His mouth touched hers and the shock of the contact almost brought him to his knees. He could feel the blood rushing through his veins like liquid fire, feel the heat that invaded every cell in his body, and groaned. His hands lifted as he went to draw her closer so that he could feel the soft curves of her body moulding themselves against the hardness of his, but he never got the chance. With a tiny cry of alarm, Emma pushed him away and ran from the room.
Daniel leant back against the worktop, needing its support as all the strength suddenly drained from his body. He desperately wanted to go after her but he knew it would be the wrong thing to do. Maybe he could persuade her to let him kiss her again—possibly even do more than kiss her—but it wouldn’t be fair. Perhaps there was still some vestige of attraction between them, but it didn’t alter the fact that he could so easily ruin her life even now. Emma needed to focus on her job now more than ever or she could end up losing everything she had worked so hard for. Nothing was worth that risk, certainly not his own selfish desires.
Emma slammed the bedroom door, scarcely able to believe what had happened. She wanted to blame Daniel for it but she was too honest to claim that she hadn’t been partly at fault. She had wanted him to kiss her, wanted it so much that her cheeks burned with shame. Hadn’t she learned anything from past experiences? Did she really want to find herself right back where she’d been five years ago, her life in tatters, her heart broken?
She pressed her fist against her mouth to stem the sob that threatened to escape it. She refused to cry, refused to risk her hard-won composure by breaking down. So what if she had been tempted for a moment? She had come to her senses in time, hadn’t she? If anything, it proved that she could handle this situation. Daniel’s kiss may have been tempting but she had realised the risks, assessed the damage it could cause, and taken steps to stop what was happening. She should be proud of herself for what she had done.
The thought steadied her. She quickly undressed and got into bed, pulling the quilt up to her chin. It was gone midnight and she needed to get some sleep if she hoped to be fit enough to help out at morning surgery.
The sound of footsteps climbing the stairs made her eyes fly open. She hadn’t thought to ask Daniel which room he was using and found herself holding her breath as she waited for him to reach the landing. The house was large and there were a number of empty bedrooms, including the room next to hers.
Her breath whooshed out in relief when she heard his footsteps fade. He was obviously using the guest room, which was on the opposite side of the house. For some reason, she felt safer knowing that he wasn’t sleeping in the room next to hers. She had resisted temptation once tonight and she didn’t intend to put herself to the test again. She might not like the idea, but she had to face the fact that she might not have the strength to hold out a second time.
CHAPTER FIVE
‘THAT’S excellent news. Thank you for letting me know. Yes, of course. I’ll pass on your message.’
Daniel replaced the phone and leant back in his chair. Morning surgery had ended and he’d been getting ready to go out to some house calls when Harry Groves had phoned to tell him that Sarah and baby Thomas had been given a clean bill of health by the consultant at the hospital. Harry had asked him to pass on the news to Emma, which he would do, but he needed a few minutes’ breathing space before he sought her out.
He sighed as he tipped back his chair and stared at the ceiling. The memory of what had happened the previous night had continued to haunt him. He kept remembering that kiss and how sweet it had been, even though he knew how stupid it was. He had made a mistake by kissing her and he had no intention of repeating it, so it would be better if he put it out of his mind; however, it was proving to be easier said than done. Every time his thoughts wandered, he could feel Emma’s mouth under his and it was driving him mad!
‘Ruth said there’s quite a lot of calls to do today, so do you want me to help?’
The sound of Emma’s voice almost made him tip over the chair. Daniel hurriedly returned it to all four legs as he turned towards the door. He’d made a point of leaving the house extra early that morning so it was the first time he’d seen her that day. Now he found his senses running riot as he took stock of her slender figure encased in a neat grey skirt and a crisp white blouse. It may not have been the sexiest of outfits, granted, but it definitely did something for him.
‘No, it’s fine.’ Daniel dragged his unruly thoughts back into line again and prayed they would stay there. That sort of thinking wasn’t going to help one jot. ‘I imagine you want to visit your uncle this afternoon, so I’ll do the calls.’
‘Well, if you’re sure?’ She gave him a moment to reconsider then shrugged. ‘I’ll do them tomorrow, then. OK?’
‘Fine, although don’t feel that you have to. After all, Jim asked me to cover for him.’
He’d only meant to point out that she wasn’t under any obligation to work in the surgery. Although he appreciated the offer, she had come home for a holiday and it seemed a shame that her plans should be scuppered. However, that obviously wasn’t how she took it. Daniel’s heart sank when he saw the mutinous set to her mouth.
‘I’m very much aware of that, thank you. Don’t worry, Daniel, I don’t intend to step on your toes. So far as my aunt and uncle are concerned, you’re the knight in shining armour who’s come to rescue them. Let’s just hope they still feel the same way in a few weeks’ time.’
‘Meaning what precisely?’ he demanded, stung by the comment.
She shrugged. ‘That I still find it hard to believe it was purely altruism that brought you here. There has to be something in it for you, personally or professionally, otherwise why would you give up so much of your free time to work in the back of beyond?’
‘I see. So what do you think I’m hoping to gain from it?’ he asked, refusing to let her see how much it hurt to hear her judge him so harshly. Maybe it was his own fault that she had such a low opinion of him, but if she had loved him—as she’d once claimed—surely she shouldn’t have been so willing to believe the worst?
‘I don’t know. I haven’t worked that out yet.’ She gave him a cool smile. ‘But when I do, you’ll be the first to know.’
She left the room, leaving the door wide open. Daniel listened to the sound of her footsteps receding along the corridor and sighed. He could go after her and tell her that she was wrong, that his motives were of the very highest order, but she wouldn’t believe him. She wanted to think badly of him, wanted to bury any feelings she’d had for him under a blanket of mistrust. It shouldn’t be that difficult, not after what he had done. She must be ninety-nine per cent certain that he was a rat of the first order, but obviously she was keen to add that precious last one per cent to the score. And finding out that he had an ulterior motive for offering to cover for Jim would be the perfect way to round up the total, so help him.
Emma went back to the house and made herself a sandwich. She took it up to her room, unwilling to stick around in case Daniel decided to have his lunch before he did the calls. She was still smarting from their most recent confrontation and needed time to calm down before she saw him again.
She sighed as she took a bite of the bread. It would take more than a few hours to soothe her feelings where Daniel was concerned. Every time she spoke to him, she felt so churned up inside that it was hard to maintain an outward show of composure. Maybe it was always difficult to relax with someone you’d once been heavily involved with—she really didn’t know.
Although she’d been out with several different men in the last few years, she had never had a serious relationship with any of them. She had told herself that she was too busy with her career to worry about that side of her life but it wasn’t true. Her experiences with Daniel had put her off, made her wary of getting involved with anyone again. However, she couldn’t allow the past to continue influencing her or she would never be truly free of him. She had to put what had happened behind her. And mean it.
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Emma finished her lunch, wondering if this might prove to be a turning point. Discovering that Daniel was working here had been a shock but it could turn out to be a good thing. Seeing him again had awoken a lot of feelings she’d thought were dead and now she would be able to dispatch them for ever. And if she did find out that he had his own agenda for agreeing to cover for her uncle then so much the better. It would put the final nail in the coffin of their relationship.
Daniel got through the house calls faster than he’d expected. He checked his watch after he left his final call and realised that he had time to drop into the hospital. It would only take him ten minutes or so to drive there and he would like to see how Jim was faring.
He started his car, refusing to speculate as to how Emma would feel about him joining her at her uncle’s bedside. She’d made it perfectly clear yesterday that she hadn’t wanted him there, but it was hard luck. He just wanted to reassure the older man that everything was going smoothly, or at least everything to do with the running of the practice. So far as his relationship with Emma, well, it would be better not to mention that.
He managed to find a parking space close to the main doors, which was a minor miracle. Hurrying inside, he made his way to the lift and pressed the button. It arrived promptly and he was about to step inside when he heard someone calling his name. Glancing round, he spotted Emma crossing the foyer, carrying two cardboard containers of coffee. She glared at him as she drew closer.
‘What are you doing here?’
‘I came to see how Jim was doing,’ he replied evenly, putting out his hand to stop the lift doors closing.
‘He’s fine,’ she said shortly, stepping inside. ‘I had a word with his consultant and he’s very happy with how things went.’
‘That’s good to hear.’ Daniel stepped into the lift. Pressing the button for their floor, he turned to her. ‘Your aunt must be very relieved.’
‘Of course.’ Her tone was clipped. ‘What Uncle Jim needs now is plenty of rest. What he doesn’t need is a lot of people visiting him.’
‘I agree. However, he’ll be able to rest more easily once he’s sure that everything is running smoothly at the surgery.’
‘I’ve already assured him that everything is fine.’ She tipped back her head, a hint of challenge in her eyes. ‘It doesn’t need both of us to give him a progress report, Daniel. I’m perfectly capable of doing that by myself.’
‘I’m sure you are, but knowing Jim he will still worry in case you’re keeping something from him.’ He shrugged. ‘Jim knows that I’ll tell him the truth.’
‘Tell the truth and shame the devil. Is that the maxim you live by, Daniel, or only when it suits you?’
‘I do my best to be truthful at all times,’ he said quietly.
A flash of hurt crossed her face. ‘Really? Then all I can say is that there must be more than one version of the truth in your world.’
The lift came to a halt and she got out before he could reply, although what he could have said was open to question. Daniel’s heart was heavy as he followed her because he knew what she was alluding to. Five years ago he had told her that he’d loved her, but he’d also told her that his career had meant more to him than she would ever do. No wonder she was so reluctant to believe him.
Jim Haynes was in the intensive care unit where his heart and other bodily functions were being closely monitored. He was awake and looked remarkably chirpy for someone who had undergone major surgery in the past twenty-four hours. He smiled with genuine pleasure when he saw Daniel. ‘Ah, good to see you, Daniel. At least I know you won’t fuss over me like these two insist on doing.’
Daniel laughed. ‘I shall try my very best not to fuss, I promise you.’ He pulled up a chair and sat down, trying to ignore the fact that Emma was sitting next to him. He had to stop being so aware of her and treat her as he would any colleague, politely and civilly. If he could stick to that there wouldn’t be a problem.
‘Good.’ Jim frowned. ‘So how is everything at the surgery? Emma insists that it’s all going swimmingly but I doubt if she’d tell me even if it weren’t. The main thing is, are you coping?’
‘Yes, we are.’ Daniel leant forward, feeling heat flash along his veins when his arm brushed against Emma’s. Even though he was wearing a jacket he could feel the contact in every cell. He cleared his throat, keeping his gaze centred on the other man so that it wouldn’t wander in her direction. It would be silly to check if she had felt that same flicker of awareness run through her.
He gave Jim a complete rundown about what had been happening. He sensed that Emma wasn’t happy about him going into so much detail but he guessed that it would worry Jim more if he tried to gloss over how busy it had been. He realised he was right when he saw the frown disappear from the older man’s face after he finished.
‘Excellent. It’s good to know the practice is in such safe hands,’ Jim declared. ‘Now I can let Margaret whisk me away to the cottage to recuperate without having to worry about what’s going on here.’
‘How did you know that I was planning on taking you to the cottage?’ Margaret demanded. ‘I’ve never even mentioned it!’
‘After forty years of marriage, my dear, I can read you like an open book,’ Jim told her, winking at them.
Everyone laughed at that and then Daniel stood up. ‘I don’t want to tire you out so I won’t stay any longer. Take care of yourself, Jim, and do what your doctor orders.’
‘Oh, I shall.’ Jim raised his eyes to the heavens. ‘I don’t have a choice with this pair standing guard over me!’
Daniel was still laughing as he left ICU. He made his way along the corridor, pausing when he heard Emma calling him. He waited for her to catch him up, wondering what misdemeanour he was guilty of this time. He was already steeling himself for another tongue-lashing when she came to a halt.
‘I just wanted to say that you were right. Uncle Jim did need to hear it from you that everything was all right at the surgery.’
‘Oh … right … thank you.’
Daniel was so shocked that he couldn’t think of anything else to say. She gave him a tight little smile then turned and hurried away. He carried on walking, only realising that he must have walked straight past the lifts when he came to the end of the corridor and could go no further. He turned around and went back the way he’d come, thinking about what Emma had said.
Maybe he was reading too much into it but it was good to know that she thought he’d done something right for a change.
He groaned as he punched the button to summon the lift. How pathetic was that? A few words of praise from Emma and all of a sudden the world seemed like a much brighter place!
Emma was home well in time for evening surgery. Her aunt had returned with her but only to pack a bag. Margaret Haynes had decided to stay at a friend’s house close to the hospital to save her having to make the journey back and forth. It meant that Emma and Daniel would be on their own again that night and for many more nights to come.
Emma washed her hands and then made her way round to the surgery, determined that she wasn’t going to waste her time worrying about it. They were both adults and more than capable of sharing the house for the next few weeks. She was due back in Scotland in just over a month’s time so it wasn’t as though the situation was going to last indefinitely. Obviously, if she’d needed to take over the practice while her uncle recuperated, she would have had to arrange compassionate leave, but with Daniel here that wouldn’t be necessary. He would be able to run things until Uncle Jim was well enough to return to work.
She frowned, wondering once again why Daniel had agreed to give up so much of his time to help. Although she knew that he had got on well with her uncle while he’d been doing his GP training, she hadn’t realised the two men had kept in touch. Her aunt and uncle had never mentioned Daniel over the years and she certainly hadn’t asked about him. She had wanted to expunge the whole unhappy episode from her life rather than dwell on it.
It made her feel uneasy all of a sudden to wonder if Daniel had ever asked about her.
Emma quickly dismissed the thought as she pushed open the surgery door. Daniel had demonstrated his lack of interest five years ago in the most effective way possible!
‘I’m afraid evening surgery doesn’t start until four.’
Emma glanced up when she realised someone was speaking to her. She smiled at the young woman behind the reception desk. ‘You must be Claire.’
‘That’s right. How did you know.? Oh, you must be Emma!’ The other woman blushed. ‘I’m so sorry. Ruth told me that you’d probably be coming in tonight, but I was expecting someone much older.’ She clapped her hand over her mouth, obviously wishing she hadn’t said that, and Emma laughed.
‘Thank you. I shall take that as a compliment. Believe me, some days I feel as old as Methuselah, so it’s nice to know that I don’t actually look it!’ She glanced around the waiting room. ‘Is Ruth not in tonight?’ she asked, neatly changing the subject to spare Claire’s blushes.
‘Yes, but she might be a bit late. A filling fell out of one of her teeth and the dentist could only fit her in this afternoon as he’s on holiday for the rest of the week,’ Claire explained. ‘She asked me if I’d hold the fort until she gets here. I hope that’s all right.’
‘Of course it is.’ Emma smiled at her. ‘If you have any problems, give me a buzz. I used to work on the reception desk when I was a student and I might be able to help.’
‘Thanks. That’s really kind of you.’ Claire beamed at her. ‘Daniel told me the same thing, to buzz him if I got stuck. It’s the first time I’ve manned the desk on my own, so it’s a relief to know that I can call on you two.’
‘No problem.’
Emma drummed up a smile, although she could feel her hackles rising. Trust Daniel to try and worm his way into the receptionist’s good books, she thought sourly, then realised how two-faced that sounded when it would appear she had done the same thing. However, her offer had been a genuine one, she assured herself as she made her way to the consulting room, aimed at making life simpler for all of them. Whereas Daniel’s had undoubtedly been a way to curry favour.
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