Tempting Dr Templeton
Autorzy
Judy Campbell
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16,4K
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10
CHAPTER ONE
ROSIE LOVEDAY clung tightly to the rope suspended down the cliff, and with a horrified shudder flicked a glance beneath her at the view. The sea glinted and sparkled in the sunshine, with small boats like butterflies skimming over the surface. Running alongside the blue curve of the water like a broad ribbon were the wide, white sands of the bay. It looked like an advertisement for some unimaginably exotic holiday resort—and mind-blowingly far away. One slip and she’d probably break every bone in her body—if not worse! She shut her eyes for a moment to block out the terrifying distance from where she was to the ground.
‘Keep going, Rosie—don’t just hang there!’ The instructor’s voice floated down to her, a cutting edge of authority in his tone. ‘It’s much more fun if you keep up the momentum! It’s a fairly small drop.’
Rosie swallowed—small drop indeed! What she needed was an extremely large drop of something, preferably liquid and alcoholic—something that would give her a morsel of Dutch courage! She shot a look of resentment at the instructor above her. Couldn’t he see she was straining every sinew to get down? Did he imagine she liked dangling in mid-air while a small crowd of onlookers watched her endeavours with interest?
She gritted her teeth with determination. He might be authoritative, but she had to concede that the man had an enthusiastic air of encouragement that made one want to do one’s best—and he made the activity seem interesting and fun. She’d only met him that afternoon. He’d asked to be called Andy, but the badge on his shirt read DR ANDREW TEMPLETON.
‘I’m doing my best,’ she squawked in a strangled voice. ‘Just having a breather!’
‘Well, keep it going steadily—trust me, I’m your anchor man!’
‘Why on earth did I volunteer for this?’ she muttered, lowering herself down a few more inches. ‘I thought it was supposed to be a medical conference, not an outward bound course!’
She contemplated the crevassed rock a foot or two in front of her eyes and sighed. Of course she knew exactly why she was dangling on a fragile rope like a helpless parcel in mid-air. To impress the new practice—that was why! If they thought well of her, she might get a full partnership after a few months—and what a difference that would make to her and little Amy.
Perhaps it was worth the sheer terror of this particular moment to show how calm she could be in a crisis, how well she could ‘bond’ with others in a team! The practice had asked her to go to this conference on ‘Basic Health in the Community’ because she was young. It was assumed she’d be able to participate in the physical activities which had been thrown in as added interest to this weekend. It wasn’t compulsory, but it looked better that she’d taken part, although she was beginning to wish she’d done something less testing, like swimming or country rambling. No wonder there were only two volunteers for this activity—her and another man!
Risking a quick look up at Andy, Rosie could see his strong legs braced at the top, with the extra safety rope tied round his waist snaking down to where it was clipped to her harness.
His strong voice cut into her thoughts. ‘Keep moving—you’re doing really well,’ he called down. ‘Bob’s ready to start behind you.’
‘I’m going as quickly as I can!’ she shouted back hoarsely.
‘Just keep your legs straight and lean back—push the rocks with your feet, feeding the rope through your grip in a controlled manner. The braking device on your harness won’t let you slip!’
I’ll give him ‘controlled manner’, thought Rosie, gamely trying to do what he’d told her. Holding her breath, she gingerly lowered herself further, and with an unbelievable sense of relief she felt her feet on firm ground at last. Her knees wobbled like jelly, and her heart pounded—but she’d done it!
With a sense of exhilaration she grinned up triumphantly at Andy’s tall figure at the top. Putting both hands up in the air, she yelled exultantly, ‘Yes!’
She heard him give a deep chuckle. ‘Well done! That was fairly easy, wasn’t it? Next time we’ll do the steeper one…’
‘In your dreams,’ murmured Rosie to herself. In her estimation she’d demonstrated just how incredibly brave she could be. She was darned if she’d push herself any further. One could push one’s luck too far, and she had responsibilities, which included a two-year-old little girl, not to mention a mad dog and a slightly eccentric aunt! No, she was delighted to have achieved what she had, but now she’d been there, done that!
She watched as Bob, a burly GP from London, began his descent behind her—he’d seemed impressively confident as they’d stood together at the top.
‘I’ve never done anything like this before,’ he’d informed Andy and herself breezily, ‘but I’m a natural sportsman, so I don’t think it will pose many problems. There’s nothing I enjoy more than throwing myself into a challenging situation!’
‘It doesn’t do to be over-confident—take it reasonably easily,’ Andy had warned. ‘I want you to enjoy this, but be aware of your limited experience in this activity—do what I say.’
‘Oh, don’t be an old woman!’ Bob had laughed easily. ‘Something like this doesn’t worry me in the least! I like to push myself a little. Shall I set off now?’
For a second Andy’s eyes had locked with Rosie’s in amused exasperation. Then he’d said mildly, ‘Perhaps we’ll let Rosie go first. With your confidence you won’t mind waiting a few minutes.’
And that was why Rosie was now safely on the ground and watching Bob scramble rather awkwardly over the top, his short legs scuttling against the sides of the cliff. He paused for a while before moving, looking down towards her, then after a long time he started to descend extremely slowly, inching his way along like a cumbersome snail and taking long halts with his helmeted head pressed against the cliff wall. Rosie was surprised. One would have thought a man with his confidence would have let himself go a little more, not look as rigid and tense as he did!
‘You’re doing well, Bob,’ called Andy encouragingly. ‘Keep it going steadily.’
Bob didn’t reply, but about eight feet from the ground he came to a complete halt and looked down at Rosie. His face was rather white and he was breathing rapidly.
‘Think I’ll jump down from here,’ he muttered, and started to unclip his harness from the rope.
‘Do you think that’s wise?’ said Rosie anxiously. ‘You’ve only a little way to go, but it’s still quite a big jump!’
‘I don’t like dangling on this rope thing—I want to get this over as quickly as possible. I’ll be OK.’
From the top Andy’s voice bellowed down, ‘What the hell are you doing, man? Don’t be crazy—it’s too far to jump!’
‘I feel trapped in this damn harness—I’ve got to get off this cliff now!’
There was an edge of panic in the man’s voice and Rosie ran towards him, forcing her voice to be calm and firm.
‘Now, Bob, you’re nearly there. Just let yourself out a little at a time, and you’ll be on the ground in no time.’
He didn’t reply and she felt herself freeze in alarm as she watched him spring outwards from the rock and fall heavily to the sand below. He gave a gasp of agony and curled up, clutching his leg. Rosie gave a quick intake of breath, and then rushed towards his prone figure, squatting down beside him.
‘Keep still, Bob. Just tell me where it hurts,’ she said authoritatively, sweeping her eyes assessingly over the awkward position of his legs.
Bob’s face was twisted in pain, his complexion grey. ‘I’ve done something pretty serious, I think,’ he grunted. ‘I felt it go as I landed—probably my left tibia. I did everything right—relaxed my ankles and knees to let them take the stress.’ He gave a little groan. ‘Normally I’m very light on my feet,’ he whispered.
Not light enough, thought Rosie grimly, looking round about her. The crowds on the sands seemed to have melted away and the beach looked deserted. She pulled off the thin sweater she was wearing over her T-shirt and laid it over the man’s shoulders to keep in his body heat. She started to feel delicately round the top of his boot but didn’t undo the laces.
She flicked her glance up to watch Andy’s athletic figure, which seemed to float down the hill in a matter of seconds. He sprinted towards them, pulling off his safety helmet and revealing a thick crop of russet hair over a pair of rather startling blue eyes.
‘At a guess, I’d say Bob’s fractured his fib and tib,’ she murmured to Andy as he knelt beside her. ‘I won’t touch his boot—I don’t want to risk any arterial damage from broken bones. I think it’s better to try and keep it stable and let them cut off the boot in hospital—he’s going to have to have an X-ray. What do you think?’
‘Good idea,’ he replied briefly. ‘And we’ll keep his helmet on as well in case he’s injured his spine in any way.’ He pulled his mobile phone out of his shorts pocket and punched out some numbers.
‘Dr Andy Templeton here,’ he said tersely into the phone. ‘I need an ambulance to stretcher a patient who’s had an accident at the base of Lowther Cliffs, in the little inlet. Broken leg indicated—possible Pott’s fracture of fibula, fracture of tibia, possible spinal injury.’ He turned to Bob. ‘Don’t worry—they should be here in five to ten minutes, so let’s try and keep you comfortable.’
He went over to a rucksack which was lying on the sand near his abseiling equipment and pulled out a small folded rug, which he placed gently over the stricken man. He frowned at Bob’s leg, awkwardly flung in front of him, and looked at Rosie.
‘What do you think about using his other leg as a splint to immobilise his injury until the paramedics get here?’
Rosie bit her lip doubtfully. ‘We’d have to bind it above the fracture site. We shouldn’t risk disturbing the injury.’
Andy nodded. ‘We’ll have to be careful—I’ve got bandages here. I’ll hold the injured leg while you bind them on the upper thighs. Poor old Bob’s in shock—I don’t want to put him through more pain than he’s in already.’
He watched as Rosie nimbly bound the two legs together above the knee, causing as little disturbance to the broken leg as possible, and placed a pad of bandages between the man’s knees.
‘Well done, Doctor,’ he murmured. ‘Just the right touch!’
She grinned wryly at him. ‘To be honest, I didn’t think this was to be part of the afternoon’s activity!’
A rather shamefaced look crossed Bob’s white face. ‘I’m sorry,’ he muttered. ‘I rather lost it then. I just froze somehow, and thought the only way I could get down was to jump. I didn’t mean to disobey orders.’
Andy smiled reassuringly and patted Bob’s hand. ‘It can take people like that. People who are very athletic and used to pushing themselves sometimes react strangely when they’re letting themselves down from a height. You were doing really well until then.’
Rosie flicked a quick look at Andy, appreciating his sensitivity in trying to boost Bob’s low morale and embarrassment by praising him instead of telling him how darned stupid he’d been!
The ambulance wasn’t long in coming and Bob was carefully stretchered away with a collar supporting his neck to keep it stable. He looked mournfully at Rosie and Andy.
‘Thank you,’ he whispered. ‘You’ll tell my wife what’s happened, won’t you? She’s going to be furious with me—I did my Achilles tendon in only last year, playing tennis on holiday!’
‘I’ll come and see you at the hospital later when I’ve taken my gear back,’ said Andy. ‘Keep calm!’
He watched Bob being carried to the ambulance and added dryly, ‘And I thought he was a great athlete—he never even mentioned he’d been injured last year as well!’
Rosie gave a guilty laugh. ‘Poor old Bob. He seems to think he’s Superman until he actually has to perform! I feel really sorry for him, though—I guess he’ll be spending a long time in plaster.’
She tugged off her helmet and her thick honey-coloured hair sprang out in a disordered way around her shoulders. She ran a hand through it and sighed. ‘What a shame to end the afternoon this way!’
There was something akin to admiration in Andy’s eyes as he looked at her, and the firm lines of his face softened, making him look suddenly more boyish.
‘You know, you did a great job there, trying to keep Bob calm and assessing his injuries. I was really grateful someone sensible was down there with him and not a member of the general public, trying to rip off his boots or giving him brandy, or some such foolish thing!’
He put his hands on her shoulders and his eyes twinkled ‘I could soon make a mountain rescuer of you. Obviously your medical skills are second to none, and you seemed to tackle the abseiling pretty well. Have you ever done any climbing before?’
She smiled wanly. ‘Certainly not—wasn’t it obvious? I couldn’t even climb a rope in the school gym!’
He raised his eyebrows in a flattering expression of surprise. ‘Great stuff, then! As you can see, occasionally people do seize up completely!’
He smiled broadly at her, white even teeth contrasting with his tanned face, laughing blue eyes holding hers just slightly too long for comfort. Quite suddenly Rosie felt a curious sense of heightened awareness—the hairs on the back of her neck started to prickle without warning, and she did a double-take. She hadn’t realised, in her terror-induced state before the abseiling, that Andy Templeton was quite so amazing—he was gorgeous! It wasn’t just his unusual colouring, she decided, it was his expressive face, firm mouth and lively eyes that held her—not to mention over six feet of impressive bodywork!
Somewhere within her, a sad little memory tugged, a memory of an equally dishy man, with a special smile only for her. The grief was beginning to fade now, but every so often something unexpected would happen that would trigger Tony back into focus and reinforce her acute feelings of loneliness.
She shook herself mentally. Dwelling on the past only made her sad, and didn’t help Amy. Her life had turned in a completely different direction since Tony had died and her uncle had left her the cottage in Cornwall. Miraculously she’d got a job with a local GP practice as an associate partner. It was exciting and a new beginning—but still left her as a single mother bringing up a baby by herself. Everywhere she went, even on this medical conference, people seemed to be in couples. It was hard not to feel the odd one out most of the time…
Andy was regarding her wistful face with amused curiosity. ‘Ready for some more?’ he asked. ‘I do a good line in rock-climbing!’
Rosie jerked herself back to the present and shook her head with a laugh. ‘I think I’ve had enough excitement for today. I have to make a phone call, and I’m going to have a soak in a hot bath before the dinner this evening. I feel a complete mess—in urgent need of complete reparation!’
His eyes swept appreciatively over her tall, well-proportioned body. ‘I don’t think anything too radical is needed,’ he murmured. ‘Perhaps I’ll see you later, then?’ This time there was no mistaking the intimate way he looked into her eyes, and he gave a slow, devastating smile that sent an unaccustomed little shock through her body.
Rosie bit her lip wryly. It must be the relief of having finished the abseiling exercise without actually killing herself that seemed to be making her particularly susceptible to this man’s undoubted attraction, as well as the competent way he had taken over when Bob had fallen. She knew that nobody ever could make her pulse race like Tony had done. She was convinced she would never meet anyone like him again, and that was why this…she searched for the right word…reaction was all the more extraordinary!
Then she gave a rueful shrug. In her experience these days, there were plenty of men who would give her the come-on, hoping for a quick fling with no strings attached, but when they found she had a two-year-old daughter, they seemed to melt into thin air. She mustn’t let herself get too excited over a rather gorgeous instructor who happened to have compelling blue eyes and a winning grin!
‘Well?’ he prompted, looking at her with twinkling eyes. ‘Will I see you?’
‘Perhaps.’ She smiled noncommittally and started to walk quickly towards the hotel. He started to match his stride to hers.
‘I’ll walk back with you,’ he said pleasantly. ‘Are you here on your own?’
Here we go, thought Rosie. Why don’t I just put a placard round my neck saying, SINGLE MOTHER, LOOKING FOR SECURE RELATIONSHIP!
She looked steadily ahead of her. ‘Yes,’ she replied tersely. She wished he wasn’t walking quite so close to her. His large frame seemed to dominate hers—it was a rather disturbing feeling.
Andy gazed at Rosie thoughtfully. He seemed to have touched a raw nerve there somewhere. He chuckled to himself. He liked a little bit of mystery to a woman. Coupled with the stunning looks of Rosie Loveday, it made an intriguing combination!
‘And have you come far for the conference?’ he persisted.
‘No.’ Her voice was crisp, inviting no further questions.
He took no notice of her reticence. ‘Ah, so you’re a Cornish girl, then? I’m surprised we haven’t met before.’
Talk about determination—the man didn’t give up easily! ‘I’m not from this area,’ she relented. ‘I’m from the North of England, but I’ve started a new job.’ She smiled at him. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go to my room.’
Andy touched Rosie’s arm before she swung away. ‘Why don’t we meet in the bar before dinner? I think you deserve a drink after that little drama this afternoon—it would be a sort of “thank you”.’
Rosie hesitated for a moment. There was nothing so ghastly as turning up alone to these dinners where everyone else in the room had a partner, and one stood out as the only ‘single’ in the place. A drink with Andy before the meal might give her Dutch courage for the evening. In the old days, with Tony by her side, she had brimmed with social confidence, but since his death she had hated the thought of these big gatherings. Absurdly now she felt she stood out as alone and unattached, and that was why she very rarely went to parties even when she knew many of the people there.
‘That…that would be nice,’ she agreed. ‘I’ll see you later, then.’
He watched her disappear to the lifts, her thick hair bouncing, her long legs swinging, and a little smile lifted his firm lips.
‘You’re a bit of a beautiful enigma, Dr Rosie Loveday,’ he murmured. ‘Could make for an interesting evening…’
Despite the factor 20 sunscreen Rosie had slapped on her face that afternoon, her skin had begun to resemble her name, she thought wryly. She toned it down with a hint of foundation and swept her springy hair back from her face with two combs. She looked critically at herself in the mirror—her old standby, the black crêpe trouser suit, had stood up well over two seasons, but it was about time she got herself something new.
She sighed. Tony had always loved her in black. He’d thought it looked smart, but she was just beginning to wish she had something more daring to wear—something that didn’t have to co-ordinate with everything else in her wardrobe, which was mostly navy blue or black! Perhaps, she thought optimistically, she’d buy herself something wild with her first pay cheque! Then she laughed ruefully at herself. Not much point in buying something like that if you never went out anywhere…Her evenings over the past two years had been mainly concerned with coping with a baby’s multifarious needs when she’d come home exhausted from work.
She picked up the photo she’d propped up on the bedside table and a tender smile curved her lips. Amy looked so adorable with her sweet round little face and springy hair so like her own. She was in the arms of Auntie Lily, who was looking after her while Rosie was at the conference. Rosie bit her lip reflectively. Lily was a darling, and happy to help Rosie as much as she could—but was it too much to expect her to look after a lively toddler for two days when she wasn’t in the first flush of youth?
Rosie sighed. It was useless to worry. She’d rung Lily, who’d assured her that she and Amy were having a marvellous time making cakes, and later both of them were going to do finger-painting. She was lucky that Lily lived with them—invaluable when there was a last-minute panic if either she was unwell, or Amy was ill and couldn’t go to the childminder, even though Lily still had her own fashion business.
She put down the photo and glanced at her watch. It was getting late and she would have to go and meet Andy Templeton. Rosie felt a moment’s panic as she thought of the evening before her, and the fact that it had been so long since she’d actually had to be sociable. With a flutter of alarm she realised that it was the first time in nearly three years that she’d actually been to a large gathering where she knew precisely no one! What on earth would she talk to this Andy about? Her knowledge of sports was rather limited, and he probably wouldn’t be interested in the life and times of her little Amy.
The hubbub of voices and chink of glasses floated over to Rosie as she stepped out of the lift. She swallowed and clutched her handbag more tightly. Come on, get a grip, she told herself sternly. This is the beginning of your new life. Surely if she could abseil down a perpendicular slope she could face a drink with an attractive man!
‘Great!’ said a cheerful voice in her ear. ‘I’m glad you’re on time—I thought perhaps a little bubbly might be a good start to the evening!’
Andy materialised before her, with two glasses of pink champagne in his hand. He looked down at her smilingly, his eyes sweeping over her tall figure and her halo of pre-Raphaelite honey-coloured hair.
‘Here’s to a good evening,’ he murmured, taking her elbow and leading her to a seat in a small alcove.
Andy looked good—too good to be true. Rosie’s heart fluttered a little as his hand touched her arm. She sensed other women in the room flicking covert looks at his tall figure, set off to advantage in his dinner jacket and his noticeable shock of tawny hair, as he strode confidently across the room. She flushed slightly—they were probably thinking that he and she were an item! Let them think it, then, she thought defiantly It had been too long since she’d had any kind of escort, and even if it was just for one evening, she’d make the most of it! She sat down carefully and raised her glass to Andy.
‘Salut! I need this after Bob’s mishap, not to mention the torture you put me through this afternoon!’
‘Nonsense!’ He grinned with that boyish teasing look she was beginning to realise was part of Andy Templeton’s style. ‘You loved every minute. And by the way, I called in to see Bob after we’d parted this afternoon, and your diagnosis was correct—tib and fib fractures, with a badly twisted ankle, but fortunately no spinal injuries. They’re operating on him tonight, so he may be there for a day or two.’ He leaned forward and refilled her glass. ‘I hope this afternoon’s little escapade hasn’t put you off. You know, we made quite a good team down there—we could run our own little emergency service between us!’
‘I think I did enough of that when I was in A and E some years ago.’ She laughed.
‘Well, I hope you’ll be part of the country trek we’re doing tomorrow!’
Rosie smiled, almost with relief, and said quickly, ‘I can’t, I’m afraid. I can only stay for the lecture tomorrow morning, then I have to get back.’
He nodded, a questioning look in his eyes. ‘A pity. Responsibilities at home—is that it?’
‘I have a lot to do before Monday, that’s all.’
She was darned if she was going to tell him her life story so soon! Perhaps it was the champagne kicking in, but quite suddenly she decided that tonight she wasn’t going to be a widow or a young single mother. She was going to be her own woman for once—someone on the edge of a new career, independent and carefree. It was the first time in ages that she’d had a night out on her own, and she was going to enjoy it!
Andy leaned towards her and looked at her engagingly. ‘Then we just have this evening to get to know each other, don’t we?’
His hand brushed against hers as he replaced the bottle, and there was a mischievous twinkle in those amazing blue eyes of his that held hers so tenaciously. Rosie nervously pulled back a tendril of hair behind her ear—it was quite ridiculous the way her heart jumped when the man looked at her! It had been so long since she’d flirted with anyone that she wasn’t sure she could remember the rules of the game!
She looked at him assessingly. She couldn’t believe this attractive man wasn’t spoken for—there had to be a partner somewhere in his background or, if not, several gorgeous girls vying for his attention! She was intrigued to know his background—without seeming too nosy!
‘So, do you instruct people in this torturous abseiling and mountain-climbing all the time?’ she asked.
He chuckled. ‘I know you’d get to like it if you had more training with me. But actually this is just a hobby. In the real world I’m a GP doing locum work at the moment. It suits my lifestyle as I need to have time off fairly frequently.’
‘To do your mountain-climbing?’
The expression on his face changed and he frowned, a bleak look in his eyes. ‘Afraid not,’ he said briefly, ‘There’s never time. I’m always taken up with other, more pressing things when I take off. A refill of wine, Rosie?’
Rosie looked at him thoughtfully, noticing the smooth change of subject. She guessed there was a story behind that remark—but, then, who hadn’t some secrets in their life they preferred to keep to themselves? She hadn’t told him about Amy—why should he be interested in children and the problems of being a single parent? She smiled at him.
‘I’d like to take off sometimes—I’ve only been abroad once, when I went to France on an exchange visit when I was thirteen. My counterpart and I hated each other on sight so it wasn’t very successful!’
He laughed. ‘That sounds a rather common event—perhaps it’s a rite of passage in order to learn a language!’
The awkward moment had passed and Andy’s cheerful demeanour reasserted itself. Rosie began to relax. Tonight was to be a light interlude in the sterner world of everyday life that she had to go back to tomorrow—at this moment she had no responsibilities except herself, and she was going to enjoy it!
The meal had finished and a man with a keyboard and a powerful voice appeared on the small stage. His songs were bouncy numbers that were easy to dance to and soon had most of the room on the floor, gyrating happily to the rhythm.
Despite Rosie’s misgivings, the evening had been more fun than she could have hoped for. It was good to be looked after, asked one’s opinion and, let’s face it, generally flattered. Andy Templeton knew how to make a girl feel relaxed, thought Rosie with amusement. He had a blend of charm and wit that made for easy conversation, and he seemed genuinely interested in what she did. He watched the antics on the crowded dance floor for a second, then turned to her with a questioning eyebrow.
‘How about giving this a try?’ suggested Andy. ‘What do you think?’
Rosie laughed. ‘Why not?’ she declared. ‘I’m better at dancing than I am at abseiling!’
Perhaps it was the wine, perhaps it was because she wasn’t worrying about Amy, but she felt a lightness of spirit she hadn’t felt for a long time—she was glad she’d come to the conference now. She sprang from her chair and held out her hand to Andy, who took it with an amused grin and began spinning her round in time to the music. For the first time in many months Rosie felt the intoxication of enjoying herself and being alive—and with someone who seemed to enjoy life, too. She flicked a covert glance at her partner, his powerful physique with his longs legs and broad frame performing surprisingly gracefully on the crowded little dance floor. She flung herself energetically into the dance with him.
The music came to an end, and Andy swung her round one more time, his arms remaining round her so that she was held for a second against his body as it took the momentum of her spin. His eyes twinkled as they swept over her flushed face and sparkling eyes, lingering for a second on her parted lips.
‘You’ve got great rhythm,’ he murmured. ‘I thought you said you were a doctor, not a dancer…’
In her heightened state, the feel of Andy’s hard body against hers was almost shocking in its physicality. Was she going mad? She just wasn’t ‘that’ sort of girl, she thought wildly, but the maleness and the strength of him in that brief second reminded her only too poignantly of what she had missed for so long.
Rosie pulled herself away from him abruptly, feeling a flush of shame that she could think these thoughts about a total stranger. It was out of character for her and she was probably giving out all the wrong signals. Worse, she was letting down the memory of Tony.
It was time to go before she embarrassed herself any more. ‘I’m sorry, Andy,’ she said brusquely, ‘but I must have an early night. It’s been lovely, but—’
‘You can’t take all the excitement?’ he finished for her, with a grin. ‘Perhaps one more dance? This is a slower number, and surely you know that after vigorous exercise one should wind down gently?’
It was true—the music had become slower, the singer’s voice more seductive and throbbing, and the couples on the floor all seemed to be twined lovingly round each other. Rosie’s heart fluttered. No way was she going to become any more intimate with Andy Templeton. She’d had a good time—better than she had dared to hope—but this sort of dancing with this sort of man would be too close for comfort, and too much of a reminder of the last time she’d been with Tony.
She closed her eyes for a second, her last memory of him flashing back into her mind. Tony and herself on the dance floor, like so many of the people here. Swaying together in a loving embrace to soft music, his arms round her almost protectively. It had been nearly three years ago and she had just told him she was pregnant. Both of them had never been happier. How could she have known that only an hour later her happiness would be shattered?
She felt a warm hand on her shoulder and opened her eyes. Andy was gazing down at her with a quizzically perceptive expression. ‘Penny for them,’ he said lightly. ‘You were a million miles away then.’
‘I…I just felt a little faint,’ she whispered. ‘Perhaps if we went outside for a minute?’
He took her hand and led her out onto the terrace. ‘Probably the heat in that place,’ he said easily. ‘And I imagine your cardiac rate went up a few notches during that last dance!’
It was a balmy evening, just the slightest of breezes carrying the elusive sweet smell of honeysuckle mingled with new-mown grass from the garden beyond. A silver moon hung in the sky above their heads, its luminous beam dancing on the sea beyond. Rosie took several deep breaths and smiled up at Andy apologetically.
‘Sorry about that. I’m not usually such a wilting flower.’
He looked down at her seriously, his face in shadow. ‘I know you’re not—you’re one feisty girl. You showed me that when you were abseiling this afternoon. You kept your head, doing something completely alien to you. I was impressed—not to mention the little adventure with Bob.’ Andy squeezed her arm reassuringly. ‘Why don’t we walk down the path to the shore—get away from all that noise and heat for a minute?’
Rosie nodded. It would be a good thing to get away from those couples clasped together and reminding her too poignantly of happier times.
She felt his arm go round her shoulders as they walked down the terrace steps and there was a comfort and strength in his touch that wasn’t threatening. They followed the little path round a rocky outcrop to a small private cove, completely deserted and full of moonlit shadows under the cliffs. They stopped as they reached the sea’s edge and stood in silence for a moment,watching the little rills of water fluttering towards them, like frills of white lace.
‘They say that every seventh wave is a big one,’ he murmured absently, his foot drawing a pattern in the sand. Then he turned towards her and lifted her chin with his finger. ‘Something worried you back there,’ he said gently. ‘What was it—a bad memory?’
A lump came to Rosie’s throat. She never talked about Tony to anyone, never revealed any of the terrible loneliness and despair she’d felt at his death just as she’d become pregnant. And now, nearly three years later with a two-year-old to look after, she’d become used to that solitary state. But there was something about this evening which had triggered those feelings again. Seeing all those couples had somehow reinforced just how single she was.
She turned her head away. ‘Something like that,’ she murmured. She scrabbled for a tissue in her pocket and blew her nose. ‘I’m OK now…don’t worry. It was nothing.’
Andy turned her towards him, his voice low. ‘I don’t believe that. You were enjoying yourself, and suddenly that happiness disappeared. It wasn’t something trivial. Why?’
She could feel those perceptive blue eyes searching her face, trying to find the truth, trying to make her reveal the reason for her unhappiness. She swallowed, amazed at the temptation she felt welling up inside her to do just that—to lay bare her feelings for the first time to someone she’d only met that afternoon!
She sighed. ‘I don’t think it would interest you to know about my private life.’
‘You are so wrong,’ he whispered softly. ‘I hate to see you look so sad. A beautiful girl like you should be happy…and you are so beautiful,’ he added almost inaudibly. ‘Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?’
She looked up at him indecisively. He was so gentle and concerned. He had a companionable air about him, and perhaps it would be easier to tell Andy than to tell someone she knew very well about the memories that had been brought back that evening.
She clasped her hands together and looked out to the inky waters of the sea. ‘I think it was the music that did it…’ she murmured slowly. ‘You see, it was very like the music that was playing the night my husband was killed—nearly three years ago now.’ She halted and swallowed, trying to control her emotions. ‘We…we’d had such a happy evening. It was our wedding anniversary, and…and I’d just told him some very good news. I remember thinking as we danced that I’d never been happier.’
Andy’s hand took hers and squeezed it silently as she said flatly, ‘An hour later he went out to get the car and was knocked down by a drunk driver. I never even had the chance to say goodbye…’
The shocking words, so baldly told, hung in the still air for a moment. She laid her head on Andy’s chest and felt his arms go round her comfortingly. He didn’t say anything for a long time—just rocked her backwards and forwards gently. The soothing motion calmed her mind. She even smiled to herself in the dark. There! She’d told her sad little story, and it hadn’t been so hard after all. She relaxed against his broad frame and gradually began to be aware of the steady thump of his heartbeat against hers. He shifted slightly and smoothed back her hair from her eyes, then bent his head and brushed his lips across her forehead.
‘Rosie,’ he whispered. ‘You’ve been carrying that around with you for nearly three years? It’s quite a long time to be lonely.’
A dart of fire ran like an electric current through Rosie’s body. It had been so long since she’d been caressed, or had even wanted to be. That warm sympathy and his firm clasp sent a lick of desire through her that she’d thought she’d never feel again. It was as if after the catharsis of pouring out her personal tragedy, she needed the physical comfort she had been denied so long. Andy was a good, kind man—she’d learned that during the afternoon. She couldn’t help yearning to be held by him for just a comforting moment.
She twisted against him so that they stood against each other, hip to hip, her breasts just touching his chest. In the shadows of the night, she could barely see him, but with an indescribable feeling of need her arms wound round his neck and she pulled his face to hers, so close she could smell the maleness of him, the clean, soapy smell of his hair.
‘Kiss me, Andy,’ she said tremulously.
Without a word his mouth came down on hers, softly at first, then more firmly. Rosie felt her insides liquefy with longing and opened her mouth to his. She felt his body harden with desire, his arms pressing her against him as she arched against his solid frame. Then he lifted her up and carried her to the soft sand in the shadows of the rocks, laying her gently down.
His hand stroked the soft peach of her cheek.
‘Has there been no one else since your husband?’ He said softly.
‘No one,’ she murmured.
‘It can get very lonely, can’t it?’
His voice had a sigh of longing in it—almost as if he knew very well what it was like to be without love or companionship. Dreamily Rosie wondered if he had ever had a special person, then his body straddled hers and she was only aware of her own body’s response to his. Gentle hands unbuttoned her tunic top and pulled it back, and a heady, disorientated feeling swirled around in her head. Perhaps she was crazy, but she only knew that she wanted to blank out the loneliness of the past years—and, dammit, to show that she could love again.
He propped himself up on his elbows above her. She could see his face, white in the half-light. ‘You are so beautiful,’ he whispered thickly. ‘But you know where this is leading to, don’t you? Are you sure you want me to make love to you? Tell me to stop and I will. I don’t want to do anything you don’t want me to do.’
Rosie stretched under him and smiled. ‘Yes, yes,’ she murmured breathlessly. ‘Of course I want this. Don’t you?’
For answer he pushed back the tendrils of hair from her forehead and bent his face close to hers, trailing his lips softly over her mouth to the little hollow in her neck. His voice was scarcely audible.
‘Rosie, if you knew how much I’ve wanted you—how much I’ve longed to hold you close to me all evening…’
Then his body was heavy on hers, his hands exploring her most secret places, butterfly kisses covering her neck and breasts. In the background the sound of the surf made a steady beat to their love-making and for the first time in nearly three years Rosie Loveday forgot she was a widow.
