‘Lauren?’
‘I just wanted to wish you an enjoyable first day.’ Her fingers squeezed his before letting go. He felt the loss of their contact. Then she caught him unawares again, leaning in to press a gentle but all-too-fleeting kiss on his cheek. ‘Good luck, Gabriel.’
His skin prickled from the brush of her mouth. Unable to let her go, he caught her hand as she drew away. Her thoughtfulness and caring touched him on an emotional level, while inflaming the physical desire he had felt from the first moment they had met. His body tightened with need for her. He wanted to haul her into his arms and kiss her senseless. Unfortunately he didn’t think Nick would be impressed to find the new doctor passionately making out with the physiotherapist in the staffroom on his first day at work!
‘Thank you,
chérie
.’ He cupped her face with his free hand, relishing the feel of her and the instinctive way she pressed her cheek to his palm. He grazed his thumb across her parted lips, the pad briefly catching on the fullness of the lower one. Her breath hitched, and he watched as her eyes darkened, the desire in them unmistakable. ‘I’ll see you later.’
‘Yes. OK,’ she agreed, the husky edge returning to her voice.
He regretted letting her go but he had to. If he kissed her now he wouldn’t want to stop. Oliver and their patients were waiting for him downstairs. It was time for him to start work. Time to concentrate on the first day of his new job and think about something other than Lauren…before he lost his head entirely.
Come Friday, Lauren was convinced her lips were still tingling. She licked them, sure she could taste a hint of the masculine tang of Gabriel’s skin even now. He’d felt so good. And had smelt delicious, too…earthy and citrusy and all male. She had never been so drawn to and aware of a man before.
The attraction was fierce. Immediate. Scary but incredibly exciting in its intensity.
On Monday morning, dressed in a dark suit, crisp white shirt and ocean-blue tie, Gabriel had looked as if he had just stepped off the catwalk—a star model for the finest Parisian fashion house. She hadn’t thought he could look any better than he did in his figure-hugging jeans—or that ivory towel—but suited up for work he’d taken her breath away all over again. He had an aristocratic bearing, one that hinted that he had origins in wealth and status, yet he was completely natural, down-to-earth and unpretentious.
Gabriel’s reaction to her good-luck gesture had taken her by surprise. She could still feel the warmth of his palm cupping her face, the stroke of his thumb across her lips, the desire that had flared in his eyes as he had looked deep into her own. She desperately wanted to know what it would be like to kiss him. It was all she had thought about for days. How would it feel? How would he taste? She wanted to touch him. Wanted to feel his hands on her body.
It had been such a hectic week that she hadn’t seen Gabriel anywhere near as much as she had hoped to. Not alone, anyway. He had joined her for her morning jog before work on a couple of occasions and he’d come to Gatehouse Cottage for an evening meal some nights. But Oliver and Chloe had been there, too, and there had been far too much talk about work for Lauren’s liking. Tomorrow, Saturday, marked the first-week anniversary of when she had met him. Gabriel had morning surgery and then was on call with Oliver for the rest of the day, so there was not going to be much chance for her to see him then. And Sunday was the day of the charity football match. Yet another missed opportunity for some time alone with him. She knew she was behaving like a foolish, thwarted schoolgirl, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
‘Are you all right, Lauren?’
Embarrassment made her cheeks turn pink as Mike Trevellyan’s voice jolted her from her thoughts. ‘I’m so sorry, Mike, I was…distracted.’ Guilt surged through her because she had been daydreaming about Gabriel instead of focusing on her patient.
‘So I gathered.’ Amusement shone in his eyes. ‘Anything to do with the new French doctor I’ve been hearing about?’
‘Why would you think that?’ Goodness, had the rumour mill started already?
‘Kate has mentioned Dr Devereux to Fran several times since meeting him in the summer. She said Penhally was in for a treat when he finally arrived here to work,’ Mike explained, his tone teasing. ‘And there’s been some envy that you are his nearest neighbour. The whisper has gone around that he’s impressed many people during his first week here.’
‘Gabriel is an excellent doctor,’ she allowed, trying to keep her comments professional and hide the pride she was experiencing at the news.
‘I’m not sure his medical skills are what interests most of the ladies!’
A wave of possessiveness surged through her. She was unaccustomed to jealousy, but she felt territorial and protective of Gabriel, and she didn’t want to think of other women lusting after him. Refusing to react to Mike’s comments and add more fuel to fire any possible local gossip, she forced a smile and got them back to the matter at hand.
‘Now then, how are things going with you, Mike? How is your leg?’
‘I’ve been doing all the exercises you gave me. Mostly the ankle is fine, although I do get some pain at times,’ he admitted grudgingly.
Lauren nodded, knowing what a rough time Mike had been through and how important it was for him as a busy farmer
to keep mobile and working. ‘No doubt you’ve been overdoing things, though.’
‘I’ve tried to increase my workload slowly, but I can’t do as much as I’d like. There is still a bit of weakness and stiffness in the ankle.’
‘That’s to be expected,’ she reminded him.
Lauren ran through some of the exercises and checked his range of movement. The offending leg bore the marks of the breaks and subsequent surgery he had sustained when part of a tree he had been cutting with a chainsaw had fallen on him, pinning him to the ground.
‘Any problems from the bruised ribs?’
Mike shook his head. ‘Not any more. The doctors tell me I healed quickly.’
‘Just not quickly enough for you,’ she filled in with an understanding smile. ‘I know it seems a long haul, Mike, especially when you’re used to physical activity. You’ve done so well. We don’t want any setbacks. Let your brother help you.’
‘Joe’s picked up enough of the slack. But you’re not alone…Fran tells me I’m too impatient,’ he conceded wryly, speaking of his wife with affection.
‘Thankfully you didn’t tear the ligaments, but the two fractures to your fibula—one above the ankle and one at the bottom, the lateral maleolus, where it joins the tibia—were serious. As you well know from your time in a cast after the operation to fit the plates and screws.’ She gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. ‘You’ve worked hard to build up the strength in the muscles and to remobilise the joint. It must be frustrating, but keep up the exercises, don’t try to do too much too soon, and you’ll continue to improve.’
Mike nodded his agreement. ‘Thanks, Lauren. I’ll do my best. I’ve got so much to be grateful for.’
‘You have indeed!’ While he put his socks and shoes back
on, she reflected on how delighted the whole of Penhally had been at the news that Fran Trevellyan was expecting naturally after a previous miscarriage and an unsuccessful attempt at IVF. ‘It’s so exciting about the pregnancy. When is the baby due?’
‘Late spring.’ Mike positively glowed with joy. ‘We’re just praying everything goes without a hitch this time.’
‘I’m sure it will,’ she reassured him, happy for the couple.
‘Things definitely seem different with this pregnancy. It’s nearly November now, past the danger point in terms of the number of weeks when we lost the baby before. Kate is keeping a close eye on Fran and she says everything is fine.’
‘So we have to make sure you are fit to run around changing nappies and chasing after an active toddler!’ Lauren teased. ‘Come back and see me in a month, Mike, but phone any time if you have questions, swelling or discomfort.’
After showing Mike out, she welcomed her next patient, a woman in her late forties who had presented with pain and associated symptoms in the C5 and C6 region of her neck. The classic ‘poking-chin posture’ evident at their first appointment had been caused by over-activity in the levetator scapulae and stermocleidomastoid muscles, along with a weakness of the cervical flexor muscles. This was Zena’s third visit and she was showing excellent signs of improvement in her range of movement and her posture.
‘The pain and stiffness are much less and I’ve had no more headaches or dizziness,’ Zena reported, her relief evident. ‘I’m finding the exercises easier now.’
‘That’s great.’ Lauren was pleased that the combination of manipulation therapy she had used at the surgery and the corrective exercises Zena had done at home had resulted in the woman’s progress. ‘We’ll make another appointment, but keep up the programme. It’s helping correct your posture as well as increase your range of movement and strengthen the muscles.’
Happy that Zena was following her advice and had no more questions, Lauren sent her on her way and welcomed patient number three of the afternoon.
It turned out to be a busy Friday clinic, one that overran as she had a couple of new cases and time was needed to make a thorough assessment and take a complete history. Consequently it was late by the time she had finished her list. When her last patient had left, she sat down and adjusted her desk light so she could see more clearly to type up all her case notes and make comprehensive profiles of her new patients. She didn’t anticipate being able to leave for home any time soon. Stifling a yawn with one hand, she switched on her computer and set to work, ignoring the noises coming from the workmen who were putting the finishing touches to alterations outside the building.
She was engrossed in updating her files when all the power suddenly went off, shutting down her computer and plunging her room into darkness. Losing any unsaved work was the least of her problems. Disoriented, she sat still, but her eyes didn’t adjust to the gloom. She could see nothing. This was the realisation of one of her worst fears. Her heart started thudding under her ribs and she felt tense, her throat tightening. After sitting in the dark for a while, increasingly concerned, Lauren rose gingerly to her feet and, one hand extended out in front of her, slowly, awkwardly edged her way towards the door, thankful that her mental map of her new room was accurate. Judging each step with care, she found the door without bumping into anything, but opening it brought no relief.
It was pitch black throughout the whole surgery.
She strained to hear, but no sounds came. How late was it? Had everyone else gone home? She didn’t recall hearing the workmen for a while. Pulling out her mobile phone, she tried to read the time on the screen, but the luminous glow provided scant light and failed to aid her vision. Increasingly alarmed, she pressed herself against the wall, not wanting to lose her bearings.
What should she do? Wait a bit to see what happened? Or call someone? She clutched her mobile phone tighter in her hand. How could she ring without alerting the person to her predicament? She wasn’t ready to face the issue of her diminishing night vision herself, let alone confide in anyone else. Fear chilled her at the knowledge that she might not be able to ignore or hide the subtle but insidious changes to her sight for much longer.
A noise from upstairs made her jump. Her pulse throbbed.
‘Hello?’ Was that her voice sounding so uncharacteristically shaky and feeble? She hated this. What was happening to her? Silence descended again, enveloping her. Cursing herself for being feeble, battling the inner panic rising within her, she raised her voice. ‘Is anyone there?’
Several moments later, footsteps sounded on the stairs. ‘Lauren?’
‘Gabriel!’ Relief flooded through her and she blinked back a stupid threat of tears.
‘Where are you,
chérie
?’
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her ragged breathing. ‘Outside the physiotherapy room.’
‘Stay there.’ Gabriel’s accented voice calmed her nerves. ‘I’ll find you.’
Seconds later, Lauren squinted at a pinpoint of light wavering in the darkness. Sensing Gabriel’s nearness but misjudging the distance, she stepped out from the wall and bumped into his solid frame.
‘Oomph!’ she gasped.
His hands came out to steady her. ‘Are you all right, Lauren?’
‘Yes.’ She was now. ‘Thanks.’
It was brazen but she couldn’t help snuggling closer, welcoming the feel of his arms coming around her. She absorbed his strength, scared of her lack of vision but unable to explain to him.
‘I finished my surgery half an hour ago and Nick had just
called me up to the staffroom to talk about my first week when the power went off,’ he explained, one hand soothing as it stroked up and down her spine.
‘What’s happened, do you think?’
‘The contractors were finishing off some work outside and one of them cut a cable by mistake. Nick has gone to see them. I knew you were still here and was coming to find you when you called.’
Reassured by his presence and the knowledge he had thought of her, Lauren allowed herself to relax, some of the tension draining from her.
‘Come and sit in my consulting room while we wait.’
‘Um…’ Lauren hesitated. Unfamiliar with the layout of his room, she didn’t want to fall over anything or make even more of a fool of herself in front of him. How could he see with just a penlight? Had he guessed her problem? Not wanting to alert his suspicions by asking if they could just stand where they were, she reluctantly agreed to his suggestion. ‘OK.’
His arm around her made her feel safe as he led her back down the corridor to the next doorway. Unable to see him, all her other senses seemed heightened, and his warmth wrapped around her like a comfort blanket in the dark. The citrusy male scent of him was familiar and exciting. Putting her trust in him, she was thankful that he guided her to a chair without any fuss. She sat down, disappointed when he released her. But then she heard the sounds of him dragging another chair closer, and he sat beside her, taking her hand in his, linking their fingers. She tried not to cling too tightly and reveal the extent of her unease.