Australian Affairs: Claimed: Dr Chandler's Sleeping Beauty / Countering His Claim / Australia's Maverick Millionaire

Kitty glanced at him but his expression was unfathomable. ‘Are you going to see her again?’ she asked.

‘Who?’

‘Your hot date last night.’

He changed lanes before he answered. ‘Maybe. It depends.’

‘On what?’

He glanced at her wryly. ‘Why the sudden interest? Are you thinking of joining the queue?’

‘Don’t be daft,’ she scoffed.

His mouth slanted in a smile. ‘Frightened you might get trampled in the rush?’

Kitty pressed her lips together and refused to say another word until he pulled into the hospital car park. ‘Thank you for the lift,’ she said.

‘I’d offer to run you home again, but I have another commitment straight after work,’ he said.

‘I’ll make my own arrangements,’ she said.

‘Here’s my mate’s card,’ he said, reaching for a business card from one of the dashboard compartments.

‘You can give him a call to find out when your car will be ready.’

Kitty felt the brush of his fingers as he handed her the card and her belly gave a little flutter. ‘Thanks…’

His eyes meshed with hers, dark and intense and knowing.

Could he feel the sexual energy she could feel? Did it make his skin ache to feel her touch? Did his lips tingle at the memory of hers moving against them? Did his blood roar through his veins at the thought of holding her in his arms, moulding her to him, making love to her?

‘I like how you had your hair this morning,’ he said.

Kitty put a hand up to her neat chignon. ‘My…hair?’

‘First thing,’ he said. ‘It was down and all tousled. That just-out-of-bed look really suits you.’

‘You caught me by surprise.’

He gave her an indolent smile. ‘Ditto.’

‘I’m going to work,’ she said, swinging her bag over her shoulder. ‘I’ll see you inside.’

CHAPTER TWELVE (#u8d0850a1-6236-520e-8515-12a32ce49e0b)

‘WAS that Jake Chandler’s car I saw you getting out of this morning?’ Cathy Oxley asked in the locker room.

Kitty put her bag in the locker and closed the door. ‘He gave me a lift to work as my car is being repaired.’

‘What is going on with you two?’ Cathy asked. ‘One of the doctors from Paediatrics said Jake took you to an orchestra rehearsal. Are you or aren’t you an item?’

‘Nothing’s going on,’ Kitty said. ‘Dr Chandler kindly offered to take me to the rehearsal at short notice when my car refused to start. He also kindly offered to deliver my car to his friend’s workshop.’

‘Why would he do that if he wasn’t interested in you?’

‘He was just being neighbourly.’

‘Some people have all the luck,’ Cathy said. ‘All my neighbour does is complain about my cat or my kids.’

‘I’m not Dr Chandler’s type,’ Kitty said. ‘Apparently I don’t let my hair down enough.’

‘Did he say that to you?’

Kitty compressed her lips. ‘Amongst other things.’

Cathy grinned. ‘I think he likes you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. He sure as hell doesn’t look at anyone else like that.’

‘He has a different lover every night,’ Kitty said, scowling furiously. ‘He probably doesn’t have time to look at them before he shoves them out the door again.’

‘You know it’s the hardened playboys who always fall for the old-fashioned girls in the long run,’ Cathy said. ‘I’ve seen it many a time.’

‘You won’t be seeing it this time,’ Kitty said as they walked out of the locker room together. ‘I’ve never met a more irritating, beastly, odious man.’

‘Er…’ Cathy gave a grimace. ‘I’ve got to go. See you.’

Kitty turned around to see Jake Chandler standing there with an inscrutable look on his face.

‘Haven’t you got better things to do than discuss me with the nursing staff?’ he asked.

She stood her ground. ‘I’m trying to put out the rumours that are circulating about us,’ she said. ‘I thought if everyone knew how much I hated you it would stop them speculating.’

‘Hate is a strong word, Dr Cargill.’

She refused to be intimidated by his steely gaze. ‘I know,’ she said. ‘But it’s appropriate in this case.’

‘I have a feeling you don’t hate me as much as you’d like to,’ he said. ‘I threaten you. That’s what you hate, isn’t it, Kitty? I make you feel things you don’t want to feel. You don’t want to feel desire, do you? It frightens the hell out of you.’

Kitty glowered at him. ‘I don’t feel any such thing.’

‘Sure you do, sweetheart,’ he drawled. ‘You want me. You want me real bad.’

‘You’re mistaken,’ she said, her heart racing, her breath catching.

He captured her wrist in his strong fingers, his thumb finding her pounding pulse. ‘This is what I do to you, isn’t it?’ he asked. ‘It’s the same thing you do to me.’

Kitty swallowed again, her stomach plummeting when she saw the naked desire in his gaze. She felt the sensual pull of his body, and the heat and fire of his touch set off every nerve screaming for more.

She was frightened by how he made her feel. Frightened and yet exhilarated.