A Family This Christmas (9 page)

Again, no hesitation. ‘Drink your coffee and we’ll discuss what we’re having for dinner tonight.’

‘We will?’ Eek. What had she done? Her? Cooking? Yeah, why not? ‘I’m absolutely hopeless in a kitchen. Like, really and truly useless.’ She’d make a total stuff-up and Amanda would regret agreeing to show her the basics.
Shush, Amanda’s talking.

‘I’ve an idea. I make meals that suit the kids as well as Ross and myself. Why don’t we make twice as much and you take home enough for Cam and his lads? That way I can talk you through the process and I’m not having to think up two different meals every time.’

‘Sounds perfect.’ Every time? Would there be more than one chance at this? Warmth flooded her. Was she really about to embark on a cooking lesson? Unbelievable. ‘This coffee’s great.’

‘Told you it would be.’ Amanda grinned. ‘Do you like beef stroganoff?’

‘I love it. Would Marcus and Andrew like that?’

‘My kids can never get enough of it so I’m sure the twins will be the same. They might’ve had it here some time.’

Uh-oh. ‘I’ll have to cook rice.’

‘Get a rice cooker. I’ve got one somewhere I’ll lend you for starters.’

* * *

The rice was white and fluffy. The beef melted in her mouth. And Cam and the boys had seconds. Jenny couldn’t stop smiling.

‘That was yummy. So you bought a packet with instructions in English.’ Cam gave her the biggest smile yet. One that went all the way down to the tips of her toes.

Shaking her head at him, she gave a return smile. ‘No packets involved. That was the real article. Made from scratch.’

His eyebrows rose distressingly high. His eyeballs might pop out if he wasn’t careful. ‘Have you been pulling my leg about your cooking skills?’

‘Nope. This morning I had a lesson from an ex chef.’ Wow, she felt good. Not only had she done something other than wipe down benches for this wonderful man but she’d knocked back one of her gremlins. She could cook—with a lot of help from Amanda.
Easy, girl: pride before a fall. One dinner does not make a competent cook.

‘You’ve been talking to Amanda.’ Cam’s eyebrows returned to their natural position.

‘More like listening as she explained how to slice beef across the grain, and not to over-stir the sauce ingredients. I’ve had a great day.’ A really great day. ‘Oh, except Amanda managed to slice three fingers while showing me how fast she was at chopping onions.’

‘I take it you weren’t required to sew her digits back on?’ Cam’s eyebrows rose and his mouth curved into a heart-warming smile.

‘She refused to even consider stitches so I made some butterfly plasters from her first-aid kit supplies.’ It hadn’t been a major incident but she’d felt good to have been able to help Amanda medically. The doctor part of her make-up seemed to be waking up here in Havelock, too. ‘Amanda won’t be using her left hand for much over the next few days.’

‘Knowing that woman, I wouldn’t bet on it. I’m glad you were there for her.’

‘Me, too.’ Yeah, and leaving Cam just got a whole lot harder. Seeing those smiles as they’d all tucked into dinner had warmed her deep inside in a way she’d never felt, even before Alison’s death. This warmth came with a sense of belonging. Finding her mojo?

Maybe I won’t leave. Oh, sure, I’m going to settle down in Havelock, lift the population number to five hundred and one, and do what exactly? Sell beef stroganoff at the gate?
Like a pricked balloon her happiness shrivelled in on itself. She had to leave soon.

Cam gathered up the plates and stood up. ‘That was the tastiest meal we’ve had in this house. Go, you.’ In the kitchen he sluiced the dishes and said quietly, ‘The boys love having you bring them home after school, by the way. I prefer it for them. Adds to the stability of their lives, which has been a roller-coaster ride so far.’

Stunned at him even admitting that, she held her breath while thinking about what he’d revealed. She’d wanted to help Cam out, but in this way? The connotations were huge. Doing this involved trust and care and could wreck those little boys’ hearts again when she was gone.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t do it any more. Have you thought how they’ll feel when I go away?’
She
was going to feel awful. Leaving the boys would be hard. Leaving Cam—well, she couldn’t begin to imagine how that would feel. She suspected gut-wrenching wouldn’t begin to describe it.

‘I have, but I’m banking on the summer holidays being long enough they won’t be at all perturbed.’

Right, he had it all sorted. Except, ‘I won’t be here until the end of term.’

‘You sound very sure.’

‘I am.’ And because she owed him, she added, ‘There’s some place I absolutely have to be. No argument.’

‘I see.’ It was evident in his eyes that he didn’t see at all. How could he? He knew nothing about what drove her.

‘I’ll clean up the kitchen if you’ve got other things to get done.’ She stood up and rubbed the small of her back where it had been aching for a while.

Cam’s gaze followed her hands as she rubbed up and down, working her fingers into the tight muscles. He swallowed hard and pressed his lips tight. The plates in his hands banged onto the bench. She bit down on the reluctant smile about to break across her mouth. It wouldn’t do for him to know she’d noticed his reaction. They couldn’t follow through. Because of the children. Because she wasn’t ready. Because she was leaving and flings, even very short ones, weren’t on her agenda. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t find some sweet pleasure in having him a little bit attracted to her.

He made her feel alive again, reminded her she was a woman, not just someone traipsing the country looking for forgiveness and the incentive to return to medicine.

The only person who has to forgive you is you.

The salt and pepper shakers dropped from her hand onto the table with a bang. What? Where had that dumb idea come from? Not her, that’s for certain. Mum and Dad must hold her responsible for Alison’s death. Didn’t they? They’d never come out and said so but she’d been the only person there when it had happened so, of course, she should’ve been able to do something to save Alison.

‘Jenny? What is it?’ Cam was at her side, pushing her gently back onto the chair she’d just risen from. ‘What’s going on?’

She snapped her mouth shut before she could spill the words that would tell him what a dreadful sister she’d been, not to mention a useless doctor. That would certainly remove any hint of attraction he might feel for her, and she really didn’t want to lose that. Not yet. In a few days’ time when she went away she’d deal with that. But not tonight. Not now. ‘I’m fine. Just moved too fast and cricked my ankle.’

Cam made his usual move and pressed a finger under her chin, raising her face so he could lock eyes with her. ‘Try again. I don’t believe it.’ There was nothing but concern and compassion looking out at her, but she wouldn’t fall for it. She had to be strong. Despite telling him about the accident that had taken Alison, she’d not filled him in on all the gruesome details and she wasn’t about to start. They were her horrors to deal with, no one else’s. Especially not this man’s, who’d done nothing but show her kindness.

Pushing his hand aside, she stood again. ‘Then we’ll have to agree to disagree.’ Snatching up the salt and pepper, she slipped past him into the kitchen and started rinsing off dishes.
Please go and find another chore to do, preferably one in another room. Leave me to myself for a bit. I’ll come right quicker that way.

But when she turned around Cam stood right there in front of her, that concerned expression on his face changing, morphing into...? ‘What?’

‘Jenny.’ His hands touched her cheeks, oh, so lightly. ‘You’re beautiful,’ he whispered, as he moved his head closer.

This wasn’t what she’d meant when she’d wanted him to find another chore. This was... She leaned closer. This was... The air seemed to vibrate between them. Those brown eyes were locked on hers, watching, waiting, wanting. This was—
is
—right.

Her mouth brushed those lips she’d been dreaming for days of kissing. Brushing her mouth over Cam’s wasn’t enough. Hunger gripped her. Thankfully Cam began kissing her properly, hard and soft, demanding and giving. Knee-buckling sensations tore through her like wildfire. Heat rose to warm her face. Wrapping her arms around him, she held on for dear life, kissing him back as hard and soft, as demanding and giving as he kissed her. His mouth was hot, hot, hot. His hands on her waist were hot. His chest pressing against her breasts was hard and hot.

And lower down something else seemed to be heating up, too, definitely hardening if that bulge pushing into her stomach was anything to go by. How did two mouths touching cause wild reactions south of their waists? Because right in her centre that heat had turned molten, setting her muscles to squeezing and her hormones dancing.

‘Yuck, they’re kissing.’

‘Don’t look. That’s gross.’

Cam set her back from him so fast it took a moment to regain her equilibrium. Marcus and Andrew. Oh, hell. Now they’d blown it. What were the boys going to think about this? A quick look at Cam told her he already regretted coming near her. The heat suffusing her body rapidly chilled down to cool. Great. She’d definitely be packing her bag now. Hopefully Cam would wait until the morning before kicking her out on the street.

‘Marcus, Andrew, where’s your homework?’ Cam sounded like he was in control of his emotions.

Too in control. Like that kiss hadn’t affected him one little bit. But he had been reacting to her as though he wanted her. Or had it been that long for him as it had for her that his body had just woken up all by itself?

‘Do we have to do it?’

‘There’s that swimming competition tomorrow.’

‘Go and get it. Now,’ Cam snapped.

Jenny snatched up the dishcloth and began wiping down the bench. The sooner the kitchen was cleaned up the sooner she could escape to her room and close the door on this monumental error she and Cam had made. Yes, Cam had a lot to answer for. She hadn’t started the kiss, couldn’t take all the responsibility for their actions. But one quick peek at his face and she knew she’d better make herself scarce. For now at least.

* * *

Cameron watched Jenny from where he supervised the boys’ homework. Her shoulders were tense as she swiped at the bench with the cloth. But just when he thought she was going to spit the dummy out a tiny smile widened that delicious mouth and lifted the corners. So she had enjoyed their stolen kiss. Damn the boys for their interruption. Then again, thank goodness they had burst into the room, otherwise who knew where kissing Jenny might’ve led? Apart from down the hall to his bedroom, that was. Except those boys were the very reason why it had had to stop when it had. Damn it again.

Note to self:
find a time and place where there are no boys so he could repeat that kiss with the hottest woman he’d had the pleasure of knowing.

Note to self:
do it soon.

CHAPTER NINE

T
HE
SWIMMING
RACES
were hilarious to watch. Boys and girls everywhere looked excited and terrified and determined to do well in their events.

Jenny waved. ‘Good luck, Marcus. Good luck, Andrew.’

They waved back. Cam gave them the thumbs-up. ‘Give it your best shot, guys.’ Then, in an aside, he said, ‘If only they weren’t in the same race. They’ll be arguing about the result for days. Marcus swims like a fish while Andrew’s more like a concrete block.’

‘You haven’t tried asking the teacher to separate them?’ Hard to believe none of last night’s tension had carried over into today. They’d both got up in a great frame of mind, preparing the boys for the swimming and strolling down the main road to the school as though they did it every day.

‘On many occasions. Apparently I don’t know what I’m talking about.’

Jenny nudged him with an elbow. ‘Look at them poised ready to leap in. Like pros they are.’ If only she and Cam did do this every day. Not the swimming but taking the boys to school and sharing whatever they were into.

‘They watch too much sport on TV, that’s what.’ Cam’s gaze was fixed on his boys.

Say what he liked, Jenny felt sure that was pride swelling his chest. A muscular chest that she’d love nothing more than to run her fingers all over, and tease those nipples till he groaned with need. She definitely had to catch the eleven o’clock bus to Blenheim on Monday. Or should she go back to Nelson and wait out the days till it was time to visit Kahurangi?

‘On your marks.’ A whistle sounded. The kids were off, some leaping into the water, others belly-flopping, and then there was Marcus. He dived, not neatly but it was a dive.

Jenny grinned. ‘Go, Marcus. You’re one cool kid.’ Hell,
her
chest was swelling with something like pride. ‘Where’s Andrew?’ It was hard to see him amongst the splashes and mini-waves made by the various swimming styles.

‘Five metres down his lane. The one with the arms like a windmill having hiccups.’

Andrew might have the most ungainly technique and his legs might be closer to the bottom of the pool than the surface of the water but he was making progress. ‘Go, Andrew. Come on, you can do it.’ Jenny leapt up and down on her good foot, her hands above her head, waving at him. ‘You, too, Marcus. What a champ. You’re winning.’ Of course, neither of them could see or hear her but she didn’t care. This was exciting.

Cam roared his encouragement. ‘Come on, Marcus. Ten metres to go. That’s it. You’re a champ.’ Then his gaze cruised down the pool to latch onto Andrew. ‘Keep going, my boy. One arm after the other.’

Jenny reached for Cam’s hand. ‘We should be at the finish line—or whatever you call it in swimming. Those boys are going to want to see you standing there, smiling at them.’

Cam’s fingers instantly interlaced with hers. ‘You’re right.’

They got to the end of the pool as Marcus hauled himself out of the water. ‘Did you see that, Dad? I won.’

Cam ruffled Marcus’s hair. ‘Well done, kiddo. That was a great race.’

Marcus beamed at him then turned to her. ‘Did you see me, Jenny?’

‘I saw you. You’re like a seal in the water.’ Jenny dropped a kiss on his forehead, got a whiff of chlorine and immediately recalled the many hours she and Alison and their mates had spent at the local pool in the summer holidays.

A warm hand covered her shoulder, warm fingers on her skin. Cam bent his head so his mouth was close to her ear. ‘You’re a marvel with these two. Sure you haven’t got a gang of kids hidden somewhere?’

She heard the words but couldn’t answer for the effect his warm breath was having on her skin. Inside, a gentle wave of warmth quickly became a tsunami of heat, rolling through her, overwhelming her ability to stand upright. Just like last night, only this time it hadn’t even taken Cam’s kiss to start her off. Placing a hand on Cam’s arm for balance, she struggled to gain control. When her eyes locked with his she hoped she didn’t look as startled as he did right now. How could one touch, one look make her feel so—so stunned?

‘Dad?’

The twins. She gasped at the same instant Cam swung his head up. Her heart pounded. What had just gone down? Here, at the pool. Totally out of place. They were at the school, surrounded by kids and teachers and parents. And Marcus and Andrew. Far worse than in the kitchen last night.

Cam calmly dropped his hands to his sides. ‘I’d better get a move on.’ He had to be in Blenheim for the afternoon clinic. ‘See you tonight, okay?’

‘Is Jenny staying to watch us some more?’

‘I’ll be here for the rest of the afternoon.’

‘Cool. We’re going to have a bombing contest after the last race.’

She heard Cam say, ‘Be careful,’ in a worried tone.

‘I’ll make sure they behave.’ She looked directly at him. ‘No broken bones on my watch.’

His smile was strangely relaxed, like he didn’t care if half of Havelock had witnessed that near kiss. It seemed for ever before he looked away and focused on the boys. ‘How about I get fish and chips on the way home and we can take Jenny down to the marina to eat them?’

The shouts of
yes
were deafening. The warmth returned to her body, this time calm and gentle. This family seemed to like having her around. What’s more, she loved being here, with them. Especially with the man who had woken up parts of her body she’d hardly been aware existed before. How could desire for one man be so different from any other she’d experienced in her previous sexual encounters?

‘I hear you made a fabulous dinner last night.’ Amanda appeared before her moments after Cam disappeared around the corner of the school building, looking too smug for her own good.

Glad of the distraction, Jenny agreed. ‘It was delicious, and everyone except me ate two helpings. Thank you so much. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.’

‘It seems to have had a strange effect on you and Cam, if what I overheard the twins telling their mates is true.’ Amanda’s eyes glittered with amusement.

‘Here I’d been hoping we’d get away with that little adventure.’

Amanda laughed. ‘Not a chance. I doubt there’s a living soul in town who doesn’t know you two were kissing last night.’

Shrugging, Jenny joined in the laughter. ‘Guess there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m not going to wish it hadn’t happened.’ Oh, where’d her discretion button gone? It wasn’t as though she usually went around telling others about her private life. ‘How are those fingers?’

‘Very sore, but they get me out of washing dishes.’

‘Wonder what we can cook next.’

‘How about lasagne on Monday?’ Amanda asked.

‘That’s getting more difficult, isn’t it?’
Walk before running, remember?

‘Not at all. You’ll be fine with it. Come and meet some of the other mums. Be warned, they’re curious about you, especially after the stories and that eye-locking moment you just had with Cam.’

Jenny groaned. ‘Great. Think I’d better be making tracks for home.’
It is not home. And you told the boys you’d be watching them, remember?
Oh, hell. She’d just agreed to go to Amanda’s on Monday when she intended leaving that day. She guessed the buses ran the same on Tuesdays.

‘We’re keeping an eye on our kids from the other side of the pool under the shade sail.’

‘Are they going to tease me, too?’

‘You can bet your dinner on it.’ Amanda grinned. ‘Might as well face the firing line and get it done with.’

It should’ve felt exactly like that but the women were so friendly Jenny relaxed immediately when Amanda introduced everyone.

‘Shelley, Karen, Jocelyn, meet Jenny. She’s staying with Cam and the boys until her foot’s come right.’

Fobbing off the comments about hot doctors, Jenny found a spot on the grass beside Shelley and carefully lowered herself to the ground.

‘How’s that ankle coming along?’ Shelley asked.

‘Not nearly fast enough.’ Though if it had healed in three days, like she’d wanted, then she’d be long gone and back out on the road heading for the next town. And not getting to know Cam as much as she had.

Then Shelley asked her, ‘Have you got kids? You seem to know what you’re doing with Cam’s two.’

‘None yet.’ Yet? ‘Got to find a man first.’ Why did Cam come to mind so instantly?
Don’t answer that.
She couldn’t anyway, not having a clue. An image of strong leg muscles and a tight butt burst across her brain. Okay, maybe a little clue.

‘Looks to me like you already have.’ Jocelyn had a nice smile even when being cheeky.

Amanda had no problem with giving an opinion on Jenny’s single status either. ‘Cam doesn’t have anyone in his sights. You could check him out more thoroughly.’

Been there, done that, and so far liked what she’d seen, tasted, felt. ‘I think the man’s too busy to find time for dating. Anyway, I’ll be gone within a few days.’ How many times had she said that in the past week? The day that she packed her bag never seemed to come, always getting pushed further out. But soon she would have to make arrangements for that rendezvous with her past.

Shelley looked surprised. ‘You’re not staying on once your ankle’s better? I’m sure Cam could use your help at the practice.’

‘I think Cam more than handles the centre. Besides, I was an emergency specialist, not a GP.’ She shoved to her feet and looked around for the twins. Suddenly she’d had enough of idle chatter that seemed to focus on her too much. Next, these women would be wanting to know why she wasn’t doctoring at the moment, and she wasn’t ready to share that with them today. Or ever.

Shouts came from the pool. Children were staring into the water. Parents had leapt to their feet and raced closer. Jenny felt her heart thump against her ribs. Where were the boys? Her eyes searched the area as she made her way down to the edge of the pool, found Andrew. Marcus? There, by the changing shed. Phew.

‘Lily,’ Shelley screamed, and pushed past Jenny to kneel down on the edge of the pool.

A man leapt into the pool, dived deep, aiming for the child on the bottom. The water was turning red down there.

‘What happened?’ Jenny asked the woman beside her. ‘I’m a doctor, I can help.’

‘I know. I think Lily was running along the edge and slipped. How many times do we have to tell the kids running is banned around the pool?’

‘Can you call the ambulance? I’ll do what I can but Lily is going to need oxygen and things that I don’t have with me.’ If she hasn’t drowned down there.

‘On it.’ The woman was already punching 111 on her cell. ‘The ambulance is just next door but the call will go through Christchurch.’

‘I suppose it would be asking too much for someone here to have a key?’ Jenny asked.

‘I’ve got one. I’m Brett, a volunteer crew member. Simone, tell the dispatcher you’ve got the ambulance sorted but they still need to record the call.’ The man turned to Jenny. ‘What do you need?’

‘A backboard, oxygen, neck brace, and the defibrillator just in case.’

Brett grabbed a woman by the arm. ‘Give us a hand.’

Jenny squatted awkwardly beside Shelley. ‘Your daughter?’

‘Yes. Is she going to be all right?’

That was the million-dollar question. ‘She hasn’t been down there more than a few seconds.’ But what was causing the bleeding?

Lily was quickly brought to the surface. Thankfully her rescuer had lifted her with his hands under her arms and saved her spine from curving. Now to keep her that way. ‘Someone take her for me,’ the man called.

‘Give her to me.’ Shelley reached for her daughter.

‘Mummy!’ Lily screamed.

‘Wait.’ Jenny grabbed Shelley’s shoulder. Thank goodness Lily was breathing. One less problem. ‘Sorry, Shelley, but we have to do this properly in case there’s any spinal damage.’ Looking around, she said, ‘Once we get the backboard I need three people in there to place it against Lily and lift her out.’

Instantly hands were raised, and people were saying, ‘I’ll help.’

She pointed to the nearest three. ‘Get into the water away from Lily so you don’t cause her needless movement. Then I want you to stand behind her with...?’

‘John.’

‘With John. I’ll come in and put a neck brace on her before you move her.’ She bent down to remove her shoe.

Someone tapped her on her shoulder. ‘Here you go. One neck brace. The backboard and everything you asked for. I’ll go in with the neck brace. You keep that cast dry.’ Brett gave her no time to reply, already sliding into the pool and pushing towards Lily.

Once Jenny saw Brett knew what he was doing she turned to get the backboard. Passing it down when he nodded, she held her breath as the girl was gently moved upwards and out to the side of the pool.

Shelley grabbed her hand and held on tight. ‘She’s bleeding from the head. That’s serious, isn’t it?’

Jenny squeezed back and looked around for Amanda. ‘Can you take care of Shelley?’ she mouthed.

Amanda joined them immediately, wrapping an arm around Shelley. ‘Hang in there, and try not to panic. I’m sure Jenny knows what she’s doing.’

‘Can someone get a blanket out of the ambulance?’ Jenny knelt beside the shivering, crying child. ‘Lily, I’m Jenny and I’m a doctor. I want you to lie absolutely still for me. You mustn’t move your head at all.’ Even with the brace there was room for small movements.

‘I want Mummy.’ Lily coughed up water. ‘Mummy,’ she hiccupped.

Brett held her as still as possible but he couldn’t prevent some movement. ‘Careful, Lily.’

‘Mummy’s here, love.’ Shelley’s voice wavered as she crowded closer.

Jenny began gently feeling Lily’s skull, looking for a soft patch where she might’ve hit the side of the pool. ‘Tell me if it hurts when I’m touching you. Do you feel any pins and needles in your legs?’

‘No. Why?’

‘What about in your fingers?’

‘No. Am I all right? Is that blood on my face?’ Lily’s faced puckered up as tears spurted from her eyes. ‘I don’t like blood.’

‘We’ll clean it up for you in a minute, sweetheart.’ The blood was pouring from a gash on Lily’s forehead but at least the bone didn’t appear to be broken. Still, only a scan would be able to totally eliminate that possibility.