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THE ENGLISH DOCTOR'S DILEMMA

Lucy Clark

In the arms of an Outback doctor

When English doctor Elizabeth Blakeny-Smith takes on a six-moth job in the Outback, she’s hoping to take control of her life. But a kiss from a sexy stranger sends the reserved doctor’s pulse racing, and suddenly control is the last thing on her mind! Especially when she discovers the stranger is her new colleague Dr. Mitch O’Neill…

Mitch can’t help but be attracted to the aloof newcomer, and is convinced Elizabeth needs to let her hair down and enjoy life - with him! But will her new-found freedom take her back home - or straight into Mitch’s arms?

'All
right, mate.' Mitch took a mouthful of his drink and placed it back on the bar. 'You're on!'

Raucous laughter met his words as the other men around them enjoyed the joke. A few slapped him on the back and others chided him. The bar attendant came over to check if they needed refills.

'Another lemonade, Mitch?'

'Thanks, Norah. That'd be beaut.'

'Aren't ya gonna give Nors a kiss, then?' one bloke asked.

'Nah,' another answered. 'He has to kiss the. next woman who walks into the pub, ya drongo.'

'Why on earth are you doing that?' Norah asked.

Mitch grinned at her, waggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively and then laughed. 'Because Pierre here says I've lost my way with women. Says I haven't been out on a date since I got here just over a year ago and that I've forgotten how to kiss a girl.'

'And you're gonna let him goad you like that?' Norah asked with surprise as she handed him a fresh drink.

Mitch grinned, his blue eyes twinkling. 'What have
I
got to lose?'

'You lot have been stuck down those mine-shafts too long.' Norah shook her head and went to serve another customer, leaving the laughing men behind.

The door to the bar opened and an unnatural hush came over the group of men standing around the bar. 'It's Maude,' one of the men said, and they all laughed. Mitch merely smiled. It was true, Maude was holding the door open but she was letting someone else precede her. Someone who had long legs—nice and luscious, just the way he liked them.

As though in slow motion, his gaze travelled up the woman's body, drinking in the feminine curves which were hidden beneath a pair of khaki shorts and a burnt orange cotton shirt. Her neck was long, her blonde hair secured on top of her head with a clip and her lips were light pink—not painted but natural. He liked that. He guessed she was about five feet nine, and he continued to watch as she took off her sunglasses and turned to look at Maude. The jovial pat he received on the back reminded him of the bet they had going.

'Whoo-hoo, Mitch!'

'What a score.'

Mitch registered the remarks as he strode across the floor and in one swift move enveloped the woman in his arms and bent his head to press his lips to hers. There was no struggle— merely surprise—and as he held his mouth on hers for a fraction of a second longer, he was astounded at the amount of information his senses gathered.

She was, oh, so soft and, oh, so sweet, tasting of the heat from outside, mingled with her own perspiration and a freshness which only served to intrigue him. Although it was warm outside, she smelled as fresh as a daisy on a cool summer's day and the scent wove itself subtly around him, making him want to prolong the moment even more.

Her
senses were dragged. For some strange reason, Elizabeth wasn't sure she could move. Shock, alarm and the need to linger a little longer were all mixed up and spinning around inside her head. The lips against hers were sweet and sugary which surprised her and although he didn't appear to be fresh from a shower, his smell wasn't offensive—more earthy and natural.

The hands at her back loosened a little but he didn't break the contact. Every nerve ending in her body was sparking to life as it never had before and it was this overwhelming emotion which gave Elizabeth the strength to pull back.

Before she could stop or think clearly about what she was doing, Elizabeth raised a shaking hand and slapped it across the man's face. 'How dare you?'

Mitch stepped back, his own hand coming up to cover the spot where hers had just connected with his cheek. Her eyes were green—a deep, vibrant green with small flecks of blue.

Everything, from the moment he'd seen her until the instant she'd slapped him, had happened as though in a dream. A muffled haze had surrounded them and he'd never believed moments in life could exist in slow motion—-but that one definitely had. Now things seemed to be moving like a freight train as Maude stepped into the pub and placed a hand on the woman's arm. It was then Mitch realised the woman he'd kissed was trembling.

'Mitch!' Maude scolded, but had a smile on her face. 'Leave my daughter alone. Go back to your mates. Go on.' Maude shooed him away and turned to the woman. 'Elizabeth, don't pay him any attention. He's a drongo.'

'A...a what?' Elizabeth watched as the man turned and walked back to the bar where he was greeted with great shouts of laughter and slaps on the back while he collected the money which had been placed on the bar. He had dark brown hair and the most amazing blue eyes she'd ever seen. He was tall, too. About six feet three, and their bodies had fitted perfectly together. She forced herself to look away and concentrate on what her mother was saying.

'A drongo,' her mother explained as they walked through the room. 'It means stupid.' Maude spoke loudly,
shaking her
finger at the men as they passed. 'And
they're all
stupid.'

'Aw, come on, Maude,' one called. 'We're only havin' a bit of fun.'

Maude led Elizabeth through to the back room where tables were set up, ceiling fans whirring above them. 'Have a seat, dear, and I'll get us a couple of menus.'

Elizabeth did as her mother suggested, trying not to look in the direction of the bar to where
that man
was. Mitch—was that what her mother had called him? Well, Mitch whoever-he-was would have to learn to leave her alone. She didn't like being...manhandled, and the sooner the people of this town knew that, the better. She straightened her back, trying to show her displeasure and lack of interest.

Her mother obviously knew the man quite well but, then, in the small opal-mining town of Coober Pedy, it appeared that everybody knew everyone else. At least, that's what she'd observed during the few days since she'd arrived. It was something she didn't know if she could get used to...but she had six months to find out. Six long months.

By the time Maude returned, Elizabeth almost had herself under control again.

'Are you sure you're all right, darling?' Maude peered at her, concerned.

'Yes, Mum. I'm fine.' Her words were clear and modulated, her British accent sounding strong against her mother's more muted one.

'Don't worry. I'll have a word with him—and the rest of them to make sure they leave you alone.'

'Mum,' Elizabeth protested, but her mother held up her hand.

'No. I don't want you changing your mind and rushing back to England on account of some blokes being stupid because they've had a tough day down a mine.'

'So... they're miners, are they?'

'Most of them, but not Mitch.' Maude shook her head and sighed heavily. 'I don't know how to tell you this, Elizabeth, but...Mitch is a doctor.
The
doctor at the hospital, really. He's the man in charge.'

'Mitch! The man who kissed me?'

'Yes.'

'G'day.' A woman carried over two long, cool glasses. 'I'm Norah and I run this place. Sorry about Mitch and the boys. Just being silly as I'm sure your mum here has explained.'

'Er...yes.' Elizabeth forced a smile and thanked Norah for the drink.

'Ready , to order?'

Elizabeth wasn't sure she could even read her menu at the moment. First she'd been kissed—an amazing kiss which had rocked her senses far more than she would ever admit—and now she'd discovered the man who was responsible for her present turmoil was also going to be her boss! How on earth was she supposed to focus on choosing food to eat?

'Uh...I'm actually not that hungry any more,' she muttered. 'Another cool drink would be lovely, though.'

'You've got it and don't worry about payin'. I'll put it on Mitch's tab for tonight. It's the least he can do to make up for embarrassin' you like that.'

This time, Elizabeth's smile was genuine. 'Thank you. That does make me feel better. In fact, I think I'll have a glass of champagne.'

'I'll be in that,' Maude chimed in, and the three women laughed.

'I'll go let the good doctor know,' Norah said, and left them alone.

Elizabeth looked at her mother, a moment of doubt flickering in her eyes. 'Are you sure it's all right? I don't want to start my time here on the wrong foot.'

'Yes, of course, dear. Mitch deserves it. Don't give it another thought.'

'All right, then.' Elizabeth sighed and took a lace-trimmed handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed at her forehead, trying to forget all about Mitch and the way his mouth had felt on hers. 'Is it always this hot?'

'This is nice weather,' Maude replied. 'Gets stinking hot in summer. As we're now in winter, the temperature's quite nice. Can still get the washing dry on the line.'

'You mean you don't put it in the dryer?'

'Ha! I doubt anyone here
owns
a dryer, dear. There's no need.'

'I guess.' Elizabeth glanced over in the direction of the bar.

'Forget him,' Maude said. 'He's not going to mind about the drinks. Trust me. I've known Mitch O'Neil since he came to Coober Pedy and he's a good bloke.'

'Has he been here long?'

'Just over a year.'

'Where did he come from?'

'Not exactly sure. Sydney," I think.'

'He's a long way from home.'

'Look who's talking,' Maude pointed out. 'You're here all the way from England.' Her mother's expression turned serious. 'Does your father know?' she asked quietly.

"That I'm here in Coober Pedy? Yes, of course he knows.'

'I meant, that you're here with me.'

Elizabeth looked down at her hands, fidgeting with her hanky before slowly meeting Maude's gaze. 'No.'

'I thought as much. I don't blame you for not wanting him to know. So...he just thinks you're working here for six months and that's it?'

Elizabeth nodded. 'Basically.'

'And what about Marcus?'

Elizabeth sighed and shook her head. 'I don't want to talk about him, Mum.'

'All right, but you're going to have to at least think about him at some point. That's one of the reasons why you wanted to come here—to have some distance between the two of you so you could sort your feelings out.'

'I know and I will, but not now. Right now, I want to enjoy being with my mother.' She smiled, determined to do just that.

Norah came over with their drinks. 'Mitch said to bring over a whole bottle of champagne to welcome you to the outback.' She poured the wine and left them.

'See.' Maude raised her eyebrows, proving her point. 'Mitch wasn't at all fussed about the drinks. Things are much more relaxed out here. Nowhere near as stuffy as what you're used to back home.'

'How long did it take you to adjust?'

Maude smiled and shook her head. 'Not long at all but, then, I had an added incentive for relaxing.' Elizabeth watched as a sadness came in to her mother's eyes. 'It's been almost five years since Stu died and I still wake up in the middle of the night and reach for him.'

'He was your soul mate?'

'He was.' Maude reached across and took her daughter's hand. 'Although I regret being pushed into marrying your father, I have never regretted having you. For that first year of my marriage, you were my salvation. I doted on you—loved you so completely.' Tears pricked in the older woman's eyes. 'I still do but I feel as though I should have fought harder for custody. I feel as though I failed you.'

Elizabeth squeezed her mother's hand. 'No. Don't think that. You haven't. I'm here, aren't I? We're together—finally, after all these years.'

'Yes.'