The Doctor's Engagement

by Sarah Morgan

  ‘I’ve had a slight crisis.’ He glanced over her shoulder. ‘I need to see Mark.’

  ‘I’m here.’ Mark strolled over, looking supremely fit, a sports bag slung casually over his shoulder. ‘You’re looking at an exhausted man. Never let me mock an exercise class again.’

  ‘Yeah.’ Greg gave a brief smile, but his eyes were worried and Holly touched his arm gently.

  ‘Something’s wrong. You mentioned a crisis.’

  ‘Crisis?’ Mark’s eyes narrowed and his handsome face was suddenly serious as he dropped the sports bag on the floor. ‘What crisis? What’s happened?’

  Greg hesitated and then took a deep breath. ‘There’s been a fire at my house.’

  Holly gasped. ‘A fire? Oh, no!’

  ‘Anyone hurt?’ Mark’s sharp question was straight to the point and Greg shook his head.

  ‘No. The builders had left for the day.’ He glanced at Holly and gave a slight shrug as he explained. ‘I’ve bought an old cottage that I’m renovating. I do some of it myself and use builders for some of it.’

  Holly nodded. ‘So you’re not living there?’

  ‘Well, I was.’ Greg gave a rueful smile. ‘I was sort of camping out in one of the bedrooms, but the smoke damage is too bad for me to stay and I was wondering...’

  ‘Come to us,’ Mark said immediately, his voice quiet and firm. ‘We’ve got a spare room which you can have for as long as you like.’

  Greg glanced from one to the other. ‘I don’t know. I don’t want to impose but I have to admit I was hoping you’d offer. I did think of asking Caroline, but I don’t think our relationship has quite reached that stage yet.’ He managed a sheepish grin. ‘I’d probably get my face slapped.’

  ‘It’s no imposition. We’ve got a spare room that’s empty. We insist,’ Mark said, turning to Holly, his dark brows raised in question. ‘Don’t we, sweetheart?’

  ‘Of course.’ Holly licked dry lips and tried not to think about the implications. The spare room wasn’t empty. She was in it. And if Mark was giving it to Greg, that would mean...

  ‘Well, that’s settled, then.’ Mark wiped his forehead with the corner of a towel which was draped over his broad shoulders. ‘Do you need a hand to bring some stuff over to our place?’

  ‘Our place.’ He said it so naturally. As if they really did live there as a couple.

  ‘That would be great if you can spare the time,’ Greg admitted. ‘One journey should do it if there’s two of us. I promise not to stay for more than a few days. I just need somewhere to use as a base while they assess the damage and I work out what to do.’

  ‘No problem. You’re welcome for as long as you need to stay.’ Mark turned to Holly and took her face in his hands, giving her a smile that was for her alone and dropping a gentle kiss on her lips. ‘Can you check that the spare room is ready for guests, sweetheart? We’ll see you in a bit.’

  Which, roughly translated, meant that she was meant to go home and remove all traces of herself from the spare bedroom. From tonight onwards she was going to be sleeping in the same room as Mark.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  HOLLY stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and took a deep breath. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t walk into that bedroom and behave as if nothing was wrong, as if she were immune to Mark. Keeping up an act when he was fully clothed and going about his daily activities was one thing—but naked and in his bed was quite another.

  She closed her eyes and shook her head. How had she ever got herself into this awful situation? She was totally out of her depth. Unless she was very, very careful he was going to guess how she felt and that would be disastrous. If Mark had the slightest suspicion that her feelings towards him had changed, their friendship would be over. She knew Mark well enough to know how wary he was of women who found him attractive. And who could blame him? He’d been pestered by members of her sex for most of his life. One of the reasons that their friendship had lasted so long was because she hadn’t ever found him attractive. Until now.

  Somehow she had to find the strength to go into that bedroom and pretend to be indifferent. She owed him that much.

  Holly stared into the mirror again and tugged at her skimpy nightie, trying to make it longer. What had possessed her to buy such sexy nightwear? She sighed and fingered the cream silk fabric. She loved feminine nightwear but it was a ridiculous indulgence really. After all, who was she dressing for? Certainly not a man. She’d never felt comfortable enough with a man to let him see her in her nightwear!

  Not that Mark was likely to notice what she was wearing. To him she was just the girl he’d known for most of his life. And, anyway, he was in love with someone else.

  Forcing herself to accept that he’d never see her as anything other than his oldest friend, she ran shaking fingers through her blonde hair and practised a smile in the mirror. It wasn’t very impressive so she tried again.

  Finally she took a deep breath and opened the door, keeping the smile pinned to her face as she saw Mark lounging, handsome and relaxed, on top of the bed. At least he was still fully clothed.

  ‘Well, Logan, you’d better not snore,’ she said lightly, walking briskly across the bedroom and sitting on the bed. ‘If you keep me awake, I’ll thump you.’

  He lifted a dark eyebrow and put down the medical journal he’d been reading. There was a long silence while his eyes travelled slowly over her, scanning every inch of her body.

  ‘You expect me to be able to sleep? With you dressed in that?’ His voice was filled with gentle laughter. ‘That is not the sort of nightwear I imagined a virgin would wear.’

  To cover her nerves she dived under the sheets and shot him a scathing look but his grin widened and he sprang to his feet and made for the bathroom.

  ‘I’m off to take a long, cold shower.’

  Still chuckling, he disappeared into the bathroom and Holly closed her eyes, relieved to have some breathing space. She really couldn’t cope with his banter at the moment. She just hoped he wore pyjamas in bed.

  When he finally slid into bed next to her she felt his hair roughened leg brush against hers and knew that if he was wearing anything, then it was the barest minimum.

  Pretending to be asleep, she lay absolutely still and tried to breathe normally, horribly aware of his nearness. She daren’t move in case she touched him and she doubted whether she’d be able to sleep a wink. Not with him lying next to her.

  * * *

  Holly felt safe.

  So very safe and warm.

  Wrapped in strong arms, she was being held firmly against a powerful chest, warm skin and dark hairs teasing the soft skin of her cheek. It felt unbelievably good. So good that she never wanted to move. Yawning, she snuggled closer, enjoying the tantalising male smell and the unusual feeling of security as she gradually woke up.

  She never usually felt this nice in the mornings. And that was because—

  Her eyes flew open and she was suddenly wide awake. She was in bed with Mark. She was lying on Mark. Her arms were wrapped round him.

  Hardly daring to breathe, she eased away from him slowly, her heart thumping rapidly as she tried to extricate herself without waking him up. Please, please, don’t let him realise...

  His eyes were closed and his breathing was even but something about his stillness made her freeze and look at him closely. Was he really asleep? Deciding that he had to be—If he was awake then he would hardly be lying there, holding her—she slithered out of the bed and tiptoed across the bedroom to the bathroom, locking the door carefully behind her.

  Covering her face with her hands, she gave a groan and sagged against the wall. That could have been so embarrassing! What if Mark had woken up and found her wound around him like a piece of bindweed?

  Vowing to make some excuse and sleep on the floor from now on, she turned on the shower, trying to wash away the tingle in her skin that had been there ever since she’d felt his powerful legs tangled with hers. She hadn’t expected
to sleep a wink, but the truth was that having Mark so close had made her feel safe. Even safer than she’d felt just knowing he was sleeping at the other end of the house.

  By the time she’d washed her hair and wrapped herself in a fluffy white bathrobe she’d found on the back of the door, she was more in control.

  Walking out into the bedroom, she glanced towards the bed and realised it was empty but the doors to the balcony were open and she saw Mark, his back to her, staring out across the sea.

  He was dressed only in a pair of boxer shorts which clung to the hard muscle of his thighs, and her eyes drifted over his powerful physique, resting on the curve of his shoulder muscles.

  She frowned slightly.

  He seemed tense, as if something was bothering him.

  ‘Mark?’ Instinctively she stepped towards him, concerned. ‘Mark, are you all right?’

  He stiffened but didn’t turn, his voice gruff. ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘I’m fine, Holly. And it’s your turn to get the kettle on.’

  She hesitated, wondering whether to persist, but then backed away, sensing that for some reason he didn’t want her there. Which probably meant he was thinking about the woman that he was in love with...

  Tying the dressing-gown more firmly round her middle, she padded downstairs, watching the sea glistening in the early morning sunlight.

  Cross with herself for being so pathetic, she waited for the kettle to boil and tried to forget that finally Mark had fallen in love with someone. She’d never imagined that loving someone who didn’t love you back could be so painful. But the knowledge was always there, sitting inside her like a lump of lead, weighing her down.

  ‘Coffee ready yet?’ Mark’s voice made her start and she turned with a smile and a nod.

  ‘Of course.’ She reached for two mugs and made some coffee, trying not to notice how handsome he looked, dressed in a crisp white shirt, his dark hair still damp from the shower. ‘Did you have a good night?’

  It was small talk—just casual conversation—but the minute she’d said it, she wished she hadn’t because he turned to face her and his eyes locked with hers.

  She shouldn’t have mentioned the night. After all, they’d spent it together...

  ‘My night was fine,’ he said softly, his probing eyes still fixed on hers. ‘How was yours?’

  ‘I slept well,’ she croaked, wishing that she could look away. There was a look in his eyes that she couldn’t interpret. Dear God, please, don’t let him have guessed how she felt about him.

  He scanned her pale face and then he muttered something under his breath and reached for her, dragging her hard against him, capturing her mouth with his.

  There was no warning—no time for her to even pretend to protest.

  His mouth claimed hers with a savage hunger that made her clutch him for support, sharp darts of electricity stabbing her body as his tongue skilfully explored and possessed her mouth. In one easy movement he lifted her and sat her on the work surface, his hands sliding through her hair and anchoring her head to give him better access. Without pausing for breath, he kissed her, his mouth relentless on hers, his body hard and unyielding as he pressed closer to her.

  And she kissed him back, unable to resist the fire that his touch ignited inside her. Her hands slid over his shoulders, tracing the muscle of his back, and then locked around his waist, holding him against her, wanting to feel him closer, closer, hoping he’d never let her go...

  But then he did—so suddenly that she moaned in protest. And then she saw Greg in the doorway.

  Holly slid to the floor, her face pink with embarrassment as she straightened her dressing-gown.

  She hadn’t heard Greg but obviously Mark had, which was why he’d kissed her. Not because he’d found her irresistible, which was what she’d foolishly believed for one blissful, deluded moment. Disappointment sliced through her insides.

  ‘Sorry.’ Greg gave an awkward smile and raked a hand through his blond hair. ‘Didn’t mean to interrupt anything. Next time I’ll develop a coughing fit before I enter a room.’

  ‘No problem.’ Mark’s tone was short and Holly glanced at him in surprise, admiring his acting skills yet again. He sounded genuinely irritated, which was ridiculous. Wasn’t he taking the act a little bit far? Surely he could be convincing without being crabby with Greg.

  ‘Coffee, Greg?’ She handed him a mug and smiled, trying to compensate for Mark’s churlishness. ‘I meant to ask you last night, how are you getting on with Caroline? She seems... different somehow.’

  ‘We’re getting on very well, thanks.’ Greg gave her a saucy wink and took the mug with a nod of thanks before settling himself at the kitchen table. ‘It’s not easy but I think we’re getting somewhere now. We’re going for a drink at the yacht club later in the week. Caroline suggested that you two join us.’

  Holly frowned slightly. Why? Was Caroline using Greg as an excuse to get together with Mark?

  She glanced at Mark who seemed unusually moody and tense. What on earth was the matter with him?

  ‘Mark? Do you want to go? When are you on call?’

  Greg’s eyes narrowed. ‘It might not be a bad idea to go out as a foursome. It would help remind her that you two are a couple.’ He gave a wry smile. ‘Not that she would have needed much reminding if she’d seen the pair of you a moment ago.’

  Holly blushed again and Mark stood up, a muscle working in his strong jaw.

  ‘Why not?’ He gave a brief smile and glanced at his watch. ‘I’ve got to make a move. I’ve got a medical booked in before my morning surgery. I’ll see you later.’

  He turned on his heel and strode through the door, leaving the pair of them staring after him.

  ‘Ouch. I’m really sorry, Holly.’ Greg gave a rueful smile and drained his coffee. ‘I’ll make sure I sound like a herd of elephants next time I enter a room so that it doesn’t happen again.’

  ‘It really doesn’t matter, Greg,’ Holly said hastily, her chair scraping on the kitchen floor as she stood up. ‘I’m sorry about Mark. I can’t think what’s the matter with him this morning.’

  ‘I can,’ Greg said wryly. ‘He’s a man in love and I disturbed him.’

  Holly managed a wan smile. Mark was a man in love. But unfortunately it wasn’t with her.

  * * *

  On Wednesday Holly arrived at work early enough to phone the coronary care unit to ask after Jack Finn. She was delighted to hear that he was doing very well.

  ‘Could you tell him I called?’ she asked the ward sister, before putting the phone down and getting ready for her clinic.

  Halfway through the morning Mark phoned through and asked her to see one of his patients. She hurried down the corridor to his room, hoping that his mood had improved.

  Fortunately it had.

  ‘This is Mrs Hunter.’ He smiled warmly at the old lady sitting in the chair by his desk and nodded towards Holly. ‘This is Sister Foster. She’s the best nurse I’ve ever worked with and she’s going to work wonders with your leg.’

  Holly blinked. She was?

  ‘Mrs Hunter has a leg ulcer.’ Mark leaned across his desk and tapped the keys of his computer. ‘There’s a report here from the vascular surgeon which you ought to read. He did a full raft of investigations, including arteriography, and concluded that she has venous disease but no significant arterial disease.’

  ‘So she needs compression bandaging?’ Holly read the notes over his shoulder and then smiled at Mrs Hunter. ‘We’ll bandage your leg and that should help the ulcer heal.’

  ‘You also need to keep your leg elevated and do some simple exercise to keep your calf muscle working,’ Mark said, standing up and moving round his desk so that he was next to the old lady. ‘How much are you walking now?’

  The old lady pulled a face. ‘Not a lot. But I can potter to the end of the garden.’

  Mark nodded. ‘Pottering is fine. The more you can walk the better. Holly will s
uggest a few other exercises as well when she’s sorting out your bandage. What do you want me to prescribe, Holly?’

  ‘One of the multi-layer compression bandages?’ Holly picked up the report from the vascular surgeon and scanned it quickly. ‘The pharmacists usually dispense them as a pack. If you write it up I’ll nip next door to the chemist and pick it up while Mrs Hunter has a cup of tea or something.’

  ‘Thanks, Holly.’ He lifted an eyebrow. ‘How busy are you? Can you do that right away for her?’

  Holly nodded. ‘Providing the leg isn’t too swollen.’ She dropped to her knees and smiled at Mrs Hunter. ‘Can I take a peep? If necessary I could pop round to your house and do it tomorrow instead.’

  Mrs Hunter frowned. ‘Can’t you do it when it’s swollen?’

  ‘No. If the ankle is swollen then bandaging it can damage the skin.’ Holly examined the ankle and calf and gave a brief nod. ‘It’s fine, Mrs Hunter. I’ll just quickly measure your ankle and that will help me work out which combination of bandages to use.’

  ‘I’ve been keeping it up all morning.’

  ‘That must be why it isn’t swollen, then.’ She stood up and told Mark exactly what she wanted and waited while he entered the details into the computer, printed out the prescription and signed it. ‘Thanks, Dr Logan. I’ll go next door to the chemist.’

  She helped Mrs Hunter back to the waiting room and walked over to Caroline who was sorting through a pile of results.

  ‘Caroline, I’ve got to nip to the pharmacy to get a compression bandage for Mrs Hunter. Is there any chance that you could make her a cup of tea while she’s waiting, please?’

  Caroline put down the pile of results and smiled suddenly.

  ‘Of course. Unless you’d rather I went to the pharmacy for you?’

  Holly stared in disbelief and then quickly caught herself. Caroline certainly seemed to be a changed person.

  ‘No.’ She cleared her throat and hid her surprise. ‘I’ll see the pharmacist because I’m not quite sure which dressings he stocks. But if you could make her a cup of tea, that would be great.’