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Taking the Leap [MultiFormat]
eBook by Judy Jarvie
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eBook Category: Romance
eBook Description: Practice nurse Anya Fraser's adopted son is at the centre of her life. But when her new senior partner, Dr Max Calder arrives at work, distracting her in too many ways, suddenly her anti-relationship mantra isn't working. Max volunteers to help her succeed at the charity parachute jump she's so terrified of and attraction simmers from the off. Taking a leap of faith has never proved so scary nor so attractive--how will they cope with the challenge of working together and taking to the skies? And resisting a future their pasts taught them to avoid? EXPLICIT CONTENT.
eBook Publisher: Moonlit Romance/Moon Beams/Moonlit Madness
Fictionwise Release Date: July 2007
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Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [622 KB], eReader (PDB) [223 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [212 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [189 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [183 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [244 KB], hiebook (KML) [458 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [262 KB], iSilo (PDB) [174 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [218 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [248 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [286 KB]
Words: 62780
Reading time: 179-251 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
 
CHAPTER ONEAnya Fraser picked up the magazine and shuddered at the parachute jump picture. It looked exhilarating, kind of, but a part of her suspected it was terror hell in freefall form. The girl in the picture sported vast orange aviator overalls that billowed in the wind. Hardly a look her wardrobe had been waiting to emulate. And g-force cheeks weren't something she needed to experience first hand anytime soon either. "That could be you," said Katie's voice on the other end of the line. "Wind hurtling past your ears, adrenaline pumping through your veins like you're powered by pistons. And a rugged instructor strapped to you for added security. Now that's what I call exciting. We could christen you the parachuting practice nurse!" Anya gulped. That's what she called a personal Room 101. More like her breakfast whooshing through her system to make a prompt reappearance in mid-air. No thanks. The wild-haired female extreme sports enthusiast grinned out of the picture, arms across her chest in mid air descent. Her parachute firmly fixed to her back, her goggles framed a grimace style smile. Were her jaws wired to make it look appealing as opposed to revealing her abject terror? "How many miles up did you say it would be?" "Ten thousand feet, in tandem with an instructor." Hello 'Red Arrows'. Goodbye bladder control. Could there be enough chocolate in the world to persuade her stomach it could withstand a charity parachute jump? Anya doubted it. She pushed the magazine aside. "I'm not convinced, Katie. I'll think it over. I wish you all the best with your efforts but I can't commit myself." "I'll work on you, you can't decline yet. We'll raise lots of cash. You can get the staff at the practice on board. A team of us, all raising much-needed money for Adoption Support. Maybe we'll fund an extra social work post? And we'll get press coverage into the bargain. The support of your practice would be immeasurably valuable." There it was. Katie's clever persuasive ploy. Her up-beat persistence made her so good at her job as co-ordinator for East Scotland Adoption Support charity. The organisation badly needed funds and the parachute jump would make a big difference. Plus East Scotland Adoption Support held a special place in Anya's heart, because it had helped her through the early days after placement of her own adopted son, Callum. The boy who'd made her infertility and lost relationship battles bearable, the golden haired child of her dreams, her own little slice of treasure. "How can I say no?" "Exactly! There are too many good reasons to participate," Katie declared. More to the point, how could a woman with her 'heights aversion' realistically say yes? "It's a bit more life threatening than selling charity Christmas cards," Anya said wryly. "Couldn't I cheer instead, like a mascot? With pom poms?" "But think of the thrills. Callum will be so proud of his brave, adventurous Mummy. He'll think you rock." "He'll have to settle for a mum who's good at making glitter pictures and who cooks a mean lasagne." Anya watched butter ooze down the holes in her crumpet. She couldn't face it and pushed it away with a grimace. The very thought of a freefall jump had turned her right off. Even if it did convince her son of her superhero Mum credentials. Why did Katie insist on making her do challenging things her nerves reared away from? Like confronting Grant about the separation. Going through with the split after eight years together. Like completing the adoption process as a single woman. Like going out again, having a social life after Grant. Like taking control of her life. Scary, scary stuff. Anya balanced the cordless phone on her shoulder; it fitted snugly into the ample collar of her furry robe. "I'll give it serious thought." Anya picked up her coffee and sipped. "Did you say if the instructor is amazingly attractive? Great pecs, firm shoulders. Tight buns for personal inspection?" Katie laughed. "I'm a charity fund raiser. Not a miracle worker." Catching sight of her haphazard reflection in the glass door, Anya groaned. Sleepy blue-grey eyes looked back, complete with matching luggage. Her hair was still dented by shower-wet kicks. "C'mon this is your chance. Do something daring. Rise to the challenge." Katie hammered her point home like an enthusiastic woodpecker. "I know you'll succeed. It's there shining bright and you're evading the challenge." "Nope, I'm avoiding physical injury from a massive height." During her brief absence from the lounge the squirrel had reappeared. He habitually frequented her window ledge to perform death-defying tricks. He regarded her; perhaps he'd come to make her feel guilty about declining the sponsored jump? She normally encouraged him because Callum loved him but today her sense of charity wasn't at home to visitors. And watching said squirrel leaping around mid air felt a little too close to their current topic for comfort. "Have you heard the news about Dr. Max?" Katie asked. "No. What about him?" Max Calder, a.k.a the handsome General Practitioner. The guy at the village's other practice who had single women swooning, married ones wishing and gay men having wild, fantasy dreams about his bedside manner. Not that there were many gay men in the modest Scottish coastal village of Alderwick Loch. He was dashing, mid-thirties, single and notably sexy. Her friends often quoted Anya's one-time late-night confession on Max's merits. She had foolishly admitted to a glimmer of private attraction for the dark haired, swarthy bodied Scots doctor with the wonderful magic smile. A fact Anya blamed on a pure fantasy x-rated dream about him in full-kilted Braveheart guise. Heart-stopping stuff. The grapevine suggested Max played the part of hero admirably, too. He'd worked in disaster zones and done a stint as a voluntary doctor in Africa during his twenties. "He's joining Cala Muir Medical Centre as Senior Partner. He'll be your new colleague soon enough. Apparently the announcement's due tomorrow. But Max told his friend who told Marie and she told me. The dreamboat doctor's going to be working with you. How's that for excitement?" Suddenly Anya sorely wished she hadn't uttered that confession about the effect his good looks had on her. Drat, the perils of strong wine and friends with long memories. Being a practice nurse in close proximity to Max. Wow, this would take some getting used to. Some surviving. Some hiding the impact. Anya parried with a non-committal reply, "I'm pleased he's got it. But I wonder why he wanted to change practices?" "Prospects, fresh challenge. The sexiest nurse in Alderwick Loch? How will you resist him, handcuffs?" "Don't tempt me." Anya burst into laughter. "If you could see me now in my dressing gown, fresh from the shower, you so wouldn't be saying that." "Come on, Anya? Please say yes to the charity jump. I'll hold your hand going down if it helps." A wicked voice in Anya's head wished Max Calder were the instructor and that he'd hold her hand throughout the ordeal. Naughty wicked voice, back into a dark corner you go. A burning ember of anticipation caught light, shining enticingly, and Anya smiled into the phone. Could she launch herself from a plane and raise funds at being foolhardy enough to try? If a man like Max Calder could decide to swap jobs for a new challenge surely she could face silly fears and prove she had chutzpah enough to do this for her son. Could she counter the head demons telling her not to even dare? "Send me the sponsor forms Katie and I'll give you an answer by Friday. You so owe me for this one." "Fabulous news! And how about a meal at San Remo tomorrow night? Pasta, fine wine, and a choc gelato dessert to tip the balance towards hedonism." "Done." "And you can tell me more revelations about your feelings for the gorgeous Max Calder?" "Some things," Anya said simply, "are going too far." She curled up her toes in her slippers and thought hard. Max Calder joining Cala Muir Practice. Wow! How long 'til his handsome head appeared, brightening her days, haunting her nights? Suddenly the front door flew open with a crash thud against the wall. "Callum, careful!" "Mummy, Mummy, I missed you!" Callum shouted from the doorway, peeling off his jacket. "I'll have to go, Katie. Cal's back from the childminder." "Keep reading that jump article in the magazine," Katie instructed. "It's our year for challenging new dares; we're running the risk." Anya's son Callum ran like a rugby tackler and made a headbutt dive right at her abdomen. She struggled for balance and to replace the phone after saying farewells to Katie. He grinned up at her, his golden blonde hair fuzzy like an angel halo. Anya reflected that the winded feeling from Callum's buffeting would be similar to the breathless sensation of jumping out of a plane several thousand feet from the ground. "Wait 'til you see the picture I've made you, Mummy. It's of Martians. Invading from space." Right now Martians were way preferable to freefalling from aircraft for fun. Some things took time to work up sufficient courage to face. * * * *"Max, come through, meet the staff!" Retiring partner Struan McKendrick welcomed Max into the throng and urged him into the lemon and cream decorated staff room for his first team meeting. He wouldn't officially start for another week, but today he'd agreed to come in for the Cala Muir announcement. "Hi. Thanks, Struan." Struan had promised they wouldn't bite. Yet there was one woman Max wished would nibble. Even a tiny bit. Anya Fraser's big blue-grey dark-lashed eyes never held his for longer than two seconds, max. Like he petrified her, or she'd heard bad rumours, or she didn't trust him. Or she hated men with dark eyebrows who sometimes went to football matches sporting designer stubble. He'd counted the seconds in fact. Two seconds before those inspiring eyes darted away to safer terrain. "Hi! Great football. Does Callum want to sit on my shoulders?" he'd offered once ten minutes into the game of St Alders Athletic v Cranntherston. She'd declined in two seconds flat. Nice smile. But still a putdown. She often came down to St Alders with her son, on occasion he'd tried to chat. Always she found some reason to extricate herself. Max hoped their working relationship could transcend her apparent discomfort. Her mistrust, her two second eye contact limit. Her sexy glimpse of neck, throat and sometimes, oh joy, that tiny hint at great breasts in a soft-to-the-touch fitted Lycra t-shirt. The very thought had libidinous images racing places a sober doctor shouldn't go about prospective staff. Max cleared his throat. The Cala Muir medical staff team smiled in welcome. Max smiled back. When he noted Anya's absence something tweaked at his subconscious to ask why. A minute later Anya rushed in, looking annoyed at herself for the late entry. Max smiled again, this time from somewhere within. He noted her breathlessness. Sexy as hell. Her hair wind mussed and kissable. Dark blonde strands tangled tantalisingly with her scarf and he itched to pull them free. "Sorry I'm late everyone," she said in apology. "It's my day off and I had an adopter seminar to help out at plus the traffic's been a nightmare. And I got involved in an incident." She took her seat, traversing the line of chairs to find her favoured position. "Hmm, sexy bottom," said a voice in Max's head. "As in sexy of the highest order. With a sassy sway too." He wondered what it would look like in skin tight stone washed jeans. On the back of his Kawasaki, holding on while he drove her fast round bends. To a country pub so he could feed her lunch and watch her eat. Behave, Calder! Your urges need taking in hand. Max cleared his throat yet again "Hi there, Anya. Glad you made it." "You haven't missed anything," said Struan. "I'm about to introduce our new partner, who starts with us a week on Monday, Max Calder. We're very excited to welcome him to the team. He'll be leaving Glenfields and we're very happy he's accepted the position here." A brief ripple of approval ensued. Anya smiled, Max smiled back. The world, for a moment, became a happy place to be. A sexy place too. She looked Mohammed Ali knockout. "Perhaps you'd like to say a few words, Max?" Struan invited. Max, always a lover of informality in staff briefings, leant on the back of a chair. He didn't want his staff thinking him a stickler for old school ways. Then for several uncomfortable moments he failed to find the right words. Max's head had vacated the discussion topic. It had gravitated back to Anya's bottom and its power to mesmerise him. Afterwards, it mulled over all her other assets. Her amazing smile, great teeth and attention-grabbing natural glossed lips. So many charms his brain struggled to multi-task on them. The stray long strands of feather layered hair he itched to run between finger and thumb. The thought of what colour her nipples were. Rose, peach, cinnamon dusted pink like her lips... Whoa! Max pulled himself up short. Back into the here now. He rubbed his hands together to summon clarity. "I'm delighted to be here. I see this as a fantastic opportunity in a wonderful set up. The team is an exciting one. This is a challenge I aim to rise to. I hope I can do you proud." There done. No talk of bottoms, hair brushing or nipples. Success. Struan made a short speech about the challenges ahead and Max nodded throughout. At one point he caught Anya daydreaming with a worried expression and he smiled right into her gaze. A wonderful moment. A light bulb moment. Maybe they could even be friends? "Yep, fantastic smile. But definitely a remarkable bottom," said his thoughts. Max Calder would be giving himself a strict, disciplinarian anti-hormone wildcard talking to this evening. And in future. Lusting after prospective colleagues, while entertaining on a personal basis, in his new professional position, was strictly one hundred and one per cent not on. Bad vibes, uncalled for. The team dispersed. Anya, in contrast, headed straight for Struan. "Would you mind taking a look at Mrs. Wallace?" Anya asked, her hand on his arm. "What's wrong, Anya? Max can you spare a minute?" Struan asked. Struan turned to Max, motioning him over to join he and Anya. "Max, fancy giving us your prognosis on a first case? Anya's found a patient in need." "Jessie Wallace. She's in the waiting room," Anya continued. "Complaining of dizziness. Someone at her lunch club called me and asked me to see her; it's why I'm late. I brought her along as she's been having dizzy episodes and her friends say she's been acting strangely." "You were right to bring her," Struan said. Max nodded. "Can we see her now?" "She's having a cup of tea, Lucy's keeping an eye on her. I wanted to give her a chance to replenish her liquids and get a rest before I asked you to see her." "Good decision. Care to take a look Max? I know you're not here officially, but since you're here for an introduction? Meet a few regular faces?" "Sure." Max agreed. "I know Jessie Wallace, she's Maggie Wallace's mother in law. From the farm down at Wayside." Anya confirmed his assertion. They found Mrs Wallace looking pale, drawn but slightly better than the state in which Anya had found her earlier; wobbly, confused and having muddled conversations. Lucy, the temp receptionist, explained Mrs Wallace had been to the ladies' room and made pained noises whilst Lucy waited for her. She'd complained of burning pains whilst urinating. All those cups of tea would prove useful. A urine test would definitely be necessary. He said, "Can I take you through to a consulting room Mrs Wallace? I'd like to check a few things. Nothing to concern you. Just blood pressure and such. And a urine sample. Struan's going to stay in on this consultation as he's your doctor. Are you happy to see me?" Mrs Wallace nodded and let Max help her along the corridor to Struan's consulting room. Anya let the doctors take over. "I'm fine, Doctor. Light-headed, a little dizzy. It'll pass, it usually does." Mrs Wallace patted Max's hand as if she needed to reassure him. "So this is a common thing, Mrs Wallace? Have you talked to a doctor about it? Anything else bothering you at the moment?" "No, you busy medical professionals don't need to be seeing me about a few dizzy spells." "Why not let me be the judge here?" Max took her blood pressure. He ushered her to the patient toilet with Anya's help to collect a urine sample. He asked her again if there were any other health concerns of symptoms and she said no. "Why not finish your drink and have a rest?" Max suggested. "I'm going to go and call Maggie and ask her to come fetch you. I'll be back in touch tomorrow." "No need lad," Mrs Wallace objected. "I'm tired. I need rest that's all. Getting old." "I'd rather be on the safe side by checking things out," Max said firmly. "It's what I'm paid to do. Let me decide." He found Anya in the corridor and told her about the light-headedness not being a one-off. "Sometimes," said Max, "elderly patients, ladies especially, can be prone to urinary tract infection. A number of things can cause this, hygiene, poor bladder emptying or incontinence. I note Mrs Wallace has suffered 'leaking' in the past and she regularly received incontinence pads. On some occasions such an infection can lead to dizziness and bewilderment. I suspect this may have been the case." "I'm aware of incontinence and leaking issues but I've never seen these kind of side effects before?" Anya confessed. Max nodded. "I suspect Mrs Wallace might have an upper urinary tract infection and I may need to refer her on to hospital if she worsens. In the meantime a high fluid intake is essential and we'll prescribe antibiotics." Anya told Max she'd known Mrs Wallace a long time and she'd always been a spry, active, agile woman. The vision of her struggling for balance and coherent conversation had concerned her. "Thanks Max. I suspected a problem, I've been thinking about it right through the meeting. Mrs Wallace didn't want any fuss and Lucy promised to fetch me if anything worsened." "Thanks for bringing her in." "She's a good friend. Thanks for taking this in hand." "No problem. It's my job to double check in case. I'll be here on a permanent basis soon enough. Maybe we could go and grab lunch next week?" he chanced. "You could tell me the ins and outs of Cala Muir life. Like where you get the best jacket potato? Things not to do if you don't want to be on someone's blacklist." "Why don't you call me?" she answered. "And let me know about Jessie Wallace?" "I will. Count on it, Anya." Retreating down the hallway to get his coat and depart Cala Muir, Max resisted the urge to punch the air in victory. She'd held his gaze for five whole seconds. Great blue-grey eyes that pierced his soul and did things to his midsection. Now that represented a Calder personal best. It gave him hope. He might even coax her out for a drink yet.
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