200 Harley Street. Lynne Marshall
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of something. It took her a few seconds to register that Iain had appeared.
And she didn’t recognise the expression on his face. She’d never seen Iain angry before.
He lifted Jack clean off the floor and slammed him against the white tiles where he’d just held Lexi. If she’d thought Jack had been snarling at her before, he’d had nothing on Iain. The steam was practically coming out of his ears.
‘Don’t you dare touch Lexi ever again.’ His eyes flicked to Lexi. ‘Are you okay? Do you want to press charges?’
She shook her head. She just wanted to get out of there.
Jack had shrunk back against the tiles. He wasn’t so brave when confronted by a six-foot-four angry Scotsman.
Iain spun him round, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and the back of his trousers. Jack’s feet were skimming the floor as Iain thrust him towards the door. A woman opened it and walked in, letting out a little shriek when she saw the two men in the ladies. Wordlessly she held the door open as Iain escorted Jack from the building.
He was quietly efficient about it, stopping only once to pull out his card and hand it to an astonished Brandy. ‘Chronic back pain?’
She nodded in a stunned silence.
‘Come and see me some time and we’ll chat about what’s best for you.’
Jack was strangely silent. Any time his steps seemed to hesitate Iain just lifted him clean off the floor to help him on his way. They reached the outer door and Iain ejected him down the steps.
Lexi cringed as he tumbled down them into a puddle outside. Iain stood next to her and slid his arm around her waist. He pointed at Jack. ‘I’m warning you, Jack. I don’t want you within fifty feet of Lexi.’
He turned and steered her down the street, away from the event and towards the footpath to the Thames. She could see his hand still shaking slightly. She knew it was with rage. But she wasn’t scared around Iain. He was a big man, who could probably intimidate anyone in his vicinity. But the rage would never be aimed at her. She felt secure with him beside her. She felt safe around Iain. But that wasn’t all she felt and that’s what was bothering her.
His arms swept around her as he laid her coat across her shoulders. She hadn’t even realised he’d picked up her coat for her. She pulled it around her and slid her arms into the sleeves. March was cold in London, it wouldn’t do to be without her coat.
Iain pulled her closer as they walked along in silence. Her brain was whirring with a million thoughts that she just couldn’t even begin to compute.
Even though she’d tried her very best, the tiny little seeds of doubt were creeping into her brain. Seeds that Jack had initially planted and which had sprouted and grown. She’d thought she’d dealt with those. She’d thought she’d doused them with the weedkiller they deserved.
But seeing Jack again had brought them all flooding back, no matter how hard she tried. Except this time the thoughts weren’t about Jack. This time the seeds of doubt were all about her and Iain.
It was ridiculous. Iain had only ever treated her with respect. He’d never mocked her body—quite the opposite, in fact. He’d never let her think she wasn’t good enough.
So why were thoughts like that circulating in her brain?
Why would Iain be interested in someone like her? She wasn’t a supermodel. She was clever but not a genius. She’d done a good job with the publicity and charitable donations for the clinic.
A horrible startling realisation crept over her. Maybe he was just trying to keep her sweet? Trying to make sure the Hunter Clinic was known around the world?
No. Iain would never be like that.
He’d almost fought against the attraction between them. And he’d been more than supportive regarding her parents and her surgery.
So why was a whole host of doubts creeping into her head?
She leaned against him a little as they walked down the path to the Thames. It was beautiful at this time of night. The path next to the dark river twinkled with little lights leading towards the brightly lit Tower Bridge. If you wanted to find a romantic location in London at night, you really couldn’t do better.
It was cold enough to still see their breath in the air. Cold enough to have an excuse to snuggle closer.
But Lexi felt changed from before. The feelings of uncertainty were making her feel differently.
There was no getting away from it. She’d fallen hard for Iain. Hard and fast. She’d shared things with him in a way she’d never shared with anyone at all.
And he’d shared with her too.
Only not enough.
A wave of cold air swept over her body, sending a little shiver across her skin.
That was it. That was what was wrong.
She turned and looked at his profile as they walked along the path. She could almost sense he was in as much turmoil as she was. They weren’t talking. They were simply holding each other and walking. But at some point they were going to reach the crescendo of what was happening between them. Reach the tipping point.
Her velvet coat wasn’t giving her any warmth right now. The cold feeling wouldn’t leave her.
Iain had told her about his wife. He’d told her about his babies. It must have truly broken his heart. But there was more. There was more that he hadn’t told her.
And if they really had a chance at a relationship, she had to know what it was.
It was haunting them. It was a dark stormcloud permanently hanging over their heads. Because no matter how charming, how happy Iain seemed to be, the only time the shadows really disappeared from his eyes was when they were making love.
And it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough for her any more.
Her stomach twisted. Iain still didn’t know. He still didn’t know about the fact she’d had a hysterectomy and couldn’t have children. He’d accepted her story about being injured by a horse as a young girl and had never questioned her scarring.
This was a man who had wanted a family. A family that she couldn’t give him.
Maybe his past experience would have put him off. Maybe he would tell her that he could never go through that again. It was a possibility. But it was one they had never discussed.
She had to get things out in the open. They had to get things out in the open.
She wanted honesty from him. She wanted full disclosure. No matter what it was.
Iain McKenzie had rapidly turned into her dream man. But his constant reassurance and support was about to backfire. Her new-found confidence made her realise what she wanted in this life.
She didn’t want to be a bystander. She didn’t want to be known as someone’s daughter. She wanted to be loved for who she was. She didn’t want things to be hidden from her. And she didn’t want to have to hide anything from him.
And while she didn’t mind the photos of Bonnie in Iain’s house, she didn’t know what they meant for them. Would Iain ever lose the shadows in his eyes? It was a miserable, selfish thought but she couldn’t compete with a ghost. If Bonnie still had the biggest part of his heart then Lexi shouldn’t be here. She couldn’t allow herself to be second best. No matter how cruel it might seem. She deserved better.
If this relationship had any chance at all, it was time to take the big step.
She stopped walking. ‘Iain, we need to talk.’
He turned to face her immediately and she sensed him hesitate as he drew in a deep breath.
Had he heard the tremble in her voice? Or was he noticing the sheen in her eyes?
Then,