The Doctor's Baby Secret (6 page)

CHAPTER SEVEN

C
ORRINE
STARED
AT
the records in front of her. She had the oddest feeling.

She stood up and walked over to her glass window. The candidates were on the other side of it, in the computer tech room learning about some of the equipment on the space station.

It didn't matter how hard she tried. Her eyes went first to Austin. He was talking to Lisa Kravitz, the school teacher. They were laughing and joking as they tried to repair something wearing the biggest pair of gloves imaginable. They would do the same exercise over and over again in the next few months, eventually trying it in a zero-gravity environment. Lisa threw back her head and laughed at something Austin had said.

Corrine felt a little surge of jealousy but shook it off immediately. She'd spent the last two weeks avoiding Austin. It hadn't been too hard. The candidates had spent most of the last two weeks in lectures and learning from manuals. People really had no idea how much equipment was in use in space, and how many things could go wrong with it. Every member of the team had to be able to maintain, repair and rebuild essential equipment if necessary. It wasn't easy to find spare parts in space and they often had to improvise.

In any case, whenever she closed her eyes her brain went into overtime. It was almost as if the memory of that kiss was haunting her. To say nothing of the buzz that flared in her skin or her lips.

The last thing she wanted to do right now was to be face to face with Austin Mitchell.

But Lisa Kravitz was another story. She folded her arms across her chest. The candidates were monitored regularly and Lisa had lost a little weight. She looked tired. It could just be that she was excited about her training and was eating differently from normal. But was she also looking a little paler?

Some people didn't believe in gut instinct. But in Corrine's experience it had always served her well.

It was time to call Lisa in for some blood work. As she moved away Austin looked up and caught her eye. This time there was no smile. No wink.

Instead, for the first time since she'd met him, he put his head down and carried on with his work.

* * *

Darn it. One glimpse of familiar dark suit was enough to distract him from the task at hand. His screwdriver slipped from his hand and landed on the mat below. Opposite him, Lisa gave the air a punch. ‘Yes, I win!'

He grimaced. He hated losing—at anything. This was no different.

But what smarted even more was the fact that he hadn't even caught Corrine Carter looking.

By the time he'd run the six miles back to camp after that kiss his body still hadn't returned to normal. He'd had to stand in the coldest shower known to man to try and still the blood pumping around his body.

This was driving him nuts. From the moment he'd heard those heels clicking across the hangar towards him and Corrine Carter had come into view every sense in his body had been on fire.

This wasn't him. This wasn't the kind of person he was.

He couldn't be. He had a goal. Space. And he'd long ago realised that to get there everything else had to be sidelined.

He'd excelled as a navy pilot. He'd been top of his class when he'd studied microbiology. He'd loved the job as a Top Gun instructor. But it had all just been part of the bigger plan. The one that took him to the ultimate goal.

And he'd seen many colleagues fall by the wayside. Serious relationships were off the cards. Sure, he dated—but never for too long. A few months tops. He couldn't afford the distractions. He'd seen other pilots and RIO's affected by months away from their partners and children. One of his good friends had blown a test flight after finding out his kid was away for emergency surgery. It had taken two days to find him in the Arizona desert. All because he hadn't been focused on the job. And that was what was driving Austin nuts.

He closed his eyes at night and images of Corrine Carter danced around his brain. The way her skirt hugged the curves of her backside. The way he permanently wanted to pull her shirts from her waistband. The fact that those long shapely legs and killer heels always caught his eye. It didn't matter that she was always dressed appropriately and slightly demurely. The thing that was killing him was that he wanted to know what lay beneath.

The flirtation was obvious. She was attracted to him. He was attracted to her.

But she had reservations about acting on it. Whereas he had none at all.

Because he needed to get Corrine Carter out of his system.

The other night had been pure impulse. He'd been about two minutes into his run when he'd decided exactly where to go. The sight of Corrine in her skimpy T-shirt and shorts had made him realise he'd done exactly the right thing. Seeing her sitting in her old rocker on her wraparound porch, sipping wine, had almost made him think that she'd been waiting for him.

He was surprised when he'd checked out her address. He'd expected her to stay in some serviced apartment on the outskirts of the city. The pale yellow clapboard farmhouse had been more than a little surprising. He only wished he'd got to see the inside.

It seemed odd. Corrine was a stunner, with her own place and a great job. He was more than a little surprised that some guy hadn't completely swept her off her feet already. But there was something there. Something a little different. At times, she could seem a little detached. As if there were an invisible barrier just in front of her that stopped anyone getting too close. Why would she be like that?

He frowned and picked up his screwdriver from the floor. Lisa was still bouncing around the place. He fixed her with a stare. She'd been good company since the start of training and they often joked together.

‘Right, lady. First time was a fluke. Ready for a rematch?'

She spun around and put her hands on her hips. ‘Totally. But if I win again you have to go and find me a chocolate-frosted, custard-filled doughnut.'

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Interesting choice. Very specific.'

She put her arms back in the oversized gloves. ‘I know what I like.'

He nodded in approval. ‘Do I get to tell the doc about your diet choices?'

She gave him a quick wink. ‘Oh, I'm sure you and the doc can come to an understanding about what's kept secret.' She had a dopey smile on her face.

He narrowed his gaze. Other people were definitely noticing. And that was partly his fault after the dare in the bar. They thought it had something to do with his love of a challenge rather than anything else. More distractions.

He
had
to get this woman out from under his skin.

Lisa gave a little cough. ‘Darn it. Trust me to get an itch while I'm stuck in these gloves.'

Austin decided to be wicked. ‘Want me to scratch it for you?'

Lisa laughed. ‘Not a chance, buster. You know I'm going to beat you. You're just running scared.'

He gave his best villain impersonation. ‘Prepare to be annihilated.'

Lisa laughed again in response. ‘Game on.'

* * *

The next day Austin snaked his way through the streets until he finally found what he was looking for. He wasn't familiar with Clear Lake City and he'd asked a few colleagues for recommendations. Tomorrow they were due to test the T-38 planes to continue part of their training. Tonight, he wanted the best burger in town and this was apparently the place.

He pushed open the door. Retro was in. The sixties-style diner didn't look as if it had changed one bit. The waitresses wore sticky-out dresses with little hats on their heads and the place was filled with traditional red leather booths and a whole range of bar stools along the counter.

One of the waitresses appeared at his arm. ‘Just the one?'

He nodded. He'd had a few other things to pick up in the city before his trip so had come in on his own.

She lifted a menu and walked over, gesturing towards a table. He slid into the booth with a smile. She acknowledged him with a nod. ‘You've made it just in time. We're expecting the city tour to stop here any minute—but don't worry, I'll take your order first. Coffee?'

He shook his head. ‘Just a diet cola right now, thanks.'

The door behind him opened and around thirty people filed in. He had made it just in time. The waitresses wasted no time in seating everyone, filling the diner to capacity.

He jerked when he recognised the person at the back of the queue. Corrine.

He had to look twice. She wasn't wearing her traditional dark suit—or those cute funky shorts. She had on a red wraparound dress and black wedge sandals. It was the first time he'd ever seen her in red and, boy, did she suit it.

He gestured to the waitress. ‘Tell the young lady she's welcome to share my booth.'

The waitress gave a knowing smile. ‘I'll do just that.'

She walked across the diner and put her hand on Corrine's arm, pointing towards the booth. Her eyes widened in shock before she pulled herself together and walked towards him.

She slid into the seat opposite and rolled her eyes. ‘Fancy seeing you here.'

‘What? I asked someone for a recommendation for the best burger in Clear Lake. They sent me here.'

She shook her head and laughed. ‘So, it's just some weird coincidence, then.' She narrowed her gaze. ‘Who did you ask?'

‘Blair King.'

Now she really did laugh. Blair King was one of Corrine's fellow instructors. ‘I'll be having words with Blair. He knows that this is my favourite place to eat. He'd better not be doing what I think he's doing.'

Austin leaned across the table towards her. ‘And what might that be?'

‘Annoy me,' she said quickly as she picked up the menu, then set it back down again.

‘Go on, then,' he said. ‘If you eat here all the time, what should I order?' What was wrong with him? So much for putting distance between them and having no distractions. He only had to be in her vicinity before he automatically started flirting with her. He just couldn't help it. And that probably annoyed him the most.

She leaned her head on her hand. ‘Well, that depends. Are you here for a main course or a dessert?'

‘Definitely a main course.'
And I'd prefer it if that was you.
She'd slipped off her jacket and his eyes were naturally drawn to the tiny hint of cleavage on display in the wrap dress. It was a softer look than she normally wore. More comfortable-looking. With a definite hint of sexy.

She looked down at the menu, running her finger down the plastic coating. Fingers that had touched him. Fingers that had skimmed over the skin on his back and shoulders and then settled somewhere just north of his waistline. Just a pity they'd been at the back and not the front.

She tilted her head to the side and tucked some hair behind her ear, revealing the soft skin around her neck and décolletage. She looked up and met his gaze. ‘I think you're a megaburger kind of guy. With maybe a dash of piri-piri sauce.'

He gave a thoughtful nod. ‘Really?' He glanced over at the menu. ‘You could be right. So, what's your poison going to be?'

She pointed to the countertop where a variety of cakes sat under glass domes. ‘I'm going to have a piece of the Thundertop cake.'

‘Thundertop cake? What on earth is that?'

She smiled. ‘It's vanilla sponge, with a dash of orange, sandwiched with raspberry jam and coconut and marshmallow frosting.'

He shuddered. ‘Ugh. No way.'

‘What's wrong? You not a dessert kind of guy?'

Why was it that a seemingly innocent question seemed so different when it came from her lips? He pushed aside all the illicit thoughts that sprang to mind, of what he could do with dessert and Corrine Carter.

‘Depends on the circumstances,' he said quickly, before giving her a sly smile, ‘And, of course, who I'm with.'

She shook her head and sat back as the waitress came and took their order.

‘You're quite the flirt, aren't you, Austin Mitchell?'

He leaned closer. ‘Like I said, depends who I'm with.'

He couldn't help it. He knew his confidence wound her up. She didn't need to know he didn't always feel completely comfortable. It was just the best face for the world he was in. No one wanted an unsure pilot flying their aircraft—or, worse, spacecraft.

She tapped her nails on the table. ‘So you think it's okay to flirt with one of your instructors?'

‘I haven't seen any rules against it.'

She allowed a tiny nod in agreement. ‘But you think it's okay to turn up at someone's house uninvited and practically pin them to their wall and kiss them?'

He leaned back against the leather booth. ‘I didn't exactly pin you to the wall. But that could be arranged if you want.'

She waved her hand. ‘You don't even know me. You don't know the first thing about me. Nor I you.' She wagged her finger at him. ‘So, you certainly shouldn't be kissing me.'

‘Maybe you should have objected?' He liked this. He liked the way they batted back and forward between each other. He liked that she gave as good as she got. He liked it even better when he found a way to push her buttons.

She shifted in her seat, giving him a better view of her cleavage. ‘Next time, maybe I will.'

‘Who says there'll be a next time?'

She looked him straight in the eye as the waitress set down their drinks. ‘I do.'

* * *

Had she really just said that? Was she out of her tiny mind?

What was it about being away from the base? While she was at work, it was easy to put everything in boxes and keep Austin Mitchell at a distance.

She had never been like this.
Never
. This guy made her hormones surge around her body to the point where they affected her mind, her mouth and her actions. There must be some science behind this.