The Midwife's Marriage Proposal (Lakeside Mountain Rescue 3)

Tom smiled, his eyes still closed. ‘I’m gutted. Mind you, I’m amazed you can even remember how to talk, married to Ellie. Having just spent a day on the mountain with her, my ears are still ringing. When do you get to practise talking?’

‘I practise at work,’ Ben said gravely, but his eyes twinkled as he carefully stitched the wound. ‘Because obviously at home I can’t get a word in edgeways. You’re still her hero, by the way.’

‘I don’t deserve it.’

‘Actually, I think you probably do.’ Ben’s tone was calm. ‘Ethan is a wonderful baby and we both know we would have lost him if you hadn’t operated so quickly. You didn’t hesitate. You got her to Theatre and you got our baby out before the situation had a chance to deteriorate. Other doctors would have hung around and waited.’

Tom still had his eyes closed but Sally thought she saw faint colour touch his hard cheekbones. ‘It was the quickest way I knew to stop Ellie talking,’ he murmured. ‘Anaesthetize her.’

‘W

ell, any time you need your leg sewn up, I’m your man,’ Ben said lightly, pushing the stool away and standing up. ‘I’m done here. Nicky will dress it more beautifully than I ever could. Take some painkillers, get home to bed and I’ll check it at the wedding tomorrow.’

‘Can I ride the bike?’

‘No.’ Ben ripped off his gloves. ‘If that’s your only option, I’ll give you a lift home.’

Tom nodded. ‘Thanks. I’d better take you up on that offer.’

Sally felt a flicker of desperation.

There were things she wanted to say to him.

Things she needed to say.

But he was already hobbling after Ben, taking the walking stick that Nicky had jokingly offered him.

Sally followed him to the door, holding it open so that he could pass through, wanting to stop him.

He turned to look at her, his handsome face pale and showing signs of strain. ‘Thanks, Sally.’ He gave a rueful smile. ‘I appreciate the moral support. I’m going to have an early night and see you at the wedding tomorrow.’

She opened her mouth to tell him that she loved him.

To tell him that she wanted to marry him.

But the door had already swung shut behind him.

He was gone.

CHAPTER NINE

‘I CAN’T believe I’m standing in this same church, wearing this same suit that doesn’t fit properly,’ Oliver muttered, sliding a finger round his collar to try and relieve the tension. ‘I wanted to get married on the side of a mountain.’

Tom looked at his brother and tried to ignore the throbbing pain in his leg. ‘Even you can’t expect a woman to exchange vows on the side of a mountain in freezing March.’

‘Well, obviously,’ Oliver grumbled, ‘that’s why I agreed to the church. Now I know why Jack was stressed when he got married. Why is she late? Why are brides always late?’

‘Calm down.’ But Tom’s eyes were fixed on the back of the tiny village church as well, although he wasn’t interested in the arrival of the bride. Just one of the bridesmaids.

He wanted to see Sally.

Last night, when he’d seen her pale-faced and anxious, waiting for him in the A and E department, he’d been completely swamped by love.

And something far more basic.

He gritted his teeth and shifted uncomfortably. Denying himself was becoming more difficult by the minute, and last night he’d had to get away from her before he gave in to the temptation to take whatever scraps she was offering.

Even an affair had started to look good.