Daredevil and Dr Kate. Leah Martyn

his shoulder, a mess of wind-blown waves, long, shiny and smelling of citrus. Fabulous. He breathed in deeply to stop himself leaning into her and closing the space between them. Touching his mouth to hers.

      But one touch would never be enough.

      Kate tilted her chin. Aiden O’Connor had given up a whole morning to spend time with her children and yet he hadn’t seemed bored or indifferent. Well, if he was, he hadn’t let it show. In fact, he’d been unassuming and nice. And now he was smiling at her, his mouth tilting quizzically. He seemed in no hurry to leave, his tanned legs in their cargo shorts stretched out in front of him, his trainer-clad feet crossed at the ankles.

      Avoiding his gaze, Kate dipped her head, locking her fingers around the edge of the bench seat. What was the question again? Oh, yes, having fun. There hadn’t been much fun in her own life recently but her kids deserved a truckload. She swallowed hard and then said huskily, ‘Childhood should all be about fun.’

      ‘I’ll let you know when sign-on day is happening, then, and you can bring Luke along.’ Aiden glanced at his watch. ‘And talking about fun, I should make tracks. Party in Brisbane tonight I can’t possibly miss.’

      ‘I won’t hold you up, then.’ Kate rocked to her feet. She felt sick with embarrassment. For just a little while she’d allowed herself to relax around Aiden O’Connor, to edge closer to him, mentally as well as physically. But he obviously had personal ties she knew nothing about. And it was none of her business anyway.

      Aiden got to his feet slowly. What had he said? She’d already bolted, rounding up Luke and Mia as if she couldn’t wait to be shot of him.

      ‘Say, thank you to Dr O’Connor, kids.’ Kate tightened all the bits of herself that had seemed to have loosened, almost presenting the children to him for inspection. She felt such a fool. Letting herself be lulled by the sheer sexiness of the man. Letting herself begin to want things …

      ‘Kate.’ Aiden dismissed the children’s thanks gently. ‘What’s wrong?’

      Kate’s heart flipped and her throat went dry. ‘What makes you think something’s wrong?’

      ‘Your body language for starters.’

      A soft breeze had whipped up, almost adding to the tension. Aiden watched as a tendril of hair flickered across Kate’s cheek and hung. On a reflex action he reached out and pleated it back. Her hair was as soft as he’d imagined. Silken. ‘Going to tell me?’

      His blue eyes glinted, demanding an answer.

      Kate’s heart hammered, her lips parted, her brown eyes burned like simmering coals. She wanted to reach up and place her hand against his. Increase the pressure against her skin. Connect with him. But that was madness. And it was as if a sign came up in front of her saying, No through road. ‘You’re imagining things.’ Her voice was barely there.

      ‘You know I’m not.’ Aiden pressed his shoes into the ground, anchoring himself. His throat convulsed in a dry deep swallow. ‘Kate …’

      ‘Just leave it, Aiden.’ She ducked away out of reach and shepherded the children towards the car.

      Frowning, Aiden picked up the picnic basket and followed.

      Luke and Mia had already scrambled into the rear seat and buckled their seat belts. Kate held the boot open, waiting for him. ‘Thanks,’ she said gruffly, almost slamming the lid on his fingers. ‘See you at work on Monday.’

      She fled before he could answer, throwing herself into the driver’s seat, and was away within seconds, while his thought processes drew to a screaming halt. His mouth twisted into a grim line. What was with her?

      Oh, hell. Shaking his head at the complexities of it all, he wandered across to his off-road vehicle. Would he ever get it right around Kate Preston?