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

‘I loved it,’ Sally said simply, and Tom looked at her closely, seeing the brightness of her eyes.

Had it hurt her, seeing the baby born?

He knew how badly she’d always wanted children of her own. Part of him was surprised that she hadn’t met someone on her travels and settled down.

And part of him was relieved.

He followed her out of the room just as she was tucking a tissue into her pocket.

His insides twisted and he resisted the temptation to haul her against him. The way things were between them at the moment, she’d slap his face.

‘Sal?’ His voice was soft. ‘Is something wrong??

?

Her slim shoulders tensed and then she turned and gave him a cool smile.

‘Nothing at all. I’m going back to the unit now. I’ll see you later.’

‘Wait.’ Tom caught her arm. ‘Emma said that you can start your weekend early. They’re quiet up there for once and you’re off duty in a few hours anyway. She said that you were to go home. She’ll see you on Monday.’

She digested this and then stirred slightly. ‘Right.’ She stepped neatly away from him, removing her arm from his grasp. ‘I’ll see you Monday, then.’

‘How are you getting home?’

She looked at him blankly, as if the question hadn’t occurred to her until that moment. ‘I’ve got my bike.’

‘I’ll give you a lift,’ he said immediately, and he braced himself for rejection as he saw her tense. ‘You must be tired. We can drop some of the equipment off at the mountain rescue base on the way past.’

‘I don’t think so.’ She turned and walked away from him, and he gritted his teeth with frustration.

She seemed determined not to spend one single second in his company, and her casual dismissal bruised his ego more than he cared to admit.

Seven years ago she’d adored him and hadn’t been afraid to show it.

Now all she felt was indifference.

Or was it? His eyes narrowed as he contemplated an alternative explanation.

If she were truly indifferent to him, surely she’d be perfectly happy to accept a lift.

But if she wasn’t indifferent …

If she was finding it as hard to be near to him as he was finding it to be near to her …

He watched her walk down the corridor, noticing the swing of her hips and the way her blonde hair swung round her shoulders.

She was beautiful and she affected him as no other woman ever had. And there was one thing he now knew for sure.

If he’d ever thought he’d got over Sally, he’d been fooling himself.

CHAPTER FIVE

SALLY concentrated her attention on the rock, keeping her weight carefully balanced over her feet, as she looked for the next handhold.

One false move …

Just one false move and she’d plummet to the bottom because she’d chosen not to use the support of a rope.