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Toni smiled after them. It was good to see Amy so upbeat. Plus, professionally, she would be an excellent role model for Harmony.
Nice outcome. Somewhat thoughtfully, Toni made her way back to the station. There were good vibes all over the place. Had it all happened because of an armful of roses?
She wondered whether Rafe realised just what effect his gesture had achieved—if indeed the roses had been from him. But of course they had to have been …
And it was a bit daunting to think he’d been spurred into action because of something she’d said.
She wasn’t about to ask him.
But he had to know that she knew.
So where did they go from here?
Toni puffed out a little breath to stem her consternation. Her heartbeat kicked up a notch. She hadn’t expected this complication on her first day back. Correction. She hadn’t expected it at all.
The afternoon ticked by. A few mild casualties trickled in that were handled competently by Justin and the nursing staff.
Liz had arrived back from the hairdresser, her hair sleek and shiny with little tendrils curling prettily from a loose knot.
‘Hair looks great,’ Toni said approvingly.
Liz sighed. ‘Wish I’d had time for a spray tan.’
‘Matt likes you just the way you are.’ Toni tipped her head enquiringly. ‘And the spark’s still there, isn’t it?’
Liz smiled mistily. ‘Oh, yeah …’
‘Well, then.’ Toni glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost the end of their working day. ‘Lizzie, will you hand over, please? I need to see Rafe about a few things before end of shift.’
‘Sure. See you tonight?’
‘If you’re there first, keep me a seat.’
Liz grinned wickedly. ‘I’ll keep two. You never know!’
Ten minutes later, Toni tapped on Rafe’s door and waited. Her eyes went heavenwards at his growled response, ‘It’s open.’ Suddenly her heart felt as though it was beating in all the wrong places in her chest. Had this been a crazy idea? Well, it was too late now.
Angling herself through the door, she moved across to his desk. ‘I pushed the boat out and got us an energy hit from the canteen.’ She passed the disposable cup across to him. ‘Hot chocolate for you, coffee for me.’
He eyed her a bit warily, seeming surprised and even a bit taken aback, and Toni wondered how long it had been since anyone had done a simple act of kindness for him. ‘Thanks. How did you know I needed this?’
‘Put it down to my powers of observation.’ Toni slid into the same chair she’d occupied that morning. Cradling her coffee between her hands, she asked, ‘What’s happening with Carol McKay?’
Rafe tilted his cup and took a mouthful of his hot chocolate. Seeming to enjoy it, he took another. ‘I had a video hook-up with her cardiologist. He’s of the opinion if there’s no further deterioration in her condition, she can be safely managed here.’
‘That should be less stressful for her anyway,’ Toni replied. ‘She can keep up with things at her business. Carol has quite a large customer base, most of whom have become her friends. They’ll be concerned for her welfare.’
‘Her son’s with her now in ICU. I imagine he’ll help her work out some kind of plan for the future.’
‘I expect so. She won’t want to lose trade if it’s at all possible.’
‘That’s not likely, is it?’
‘Probably not.’ Toni sipped her coffee. ‘It’s the only decent dress shop in town so where else are the ladies going to go?’
‘I have no idea, Antonia.’ A tiny flicker of amusement appeared behind Rafe’s eyes. ‘Online perhaps?’
‘Don’t think so,’ Toni drawled, a hint of laughter edging her voice. ‘Online shopping hasn’t hit Forrestdale to any great degree. As for the girls, they’re more inclined to want to touch before they buy, rather than just visualise it on a screen.’
‘Interesting.’ He gave a guarded kind of smile that rapidly spun out to lighten his whole face. He had no idea what they were talking about but Toni smiled right back and their smiles dallied for a moment, then caught and held. And suddenly his office was full of something neither of them understood.
Toni drew back in her chair. Her body felt tingly with electricity. Odd. And Rafe’s laughing eyes were warming her from head to toe. Oh, boy, oh, boy … This could get complicated. And she needed that like a tax bill.
In a split second Rafe decided he didn’t need whatever it was that was happening here. Were they flirting? Hell, this was a minefield. Silence permeated the atmosphere and in order to break it he swivelled his chair slightly so that he was looking through the window at the patchwork of distant gum trees, blue summer sky and high cloud. He took a deep breath to steady himself and then glanced pointedly at his watch. ‘You’d better take off, hadn’t you—if you’re going out tonight?’
Toni looked startled. Was he dismissing her? It sure seemed like it. She swallowed the last mouthful of her coffee and rose to her feet. ‘Why don’t you take an early mark as well?’ she said lightly. ‘You look bushed.’
‘Do I?’ he replied blandly.
‘Yes.’ She’d already noticed the charcoal shadows beneath his eyes and the way he’d rolled back his shoulders out on the ward as if trying to stave off a bone-crunching weariness. ‘Go home, Rafe.’
‘Hey!’ Rafe planted his feet and uncurled to his full height ‘Who’s the boss here?’
‘You, Dr Riccardi,’ Toni returned sweetly. ‘But surely you know how to delegate? There’s a competent late shift already on duty and I’m sure they’ll call you in if anything unmanageable occurs.’
Rafe stifled a hoot of raw laughter. The only thing unmanageable was Antonia Morell. But she was right. He was whacked. ‘OK, you win.’ He gave in, dragging his hands through his hair and locking them at the back of his neck.
‘I’ll take off.’
‘Have a good night, then. Although …’ Toni paused with her hand on the doorknob and shot him one of her smiles ‘… if you feel like it later, you could pop over to the dance and draw one of the raffle prizes for us.’
Rafe let out a breath of pure relief as he watched her neat little backside disappear out the door. But she’d left in her wake a whole chain of emotions that gnawed at his insides. He’d wanted this post in Forrestdale to be as straightforward as possible. No bumps in the road. No emotional involvement to leave behind. And now all that seemed turned on its head.
But only if he let it …
He whipped his medical case out of its locker. He needed to breathe in some fresh air, even swim fifty laps of the pool if that’s what it took to get his head on straight again.
Had she really done that in there? A long breath jagged its way from Toni’s lungs. Surely she hadn’t batted her eyelashes at him, had she? But she’d certainly been flirty. Perhaps he hadn’t noticed? But of course he had—he’d done it right back at her. Were they game-playing? Toni shook her head. She didn’t do games. Ever. Then what on earth had got into her just now?
She fled to the staffroom. Hauling her bag out of the locker, she headed for the car park. Good grief! Why was she letting herself get tied in knots like this? And over a man again. A man who was here today and gone tomorrow—well, in three months’ time. And she’d been down that road. Heck, she’d scrubbed the kitchen floor with one of his T-shirts!
As she slowed to accommodate the after-school traffic flow, Toni released a long calming breath. She needed something physical to unleash the frustration that was robbing her of plain common sense. She felt like thrashing someone at tennis but her club didn’t meet until Thursday evening. Well, she’d just have to run. Run and run. And hope by the end of it she’d be restored to her usual level-headed thinking.
CHAPTER THREE
TONI pushed herself, running lap after lap around the track adjacent to the park. Then, deciding she’d had enough, she leaned forward, hands on the fence railings, warming down. She jogged home leisurely, deciding she’d left herself just enough time to get ready for the Valentine party.
Showered, she blotted her hair dry and then stepped into her favourite silk underwear. She’d bought new clothes on her recent trip to Sydney. Now she just had to decide what to wear. And these days she pleased herself.
After flicking through her choices, she decided to dress simply in a sleeveless silk dress with a crossover bodice. In a dusky blush pink, it had a short draped skirt that fell just above her knees. She puffed perfume into the air and walked through it, then reached for the dress and slid it over her head.
Her make-up was minimal as usual—a touch of tinted moisturiser on her cheeks, a flick of muted shadow on her lids and lipstick in a soft coral. She slipped her feet into high-heeled sandals, pushed a broad silver bangle on her arm and stood back to get the overall picture in the mirror. The dress was gorgeous, the faint shimmer in the material pearling the fairness of her skin and highlighting her hair.
She’d do.
Toni drove across to the club. She intended to have only one glass of wine to celebrate and then she’d stay with mineral water. Besides, the evening was too warm to drink alcohol. But that wouldn’t stop most of the guests, she thought realistically.
She managed to park near the entrance of the club, which would be good for her early exit, she thought, sliding out of her car and activating the locking device on her keypad.
‘Toni!’ Hearing her name, Toni spun round to see Liz and Matt getting out of a taxi. She fluttered a wave and waited for them to catch up. ‘You look terrific, Lizzie,’ she said with a smile. Liz was wearing a bold red gown that floated to her ankles.
‘Thanks, I think.’ Liz looked doubtful. ‘It’s not too …?’ She indicated the deep cleavage.
‘It’s gorgeous,’ Toni reassured her. ‘If you’ve got it, flaunt it!’
‘That’s what I told her.’ Matt stuffed his wallet into his back pocket after paying off the cabbie. ‘How are you, Tone?’ He placed a peck on her cheek.
‘I’m fine, thanks, Matt. It should be a good night.’
Chatting, they made their way inside to the club’s function room.
‘Doesn’t everything look spectacular?’ Toni gave a little cry of delight, casting her eyes around at the table settings with their crisp white cloths and tea-lights. The mandatory hearts and roses were everywhere, although Toni doubted the roses were real. Unlike the beauties they’d received at the hospital …
‘Oh, here are some of our gang now,’ Liz said as Amy and Harmony arrived with their respective partners.
‘The girls look so pretty.’ Toni smiled. Both were wearing soft, floaty florals.
‘At their age, it would be a crime not to,’ Liz responded dryly. ‘This seems to be our table here.’
‘I’ll get some drinks,’ Matt said. ‘Toni, white wine?’
Toni nodded. ‘Thanks, Matt.’
‘You look amazing, by the way,’ Liz said as they took their places at the big round table. ‘Sydney?’
‘My favourite dress shop in Rose Bay.’
‘Shame Rafe’s not coming.’
‘Actually, he seemed pretty tired.’
‘Still,’ Liz contended, ‘it would have been a good look for the department if he’d shown.’
Toni raised a shoulder stiffly. Well, she’d asked him and he wasn’t here. But she was keeping that information strictly to herself.
The Valentine fundraiser would be a success, Toni decided as the evening wore on. Folk were in a happy and giving mood and tickets for their raffle were practically sold out. And the supper set out in buffet-style had been exceptional. And now people were beginning to drift on to the dance-floor.
Their table had emptied almost as soon as the dance music had begun. Left on her own, Toni took off towards the powder room, deciding she’d stay until they’d drawn the raffle and then she’d be away to her bed.
After refreshing her lipstick, Toni left the powder room. As she passed the bar on the way back to the table, she stopped and almost froze. Rafe was standing with his hip against the bar, elbow bent as he lifted a glass of orange juice to his mouth.
Toni took a step backwards as if to regain her equilibrium. Her breathing immediately felt tight and her stomach went into freefall as she admitted honestly, that physically Rafe Riccardi pushed every one of her buttons.
Steadying herself with a long breath, she went forward. ‘Hi …’
Rafe spun round. ‘Antonia—’ In an almost jerky motion he lowered his arm and placed his glass on the bar top.
For a few seconds there was an awkward silence while they each took stock.
Sweet God, she was lovely, Rafe thought. Beautiful and warm and … sexy. And he wanted her, as he hadn’t wanted a woman in ages. Maybe years.
He certainly scrubbed up well. Toni bit gently on the soft pad of her bottom lip. Her eyes flicked to the pale blue shirt that moulded his broad shoulders, followed the tailored line of his black trousers to his black leather shoes. She pressed her clutch-bag tightly against her chest.
‘You managed to drag yourself here, then?’ Oh, lord. Toni almost groaned. That hadn’t come out right. But suddenly her tongue seemed to have a mind of its own.
Rafe gave a tight shrug. ‘Bernie Maguire put the weights on me to draw one of the raffle prizes.’
‘And you can’t very well ignore the chairman of the board,’ Toni agreed, oddly disappointed he hadn’t felt the need to respond to her invitation. ‘Our people are mostly at the table over here.’ She indicated with her hand. ‘Would you like to join us?’
‘Thanks.’ He picked up his glass. ‘Can I get you something to drink while we’re here?’
‘I’m fine, thanks.’ Toni shook her head. ‘Have you eaten?’
‘I had a steak at the pub.’
Toni flicked a tentative smile at him. ‘There’s dessert still going begging. Interested?’
‘Might be. What’s on offer?’
Well, not me. Toni’s heart began to patter. Were they playing games again? ‘There are three kinds of bread-and-butter pudding, for starters.’
His chuckle was a bit rusty. ‘My grandmother used to make bread-and-butter pudding.’
‘Not like this, she didn’t.’
‘Reckon?’ Rafe turned his head a fraction and sent her a slow, lazy smile.
Toni blinked, feeling shock waves of its aftermath right down to her toes. His smile was like the sun coming out. Shame he didn’t do it more often. They stopped at the table. ‘I’m sitting here.’ She put her clutch-bag down. ‘Park your drink and let’s find out, shall we?’
Rafe hesitated. ‘I’m not taking someone’s place, am I?’
‘I’m not here with anyone.’ Toni answered the question she assumed he was asking.
His mouth twitched. ‘Lead on, then. I need to see these puddings.’
At the buffet they bypassed a luscious tropical fruit salad, sorbet and various kinds of cheesecakes. ‘Now, here we have the bread and butter puddings,’ Toni said, hamming it up with a graceful sweep of her hand. ‘You could start with maple syrup and pecan, get a bit edgy and try the lemon curd and coconut and then give your tastebuds a real treat and finish with white chocolate and raspberry.’
Rafe clicked his tongue and sighed in mock-resignation. ‘It’s a hard call but someone has to do it. Going to join me?’
