The Seduction Challenge Read online

  ‘Me, too.’

  ‘I asked after our motorcyclist as well, by the way.’

  ‘And?’ Lucy’s heart beat slightly faster as she thought back to yesterday afternoon. ‘Is he going to survive?’

  Joel nodded. ‘He needed a massive transfusion and a long time in theatre, but he’s definitely off the critical list.’

  ‘Well, that’s a relief,’ Lucy breathed. ‘I never, ever want to be the first person at the scene of an accident again.’

  ‘You did everything right.’

  She waited for him to say something else but he didn’t. Instead, he just looked at her, his eyes very blue, and her heart suddenly started to beat faster.

  What was it that happened to her when he was in the room?

  She didn’t understand it. All she knew was that it was something she didn’t want.

  She sensed that he was about to speak when the door opened and Ros entered.

  ‘Have you got time to see two extras, Lucy? Oh, sorry, Dr Whittaker…’ She paused in the doorway, her expression apologetic. ‘I didn’t realise you were in here.’

  ‘I was just leaving,’ Joel said softly, his gaze lingering on Lucy for a long moment before he strolled towards the door.

  Lucy was sure that Ros would notice her tell-tale blush, but the older woman didn’t seem to, chatting instead about the old lady who’d tripped on the kerb and needed a dressing on her leg.

  ‘I’ll do it right away, Ros.’ Lucy cleared her throat and delved in her cupboard for a dressing pack, relieved that Joel had left the room. Without his presence to unnerve her she felt back in control again.

  What had he been about to say?

  And why, when a new relationship was the last thing she wanted, did she react so strongly to him?

  Because he was so good-looking, she reasoned as she prepared to dress the leg. He was an incredibly handsome man—any woman would look twice at him. Even a woman like her, whose life was in tatters.

  Comforted by the thought that her feelings were completely normal, Lucy threw her attention into work and the afternoon flew past.

  She took advantage of a brief lull mid-afternoon to finish stacking the boxes of vaccine into the new fridge. She’d virtually finished when Ros bustled into the room.

  ‘Lucy, I need you to—’ She broke off and stared at the fridge. ‘Oh, you’re doing the fridge! I can’t believe it’s finally arrived after all that fuss!’

  Lucy smiled and closed the door firmly. ‘Yes, it’s about time, isn’t it?’ She scrambled to her feet. ‘You said you needed me?’

  Ros pulled a face. ‘I’ve got a girl crying in Reception. A very young girl. Wants to see a lady doctor. Of course we don’t have a lady doctor. Only four hulking males—totally useless at a time like this.’

  Lucy gave a smile of understanding. ‘I’ll see her and decide whether she needs to see someone.’

  Ros sighed with relief. ‘You’re a star. I’ll send her through. Her name is Penny, by the way, and more than that she will not tell me, poor lass.’

  Penny walked hesitantly into the room, her face pale and blotched with crying. Lucy’s heart went out to her. She’d never seen a more miserable-looking creature.

  ‘Penny?’ She closed the door behind Ros and guided the girl to a chair. ‘Sit down and tell me what’s upsetting you.’

  ‘I’ve been so stupid.’ The girl’s face crumpled and she started to cry again, great tearing sobs that shook her whole body.

  ‘Oh, Penny!’ Touched by the girl’s distress, Lucy instinctively slipped an arm around her shoulders and held the girl tightly until the sobs lessened. ‘Tell me what’s happened.’

  Penny gave an enormous sniff and wiped her nose on the sleeve of her coat. ‘You’re going to think I’m so silly…’

  ‘I would never think that,’ Lucy assured her quickly.

  Penny gave a sniff. ‘I just didn’t know who to turn to.’

  ‘Well, you can start with me,’ Lucy said quietly. ‘Sometimes when you have a problem it’s easier to talk to people that you don’t know very well.’

  She sank back onto her heels, her arm still on Penny’s shoulder.

  ‘Do you promise not to tell my mum?’

  A quick glance at the notes showed her that the girl was seventeen. Lucy bit her lip, knowing that she had to be careful what she said. ‘What happens here is confidential, just between you and I. But you’re very young, Penny. You shouldn’t be shouldering big problems on your own. I’m sure your Mum would want to know if something was upsetting you this badly. Tell me what’s happened, sweetheart, and we’ll work out what to do together.’

  Penny took a deep breath. ‘I slept with a boy last night and now I wish I hadn’t.’ Having blurted it out, Penny started to cry again and Lucy handed her a box of tissues.

  ‘Why do you wish you hadn’t?’

  ‘Because now I might be pregnant,’ Penny choked, and Lucy’s voice was gentle.

  ‘You didn’t use any contraception?’

  Penny shook her head, her breath coming out in jerks as she spoke. ‘No. I didn’t think of it, and neither did he. And what if I’ve caught something awful?’

  ‘Take a deep breath for me, Penny.’ Lucy tried to soothe her, handing her a box of tissues. ‘That’s right. Now, then, let’s take this one step at a time. This happened last night, you say?’

  Penny nodded.

  ‘So we need to give you some emergency contraception.’

  ‘But I thought you could only take it the morning after. And it’s the afternoon now so it’s too late.’

  ‘You can take it up to seventy-two hours after you’ve had sex,’ Lucy told her, ‘so it certainly isn’t too late.’

  ‘I don’t know why I did it.’ Penny shook her head slowly and looked at Lucy helplessly. ‘I met him at a party and I wasn’t even meant to be there. I told Mum I was sleeping over at a friend’s. He was gorgeous—older, really good-looking. I suppose I got carried away.’

  Lucy gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘It happens.’

  ‘Well, I wish it hadn’t,’ Penny whispered, shredding the tissue with her fingers. ‘I’m in a complete panic now. I know I need to see a doctor, but Mum has known Dr Richard since they were at school together and he’ll tell her.’

  Lucy frowned. ‘You’re seventeen, Penny, and what happens between a doctor and a patient is confidential. I can assure you that Dr Whittaker wouldn’t tell your mother.’

  Penny pulled a face. ‘It isn’t just that. Even if I knew he wasn’t going to tell Mum, I still couldn’t talk to him—he’d never understand. It’s a generation thing, isn’t it? I don’t suppose he’s had sex for years. It would be too embarrassing.’

  Lucy wondered what Richard’s reaction would be if he could hear the conversation. ‘Well, if it’s age that’s worrying you, how about seeing Dr Michael?’

  Penny hesitated and then nodded. ‘Yes. All right. I expect he does at least know what sex is.’

  Completely sure that Richard Whittaker also knew all too well what sex was, Lucy smothered a smile as she left the room and slipped along the corridor to Michael’s room.

  She tapped on the door and opened it, but it wasn’t Michael who was sitting there, it was Joel.

  ‘Oh.’ Lucy stopped dead, taken aback to see him, and then mumbled an apology and went to leave the room.

  ‘Hold on.’ His deep voice stopped her in her tracks and he stood up and walked round the desk towards her. ‘Did you want something?’

  ‘No.’ She certainly didn’t. At least, not from him. He unsettled her more than any man she’d ever met. ‘I mean, yes. Michael. I was looking for Michael to see a patient.’

  His gaze was disconcertingly sharp. ‘He’s gone on a house call. I’m covering his surgery. What can I do for you?’

  In the confines of the consulting room his shoulders seemed broader than ever and the dark jumper he was wearing just emphasised the blue of his eyes.

  He looked wickedly handsome and she swa
llowed hard and fumbled behind her for the doorhandle.

  ‘Nothing. It doesn’t matter.’

  ‘Now you’ve intrigued me.’ He gave a curious smile and rested one muscular thigh on the desk. ‘What is it that Michael has that I don’t?’

  She bit her lip and rubbed her damp palms on her uniform. ‘Nothing. It’s not you. I mean—well…’ she was fumbling in her confusion. ‘It’s just that I need someone sympathetic.’

  One dark eyebrow lifted and humour flickered in those blue eyes. ‘You don’t think I’m sympathetic?’

  Hideously aware that she’d just insulted him, she blushed with mortification. ‘Of course you are—I didn’t mean… It’s just that I need someone…older.’

  Oh, help, she was talking total gibberish. But she just didn’t think Joel was the right person for Penny.

  ‘Older.’ He nodded slowly and folded his arms across his broad chest. ‘Now I really am intrigued. Why don’t you tell me the problem and then we’ll work out whether I’m old enough to deal with it?’

  Relieved that he was still laughing, and didn’t seem annoyed by her tactless comments, Lucy briefly told him what had happened and the humour faded from his eyes.

  ‘Ouch,’ he said softly. ‘Poor kid. She must be terrified.’

  ‘She is.’

  ‘Who’s she registered with?’

  ‘Your father, but she doesn’t want to see him because he’s a family friend and because…’

  ‘Because?’ he prompted her gently, and she blushed.

  ‘Because she thinks he’s too old to understand about sex.’

  Joel threw back his head and laughed, his eyes shimmering with delight. ‘Oh, that’s fantastic. We’re always pulling his leg about being old. I must remember that one!’

  Lucy looked at him anxiously. ‘You mustn’t tell him.’

  ‘Don’t worry, I won’t disclose the source.’ Joel’s shoulders were still shaking. ‘OK, so what are we going to do about young Penny?’ His laughter fading, he stood up in a smooth movement, his eyes on her face. ‘Seeing as all the other Whittakers are occupied elsewhere, are you going to trust me with her?’

  Lucy hesitated, not sure what Penny’s reaction would be to talking to Joel. She was certain that if it was her, she’d never be able to discuss sex with a man like him.

  Just thinking of Joel and sex made her feel strange.

  ‘Ideally she wants to see a woman.’

  He gave a soft laugh and rubbed a hand over his roughened jaw line. ‘Well, I’m certainly not a woman, but I promise to be sensitive if that’s what’s worrying you.’

  Lucy felt her breathing quicken as their eyes locked.

  ‘All right.’

  To her relief, Penny seemed delighted to see Joel.

  ‘You’re that doctor from the television.’

  Lucy decided that she must be the only person on the planet that hadn’t seen the Helicopter Doctor series. She made a mental note to try and see it one night.

  Joel chatted with Penny for a few minutes, helping her to relax, and then he smoothly switched into professional mode and talked through what had happened.

  Lucy stood to one side, listening while he questioned the girl and talked quietly about the dangers of unprotected sex.

  She had to hand it to him, he was good. He talked at exactly the right level, never patronising her but always making sure that the information he gave was well within the limits of Penny’s understanding. He covered everything and told her exactly what she needed to do next.

  And Penny seemed to calm down as she talked to him.

  ‘Are you going to tell Mum?’

  ‘No.’ Joel’s voice was calm. ‘But you might want to think about telling her yourself. She might be more understanding than you think.’

  He talked to her about contraception for the future, checked her blood pressure and other risk factors, then prescribed emergency contraception.

  When Penny finally left the surgery she was looking a lot happier.

  Lucy gave Joel a hesitant smile. ‘Thanks for seeing her. Do you think she’ll take your advice and go to the sexual health clinic?’

  ‘I doubt it.’ He gave a resigned shrug and then his eyes gleamed. ‘Did I pass?’

  ‘Pass?’ She looked at him, confused, and he grinned.

  ‘Was I sensitive enough?’

  He’d been brilliant, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.

  ‘You were—’ Suddenly she caught sight of the clock and gasped in horror. It was already five past three. ‘Oh, my God. I’ve got to go.’

  He lifted an eyebrow and looked at her quizzically. ‘What’s the hurry? I thought we were going to have a chat about those clinics. We didn’t seem to find time this morning.’

  ‘I know, and I’m sorry. But it’s already past three o’clock.’ She grabbed her coat and reached for her car keys, knowing that she didn’t have any time to spare. As it was, if she hit traffic she’d be in trouble. ‘Maybe tomorrow.’

  He planted himself between her and the door. ‘Don’t keep running away from me, Lucy.’ His soft voice played havoc with her nerve endings. ‘I’m not going to hurt you. You can trust me.’

  Trust him?

  She didn’t trust anyone.

  ‘It’s gone three o’clock,’ she croaked, avoiding his eyes. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I have to go.’

  She was already late.

  He must have seen the panic in her eyes because he moved to one side and his voice was surprisingly gentle. ‘What’s so important that you have to run off at three o’clock? Is something wrong? Is there anything I can do?’

  His concern affected her more than she’d imagined possible.

  ‘No.’

  There was nothing anybody could do.

  ‘Lucy…’

  She knew she had to get away from him before she started crying on his very broad shoulders.

  As it was, she was going to have to drive like the devil to make it on time.

  And she had to be on time.

  Being late just wasn’t an option.

  She slipped past him and sprinted towards the car park, her breath coming in jerks as panic started to swamp her.

  Dear God, she was going to be late. She should never have seen that extra patient for Ros. But even as she thought it she knew that she’d have done the same thing again—how could she have left someone as upset as Penny? And if she had turned her away, would Penny have gone elsewhere for her contraception or would she just have left it? Shuddering at what that might have meant, Lucy fumbled with her keys, dropping them in her haste to open the car.

  She should have kept a closer watch on the time. She should have asked someone else to chaperone Joel while he examined Penny.

  But she’d built up a relationship with the girl.

  Frustrated by the choices she was forced to make, she dragged the car door open, slid into the driver’s seat and jammed the key into the ignition.

  Nothing happened.

  Nothing at all.

  The engine was dead.

  ‘No!’ She sobbed with frustration and panic flooded over her as she turned the key again.

  The car was totally dead.

  ‘No, don’t do this to me! Not now.’

  Her door was suddenly jerked open and Joel stuck his head in. ‘What’s up?’

  ‘My car’s dead.’ she turned the key again, her fingers shaking and her heart pounding frantically. ‘What am I going to do? I can’t be late. I just can’t. I need to get a taxi.’ She scrambled out of the car and tried to push Joel out of the way, but it was like trying to move a brick wall. He was six feet two of solid muscle.

  ‘Open the bonnet and I’ll take a look at it for you,’ he suggested calmly, and she thumped a fist against his chest to try and move him.

  ‘You just don’t get it, do you?’ Her eyes blazed into his, panic making her uncharacteristically impatient. ‘You have no idea what happens if I’m late.’ She gulped and tried to calm herself down. ‘I�
�ve tried so hard not to let this happen.’

  ‘Late where? Let what happen?’ Joel caught her shoulders in his strong hands and forced her to look at him. ‘Where are you going? Lucy—tell me what’s wrong and I’ll help you.’

  He didn’t know where she was going?

  Hadn’t anyone told him?

  ‘You want to help me?’ Her breath was coming in jerks. ‘If you really want to help, Dr Whittaker, you can call me a taxi. I need to get to the school to pick up my son.’

  CHAPTER FOUR

  HER son?

  Joel steered Michael’s car skillfully down the side roads, taking advantage of his local knowledge to get to Harbour First School as fast as possible.

  He should have guessed.

  What with his whole family being so protective.

  He should have guessed Lucy had a child. That was obviously what Michael had been about to tell him when Ros had disturbed them.

  The minute she’d made that announcement he’d sprinted back to the Health Centre, bumping into Michael who had just returned from his house call. Without pausing to give an explanation, Joel had relieved him of his car keys and had bundled a shaking Lucy into the passenger seat.

  He still didn’t understand why she was so panicky about being a few minutes late, but her utter desperation affected him in a way he hadn’t experienced before and he knew he had to help her.

  Now she sat next to him in frozen stillness, her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

  Instinctively he reached out a hand to grasp hers and felt a rush of satisfaction when she didn’t pull away.

  ‘A whole year,’ she whispered, her fingers shaking slightly under his. ‘For a whole year I’ve made sure that this never happened. That I was never, ever late. And now…’

  She gulped and swallowed and he tightened his grip.

  ‘Calm down.’ His voice was strong and solid. ‘We’re nearly there. You’re only five minutes late.’

  She snatched her hand away from him and turned to look at him, tears shimmering in her amazing green eyes. ‘You don’t understand.’

  Well, that was true.

  But he intended to get to the bottom of it as soon as possible, he thought grimly as he pulled up outside the school and jerked on the handbrake.