The Doctor's Engagement

‘No, not really.’ Mark walked across and stood next to her. ‘My surgery finishes at five-thirty and I’m off then until tomorrow so if you can wait that long you can follow me home.’

‘Well, if I’m going to be here all afternoon I might as well unpack my suitcase and see some patients,’ Holly suggested.

Mark hesitated and then gave a shrug. ‘If you’re sure you don’t mind, that would be great.’

Holly frowned. ‘Just one thing—I think Caroline’s taken an instant dislike to me.’

‘Yes.’ Mark’s tone was guarded. ‘She probably would.’

‘She would?’ Holly lifted her eyebrows. ‘Why would she? What have I done?’

‘Done?’ Mark dragged his long fingers through his dark hair and sighed. ‘You haven’t done anything. The reason Caroline doesn’t like you is because you are my fiancée, and she’s the woman I was telling you about.’

CHAPTER TWO

‘OH, MARK, it’s stunning!’

Holly stared at the house which was perched on the clifftop with views across the estuary and out to sea.

‘Great, isn’t it?’ Mark helped drag her cases out of the boot. ‘Wait until you see inside.’

Holly slammed the car door and followed Mark through the front door of the house and into a huge, glass-walled living room.

‘Oh, my goodness.’ She strolled over to the windows that hugged all three sides of the living room, giving an almost panoramic view. ‘This is fabulous. How on earth did you manage to get your hands on this?’

‘Right place, right time, as they say. Come and see my deck. The view’s fantastic. If I crane my neck I can see my boat.’ He gave her a smug grin and unlocked the French windows, opening up one side of the living room so that she could step onto the bleached wooden decking that curved around the house.

He was right. The view was breathtaking. She closed her eyes and breathed in the air, enjoying its salty freshness.

‘Have you done lots of sailing?’

‘Masses.’ Mark dropped onto one of the solid wooden chairs that surrounded a large table. ‘There’s a GP in the neighbouring practice who’s keen and he’s been crewing for me.’

‘Poor man!’ Holly rolled her eyes and smiled. ‘I remember sailing with you in our teens. It was a nightmare!’

Mark lifted an eyebrow. ‘I thought you loved our sailing.’

‘You yelled at me, Mark.’ Holly paced along the deck and looked at the view in the other direction. ‘This is fantastic.’

‘Did I yell?’ Mark sounded astonished and Holly turned and leaned against the balcony, wisps of blonde hair flying across her face as the wind gusted gently.

‘Never mind that. Tell me about Caroline.’

‘Later.’ Mark stretched out long legs and his dark eyes narrowed as they fixed on her face. ‘I want to know what’s been happening to you. I haven’t seen you for five months and phone calls aren’t the same. Bring me up to date. How’s your love life?’

‘Oh, you know.’ Holly gave a careless shrug. ‘Still kissing frogs.’

Mark threw back his head and laughed. ‘And not one of them has turned into a handsome prince?’

‘Not that I noticed,’ Holly quipped lightly, trying to skirt over the fact that her love life was totally non-existent.

‘So you still haven’t lost your virginity?’ Mark gave her a gentle wink and she blushed prettily.

‘Why on earth was I stupid enough to tell you that?’ she muttered crossly, and Mark chuckled.

‘Because we’ve always told each other everything.’ He shook his head slowly, his face alight with amusement and incredulity as he looked at her. ‘I can’t believe some lucky man hasn’t swept you off your feet.’

‘Well, they haven’t,’ Holly said flatly, and Mark’s smile faded.