Private Partners (Doctors in Training 2)

“Yes.”

This time it was Liam who replied, “No.”

Anne blinked at him. “What?”

“I knew you were there,” he said with a shrug. “Heard it through the grapevine, you could say. I made sure we ran into each other.”

Thinking back to that seemingly random encounter in a Chelsea fish and chips place, she stared at him in astonishment. “You found me intentionally?”

“Um—yeah.”

“And why, exactly, did you not tell me this before?”

He shrugged. “I guess it just never came up.”

Haley choked on what might have been a muffled laugh. “Do you two ever actually, you know, talk?”

“We haven’t really been together all that much,” Liam admitted with a wry look at Anne. “During our entire marriage, we’ve spent only a total of maybe four weeks together—two of them in this one visit. Most of our conversations have been on the phone or through e-mails.”

Haley’s smile faded. “That has to be tough. And I understand why you didn’t feel like you could spring the news on your family when your mother was so ill, Anne. But she’s a lot better now, isn’t she?”

“She had a troublesome setback last year, but on the whole, she’s doing much better now.”

“So, why don’t you tell them? Wouldn’t that be easier than all this sneaking around?”

Anne and Liam looked at each other quickly, and then away. “It’s just not the right time,” Anne muttered. “You know how tough school is right now. Not to mention that we’re about to have to start studying in earnest for Step 1. My family would be in such an uproar that I couldn’t possibly concentrate on my studies.”

“And I’ll have to leave again in a few weeks, anyway,” Liam added, sounding as though he agreed completely with her on this point, at least. “I’m staying here only until I finish writing a book about my travels, then I’m taking off for Haiti in a couple of months to report on the orphaned street kids there. I’d hate to leave Anne to deal with the fallout of our announcement by herself. It would be better to wait until we can live together openly.”

It was the first Anne had heard about him going to Haiti. Was this a new development for him, or had he simply neglected to mention it before? Haley was right, she realized abruptly. She and Liam really didn’t communicate enough.

Not to mention that he seemed no more eager to break the news about their marriage than she was.

“So you’re just going to go on the way you have been?”

Anne and Liam shared quick glances, then nodded in unison.

“For now, anyway,” Anne said.

“It seems best,” he agreed.

After a moment, Haley shrugged. “Whatever works for you. You can both be assured that no one will hear the truth from me.”

Anne smiled at her. “Thank you, Haley. I knew we could trust you. I wish I’d told you sooner. It bothered me to keep it from you when you and I have become such good friends. I hope you can forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive,” Haley replied immediately. “You had your reasons. Nothing at all has changed between us. Except I guess I’ll have to stop trying to fix you up with guys,” she added with a laugh.

“I’d appreciate that,” Liam said wryly.

Propping her chin in her hand, Haley studied Liam openly. “You look really different with the short hair and the glasses. It’s no wonder you haven’t been recognized around here.”

“How did you recognize him?” Anne asked curiously.

This time it was Haley’s turn to blush. “I’m a huge fan. I’ve seen all your TV episodes. I recognized you as soon as you stepped out of the bedroom—even if you weren’t wearing your usual safari gear,” she added with a little giggle. “As soon as Anne confirmed your name, I knew I was right, as unlikely as it seemed.”

He smiled, looking flattered, which made Anne tempted to kick his shin. Just because. She could all too easily imagine that he met plenty of gushing female fans—and Haley was the only one who knew he was unavailable. Anne didn’t even like to think about his encounters with the ones who considered him fair game.

“Are you going to grow out your hair again?”