Secret Santa
Mina Carter
Published: 2011
Published by Summerhouse Publishing. Copyright, Mina Carter. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.
Summerhouse Publishing
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Mina Carter
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
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Chapter One
“Oh wow Jo, those are gorgeous! Did you get them in the Secret Santa?”
Jo Micheals, senior nurse in Newbolton Accident & Emergency, looked down at the earrings in the little box on the desk in front of her and nodded. She hadn't got over her surprise at receiving them herself.
“Oh, now why didn't I get something like those? I got kitty cat socks!” Emmie, a junior nurses on the department shoved the socks under Jo’s nose. Cartoon cats picked out in wool waggled merrily before her eyes.
“Emmie, you like cats.” Jo pointed out, grinning up at the younger woman. “You've got a cat bag, cat umbrella, cat scarf… hell, I wouldn't be surprised if you've got cat panties!”
The junior nurse narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion, “Hey, how'd you know? You been sneaking into my apartment and checking out my underwear drawer or something?” she giggled, snatching the cat socks back, as though Jo would steal them given half the chance. That Emmie loved cats, and by extension anything that had a cat on, was well known in the department. Jo knew for a fact Adrian, one of the porters, went out of his way to find cat things to leave around for her. No doubt the person responsible for the socks.
Jo laughed, rapidly working down her notes and signing them off. “No hun, I guessed. Doesn't take a genius to work out, does it?”
“Nope,” Emmie looked at her new socks with a smile. “They're cute though aren't they?”
“They are.”
“Still,” Emmie cast a covetous glance at the earrings in Jo's hand with a wistful sigh. “Cat earrings would have been fantastic as well!”
Jo hid a smile as Adrian walked past them pushing a trolley, a thoughtful expression on his face. Santa would no doubt bring Emmie some cat earrings as well now. She hoped Adrian would admit to Emmie he fancied her sometime soon and ask her out. Emmie was good at her job and all, but with men she wasn't the sharpest tool in the box.
“Ok, got to go and deal with the gentleman in cubicle four, catch you in a bit Jo.” Emmie tucked her new socks into her pocket and grabbed the notes she needed.
“Yeah, sure thing Em,” Jo answered, not realising her friend had already gone, her attention caught by the earrings again. She hadn't expected these when she opened the small package handed to her in the traditional department Secret Santa give out. Every year, instead of having to buy gifts for everyone all the names went into a hat. Everyone drew a slip with a name on, the person they were to buy a present for. The budget had been agreed to suit everyone's pockets. Nurses didn't make much, porters less, so it had to be something which wouldn't break the bank.
She nudged an earring with a delicate finger, making the inset crystals dance in the overhead light. They were more than the budget they'd been given. She knew because she'd been admiring them in the jeweller’s window the other day. Tilting the box she read the name inside the lid 'Keystone & Hammersmith Fine Jewellers'. Yes, they were the same earrings.
Biting her lip as guilt washed through her she stood and slid the box into her pocket. She should find out who'd given them to her and give them back. They were far too expensive a gift to accept, even though everything in her that liked pretty things wanted to keep them.
Temptation filled her. On her wages and with bills to pay she would never be able to afford them herself. But now someone had brought them for her? Perhaps a hint that she should have them... Shaking her head, she grabbed the next set of notes from the pile. She'd find out who had given them to her and give them back. Besides, she was late with her own secret Santa gift, a fact which made her squirm in guilt as soon as she recalled it.
Her low heels clicked on the polished floors as she walked down the corridor, heading for cubicle seven. She'd drawn Drew Carson, the department's lead consultant, for her name. Even after three weeks she still had no clue what to buy for him. A brilliant doctor and trauma surgeon, Carson was grumpy and particular. His office was laid out with the precise he insisted in theatre and they'd had many nurses in tears after working with him. His gruff manner and sharp tongue often upset people.
Jo though, had no problems with him. No one could argue his abilities and she liked the blunt, no nonsense attitude. He was a magician in trauma surgery, especially the paediatric cases, his touch light and delicate for such a big man.
But that didn't mean she had the slightest clue what to buy him. A sigh on her lips she realised she'd just have to brave the Christmas crowds and trawl the local shops at lunch. With any luck she'd be able to pick something up, wrap it and drop if off in his office before she left tonight.
Reaching cubicle seven, she pulled the curtain aside, a reassuring smile on her face for the young boy and his mother sat waiting. “Hi, I'm Jo, a senior nurse here. I'm just going to clean up that knee for the doctor, okay?”
The day came and went. Jo barely had chance to catch her breath and by the time she looked up at the clock again, it showed an hour to the end of shift.
“Oh shit,” She murmured, reaching for the earring box in her pocket. She'd forgotten to go out at lunch to get her Secret Santa gift for Carson. In fact, thanks to a rush around break time, she hadn't eaten today either. Her stomach growled to remind her but she ignored the rumbling, more concerned with the lack of a present.
What was she going to do now? All the local shops would be shut at this time of night, and she couldn't leave it until tomorrow. Well, she could, but she wouldn't feel right.
“Kisses under the mistletoe! Only a pound! All proceeds to the hospitals preemie unit!” Two voices rang out in merriment behind her. Jo turned in curiosity to see two nurses from the special care unit cruising the waiting room, decked out in tinsel and angel wings and dangling mistletoe to collect kisses.
Jo grinned; she had to admire their inventiveness. The hospital always needed funds and, in Jo's opinion, there wasn't a better place to collect money for. She'd worked a couple of shifts up in special care but she hadn't been able to hack it. She was too soft-hearted around babies. She’d always wanted kids, but James hadn't. So they hadn't had kids. A blessing in disguise.
Her face shuttered a little at the thought of her ex-husband. With determination she pushed those memories to the back of her mind and locked the door on them. The divorce was done and dusted, she had a restraining order out on the jerk and it was Christmas. The one thing she didn't need to do was trawl it all up and make herself miserable.
“Kisses under the mistletoe!! How about you handsome? A pound a kiss!” The two giggling nurses rounded on an elderly gentleman in a wheelchair who grinned broadly. His delight at having the attention of two young women obvious. But then, who didn't like the old tradition of a kiss under the mistletoe?
Her eyes narrowed, a thought hitting her. Of course! A kiss under the mistletoe. Even old Scrooge Carson couldn't turn down a Christmas kiss, could he? And a kiss didn't cost anything, a gift she didn't need to go out and get. Perfect! Before she changed her mind Jo headed over.
“Hey, can I borrow some?” She indicated the mistletoe in their hands.
“Of course you can love, you off to spread a little Christmas cheer?” The taller nurse grinned and snapped a bit off to pass to Jo.
“Something like that, thanks!” Jo called over her shoulder as she headed for the stairs. She needed to do this now, before her courage ran out.
Doctor Drew Carson sat behind his desk and shuffled paper between files. Then, when he ran out of paper to shuffle, he shuffled the files. He was in no hurry to leave his office and head home. There was no one there, and he hated going home to a cold, empty house. At least here there were people around and activity. He didn't usually get lonely, except at around Christmas.
He knew what they called him on the department. Scrooge Carson, the grumpy old man and various other names which attested to his abrupt and blunt manner. He'd heard about the book running on whether he'd smile before New Year. Perhaps he should place a bet. He'd make a killing!
Snorting, he gave up on the files, leaning back in his chair to run a hand through his close cropped, dark hair. His admin assistant, Pat, wouldn't thank him for messing them up, he'd better not fiddle with them anymore. She might never forgive him.
He should get going. Take a cruise through the department and check everything was okay... he sighed. Okay, so he wanted to check and see if Jo had received the earrings. He'd been holding off going down all day and asking what she'd received in the Secret Santa. He knew she had to have opened them by now. He wanted to see the look on her face, hopefully a glow of happiness.
He liked Jo, felt for her. She had a sadness around her that pulled at his heart, an organ he'd long thought dead. When he'd pulled her name out of the hat he hadn't been able to resist trying to lift that sadness a little.
And he'd known the perfect gift. When he'd been in Keystone’s dropping off his watch for a repair the other day he'd spotted her looking in the window. Absorbed in her study she hadn't seen him. But he'd seen her and the wistful look on her face as she'd looked at the earrings on the central display. So when he’d pulled her name he'd gone right back to the jewellers and brought them.
He hoped she did like them now and he hadn't misread her expression. Drew was the first to admit he wasn't the most astute when it came to women. They were a whole different species. A weird species, especially nurses who always seemed to burst into tears around him. Although he hadn’t managed to make Jo cry. Another reason he liked her; calm and efficient, she dealt with his outbursts in trauma without so much as batting an eyelid.
A soft knock at his door brought his hands down and he straightened up. “Come in,” he called out, quite unprepared for the woman who'd just been occupying his thoughts to sidle into the room. She closed the door behind her with a small click.
“I'm not disturbing you, am I?” She had one hand behind her back as though ready to escape, leaving him alone. Whatever else Drew wanted, it wasn't to be left alone. Not by this woman.
“No, no, come in.” He ordered, his voice brusque. Great, nice one Drew, he berated himself as she stepped back a little.
“Please,” he added, trying to soften his tone. The whole department knew she'd been through a messy divorce and had a restraining order out on her abusive ex. Hell; he'd even rung here to threaten her. After that Drew had security keep a special watch out for her car in the staff car park. Watching to make sure she got to her car without incident. The one thing Drew couldn't understand was a man who hit a woman. His anger rose at the thought. Men like that weren't men at all, they were cowards and bullies.
“What can I do for you Jo?” He asked into the silence, waiting for her to speak. She didn’t chatter much, at least not to him. But he’d noted she had friends amongst the other staff so he hung around the nurses’ station as he made his notes, listening to the chatter. He liked to listen to her voice. God, that made him sound so pathetic. Brushing the thought off in irritation he focused his attention on her.
“Ermm, I was supposed to get you a Secret Santa gift,” She looked uncomfortable and started to gabble. “I was going to go out at lunch but then the RTA came in and everything went manic and…”
Drew levered himself out of his seat, his lips quirking a little as he realised what she was trying to say.
“You didn’t manage to get out and you forgot?” His prompt was voiced gently as he rounded his desk to lean against the front edge, arms folded over his broad chest. Closed off, closed off, the people management trained part of his brain screamed. Uncrossing his arms he rested his palms on the desk either side of his hips.
“I am so sorry, I feel really bad about it-”
Drew cut her off with a shake of his head.
“Really, it's not a problem,” he said but she wasn't listening to him, pulling some greenery from behind her back. It was a testament to how long his day had been that he didn't recognise the sorry offering. It took him a few seconds before realisation kicked in but by then she had it held over her head.
“Christmas kiss instead?” She offered with a shy smile.
Oh god, he was looking at her as though she'd gone and grown another head or something! Jo quaked in her boots at the stunned expression on his face. Well, she would have been quaking in her boots if she'd been wearing any. Instead she was just quaking in her 'I've been on my feet for twenty hours and can do without blisters' sensible nurses shoes. Which was nearly as bad.
Her hand, the one holding the mistletoe over her head, shook a little. She'd die of embarrassment if he laughed at her. Already she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole!
“A Christmas kiss, eh?” His slow drawl, the one with the sexy hint of a Scottish accent, made her bite her lip, nodding her head a little. Butterflies started to flutter in her stomach as he pushed away from the desk, his eyes unreadable as he held her gaze. Holding her helpless as he walked, no stalked, towards her. His movements screamed pure male predator as he moved to stand in front of her.
“Uh-huh, Christmas kiss. Mistletoe. See?” She squeaked, shaking the already abused piece of greenery. A berry fell off and rolled away under the desk. Amusement flared in his eyes, coloured his voice as she almost took his eye out.
“Indeed.”
His large hand closed around her wrist, moving the sharp points of the twig out of range of his eye. A shiver went through her as his thumb stroked over the sensitive skin on the inside of her wrist, causing a cascade of pleasure to run down her spine. A cascade which set off the butterflies again, whipping them up into a frenzy.
He closed in, the scent of expensive aftershave over warm skin wrapping around her as his hand slid round the curve of her waist. He pulled her nearer, until she could feel the heat of his body against hers, even through her uniform. Somehow that was more sensual than if he'd pulled her up flush against him. An overtly sexual move that would have had her running for the door in panic. She swallowed nervously. This was far different from the innocent kiss she'd been thinking of and he hadn't even gotten near her lips with his yet.
His eyelids half hooded, concealing the expression in his eyes as he leaned in. Her eyes latched onto his lips. Full sensual lips. Lips which in the next instant brushed against hers.
Warm and firm they pressed against hers in the softest, gentlest kiss imaginable. The sheer sensuality hit her like a truck. He moved, nibbling at her. His hands didn't move, the light touch at her back and around her wrist holding her still, a willing captive as she relaxed. Her lips relaxed as she started to respond, returning his kiss.
He lifted his head, pulling his lower lip between his teeth as though tasting her. The dark flash of need and heat in his eyes made her catch her breath.
“Have dinner with me. Tomorrow.”
Chapter Two
Drew had been like a cat on a hot tin roof most of the day. He’d struggled to concentrate but at least he hadn't had Jo around to distract him. Today was her day off and, for once, he wasn't grumbling to himself and missing her.
Well, he had missed her but after their kiss in his office last night, he wouldn't have been able to think straight around her. Ripping a nurse's clothes off and making mad, passionate love to her on the bed in the trauma room was the sort of behaviour the hospital management frowned on. But after that sweet, innocent as all hell yet hot kiss, he didn’t think he’d have been able to stay professional today.
Sitting in the car outside her house he shivered, replaying that little scene over in his mind. When she'd pulled the mistletoe and proposed a kiss he’d been speechless. He didn't know what had surprised him more; that Jo, quiet, restrained little Jo, had offered or the desire which had slammed into him. The instant desire which brought his body to full attention at the merest touch of her lips against his. He wanted her, pure and simple.
Drew groaned and rested his head back. Sure he’d dated since his divorce but everything had been very restrained. Quiet dinners with women in similar situations. Amusement filled him, polite evenings ending with a peck on the cheek and a promise to call which never materialised.
Never once had he felt the urge to pull any of them hard against him and kiss them as though his life depended on it. He’d never once wanted to take them to bed to slake the need surging through his body and stay there for at least a month. For a divorced guy approaching the big four-o that was a hell of a shock!
Lifting his head he checked the time. Over half an hour early, but he hadn't been able to stay away. Reaching forwards he turned the engine off. Now he just needed to figure out an excuse that didn’t make him look pathetically eager for showing up at this time.
In the area? Nope, wouldn't work. Jo knew he didn't live locally so the only reason he had for being here was to pick her up. Finished early and thought I'd head on over? Nope, made him sound like he had no life. Which he didn't, not really. All he'd done after work was drive home like a maniac so he could get ready and get over to pick her up faster. The truth it might be, but he had some male pride left.
Long drive so I thought we'd get a head start? Straightening up, he looked over at her house. The lights were on upstairs as well as down. She must still be getting ready. The snow which had started to fall earlier was thicker and faster now so the line might just work. He wasn’t lying; he would have to be a little more careful on the road to get them to the restaurant.
Very exclusive, Ashton Grange was an old manor house converted to a hotel and restaurant and like most old manors it was out in the wilds. Nodding to himself, the beginnings of a smile crossed his newly shaven face. Yeah, that could work. That could definitely work. Removing the keys he got out of the car, ducking his head against the snow as he headed for Jo's front door at a dash.
*
Jo stood at the bottom of her bed, torn between the classy little black dress and the more casual strappy top and black pants laid out full length. Standing there in her underwear, Jo nibbled her lip as she tried to decide.
She edged towards the little black dress, but... could that be a little too formal for a first date? Pausing again, she tried to quell the jitters in her stomach at the thought. Was this even a date? Come on… men like Drew Carson, sex on legs Drew Carson, didn't ask mousey divorcée's out on dates. Not in this universe anyway. But he had. For some reason after their amazing kiss last night he'd asked her to dinner!
She nibbled her lip again and hissed, remembering her make-up. She'd spent ages doing her face and she didn't want to mess it up before Drew got here. Turning to the bed again she made a snap decision. Pants and top. She didn't want to look desperate.
She pulled them on before she changed her mind, zipping the pants up and smoothing them over her hips as the phone downstairs rang. Her spirits crashed but she headed for the door anyway. It would be Drew, calling to say he'd changed his mind.
*
Drew reached Jo’s front door in record time, using the meagre shelter offered by the tiny porch and stood on the doorstep shivering as he rang the bell. Something moved behind the frosted glass, a feminine figure appearing for a second before the latch clicked and the door started to open.
“Look James, I don't know how you got this number but it's over.” Jo's voice filled Drew's ears as he stepped through the door, closing it behind him and shutting out the foul weather. He frowned as he picked up the stressed note in her voice.
“No James, I don't have to see you. That's why the courts awarded the restraining order against you... yes, yes... I do have the right to do that. You're not my husband anymore.”
One look at her pale, drawn face and Drew had had enough. His temper flared. Oh, this bastard didn't give up did he? He moved up behind her, his male brain automatically registering and appreciating the curvy figure under the shiny top and pants as he reached around her to take the phone.
“I’m sorry, you appear to have the wrong number sir,” He said over the male voice still ranting on the other end. Then he cut the call off, putting the receiver back in the cradle as Jo turned to him.
“Don’t let him get to you Jo, you don’t have to put up with his crap anymore.”His hand lifted of its own accord, his thumb whispering over her cheek in a soft caress. He wanted to do more, so much more, but he restrained himself, acting the gentlemen. A small voice in his head snickered. You might be acting it now but if she gives you half an opening to get her into bed you’ll take it like a shot.
“Thank you,” Jo shivered, her eyes fluttering closed as she turned towards his hand. Her lashes rose, those dark eyes studying him. The shy, almost coltish air she had about her hit him in the gut. All he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and keep her safe from harm.
“Ahh what the hell,” he murmured, giving into the impulse and pulling her into his embrace. His strong arms wrapped around her, holding the slender female figure tight against him as he dropped a kiss on her dark curls. “He can’t hurt you any more sweetheart, I promise.”
She shuddered but didn’t fight his hold. Instead she snuggled closer, nestling against him with a trust which stunned him. After all she’d been through, that she could still trust, much less a grumpy bastard like him took his breath away. He rested his cheek on the top of her head, savouring the sensation as she let him hold her.
*
“How far is the restaurant anyway?” Jo asked as the snow hitting the car windscreen got heavier. Already Drew had slowed the car to a near crawl, scowling at the blizzard obscuring the view like bad static on a television screen.
“Might as well be the other side of the world in this,” A frown on his face, he changed down a gear as a hedge loomed large ahead of them. “I’m sorry, I didn’t think the weather would get quite this bad.”
“No worries, I'm sure you'll get us there safely.”
In truth Jo was glad the journey was taking a while. With the snow pelting down outside around them the warmth and soft music inside the car had created their own little world. One she was in no hurry to leave. The call from James earlier had rattled her. Her number was ex-directory and she changed her cell number on a regular basis so he couldn’t track her down and harass her. But when he did get hold of her, she never knew what to say. Just hearing his voice made her freeze, all her pre-prepared arguments flying out of her head as she struggled to frame a response. She just wished she could hang up on him like Drew had earlier but somehow she never managed to.
She slid her companion another covert glance. Dressed in a suit he didn’t look much different to how she saw him at work, maybe a little smarter. Normally his tie only lasted half an hour into the day and the neat style of his hair suffered under his habit of running his hand through it when thinking. His tall, well muscled figure lounged in the driver’s seat. The action of driving, pressing the pedals down in the foot-well making the fabric of his pants pull taut over his thighs.
Oh my, what would it feel like to have those thighs against hers, entwined with hers? Heat flooded through her and Jo hastily dropped her gaze. She should be locked up if the sight of fabric over a guy’s thighs tipped her into a hormone fuelled fantasy!
“I certainly hope so,” Drew ‘s concentration was fierce as he navigated the big car around the twists and turns of the small country roads. The silence between them stretched as the speed of the car slowed and slowed until Drew hissed in frustration. “It's no good, I think we're going to have to stop. I can't see a thing and I don't want to drive us off the road.”
Jo looked from him to the scene outside in concern. She'd been aware the conditions had been getting worse for a while now but hadn't wanted to say anything to disturb him.
“Do you think it'll last long?” She asked, her tone worried. There was something magical about snow, a holdover from childhood when the fresh white blanket signalled hours of fun building snowmen or in snowball fights. As an adult the magic dimmed a little, worries about needing to get to work and whether the heating would pack in during a cold snap intruding.
“I'm not sure, I hope not.”
He pulled the car over into a field gateway which appeared to the left, trying to pull the big vehicle off the road and out of harm’s way. It just fit, filling the space available. Which shouldn't be a problem, Jo didn't think any farmer would out and need to get into his field in all this.
He pulled the handbrake up with a short movement and leaned forwards, his arms on the steering wheel as he tried to gauge the snowfall in the headlights. Falling thick and fast, it was almost a vertical sheet of white. “I hate to say this but we might be stuck in here for a while.”
Jo shivered. An automatic response. She had her coat with her but that was all. How cold would it get? She knew without asking that Drew wouldn't be able to keep the engine running. After all they didn’t know how long they were going to be stuck here. Far better to save fuel so they could get moving once the weather cleared.
She squinted out the window, trying to see through the snow. The black of the night and the white of the snow rendered the world outside monochrome. Next to her Drew scowled at his mobile phone. “Typical, no signal either.”
She nodded, not surprised. The signal around Newbolton with some networks was dicey at best, non-existent at worst. “Ok, we should get comfortable I guess. I don't suppose you've got camping kit hiding out in the boot have you?”
Of all the responses that was one Drew hadn't been expecting. He let go of the breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. Oddly a sense of pride filled him. He should have known she wouldn't throw a fit. His Jo was too practical for that. A frown crossed his brow. When had she become his Jo?
“I’m afraid not, I wasn't expecting to be on an Arctic expedition tonight...” No, with any luck tonight would be heading to action of the more romantic type. He didn't think Jo was the sort to leap into bed on the first date but, at the least, he had hoped to get a goodnight kiss.
He wouldn't be sleeping anyway, the memory of their first kiss had been going around and around in his mind since yesterday. A memory he wanted to relive, the need to taste her again fast becoming an all consuming obsession. “... I think I have a blanket in the boot though. We could use that.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She cast a speculative glance at the back seat as she removed her shoes, kicking off the strappy heels. Before Drew could say anything her slender hand used his shoulder for support as she clambered between the seats. He turned his head, biting back a groan as the delectable curve of her hip and ass filled his line of sight. Blood pooled in his lower body, need for her hitting him hard again. Christ, if she carried on like this, he wasn't going to survive ten minutes, much less a couple of hours as they waited for the storm to abate.
The sound of the seat folding down behind him had Drew turning. Jo was half buried in the boot, leaning over the folded seat to root around for the picnic blanket.
“Aha! We're in luck, it's a fleece one. They hold more heat in!” Jo crowed in triumph as she backed up, dragging the tartan blanket with her.
“Huh, what?” Drew asked, realising she'd spoken, quickly dragging his eyes from where they were latched onto her luscious rear. She caught him though, just before he looked away, a flush settling over her cheeks.
“Fleece blanket, keeps more heat in,” Jo replied, not looking at him. Had she seen what she thought she'd seen? Had he been checking her out? No, he couldn’t have been. Men like him didn't check out prettily plump nurses like her. He was the sort of man who went after the skinny blonde types, which she wasn't. She wasn't even the skinny brunette type, she knew that. James had left her with no illusions about her figure.
So quite why Drew had asked her out she had no idea. Perhaps a case of temporary insanity but she'd enjoy it whilst it lasted. A fairytale for Christmas. She nibbled her lip as she shook the blanket out. Big enough to cover the whole of the seat, they'd be nice and toasty even with the engine off.
“Hmmm, you should come back here as well. Best if we... uhm… if we share our body heat, don't you think? Less chance of hypothermia?”
Sharing body heat. Hell, she was going to be the death of him. Turned away from her, Drew closed his eyes and prayed for God to give him strength as he turned the engine off. He wanted to share a lot more than just body heat, a hell of a lot more. But seducing her on the back seat of his car like some hormone driven teenager wasn't on the agenda, no matter what the temptation.
“Uhm yeah, we should. Move over, I'm coming through,” He told her as he twisted in his seat. He wasn't a small man so it required some interesting contortions for him to get through the gap between the front seats. But no way was he venturing outside. No matter how quick he moved, he'd get soaked and they'd lose the heat out of the car. He grumbled as he got stuck halfway. Why the hell did they make these things so damn small?
Finally he made it, slithering through the gap more due to gravity than any sense of grace and landing in the back seat with a thud. She slid a sideways glance at him, a smile in her dark eyes. “Not an escape artist then?”
“Not exactly, I always got caught trying to sneak out as a kid. Never quite developed the knack.“ He chuckled, tucking the blanket around them and lifting his arm, offering the spot underneath. Giving her the choice rather than assuming he had permission to touch her. She swallowed, an unreadable expression in her siren's eyes for a moment. After a long moment she nodded and settled against him with a sigh.
He closed his eyes, once again feeling a warm fuzzy feeling in his chest at her trust in him. He tightened his arm around her, liking the feel of her nestled close to his body. She felt right there, as though they'd been made for each other.
Her perfume, an unexpected exotic fragrance he wouldn't have figured her for, rose from her warm skin to tease his senses. Drew leaned his head against the back of the seat and wondered how the hell he was going to survive the next few hours.
In the end he didn't have to wait that long. They'd settled into comfortable silence, Jo dozing on his chest, when a tap at the window surprised him.
“Wha... who is that? Did you manage to call help?” Jo asked, startled out of sleep by the sharp noise against the window pane. She sat up, pushing her hair out of her eyes as she peered at the figure the other side of the glass.
Drew rolled the window down, wincing a little at the blast of icy air. “Hello?”
“You daft buggars'll freeze if you're planning on stayin' in there all night.” The muffled form accused, leaning forwards until the craggy face hidden in the layers appeared. A local farmer if his clothing and general appearance was anything to go by. “The big 'ouse is over the back there. You'll 'ave to trek over the field but there's the barn loft you're welcome to until morning. It's nay much but it's got a heater at least.”
Chapter Three
Presented with the offer of a warm room it took them less than a minute to get ready to follow the farmer. Jo shivered as she stepped out of the car, her coat wrapped close around her. The chill fingers of the wind sliced through the thin trousers and icy water soaked through her strappy heels as soon as she put her feet on the ground.
The farmer grumbled something about 'suitable clothing' but Jo ignored him, feeling comforted as soon as Drew climbed out the car. His large, broad shouldered figure behind her the chill wind down. She smiled her thanks over her shoulder, and paused, her breath stolen away.
With the heavy black coat swathing his body, the wind ruffling his hair and his face half in shadow he looked dangerous. Every inch the pirate or highwayman she’d always imagined the heroes in her favourite historical novels to look. She shivered as he looked at her, his eyes dark for a moment, as though he could see straight into her soul. See the longing and need there.
He frowned in concern, noting the fine shivers she couldn’t control. “We’d best get moving before my wife freezes out here,” he told the farmer as he locked up, pocketing the keys and taking Jo’s arm.
She opened her mouth to say she could walk on her own, thank you very much, when her feet started to slide from under her. With a gasp she clung to Drew’s arm to keep her balance, her ire over the wife comment forgotten.
“Ye wants to be careful,” the farmer called over the whistling wind. “Gonna be slippy under foot. Got a good frost going before this lot started to fall. Roads’ll be death traps in the morning.”
“Hold onto me,” Drew cautioned in an undertone as they followed the heavily wrapped figure of the farmer. Survival wasn’t an option if they got lost in this, dressed as they were. It would be suicide. Jo hurried along as fast as she could, ignoring the biting cold in her feet. Oh, what had persuaded her to wear the heels? They were beautiful but also as impractical as a chocolate fire guard and not up to trudging through snow covered fields. She should have worn walking boots instead.
“The next time I go out with you, remind me to pack hiking gear,” she grumbled, the two of them slipping and sliding as they hurried after the farmer. Until, finally, the looming figure of buildings became visible ahead.
Jo breathed a sigh of relief as they reached the gate, smiling at their unusual rescuer. She’d always thought of angels as beautiful celestial creatures. Right now though, her vision had changed to include a hunched over, near geriatric and wizened old man.
“Thank you so much for this,” Jo said as he opened the door to an impromptu barn conversion. A total DIY job, the bottom level still had straw and… other suspect stains on the concrete floor.
“Ye’re welcome. Room’s up the stairs. Heater’s an old calor one but it works.” He said, stamping his feet to tramp the snow off and pointed to a flight of steps clinging to the side of the wall. “Used to be the farm managers place so there’s a bog an’ a wash room, the sofa’s a bed settee thing. Basic but clean and better than you two young ‘uns freezing to death out in yer car.”
“Indeed and thank you for coming out to find us, much appreciated. And for the use of the room.” Drew said, his deep voice sincere as he held his hand out to shake the older man’s.
“Nay problem, you’d best get your missus settled in and warmed up though. Before she catches her death in them shoes,” The old farmer pointed out as he released Drew’s hand. “I’ll see what the old bat has on the stove and bring sommat over for you two to eat in a wee while,”
The old farmer turned and walked out the door, leaving them standing alone in the cavernous barn looking at each other. Drew's lips quirked and he broke into a chuckle.
“Ok, this wasn't what I had in mind when I asked you out to dinner but...” he extended his arm in a courtly gesture, “... shall we milady?”
Jo felt an answering grin cross her face. “Of course My Lord, I would be delighted.” She placed her hand on his arm as they headed for the stairs. Fortunately they were sturdier than their first appearance and before long Drew pushed open the door to the small room.
“Oh this isn't too bad,” Jo breathed as they stepped into a neat little room. It's origins as an office were plain to see. A battered desk sat in the corner with an equally battered chair beside it. She stepped further into the room, heading over to the couch to investigate. As promised it was a bed-settee, an older model with some heavy looking springs.
She removed the cushions, casting a glance over her shoulder. Drew advanced on the heater with the look of a man facing a man-eating lion. “Sure you don't want a whip and a chair, just in case?” She asked, a teasing note in her voice.
“Rawr.” He winked at her as he turned it on, waiting for a few seconds before he turned the dial to full. The distinctive click and 'whoosh' of the gas lighting told her that however old and battered it looked, it was in good working order. Jo relaxed a little. At least they wouldn't burn the guy's barn down after he’d been kind enough to give them shelter.
She managed to wrestle the bed-settee out to its extended position, locking the bed into place before looking around for some sort of bedding. A fully stocked linen closet was out of the question but a search of the cupboards turned up some blankets. She shook them out over the mattress. With the one they'd brought from the car and the heater, they'd be quite snug.
Drew turned from the fire, stripping his thick coat off and noticing the fine shivers that running through her slender figure.
“Here, sit down and let me check your feet. They must be frozen in those,” He insisted, stopping her fussing around with the bed. An act he suspected she was using to forget she was alone in a room with him, a room which had a bed.
Yes! There is a God! Drew clamped down on the very male thought as he put a hand on her shoulder, making her sit down on the bed.
“I'm fine, honestly-”
“Ssssh, you know the dangers of frostbite as well as I do Jo, let me check.” He gave her a firm look, the sort he used when he didn't want arguments. Her lips compressed a little and he wasn't sure whether she was irritated or suppressing a smile. The twinkle in her eyes made him suspect the latter.
He bowed his head, his large hands sliding down her calf and along the slender ankle. His fingers hooked under the straps, drawing the sodden shoes off her feet.
“Hell Jo, your feet are like blocks of ice!” He exclaimed, checking them over and not passing up the chance to touch her, regardless of the excuse. He flicked a glance up, caught her looking at him and the expression in them took his breath away.
Hope, and something else. Something so small and new he didn’t recognise it at first. But then realisation kicked in. It was trust and hope - just starting to blossom and poke its head above the soil like the emerging shoot of a new plant. And just as easily crushed.
Drew moved without thinking, his thumb stroking along her cheekbone as his hand slid into the nape of her neck. Gentle pressure pulled her towards him, his eyes flicking down from hers to her lips for a second. Leaving her in no doubt to what he wanted to do, giving her the chance to pull away if she wanted to.
But Jo didn’t want to, her small pink tongue snaking out to wet her lips in anticipation. A move which tore a groan from the throat of the big man on his knees in front of her. “Christ Jo, you’ll be the death of me,” he whispered, his breath soft against her lips.
She didn’t answer, couldn’t answer. She was lost in the darkness and heat which swirled in his eyes. She was used to him being grumpy, his conversation a series of barked orders, so his humour and the gentleness in his hands blew her away. He touched her as though she was worth something, as though she was the most precious thing in the world and more delicate than fine china. For a woman used to the violent side of a man’s temper and the back of his hand, the feeling was heady. Seductive.
His lips covered hers, brushing against them. Gentle pressure coaxed her into responding to him, not that her response was long in coming. He rose on his knees, still taller than she despite the fact she sat on the bed and he was knelt on the floor, and gathered her close to his chest. Cradling her as he tilted her head back to drink from her lips.
His tongue swept out, brushing against the seam of her lips, and Jo was lost. The butterflies which had been having their own little jive down into her stomach went into a full on riot as liquid fire raced through her veins. She moaned, the sound lost in his mouth as he took advantage of the opportunity and slid his tongue past her lips, stroking along hers. Teasing a little, inviting her to come and play with soft brushes and retreats. Without realising Jo relaxed, the trust which had begun to grow earlier blossoming and flowering between them.
Her hands crept up to his shoulders, smoothing the fabric over the heavy muscles. He must work out to be built like this, surely? The thought swirled away as the kiss deepened. The movements of his tongue against hers changed from teasing to demanding, sweeping her along in a maelstrom of sensation which had her gasping.
He broke away, resting his forehead against hers as he caught his breath. “I’m sorry love… I got carried away. I didn’t mean to scare you,” He muttered, his eyes pressed closed, tension radiating from his body. Wonder filled Jo, amazement that she could affect him like this.
She smiled, ran gentle fingertips down his cheekbone, her eyes on his face. He was beautiful, in a darkly masculine way. Another shiver ran through her as he opened his eyes, the dark orbs locking with hers. The tension rose, awareness stretching between them until it was almost another person in the room.
Jo’s stomach fluttered again as she held his gaze. She hadn’t been so bold, not with a man, for years. But there was something about him, something reassuring. It had always been there despite his gruff attitude. An attitude she realised he used to keep people at arm’s length. Could he be the same as she was? Locked in his loneliness like she was in hers.
She knew she had to make a decision, or let the moment slip away perhaps never to return. She screwed up her courage, hoping she wasn’t making a mistake. “I’m not scared Drew.”
Her voice was soft but he heard her, desire slamming into him at light speed. His body tightened, taking his breath away with the intensity of his need.
God, she was going to kill him off here and now if she kept looking at him like that! All he wanted to do was push her back onto the makeshift bed, strip her clothes off and make love to her until they didn’t have the energy to move.
He drew a deep breath, fighting the urge down until he could move without leaping on her and scaring the life out of her. “Honey, you need to stop looking at me that way.” His voice was hoarse with strain. “Or I won’t be held accountable for my actions.”
Jo dropped her eyes, her pale cheeks flooding with crimson. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realise I was making you uncomfortable,” she whispered, the barest scrap of sound as she scooted backwards on the bed. Escaping from him to huddle in the corner of the bed.
Drew hissed in frustration, crawling onto the bed after her and pulling her into his arms, half settled across his lap.
“You weren’t making me uncomfortable, not at all sweetheart.” He told her, his broad back resting against the cushions of the sofa as he stroked the loose hair back from her face. He smiled into her worried eyes.
“The only discomfort I’m in is physical… I’m not going to lie to you Jo, I want you. I have since I first saw you in the trauma room, looking lost but determined not to show it. Then you smiled at me and I was done for,” he admitted in a soft voice, the world contracting to the two of them in this small room with its dodgy bed and single heater. But for now, he didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world.
“Oh…” Her lips formed a soft circle to match the soft sound she made. A small line creased her eyebrows, suspicion shadowing her eyes, as though she couldn’t believe that. Couldn’t believe that he would find her attractive. Her words confirmed that.
“You do? Really?”
Drew’s temper flared again. Her bastard of an ex had really done a number on her self confidence. Right at this moment Drew wanted to tear him limb from limb. Slowly. He fought down his reaction in case he scared her, a smile curving his lips instead.
“Yes Jo, really,” His voice was like warm silk as he cradled her against his broad chest, using his free hand to brush the hair back from her face. His thumb trailed along her cheekbone down to her lips. He traced their outline in a feather soft movement. She still looked unconvinced so he carried on. “All I want to do is lie you back on this bed and strip off everything you’re wearing. Then I want to kiss and taste every inch of you…” his voice grew thicker, hoarser.
“Oh screw this-“He pulled her closer. Actions spoke louder than words and if he had to show her, then so be it. He’d been good up to now. Hell just her and a bed in the same room was enough to test the patience of a saint, and Drew wasn’t a saint. Not by a long stretch of the imagination.
She moaned as he kissed her again but this time his kiss was nothing like the gentle, exploratory kisses he’d given her before. It was dark and dangerous, thrilling her in ways she didn’t know existed and demanding her response.
A response she gave eagerly, arching her back and lifting her hands to spear into the hair at the nape of his neck. Holding his head down to hers as he ravaged her lips. She couldn’t get enough, shivering as his tongue swept in again. His hand, large and warm, stroked up her back. Up past the low back of her top, following the line of her spine as far as he could then across along her shoulder.
His lips left hers, kissing along her jaw and then under. Soft, nibbling little kisses. On automatic Jo lifted her chin, baring her throat to allow him better access. A low rumble of approval sounded in his broad chest as his finger slid under the strap of her top and bra. Then he paused, as though waiting for her to stop him. When she didn’t he started to slide them down, smoothing his large hand over her shoulder and leaving fire in its wake.
“Tell me if you want to stop Jo,” he breathed against her neck. “And I’ll stop. I don’t know how but somehow I’ll manage it…”
She chuckled, a gentle finger under his chin bringing his face up to hers. “And if I don’t want to stop?”
He nodded, arousal tightening the planes of his face and giving him an almost cruel look. Jo sat up, her decision made. It was time to put all the crap associated with her marriage behind and heal. She needed this night, need this with Drew, more than she’d realised.
She lifted the hem of her evening top and pulled it off in one smooth movement, dropping it unheeded to the floor. He sucked his breath in, his hands around her waist and his eyes reverent as they feasted on the tender mounds of flesh revealed to him. Naked to the waist but for her delicate lace bra Jo felt a little vulnerable.
“Your turn.” She plucked at his shirt with a shaky hand. They were shaking that much that she’d never be able to undo the buttons, much as she wanted to. But she didn’t have to. Drew snapped the top two buttons free and pulled the whole garment over his head to reveal his muscled, toned torso beneath.
Her mouth watered, her hands itching to slide over the expanse of male flesh revealed to her. And she could, it was all there for her to explore. With a daring Jo didn’t know she had she leaned forwards and kissed his shoulder. He made a noise in the back of his throat, somewhere between pleasure and encouragement, so she carried on, trailing a line of kisses down his collarbone and onto his chest.
He took her hand, his fingers lacing with hers for a moment and squeezing for a second in approval and support. He transferred his grip to around her wrist, drawing her hand from his waist and pushing it lower.
“See what you do to me Jo?” he asked, placing her hand over the hardness tenting his pants. She stilled, her lips hovering over his nipple. Her fingers spread out, judging the girth and size of him through the fabric. Hell, he was big. Bigger than James, far bigger.
Warmth spread from her stomach, from her belly down to the core between her thighs. Her arousal spiked higher as her body clenched, aching to feel him there, filling her. She stroked him through the barrier of his clothes and chuckled as he made a strangled noise. “I think you might be a little overdressed, don’t you, Doctor Carson?”
“Oh I definitely agree Nurse Micheals, the same goes for you,” he breathed, his eyes twinkling with mirth, playing along as he sat on the edge of the bed and shucked off his remaining clothes quicker than Jo had seen anyone ever disrobe.
He turned back to her and her eyes widened; latching onto that engorged part of him that was wholly male. Her small pink tongue darted out, wetting her lips in nervous anticipation. An action that had his eyes darkening yet another notch, locking onto the small movement.
“I think that I should help you out of those clothes, make sure you didn’t suffer any other ill effects from our dash in the snow.” He moved with purpose, crawling over the bed to her and pulling her under him. Jo went for the wide eyed, innocent look.
“Oh of course Doctor, if you think that’s b… est.” Her voice cracked as he leaned down to lave the swell of her breasts over the top of her bra with a warm brush of his tongue. Under the black satin her nipples puckered tightly, begging for attention.
“Well, this has to go for starters.”
His finger traced the underside of her breast, even the softest touch the other side of the satin making her squirm. He reached the clasp between her breasts, playing with it for a moment until she was ready to scream in frustration, slap his hands away and undo the bloody thing herself. With a feral grin, more a flash of white teeth, he pressed the catch. The tension released, the bra parted, her breasts freed from their confinement as the underwear fell away.
“Perfect.”
The word was uttered against her skin as he leaned forwards and wrapped his lips around her nipple. Her back arched as it was pulled into the warm, wet cavern of his mouth and he suckled gently. It was heavenly! Pleasure and need coursed through her blood as he took his time, paying attention to one breast then the other with maddening leisure. Taking his time over the task until she was all but squirming on the bed under him.
“Drew,” she gasped, her hands smoothing over his shoulders, down his arms. In fact anywhere she could reach to touch him. “You’re driving me mad!”
He looked up, speared her with dark eyes. “Good, payback… you’ve been driving me mad for months.” He moved lower, settling his big body between her thighs as he kissed the valley between her breasts, moving lower along her stomach. She sucked her breath in, knowing where he was heading from the direction and the wicked look in his eyes.
He hooked a finger under the delicate strap of her lacy thong. “These are pretty but they have to come off I think, in the name of proper evaluation of course.”
Slowly, his eyes never leaving hers, he pulled the tiny garment down her legs and away. Her cheeks burned with colour as he moved back up her body, parting her legs with his big hands. Even in the warm room, the breeze that blew over her sensitized flesh was cooler than her body temperature. A temperature that neared boiling point as he kissed up along her inner thigh.
Anticipation held her in its tight grasp as he moved higher, nearer to her centre; nearer to the place she needed his touch. His warm breath danced over her needy flesh. The first warm brush of his tongue was electric, the second had her moaning in pleasure and the third just blew her mind. She lifted her hands over her head, trying to find something to hold on as his clever tongue and fingers almost drove her mindless with pleasure.
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