The Doctor's Baby Secret (7 page)

But at the end of the day the science didn't matter. Because Austin Mitchell had that look on his face. The sexy, knowing smile. Knowing exactly how much he affected her.

Maybe it was the fact he wasn't in uniform? While the bright blue flight suit did crazy things to his eyes, it always made her remember the distance between them. Today, in dark blue jeans and a short-sleeved white shirt, Austin Mitchell could be any regular guy on the planet.

If regular guys looked this good.

The waitress appeared again and took their order. Austin was still watching her with those hypnotic blue eyes of his. She wasn't going to look at them. She just wasn't. It was too much trouble.

She sucked in a breath and tried to bring some normality back to the situation. ‘I'm not used to being kissed by guys I hardly know. Why don't we try and remedy that situation?' She gulped. That had come out a little more direct than intended. It was almost an invitation to tell her a little about him and see what could happen next.

She twisted her feet under the table. He couldn't see her squirm there.

Austin sat back a little. He just looked amused by everything she said. ‘You've read my file. What else do you want to know?'

She shook her head. ‘I've read your medical file. I haven't read your general file. I had no need to. So, unless we want to discuss your blood work, eye tests or chest X-ray, I really don't know much about you at all.'

He leaned back against the leather seat. ‘You know I was a Top Gun instructor.'

‘And that's all that defines you? A Top Gun instructor?'

‘It's enough for most women.'

She shook her head. ‘Why did you join the navy? Why be a pilot?'

He looked a little more thoughtful, and his answers were more measured. He spoke slowly. ‘Let's just say it's a family tradition.'

Now, she was finding out a bit more. ‘Your dad was a pilot?'

He nodded. ‘My father, my grandfather and my great-grandfather.'

‘Wow.' She paused for a second. There was something a little strange about the way he said it. ‘So, Top Gun wasn't your dream?'

His eyes darted off to the side. She smiled. He was formulating an answer.

‘Yes...and no.'

She tapped her fingers on the table. ‘Now, what does that mean?'

He met her gaze with such an intensity she caught her breath. ‘Space. Space has always been the dream. I knew that one of the best ways in was to be a pilot. That's why I was happy to follow the family tradition.' He paused for a second. ‘My father was on the shortlist for astronaut training thirty-five years ago. Then along came a baby that gave him scarlet fever and then measles and those plans went out the window.'

‘Wow, talk about a guilt trip.'

He shrugged. ‘What can I say? My father was never a baby kind of guy. First proper conversation we had was when I told him I was joining the navy and planned on being a pilot.'

‘He approved?'

‘You could say that. He spends his life telling the world how well his son is doing. As for this?' He held up his hands. ‘On the one hand he can't wait to tell folks his son is an astronaut candidate, and on the other...' His voice tailed off a little. ‘I think he still feels a little bitter about missing out on the opportunity himself. He asks detailed questions about some of the assignments, then proceeds to tell me how he could have completed it easier and faster than me.'

She sucked in some air. ‘So, you're treading a fine line between fatherly approval and fatherly jealousy?'

He gave a wry smile. ‘Maybe. But some things I get to keep to myself.' He met her gaze. ‘If it's not astronaut or Top Gun he's really not interested.'

But she was.

She leaned across the table towards him. Austin Mitchell was getting a whole lot more interesting.

‘So what are you keeping to yourself, Lieutenant Commander Mitchell?'

She wanted to laugh out loud. She was blatantly flirting with the guy. But he made it so easy.

He raised his eyebrows, then leaned across the table towards her too, their faces only inches apart, and waved his hand. ‘Space has always been the goal. But there's more than one way to get there. I loved science at school. If I wanted to go to space, I should really have focused on physics. But it was biology I loved—microbiology. Things down at a cellular level. Plants, animals and humans, but mainly just the science.'

She smiled. ‘So, that's why you did your degree too?'

He nodded. ‘It made sense.' He gave her a cheeky smile. ‘Men aren't supposed to like multitasking, but I did.' It was a quip about her remark at the pool that day and she couldn't help but smile. ‘Astronauts are selected today not just because they have one skill. I decided to give myself the best chance of selection, increase my chances.'

‘So you can pilot the craft
and
do the on-board experiments?'

‘Exactly.'

Interesting. This guy had been absolutely determined to go to space. She couldn't even begin to think about what he would have done if he hadn't been selected.

The waitress appeared and set down their order. Corrine didn't wait. She picked up her fork and took her first taste of the cake she loved. It looked kind of odd. Austin with his megaburger and her with a piece of cake.

‘What about you?'

She looked up. She shouldn't be surprised. It was only fair. She'd asked him some questions, so he had to be allowed to do the same.

‘What about me?'

‘Why are you at WSSA?'

She smiled. ‘I guess we're not that dissimilar. I always wanted to work at WSSA.' She pointed to the sky. ‘But I never dreamed of going into space. I always wanted my feet to stay firmly on the ground.'

‘Why WSSA?'

She took a few seconds. ‘Because it's where dreams are made. The science of sending someone into space is fascinating. There's still so much we don't know—and can still find out. Wouldn't you like to think that there's life on another planet somewhere?'

He looked surprised. ‘You believe in aliens?'

She laughed. ‘Absolutely. They're green with big heads.' She shook her head. ‘No, seriously. I have mixed feelings about all that. I know, statistically, with the size of our universe, it's possible. Do I really think there's something out there? I just don't know.'

Now she was curious. Astronauts could be divided on this. ‘What about you?'

He shook his head. ‘I'm more of a believer of the fact that we've done serious damage to our planet and in future years we might need to live in space—or somewhere else.'

She sat back a little. ‘You think you'll end up living in space?'

He shook his head. ‘Not me. But our children. Our future generations.'

There was just something about the way he said those words. The way he looked at her as he said them.
Our children.
She knew he didn't mean it that way. But her body didn't seem to understand that. Every tiny hair she had was currently standing on end and her mouth had gone inexplicably dry.

He didn't seem to notice the effect his words had on her. He was on a roll. ‘I was probably born five hundred years too early. I really want to be living in the time of space travel that we see on TV and in movies, with all their technology. But hopefully I'm going to help us get there.'

She smiled. Lots of the astronauts had been inspired by TV series. Particularly the science. ‘I'd be really grateful if you could make me a Tricorder. Just think, I point something at your body, scan and it tells me exactly what's wrong with you. Think how brilliant that would be.'

He shook his head. ‘Get in line. I'll only make you a Tricorder once I've developed the transporter. I want to press a button and beam to another planet.'

She laughed. ‘You want all your cells reduced to atoms and molecules and scattered throughout space?'

‘Only if we can put them back together in the same order.' He gave her a wicked look. ‘I'd hate to find some parts of my anatomy missing...' he raised his eyebrows ‘...or find any part of you misplaced.'

She shuddered. ‘I can't even think about that.' She sighed. ‘I'd just love to be able to study the science of sending humans to Mars. Long-term missions. That kind of thing.' She stared off into the sky for a few seconds. ‘But it's kind of scary. Especially if the journey is only one-way.' She looked back at him. He was watching her with a strange expression on his face. ‘Would you sign up for something like that?'

He took a few seconds to answer. ‘I might,' he said carefully. ‘That kind of journey is going to be inevitable at some point. Every astronaut will have to ask themselves that question. I guess it all depends on what they leave behind.'

He couldn't possibly realise how cold those words sounded to her. How alone. She didn't even want to have this kind of conversation with Austin Mitchell. When he was in front of her all she really wanted to think about was the here and now. Not the future. Especially when the aloneness of it sent a shiver down her spine. She decided to change the subject.

She nodded at his megaburger. ‘I hope you know I'm secretly keeping note of your eating habits.'

‘I hope you remember that you recommended it.' He smiled. Mars forgotten.

‘Smart answer.'

He gave her a careful glance. ‘That's a nice house you've got. Kinda big for one person.'

‘What are you asking me?'

‘You know exactly what I'm asking you.' He was getting straight back to point. Seemed as if his mind was on the here and now too.

‘Lieutenant Commander Mitchell, I'm shocked. You kissed a girl without finding out her availability?'

He raised one eyebrow. ‘I kissed a girl based on the chemistry between us.'

She gulped. Talk about getting straight to the point. ‘You can't just go around kissing people.'

‘You can't just go around kissing people back.'

Every time she tried to push him back in his box he jumped straight back out. The sizzle in the air between them was practically causing sparks.

His fingers were just across the table from hers. If she inched her fingers forward just a little, they would touch. But where would that lead?

Nowhere good.

‘You did kiss me back—remember?'

The Texas drawl was rich and thick. Like melted chocolate dripping all over her skin. For a few seconds she couldn't breathe. This guy had a ridiculous effect on her. Maybe she would be better to try and get him out of her system?

Where had that come from?

That wasn't like her at all. She didn't do things like that. She didn't think things like that. What was it about this guy that was making her brain scramble whenever he was around?

It was driving her crazy. She'd never had one of these lightning-bolt attractions. A ‘fireworks going off in the background whenever he was around' kind of thing.

She licked her lips as her eyes fixed on the table. ‘I might have kissed you back,' she said quietly.

His fingers moved, stretching across to touch hers.

The effect was instant. Her eyes met his. ‘Wanna kiss me back again?'

He couldn't have been more direct.

And it lit a fire under her like never before.

She hadn't even answered before he turned to the waitress and lifted his hand. ‘Can we get the check, please?'

The next few moments passed in a blur. Austin glanced at the check and left a pile of dollars on the table. He was on his feet in an instant, holding his hand out towards her.

She hesitated.

‘Shall we?'

She was doing her best to appear calm. To calm the racing heart in her chest and the buzzing in her ears. The jumbled thoughts swirling around her mind stilled, giving her one clear thought and one clear answer.

She slid along the booth and reached her hand out to his.

It was the weirdest thing. But she'd never had a clearer thought in her head.

She was going to do this.

For the first time in her life. She was going to be bad.

CHAPTER EIGHT

H
E
MUST
BE
losing his mind. But right now, Austin Mitchell could only focus on one thing—and for about the first time in twenty years it wasn't on getting to space.

They stood next to her car as she fumbled with her keys. He was pretty sure this was completely out of character for Corrine Carter. Even though she was trying to be confident and determined he could see the tiny flare of panic in her eyes.

He walked around to the driver's side of the car and put his hand over hers. ‘Do you want me to drive?'

She nodded without speaking, handed him the keys and disappeared to the other side of the car.

He climbed in, started the car and pulled out into the traffic. Neither of them spoke and the ten-mile journey seemed to take for ever. He was conscious of every tiny movement, every cross of her legs, the way she held her hands in her lap and the bounce of her hair on her shoulders.

His stomach was literally in knots the whole way. The last thing he wanted to happen was for Corrine to change her mind between the diner and the house.

The yellow clapboard house appeared in the distance. It was still a good-looking house, but now it seemed to represent so much more.

It was all he could do not to skid to a halt. Corrine jumped out of the car as soon as they stopped. Austin moved a little slower. The last thing he wanted to do was push her into doing something she didn't want to.

She unlocked the front door and turned to face him. ‘Want to see inside?' It was supposed to be light. It was supposed to be fun. But he could hear the tiny wobble in her voice.

He kept his feet firmly planted on the porch and lifted his hand, running a finger down the side of her face. ‘Corrine, do you know what you're doing?'

‘No.' She blinked. The answer had come out automatically. She sucked in a deep breath and closed her hand around his. ‘But I know I want to do it.'

She nudged her door with her hip, letting it swing open to reveal a wide hallway. ‘You only get invited in once,' she said. This time she was smiling. This time, she seemed more confident, more relaxed.

He kept his voice low as he ran his finger along the length of her arm. ‘In that case, I'd better say yes.'

* * *

Every part of her body was trembling. It was all she could do to stay on her feet. All she could smell was him. All she could see was him. Every word he spoke seemed to connect with the muscles in her legs and turn them to mush.

The expectation had been building too long. If she waited much longer she'd spontaneously combust and she had the distinct impression he'd do the same.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him along her hallway. A tiny wave of panic flared. Was her bedroom even tidy? When she'd left this morning she hadn't contemplated having a guest. That hadn't entered her head at all.

As they reached her bedroom door she turned around to face him. His reaction was instant; he captured her head in his hands and put his lips on hers.
This
was the kiss she remembered. But this time she could feel all his body against hers.

Now, she had every part of his muscle and sinew pressed up against her. This was the moment that had haunted her dreams for the last two weeks. And it felt even better than she'd imagined. One hand drifted down the side of her body, skimming her breast, her waistline and settling at her hip, where it tugged at the ties of her wrap dress.

She froze for a second.

‘Hey, what's wrong?' he murmured in her ear.

She licked her lips. ‘I just... I just...'

He put both hands on her hips and looked her square in the eye. ‘You just, what?'

She gulped. One minute she'd been fine, the next she'd felt a tiny second of panic.

She was surprised he'd even noticed. But it felt good that he had.

‘I like to be in control,' she said shakily.

He was watching her steadily. ‘Corrine, did something happen?'

A little shiver coursed over her body. His gaze was intense. She could still feel the attraction buzzing in the air between them, but this needed to be on her terms. Her way.

‘Let's just say I had a reason to learn self-defence.'

He flinched. Then reached over and touched her cheek. It was the gentlest touch. ‘Did he hurt you?'

She squeezed her eyes closed for a second. This was not where she had wanted this to go. But she couldn't be truly comfortable with what was coming next if Austin didn't understand her.

She lifted her chin and swallowed, meeting his gaze. ‘He tried to hurt me, so I hurt him back. I knocked him out.'

The corners of his lips turned upwards. ‘That's my girl.'

He didn't say anything for a few seconds but just lifted his hand away from her cheek. ‘Corrine, I will never do anything to hurt you. I won't even put a hand on you if you don't want me to. You can have all the control you want. And if you want me to leave, you just need to say.'

‘No.' This time she did reach out. She put her hand on his arm. ‘I don't want you to leave.'

‘You're sure?' They might have flirted and joked together before, but right now there was absolute sincerity on Austin Mitchell's face.

And she believed it. He made her believe it.

‘I'm sure.'

His eyes twinkled. ‘Then let me ask you, Dr Carter, what do you want?'

Her fingers responded instantly, running up his chest and starting to undo the buttons on his white shirt. She hadn't even known her fingers could move that quickly. He didn't object. Not when she unfastened the last one and pushed the shirt back off his shoulders.

He took a tiny step closer. ‘Hey, this is getting a little unfair.' His warm breath touched the skin at the bottom of her neck.

‘Then make it fair,' she whispered. He gave her dress another tug, loosening the ties and letting the jersey material fall back and crumple to the floor.

She'd thought she'd feel self-conscious. It was hard not to around Austin. The guy didn't have a single muscle in his body that wasn't defined. But Austin seemed far more interested in her curves than how flat her stomach was.

His lips moved from hers, edging around the back of her ear and down to her throat. She released a little whimper and stepped backwards, pulling him with her towards the bed.

They hadn't stopped to turn on any lights, but the tiny gap at the French doors made her white full-length gauze drapes flutter next to them. It was like a movie scene. All she needed was the smoke machine to finish setting the mood.

She felt safe. She felt safe with Austin.

Her hands moved towards his jeans. He lifted his head and closed his hand over hers. ‘Last chance to change your mind, Corrine.'

She smiled. His voice was bathing her with a wave of sensations that she didn't ever want to end. She undid his belt buckle and pulled it sharply from his jeans, tossing it onto the floor.

His hand caressed her red bra as they fell back onto the white duvet laughing. ‘I think we've passed the point of no return,' she said softly as she put her lips on his.

* * *

Austin woke up a few hours later, curled around the warm body of Corrine Carter. Her pale curtain was billowing in the wind again. The handyman in him wanted to offer to fix the draft around the door, but he knew that Corrine would refuse.

Something in his heart squeezed a little. This was the point where he should retrieve his clothes and head for the door. It wasn't as if he had any transport, but he'd run between the base and Corrine's house before and he could do it again.

But something felt weird. He didn't want to climb out of the bed and disappear. Even though he knew he had to.

He had to be focused for tomorrow. The T-38 supersonic jet trainers were the start of his pilot training for piloting the spacecraft. It was a million-dollar programme. He had to be on point. No distractions. So why was he still here?

Corrine groaned and her warm body shifted back towards his. It was impossible. There was no way he could
not
react. After a few seconds she rolled over, smiling at him.

‘Hey,' she said softly, her hand coming over and resting on his bare chest.

‘Hey,' he replied, his hand connecting with her bare behind.

She was staring at him with those big green eyes. Up close and personal he could see tiny flecks of brown in them. Her skin was perfect, with only the tiniest hint of colour and not a single blemish. Her curves were even more perfect.

‘I liked the red dress.' He smiled. ‘You should wear it more often.'

‘Seems to me you liked it better off than on,' she shot back.

His fingers trailed along her soft skin. ‘Okay, you got me. I definitely liked it better off.'

‘Austin...' Her voice tailed off. He sensed her muscles tense under the palms of his hands. This was it. This was the
don't-call-me-I'll-call-you
chat.

He'd never actually had anyone say that to him before. It had always been him doing it to someone else. He was usually the dumper rather than the dumped.

His stomach twisted uncomfortably.

She reached up and ran her fingers through his short hair, licking her lips as she did so. She was thinking of what to say. He could tell. She was trying to find just the right let-down words.

But then she surprised him.

‘You could get addictive,' she with a sigh, then rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling.

Not what he was expecting and his heart did a little jig. It didn't matter that he'd decided he should get Corrine Carter out of his system. It didn't matter that he had no intention of starting any kind of relationship that interfered with his ultimate goal.

Those things didn't seem so crystal clear right now.

His phone beeped behind him.

‘Who's that?'

He shook his head. ‘I was waiting on an email. It must be that.'

He leaned out of the side of the bed and fumbled around his jeans, retrieving the phone from his pocket and pressing the button. It only took a few seconds to read the email.

‘What is it?' She didn't bother to hide her curiosity.

Now it was his turn to sag back against the pillows. ‘It's the offer of some research. It's been in the pipeline for a few years. It's just taken a long time to actually arrive.'

She leaned her head on her hand. ‘What kind of research?'

‘Cellular stuff. Looking at zebra fishes, in particular the Hedgehog signalling pathway and how it controls cell growth in human cancers.'

Her eyes widened. ‘That sounds fascinating. And really worthwhile. They offered you the research?'

He nodded. ‘They want me to head up the team. I did some preliminary research a few years ago and contributed to developing the theory they want to explore.'

‘But what about WSSA?'

He didn't hesitate. ‘WSSA comes first. It always will.'

There was a little flare of recognition behind her eyes. As if she understood he wasn't just talking about the research. He was talking about everything. His whole life.

‘Will they give the project to someone else?'

He let out a long slow breath. He'd always known these two parts of his life could collide. He just hadn't expected it to be right now. ‘Probably.'

‘And you can't find any way to do both?'

He frowned. ‘How on earth could I do that? I've got intensive training for the next eighteen months. I won't be able to think about anything else but that.' It came out a little sharper than he intended and she pulled the duvet closer to herself.

‘You should speak to Jack Carson, who oversees things. There are all sorts of research projects done by WSSA. You don't know what they might be planning for the future.'

He shook his head. This conversation was making him uncomfortable. This was the first time—ever—he'd had reason to question going into space. This research was important. If they could find out how that pathway really worked and find a way to switch it off, it could affect every single person with cancer.

He swung his legs around out of the bed and picked up his jeans.

She didn't seem surprised—didn't do anything to stop him. He pulled on his jeans and walked over to get his shirt. She sat up too, pulling the duvet around her. ‘Do you want me to drive you back to base?'

He shook his head. ‘The walk will do me good. I've got a lot to think about. I need to work out how to turn them down.'

She gave a nod. ‘You'll be on the other side of the base for the next few weeks. Good luck with the pilot training.'

His footsteps kind of faltered but he didn't turn around. He didn't let himself turn around. Last thing he needed right now was to see Corrine with her mussed-up hair, all wrapped up in a duvet, looking sexier than hell. He'd never be able to get that picture out of his head—whether he was on earth, or in space.

‘Thanks,' he muttered quietly as he left, thinking about all the things he'd just done wrong.