Saving Dr. Cooper

by Jennifer Taylor

  ‘I was just coming to find you. Did you have a good night?’ he asked, unable to keep the warmth out of his voice. Maybe he needed to think about their involvement but he couldn’t deny that seeing her had made his heart sing.

  ‘Busy.’ She returned his smile and Ross felt his heart lift when he saw the pleasure in her eyes. It was obvious that Heather was just as pleased to see him. ‘It was non-stop all night, which is why I didn’t get a chance to come and see you. How is your sister? Has there been any change?’

  ‘There has. Kate’s recovered consciousness and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that she is going to be all right.’

  ‘Why that’s marvellous news, Ross!’ she exclaimed in delight. ‘You must be so relieved.’

  ‘I am. Mike finally got here, too. He’s with Kate at the moment, which is why I decided to go home.’ He grimaced as he ran his hand over his stubbly chin. ‘I need a shower and a shave before I collect the boys from their friend’s house.’

  ‘It should take some of the burden off you now that your brother-in-law is home,’ she suggested, walking back with him along the corridor.

  ‘It will. Obviously, Kate won’t be leaving hospital just yet so Mike will still need a hand, but I should be able to go into work next week. I’ve been off duty so it hasn’t been a problem, but I would have felt really bad if I’d had to leave everyone in the lurch.’

  ‘I’m sure your colleagues would have understood,’ she protested. ‘Still, it isn’t a problem now.’

  They left the building and Heather paused to draw in a deep breath of fresh air. ‘Oh, does that smell good. I feel as though I’ve been breathing pure antiseptic all night long! Thank goodness I’m off duty this weekend.’

  ‘What you need is a day out in the country,’ Ross suggested, struggling to keep a grip on himself. She looked so lovely as she stood there with her face tilted up to the morning sun that he ached to pull her into his arms and make mad, passionate love to her.

  ‘Is that an offer?’ she said softly, turning to look at him.

  ‘If you want it to be,’ he said equally quietly. He took hold of her hands, lacing his fingers through her slender ones as he drew her to him and planted a kiss on the tip of her nose. ‘I could drive us out to the country tomorrow and we could spend the whole day there if you fancy it.’

  ‘I’d love to but there’s Grace and the twins to consider,’ she pointed out. ‘Your brother-in-law will want to spend time with Kate and I see too little of Grace as it is.’

  ‘We’ll take them with us. I expect they will enjoy a day out every bit as much as we shall,’ he said quickly, inwardly sighing because he really shouldn’t be trying to persuade her to spend any more time with him. He needed to weigh up the pros and cons of letting them get more deeply involved but it was hard to resist the thought of them enjoying a whole day together.

  ‘It would be lovely,’ she said wistfully. ‘It’s been ages since I spent a whole day away from the city. I keep meaning to take Grace out for the day but all I can seem to manage is a trip to the park so she can play on the swings.’

  ‘Then it’s about time you had a proper outing,’ Ross declared. After all, what harm could there be in them enjoying an outing together when they would have the children with them? ‘Why don’t I drive you home now and pick you up tomorrow morning around nine? The traffic shouldn’t be too horrendous because it’s Saturday. I’ll try to think of somewhere quiet to take you so the kids can play.’

  ‘That would be lovely if you’re sure you don’t mind me being a bit groggy,’ she agreed, laughing up at him. ‘I tend to be a bit spaced out after I’ve come off nights.’

  ‘So long as you can manage to find your way to the car there won’t be a problem. Right, that’s all sorted now so let’s get you home.’

  Ross looped his arm around her shoulders as they went down the steps. He could feel their hips bumping together as they walked and tried to close his mind to the images that tried to invade it. Letting himself remember how beautiful Heather had looked yesterday morning certainly wouldn’t help him behave in a manner befitting the time and the place. There were a lot of people about—mainly staff who were going off duty—and Heather wouldn’t welcome him making a spectacle of her. Nevertheless, each time he felt the gentle pressure of her hip another spasm of desire shot through him so that he was hard-pressed to keep his hands off her.

  Frankly, he was a bundle of nerves by the time they reached her home. Heather turned as he stopped the car and Ross bit back a groan when he saw the light in her eyes. Heather was every bit as aware of him as he was of her! How could any red-blooded man be expected to behave with decorum in this situation?

  ‘Thank you for the lift,’ she said, and her voice sounded so sweet and husky that the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

  ‘You’re welcome,’ he grated, struggling to keep a grip on himself because they were parked in the middle of a busy street. He might have succeeded, too, if she hadn’t leant across the seat and kissed him on the cheek.

  Ross didn’t hesitate as he turned and captured her mouth, kissed her back with a hunger he didn’t attempt to hide. He loved her so much that he didn’t give a damn who might be watching them!

  ‘I’d better go.’ There was a shaky note in her voice that told him more than any words could have done how she felt.

  Ross captured her hand and pressed it, palm down, against his racing heart. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow. Sleep tight, sweetheart.’

  ‘You, too.’ She gently withdrew her hand and opened the car door then stopped. Ross was already reaching for her before she turned. This time their kiss was so hot and wild, so full of promise that he groaned aloud. It was pure agony to let her go again but she needed to sleep and he needed to collect the twins.

  Their lips clung for another hungry second before he finally released her. Heather didn’t say a word as she got out of the car but he understood why. It must be difficult for her to deal with how she felt when she’d taken such care to safeguard her emotions for the past few years.

  His heart was suddenly heavy as he started the engine and drove home. He showered and changed then sat on the sofa until it was time to fetch the boys. Closing his eyes, he let his mind drift where it chose and wasn’t surprised when it ended up back with Heather.

  She was such a vital part of his life that he couldn’t imagine being without her now. He loved her so much but love brought with it many responsibilities. He would never risk hurting her, never take the chance of breaking her heart.

  Ross opened his eyes because there was no point trying to blind himself to the truth. The greatest test of his love for Heather might be letting her go.

  Heather was awake bright and early the following morning. Normally, she had problems sleeping after she’d come off night duty. It took a day or so for her body to adjust but she’d fallen asleep as soon as her head had touched the pillow. She felt relaxed and refreshed as she showered and dressed in jeans and a snug-fitting grey T-shirt then went to make herself some tea before Grace woke up. It was a beautiful sunny morning and she could see acres of clear blue sky when she peered out of the window. It appeared they’d have a nice day for their trip to the country.

  ‘You’re an early bird,’ Sandra exclaimed, coming into the kitchen in her dressing-gown. Sandra had gone out to dinner with David Harper the previous evening so Heather hadn’t had a chance to tell her mother about her plans. She felt suddenly shy at the prospect of explaining she was spending the day with Ross.

  ‘You’re usually dead to the world after you’ve come off nights,’ Sandra continued, popping tea bags into the pot. ‘How come you’re so bright-eyed and bushy tailed this morning?’

  ‘It’s too nice a day to waste it by lying in bed,’ Heather said quickly, then frowned when she heard Sandra chuckle. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘You never were any good at telling fibs, Heather. Come along, now, tell me the real reason why you’re looking so much more like your old self th
is morning.’

  ‘My old self. What do you mean?’ Heather stared at her mother and heard Sandra sigh.

  ‘That it’s been an awfully long time since I saw a sparkle in your eyes, darling. I can’t begin to tell you how good it is to see you looking so alive for once.’ Sandra looked her squarely in the eyes. ‘I hope this means that you are finally coming to terms with Stewart’s death.’

  Heather sank onto a chair. Her legs felt like rubber all of a sudden and there was a panicky feeling inside her. ‘I don’t know how I feel, if you want the truth, Mum.’

  ‘It’s understandable,’ Sandra said gently, pouring tea into two mugs and putting them on the table. ‘You’ve been bottling up your emotions for so long that it won’t be easy to let go, but you have to be brave, darling. Stewart wouldn’t have wanted you to waste your life and you know that, don’t you? He would have wanted you to find happiness again.’

  ‘But what if the same thing happens again? What if I fall in love with someone else and he dies, too? I…I don’t think I could go through that kind of pain again, Mum.’

  ‘Stewart’s death was a tragic accident,’ Sandra protested. ‘It’s highly unlikely that anything like it would happen again.’

  ‘Maybe. But what if the person you love does a job that constantly puts him in danger?’ Heather took a shuddering breath because voicing her fears out loud seemed to make them even more real. ‘I don’t know if I could live with that sort of strain.’

  ‘Does this have anything to do with Ross Tanner?’ Sandra said quietly.

  ‘He told me that he loves me, Mum,’ Heather whispered.

  ‘And how do you feel about him?’ Sandra squeezed Heather’s hand when she didn’t answer. ‘Do you love him, darling?’

  ‘I don’t know…. I’m not sure how I feel.’

  ‘Because you’re afraid of what it could mean?’ Sandra held her hand tightly when Heather nodded. ‘I understand, darling, and I wish I could help you, but only you can decide how you feel. All I can say is that Ross seemed like a really nice man when I met him. And it’s obvious Grace likes him, too.’

  ‘She does.’ Heather summoned a smile. ‘It’s not often that she takes to people the way she seems to have taken to Ross, is it?’

  ‘No, it isn’t. Maybe you should take that as a positive sign.’

  ‘Maybe.’ Heather looked up when she heard her daughter shouting for her. ‘Sounds as though her ladyship is awake. Ross is taking us to the country for a day out. He’s bringing his nephews along and they should be here just after nine.’

  ‘Good. It’s about time you got out and enjoyed yourself.’ Sandra picked up her tea. ‘I’m having a day out, too, as it happens. David is taking me to Henley for lunch.’

  ‘Dinner last night and lunch today! Do I detect a hint of romance in the air?’ Heather teased.

  ‘I certainly haven’t ruled it out,’ Sandra declared, blushing. She sighed wistfully. ‘I hope you won’t rule it out either, Heather.’

  Heather just smiled before she went to fetch Grace. It would be wrong to make a hasty decision. She had to be sure that she loved Ross as much as he loved her.

  Her heart lifted as though it had suddenly sprouted wings because the thought of Ross loving her was so wonderful. If she held fast to that idea then maybe it would help her find the courage to face the future. Her mother had been right because Stewart wouldn’t have wanted her to grieve for ever. He definitely wouldn’t have wanted her to spend the rest of her life looking back.

  His death had been a tragic accident, brought about because he’d been unprepared for the situation he had faced. But Ross used his expertise and experience to counterbalance the danger. And that made a world of difference.

  Ross arrived bang on time to collect her. Heather opened the door, putting out a restraining hand when Grace tried to rush past her.

  ‘She’s so excited,’ she explained, feeling her pulse leap when she saw how good Ross looked in snug-fitting denim jeans teamed with a navy-blue polo shirt.

  ‘She isn’t the only one,’ he declared, his hazel eyes skimming over her like loving hands.

  Heather blushed because she could tell he was taking note of the fact that she was wearing her hair down that day and had even applied a little make-up. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to work out why she had wanted to look her best.

  Ross lifted Grace into his arms when she clamoured to be picked up but his eyes never left Heather. ‘The twins are really excited and I’m starting to feel a bit like that myself,’ he murmured, bending so he could brush a kiss over her mouth.

  Heather felt her stomach muscle knot when she felt the warmth of his lips. She couldn’t stop herself from reaching out to touch him. Her fingers slid into the crisp hair at the nape of his neck and her breathing quickened when she felt the tip of his tongue probing her mouth for a second before he pulled away.

  ‘Mmm, that was nice but we mustn’t forget that we have an audience.’ He glanced back at the car and groaned when he saw two interested little faces peering out of the window. ‘Prepare yourself for all sorts of awkward questions! If only the boys were still Grace’s age.’

  Heather laughed shakily as she ran a hand over her daughter’s dark curls. ‘It won’t be long before Grace is at the what and why stage.’

  ‘Which means we should enjoy ourselves while we can, doesn’t it?’

  His tone was light enough but Heather was aware of the undercurrent it held. She just smiled because it would be wrong to be too hasty making any promises. Ross might be wondering if she’d reached a decision about her feelings for him but she needed to be sure before she said anything.

  She looked round in relief when Sandra suddenly appeared, and gasped when her mother handed her a laden picnic basket. ‘When did you make all this?’

  ‘While you were getting Grace ready.’ Sandra smiled at her. ‘It’s not very exciting, I’m afraid. Just cheese and ham sandwiches, some cake and fruit…’

  ‘It’s wonderful!’ Heather kissed her. ‘Thanks, Mum. You’re a star!’

  ‘You just have a wonderful time.’ Sandra turned to Ross and Heather saw a look pass between them. ‘Take care of them both, won’t you? They’re very precious.’

  ‘I shall.’ Ross kissed Sandra’s cheek and his voice seemed deeper than ever when he continued. ‘You can rest assured that they will be perfectly safe with me, Sandra.’

  Heather frowned. She wasn’t sure what she’d heard in his voice but there had been something—a note of sadness, almost…

  She briskly shrugged off that idea and turned to unhook their coats from the rack. ‘It might rain,’ she explained when Ross’s brows rose.

  ‘No way. It’s not going to rain on our parade because I won’t let it!’ He took the coats from her and handed them to Sandra then led Heather to the car. ‘You can stow that basket in the boot while I get Grace strapped in. I managed to find one of the car seats the boys used to use when they were small. Grace will be safer in that.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Heather was deeply touched by his thoughtfulness. She quickly stowed the basket in the boot, grinning to herself when she discovered the hamper that was already in there. There was also a cricket bat and a ball, some fishing nets and a couple of jamjars with string tied around them for makeshift handles. Ross had obviously come well prepared for their day out.

  Grace was obviously delighted to be sitting in the back with the twins. She was chattering away to them in baby talk when Heather got into the car. Heather grinned as Ross started the engine. ‘Looks as though we’re all ready for off, then.’

  ‘Looks like it.’ He turned to the children. ‘Who wants to go for a picnic?’

  ‘We do!’ the twins chorused, and Grace enthusiastically added her voice.

  ‘What a din!’ Heather laughed as she put her hands over her ears. ‘I’m beginning to wonder if this was such a good idea after all!’

  ‘Have faith,’ Ross declared. ‘When have I ever let you down?’

&nb
sp; ‘Never,’ she said softly, and there was a lump in her throat all of a sudden. She looked at him with all the pent-up emotion she’d tried to keep in check clearly visible in her eyes. ‘You’ve never let me down, Ross, and you never will.’

  ‘Heather, I—’ He half leant towards her then stopped when there was a groan of disgust from the rear seat.

  ‘You and Heather aren’t going to start all that kissing stuff again, are you, Uncle Ross?’

  Ross rolled his eyes as he straightened and glanced in the rear-view mirror. ‘Not when there’s a picnic about to take place. So, are you ready? Are you steady? Then shall we—?’

  ‘Go!’ the boys roared in response to what was obviously a familiar routine.

  Heather settled back as Ross pulled away from the kerb. There was a strange feeling of peace stealing over her, a sense of inevitability. She knew that after the day was over she would have made her decision.

  ‘I should have known it was tempting fate!’

  Ross dropped the rug onto the floor of the wooden hut. It had begun to rain almost as soon as they had started unloading the car.

  Fortunately, he’d decided to take them to a country park and there were a number of shelters dotted about. He’d sent Heather and the children on ahead while he’d followed on with the picnic things, not wanting them to get soaked. Now he grimaced as he patted his damp T-shirt and a shower of raindrops scattered everywhere.

  ‘Remind me to mind my own business the next time you decide to bring a coat with you, Heather.’

  ‘It would have stopped me getting soaked,’ she said sweetly, grinning at him.

  ‘All right, there’s no need to crow. One ‘‘I told you so’’ will be quite sufficient, thank you very much.’