Tempting Dr. Templeton

by Judy Campbell

  ‘Oh—he said I had to wear waterproofs!’

  ‘Waterproofs?’ Lily looked scandalised. ‘Where on earth are you eating—on a lifeboat? Oh, I do like you to look nice when you go out—you’ve such a lovely figure and, heaven knows, you don’t get taken out to dinner much.’

  ‘I’ve told you, Lily, it’s just a working supper. It doesn’t matter what I look like!’

  Lily sniffed. ‘It certainly does. I shall want to see that you look really smart under those waterproofs!’

  After the usual ‘three bears’ story, Amy was snuggled down into bed. ‘Mummy out?’ she said sleepily.

  ‘Just for a little while, darling—Auntie Lily will be here. I’ll come in and see you when I get back.’

  Rosie looked down at the wild curls spread over the pillow and the long lashes fanned out on the chubby cheek—whatever would she do without her little girl? If only Tony could see how beautiful and sweet she was. But, of course, the one thing she couldn’t do for her was to bring back her father…

  Her wardrobe revealed nothing much that Lily would regard as ‘very smart’, Rosie thought gloomily. It was a very warm evening, so in the end she put on a light ice-blue silk shirt with a pair of cream linen trousers. It looked and felt cool, the colour of the shirt flattering to her warm skin tones. She would take a mac with her, but she was darned if she was going to put it on at the start of the evening!

  The front doorbell rang just as she finished sweeping her hair up in a knot at the back of her head and putting on a touch of lipstick and a light eye-shadow—enough to hide the end-of-day weariness that looked back at her from the mirror. She heard Lily’s practised social tones greeting Andy, and quickly ran downstairs before her aunt had given him the third degree—she loved to know everything about everyone!

  Andy was talking to Lily as Rosie peeped round the door of the little living room. A feeling of a hundred butterflies fluttering in her stomach made her stop for a moment. Heavens, but the man was gorgeous! Perhaps it was his unusual colouring of thick tawny hair and his broad frame exuding confidence and energy that made the room look small and crowded. Whatever, his presence in her own home sent shock waves through her. She swallowed. Remember, Rosie, she said sternly to herself, this is purely a polite social evening to put things on a friendly basis between us so that we can work well together…

  He turned as she came in, his eyes sweeping over her tall slender figure then holding her eyes for a microsecond. ‘I was just telling your aunt that you and I actually met last weekend at the conference, and how extraordinary it was that I should then turn up as a locum at the practice!’

  Lily looked reproachfully at her. ‘You never told me that you’d met anyone as handsome as Andy at the weekend—just that you’d been abseiling!’

  ‘Ah,’ remarked Andy, his eyes twinkling wickedly at Rosie, ‘I obviously didn’t register much with your niece, then!’

  Rosie shot him a baleful look—how dared he tease her? She knew Lily was far too perceptive to miss any frisson between the two of them. ‘I think we should go now,’ she said quickly. ‘I can’t stay too long—I’ve promised Amy I’ll look in on her when we get back.’

  ‘You stay out as long as you like!’ declared Lily. ‘I shall have a lovely evening watching all the soaps that are on tonight!’

  Andy smiled at Lily. ‘I’ll take care of her,’ he said pleasantly and, putting a proprietorial arm round Rosie, shepherded her out to his car.

  ‘Where are we going that I should need a mac?’ she asked as she clipped on her seat belt. Her hands fumbled slightly as she did it up. Why couldn’t she treat this evening as she’d told Lily it would be—a casual evening out with a colleague? She felt as tense as a violin string, the events of the conference weekend still running vividly in her mind like the rewind of a video, and she couldn’t believe that Andy wasn’t thinking of that, too!

  ‘You’ll find out where we’re going in a few minutes,’ Andy said mysteriously, swinging the car onto the road and taking the route that led inland along the river. He flicked a glance across at her. ‘Busy day?’ he asked.

  Rosie snatched gratefully at the mundane remark—it was safe to talk about work, thank goodness!

  ‘Fairly. Just as I was finishing, a patient came in, hoping she was pregnant—I had to tell her I thought she had fibroids. She was pretty upset—feels her biological time clock’s ticking away, and doesn’t think her husband would be keen on a new baby anyway as he’s got teenagers from a previous marriage.’

  ‘Sounds pretty complicated,’ commented Andy.

  ‘She’s got a lot to deal with. It can’t be easy for her, looking after children who resent her.’

  Andy nodded grimly. ‘Perhaps it’s not easy for the children either,’ he said tersely. ‘It works both ways, you know.’

  Rosie flicked a quick look of surprise at him—there was something in his voice that indicated Andy felt rather deeply about this particular subject. Before she had time to question him, he drew the car into the side of the road by the river.‘Here we are,’ he announced. ‘Time to put on your raincoat now!’

  Rosie peered out of the car window. She hadn’t been in the area all that long, so didn’t know too much of the surrounding countryside. She drew in a gasp of surprised delight. A waterfall tumbled down the cliff into the river, and high on the hill to the side of it perched a restaurant with a balcony overlooking the sparkling cascade of water.

  ‘Wow!’ she murmured in awe. ‘That is spectacular!’

  Andy took her arm as they climbed the steps. ‘Now you know why we need waterproofs when we have a drink. If the wind blows, you can get drenched from the spray!’

  On the balcony of the restaurant, Rosie looked across at the waterfall in delight. Although the sun was fairly low in the sky, its rays touched the spray and a faint rainbow arced across to the steps below her. In the distance, the sea was a blue wash, and the sky above it tinged with the faintest of rose pinks. She gazed at it, entranced, drinking in the balmy air and the faint smell of woodsmoke that drifted up the cliffside.

  ‘It’ll be a nice day tomorrow, I guess,’ said Andy, coming up behind her and handing her an exotic-looking drink with fruit floating on the top. ‘I think you’ll find this refreshing after a hard day’s work,’ he commented. ‘It’s got all kinds of relaxing things in it—guaranteed to make you forget all things medical!’

  They didn’t talk for a while—the noise of the cascading water made it impossible. Rosie sipped her drink and felt whatever was in it making its way speedily to her empty stomach. The tensions of the day began to ease, and the nervousness she’d had about the evening started to float away. Andy glanced at her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes and laughed.

  ‘Feeling better? Perhaps it’s time for a little food.’ Rosie nodded rather dizzily, a light-headed sensation beginning to hit her rather pleasantly. Somehow the evening was turning out to be less daunting than she’d imagined. Perhaps she and Andy could be friends after all!

  CHAPTER FIVE

  THEY sat next to a huge picture window which looked out on the spectacular view. Rosie looked round the room with delight—the discreet golden lighting and arched ceiling with stars pinpricked in tiny lights all over it made her feel she was floating in the sky. She settled back in her chair and felt the convivial atmosphere, with the low murmuring voices and soft music in the background, wash over her. It was a long time since she’d felt so relaxed.

  ‘This is wonderful. I never even knew The Cascades existed. I haven’t had the opportunity to get to know the area very well yet.’ She smiled across at Andy. ‘I have to admit I feel very hungry!’

  ‘That’s good.’ His blue eyes were navy in the darker light of the restaurant, but she could see the humorous gleam in their depths. ‘I like to see a girl enjoy her food!’

  Rosie bit into a succulent piece of subtly spiced salmon en croute, and reflected that maybe it was possible to enjoy herself on an occasional evening out—life didn’t
have to be all responsibility and worry—just as long as she kept things inconsequential!

  Andy leant back and looked at her appraisingly. ‘I like your hair up like that,’ he murmured softly, ‘There’s something rather…Edwardian about it!’

  ‘It’s cool on a warm evening like this,’ she replied lightly. ‘I hope it doesn’t make me look too forbidding!’

  ‘No, although there’s something rather attractive about an ice-maiden!’ He grinned, and refilled her glass. ‘Now, tell me—how did you come to be in this part of the world?’

  In the intimate atmosphere of the restaurant, and relaxed with the unaccustomed wine, Rosie found it easy to talk to Andy. She told him about her uncle and how he’d left his cottage to her, so that his sister Lily could live with them.

  ‘Lily’s always been on her own, never married. She runs this brilliant dress shop, but now she’s older Uncle Bart was worried about the future for her. She’s a wonderful woman and marvellous with Amy.’

  Andy listened closely, watching her face intently, noting the flush on her cheeks and her sparkling eyes when she spoke of her little daughter.

  ‘What about the rest of your family—parents, brothers or sisters?’ he asked.

  She sighed. ‘I’m an only child and my parents sadly died some years ago—that’s why it was so great that Uncle Bart left me this lovely place to live. I felt I could make a new start here after Tony died. After all, I had no family to keep me in the North of England.’

  ‘You’ve certainly picked a lovely part of the world. I’d love to show you some of the little coves and bays I used to explore when I was a boy.’

  Rosie took a sip of wine. She wasn’t sure about the long-term implication of that. Then she shrugged inwardly. Wasn’t she being a little bit paranoid, frightened of being hurt and abandoned if they established a relationship?

  She put down her knife and fork and smiled across at him. ‘I’ve told you all about myself,’ she said. ‘You must be bored stiff with me doing my boastful mum act about Amy—not really your scene, I’m sure! Let’s change the subject—tell me about your little boy.’

  He gave a faint smile and picked up his wineglass, twirling it absently and watching the dark red liquid swirl around, catching the light. ‘It’s hard to know where to begin,’ he said slowly. ‘I’ll give you the edited version, I think!’

  Rosie looked at him curiously. ‘It sounds as if you have quite a story to tell!’

  ‘I don’t normally bore people about my private life, but when I learned about Amy I realised that perhaps you and I might have a very special understanding of each other’s problems.’ He paused for a second, then remarked wryly. ‘You said the other day that I couldn’t possibly identify with the worries of being a parent.’

  Rosie blushed slightly—she didn’t want to be reminded of making such a crass and arrogant remark. Andy reached into his breast pocket and brought out a photograph which he passed over the table to her. She found herself looking at a picture of a solemn-faced little boy of about seven—a beautiful child with dark russet hair and large blue eyes.

  ‘This is Keiron,’ Andy said quietly and with evident pride. ‘He’s my son. He’s my priority and I love him very much. I try to see him as often as I can, although sometimes it’s not easy. A child should have two loving parents who look after him together, if that’s at all possible.’

  There was a sad timbre to Andy’s voice, and a lot of heartbreak behind his remarks.

  Rosie said quietly, ‘He’s a lovely-looking boy. Does he live near you, then?’

  He shook his head. ‘Keiron lives with his mother in the States. At least,’ he murmured, ‘you see your little girl every day and can watch her growing up.’

  He stared out at the gathering dusk. ‘I wanted his happiness and stability to come before everything else,’ he said slowly. ‘I’d sacrifice anything for that—and for various reasons I think it better that he stays with his mother.’

  There was a hush between them. The low murmur of voices intermingled with soft music in the background, but Andy’s words seemed to echo round the room.

  Rosie studied the tense lines of Andy’s good-looking face in the muted light of the restaurant. He had just as many worries as she had—probably more, with his child so far away. A well of sympathy rose inside her—at least she had Amy living with her and Lily to confide in. Why had she imagined that she had been the only one with a troubled life? There were so many things about Andy Templeton that she didn’t know.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said at last, then added gently, ‘Did you meet his mother in the States?’

  Andy shook his head. ‘Sonia was a nurse in the hospital I trained at in London, but she came from Chicago. We got married over here but when we broke up she wanted to go back to her family in the States…She had been very homesick and there was no way she’d stay here.’

  ‘And Keiron went with her? That must have been very hard for you—and Keiron, too, I guess.’

  He gave a faint sardonic smile. ‘You’ve no idea how heartbreaking it was—but there was no way my son was going to be a tug-of-love child, each parent going to court for custody. I was determined that Keiron wouldn’t be like a little football, kicked back and forth between his mother and father.’

  There was a fiercely harsh tone to his voice—as if there were more reasons than most for him to protect his son.

  ‘That was quite a sacrifice,’ said Rosie compassionately.

  His eyes met hers over the table. ‘Having a child yourself, you’ll understand that I couldn’t bear to see Keiron unhappy. I try and remain on good terms with Sonia, and I go and see him as often as I can—of course, that takes a lot of time. It’s a good job we didn’t have more children—one is more than enough to cope with!’

  Of course she could understand that all Andy’s energies would be taken up with his son. She herself had always hoped for more children some day—companions for Amy. As an only child herself, she’d always longed for brothers or sisters. Although she could understand Andy’s point of view, she was vaguely surprised. He seemed to have a wonderful rapport with children, and she guessed he made a wonderful father.

  ‘You decided not to follow them to the States and work there?’

  ‘On the face of it, that might have been a good idea—but there were a number of difficulties. I still had exams to take and I didn’t want to compromise my future or Keiron’s by missing out on those.’

  ‘And that’s why you don’t want to tie yourself down to a permanent job?’

  ‘At the moment, yes.’

  And that, thought Rosie, smiling wryly to herself, is why you will always remain fancy-free. No room for permanent relationships when you have such heavy commitments far away. She stared out of the window at the gathering twilight, the waterfall now looking like a silver ribbon shimmering against the dark cliff. Even more reason not to get entangled with him, she reflected sternly. She would be the one that would get hurt when his son needed him.

  His eyes looked across at her with something of their old humour. ‘What are you thinking of?’ he prompted her.

  The words seemed to hang in the air before Rosie. He was free to have a fling when he wanted, but his son would always claim first allegiance.

  She took a gulp of wine. ‘It’s very hard for you,’ she said at last.

  He smiled, as if in reassurance. ‘I don’t want you to think it’s all doom and gloom. Keiron lives in a lovely part of the States and we have a wonderful time when I go over—although it would be nice to have someone else to share him with when we go on our outings. Sonia goes off on holiday when I arrive. Perhaps it’s for the best.’

  ‘So do you manage to remain friendly when you see her?’

  He was silent, then he shrugged his shoulders. ‘Sonia’s a good mother or I couldn’t have let Keiron go. Things between us were OK, reasonably amicable, but I heard some news from her the other day. It gave me a jolt, I have to admit.’

  ‘It was
n’t good news, then?’

  ‘I had a phone call from her the morning I was due to meet you at the conference. She informed me she was getting married again, to a man I suspected she was having an affair with when we were married.’

  ‘That must have been terrible for you…’Andy shrugged. ‘I’m afraid he was one of many diversions she had. He’s very much older than her—old enough to be her father, in fact.’

  ‘So what was the attraction?’

  Andy grinned ruefully. ‘I imagine a great deal of wealth, and the fact that he’s a peer of the realm! Sonia would find being called “Lady Forester” irresistible!’

  Rosie looked at him perceptively. ‘And the fact she’s marrying this man worries you?’

  He frowned. ‘Of course. He could never feel for Keiron as I do.’ He looked at the photo of his son. ‘As I said before, a child should have two loving parents if possible—parents committed to that child’s welfare.’ Then he added with a wry smile, ‘And preferably not living four thousand miles apart. This man may be OK, but how do I know how he’ll be with my son—or how Keiron will take to him? I don’t know if he needs someone new in his life right now.’

  Yet another reason for Andy to steer clear of a permanent relationship, reflected Rosie. How would his son take to his father having a girlfriend? There was a short silence between them. It wasn’t hard to imagine how heart-breaking the whole situation was, and Rosie’s expression said as much. As if he knew what she was thinking, his hand came across the table and placed it over hers, warm and strong—a comforting feeling really.

  ‘Thank you for listening to my tale of woe.’ He smiled. ‘It’s good to talk to someone who knows what it’s like to be a single parent. Strictly speaking, I don’t fall into that category—but it feels as if I’m alone a lot of the time.’

  Certain scenes rushed vividly back to Rosie—the night they’d met and she’d confided to Andy how lonely she’d felt since Tony’s death. Now the roles were reversed…She trembled slightly. She only had to think of that time and darts of desire flicked through her as though her body remembered its close encounter with his and how wonderfully they had melded together.