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Opening the front door, he leaned a shoulder against the frame. ‘Your parents got home all right?’
Stephanie grinned up at him from the bottom step. ‘All by themselves.’
He laughed. ‘You wouldn’t have taken that matchbox on wheels to collect them, would you?’
‘Why not?’ Her grin widened, then was stolen by a yawn. ‘Sorry. Am I too late to add fried rice with pork to your order?’
She was standing in front of him now. He breathed her in. Honey and hot toast. Mouthwateringly delicious.
‘Hello?’ Stephanie waved a hand in front of him. ‘Anyone home?’
‘Don’t know. I’ll go find out.’ He stood back to let her in, then remembered what she’d asked. ‘I haven’t ordered yet.’
‘So you really do eat Thai on Tuesdays? Then this is perfect.’ She handed him a bottle of Pinot Gris.
His heart slowed. ‘You remembered.’
‘Your favourite wine? Of course I did.’
There was no ‘of course’ about it. Two years was a long time to remember trivia.
Stephanie prefers Oomph-brewed coffee to Wake Up.
Okay, he got it.
She used to go crazy whenever I kissed a trail of kisses below her ear.
Michael slammed the door shut, wincing as he remembered the barely sleeping Aaron, and headed for the kitchen and some glasses. He needed a drink. Like right now. So much for trivia.
The kitchen was a mess, with plastic bowls and spoons and a fork littering the little table Aaron had used, with matching dollops of mashed pumpkin and potato on the floor.
‘Tonight was an epic battle. But Aaron’s finally, finally asleep. I hope.’
He shouldn’t have said he was here. The questions were already lighting up in Stephanie’s eyes.
‘Chantelle was asked to work tonight. She fills shelves at the supermarket part-time.’
‘Impressive.’
‘She doesn’t have to do it. I’ve offered to pay her university fees so she doesn’t have to get a student loan or borrow for everyday expenses.’ Stubborn didn’t begin to describe his sister.
‘She’s got a child, is studying for a degree and works when you’ve given her an out? Even more impressive.’ Stephanie twisted the cap off the bottle and took the glasses he’d lifted from the shelf.
‘That’s all very well, but she’s constantly exhausted. And then there are the days I get Aaron because she’s doing too much.’
‘You don’t want to look after him? I’m not believing that.’
He took the glass she offered. ‘I adore my time with him. Watching him grow from a tiny baby to where he’s at now, running and crashing, spitting out words in excitement over a moth crawling across the floor—I wouldn’t miss that for anything.’
‘So what’s the problem? Seems to me Chantelle is doing a great job making a life for her son.’
He didn’t like the way those lovely eyes were drilling into him, searching for answers to her questions. She wasn’t getting them.
Snatching up the dishcloth, he bent to wipe up the mess. ‘You’re right,’ he acknowledged, hoping that would shut her down.
‘Want me to phone our order through?’ she asked.
Relief loosened his tongue. ‘The number’s on speed dial on my phone. I’ll have pork green curry—hot. Just tell them Dr Mike and they’ll know where to come.’
‘Dr Mike?’
‘I was eating there one night when one of the cooks knocked a pan of boiling oil off the stove onto his leg. It was like a scene out of a horror movie, with oil everywhere, the guy screaming in agony, and blood from where his head hit the edge of the stove as he went down.’
‘Is the cook all right now?’
‘Good as new—if you don’t count the scars.’
‘Do they still charge you for meals?’
Her smile went straight to his heart. He cursed silently.
‘They tried that one. Eat all I want as often as I want, for free.’ He shook his head. ‘I told them I’d go somewhere else if they didn’t take payment, but now I get wontons or deep fried shrimps with every order.’
‘Win-win. I like that.’
Her lips touched the rim of her glass and he watched as she took in a mouthful of wine.
That mouth, hot and slick on his skin, had been sensational, and it was another piece of trivia from two years ago. How had he found the strength to stop their affair? Must’ve needed his head read. Because right now he would not be able to stop if they were to start again.
‘Here.’ He thrust his phone at her. ‘Order dinner.’
Her head tilted to one side. ‘Yes, sir.’ And she did as he’d demanded.
He’d been that close to reaching for her, removing the glass from her slim fingers and hauling her curvaceous body he’d been hankering after for two long days and nights up against him. He still was that close. Closer, because he’d taken a step nearer.
He needed to step back, because no way did he want to hurt Stephanie further down the track when he inevitably messed up.
But one kiss...?
‘B
ugsy’s gone.’
Michael spun around to gape at his nephew, standing in the kitchen doorway rubbing his eyes. ‘Hey, buddy, you’re meant to be in bed.’
The little guy did have his uses. Stopping that potential hug, kiss, whatever might have followed, was mammoth.
‘Bugsy. I want my monkey.’
‘I’ll find him.’ Michael swept the little boy up into his arms, kissed his forehead. ‘Bet he’s hiding under the bed. That’s his favourite place, isn’t it?’
‘Water!’ Aaron cried.
‘Of course.’ Michael smiled.
Of course. And then it would be I want a ’nana.
‘Stalling tactics?’ Stephanie asked.
‘You’re on to it.’ With one hand he filled a bottle with water from the fridge. ‘There you go. Let’s find Bugsy.’
‘I want a ’nana.’
‘You’ve had dinner.’
Aaron’s mouth opened, the indignant cry already in his expression.
‘All right—half a banana it is.’
‘Softy,’ Steph called from behind him.
‘It’s my middle name.’
* * *
Michael forked up rice and curry, chewed, swallowed. ‘Tell me more about why you joined the ambulance service.’
Stephanie’s fork banged onto her plate. ‘We’ve already done this.’
‘The flashing lights and screaming sirens bit, yes. But not the real reason that had you changing from a career you loved and were exceptional at.’
‘Nothing like going from rugby to medicine?’
‘Low blow.’
Tell her, it’s no secret.
‘My rugby career was stellar, yes, and at first I couldn’t see past the hype and the excitement, the sheer thrill of playing in front of those large crowds. Two episodes of concussion wised me up, made me grow up. A third knock and doing anything as intense as becoming a doctor would’ve been in jeopardy. I’d always known rugby wasn’t a lifelong career.’
‘Not all players see it so clearly.’
‘Unfortunately. But I do understand the attraction. It’s exhilarating, being on the field with forty thousand people watching your team, cheering or booing—didn’t matter, they were there because of us.’
