The Doctor's Engagement. Sarah Morgan
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corridor to his consulting room, gasping as she saw the view. ‘Oh, Mark! No wonder this is your dream job. How on earth can you concentrate on the patients with a view like that out of the window?’
The yachts and fishing boats bobbed in the bay and the coast path stretched enticingly into the distance.
‘Nice, isn’t it?’ Mark dropped his bag by his desk and switched on his computer. ‘Oh, well, I suppose we’d better see this patient now.’
Holly lifted an eyebrow. ‘Do you do anything except minor accidents in this practice?’
‘That’s what happens in a holiday resort,’ Mark told her ruefully. ‘We get plenty of the ordinary routine stuff, too, but we’ll tell you about that over dinner. We’re meeting Ian Hughes, the senior partner, this evening.’
‘Oh, yes, I met him in London. I really liked him.’ Holly stared out across the bay. ‘Where’s your house?’
When she had helped Mark move five months earlier he had rented a small flat until he’d found somewhere more permanent. Now she was dying to see the house he’d chosen.
‘You can’t see it from here. I wanted you to come down before I bought it but you didn’t answer the phone for about two weeks...’ Mark looked at her quizzically and Holly coloured and turned away, avoiding that penetrating gaze. Mark saw too much.
‘I—I had a lot on...’
‘Right.’
She knew from his tone that he didn’t believe her but, good friend that he was, he didn’t push her.
‘So, is it far?’
‘No, not really.’ Mark walked across and stood next to her. ‘My surgery finishes at five-thirty and I’m off then until tomorrow so if you can wait that long you can follow me home.’
‘Well, if I’m going to be here all afternoon I might as well unpack my suitcase and see some patients,’ Holly suggested.
Mark hesitated and then gave a shrug. ‘If you’re sure you don’t mind, that would be great.’
Holly frowned. ‘Just one thing—I think Caroline’s taken an instant dislike to me.’
‘Yes.’ Mark’s tone was guarded. ‘She probably would.’
‘She would?’ Holly lifted her eyebrows. ‘Why would she? What have I done?’
‘Done?’ Mark dragged his long fingers through his dark hair and sighed. ‘You haven’t done anything. The reason Caroline doesn’t like you is because you are my fiancée, and she’s the woman I was telling you about.’
‘OH, MARK, it’s stunning!’
Holly stared at the house which was perched on the clifftop with views across the estuary and out to sea.
‘Great, isn’t it?’ Mark helped drag her cases out of the boot. ‘Wait until you see inside.’
Holly slammed the car door and followed Mark through the front door of the house and into a huge, glass-walled living room.
‘Oh, my goodness.’ She strolled over to the windows that hugged all three sides of the living room, giving an almost panoramic view. ‘This is fabulous. How on earth did you manage to get your hands on this?’
‘Right place, right time, as they say. Come and see my deck. The view’s fantastic. If I crane my neck I can see my boat.’ He gave her a smug grin and unlocked the French windows, opening up one side of the living room so that she could step onto the bleached wooden decking that curved around the house.
He was right. The view was breathtaking. She closed her eyes and breathed in the air, enjoying its salty freshness.
‘Have you done lots of sailing?’
‘Masses.’ Mark dropped onto one of the solid wooden chairs that surrounded a large table. ‘There’s a GP in the neighbouring practice who’s keen and he’s been crewing for me.’
‘Poor man!’ Holly rolled her eyes and smiled. ‘I remember sailing with you in our teens. It was a nightmare!’
Mark lifted an eyebrow. ‘I thought you loved our sailing.’
‘You yelled at me, Mark.’ Holly paced along the deck and looked at the view in the other direction. ‘This is fantastic.’
‘Did I yell?’ Mark sounded astonished and Holly turned and leaned against the balcony, wisps of blonde hair flying across her face as the wind gusted gently.
‘Never mind that. Tell me about Caroline.’
‘Later.’ Mark stretched out long legs and his dark eyes narrowed as they fixed on her face. ‘I want to know what’s been happening to you. I haven’t seen you for five months and phone calls aren’t the same. Bring me up to date. How’s your love life?’
‘Oh, you know.’ Holly gave a careless shrug. ‘Still kissing frogs.’
Mark threw back his head and laughed. ‘And not one of them has turned into a handsome prince?’
‘Not that I noticed,’ Holly quipped lightly, trying to skirt over the fact that her love life was totally non-existent.
‘So you still haven’t lost your virginity?’ Mark gave her a gentle wink and she blushed prettily.
‘Why on earth was I stupid enough to tell you that?’ she muttered crossly, and Mark chuckled.
‘Because we’ve always told each other everything.’ He shook his head slowly, his face alight with amusement and incredulity as he looked at her. ‘I can’t believe some lucky man hasn’t swept you off your feet.’
‘Well, they haven’t,’ Holly said flatly, and Mark’s smile faded.
‘So is that what’s wrong?’
Holly stiffened and turned to look across the bay. Anything rather than meet the sharp look in his eyes. Mark was far too perceptive.
‘Nothing’s wrong—’
‘You’re a lousy liar,’ he said softly, suddenly serious. ‘Holly, you’ve lost weight and you’ve got dark circles under your eyes. And don’t turn your back on me.’
She hesitated and then turned to face him, her expression haunted. ‘It isn’t anything—’
‘Holly!’ his voice was a threatening growl and she gave a wry smile that cost her a great deal in terms of effort.
‘Well, let’s just say it isn’t anything you can do anything about.’ She coloured slightly under his intense scrutiny. She didn’t feel ready to tell him yet.
‘Is it work or a man?’ His tone was blunt.
‘Mark, it really doesn’t matter—’
‘Work or a man?’ he persisted, and she sighed in exasperation.
‘You don’t ever give up, do you?’
‘No.’ His gaze was steady. ‘So now you’ve remembered that, perhaps you’ll answer my question. Work or a man? Surely it wasn’t—what was his name? Simon. Are you still seeing Simon?’
‘No.’ Holly shook her head, securing strands of blonde hair behind her ear. ‘No, I’m not.’
‘Good thing, too,’ Mark growled, dark eyes narrowed. ‘He wasn’t right for you. His eyes were too close together.’
‘So were his affairs.’ Holly’s voice was quiet and Mark stared at her.
‘He had affairs? While he was with you?’