‘He’s coming in when he’s arranged for someone to staff the cart,’ Callum said before giving Nixon more medical details.

‘Let’s get you sorted, Trish. I’ll check your ankle, but judging by the angle it’s at you’re headed to Radiology. We’ll get pictures of that wrist too. Any other sore spots?’