pity. It would cover his face and she really didn’t like the feel of a beard against her skin.
Dismayed, she gave herself a mental shake. Where were these thoughts coming from? Hadn’t she told herself that she was not interested in David—beard or no beard—or any man, for that matter?
David smiled ruefully. ‘Thought it was a puncture and was about to fix it when I saw that the tyre has been shredded.’ He pointed to the tyre and Olivia saw what he meant. It looked as if it had been slashed. Perhaps the boyfriend of one of David’s conquests had decided on revenge?
‘I don’t suppose you happen to have a spare in that trunk of yours?’ Although he grinned, fatigue dampened the sparkle in his eyes. It was seven in the evening and, like most of the doctors in the hospital, he’d probably been in well before rounds at eight. So he had likely done at least a twelve-hour day, most of which would have been on his feet in Theatre.
‘No. I have everything in there—kitchen sink included—except a spare. But I can give you a lift if you like.’
He stood up and stretched. She’d forgotten how tall he was. He topped her five feet seven inches by at least half a foot.
‘Would you? That would be great.’
‘Jump in,’ she said.
She hid a smile as she watched him fold his long legs into the passenger seat. It would be an uncomfortable journey for him, but better than walking or waiting for a cab.
‘Where to?’ she asked as she pulled out of the car park.
He named a suburb that bordered the one where Olivia lived.
‘You’re not far from me. I live in Sea Cliff.’
He whistled through his teeth. ‘They must pay ER residents better than I thought.’
She decided to ignore his comment. ‘I have to make a short detour to pick up my dog, if that’s okay.’
‘Sure.’ He pulled his mobile out of his pocket and flicked through his contacts. ‘Will you excuse me for a moment?’ He threw a smile in her direction as he pressed the call button. ‘Have to cancel my date. She’s going to be as mad as hell, but by the time I get washed up we’ll have missed the first act.’ He grinned. ‘Opera’s not my style anyway. I would probably fall asleep before the first scene was over.’
She smiled briefly and concentrated on the traffic. His love life was no business of hers.
When he’d finished his call, which, judging by the one-sided version Olivia heard, didn’t go down very well until he promised to make it up to her—whoever she was—soon, he turned his attention to her again.
‘I suspect Melissa and I are heading for dumpsville. It doesn’t matter how often you tell people that your work comes first, they never quite believe it, do they? In that respect, it’s easier going out with another medic. At least they understand.’
His words made her think of Richard. He hadn’t been in the profession, quite the opposite. He’d been the CEO of a large multinational company, but he’d always understood how important her job was, just as she’d understood that he’d needed to work the hours he had. Perhaps, given their busy schedules, if they hadn’t met when they’d still been in college, they would never have ended up together. As it was, she could only regret the hours that they hadn’t spent with each other. If only they’d known their time together was going to be so short.
Preoccupied with her thoughts, it wasn’t until she pulled up outside the doggy day-care centre that she noticed at some point during the journey David had fallen asleep. God, she knew the need to nap wherever and whenever so well—most doctors learned the knack early on in their careers. In sleep he looked younger and, without the swagger, more vulnerable. He really did need a shave, she thought distractedly, trying not to notice that his lips were full, and even in sleep he looked as if he was on the verge of smiling.
Just as she was about to reach over and give him a small shake, his eyes snapped open and he was instantly alert.
‘God, I hope you weren’t in mid-sentence when I zoned out?’
‘How long were you on duty today?’ she asked.
He frowned. ‘Dunno. Last time I was home was yesterday morning. I stayed in the hospital last night. I slept in the on-call room for a couple of hours. Between two and four, I think it was.’
‘You were on overnight? And during the day too? That can’t be good—for you or your patients!’
He quirked an eyebrow. ‘Don’t you go all mumsy on me. I know my limits. As long as I get a couple of hours’ decent sleep, I’m usually fine.’
Mumsy? Had he just called her mumsy?
‘I won’t be a moment,’ she said, and hopped out of the car. When she returned with Bouncer, who looked dismayed to find someone in his seat, David was, once more, out for the count.
Bouncer barked at Olivia apologetically before jumping onto David’s lap.
‘What the hell …?’ David’s eyes snapped open again and he pushed at Bouncer, who was clearly not intending to move.
‘David, meet Bouncer. Bouncer, meet David.’ She grabbed Bouncer’s collar and tried to pull him off David’s lap, but the dog was having none of it. A bemused-looking David took hold of Bouncer, climbed out of his seat and deposited him in the back. ‘Stay there,’ he commanded.
To Olivia’s amazement, her dog, who would never do what she wanted unless bribed and coaxed, looked at David, blinked and lay down obediently.
‘How did you manage to do that?’
‘Dogs just need a firm hand, just like …’
Please, God, don’t let him say just like women and children.
‘Just like …’ He hesitated. ‘Just like horses,’ he finished, his eyes glinting. He yawned. ‘Think I might close my eyes again, if that’s okay?’
‘Sure.’ Olivia pointed the car in the direction of home and by the time she’d turned into her street David was asleep again.
When she pulled up outside her house, Bouncer leapt from the car. David opened his eyes and looked around sleepily.
‘Where would you like me to drop you?’ she asked.
‘Here’s just fine.’
‘Are you sure you don’t want me to take you all the way? You seem in urgent need of a good night’s sleep.’
David hid a yawn behind a fist. ‘I am. The truth is that the people I’m staying with—my friend and his wife—have a newborn baby. God! I never knew such a small thing could make so much noise. It’s just until I move into my own place. Trouble is that won’t be for another three weeks.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Do babies stop crying when they’re older? I sure hope so.’
‘Not actually having had a baby, or any nieces and nephews, I can’t tell you that.’ She was clearly in the mother category, as far as David was concerned.
