One Night That Changed Her Life

‘Why not? Are you seeing someone?’ That was a possibility he hadn’t thought of until now but it was quite likely. The conference and the one night they’d shared was now months ago. Maybe she wasn’t single any more. That wouldn’t surprise him but it would definitely be a shame.

‘No.’ She shook her head and the golden curls that had come loose from her ponytail bobbed around her shoulders.

‘Well, in that case, how can I convince you to change your mind?’ He wasn’t one to give up easily. And, besides, sex with Brighde had been incredible and he was more than willing to get to know her better and see if she could be persuaded to give it another go.

‘You can’t.’

‘There’s nothing I can do?’

She shook her head again. ‘It’s not you. It’s me.’

Xavier almost laughed until he realised she wasn’t kidding. ‘Seriously? That old chestnut.’ What could he have done to offend her so terribly that she wouldn’t share a meal with him?

‘I mean it. I don’t date and I don’t do dinner.’

‘Ever?’

‘Never.’

He’d never heard anything so ridiculous. Who didn’t date? Even his disastrous last relationship hadn’t put him off the idea of dating. If you didn’t date you were destined to spend your life alone and who wanted to do that? Not him. ‘Why is that?’

‘I’m happy on my own.’

‘That’s a very male attitude. Don’t all women want a partner?’

‘You don’t know much about women, do you?’ she countered.

‘I actually thought I knew women pretty well. I have four sisters and I work as an OB/GYN. I work with women every day.’ Hormonal ones too, but he thought better of mentioning that.

‘Maybe so but there are always exceptions. You can’t put us all in the one basket.’

So it would seem.

‘I don’t need a man to complete me,’ she continued. ‘I might need him for sex but there is more than one way to skin a cat.’

‘You’re very direct.’ Her directness was appealing. Another tick in the box. After playing guessing games with his ex, Brighde’s honesty was refreshing. But it wasn’t getting him what he wanted.

‘I don’t see the point in playing games. Life is short; I intend to live my life by my rules. So, why didn’t you go back to Scotland?’

She looked as if she’d have him on a plane right then and there if it was up to her.

‘I’m Melbourne born and bred. I’ve come home.’

‘So you don’t need me to show you around Melbourne, then.’

‘No.’ He laughed, trying to ease the tension he could feel emanating from her. She was wound up tight. ‘Guilty as charged. But I warn you, I will try again. I’d like to have dinner with you. Just dinner; we won’t call it a date. No expectations, no strings.’ He wasn’t looking for a serious relationship but Brighde wasn’t even looking at him any more.

‘I need to get back to Kirsty,’ she said as she dried her hands. And then she was gone. Leaving him alone and completely confused. And naturally intrigued. She’d thrown him a challenge by knocking him back and he wasn’t about to retreat.

* * *

Anyone listening to her would think she was mad. He probably thought she was mad. But she’d prefer to risk being considered crazy than to risk falling in love. That was not on her agenda. She needed to get away. Far away. From his easy charm and his come-to-bed eyes and his to-die-for body before she made any more mistakes. She could totally understand why he wasn’t often rejected. He was completely gorgeous and the sex had been fantastic but he wasn’t for her. She couldn’t afford to relax her rules. She didn’t do second dates or dinner or whatever he wanted to call it. She couldn’t accept his invitation, no matter how much she was tempted.

So she walked away, even though it was hard to do, and returned to Kirsty and her baby. She had a new mum to care for. A job to do. There was no time to think about what-ifs and to wish things were different.

She helped Kirsty to breastfeed her baby, then shower and dress. She settled her into her room and left Kirsty and Matt alone with their baby. She was due for a tea break but she didn’t want to risk having it in the staff kitchen and bumping into Xavier so she escaped to the nursery, looking for Sarah. She needed to debrief.

Brighde offered to take over from the other nurse on duty so she could take a tea break which allowed her to talk to Sarah without interruption. The nursery was quiet. It was three o’clock in the morning and most of the babies were with their mothers. Sarah was feeding a premmie baby and there was another who needed changing. Brighde picked her up, changing her nappy before holding her for a while. She loved the weight of a newborn baby in her arms. Loved the new baby smell. She would love one of her own if things were different.

‘Are you going to tell me how it went?’ Sarah asked as she settled her charge.

‘Fine,’ Brighde replied. ‘Good, even.’ Xavier was a good doctor but Brighde hadn’t been able to think straight. She needed a plan. A way of knowing she was going to be able to hold herself together and do her job. She couldn’t afford to be distracted.

‘And?’ Sarah queried. ‘You obviously have something on your mind. Spit it out.’

‘He asked me out.’

‘And you said yes?’

‘I don’t do second dates. You know that.’

‘Technically, it’s not a second date. You never really had a first one and a good bonking is not the same thing as a candlelit dinner. And I’ve never seen you so obsessed.’

‘I’m not obsessed,’ Brighde objected.

‘Fascinated then.’

‘Well, there’s a lot to be fascinated about,’ she admitted.

‘There’s no harm in going on a date with him. Especially as you can call this a first date.’