Read Online The Honourable Army Doc by Emily Forbes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Emily Forbes
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was in fifth-year medicine at Brisbane Uni. Julieanne was a nurse. When she graduated she moved to Queensland to have a change of scenery, to have some fun. I was a very serious, conscientious med student and Julieanne made it her mission to introduce me to a social life. She was like a shooting star, vivacious And fun, and I’d never really met anyone like her before. I think I’d always avoided them, knowing I’d get burnt. And then I got her pregnant.
‘Julieanne had never intended on staying in Brisbane permanently, and getting pregnant definitely wasn’t on her agenda. Once she’d had the babies she wanted to be back in South Australia with her family but I wasn’t so flexible. I was still studying, still committed to the army, so she stayed for a few years and tried to keep our family together, but we were both exhausted and swamped by the reality of parenting when we weren’t mentally prepared for it. We didn’t know ourselves well enough, let alone each other. I couldn’t give her the attention or company or help sheneeded and she was lonely. Her family and most of her friends were in Adelaide, not Brisbane.
‘She went looking for company and she found it. We both know that we never would have lasted as a couple if Julieanne hadn’t fallen pregnant. Apart from the girls, we didn’t really have much in common when it came down to it. We got divorced, she moved back down here and we’re trying to do the best we can. Which brings me to you.’
‘I have nothing that can compare to that.’
‘I find that hard to believe. No broken engagements, no ex-husbands, no jealous boyfriends?’
Ali shook her head. ‘A couple of ex-boyfriends but they’re ancient history and certainly not the jealous type. My life sounds incredibly dull. In fact, it actually is depressingly dull.’ She wondered what he would say if she told him that meeting him had been the most exciting thing that had happened to her in a long time.
‘Maybe I can spice things up for you.’
‘I’ve no doubt you could,’ she replied with a smile as she finished her wine.
‘I’d like to offer you another drink but I’d better get home,’ he said as he checked his watch. ‘Can I take you out again, though? Properly? For dinner?’
He was asking her on a date! A proper date
, she thought as she stood and let him help her into her coat. Her heart was beating so furiously she was convinced everyone in the room must be able to hear it. She tried not to let her excitement show as she said, ‘It sounds lovely but are you sure you have the time and energy for that?’
‘You give me the energy,’ he said as he took her hand. Her heart raced as his fingers wrapped around hers. His hand was warm, his grip firm but gentle, and Ali was quite happy to let him hold her hand as he walked her home.
‘Everything else is taking a piece of me, bit by bit, and at times I feel as though I’m in danger of disappearing, but when I’m with you I feel that everything will turn out okay,’ he said as they stopped at her front door. ‘Can we make a date for next weekend?’
‘I’d like that.’
Quinn reached towards her with his free hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before he bent his head. Ali held her breath. Was he going to kiss her? She wanted to close her eyes, ready to savour his touch, but she forced herself to keep her eyes open, waiting and watching to see what he would do. She waited until his lips met hers before she shut her eyes and allowed herself to get lost in his touch. She parted her lips in response to his urging and allowed herself to get lost in his taste.
He tasted like whisky, of malt and warmth. His lips were soft but the pressure was firm. He wasn’t asking her permission, he was taking what he wanted, but she had no objections. She was more than willing to give herself to him.
The scratch of his stubble was rough in contrast to his lips but not unpleasant. Definitely not unpleasant. She pressed up
‘Julieanne had never intended on staying in Brisbane permanently, and getting pregnant definitely wasn’t on her agenda. Once she’d had the babies she wanted to be back in South Australia with her family but I wasn’t so flexible. I was still studying, still committed to the army, so she stayed for a few years and tried to keep our family together, but we were both exhausted and swamped by the reality of parenting when we weren’t mentally prepared for it. We didn’t know ourselves well enough, let alone each other. I couldn’t give her the attention or company or help sheneeded and she was lonely. Her family and most of her friends were in Adelaide, not Brisbane.
‘She went looking for company and she found it. We both know that we never would have lasted as a couple if Julieanne hadn’t fallen pregnant. Apart from the girls, we didn’t really have much in common when it came down to it. We got divorced, she moved back down here and we’re trying to do the best we can. Which brings me to you.’
‘I have nothing that can compare to that.’
‘I find that hard to believe. No broken engagements, no ex-husbands, no jealous boyfriends?’
Ali shook her head. ‘A couple of ex-boyfriends but they’re ancient history and certainly not the jealous type. My life sounds incredibly dull. In fact, it actually is depressingly dull.’ She wondered what he would say if she told him that meeting him had been the most exciting thing that had happened to her in a long time.
‘Maybe I can spice things up for you.’
‘I’ve no doubt you could,’ she replied with a smile as she finished her wine.
‘I’d like to offer you another drink but I’d better get home,’ he said as he checked his watch. ‘Can I take you out again, though? Properly? For dinner?’
He was asking her on a date! A proper date
, she thought as she stood and let him help her into her coat. Her heart was beating so furiously she was convinced everyone in the room must be able to hear it. She tried not to let her excitement show as she said, ‘It sounds lovely but are you sure you have the time and energy for that?’
‘You give me the energy,’ he said as he took her hand. Her heart raced as his fingers wrapped around hers. His hand was warm, his grip firm but gentle, and Ali was quite happy to let him hold her hand as he walked her home.
‘Everything else is taking a piece of me, bit by bit, and at times I feel as though I’m in danger of disappearing, but when I’m with you I feel that everything will turn out okay,’ he said as they stopped at her front door. ‘Can we make a date for next weekend?’
‘I’d like that.’
Quinn reached towards her with his free hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before he bent his head. Ali held her breath. Was he going to kiss her? She wanted to close her eyes, ready to savour his touch, but she forced herself to keep her eyes open, waiting and watching to see what he would do. She waited until his lips met hers before she shut her eyes and allowed herself to get lost in his touch. She parted her lips in response to his urging and allowed herself to get lost in his taste.
He tasted like whisky, of malt and warmth. His lips were soft but the pressure was firm. He wasn’t asking her permission, he was taking what he wanted, but she had no objections. She was more than willing to give herself to him.
The scratch of his stubble was rough in contrast to his lips but not unpleasant. Definitely not unpleasant. She pressed up
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