Awakening The Shy Nurse

One stolen kiss...

...and they’re both in deep water!

Sensible Annalise has always played it safe, but when she accepts a job as nurse aboard a cruise ship, her guard is instantly disarmed by the ship’s playboy doctor! She’s never felt so alive and liberated, but Hugh Patterson has no interest in putting down roots. Their fling may be temporary, but is falling for Hugh a complication she’s ready to embrace?

ALISON ROBERTS is a New Zealander, currently lucky enough to be living in the South of France. She is also lucky enough to write for the Mills & Boon Medical Romance line. A primary school teacher in a former life, she is now a qualified paramedic. She loves to travel and dance, drink champagne, and spend time with her daughter and her friends.

Also by Alison Roberts

Melting Her Trauma Doc’s Heart

Single Dad in Her Stocking

Rescue Docs miniseries

Resisting Her Rescue Doc

Pregnant with Her Best Friend’s Baby

Dr Right for the Single Mum

Medics, Sisters, Brides miniseries

Awakening the Shy Nurse

Saved by Their Miracle Baby

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Awakening the Shy Nurse

Alison Roberts

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-0-008-90230-8

AWAKENING THE SHY NURSE

© 2020 Alison Roberts

Published in Great Britain 2020

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Note to Readers

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

PROLOGUE

‘WHAT’S THAT?’

‘Nothing.’ Annalise Phillips tried to fold the sheet of paper and stuff it back in the envelope at the same time. Her nonchalance didn’t quite work and her younger sister Abby narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

‘That’s envelope’s got a window. It’s a bill, isn’t it?’

‘It’s nothing to worry about. I’ve got everything under control.’ Lisa watched as Abby manoeuvred her wheelchair to the other side of the kitchen table. She’d always been able to convince Abby that she could manage and that had turned out to be an accurate prediction for so many years that it had become an automatic and genuine reassurance. So why was Lisa aware of a nasty edge of panic approaching this time?

‘Look...’ It was good that there was a distraction on hand. ‘There’s a letter here for you as well. No window.’

‘Really?’ Abby transferred her laptop from her knees to the table and reached for the letter. ‘Oh...maybe it’s confirmation of my date to sit my driver’s licence.’ She grinned at Lisa. ‘I still can’t believe you managed to find that funding for my modified car. It’s the most exciting thing ever...’

It felt good to be able to smile and tap into the glow of having achieved something that had been such a long time coming. Abby didn’t need to know that Lisa hadn’t exactly found funding from a charitable community support organisation and she had, instead, taken out a huge loan against the house to pay for the modifications the car had needed to accommodate a paraplegic driver. Or that the first repayment of the loan was now due at such an unfortunate time when she was between jobs, having been forced to resign from her nursing home position due to a merger that would have meant she had to move to another city.

‘Oh...oh, you’re not going to believe this...’ Abby sounded as though her new car had just been demoted from being the most exciting ever. She handed her letter to Lisa. ‘There’s a room available at the uni hostel. Ground floor, with an en suite bathroom—one of the ones that are only available to disabled students. And get this... it’s an unexpected vacancy because a student has pulled out of her course so I can move in next week!’

‘Next week?’ Lisa took the sheet of paper but she couldn’t focus on the words. ‘But...but...’ She had to swallow hard. She wasn’t ready for this after all.

Abby was waiting for her to look up. ‘You knew this was coming, Lise,’ she reminded her gently. ‘I’ve had my name down for one of those rooms in that hostel ever since I started uni and that’s years ago.’

‘I know.’ Lisa tried to find that smile that seemed a million miles away now. ‘And it’s wonderful. You’re going to be completely independent and I’m so proud of you and...and...would you like a cup of tea?’ Lisa got to her feet quickly to escape her sister’s watchful gaze. ‘Wait, no...we should be having a drink to celebrate, shouldn’t we? Have we got any wine?’

‘We never got round to opening that fizz when you found out about your new job. You said that seeing as you weren’t starting for more than a month, we might as well keep it on ice, but maybe now is the perfect time.’

‘Mmm... I think it is.’ Lisa busied herself finding the bottle in the back of the fridge, getting glasses down from the high cupboard and then opening the sparkling wine. It certainly seemed like a good idea. Abby wouldn’t know that she might be drowning her sorrows instead of celebrating, would she? Or panicking because she needed to find enough money to pay a rather large bill in the very near future?

But, of course, her sister knew her better than that. How could she not, when Lisa had been pretty much her principal carer for as long as she could remember? Her only family since their grandmother had died nearly ten years ago now.

‘What’s really up, Lise?’ she asked quietly.

What could Lisa say? That she was beginning to wonder if she’d made a big mistake applying for that desk job as a junior manager in another nursing home just because it had regular hours and was close to home and would make life a lot simpler? That living alone in this little house they had inherited from Gran suddenly seemed like the loneliest prospect ever and it would give her far too much time to worry about how Abby was coping. Worse, it would be more time to revisit the guilt that it was her fault in the first place that her sister was having to cope with so many more challenges in life?

No. She couldn’t go there. They’d agreed long ago that it was so far in the past it was a no-go subject. That you could destroy your future if you didn’t leave your past behind...

But she couldn’t be dishonest either. ‘I’m going to miss you,’ she told Abby.

‘I’ll only be on the other side of town. I’ll drive you crazy with how often I visit.’

‘And I’m only a phone call away.’ Lisa nodded, taking another sip of her wine. ‘If...you know...’

‘If I fall out of my chair, you mean?’ Abby laughed. ‘I can manage. It’s a long time since I’ve needed you hovering around like a helicopter parent.’

It was meant as a joke but Abby must have realised it stung a bit because she reached out to touch Lisa’s arm. ‘It’s not that I don’t appreciate everything you’ve done, you know that, don’t you?’

Lisa nodded. And took a longer sip of her wine.

‘You’ve been—and still are—the best sister ever but it’s time we both got to live our own lives. It’s the next step for me and then I’ll really be able to have a place of my own. Where I can bring my boyfriend home. Or you can bring yours, at least.’

Lisa’s jaw dropped. ‘You’ve got a boyfriend?’

‘No, silly.’ There was a beat of something very dark in the way Abby avoided her gaze. Avoided allowing a memory any hint of the light of day in the hope that it would stay buried for ever. It was another reason that Lisa felt the need to stay close to Abby to be able to protect her. If she hadn’t come home when she had that night, they both knew what would have happened because Abby had been unable to defend herself.

‘You’d be the first to know if I did.’ Abby’s tone was too bright. ‘I’ve been way too busy getting my Master’s in occupational therapy to want the hassle of a man in my life again. And now I’m well into my postgraduate course in hand therapy so I’m still too busy but, for heaven’s sake, Lise—you’re nearly thirty and you haven’t had a proper boyfriend yet and it feels like that’s at least partly because you think you have to keep looking after me.’

‘I have had boyfriends,’ Lisa protested. If Abby was determined to deal with her past trauma by burying it, then all she could do was support her. She made her own tone light and bright as well. ‘I’ve had lots of them. There was Michael. And Stephen. And...um...what was his name? Oh, yeah... Geoffrey. I guess he doesn’t really count...’

Abby was laughing again. ‘None of them count. They were all the most boring men on earth. Stephen wore socks and sandals and the most interesting thing he had to talk about was his worm farm. Michael was so skinny and tall and bald he looked like one of the test tubes in his laboratory and...oh, my God... I’d forgotten about Geoffrey. Wasn’t he the one whose mother turned up on your first date?’

The wine was definitely helping because Lisa was laughing now, too. ‘I think he’d booked a table for three all along.’

They’d seemed like such nice men, though. Safe...

‘You’re right,’ she had to admit. ‘I have a talent for picking boring men.’

‘Being bored is bad,’ Abby declared. ‘I think that’s your problem at the moment. You haven’t got enough to do until you start your next job. You should go on a holiday.’

Lisa’s breath escaped in a huff of laughter. As if. She’d never been on holiday in her life and she certainly wasn’t about to start now. Not when money was so tight it was scaring her.

‘What I should do is find a job for a few weeks.’

She didn’t realise that she had voiced the thought aloud until she saw the frown on Abby’s forehead.

‘Why? Oh...it’s because of my car, isn’t it? I knew it cost too much...’

‘No.’ Lisa shook her head. ‘It’s because I need something to do so I don’t die of boredom. I’ll go crazy rattling around here by myself for weeks after you move into the hostel. I might end up on your doorstep every day.’

‘Can’t have that.’ Abby feigned horror. ‘Fill up those glasses again.’ She opened her laptop and started tapping keys. ‘I’m going to see what’s on offer for a super-talented nurse who only wants a few weeks of work. Hmm...we need a high-end medical locum agency, don’t we?’

By the time Lisa had their glasses brimming again, Abby was looking triumphant.

‘I’ve found the perfect thing. Tailor-made. It’s work but it’s a holiday at the same time. And it’s legit. This agency—London Locums—is obviously highly rated.’

‘What is it?’

‘A cruise. More specifically, a Mediterranean cruise. Oh...’ Abby’s sigh was heartfelt. ‘It starts in Spain and then goes to places in the south of France and Italy and some Greek islands before finishing up back in Spain again. How romantic is that...?’

The countries and islands were fantasy destinations. A cruise ship even more of a fantasy but not one that Lisa had ever considered desirable.

‘I couldn’t do that. Cruise ships are full of self-indulgent people who have too much money and just want to float around having a good time, eating and drinking far too much. It would be disgusting.’

It certainly went against the values Lisa Phillips had embraced since she’d been no more than a child.

‘There’s nothing wrong with having a good time occasionally.’ Abby was watching her sister again. ‘It might be fun. They need a nurse in this ship’s well-equipped infirmary, just for a two-week cruise, to fill in a gap in a team of two doctors and three nurses. You’ll get time off to go on shore at some ports of call and accommodation and all meals are provided. And they’ll pay top rates for the right person. Why don’t you give this woman a call tomorrow? Julia, her name is...’

Lisa’s attention had certainly been caught. Not so much by the idea of shore excursions in foreign parts or shipboard accommodation or even the novelty of working in a completely different kind of environment. There was, however, something that made this feel like it might be meant to be—probably the words “top rates”.

‘Show me...’ She leaned closer as Abby turned her computer so she could see the screen. ‘Oh, wow...they’re paying that much? And it doesn’t start until after next week so I’d be here to help you move.’

Lisa pulled in a deep breath. ‘I think you’re right. It is perfect...’

CHAPTER ONE

WEARING JEANS HAD been a bad idea.

It was much hotter than Lisa had expected in Barcelona and, by the time she climbed out of the taxi after her trip from the airport to the port, it felt like the denim was actually sticking to the back of her legs. Even her short-sleeved white shirt felt too warm, despite her having removed her light cardigan. She could only hope that the uniform Julia from London Locums had told her would be supplied for her temporary job as a ship’s nurse was better suited to a late summer Mediterranean climate.

The friendly taxi driver opened the boot of the car to retrieve her small, bright red suitcase. ‘Here you go, señorita.’

‘Thank you so much.’ Lisa dug in her bag to find her wallet. ‘I don’t suppose you know which of the ships here belongs to the Aquamarine cruise line?’

Her driver shrugged. ‘It’s no problem. See that big round building over there?’

Lisa looked over her shoulder and nodded.

‘That’s the World Trade Centre. Your ship will be one of the ones berthed around it.’

Lisa could see the massive ships docked around the building. They looked like floating cities and one of them was going to be her home for the next couple of weeks. Maybe those butterflies in her stomach weren’t solely due to the nervousness that came from starting any new job. Maybe they were due to something she didn’t have that much experience of...like excitement? She could feel a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she turned back to pay her driver but for a split second her gaze snagged on what was happening over his shoulder.

Another taxi had pulled up. The rear door was open and a man had stepped out. A tall, lean, ridiculously good-looking man... He was wearing light, casual clothing and looked as though he’d just spent a very relaxing day of sightseeing and highlighting those streaks of sun-kissed blond in his hair. To add to the impression of sheer pleasure, she saw the long, long legs of his companion emerging from the back seat of the car. Slim, elegant arms went straight around the man’s neck as the woman got to her feet and he leaned in to kiss her with a leisurely grace that suggested it was by no means a first kiss and more like a continuation of a sexy, afternoon romp.

‘Um... Here you are. Is that enough for a tip?’ Embarrassed, Lisa was fumbling with the notes and coins. The embarrassment wasn’t just because she didn’t know about tipping practices in Spain. It was more to do with what was going on just a few feet away from her. That kiss... It was still going on. And on. For heaven’s sake, it was broad daylight. Those two needed to get a room. Again...?

‘Enjoy your time before you set sail,’ her driver instructed. ‘You can walk to Las Ramblas from here in less than fifteen minutes. If you have time, take a tour on the bus. This is the most beautiful city in the world.’

Lisa nodded her thanks for the advice but she knew she wouldn’t be exploring Barcelona today. Arrangements for her urgent passport hadn’t been finalised in time for her to join the cruise along with all the new passengers in Malaga a couple of days ago so it felt like she was playing catch-up already. She was due on board her new place of employment at four p.m. and that was...she glanced at her watch...less than twenty minutes from now, which didn’t give her that much time to identify the correct ship to board. Being late was the height of rudeness as far as Lisa Phillips was concerned.

As her taxi pulled away she noticed that that kiss was finally over and the leggy blonde was—reluctantly—getting back into her taxi. As Lisa pulled the long handle out of her suitcase the man lifted his hand in a farewell wave and then turned, his gaze locking onto Lisa’s a heartbeat later. He had to know that she’d seen what he’d just been doing but he didn’t seem remotely bothered. If anything, that quirk of his eyebrow seemed like nothing more than a flirtatious invitation. Perhaps she might like to find out how good at kissing he was?

Lisa could feel colour flooding her cheeks as she snapped the handle of her suitcase into place and then tipped it so she could start dragging it behind her. She’d already had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn’t just the sightseeing and unlimited food and drink people took cruises for and that had just been confirmed. Some people clearly found a cruise an opportunity for unlimited sexual adventures as well. A “what happens on board stays on board” kind of thing.

‘Can I be of some assistance?’

Oh...dear Lord... The man’s voice was just as gorgeous as the rest of him. Deep and sexy and with a hint of laughter that went with his whole, laidback look. It had to be the overly warm air she was dragging into her lungs that was adding to the heat Lisa could feel in her cheeks. And in the pit of her stomach, come to that. A rebellious corner of her brain was melting in that heat as well. Otherwise, why would it come up with the absurd idea that maybe she would rather like to find out how good this man was at kissing?

‘No,’ she said firmly, without looking up, so he wouldn’t notice her fiery cheeks. ‘Thank you, but I’m fine. It’s not heavy and I’m perfectly capable of managing by myself.’

‘No problem.’ That hint of laughter was more pronounced now. ‘Enjoy your cruise.’

A group of women, in flowing maxi dresses and floppy sunhats were coming towards them. Amidst the giggles, a call came that sounded more like a command.

‘Hugh... You must see these photos we took at the beach today. Wait until you see Scout’s new bikini.’

He’d already slowed his pace so it took only seconds for Lisa to leave him behind with the young women. Fellow passengers from the same ship, she decided. Hopefully not hers. She quickened her own pace, heading towards the first ship that was towering over her more and more as she got closer. There was a covered gangway sloping up to a door on the side of the hull and a desk shaded by a canopy at the bottom, staffed by uniformed people who might well be able to help her. If this wasn’t her ship, they could no doubt point her in the right direction.

Well, well, well... So there were still women in the world who blushed?

Hugh Patterson was intrigued, he had to admit, as he strolled along the marina, having finally extricated himself from the group of overexcited young women that he really didn’t have the energy for after a long lunch with his Spanish friend, Carlotta. Well acquainted with the tourist circuit of the Mediterranean for a couple of years now, Hugh had friends in many of the popular cruise ship destinations.

It wasn’t just sailors that had a girl in every port these days, he mused. Ships’ doctors could be just as privileged and if you were that way inclined, it was the easiest sex life ever because anybody involved knew that it was never going to be anything serious. It was just intermittent fun. Living life for the moment and enjoying every minute of it.

That young woman he’d made blush at the taxi rank had looked as if she needed to learn to let herself enjoy the moment. Fancy being so uptight you wouldn’t even let someone help with your suitcase? Or even make eye contact with them when they offered? Maybe it was actually irritating rather than intriguing? Being dismissed like that was not something he was used to.

‘Hi, Hugh. Had a good day?’

One of the team welcoming people back on board the ship after their shore excursions saw him heading for the gangway.

‘Fabulous, thanks, Simon. I love Barcelona. I had a picnic with a friend in Parc Guell.’

‘Oh...lucky you, not having to work today. I don’t get a day off on shore until Santorini this time. Or it might be Mykonos. One of the Greek islands, anyway.’

‘I know... I’m lucky. We only need one doctor on board at all times when we’re in port so, with two of us, we can take turns.’

He did feel lucky. What other doctors got to do their work in what could seem like an endless holiday but still got to practise enough real medicine that it didn’t get boring and it was also possible to keep one’s skills honed? Okay, he’d probably want to settle down sometime in the future but not yet. Maybe never, in fact. He’d almost done that once and look what a disaster that had turned out to be.