The Nurse's Christmas Wish Read online

  ‘I know you don’t. But you need me. Look at the state of your kitchen.’

  His gaze didn’t flicker. ‘I work twenty-two hours a day at the hospital.’

  Her eyes softened with sympathy. ‘I know, and it isn’t good for you, but all that’s going to change now I’m here. A lot of things are going to change, starting with the state of your house,’ she said soothingly, closing the first-aid box and returning it to the cupboard. ‘I can do all that, Dr Sullivan. When I’m not working in A and E I can make your life more comfortable. You’ve got me for a month. Make the most of me.’

  ‘Are you seriously telling me you’re prepared to clear up my kitchen?’ Mac stood up and swayed. Damn. He was more tired than he’d thought. ‘Whatever happened to equal rights? I didn’t think women did things like that any more.’

  She washed her hands and dried them. ‘Well, I just happen to like creating a home. It’s my hobby. And if I don’t clean up your kitchen, we’ll all die of something horrible so it’s in my own interests. Don’t worry. You’ll be pulling your weight. You can carve the turkey, I’m hopeless with knives.’ She frowned. ‘You look shattered. When did you last sleep?’

  Sleep? Mac closed his eyes and tried to remember. He gave up. ‘Too long ago.’

  ‘Then go,’ she said calmly, giving him a little push. ‘Forget everything and just sleep. We’ll sort everything out when you wake up.’

  Her smoky, gentle voice oozed over him, soothing his jarred emotions. He stared at her blankly, fatigue paralysing his normally sharp brain. ‘You expect me to go to sleep and leave you here?’

  ‘Dr Sullivan.’ Her eyes twinkled like lights on a Christmas tree. ‘I’ve never forced myself on a man yet and I don’t intend to start now. Neither do I intend to steal the silver. Go to bed. And don’t bother to lock your door. You’re perfectly safe.’

  He stared down into those chocolate brown eyes and felt something shift inside him.

  And he knew he wasn’t safe at all.

  * * *

  Louisa started in the kitchen.

  Humming to herself, she filled three large bin bags with the rubbish and took them outside and then ran the dishwasher twice while she threw out piles of papers and scrubbed at the stubborn rings on the kitchen table.

  Two hours later the surfaces and the floor were gleaming and the crockery was clean and neatly stacked away in the cupboards. Having checked the contents of the fridge and found them decidedly lacking, she was glad she’d had the foresight to stop at the supermarket on the way and stock up on emergency provisions.

  She retrieved the bags from her little car and emptied them into the cupboards. Then she set about making supper.

  Remembering the remains of the take-away on the kitchen table, she decided that her impromptu shopping trip had been inspired. She chopped, fried and stirred, filling the kitchen with delicious smells. Satisfied that the food would look after itself for a while, she took a last glance around the now gleaming kitchen, threw out some ancient newspapers and takeaway menus and gave a nod.

  ‘Much better. Now for the rest of the house.’ She strolled out of the kitchen with the intention of being thoroughly nosy. For a man living on his own, Mac Sullivan had a big house.

  She opened the door to the living room and blinked. It looked as though the room had never been used. ‘Like something out of a magazine,’ she observed to herself, closing the door again and walking back into the hall. Two more huge reception rooms, an elegant conservatory with views of the sea and the downstairs cloakroom that had been her route into the house.

  Unlike the kitchen, the rest of the house was tidy.

  Unlived in.

  She almost preferred the kitchen, she mused. At least it showed signs of life. The house felt cold and uninhabited. As if someone had given up hope.

  Was that what had happened? she wondered.

  Had Mac Sullivan given up hope when his wife had died?

  She didn’t know much about it, of course. Only the little that Josh had told her, that his older brother had lost his wife in a car accident two years earlier. And that he’d done nothing but work ever since.

  Noticing the footprints on the hall floor, Louisa gave a sigh and wandered back into the kitchen to retrieve the mop.

  Mac Sullivan might be a dedicated doctor but he definitely needed some help with the rest of his life.

  * * *

  Mac slept without moving for three hours and then woke to find that it was already dark.

  He lay for a moment, listening to the winter wind howling around the house and trying to work out what was different, and then he remembered Louisa.

  Cursing his interfering brother, he grabbed some clothes and made his way downstairs.

  There was no way she was staying. He’d find her somewhere in the village. And he’d find her somewhere tonight. Before she had the chance to mess with his life.

  Bracing himself for an unpleasant scene, he pushed open the kitchen door and stopped dead.

  His brother Josh was convulsed with laughter, his feet up on the kitchen table—the scrubbed, tidy kitchen table—while Louisa stood in front of the Aga, talking non-stop and stirring something that smelt delicious. Her dark hair spilled down her back and her cheeks were flushed from the heat.

  She looked extremely happy and totally at home.

  ‘Hi.’ She broke off in mid-sentence and threw a smile at him, still stirring. ‘You slept well. Supper will be ready in five minutes if you’re interested. If you’re not then it will keep until later. I wasn’t sure when you’d be hungry.’

  Mac opened his mouth to tell her that she had to leave and then the smell hit him again. He wavered, caught in a battle between his stomach and his brain. His stomach won. He’d eat and then he’d tackle the subject.

  ‘Fine.’ He sprawled in the nearest chair, noticing that the floor was gleaming and the bin was empty. In fact, if it hadn’t been in his house, he wouldn’t have known it was his kitchen. ‘It looks great in here,’ he said stiffly. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘You’re very welcome.’ She removed the pan from the heat and reached for a wooden board. Her hands moved quickly, chopping, slicing and mixing, and then bowls started appearing on the table.

  Mac watched with something close to fascination. He’d never actually watched a woman cook before. Melissa had been a career-woman so on the rare occasions that they’d been in at the same time to eat, they’d lived on fast food and take-aways. And his mother had always had help in the house.

  Watching Louisa was like watching an artist at work.

  Josh sniffed and gave a moan of pleasure as she placed a bowl of fluffy rice in front of him. ‘I’m not the marrying type, but I swear to heaven I’d marry you if you’d have me, Louisa.’

  ‘You’re safe, Josh,’ Louisa said soothingly, turning away to lift a casserole out of the Aga. ‘I wouldn’t have you in any shape or form. Given the contents of the take-away cartons, I gather you both like Indian food so I’ve made you curry, but hopefully mine is a tastier and healthier option.’

  Mac glanced at the array of dishes and felt his taste buds spurt. ‘You made curry?’

  He was starving.

  ‘That’s right.’ She went back to the oven and removed several more dishes. ‘That’s a lamb rogan josh and a chicken pasanda—very creamy with almonds. Rice, naan bread, spinach with garlic and green beans. Enjoy.’

  Deciding that difficult conversation could definitely wait, Mac helped himself, piling his plate with food and then turning his attention to his brother. ‘So—what happened today?’

  Without lifting his eyes from his plate, Josh reached for his beer. ‘Usual story. Too many patients. Too few staff. Any chutney, Lu?’

  Louisa pushed the dish towards him. ‘It’s fresh chutney. Tomatoes, red onion, coriander—try it. It’s better for you than that sugary stuff you had hanging around in the fridge which, by the way, expired a year ago so I threw it out.’

  Josh gave a sheepish smile. ‘Oops.’


  ‘The forecast is bad. It’s going to be a difficult Christmas,’ Mac said, forking lamb curry into his mouth. For a moment he sat still, savouring the flavour. A fabulous mix of spices exploded onto his palate and he just managed to stop himself groaning with pleasure. ‘This is amazing.’

  ‘Glad you like it.’ Louisa helped herself to some chicken. ‘Why are you so busy at work? Surely there aren’t many tourists at this time of year?’

  ‘Difficult to attract staff to deepest Cornwall,’ Mac said, chewing slowly, his eyes fixed on her face. ‘Which makes me wonder what you’re doing here.’

  Why would she agree to come and live with strangers at Christmas?

  Josh choked on his beer. ‘For crying out loud, Mac, finish the food before you insult the woman. If she deprives us of seconds, I’ll kill you.’

  Mac didn’t smile, his eyes still on her face, searching for clues. What exactly was she expecting from him?

  She held his gaze. ‘I’m making your life easier, Dr Sullivan. That’s what I’m doing here.’

  He glanced round his kitchen. ‘Housekeepers don’t usually work out.’

  ‘Because they keep hearing wedding bells.’ Louisa’s tone was placid and her eyes twinkled with humour. ‘Josh told me. Don’t worry, Mac, you’re very good-looking but you’re not my type.’

  ‘So what’s your type?’ The question left his lips before he could stop himself, but she simply laughed.

  ‘I haven’t met him yet, but when I do, I’ll let you know and I’ll invite you to the wedding. More curry?’

  Mac sat unresisting as she spooned the rich sauce onto his plate. ‘Are all your meals as good as this one?’

  ‘Well, if you’ll let me stay, you’ll find out,’ she said cheerfully, a dimple appearing in her cheek. ‘If you throw me out, you’ll never know.’

  It occurred to Mac that she smiled more than any woman he’d ever met.

  But he was still going to ask her to leave. As soon as he’d finished eating.

  ‘So you’re an A and E nurse?’

  ‘That’s right.’ She poured herself a glass of water. ‘I left my last job a few weeks ago.’

  ‘Why?’

  Josh let out an exasperated sigh. ‘For goodness’ sake, Mac. You sound like the Spanish Inquisition.’

  ‘Are you always this suspicious?’ Louisa sipped her water and then put the glass down on the table. ‘I’m a perfectly competent nurse, if that’s what’s worrying you. Your unit sister has my references if you want to check them.’ She broke off and hesitated briefly. ‘And I left because I didn’t want to be in London on my own at Christmas.’ She stood up and started stacking plates into the dishwasher. ‘I always get restless at this time of year.’

  Mac sat back in his chair. ‘You don’t like Christmas?’

  ‘Oh, I love Christmas,’ she said softly, closing the dishwasher with a click. ‘It’s my favourite time of year.’

  He sensed that she was going to say something more and then her mouth closed firmly and she carried on clearing up. He watched as she busied herself around the kitchen and wondered what she was hiding.

  Because he had a feeling she was hiding something.

  He took a deep breath and prepared to question her further, and then he caught the warning gleam in his brother’s blue eyes. ‘All right. You can stay.’ What the hell was he saying? ‘Just for now. Once you start working in the department you’ll find you won’t have time to clean up after us.’

  She’d get fed up and leave and that would save him the bother of sending her away.

  The tension seemed to ooze out of her. ‘I can stay? Really?’ Her voice was husky and curled itself around his insides like velvet. ‘Thank you.’

  Josh grinned and put down his fork. ‘Thank goodness for that. She would have been a pretty difficult Christmas present to send back.’ He raised his glass and winked at Louisa. ‘To a decent Christmas dinner for once in our lives.’

  CHAPTER THREE

  ‘SO MY Christmas present has so far tidied your house and cooked you an amazing meal. And the coffee she left for us this morning was the best I’ve tasted. Any time you want to thank me, just go ahead.’ Josh threw a smug smile at his brother and held out his hand to one of the A and E nurses, who was hovering with some X-rays. ‘Are those for me?’ He took the X-rays, flicked on the light box and whistled. ‘Just look at that.’

  ‘I’m looking.’ Mac narrowed his eyes. ‘That’s a nasty fracture. Did you call the orthopods?’

  ‘No, I thought I’d fix it myself in my lunch-break,’ Josh drawled sarcastically, a wry smile touching his mouth as he glanced at his brother. ‘Of course I called them. What do you think I am, a first-year medical student who you have to watch out for?’

  ‘Sorry.’ Mac gave an apologetic smile and ran a hand over the back of his neck. ‘You may be a consultant but to me you’re still my kid brother.’

  ‘The kid brother who works like a dog so that you can get some sleep at night,’ Josh reminded him, yanking the X-ray out of the light box and returning it to the brown envelope. ‘I’d better go and talk to the relatives. Have you seen Louisa this morning? How’s she getting on?’

  ‘At first glance she seems good,’ Mac conceded, walking with his brother back through the department towards the trolley bay. ‘Certainly knows her way round an A and E department.’

  ‘And she knows her way round a kitchen, too, which has got to be good. I’m sick of take-aways.’ Josh gave a shudder and came to a halt outside one of the treatment rooms. ‘Just don’t frighten her off with any more of your sharp remarks. I’m looking forward to tasting proper turkey for the first time in years.’

  Mac sighed. ‘I want to make sure that she doesn’t get any ideas. She was giving me ‘‘I want to save you’’ looks this morning.’

  It happened all the time since Melissa had died and it drove him nuts.

  ‘Has she thrown herself at you?’

  ‘No, but—’

  ‘Trust me.’ Josh’s tone was dry. ‘Even you wouldn’t get that lucky. Louisa doesn’t do casual relationships.’

  Mac looked at his brother, his hackles rising for some reason he couldn’t fathom. ‘You’ve tried?’

  ‘Do I look stupid?’ Josh threw him a wicked grin. ‘Of course I tried. Several times, actually. She wouldn’t have me.’

  Mac hid his surprise. He knew only too well that most women found it hard to resist his younger brother. ‘In that case, she’s just gone up in my estimation.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  Mac shrugged. ‘I still don’t understand why she would want to come to Cornwall in the middle of winter to look after two strangers.’

  ‘Speak for yourself. I’m not strange.’ Josh smothered a yawn. ‘And the answer to that will become clear once you get to know Louisa.’

  Mac frowned. ‘Meaning?’

  ‘OK.’ Josh took a deep breath, his blue eyes serious for once. ‘Louisa doesn’t like being on her own at Christmas. On top of that, she’s a genuinely kind and generous person who can’t pass someone in trouble without trying to help. Watch her in action and you’ll see what I mean. She’s a fixer.’

  ‘So what exactly is she fixing with me?’

  ‘Your life,’ Josh said, slapping him hard between the shoulder blades, ‘and, goodness knows, it needs it.’

  * * *

  ‘I know I’ve broken it, Nurse.’

  Louisa stared down at the badly deformed wrist and then at the wrinkled, aged face of the lady looking at her so anxiously. ‘I think you’re right, Alice,’ she said gently. ‘I’ll get a doctor to look at it and then we’ll take some X-rays. Try not to worry. We’ll get it sorted out.’

  ‘I can’t believe this has happened.’ Alice’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I should never have gone out but I wanted to do some Christmas shopping. I don’t want to miss the last posting date. Vera is useless at that sort of thing, you see. The shopping is my responsibility.’

  ‘Who’s Vera?’ Louisa
reached for an X-ray form and filled in all the necessary details.

  ‘My sister. She relies on me for everything,’ Alice fretted. ‘I’m the organised one, you see. She’s not very strong. I look after her.’

  Louisa glanced at the date of birth on the notes and calculated that Alice was eighty-six. ‘You look after her?’ She kept her tone level, careful not to betray surprise or concern.

  ‘Ever since her husband died twenty years ago. We argue, of course.’ Alice gave a weak smile. ‘But generally we rub along very well together. I’m the active one.’

  Louisa mentally filed that information. ‘Do you have any help in the home?’

  ‘We’ve never needed any,’ Alice said proudly, clutching her handbag with her good hand. ‘I shop and cook and Vera manages a bit of housework around the place. We’re a good team. And if we get stuck then someone in the village will always help. That’s the good thing about living in a small community. Everyone looks out for everyone.’

  Louisa smiled. ‘Well, you might need some help with the shopping and cooking with that wrist out of action.’ She tucked her pen back in her pocket. ‘I’m going to get a doctor to take a look at your wrist so that we can get you sorted out.’

  ‘You need a doctor?’ Mac’s deep drawl came from right behind her and she felt her heart jump in her chest. She turned quickly, feeling colour touch her cheeks as she met his cool gaze. Whenever she laid eyes on him she found it difficult to breathe.

  Which was ridiculous, because Mac Sullivan was not a man who encouraged the attentions of women, even though he clearly attracted them.

  He was brooding, gorgeous and too remote for his own good, she decided. Why did he insist on keeping people at a distance? Resolving to peel away the layers until she revealed the man underneath, Louisa turned her attention back to her patient.

  ‘Poor Alice had a bit of a fall,’ she said huskily, giving the old lady with a reassuring smile. ‘I’ve filled out the X-ray forms but she hasn’t been seen yet.’

  Mac pulled out a chair and sat down so that he was at eye level with his patient. ‘Pavements icy out there today, Mrs Ford?’