Kitabı oku: «The Doctor's Engagement»

PROLOGUE

‘YOU want me to do what?’

Holly Foster sat down on the sofa with a thump and the phone slipped from her fingers.

‘Holly—?’ The deep male voice trickled out of the receiver. ‘Holl, are you still there?’

She must have misunderstood him. Scrabbling around on the floor for the phone, she lifted it to her ear. ‘I’m still here.’

‘What’s the matter?’

Holly blinked. ‘I’m shocked, that’s what’s the matter! You asked me to...you want me to...’ She took a deep breath and swept a strand of pale blonde hair out of her eyes. ‘You were joking, yes?’

‘No.’ His voice was calm and steady. ‘I’ve never been more serious in my life.’

Holly opened her mouth but no sound came out. Her voice seemed to have failed. She tried again. ‘Let me get this straight. You’re asking me to marry you?’

‘Damn it, Holly, of course I’m not asking you to marry me!’ He started to laugh. ‘You’re my best friend and have been for twenty-four years. I certainly don’t want to marry you!’

‘But you said—’

‘I didn’t say anything about marriage,’ he drawled. ‘Come on Holly! You know how I feel about marriage.’

She did know. It wasn’t that Mark was against marriage, but she knew that he was quietly determined to find the right person first time round. They’d talked about it frequently over the many years of their friendship, sharing their dreams and hopes. It certainly wasn’t a decision he’d ever take lightly. So why was he suggesting—?

‘Mark.’ Holly frowned suspiciously. ‘Have you been drinking?’

‘Drinking? It’s seven o’clock in the morning, Holly,’ he pointed out gently, and she yawned and glanced at the clock on the table. Seven o’clock? Only Mark would ring her that early. Not that it made any difference, of course. She’d been awake anyway...

‘Well, apart from being under the influence of alcohol—’ she forced her mind back to the conversation ‘—I can’t think of a single reason why you’d be asking me to marry you.’

‘You’ll understand once I’ve explained, and I’m not asking you to marry me,’ he said impatiently. ‘You weren’t listening properly. Wake up, will you? I didn’t say married. I said engaged.’

‘That’s the same thing!’ Holly stifled another yawn and tugged her skimpy nightie down over her slim thighs. ‘Mark Logan, you are the last man on earth I’d choose to spend the rest of my life with! You’re just not my type—’

‘What do you mean, I’m not your type?’ He sounded affronted. ‘I’m supposed to be your best friend!!’

Holly grinned. ‘You are my best friend—doesn’t mean I’d want to marry you, though. Or pretend to be engaged, come to that.’

‘Oh, come on, Holl,’ he murmured persuasively. ‘What’s the problem?’

‘What’s the problem? Mark, people don’t just pretend to be engaged,’ Holly said emphatically. ‘They either do it properly or not at all.’

There was a slight pause. ‘We used to do it when we were children.’

‘What, play mothers and fathers, you mean?’ Holly started to laugh. ‘I was four and you were six if my memory serves me right. I think we’ve moved on a bit since then.’

But not much. Unlike Mark’s, her love life was totally non-existent.

Resolutely she pushed the thought away. She had good friends and she was healthy. After everything that had happened in the last two months she was only too aware of what mattered in life. Romance, or rather the lack of it, was the least of her problems.

‘I still don’t see why you’re shocked.’ Mark wasn’t taking no for an answer. ‘It wouldn’t be difficult.’

Holly shook her head and blonde hair wafted around her smooth cheeks. ‘It would be impossible. It would never work.’

‘Give me one good reason.’

She could give him more than one. ‘Well, for a start you’re in Cornwall and I’m in London. Hardly the basis for a convincing romance.’

‘I’ve thought of that,’ he said immediately. ‘We need a practice nurse because ours is leaving. You can come here. Perfect solution for everyone.’

Holly gaped at the phone. ‘You’re asking me to move to Cornwall?’

‘Absolutely.’ He was arrogantly sure of himself, typically Mark. ‘You’ll love it, Holly. June in Cornwall is wonderful. Sea, sand, sailing...’

Tempting images filled her head and her eyes drifted to the window of her small rented flat which gave a bird’s-eye view across the crowded, car-jammed streets of North London. She hadn’t even thought about moving away. She frowned down at the stationary traffic locked bumper to bumper on the busy main road as people started the battle to get to work. But maybe that was the answer. Maybe if she moved, she’d leave the memories behind. Maybe, if she wasn’t in London, she’d be able to sleep again.

‘Just say, for the sake of argument, I uprooted myself and moved to Cornwall,’ she said cautiously. ‘It still wouldn’t work. You and me pretending to be engaged, I mean.’

‘Why wouldn’t it work?’

She felt suddenly flustered. ‘It just wouldn’t. We’ve known each other for ever and we’re not—not...’

‘What are we not?’ Mark started to laugh and, to her surprise, Holly found herself blushing. Mark had never made her blush before. Never.

‘We’re not...’ she searched for the word, feeling ridiculously embarrassed ‘...loving. I mean, we hug and things but we certainly don’t behave like lovers.’

There was a slight pause. ‘We could if we tried. We may not be lovey-dovey normally, but there’s nothing to stop us pretending.’

Holly frowned and nibbled her lip. Could she do that? She’d never thought of Mark as anything but a good friend. Pretending that he was her lover would be totally alien to the way she felt about him. Could she be convincing?

‘I don’t know, Mark. I’m not sure I could do it.’

There was a pause. ‘Why not?’

He never took no for an answer!

Holly chewed her lower lip. ‘Because I’m not in love with you, for a start!’

‘Thanks, Holly!’ Mark’s voice was dry and tinged with humour. ‘First you say I’m not your type, then you say you don’t love me. You certainly know how to puncture a man’s ego, I’ll give you that.’

‘Don’t be silly. I love you as a friend, of course I do, but I don’t...’ Holly paused as she tried to explain. ‘I don’t love you romantically.’

‘Well, who’s going to know the difference? Friends is fine,’ he said firmly. ‘We’ll just throw in a bit of touchy-feely for good measure.’

‘Touchy-feely’? What on earth did he mean, ‘touchy-feely’?

Holly twisted the phone cord round her slim fingers, still feeling uneasy about the whole thing. ‘Even if I could be convincing,’ she hedged, ‘people have known us as friends for so long they’d never believe there was anything else between us.’

‘Our friends in London might think that,’ Mark agreed, ‘but down here in Cornwall no one has a clue how we feel about each other so it would be easy.’

He’d obviously thought it all through.

Holly drew breath, her thoughts tangled. ‘Why do you need a fiancée anyway? You said I’d understand once you explained. So—explain.’

There was a pause and Mark cleared his throat. ‘There’s this woman—’

Holly groaned. ‘Oh, Mark, not again!!’

Whenever Mark Logan had a problem, it was always a woman. And sometimes more than one. The man attracted the opposite sex like no one else she’d ever met.

‘Damn it, Holly, it isn’t my fault!’ Suddenly Mark sounded tired and frustrated. ‘To be honest, I was trying to steer clear of women for a while. I only started this job five months ago—’

‘Mark, I know that,’ Holly said patiently. ‘I’m the mug who helped you drag all your worldly goods down to deepest Cornwall, remember?’

And after that her whole life had fallen apart, but, of course, Mark didn’t know that yet.

‘I love this practice.’ Suddenly Mark’s voice was serious. ‘I love the patients—the fact that most of them have lived here all their lives. I love the sea and the sailing. I even love the influx of tourists. Being a GP here is my dream job really.’

‘So what’s wrong?’ Holly frowned. ‘You’ve been fending women off since you were in primary school. I can’t believe you’ve got a problem you can’t handle.’

‘I can handle it,’ Mark said smoothly. ‘I’m acquiring a fiancée. And fast.’

Holly’s green eyes widened. It was beginning to fall into place. ‘You want a fiancée to keep this woman at a distance? Isn’t that overkill? Why not just tell her you’re not interested?’

‘I did, believe me. You know I’m always straight with women. But she doesn’t want to hear it and, anyway, it isn’t that simple.’ Mark sighed and she could almost see him raking his fingers through his cropped dark hair. ‘She works in the practice.’

‘Ouch!’ Holly pulled a face at the phone. ‘You got involved with someone from the practice?’

There was a muffled curse. ‘No, I did not! I am not “involved”, as you put it. I did nothing! I haven’t encouraged her, I haven’t singled her out—I’ve been strictly professional.’

Holly thought for a moment. That was probably what had clinched it. ‘Some women are very attracted to aloof men. Especially macho, aloof men who look like you. So how did it all start?’

‘She invited me to the pub after work. I was expecting there to be a group of us. I thought she was just being friendly.’

‘Mark...’ Holly smothered a smile. ‘Women are never “just friendly” with you. They lust after you, they fantasise about you and they behave in all sorts of strange ways to attract your attention, but they are never, absolutely never, “just friendly”.’

‘That’s nonsense.’ Mark’s tone was clipped and she could sense him frowning. ‘You’re saying that a man and a woman can’t have a platonic relationship.’

‘No.’ Holly frowned thoughtfully. ‘I’m saying that a man like you can’t have a platonic relationship.’

He muttered something rude under his breath. ‘What’s different about me?’

‘Where do you want me to start?’ Holly settled herself more comfortably on the sofa. ‘You’re the archetypal tall, dark and handsome male. To put it another way, you look like a film star, and as if that wasn’t enough you’re also clever, arrogant and cool in a way that drives women wild. One flash of that killer smile and they all succumb. Trust me on this one, Mark—you are just not the sort of man that women want a platonic relationship with.’

There was a stunned silence and then Mark cleared his throat. ‘That’s rubbish. Look at you and I for a start. We’ve been friends for ever.’

‘That’s different.’ Holly gave a shrug. ‘I’ve known you for twenty-four years and I don’t see you the way other women see you. I’m immune.’

It was true. While other women had fallen heavily for Mark, she’d never seen him as anything other than her dearest friend.

‘Oh, here we go again. More ego-bashing,’ Mark drawled, his tone making it obvious that his ego was definitely intact. ‘You’re saying you don’t find me attractive?’

‘Why would you want me to? Mark, you’re my best friend!’ She rolled her eyes with exasperation. ‘I’m not in the habit of fancying my best friend. Anyway, as I said before, you’re not my type.’

‘Why?’ Suddenly he sounded curious. ‘Go on—tell me. Why aren’t I your type?’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, Mark, I don’t know.’ She frowned impatiently. ‘I’ve never analysed it before. Basically because I don’t go for macho males, I suppose. And you’re very “male”, if you know what I mean.’

‘I’m not sure I do.’ Mark started to laugh. ‘Surely I’m meant to be “male”?’

Suddenly Holly felt flustered. ‘What I mean is you’re—you’re—very rough and tough. You know, black belt in judo, accomplished sailor, rock climber. You like fast cars and—’

‘You’re basically saying I can’t hold a conversation?’

‘No.’ Holly smiled and nestled deeper into the sofa. ‘I’m not saying that at all. You’re jolly good at conversation. I’m just trying to tell you why I don’t fancy you. You’re too macho. I prefer the sensitive sort.’

Actually, she didn’t really know what she preferred any more. Her love life was such a disaster she’d given up analysing it.

‘You don’t think I’m sensitive?’ Mark sounded hurt and she grinned, knowing it was a pretence. Mark wasn’t that easily wounded. He was totally comfortable with himself, self-assured and confident in everything he did.

‘You’re sensitive with your friends. Just not your girlfriends. And it’s not a post I’ve ever been interested in. And on top of that—’ she played idly with the sleek curtain of blonde hair that fell over her shoulder ‘—I’ve known you since I was two and I remember the time when you put sand down my nappy—’

‘Ouch. Surely I didn’t do a thing like that.’ His sudden laughter was infectious and she started to laugh, too.

‘You did indeed. And when I was too old for nappies you put ice down my knickers, a snake round my neck and you cut off my pigtail to try out your new Swiss army knife.’

Mark was still laughing. ‘What a lousy friend I must have been. OK, I get the message. In fact, I’m amazed our friendship has endured in the circumstances.’

‘Well...’ Holly’s voice was gruff. ‘I suppose I should also add that you’re a great listener, good company and the best friend a girl could want.’

Mark broke the long silence that followed. ‘That’s nice to hear. And it means you can definitely be my fiancée without me worrying that you’ll expect me to marry you at the end of it.’

‘Which brings us back to your story of the woman,’ Holly prompted him, and he sighed.

‘So it does. Anyway, we went out for this drink and she cornered me. I managed to escape without hurting her feelings but it’s getting worse by the day.’

‘Did you kiss her?’

There was an explosion of sound. ‘No, I did not kiss her!!’

‘Maybe you should have done. You should have given her a really horrid, wet, wimpy, slimy kiss that would have put her off you for ever.’

‘I’m not sure I know how to kiss like that.’ His voice shook with laughter. ‘And if you know how that sort of kiss feels then you’ve definitely been going out with the wrong sort of men.’

Holly’s smile wavered. She didn’t need him to tell her that, but men and relationships were the last thing on her mind right now.

‘OK.’ She changed the subject quickly. ‘So what’s happening with this woman at the moment?’

He gave a groan. ‘It’s becoming embarrassing at work. I didn’t want to be rude and ruin a working relationship, so I mentioned that I was engaged to you.’

Holly took a deep breath. ‘Well, that’s all right,’ she said carefully. ‘Other people have long-distance relationships. Just tell them I’ve got a job I can’t leave.’

There was a long pause. ‘It isn’t that simple. They wormed the truth out of me, I’m afraid.’

‘The truth?’

‘That you left your job a few months ago and have done bits of agency work since. Unfortunately my confession coincided with our practice nurse leaving to have a baby, so they came up with the idea of you joining me. I was cornered really, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a brilliant solution. If I have a fiancée down here in Cornwall, then this woman is more likely to leave me alone.’

Holly’s mouth opened and closed. ‘So they already think I’m coming? You didn’t think to ask me first?’

If he hadn’t been her dearest friend she would have put the phone down!

‘I’m asking you now! In fact, I’m begging you, Holl!! Think about it,’ he urged, his voice deep and persuasive. ‘If I have a fiancée I don’t have to spend every minute of the day wondering whether what I’m doing or saying could be misconstrued. I can just get on with my life.’

‘But, Mark—’

‘And you can get on with your life, too. You still haven’t found a permanent job, have you?’ He paused. ‘You haven’t told me why you resigned from your last practice nurse post, but I know something happened.’

Holly stiffened, and her heart rate bolted. Suddenly they’d moved onto dangerous ground. ‘Nothing happened.’

‘Come on, Holl, this is me. I know you better than anyone.’ His voice was gruff. ‘You’re not the sort of person to leave a job without good reason.’

She’d had a good reason. A very good reason. ‘I—It was nothing. Just politics.’

‘Don’t lie to me, Holly.’ His voice was calm and matter-of-fact. ‘I know something’s wrong. And I know it’s something big because it’s the first problem in your life you haven’t shared with me.’

He was right. It was the first thing she hadn’t been able to tell him. But he’d been miles away in Cornwall and it wasn’t something she could talk about on the phone.

She bit her lip. ‘Mark—’

‘It’s OK, babe,’ he said softly. ‘I know you’ll tell me when you’re ready. I’m just suggesting that whatever it was might heal faster down here. The job is yours for as long as you want it, and if you decide to leave when this is all over then fine. I know you’re not happy just doing agency work—’

‘It means I can pick and choose the jobs I do.’

Which was absolutely essential for her peace of mind.

‘But that’s not you. You like stability.’ Mark was as astute as ever. ‘So get yourself down here and then I’ll be close by when you’re ready to spill the beans.’

‘I don’t know, Mark,’ Holly croaked, and there was a pause.

‘Get yourself down here,’ he ordered, his voice gruff and kind. ‘That way I can keep an eye on you.’

Tears blurred her vision and she gave a watery smile, relieved that he couldn’t see her. Just talking to him made her feel safe. If she was honest, she could do with a bit of Mark’s protection right now.

‘Maybe I should. You’re a good friend.’

‘Despite the snake and the ice?’

‘Despite that,’ Holly admitted, her voice choked.

‘So come and be my fiancée and practice nurse.’

Holly thought for a long moment. ‘What would it involve?’

‘The job?’

‘No.’ For some unknown reason Holly felt her colour rise. ‘The other bit. Just how “touchy-feely” would we have to be?’

‘I don’t know. Use your imagination.’ He chuckled. ‘Generally I would think it would be fine if you just hang on my every word, gaze at me adoringly and follow me round like a puppy.’

‘Yuck!’ His teasing made her feel better again. ‘I don’t think I could do that without being sick.’

And without feeling jolly uncomfortable. Pretending to fancy Mark would feel odd.

‘You’ve done it before—’

‘Mark, we’ve already established that we were in primary school at the time,’ she reminded him dryly. ‘Hardly the same thing at all.’

‘Well, just do your best.’ There was a brief silence. ‘And you’d have to live with me, of course.’

‘Live with you?’ Her voice was little more than a squeak and Mark laughed again.

‘Of course, live with me. This is the twenty-first century, Holly. People usually live together when they’re engaged. Anyway, it’s an ideal arrangement because you’d need somewhere to stay and it’s impossible to get short-term lets in Cornwall in the holiday season.’

‘I don’t know, Mark.’ Holly hesitated. ‘What if it ruins our friendship?’

‘Why on earth should it do that?’ He sounded astounded at the suggestion. ‘Holly, we’ve been friends for twenty-four years. Nothing has ever ruined our friendship.’

She frowned. ‘But this is different, Mark.’

‘“Always and for ever”,’ he reminded her softly. ‘That’s what we used to say to each other as children. Remember?’

Holly gave a soft smile. She’d never forgotten their childish promise to be friends for ever. ‘Of course I remember, you idiot.’

‘Then what’s the problem?’ His voice was gruff. ‘Nothing has ever threatened our friendship, Holly. Not even when we’ve lived miles apart and had serious relationships with other people.’

Holly bit her lip. Serious relationships? She’d never had a serious relationship. Not really. In fact, she was beginning to think that she must have totally unrealistic expectations about relationships because they were always such a colossal disappointment.

‘We haven’t lived together before.’

‘So confess all your annoying habits, then.’ He spoke in that lazy drawl that turned women weak at the knees. ‘Do you leave the top off the toothpaste? Am I going to find your undies strewn over my radiators?’

‘Surely that would be part of the fiancée role,’ Holly quipped, and he laughed.

‘Probably would. You see? You’re more attuned to it than me.’ There was a slight pause and when he spoke his voice was serious. ‘I really need you, Holly. I’m sorry to do this to you, but say yes, babe. Please?’

Her protests collapsed in a heap. Mark needed her. And when had she ever been able to refuse him? He’d always been there for her. Always.

All he needed was a fake fiancée. He wasn’t asking much really and, if she was honest, working with him again would be fun. She bit her lip. Maybe having Mark nearby would help her. Maybe living with him would get rid of some of the nightmares. Mark was so physically strong that it was hard to be nervous of anything with him around. Nobody threatened Mark.

‘Holly?’ His voice was sharp. ‘Are you still there?’

‘Yes, I’m here.’ She took a deep breath. ‘OK, Mark. I’ll do it.’

‘You’ll do it?’ She could hear the triumph in his voice and she smiled in response.

‘I think I must be mad but, yes, I’ll do it. I’ll be your “fiancée”.’

As Mark started bombarding her with instructions Holly tried to ignore the little voice inside her head which suggested that pretending to be in love with him might not be as straightforward as it seemed.

She agreed to meet the senior partner in London for an interview and then, providing all was well, travel down to Cornwall at the end of the week.

It would be all right, she told herself firmly. Of course it would. After all, they were only pretending. It wouldn’t change their relationship.

Would it?