Harlequin Medical Romance December 2015, Box Set 1 of 2 (38 page)

* * *

Thankfully, Molly managed to get some sleep and awoke feeling a lot better than she had done. She showered and dressed, taking extra care as she blow-dried her hair so that it fell in soft red-gold waves around her face. Adam had asked her if she fancied having lunch with him that day at one of Dalverston's newest and most expensive restaurants and she had accepted. It had seemed propitious to put her plan to forget about Sean into action as soon as possible.

The restaurant was beautiful if a tad formal for Molly's taste. She was glad that she had chosen to wear a smart lilac dress for the lunch date rather than something more casual. The clientele was somewhat older than her and Adam, although she had to admit that he seemed very comfortable with the surroundings. He was obviously well known to the staff too because they were immediately seated at one of the best tables overlooking the river. Molly had to hide her amusement as Adam and the sommelier had a long and intense discussion about the best wine to accompany their lunch. It all seemed slightly over the top to her but she knew that Adam would be very hurt if she let him see how she felt.

Lunches out with Sean had been very different affairs, she found herself thinking as she listened to the two men discussing the merits of Sauvignon Blanc compared to Chablis. One day it had been a picnic of bread and some deliciously crumbly cheese produced by one of the local farms, all washed down with a bottle of beer, while on another occasion they had stopped at a mobile burger bar on the bypass and consumed huge and highly calorific egg and bacon sandwiches. A smile twitched at the corners of her mouth as she remembered how Sean had laughed when the egg had oozed out of her sandwich and dribbled down her chin. Bending forward, he had delicately licked the bright yellow eggy goo away, not something she could imagine Adam doing...

‘Excellent! We'll have a bottle of the Chablis, Pierre. I'm sure you will appreciate it, Molly. It has the most exquisite bouquet.'

‘I...I'm sure I shall,' Molly replied, hurriedly driving that disturbing thought from her mind as Adam turned to her. She had come here today specifically to stop herself thinking about Sean and she refused to allow her thoughts to get hijacked this early in the date!

She listened attentively as Adam continued with his theme, explaining in great detail the qualities of the various wines. He was obviously something of an expert but Molly could drum up very little enthusiasm for the subject. In her view, wine was wine and you either liked it or you didn't. Spending time discussing it wasn't something she and Sean had ever done—they'd had much better ways to occupy their time!

Once again her thoughts rushed off along their own path and she swallowed her groan of dismay. She didn't want to think about the hours she and Sean had spent lying in each other's arms, certainly didn't want to remember how wonderful it had felt to make love with him. It wasn't fair to Adam to think about another man when he had invited her for this very expensive lunch. No, she wouldn't give Sean Fitzgerald another thought, even if it killed her!

‘So which is your very favourite wine, Adam?' she asked, leaning forward and adopting an expression of what she hoped would appear to be deep and undivided interest. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the head waiter escorting someone to a nearby table. However, it wasn't until the waiter moved away to fetch a menu that Molly realised who it was. All of a sudden her blood began to boil, growing hotter and hotter until it felt as though she would explode. What on earth was Sean doing here?

CHAPTER SEVEN

W
HAT
IN
HEAVEN
'
S
name was he doing here?

Sean could hear the question drumming inside his head as it had been doing for the best part of an hour, yet he still hadn't come up with an answer to it. Or not a truthful one, anyhow. Oh, he had listed at least half a dozen reasons to explain why he'd felt a sudden need to dine in the lap of luxury but he knew in his heart that not one of them was valid. He didn't
really
feel that he deserved a treat after working so hard. Neither did he
honestly
believe it was essential he tried out the restaurant in case he decided to invite someone here for dinner. He had come here today for one reason and one reason only—because Molly would be lunching here with Humphreys.
Hell!

The waiter returned to take his order and Sean pointed to the first thing on the extensive menu. He had no idea what he'd ordered after the man left and didn't care. He wasn't here for the food. He was here because he couldn't bear the thought of Molly schmoozing with the other man. OK, so he was behaving like the proverbial dog-in-the-manger but so what? Humphreys wasn't right for Molly. Maybe he didn't know much about the other man, granted, but he could tell that just by looking at him. Humphreys was too staid, too solid, too damned reliable—everything
he
wasn't.

Molly needed someone with more pizzazz, someone who would treasure her, appreciate her beauty and her kindness as well as her generosity of spirit. He had appreciated all of those things, even though he had had to let her go. But Humphreys? No way was he right for her and she was making a big mistake if she thought he was!

His lunch arrived and Sean picked up his knife and fork even though the thought of actually eating the food that had been set before him was making his stomach churn. Molly was leaning across the table now, laughing at some comment her companion had made. Sean glowered, hating to hear the sound of her laughter and not be the cause of it. He had enjoyed making her laugh; it had made him feel incredibly happy—happier than he had felt for such a long time. He couldn't bear the thought that some other guy was basking in the same happy glow.

He applied himself to his lunch, wanting to get it over and done with as quickly as possible so he could leave. Coming here had been a huge mistake. Although Molly hadn't acknowledged him in any way, he knew that she had seen him. The thought of having to dredge up one of those pitifully lame excuses if she demanded an explanation for his presence was more than he could handle. To heck with the food; he was leaving this very minute!

Sean pushed back his chair then stopped when he became aware that someone was standing beside his table. He looked up, carefully smoothing his features into a non-committal expression. ‘Molly! What a surprise. Are you having lunch here as well?'

‘Yes, I am.' She smiled back at him, her green eyes filled with a disturbing mixture of emotions. There was definitely anger there, Sean decided, plus indignation, but as for the rest—well, he couldn't quite work them all out. And before he attempted to do so she rounded on him.

‘How dare you, Sean? I've no idea what you think you're doing—'

‘Having lunch. Why—what else would I be doing in a place like this?'

‘So it's just coincidence that brought you here today?' She gave an unladylike snort of disbelief. ‘It hadn't anything to do with the fact that you knew Adam was bringing me here?'

‘Of course not. Why should it?'

Sean fixed a smile to his own mouth, desperately trying to play the part of the injured innocent. Admitting that she had hit the nail squarely on its head was out of the question. If he did that then he would have to explain why he had followed her here and that was something he couldn't do. How could he explain this strange compulsion he felt to keep her for himself when he didn't fully understand it himself?

‘Someone mentioned that this was
the
place to eat so I thought I would check it out for future reference.'

He gave a small shrug, thinking how beautiful she looked as she stood there glaring down at him. It wasn't often that Molly's temper was roused; she was far too kind and loving to kick up a scene. The only time he had seen her this angry, in fact, was when he had told her that he no longer wanted to see her. He had been far too upset at the time to appreciate the change in her but now he couldn't help noticing how glorious she looked with her green eyes blazing and her wonderful red-gold hair shimmering in a fiery halo around her head. Molly was not only kind, loving and giving—she was a highly passionate woman as well.

‘Oh, I see. So what have you decided? Does it meet your requirements or not?'

‘Requirements,' Sean echoed, trying to get a grip on his libido, which seemed to think that this was the right moment to make itself known.

‘The perfect place to seduce your latest victim, of course.' She glanced around the beautifully appointed dining room and there was both hurt and scorn in her eyes when she turned to him again. ‘She must be rather special if you're thinking of shelling out for dinner here. I mean, the prices are a lot steeper than they are at your usual venues but there again you must think she's worth it. Not every woman you go out with is a cheap date, I imagine.'

She spun round on her heel, leaving Sean wondering what he should do. Oh, he knew what she had meant by that last scathing comment—it had been painfully obvious! However, she was wrong—very, very wrong—if she believed he had taken her out to places which hadn't cost the earth because he had thought she wasn't worth anything better. Those picnics and that trip to the burger van had been red-letter occasions for him. Not even the
fanciest
dinners at the
most
upmarket restaurants could compare to them. He had not only enjoyed the food but he'd enjoyed it because of Molly's company and that had raised those occasions to a whole different level. Why, even a meal of bread and water would have tasted like manna from heaven if they had eaten it together!

Sean stood up, determined that he was going to set matters straight. No way was he letting Molly get away with accusing him of such despicable meanness. However, before he could go over to have it out with her, he saw Humphreys return to the table. He gritted his teeth as he watched the other man bend down and whisper something in her ear. Molly laughed as she rose to her feet, smiling up at her companion as he slid his hand under her elbow and led her to the conservatory, where coffee was being served.

Sean felt his insides start to churn. The whole thing smacked of an intimacy that he resented. Bitterly. He wanted nothing more than to follow them and thump Humphreys on the nose but he knew it was out of the question. Humphreys hadn't done anything wrong. If Molly hadn't wanted him to be so familiar then she would have stopped him. How could
he
follow them and make a scene when it was obviously the last thing Molly wanted?

Sean took a deep breath before he summoned the waiter so he could pay his bill, murmuring something suitably appropriate when the man asked him if he had enjoyed his lunch. Enjoyment wasn't the word he would have used, although Molly probably had a very different opinion. Maybe she hadn't been pleased to see him there but he doubted if it had spoiled the date for her. No, this was just the first of many such occasions for her and Humphreys: exquisite dinners at top-flight restaurants, high-brow concerts, trips to the theatre and the ballet—that was undoubtedly Humphreys' style. Who could blame her if she was seduced by such lavish treatment? The best he'd done was to buy her an egg and bacon roll from a mobile burger van. That really must have impressed her!

* * *

Molly wasn't looking forward to seeing Sean that night when she went into work. She was still smarting from what had happened at lunchtime. She simply couldn't believe that he had, quite coincidentally, turned up at that particular restaurant. And yet, on the other hand, what reason did he have for following her there? It wasn't as though he was interested in her, was it? Maybe he
had
been sussing out the place for a future occasion and that thought stung more than all the others. Sean was only doing what he did best—dating a variety of women. So why on earth should it matter to her?

It was a relief when she discovered that he was tied up in Resus as it gave her a breathing space before she had to speak to him. She collected her first patient and took him into the treatment room. Bert Feathers was eighty years old but still very active. He had been taking his dog for a walk when he had slipped on some ice and cut his arm on a broken bottle lying on the footpath. His neighbour had brought him into hospital after he had knocked on her door and asked to borrow a sticking plaster.

‘This might sting a bit,' Molly warned him as she cleaned the cut with antiseptic solution. The gash was several inches long, quite deep and needed stitching. She wanted to make sure that it didn't become infected. ‘Sorry.'

‘Don't you worry, lass. It's fine.' Bert gave her a toothless grin. ‘I've had worse than this, believe me.'

‘Have you indeed?' Molly picked up a fresh piece of cotton wool with her tweezers and swabbed his arm once more. ‘So you're an old hand at being patched up, are you?'

‘Aye. I was a hill farmer, you see. We lived too far out of town so we were used to fending for ourselves. Me and my brother, Cedric, were pretty handy with a needle if needs be.' He held out his right arm. ‘See that scar? Cut my arm real bad while I was mending the tractor one day. Cedric stitched it up for me and it never gave me a bit of trouble afterwards.'

‘He did a good job,' Molly agreed, thinking what a tough life the old man must have led. She could only imagine how painful it must have been to have such a large cut stitched without any form of anaesthetic. ‘Do you still have your farm?' she asked as she broke open the seal on a fresh pack of sutures.

‘No. I had to give it up after Cedric died. It was too much for me on my own so I sold up and moved into town. I got one of them sheltered housing bungalows in the centre of town. Moving there was the best thing I ever done, as it happens.' Bert nodded at the elderly lady sitting beside him. ‘I met Doris there, you see. She lives next door and we're right fond of each other. Never had a lady friend when I was younger—never had time, what with the farm and everything. I've made up for it since, though!'

‘Good for you!' Molly laughed in delight. ‘You're never too old to fall in love, are you?'

‘Definitely not. When the lightning strikes, there's nothing you can do about it.' Bert laughed. ‘Me and Doris are getting married next week. We've got the church all booked and we're having a bit of a do afterwards at the Green Man. Thought it was time we put things on a regular footing, you understand. You must come along, Sister. We'd love to have you there to help us celebrate, wouldn't we, Doris? And you too, Doctor. The more the merrier, as they say, and you'll be very welcome.'

Molly glanced round, suddenly realising that someone had come into the room. Her heart lifted and then just as quickly sank again when she saw Sean. All of a sudden she felt her resolve start to crumble. Although her lunch with Adam had been pleasant enough, it wasn't Adam who had occupied her thoughts for the rest of the day. It made her wonder if she would ever erase Sean from her life. They had spoken for—what?—five minutes, possibly. But she had then spent the next five
hours
thinking about him.

It was as though Sean was imprinted in her consciousness and nothing could remove him, not even spending time with another man...especially not spending time with another man, she corrected herself, remembering how often she had found herself comparing Adam Humphreys to Sean during their lunch date and finding the former decidedly lacking. It had been the same ever since Sean had ended their affair too; she had never met anyone who matched up to him and she wasn't sure if she would. Sean might have broken her heart but he still had a hold over her and it was distressing to admit it. It was an effort to hide how she felt as Sean turned to the elderly couple and smiled.

‘I missed the start of the conversation. What are you celebrating?' he asked, leaning his shoulder against the wall.

‘I was just telling Sister here that me and Doris are getting married next week,' Bert explained. ‘Friday, at St Marie's church in the town centre. We're having a party afterwards at the Green Man and we'd be delighted if you two young folk came along and helped us celebrate.'

‘I'm not sure if it will be possible,' Molly began, hurriedly searching for an excuse to refuse the invitation. Panic swept over her. The last thing she needed was to spend any more time with Sean.

‘If you're worried about what shift we're working, there's no need.' Sean turned to her and Molly's heart sank even further when she saw the expression in his eyes. Sean knew exactly what she was thinking and, from the look of it, he had no intention of letting her wriggle out of the invitation. ‘I've seen the roster and we're both off next Friday, so we would love to come along. Wouldn't we, Molly?'

Molly had no idea what to say. Short of upsetting Bert and Doris by refusing, there was little she could do except agree. Gritting her teeth, she nodded. Sean grinned at her, obviously enjoying the fact that he had got his own way.

‘Great! It will be something to look forward to, won't it, Molly? A lovely lead-up to the Christmas festivities.'

‘Yes.' It was difficult to get any words out through her clenched teeth but she would hate him to know how annoyed she felt. ‘Did you want me for something?'

‘Ah, yes.' There was a note in his voice, a hint of some emotion that made her blood heat as he excused himself and drew her to one side, but Molly refused to speculate on the reason for it. They were discussing a work-related issue, she reminded herself sternly. Anything else was inconsequential. It appeared she'd been right too because there was no trace of anything untoward when he continued.