The Last Doctor She Should Ever Date Read Free Page A

to her father, whose face had turned a worrying shade of beetroot. Bowed gently to the lady in full Japanese formal dress.
    Pretty Boy grinned and raised his water glass to a table of gaping rugby players, then tilted his head to one side as he watched her turn the colour of the Jets’ strip. He was enjoying this. Damn him. ‘Well, not immediately. Obviously. I thought we could work up to it. Maybe after the hors d’oeuvres...’
    ‘I can’t believe you just said that, Mr...whoever you are...’ She turned the card over and read his name. ‘Mr... Oh. Dr Zachary Price.’ Sports Doctor to Auckland Jets .
    Her heart sank. Pretty Boy was the team doctor? Not just some lackey, but the guy she’d be spending the next few weeks with, in close quarters.
    And he wanted to sleep with her? Even more concerning, she had the distinct notion her wayward hormones thought the feeling was mutual. She kept her voice raised, just so he and the rest of the staring audience understood her sentiment. Loud and Clear. ‘I’m sorry, Dr Price, but I wouldn’t have sex with you if you were the last person on earth.’

CHAPTER TWO
    ‘I’ LL TAKE THAT as a no, then.’ Or at least a not yet. Still holding the now empty tumbler Zac shrugged as his eyes followed the delectable Dani in her clinging smoky-silver dress. She stalked across the room to her father, her back rigid, her footsteps staccato.
    Confusion warred with amusement. Truth was, after her outburst his interest in her had spiked, not deflated as she’d hoped’intrigued, maybe. Aroused, definitely.
    But he’d had a lucky break there. It had been a stupid idea asking her out to dinner. His usual type of woman was independent and aloof, a woman he could walk away from, not half-frightened confused debutantes. And as a proud member of the serial daters club he liked to establish rules at the outset. Number one: no strings.
    Number two: no commitment.
    Number three: no meeting the parents. Okay, they all added up to the same thing, but it always worked out fine.
    Getting close to people? No’he didn’t do that. Not any more. It only brought with it a major dose of guilt when things went haywire and from his experience things always went haywire. He scuffed a hand through his hair and let the painful memories roll over him before he filed them back in the corners of his heart.
    A few more things he’d learned, though; never give more of yourself than you have to. Never make promises you can’t keep. And never get involved with someone who wanted for ever. Because he just couldn’t give it. For ever meant someone relying on him and Zac had a track record of letting people down in the most devastating of ways.
    Dani’well, she had for ever written all over her creamy skin, designer gown and manicured nails. For ever, and high maintenance. Two things that instantly sounded warning bells.
    Matt, the team coach, sauntered over and whistled. ‘Hey, bro...was that...?’
    ‘Lady Godiva. Yes.’ As he said the silly nickname that had been bandied around by the press following her arrest, Zac felt a sudden and unexpected need to defend her. For the second time tonight. God, he needed to concentrate on this new job. That was what he’d gambled his safe career and family relationships on. Not to lose focus on some girl who he’d be better keeping away from.
    But for all her bravado he’d seen behind Dani’s spirited act. There were barriers in her eyes that kept everyone at bay and seemed to intensify when she looked at him. Given different circumstances it might have been fun to see how far he could penetrate those barriers; he’d always been one for a challenge. But not with Dani. He sensed she’d been hurt; he’d seen it in action with those facile headlines. ‘But don’t ever call her that. It was a long time ago but it still smarts.’
    ‘Noted. Shame she’s lost the braids, though. I liked them.’
    ‘I said...’
    ‘Okay. Pull your head in.’ Matt’s eyes widened.