The Doctor's Baby Secret (11 page)

She kept him guessing. He didn't even know if she really liked him.

He'd had to control the spurt of rage that he'd felt when she'd revealed an ex had hurt her in the past. If he ever found out who that was...he didn't want to be responsible for his actions.

And he wouldn't even care that those actions would probably get him thrown off this programme.

That was it.
That was what was scaring him so much. The strength of his emotions for Corrine. It was making him think thoughts like that.

Then there was the fact that Corrine had just treated him as if he were some casual passer-by.

There. That was what stung the most today. It was almost as if she hadn't even considered the fact he might drive her car and pick her up. He couldn't work out if she was just distracted by doing her job, or she was trying to keep a professional distance between them. Or if she really didn't care at all.

It surprised him how much that burned.

Abe touched his arm and nodded in the direction of the ambulance. ‘Guess you'd better go and get our doc.'

Austin tried to keep his voice level. ‘I guess I'd better.'

CHAPTER ELEVEN

‘Y
OU
'
VE
BEEN
TRANSFERRED
over to me.'

‘What? Why?' Austin couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. Blair King was sitting behind the desk, tapping away on his computer. The printer beside him whirred and Blair pulled out a multi-coloured chart.

‘Here's your training programme.'

Just what he needed. Another training programme. He glanced down at it. ‘Why have I been transferred over to you?'

Blair didn't meet his eyes. ‘Dr Carter thought it would be for the best.'

‘Really?'

His instant reaction was anger. She'd dumped him? She hadn't mentioned this when they'd been in bed together last night.

Then the rational part of his brain started to kick in. She'd transferred him. That didn't mean she'd dumped him. It meant that she didn't want either of them to get into trouble regarding their relationship.

Just about everyone knew they were seeing each other by now.

And he got that. He understood. But he didn't understand why she hadn't discussed it with him first. How long would it have taken? Ten seconds. A roll over in bed. Oh, by the way, Austin, I don't want to get accused of special treatment. You getting it, and me giving it. I've transferred your care to another doctor. Easy.

Blair was still staring at him. There was an amused expression on his face. It was almost as if he was waiting to see how Austin would react.

He gritted his teeth. ‘It will be a pleasure working with you, Doc,' he muttered before turning on his heel and walking out.

His phone rang almost instantly. He pulled it from his flight suit. ‘Yeah?'

He hadn't even looked at the screen. ‘Austin?'

Darn it. It was his father. The most astute man on the planet. ‘Oh, sorry, hi, Dad.'

‘What's wrong?'

‘Nothing.' He started striding down the corridor, glancing in rooms as he passed, looking for her blonde hair.

‘Tell that to someone who believes it.'

His footsteps halted. It had been more than thirty years but he'd never been able to pull the wool over his father's eyes.

‘Is it problems with the astronaut training?' He could hear the tension in his father's voice. The last thing he wanted to do was upset him.

‘Of course not. There're no problems at all.'

‘You're still going to Kazakhstan tomorrow?'

He let out a sigh. ‘Yes. I'm still going.' It was the next part of the training. They had to learn to pilot the shuttles with the Russian crew as that was currently the only mode of transport to the space station. The training was intense. He would spend the next four weeks speaking only Russian and learning to fly a new spacecraft. It wasn't for the faint-hearted.

Or those who were having mixed feelings.

‘Well, that's fine, then. With your piloting skills I expect you to ace everything.'

No pressure, then. Austin drew in a breath. The family traditions had always been there, hanging over his head like a goal he had to meet. Up until this point it had pretty much been his dream too—he'd never really thought about anything else. He'd never even had a discussion with his father about any other possibilities. He spoke before he changed his mind.

‘I've been offered another job. A real opportunity.'

There was silence at the end of the phone. He couldn't really blame his dad. This must be a real bolt from the blue.

‘Oh.'

He kept talking. It was easier to fill the silence. ‘It's research into cancer. All about cell growth in certain cancers and whether we can actually switch those cells off.'

His father's voice was steady. ‘But why would you want to be stuck in a lab? You're just about to head off into space. It's been your dream since you were a boy. We still have the stars stuck to the ceiling in your bedroom.'

Austin felt his stomach plummet. Of course they did. His parents had always encouraged his ambitions and he'd never let them know that he might have others. They'd been so taken by him carrying on the family tradition of flying, then trying for the space programme, that there had hardly been room to acknowledge or talk about his microbiology research. He'd always been so focused. So sure about what he wanted to do.

Or was he?

He was trying not to acknowledge the fact that a tiny fire had been lit inside him when he'd been asked to head the cancer research team. It was an honour. A privilege. Not that anyone would blame him if he chose to be an astronaut instead—well, no one except his family. Potentially cure cancer or go to space: they were two totally different but completely fantastic opportunities.

But then there was something else—something much more overwhelming. Corrine. The feelings he was having...the doubts. If Corrine ever met his parents he wanted them to love her, embrace her into the family. If his father thought for a second that he'd given up his dream of being an astronaut for a woman...

No. He just couldn't go there. He wouldn't let her be the focus of any bitterness. Much better to plant the seed in his father's mind about another job.

He didn't need to know the real reason Austin was having second thoughts.

He kept his voice low. ‘Imagine the difference to the world, Dad, if I found a way to switch off the cancer cells. Imagine the lives that could be saved.'

There were a few more seconds of silence. He'd never laid this out on the line before. He wasn't even thinking about himself. Chances were, research like this could mean a Nobel Prize. But he was thinking about all the other people—people like Frank the instructor's wife, whose life had been cut short. Maybe the stress of losing his wife had contributed to Frank's heart attack?

His dad cleared his throat. ‘So, Kazakhstan. When do you leave?'

The subject was closed for now. And a tiny part of him was disappointed. It didn't matter that his brain didn't know which way was up. Right now, he felt as if he were back on the vomit comet.

He started walking back down the corridor, talking to his dad about the travel arrangements. By the time he was finished he'd reached the entrance way and there had been no sign of Corrine.

Maybe this was the way she wanted to play it. Keeping her distance from him.

He had no idea what was going on here. As soon as they were in each other's company things just seemed to spark. It felt as if she were a magnet that pulled him towards her. She certainly hadn't given any sign that his attentions were unwelcome. So what was going on?

He pushed open the door and headed towards his bike. And stopped.

She was leaning against it. And he felt a jolt. His eyes took in her tousled hair, black leather jacket, white shirt and business skirt. Her stiletto heels were firmly in place and her legs were crossed as she leaned back against the bike with her arms folded across her chest.

She didn't move as he approached her.

He tried not to smile. He tried to admit the fact he was actually happy to see her.

Other parts of him were currently in a spin cycle. This woman was messing with his brain and his focus.

The sun was streaming behind her, lighting up her oh-so-curvy silhouette. She had sunglasses in place, hiding the expression in her green eyes.

He stopped a foot away, letting the breeze carry her orange scent towards him. ‘It seems I've been dumped.'

She tilted her chin towards him. ‘You haven't been dumped. You've just been reassigned.'

‘Don't I get a say in that?'

‘No.' He was struck by the curtness of her words.

He stepped forward. ‘So what do I get a say in?'

She uncrossed her arms and put her hands on his hips, tilting her chin up towards him. ‘You get a say in whether you give me a lift home or not.' Her words were sultry, almost whispered, and she ran one finger up the front of his chest.

He caught it in his hand.

She moved closer, pressing her body against his. ‘Four weeks is a long time. And Kazakhstan is a long way away.'

There was a smile playing around the edges of her lips. She knew exactly what she was doing to him.

‘You think you can get on my bike in that skirt?'

She grinned. ‘Oh, I know I can,' and in the blink of an eye she hiked up her skirt and swung her leg over the bike. Now it was barely covering the parts it should.

He almost growled, looking around to see if anyone was watching and grabbing the helmets for the bike. Within a few seconds he was on board and the engine was fired up. ‘Hold on,' he shouted as he let the throttle go. ‘You're in for the ride of your life!'

* * *

Everything about this was odd. She loved the feeling of being in control. She loved the fact that even though Austin was all man, she didn't have a single doubt about the fact he let her make the rules.

He'd picked up on her vibes, her need for control. The fact that he wasn't afraid to let her be in charge only increased his sex appeal in her eyes.

She glanced at the clock. It was only an hour until his pick-up. He was lying fast asleep in her bed. She ran a finger down his arm. ‘Hey, Bates. It's your wake-up call. Kazakhstan is calling.'

He flinched and she frowned. Maybe he was just sleepy.

His eyes flickered open. He licked his lips and his dark eyes focused on hers. ‘What're your plans for the next few weeks?'

She shrugged. ‘Some of the candidates will still be here. I'll be heading down to Key Largo with the rest of the team for more training.'

He rolled over onto his back. ‘So, I'll be freezing in Kazakhstan and you'll be wearing your bikini in Key Largo?'

She smiled. ‘Pretty much.' She slid her hand across his stomach. ‘What's the problem? It's all part of the training. It's the only way you'll get up into space.'

His eyes twinkled. ‘Well, that, and sleeping with the WSSA doctor. Can I get a prescription for this?'

She picked up her pillow and thumped him with it. It didn't take long for him to join in the pillow fight and before she knew it her bedroom was littered with floating feathers that fluttered around them like wedding confetti.

She held out her hands and laughed as they started drifting to the ground. Austin picked up his phone and snapped a photo.

‘What? What are you doing?'

‘I need something to look at for the next four weeks.' He spun the phone around. ‘This will do nicely.'

It was like a sugar rush going through her body. The weirdest of sensations. She felt happy. She felt relaxed. It didn't matter that her hair was completely mussed up. It didn't matter that she was dressed only in her underwear. She felt completely happy in her own skin as the feathers floated around her.

And the glow. The weirdest glow... She'd never had that before.

She thumped back down onto the bed. ‘Show anyone else that picture and I'll do you a serious injury.'

Four weeks without Austin. She kind of wanted to ask for a picture of him in return.

This was the problem with not having had many serious relationships. This was the problem with spending the last few years being relatively selfish and only concentrating on herself and her career.

This was the first time in a long time that anyone that felt even mildly like the ‘right' guy had come along. Trouble was, she didn't know what to do with him.

She didn't know what came next.

Should she say something? Do something?

Austin glanced at the clock, then swung his leg over her body, putting his hands at either side of her head.

‘Fifty minutes. Fifty minutes until pick up.' He started kissing around her neck. ‘Any idea what we could do to kill some time?'

She blinked and kept her face straight. But darn...he was distracting her again. Those kisses were setting off little rocket ships throughout her body. She ran her fingers down his spine. ‘We could talk about space modules.'

He lifted his head from her neck and pressed his full body weight against her. There was very little material between them.

I'll miss you.
Those were the words she wanted to say. Those were the words that were imprinted on her brain. But even those three little words would take her another step. Another step away from being totally in control. To leaving herself emotionally vulnerable.

This guy was already peeling back her layers. He made her laugh. He made her heartbeat quicken at the sound of his voice. He made her comfortable.

She'd never have let any of her ex-boyfriends have a picture of her in her underwear. She'd never have trusted them enough.

But with Austin it just seemed...right.

And her head was struggling with that.

He stopped kissing her neck and poised above her again. Those electric-blue eyes were mesmerising. ‘Promise me one thing.'

Her stomach clenched. This sounded serious. They usually kept things pretty light-hearted. Was he wrestling with the same emotions as she was?

The hottest astronaut candidate in the world, virtually naked in her bed...as if she were going to say no!

‘What?'

He started kissing down her body. ‘Promise me, that in four weeks, when I come back from Kazakhstan, I'll find you in the exact same position as I'm going to leave you.'

She pulled him back up towards her and wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘Well, that depends.'

‘Depends on what?'

‘On what my farewell gift is.'

He grinned. ‘Let me show you.'

And he did.