Emergency Doctor and Cinderella by Melanie Milburne Page B

would warn you to bring earplugs, right, Eamon?’ She shone her winning smile at her big brother.
    Eamon grinned back and playfully ruffled Stephanie’s hair. ‘They don’t make earplugs thick enough to block out the Chapman sisters.’ He turned his gaze to Erin. ‘When the three of them are together, they make a heavy-metal band sound like muzak.’
    Erin moved her lips in what was almost a smile. ‘It must be lovely to have siblings.’
    ‘Are you an only child?’ Stephanie asked.
    ‘Um…yes,’ Erin said, conscious of Eamon’s steady, watchful gaze.
    ‘I used to long to be an only child,’ Stephanie said musingly. ‘All that attention, all those presents, not having to share anything and no hand-me-downs.’
    ‘You haven’t worn a hand-me-down in your life,’ Eamon commented wryly.
    Stephanie pouted and gave her brother a playful punch on the arm as she moved past. ‘I’m going to check on dinner. Go and open the door for Erin or, better still, lift her over the partition. I’ll open some wine for us.’
    ‘How about it, Dr Taylor?’ he asked with that same unreadable smile playing about his mouth. ‘Do you want to come in the front door or over the balcony?’
    Erin ran her tongue over her lips. The thought of those strong brown arms helping her over the partition was a lot more tempting than she wanted to admit. Her mind began to race with images of him lifting her off her feet, holding her against his rock-hard abdomen; the heat of his body seeping through her lightweight clothing. ‘Er…I need to freshen up,’ she said, brushing an imaginary strand of hair away from her face. ‘I’ll be five minutes or so.’
    His gaze held hers for a nanosecond longer than she could comfortably handle. ‘It’s a date.’
     
    Erin rummaged through her wardrobe impatiently, tossing clothes on the bed only to toss them to one side in frustration. When was the last time she had bought something new, for pity’s sake? She had seen the casual but elegant clothing Eamon’s sister was wearing; each piece had probably cost more than her entire wardrobe. She had taught herself to be frugal over the years. She’d had to ignore fashion trends during her teens; it had been enough to get food in her stomach, and even then it had been pretty hit-and-miss. Even now she had money she still wasn’t really into the whole shopping thing. She felt too self-conscious; a part of her was frightened shewould choose something too young for her, or tarty, like her mother always did.
    Erin kept things plain and simple but there were times, especially like these, when she longed to feel more at home with her body, confident enough to wear close-fitting and feminine clothes like other women her age. She was lucky to be naturally slim, and she exercised regularly for the stress relief it gave her. But drawing attention to herself was something she wasn’t used to doing; if anything, she did the opposite. Could she break a lifetime habit even if she wanted to?
    In the end she settled for basic black: trousers and a shirt, which were both chain-store but comfortable. And, rather than pull her hair back tightly, she scooped it up in a looser style, letting a few strands fall about her face to give her a softer, more feminine look. She managed to eke the last contents of a wand of mascara over her lashes, and, with a smear of lipgloss and a quick spray of her only perfume, she gave Molly a wish-me-luck pat and left.
     
    Eamon opened the door to her soft knock. ‘Hi, glad you could make it,’ he said, sweeping an assessing gaze over her.
    She stepped over the threshold, carrying her keys and a box of chocolates. ‘Something smells nice,’ she said, handing him the chocolates. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t have a bottle of wine in the cupboard.’
    ‘These are great,’ he said, taking them from her.
    She shifted her weight. ‘I didn’t buy them,’ she confessed. ‘A patient gave them to me.’
    ‘Male or