Page 14 of Viking Ink

I let my lip slip from my teeth, blushing. “Sorry, nervous habit.”

“Don’t be sorry, lad. We all have nervous habits.” He played with his beard as he spoke, tugging it gently. Was that Simon’s nervous habit?

I couldn’t stop a giggle from escaping. I smiled, feeling proud of myself. “I think I know yours.”

“Oh, do you now?” Simon grinned, arching a red brow.

“Yes! You tug on your beard,” I said proudly.

“Very perceptive, Rhys. Now how about you tell me what you need to get you in to see Doc?” The way Simon said my name and the endearing smile he shot me made those strange flutters in my stomach grow stronger.

Sitting up straight, I kept my eyes locked on Simon’s. My fingers tapped nervously against my mug. “I want you to come into the doctor with me.”

Simon’s hand reached over the table and gently stilled my nervous tapping. “Of course. I promised you I would help you, and I mean it.”

I chewed at my lip again, until I caught Simon’s raised brow. “You don’t think I’m useless? Childish?”

Simon growled—actually growled—and sat up straighter. “Of course not. If I’m to guess, you’re parroting your father’s words?”

I nodded, turning my head. I looked out at the bay, to where the gulls were dancing in the early morning sky. “He always said I was too weak.”

“Well, he’s wrong. And if you’ll excuse the language, that man sounds like a right proper prick who doesn’t deserve a sweet son like you.”

I blushed furiously at the comment. Seriously, why was I always blushing where Simon was involved?

“All right. Let’s finish our drinks, then head down to Doc Cullen’s. He should be opening up soon.”

Chapter 5

SIMON

As I led Rhys down the lane to the small clinic, I could feel him brushing against me. The lad’s nerves were clearly written on his face, and I was half tempted to take him in my arms and try to sooth his nerves. Except, down that path lay temptation, and Rhys had already managed to stumble his way past my carefully crafted emotional walls.

Cullen was just opening as we arrived. He looked up from where he was fighting to set up the A-frame board that announced the surgery was open. Errant gusts of wind from the harbour kept knocking the board over, and Cullen muttered a string of angry curses. Rhys pushed himself against me, a look of mild apprehension flitting across his face.

“Don’t worry, Doc Cullen is always like this before Tess feeds him his morning muffin. Speaking of which, why are you wrestling with that thing? Tess normally sets this up.” I decided that mentioning that she would have had it set up and anchored with no problems by now would not be a prudent move. Cullen was a brilliant physician, but when it came to anything aside from his medical duties, he was a disaster on two legs.

Cullen raised his head, his silver eyebrows shooting up. “Tess is at home with morning sickness.”

“And Emma can’t help?” I followed the Doc inside the small cottage that was both the Doc’s home and his practice, leading a nervous Rhys inside.

“No, she’s helping her mother out on the farm. So everyone is just going to have to be patient with me. I don’t even know how to work that thing.” Cullen pointed to the computer sitting at the reception desk. “It’s only a half day for the surgery. I’ll have to make do.”

Rhys was looking at the untidy desk with a pensive expression, and his bottom lip was between his teeth again. The Daddy in me wanted to gently remind him he’d hurt his lip.

“You okay?”

Rhys nodded and asked, “Is he always so grumpy?”

I laughed softly. “He’s like Mr Milson’s Yorkshire terrier—all growls and grey messy fur, that is until you scratch his belly. Then he’s your best friend.”

Rhys covered his mouth with his hand, trying to hide a soft giggle. “I don’t think the doctor would want his belly rubbed.”

“No but a packet of Chocolate Hobnobs will do the same trick.”

“I heard that, Simon Johannsen.” Cullen’s head popped around his open surgery door.

“Is it a lie?’ I countered, smirking.

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