Operation Seduction Read online

  “Hell, Dickie, if this is your idea of seduction -”

  “No, my idea is getting you naked, down and dirty, but I thought I should attempt romance first.” His grin was a dark promise…or threat; she wasn’t sure which. “Let’s forget the romance. Eat up and we’ll go shag.”

  Rolling her eyes, Reg forked up peas. “That’ll get you Sharon, but it won’t get you me.”

  All laughter fled Digby’s face. “Sharon Vencyer is a disgrace.”

  “I thought she was just your type. Tall, slim and a knock-out.” Gauging his reaction, trying to see if he was really speaking the truth, Regan studied him closely.

  His eyes were steady. “Pretending to have a lump in the breast just for the cheap thrill of a man feeling her breasts is not my type, Regan. Breast cancer is nothing to laugh about, and when people like her prey on those fears for cheap thrills…well, it makes me sick.” Abruptly he took a long swallow of the champagne.

  Well, well, well.

  Slowly he put the glass down. “Don’t look so surprised.”

  “I just thought…”

  “What?” A muscle jumped in his jaw, his eyes darkening. “That I have flings with all my beautiful patients?”

  Obviously she’d been wrong, so she shrugged and continued eating. It took a lot to make her lose her appetite.

  Studying her in turn, Digby said slowly, “I do not have affairs with patients while I’m treating them. I am not a male slut ready to fall into the arms of any beautiful woman.”

  “Okay.” She forked up potato.

  “I do not go sniffing after nurses.”

  “Okay.” She forked up carrot.

  “Do you believe me?”

  “I’m not sure,” she replied truthfully.

  “Regan, the only one I’m sniffing after right now, is you.”

  “Charming.” But she couldn’t stop the treacherous little trickle of warmth that slipped through her, or the humour that reared its head. “Do I need to muzzle you?”

  White teeth flashed in the dim light, and his low laugh was a pleasant rumble. “Only if you don’t want me to bite as well.”

  Now that conjured up some interesting images. Not that she had to worry about him biting her. Damn it.

  “I can bite.” His voice lowered to a husky drawl. “And lick.” His tongue came out and caught a drip of gravy that fell from his meat, and his eyes seemed to be just a little brighter.

  Regan swallowed and pressed her legs together. Idiot, he doesn’t really mean it. Coolly she arched her brows at him. “You don’t say?”

  “You’ll find out.”

  “Oh?”

  “Soon.” He offered her a piece of meat on the end of his fork. “Open up.”

  “What am I? A vagina ready for a pap smear?” God, did he really think feeding her like a puppy was going to seduce her?

  Lips twitching, he pulled the fork back. “Regan, you’re not making this easy.”

  “I’m not into all this romance shit, Digby. I -”

  “You called me Digby.”

  “So?”

  “I usually get Dickie from you.”

  “When you make me shirty, you get Dickie.”

  He smiled. “So you’re not mad at me.”

  “Give me a few minutes.”

  His laughter was warm, low. Genuine amusement. The tone seeped into her, and Reg looked down at her plate. It was disconcerting how he could make her feel so…warm.

  Almost as though he sensed her discomfort, the laughter stopped. “Regan? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She feigned a yawn. “I’m just a little tired.”

  “It’s been a busy time.”

  “Yeah. So maybe we’d better put off the big seduction scene until tomorrow.”

  “You think so?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay.”

  He’d given in too easily, so he probably was relieved. She risked a peek up to catch him watching her with a predatory look.

  Oh shit. That didn’t bode well. Nor did the flush of heat that shot straight to her core.

  “I don’t give up for anything.” His words held a warning.

  Not a promise, but a warning.

  “Don’t take this so seriously.” She laughed, trying to lighten the mood, which had suddenly taken a turn for the…she didn’t know what word to use.

  Definitely not serious. Or hunted. Or…

  “I’m going to have you, Regan.”

  Oh, there was the word. Sexual.

  Trying to maintain her cool, she raised one shoulder in a cool shrug. “Male slut. That’s what I said before. This was about seduction, not sex.”

  Standing up, his movements were deliberate, slow, his tread light as though he balanced on the balls of his feet. She nearly dropped her fork when he bent over her, plucked it from her fingers to drop onto the table, then swung her around to face him.

  Dropping into a crouch before her, he caught her hand.

  And smiled wickedly. “We’ll see.” He kissed her hand, an innocent gesture, except he ran his tongue slowly across the back of her hand, all the while looking up at her out of heated eyes.

  Before she could jerk her hand out of his grip, he’d placed it in her lap with a not so innocent brush of his knuckles across the apex of her thighs, stood up and was gone.

  Just like that.

  Leaving her all hot and bothered. Well…hell.

  ****

  Staying overnight in the outback town of Garagee during a family wedding was always interesting, especially as just about everyone in the town was related in some way, and the UAM Doctor and nurse were considered part of the family.

  So saying, Reg and Digby found themselves at the wedding and following that, the reception.

  Sitting back in the fold-up chair, Digby was trying to unobtrusively peer around the busty brunette who was trying her best to hold his attention. His attention, however, was firmly focussed on Regan sitting with a bunch of women a few tables away.

  “Here.” The groom’s father, Bruce, sat at the table and plunked a tinny down in front of Digby. “Crack a coldie.”

  Politeness made Digby smile at the craggy-faced man and accept the beer. Not that he wanted another, he’d already had one. “Thanks.”

  “So, Doc, had a busy week?”

  “The usual.” He took a sip of the cold brew.

  The brunette tossed her hair back over her slim shoulders. “I may have to make an appointment to see you next time you’re here, Digby.”

  “You’re ill?” Digby could just see the top of Regan’s head over the woman’s shoulder.

  “Just in need of a check-up.” She winked at him.

  “See my nurse, she deals with the bookings.” Regan’s laughter peeled out, a full-on laugh of genuine amusement, and Digby wondered what she found so funny.

  “The female mob must be exchanging wedding night disaster stories,” Bruce informed him.

  Digby’s brows rose. “Is that a new tradition?”

  “Not here. Every wedding night has ended in disaster of some kind.”

  “The men don’t talk about it.”

  “That’s because they’re usually at the centre of it.”

  A slow beat filled the air, and the brunette leaned across the table. “Want to dance?”

  No. He caught sight of Regan getting up and into the arms of a young bloke with a pleasant face. “Sure.”

  She beamed a flash of white teeth between blood red lips. Politely, Digby led her out onto the dance floor, and almost immediately she mashed herself hard against him.

  Really hard against him. Her bony pelvis ground against his, and her skinny arms almost had him in a headlock.

  With no choice but to embrace her, Digby whirled around the dance floor. Looking for Regan.

  And there she was, laughing up into the face of that useless drongo with his old-fashioned mullet haircut and dusty shoes. The bloke had his hands on Regan’s waist, and every now and again his palm slipped lower
to her curvaceous bottom.

  Dirty bastard.

  Digby whirled his partner closer, and by the time the music stopped he was directly beside Regan and her partner.

  Bugger being polite. “Swap?” he said, and before anyone could say anything, he peeled the clinging violet off his body and pressed her into the other bloke’s arms.

  “But -” Regan began.

  “But -” the other bloke said.

  The brunette just looked daggers at Digby and Regan, and he figured she was going to cancel the appointment before she’d even made it. Big loss…not.

  Catching Regan into his arms just as the next tune came on, a slow romantic beat, Digby felt immense satisfaction. She was soft, warm, and a much more comfortable partner than the skinny brunette.

  “Well, Dickie, that was gallant of you,” Reg finally said.

  “Hmm?” Pulling her right up against him, he inhaled her flowery scent. Nice.

  “Ditching your dance partner like a hot brick.”

  “I didn’t.” The lights dimmed and he heaved a sigh of pure satisfaction. It just felt so right, the warm night, Regan in his arms…

  “You just about tossed her into Mick’s arms. What was that about?”

  He bent his head until his breath brushed her ear. “I wanted to dance with you. Is that such a crime?”

  “Seduction.”

  “Huh?”

  “Seduction.” Her breath was a puff of moist air on his neck, sending a shiver of heat through him. “Your dumb challenge.”

  “Oh.” He’d forgotten about that. “Gee, you see straight through me.”

  She fell silent and Digby gave himself up to the moment. The night was warm, a relief from the hot day. A breeze blew and the snap of the BBQ fire sent sparks up into the night sky. A multitude of scents were in the air – cooking meat, charred meat, beer, cigarette smoke, a dozen different perfumes and aftershave. The dogs who sat in the corner of the veranda drooled and waited to be fed scraps. Those dogs really needed a bath. But the scent that filled his senses the most was the flowery scent of the woman in his arms.

  The dance was over too soon, and he sighed in frustration when Regan excused herself and went back to where the women were sitting and chatting. The sense of loss was keen, and he returned to the table where Bruce was waiting. Bruce, who was into his eighth tinny and getting maudlin.

  Oh, joy.

  ****

  The man was trying everything in his power to seduce her. Regan eyed the latest offering. Yellow sunflowers.

  “Well, there were no roses,” Digby defended himself.

  “Picking wildflowers is against the law.”

  He leered. “Going to punish me? Want me to get my pants off for a little spanking?”

  “If that’s supposed to be romantic, Dickie, you’re failing.”

  “You can take your panties down instead, if you want.”

  She slapped the sunflowers against his chest. “Go take a cold shower.”

  When she went back to her cabin after the day’s clinic, the sunflowers were sitting in a vase on her bedside table. They were a little wilted looking, and one had a broken stem and loped to the side sadly, but they were there. Shaking her head, she grinned a little.

  The next offering was a box of chocolates.

  “Hey!” Digby protested at her pursed lips “Chocolates and flowers are the accepted romantic gifts.”

  “Yeah, but I prefer caramel chocolate.” She waited for his reaction.

  “We can make the honey flow.” In one quick move, he backed her up against the wall and leaned against her, his arms braced on the wall each side of her. A wicked gleam lit up his eyes.

  “I said caramel, not honey.” Regan raised one brow.

  “I’d like to taste your honey.”

  “Are you a virgin, Dickie?”

  For the first time, he actually looked disconcerted. “No. Why?”

  “Because your seductive words suck.” She tapped him on the chest with the box of chocolates. “You need practice. Big time.”

  “I’m more a man of action than words.” His voice was a low, sexy purr. “I’ll prove it if you give me the chance.”

  “Let me think. Ahhhh…no.”

  Her heart skipped a beat when he placed one finger beneath her chin and tipped her head up. The heat of his body pressed against her lower half seeped into her deliciously. Whoo boy, the man is potent!

  And then he kissed her. Long, slow, deep, making her toes curl in her sensible nurse’s shoes, and her nipples harden in her sensible bra.

  Making her insensible.

  When he finally stopped, she would have slid right down the wall if he hadn’t been holding her up with the simple pressure of his lean lower hips pressed boldly against her.

  “Seductive enough?” he murmured, his blue eyes even brighter than normal.

  “Okay.” She battled to get her breathing back to normal. “You kiss better than you talk.”

  “Goody. Now we’re getting somewhere.” He leaned down again.

  The kissing was lethal. She couldn’t help but wonder if the rest of his seduction would be as hot, and found herself actually looking forward to what else might happen.

  Until she reminded herself that to him, she was just a challenge. He had a point to prove. Big, strong, handsome man could be attracted to little, plain, fat woman.

  Wonderful. That thought alone made the hot go cold.

  Fumbling with the box of chocolates, she drew one out, tapped him on the shoulder, and when he reluctantly lifted his head again, she popped the piece of chocolate into his open mouth.

  Surprised, he stepped back.

  “Caramel.” She waved the box at him, turned and strode back down the corridor.

  The chocolate she ate that night while she lay in bed and stared up at the ceiling, wondering why her heart was so heavy.

  The challenge was not a good idea. Somehow, she thought it might just leave her with a little heartache.

  Digby, the man, was different from the teen she remembered. His pursuit of her was single-minded, and no slim, vivacious woman had deterred him.

  The reminder it was all due to the stupid challenge was really starting to hurt when it shouldn’t be affecting her.

  Miserably, she popped the last chocolate into her mouth, then in an act of defiance, flopped onto her side and turned the light off without brushing her teeth.

  You had to walk on the wild side now and again.

  ****

  Regan was not an easy woman to seduce. Glancing at her, Digby observed her deal efficiently with the dressing on the boy’s knee. He couldn’t have been mistaken at the flash of heat in her eyes the other night. But here he was, four days after the challenge was issued, and no closer to winning her over.

  It was becoming serious now, and it wasn’t just about the challenge. Her easy laughter and chatter with the male patients had him straining to hear her. Her friendliness with a young bloke not much older than her, and her complete obliviousness to the same bloke’s devoted gaze made Digby shake his head.

  Regan had no idea that there were a few male patients who’d be more than happy to get better acquainted with her. And not as nurse/patient either.

  The thought of them getting personal with Regan had him frowning, and only the startled look from the old lady who’s ulcer he was inspecting brought him back to his surroundings.

  Pasting on a cheerful expression, he continued determinedly with his patients until finally the list was finished and the ship was finally empty of all but himself and his nurse.

  “Are we leaving straight away?” Reg queried when he used the controls to raise the ramp and lock it in place.

  “Why? Got a date?” Digby snapped back.

  “Geez, what’s got your stethoscope in a knot?”

  He had no idea. Looking at Reg, his gaze travelled down her body. Her very curvaceous, full body in that officious uniform. Sweet Regan, with her brown hair in that perky ponytail and smart mouth.
/>
  He wanted to kiss that smart mouth. It had tormented him in his dreams the night before. Just the thought of that eager bloke imagining to do the kinds of things he himself wanted to do to Regan annoyed him.

  Suddenly he was so very much aware of time slipping away. Next week Barry and Charlotte would be back onboard, and his time alone with Regan would be over. There’d be no time to themselves, that’s what had his stethoscope in a knot.

  “Are you all right?” Concerned, she touched his shoulder and placed a hand to his forehead.

  That step she took brought her close, and the stretch of her arm up brought those bountiful breasts hard up against her top. Her flowery scent permeated his senses.

  That was all it took to make his hunger rise up and overflow.

  Grabbing her, he hauled her close. Yanking the tie from her ponytail, he wrapped his fingers in her hair and held her still for his kiss.

  Immediately he took advantage of her gasp, sweeping inside to plunder the hot, delicious depths. A groan of pure carnal enjoyment rose up inside him, matching the heat that pooled low in his groin at the shift and press of her softer body against his.

  And then, incredibly, she was kissing him back, her tongue meeting his, her arms sliding around his neck almost aggressively.

  Tugging the shirt from his pants, she slid her hands beneath, and he felt her soft palms glide around his waist to trail up his spine. Her fingers kneaded the muscles, sending little sparks of hedonistic fire skittering through his veins.

  The days they’d spent with him attempting to seduce her, trying to make her melt, and she fending him off with sharp wit and words had finally reached a peak. They could square off against each other, but the attraction sparking between them was undeniable.

  Unzipping her top, he slid his hand inside and finally...finally…he was cupping one full breast in his hand, feeling the heat of her flesh through the lacy material.

  About to push the top off her shoulders, he was suddenly halted by Reg pulling her lips from his and grabbing hold of her top with one hand.

  “No,” she gasped.

  “What?” He blinked, trying to clear the fog of passion that beat like a hot drum inside him.

  “Digby, I can’t do this.”

  “Can’t what? Make love?” He reached for her again. “Regan -”

  “This is a seduction, that’s all it is.” Stepping back, she shook her head. “It’s gone far enough. I’m not giving myself to you for a simple challenge.”