The Nurse's Christmas Wish (The Cornish Consultants)

He looked at her with a faint smile. ‘And what about you? Do you think that?’

She shook her head. ‘If you’re asking me if I’d want to change you, the answer is no,’ she said softly. ‘I love the fact that your job means so much to you, that you care so much. It’s part of the man you are. I love the fact that you love the sea. I just wish you’d talk to me a bit more. Not because I want to change the way you are but because I think you’ve shut yourself away long enough. It’s time to let people back into your life, Mac. Time to move on.’

There was a long, pulsing silence while they watched each other, trapped by the rising tension that swirled and twisted around them.

Louisa could see the battle in his eyes, read the indecision. So she made the decision for both of them. With a courage she hadn’t known she possessed, she slid along the sofa and wound her arms round his neck.

‘Kiss me, Mac.’ Her voice was husky and her eyes were on his mouth. ‘Make love to me like you did last night.’

She could sense the struggle inside him and then he cursed under his breath and unlocked her arms from around his neck. ‘No, Louisa.’ He stood up suddenly, his breathing unsteady, his eyes tormented. ‘It wouldn’t work. I’m totally wrong for you and I’ll hurt you.’

‘Mac—’

‘We’re different, Louisa. You like crowds and company, I like solitude.’

‘Sometimes I like solitude, too,’ she said softly, ‘and sometimes you like crowds and company. It’s just that you’ve forgotten how to just relax and enjoy yourself.’

‘I can’t offer you a relationship. I’m hopeless at relationships. I’m too selfish.’ He gave a humourless smile. ‘I’m obsessed with my work.’

‘It wasn’t that you were bad at relationships, Mac.’ Louisa stared at the lights flickering on the tree. ‘It’s just that you were in the wrong one. But you and I have a chance of happiness. We should take it, even if it’s only for tonight.’

‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘That isn’t what you need. You’ve said it yourself, Louisa—you’re waiting for the fairy-tale. Well, I’m not anyone’s idea of a fairy-tale.’

CHAPTER TEN

LOUISA awoke to find Hopeful lying on the bed next to her, a sorrowful expression on his face.

Her first thought was that it shouldn’t have been Hopeful.

It should have been Mac.

But when did life ever turn out the way you wanted it to?

She reached out a hand and stroked his soft coat. ‘You shouldn’t be on the bed,’ she murmured as she forced herself awake. ‘If Mac found out he’d be furious and there’d be another black mark against you.’

She glanced at the clock and gave a gasp. ‘Oh, my goodness!’ She scrambled out of bed in a sudden panic, her dark hair falling over her face and the strap of her nightdress trailing down her arm. ‘I need to check the turkey.’

Picking up on her panic, Hopeful leaped off the bed with an excited bark, his tail wagging so hard that his whole body was moving.

‘Louisa.’ A deep voice from the doorway made her freeze and she looked at Mac in horror.

There was no way of hiding Hopeful.

‘I can explain—’

His gaze rested on Hopeful. ‘That dog obviously isn’t as stupid as he looks.’

She gave a weak smile. ‘I would have preferred to share the bed with you.’

Dark eyes clashed with hers. ‘We’re too different, Louisa. I can’t make you happy.’

‘I think you’d make me very happy,’ she said softly, dragging the strap of her nightdress back up her arm. ‘I just think you’

re too afraid to risk another relationship. But you need to realise that Melissa was just the wrong woman for you. It was a mistake. It happens to people all the time. If you’d spent more time together you probably would have realised sooner.’

He stared at her. ‘I preferred to work.’

She gave a soft smile, wondering how such an intelligent man could be so obtuse. ‘And why was that, Mac? One day when you’re having a few hours off from blaming yourself and taking responsibility for everything, you should try asking yourself that question.’