Tempting Dr. Templeton

by Judy Campbell

  ‘What on earth have I done?’ she muttered, scrambling out of the car and going to assess the damage at the back.

  She stared in disbelief at her rear tyre, which was completely and horribly flat.

  ‘This is where I wish I’d taken car maintenance lessons,’ she groaned. ‘What the hell can I do now?’

  She looked wildly around. It was a very quiet road, and the only sign of life was a tractor being driven on a distant field. She would have to ring the practice and tell them what had happened and that she would probably be late for the meeting.

  The line was very bad, but she managed to get the message through to Maria. However, when she rang the rescue service to come and mend the puncture, her mobile seemed to have cut out altogether.

  Rosie scowled at the phone. ‘Marvellous!’ she growled at it, trying in vain to get some response from the numbers she punched out. Unless someone came along soon, she was stuck until she could regain communication with the outside world. There was nothing for it but to try and change the wheel herself.

  She stared into the boot. She knew that she had to jack up the car first and then undo the nuts of the wheel with the spanner she’d found in a plastic bag, but the spare wheel looked dauntingly heavy. Tentatively she took out one of the instruments and looked doubtfully at it. If this was the jack, just where did one attach it? Gingerly she pushed the instrument under the rim of the car and started to lever it up with her foot. That seemed to work quite well, but getting the actual wheel off was a different matter. For minutes she tried to twist the spanner to remove the nuts but, however hard she yanked and pulled, they wouldn’t yield.

  ‘I’m going to do this if it kills me,’ she muttered, so engrossed that she hardly heard the sound of a car drawing up behind her.

  ‘You look very professional,’ observed a familiar voice. ‘You probably don’t need my help this time!’

  Rosie whirled round, her cheeks pink with effort and a small patch of oil across her nose. Her relief at seeing someone took a dive when she saw that it was Andy. She was not going to rely on him yet again—she had to remain at a distance, show her independence.

  ‘It…it’s OK,’ she panted. ‘I think I’ve nearly done it—just got to put the spare on now!’

  He got out of his car and leaned against the door. ‘So you don’t need any help, then?’

  ‘Not at all!’ she said airily. To her amazement the recalcitrant nut suddenly gave, and she stumbled forward. ‘There! Soon be finished!’

  Andy watched her sardonically as she attempted to heave the spare wheel out of the boot. ‘That’s heavy, you know,’ he said unnecessarily. ‘Could do yourself a damage!’

  She looked up at him crossly. ‘OK, then, help me!’ she said shortly. ‘I didn’t ask for you to come out, though!’

  He said nothing as he manhandled the spare into position and deftly secured it into place. Then he stepped back and, wiping his hands on a rag, looked at her quizzically. ‘What’s biting you? I heard about your little difficulty from Maria—we both thought it better if I came and saw if I could help than leave you here for the rest of the afternoon. But perhaps that’s what you wanted?’

  ‘Of course not. I’m grateful. I…I just don’t want you thinking that every time I’m in trouble you have to come running. I would have got hold of the emergency service but my mobile conked out on me.’

  She sat down suddenly on the grass verge, a feeling of faintness overcoming her. It was hot, and she was very thirsty. Perhaps that was why the world seemed to be spinning round in a circle and her limbs seemed made of rubber.

  ‘Are you OK?’ There was a flicker of concern in Andy’s eyes, and he bent down beside her. ‘Put your head down—your BP’s probably dropped slightly.’

  ‘I…I’m fine. Nothing to worry about—just a bit hot after trying to change a wheel on one of the hottest days of the year.’ Rosie shook her head at his proffered hand and forced herself upright.

  Andy looked at her closely. ‘Sure? Any palpitations?’

  ‘Absolutely not! Fit as a fiddle!’

  Rosie started to walk briskly back to her car and Andy frowned slightly as he watched her. He looked at his watch and said briskly, ‘Then how about a long refreshing drink before the trust meeting? Like you, I’m feeling darned hot—I could do with some liquid inside me. I know we get sandwiches there but perhaps five minutes sitting in the shade would be a good idea. You look as if a break would help you, too.’

  ‘Have we time?’ asked Rosie. Suddenly the idea of a cool drink seemed irresistible—a chance to relax for a moment, even if she would be alone with Andy. Besides, she didn’t want the embarrassment of feeling faint again, so perhaps sitting down for a while would revive her.

  He smiled. ‘We can go to my house—just four minutes away from here—and sit in the garden.’

  ‘What about your father and aunt?’

  Andy threw back his head and laughed, showing white even teeth. ‘Good heavens, I’m not a teenager—they do allow me a pretty free rein now! Anyway, they’ve gone away for a few days with some garden society. Not that they’d mind you coming—I know they’d love to meet you. We’ll leave your car here for a few minutes and go in mine.’

  Rosie’s heart bounded uncomfortably against her chest. It was beginning to dawn on her that her resolve to keep her feelings for Andy in check wasn’t going to be easy to maintain. Sitting next to him in the car, she was only too aware of those strong, tanned hands which had once felt the most secret places of her body and aroused her senses to fever pitch. If she closed her eyes she could imagine the feel of his hard, muscular body against her, his lips invading hers with gentle persuasion. Her throat tightened at the thought, and she longed for him to take her in his arms once more…There were other reasons she wanted his company, too, she thought wistfully. His warmth, his easy manner, the fact that when she was with him she didn’t feel lonely—she felt part of him.

  Grow up! she said fiercely to herself. You’re like a moping schoolgirl!

  It was one of the most beautiful gardens Rosie had ever seen—a long lawn, bounded on either side by a colourful herbaceous border against warm golden walls, sloped down to a small cove, secluded and still. The sea could be seen through a wrought-iron gate at the garden’s end, and a yacht with white sails was drifting across the water.

  Rosie leant back in the reclining chair Andy had provided under an old apple tree, and lifted her face to the warm sun filtering through the branches. As she sipped the cool home-made lemonade and nibbled a biscuit, quite suddenly her vague feelings of being off colour disappeared and she felt renewed energy flowing through her. Foolishly she must have allowed herself to get dehydrated—that was probably why she’d felt so tired. She drained the rest of the glass.

  Andy looked down at her with his quirky grin. ‘That’s obviously done you good,’ he said approvingly. ‘Seems to me you don’t look after yourself enough! Like to see the end of the garden where we have our own little harbour?’

  He held out his hand to her and pulled her out of her chair. He didn’t relinquish his hold as they sauntered down the lawn towards the sea. They stood under an arch with roses and clematis twining round it just before the wrought-iron gate at the entrance to the little cove. A small rowing boat was drawn up by the rocks, and the sea rippled at the edge of the white sand.

  ‘This is so beautiful,’ breathed Rosie, entranced. ‘Your own private little harbour.’

  ‘We’ll come here with Amy,’ he promised. They were silent for a moment, looking out at the peaceful scene, then he took her shoulders and turned her to face him, his expression serious.

  ‘Rosie, I’m rather puzzled—have I committed some dire wrong? I felt after we’d taken Amy to hospital that we were getting on so well together…’ His voice dropped slightly. ‘It was as if we three had known each other for a long time…almost like a family. But today…well, your attitude towards me seems curt to say the least. What on earth’s the matter?’

&
nbsp; His words hung in the air for a few moments and Rosie could hear the gulls mewing overhead, the soft swish of the waves on the shingle, smell the faint salty smell of the sea. This was it, then. This was when she should tell Andy that she couldn’t play both parts—that of a colleague and a girlfriend—when she knew that there was no long-term future for them. She took a deep breath and looked at him bravely—it was now or never.

  He gazed at her with a wistful half-smile, the wind ruffling his thick dark hair over his forehead, his blue eyes dancing at her. He looked impossibly handsome. She hardened her heart.

  ‘We have talked about this before, Andy—but now I know more about your situation I feel it’s more important than ever that we keep a certain distance between us.’

  He looked quizzical. ‘You think we’re becoming too close, is that it?’

  Rosie’s voice faltered slightly. ‘You and I…well, we did seem to have a certain rapport…’

  He raised an eyebrow and said softly, ‘You could say that…right from the time we met!’

  ‘I know—that’s why this is so difficult to put into words. You see, although we agreed to be friendly colleagues, it’s not so easy when I see you so much…’

  Andy frowned. ‘I don’t understand. Are you saying you can’t be friendly, or you’re frightened you’ll get too friendly?’

  Rosie drew herself up to her full height and faced him bravely. ‘I’m saying that I’ve begun to realise that you have another life I can’t be part of, Andy. And I don’t want to risk Amy’s and my future happiness because you can’t commit yourself—and I wouldn’t want you to. You aren’t free to think of a future here, are you? Not with your son four thousand miles away!’

  Andy stared out at the blue sparkling sea in silence. ‘Perhaps,’ he said at last, turning back to look down at her with an unfathomable expression in his eyes, ‘I have too much baggage from my past, and I shouldn’t saddle you with my worries, too…’

  He started to walk slowly back up the garden beside Rosie, a feeling of despair like an icicle in his heart. He flicked a longing look at her and a sudden anger seized him. Selfish or not, he just could not give up on her after so many years of loneliness. After Sonia had left him, he’d doubted whether he would ever meet anyone he could fall for again. The afternoon he’d first met Rosie had been like a coup de foudre, love at first sight—not just her stunning looks, but her feisty attitude and her sense of fun. He clenched his fists in determination. She might feel it was better to cool their relationship—he was darned if he would!

  ‘Does this mean we shan’t have our afternoon on the beach?’ he asked lightly.

  ‘No, of course we’ll come—I couldn’t spoil Amy’s and Lily’s treat. I just wanted to clear the air between us, to stop anything before it got started…’

  He stopped walking for a moment and looked down at her with a rough sigh. ‘My sweet Rosie,’ he murmured, putting an arm round her shoulders and brushing a tendril of hair away from her forehead. ‘Why is life so bloody complicated?’

  Their eyes locked for a moment, and Rosie felt the familiar current of attraction shudder through her. Then his arms were around her and his mouth was brushing her lips, teasing them open, fluttering over her neck, her eyes, her face.

  ‘Let me kiss you one more time,’ he murmured, holding Rosie as she attempted to break away from him. ‘Just a kind of farewell?’

  She looked up at him, part of her angry, part of her aware of her wild response to the feel of him against her and the longing to return his embrace. ‘You mustn’t do this,’ she whispered. ‘This isn’t what I meant at all.’

  ‘I know,’ he said huskily.

  His hand moved slowly over her soft body, holding her full breasts, following the line of her waist and her legs. Rosie felt her resolve slip further and further away. Her arms crept round his neck, and suddenly she was returning his kisses. Their mouths meshed and they explored each other hungrily, her body arching against his, feeling his urgent need for her, the flood of ardour making her tremble.

  The sound of Andy’s mobile phone was like a thunderbolt. Momentarily they stared at each other, dazed and still shaken by the intensity of their passion. Andy pulled the phone out of his pocket and stepped back from her, his tousled hair ruffling his forehead, his eyes still holding hers.

  ‘Remember, I hadn’t quite finished our farewell.’ He grinned, his eyes dancing. He answered the mobile. ‘Yes? Andy Templeton here. Right, I’ll be there. Er…yes, I think I can get hold of Rosie Loveday. I’ll pass the message on!’

  Andy snapped shut the mobile and put it back in his pocket. ‘They want me to find you and tell you the meeting’s going to start ten minutes earlier. Perhaps we’d better go!’

  He took her hand and they ran back up the lawn to the car.

  ‘Darling, you look absolutely wonderful!’ Lily stepped back from Rosie and gazed at her with her head cocked to one side.

  ‘I don’t think I do justice to this lovely dress,’ protested Rosie.

  She looked doubtfully at her pale reflection in the long mirror. No wonder she was pale. After the day she’d had, she felt rather like a wet rag—her emotions as jangled as if they’d been in a mixer! Just where did she stand with Andy now? she wondered. So much for her firm resolve to cool things down between them!

  ‘Believe me,’ Lily assured her, ‘that tangerine taffeta gives you a lovely golden glow—don’t you agree, girls?’

  Amidst the organised chaos of the fashion show, the other models all chorused their agreement. Rosie stood in their midst, wearing a tight, backless, long dress which enhanced her small waist, the deep colour of the material contrasting beautifully with the honey colour of her hair. A worried assistant of Lily’s was rushing round with pins in her mouth, making small adjustments to everyone’s dresses.

  ‘It feels a little tight,’ Rosie murmured, an avalanche of panic overcoming her at the thought of making her way down the catwalk in a few minutes. ‘I hope it won’t split as I make my entrance!’

  ‘You’ll be so, so good!’ promised Lily. ‘All your clothes are here on the stand in the order you wear them, and Arabelle here will be your dresser. I’m going out front now to announce everything.’ She cast a professional look round her team of models. ‘Good luck, everyone!’

  Rosie looked at the woman who was going to help her get into each outfit with surprise. ‘Why, Arabelle! I didn’t know you were involved in this!’

  Arabelle smiled back at her. ‘Dr Loveday! I didn’t know you were involved either!’

  ‘I’m just helping my Aunt Lily out.’ Rosie chuckled. ‘I’m no model, but she had some problems organising it this year—and do call me Rosie!’ She looked appraisingly at Arabelle. ‘You look really well—have you been somewhere exciting?’

  ‘Yes, we’ve just had a holiday in Florida, partly business. I’m helping because my husband knows Lily—he’s in the fashion business, and she’s a very good customer.’

  ‘Come on!’ whispered a voice. ‘Rosie, you’re on now!’

  Hastily Rosie sallied onto the catwalk, thankful that she was wearing a long dress that wouldn’t show her knocking knees, trying to swing her walk to the timing of the music. Arabelle was waiting for her when she got back, ready to tear off the long evening dress and help Rosie into a smart cream trouser suit.

  ‘Tell me,’ whispered Rosie as her hair was brushed for her and buttons done up, ‘Have you had a word with your husband about—?’

  ‘Having babies?’ finished Arabelle for her with a rather sad smile. ‘Yes. I took my courage in both hands and told him everything. I can’t say he was over the moon, but he was really concerned about the fibroids—more than I thought he would be, really. I got the feeling he might be persuaded to be a father again! Actually,’ she added, ‘he should be here tonight but we only got back yesterday, and he’s feeling a bit under the weather—probably jet lag. I told him to stay in bed.’

  ‘It does sound as if he’s not entirely against the
idea, then,’ said Rosie, smiling. ‘And at least he knows how you feel.’ She got ready to do her next stint on the catwalk.

  The evening seemed to be a triumph. Lily was ecstatic, her little figure flitting everywhere, congratulating all her helpers and opening bottles of champagne to celebrate raising yet more money for a good cause. There were delicious little canapés and tiny smoked salmon sandwiches. Rosie felt ravenous after the strain of the evening—which she found to her surprise she’d actually enjoyed—and took several. Everyone seemed very relaxed and there were a few short speeches. Rosie leant against the wall and listened to them, watching Lily fondly and thinking how marvellous she looked in a glittering black sheath dress and long drop pearl earrings.

  The urge to be horribly and violently sick came over her without warning. With a terrific effort she managed to edge her way through the crowds and scramble to the ladies in time and without anyone noticing her. She sat for a while on a stool after she’d got rid of the sandwiches she’d just eaten so heartily and stared at herself in the mirror for a minute. Then she got up and took out her medical bag from a locker by the basin and reached into it. With a feeling of inexorable certainty she knew what was wrong with her, and it wouldn’t take long to find out.

  A few minutes later she stared at the phial in her hand, holding it up to the light, then she looked at her pale reflection again.

  ‘There’s no doubt about it, Rosie Loveday,’ she whispered slowly. ‘You’re absolutely and undoubtedly pregnant!’

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  ROSIE sipped the tea she was having with Maria before the morning’s surgery, and stared unseeingly at the photographs Maria was showing her of her latest boyfriend. She hardly took in the interesting details of the row Maria had had with the boy’s parents or the plans she was making for their engagement party. Instead, a recurring question sounded over and over in her mind, like rewinding a tape—after just one intimate encounter with Andy—and him a doctor, for heaven’s sake—how could she be having his baby? Then she smiled wryly to herself. It seemed to happen to her patients often enough!