Read Online Playboy Doctor to Doting Dad by Sue MacKay - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sue MacKay
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you not to open the door to strangers?’ Abby hesitated in mid-flight and eyed Olivia sternly.
Kieran explained, his gaze now in the vicinity of her face, ‘You can blame me. When I knocked and got no answer I came round to the window to see if you were about. Olivia saw me and let me in. There are advantages to being Uncle Kieran.’ At last his eyes met hers, twinkling at her. ‘Anyway, I’d hope I wasn’t a stranger.’
She knew he was referring to his relationship with her, not Olivia. She stuttered, ‘W-what b-brings you out here this early?’
‘I wanted to apologise for my abrupt departure last night. It was rude of me.’ He raised his hands and shrugged disarmingly. ‘I admit to being a little overwhelmed. Throw in exhaustion after that damned flight and everything caught up with me in a hurry. But I should’ve said goodnight.’
‘Apology accepted.’ He surprised her, admitting he’d been out of his depth. But right now she had to feed and clothe the kids, then get to work on time. No, first she had to get dressed before Kieran began sizing her up again in his toe-curling way.
He said, ‘I thought it best to see you before we get to work. It might be a bit awkward explaining in front of other people.’
‘Work?’ He was joking, right? ‘You’re not starting today?’ She’d been relying on having a few more days before he invaded her work space as well as her home.
‘Might as well. There’s nothing else on my agenda at the moment, and I understand Michael is already on leave.’
‘His son’s desperately ill and last week they got word of a liver that might be compatible in Brisbane.’
‘Then the sooner I start, the better. Let’s hope the operation on his son is successful.’
‘Everyone’s got their fingers crossed for that,’ Abby responded. ‘We’ve seen the pain the family is suffering.’
‘I can’t imagine being in their shoes.’ Kieran turned for the back door. ‘I’ll see you later on.’
Relieved that he was leaving, she couldn’t explain the little gremlin that made her say, ‘Since you’re here, can you put the kettle on and start making toast? I’m already running late and could do with a hand.’
He slowly turned back into the room, his eyes again roaming over her. The playboy was definitely to the fore this morning, not the overwhelmed man trying to deal with two very small relatives he couldn’t quite fathom. ‘Of course. Where do you keep everything?’
‘Fridge, cupboard and pantry.’ Abby beat a hasty retreat to her bedroom.
As she changed Seamus into shorts and T-shirt she could hear Olivia telling Kieran what she wanted on her toast and what Seamus liked, and that she wanted juice. ‘No, not in that glass. The other one.’
Then, ‘Abby doesn’t cut our toast like that. She makes it into squares.’ And, ‘Not that runny honey. It falls off the toast and messes Seamus’s shirt.’
Abby grinned in sympathy for Kieran. He was learning breakfast wasn’t as straightforward as he’d previously believed.
Time to rescue the man. Back in the kitchen she placed Seamus in his highchair and put his toast in front of him before grinning at Kieran. ‘I heard you getting your instructions from little miss bossy britches.’
Kieran placed a mug of tea on the table in front of her. ‘I never knew making toast could be so difficult. I hope yourtea is to your satisfaction?’ He grinned back before looking over to the highchair.
His eyes fixed on Seamus poking food into his mouth and over his cheeks. A mask of indifference hid whatever he truly felt about his little boy and the situation he found himself in. Were his feelings good ones? Or did he still want nothing to do with the kids? Her heart squeezed for Kieran and Seamus. They needed time together, lots of it.
Seamus dropped a piece of toast on the floor. Wrong way up, of course. And Kieran grimaced. It didn’t seem to register with him there was a mess to clean up.
Abby grabbed a
Kieran explained, his gaze now in the vicinity of her face, ‘You can blame me. When I knocked and got no answer I came round to the window to see if you were about. Olivia saw me and let me in. There are advantages to being Uncle Kieran.’ At last his eyes met hers, twinkling at her. ‘Anyway, I’d hope I wasn’t a stranger.’
She knew he was referring to his relationship with her, not Olivia. She stuttered, ‘W-what b-brings you out here this early?’
‘I wanted to apologise for my abrupt departure last night. It was rude of me.’ He raised his hands and shrugged disarmingly. ‘I admit to being a little overwhelmed. Throw in exhaustion after that damned flight and everything caught up with me in a hurry. But I should’ve said goodnight.’
‘Apology accepted.’ He surprised her, admitting he’d been out of his depth. But right now she had to feed and clothe the kids, then get to work on time. No, first she had to get dressed before Kieran began sizing her up again in his toe-curling way.
He said, ‘I thought it best to see you before we get to work. It might be a bit awkward explaining in front of other people.’
‘Work?’ He was joking, right? ‘You’re not starting today?’ She’d been relying on having a few more days before he invaded her work space as well as her home.
‘Might as well. There’s nothing else on my agenda at the moment, and I understand Michael is already on leave.’
‘His son’s desperately ill and last week they got word of a liver that might be compatible in Brisbane.’
‘Then the sooner I start, the better. Let’s hope the operation on his son is successful.’
‘Everyone’s got their fingers crossed for that,’ Abby responded. ‘We’ve seen the pain the family is suffering.’
‘I can’t imagine being in their shoes.’ Kieran turned for the back door. ‘I’ll see you later on.’
Relieved that he was leaving, she couldn’t explain the little gremlin that made her say, ‘Since you’re here, can you put the kettle on and start making toast? I’m already running late and could do with a hand.’
He slowly turned back into the room, his eyes again roaming over her. The playboy was definitely to the fore this morning, not the overwhelmed man trying to deal with two very small relatives he couldn’t quite fathom. ‘Of course. Where do you keep everything?’
‘Fridge, cupboard and pantry.’ Abby beat a hasty retreat to her bedroom.
As she changed Seamus into shorts and T-shirt she could hear Olivia telling Kieran what she wanted on her toast and what Seamus liked, and that she wanted juice. ‘No, not in that glass. The other one.’
Then, ‘Abby doesn’t cut our toast like that. She makes it into squares.’ And, ‘Not that runny honey. It falls off the toast and messes Seamus’s shirt.’
Abby grinned in sympathy for Kieran. He was learning breakfast wasn’t as straightforward as he’d previously believed.
Time to rescue the man. Back in the kitchen she placed Seamus in his highchair and put his toast in front of him before grinning at Kieran. ‘I heard you getting your instructions from little miss bossy britches.’
Kieran placed a mug of tea on the table in front of her. ‘I never knew making toast could be so difficult. I hope yourtea is to your satisfaction?’ He grinned back before looking over to the highchair.
His eyes fixed on Seamus poking food into his mouth and over his cheeks. A mask of indifference hid whatever he truly felt about his little boy and the situation he found himself in. Were his feelings good ones? Or did he still want nothing to do with the kids? Her heart squeezed for Kieran and Seamus. They needed time together, lots of it.
Seamus dropped a piece of toast on the floor. Wrong way up, of course. And Kieran grimaced. It didn’t seem to register with him there was a mess to clean up.
Abby grabbed a
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