The Playboy Doctor's Surprise Proposal

Brianna reached over and squeezed her hand. ‘You’re here now and that’s what matters.’ Caitlin saw the tears in her sister’s eyes before she could blink them away. ‘You know we have Andrew to thank for getting you the job,’ Brianna continued.

‘It seems that I’m in his debt quite a bit,’ Caitlin said reluctantly. She hated being beholden to people.

Both women turned their gaze seaward. Niall and the children were finishing off the sandcastle. Out at sea, Caitlin caught her breath as Andrew and his board somersaulted into the air, turning over before landing and shooting along the water.

‘What is he doing?’ Caitlin asked, impressed. ‘I’ve never seen anyone windsurf like that before.’

‘It’s called kite boarding,’ Brianna replied. ‘It’s a bit like windsurfing, but with tricks. Andrew’s very good. He’s been trying to teach Niall, but it’s not as easy as it looks.’

‘It doesn’t look easy at all,’ Caitlin said as Andrew did another series of flips. ‘What happens if he crashes?’

‘He crashes fairly often.’ Her sister laughed. ‘But it doesn’t put him off. He just climbs back on, and away he goes again.’

The two women watched in silence for a while.

‘He says the Queensland Royal is delighted to have someone of your calibre there even for six months. It was good luck that one of the specialists wanted to spend time in the UK. I guess you’ll see a fair bit of Andrew at the hospital.’

Caitlin knew she would. As a specialist obstetrician she would be working a lot with the paediatricians, of whom Andrew was one. She wondered what kind of doctor he was. An image of him lounging around flirting with the nurses and female doctors flashed across her mind. She felt unreasonably disappointed. She had no time for doctors who didn’t take their work seriously. However, it was none of her business.

The sun had dried her damp skin and she slipped on her sundress. She stood, wincing slightly at the stab of pain in her calf.

‘It’s getting late, and everyone’s bound to be getting hungry. Shall we go back to the house and make the salads?’ When Caitlin had seen where her sister and her family lived she had been gobsmacked. Their house, an enormous lowslung affair, was perched on a hill just a few metres from the beach they were sitting on. It had several rooms, a hot tub and an infinity pool and views out over the sea. She had known her brother-in-law was doing well but had had no idea his fledgling business had been so successful.

‘Good idea,’ Brianna said, unwinding her long legs. ‘I’ll call Niall to start the steaks.’

‘No need to disturb him,’ Caitlin countered. ‘We can put them on when we get back.’

‘A word of warning, sis,’ Brianna said, laughing. ‘Men out here take their barbies seriously. Women are allowed to make the side dishes, but that’s it. The cooking of the meat is a man’s job.’

Caitlin laughed, then, seeing Brianna was perfectly serious, stopped. ‘Fine by me. You know I hate cooking anyway. Salads are about my limit. If the men want to cook, more power to them.’

By the time the two women returned with salads and rolls, Niall and Andrew were by the fire, flipping burgers and steaks. As the smell tickled her nostrils, Caitlin realised she was starving. She had taken a couple of minutes back at the house to have a shower to rinse the sand out of her hair and off her body, and a little longer to blow-dry her hair, returning it to its smooth waves. She had tied it back in a ponytail to prevent the breeze that had whipped up from blowing it into her eyes and finally had changed into a pair of lightweight trousers and T-shirt. Impulsively, without examining her motives too closely, she applied some lip gloss in the lightest shade of pink. Putting her glasses back on, she looked at her reflection and wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction. Not normally concerned with make-up, for the first time ever Caitlin wished she took more time and care with her appearance. To impress Dr Bedi? a small voice niggled at the back of her mind. Caitlin dismissed the thought immediately. Definitely not! she told herself. The important thing was that she felt and looked in control once more. Back to Dr O’Neill, obstetrician and consummate professional.

When she returned to the beach, the scent of cooking meat was drifting tantalisingly on the slight afternoon breeze. The two men seemed to be taking their cooking duties very seriously, Caitlin thought, amused as she heard them discuss whether a steak needed more marinade. Andrew had turned his wetsuit down to his hips, revealing his muscular chest. Despite herself, Caitlin felt her eyes travel over his torso, admiring the tautness of his abdomen and the defined muscles of his chest. Andrew turned, as if sensing her approving look, and caught Caitlin’s eye before she could look away. He winked and she felt herself grow flustered again. Damn the man, she thought crossly.

‘How’s the leg?’ he asked innocently.

‘As you predicted, it feels a bit bruised, but otherwise fine. Thanks again. I feel such an idiot.’

‘Australia can take a bit of getting used to. I’m sure once you’ve been here a bit longer you’ll know what’s safe and what isn’t. The coast here has some fantastic beaches, as you will see, but you have to be very careful about where you swim.’

Niall heaped food onto plates and everyone helped themselves to salads and buttered rolls. Niall had set up a table and chairs under the shade of an orange bougainvillea and as Caitlin ate she breathed in the tang of sea air. For the first time in months she felt energised. There was something about being here that made her realise how boring her well ordered life back in Ireland had become. As if he’d read her thoughts, Andrew turned to Caitlin.

‘I understand you’ve been working at the Women and Children’s Hospital in Dublin for the last few years. Your colleagues must think highly of you. From what I hear, it’s very difficult to get accepted onto the permanent staff there. And you couldn’t be more than, what—thirty?’

Caitlin flushed under his frank scrutiny. Did he think after what had happened that she was some airhead who had managed to secure her position because of who she knew rather than on her own merits? Little did he know what sacrifices she’d had to make to earn her position.

‘Caitlin is being considered for a chair in obstetrics there,’ Brianna said proudly. ‘If she gets it, she’ll be one of the youngest professors in the country.’

Catching Andrew’s raised eyebrow and look of amusement, Caitlin cringed at her sister’s unembarrassed boasting.

‘My sister-in-law is a bit of a workaholic,’ Niall added through mouthfuls of salad. ‘She never stops. We’ve asked her to come and visit us many times since we moved here, but she’s refused to take time off from work.’ He smiled to show Caitlin there was no malice behind his words. He of all people knew what getting the chair in obstetrics meant to Caitlin. It seemed as if all the years of hard work were about to pay off. Not that she was there yet, but the position was within her reach. As long as she kept focussed and continued to spend her few spare hours working on publishing papers. As she thought back to her hectic life in Dublin, she appreciated for the first time just how exhausted working the hours she had, had made her. Perhaps her time here would help recharge her batteries, not that she expected an easy time of it at the Queensland Royal. Far from it. She intended to apply herself to the post here with exactly the same dedication she applied to all her jobs. At least she didn’t have any research on the go at the moment. Any spare time she had here would be spent with Brianna. Of that, Caitlin was determined.

‘Andrew works pretty hard too.’ Brianna joined in the conversation, having returned from sorting the children out with food.

‘Ah, yes, but he also plays hard,’ her husband said mischievously. ‘Where you get the energy is beyond me. I am far too exhausted after a day’s work to do anything except read the paper and potter.’

‘But you have a wife and family to keep you busy,’ Andrew replied. Caitlin wasn’t sure but she thought she heard a note of envy in his voice. ‘Once I’ve finished work I’m free to do what I want.’

‘Lucky devil,’ Niall said, but as he smiled at his wife, Caitlin knew that he wouldn’t swap what he had for the world.

By the time they had finished eating the sun was beginning to drop, turning the sky red-gold. Niall and Andrew, helped by the children, started packing up the barbecue. Caitlin sneaked a look at her sister. She looked tired. The circles under her eyes had deepened. Caitlin felt a pang of anxiety. ‘Are you sure you’re up to socializing, Bri?’ she said. ‘Shouldn’t you be taking it easy? I could have waited and met Andrew when I started work. Probably would have been better anyway. God knows what impression he has of me. Not that I care,’ she added hastily, catching her sister’s amused look.

‘I wouldn’t call having Andrew over as socialising,’ Brianna protested. ‘He’s part of the family—he’s Ciaran’s godfather after all.’ She smiled briefly then grew serious. ‘Brianna, you must listen to me. As soon as I was diagnosed, I made up my mind. I’m going to carry on as normal whenever I can. For the children’s sake, if nothing else. I’m a bit tired, but as long as I rest whenever I can, I cope.’ Caitlin could see the determination in the green eyes which were so like her own. ‘I wouldn’t have let you come at all if it hadn’t been for the job. Love you as I do, the last thing I need is you fussing over me all the time like Mammy. Caitlin, I need you to support me on this and not fuss. Okay?’

‘Okay,’ Caitlin agreed reluctantly. ‘Whatever you say. But I’m here to help whenever you need me. You just have to let me know. Promise?’

Back at the house a little later, Caitlin insisted on clearing up while Brianna went to organise the children for bed.

‘I could put the children to bed if you like after I finish clearing away. You have an early night.’ Catching the warning look her sister threw her, Caitlin raised her hands. ‘I’m not fussing, honestly, Bri. It’s just that I’m still on Irish time and suddenly wide awake. No doubt it’ll hit me for six soon, but in the meantime, let me help.’

‘I’m putting my children to bed,’ Brianna said firmly, ‘but if you want to clean the kitchen, be my guest.’

As she was stacking the dishwasher in her sister’s enormous American-style kitchen, Andrew appeared, carrying some plates. Caitlin had assumed he’d left.

‘Has Brianna gone to bed?’ he asked, laying the dirty dishes on the granite worktop.

‘She’s seeing to the children,’ Caitlin replied. ‘Is Niall still outside?’

Andrew shook his head. ‘He must be helping to put the children to bed. I should be going too.’

‘How does Bri seem to you?’ Caitlin asked anxiously. ‘You know her well, I understand.’

Andrew looked at her sympathetically. ‘She was—is—the best paediatric nurse I ever worked with. We really missed her when she stopped working to look after the kids, and then this…’ He shook his head. ‘But you know your sister better than I do. If anyone can beat it, she can. And I know how pleased both of them are to have you here.’

It must have been tiredness, but suddenly Caitlin felt a lump in her throat. In many ways she wished it had been her, not Brianna, who had been diagnosed. After all, it wasn’t as if she had a young family depending on her. She swallowed furiously. Caitlin O’Neill did not show her emotions. Not publicly and certainly not in front of a man she barely knew and who was to be a colleague.

Andrew must have noticed. He patted her shoulder awkwardly. ‘They found it early enough, you know. She’s really very lucky. Everything is going to be fine.’

Caitlin wasn’t convinced. But she was here and would ensure that her sister got through the next few months as painlessly as possible.

‘Brianna tells me you’re a paediatrician,’ Caitlin said, keen to get the conversation onto neutral ground.

‘Yep, for my sins,’ he replied.

She flicked the kettle on. ‘Would you like some coffee before you go?’

‘Sure,’ he said.