Just One Night?

by Carol Marinelli

  Isla was anything but bored, though. Seemingly together, she was shaking inside as Alessi walked off because she knew that Sean was going to ask her about Isabel.

  ‘How was this morning?’ Sean asked.

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘Isabel got off okay?’

  ‘She just texted to say that she’s boarding.’ Isla nodded and then did her best to change the subject. ‘What did you want to speak with me about?’

  ‘Just that,’ Sean answered. ‘Isla, my working here didn’t have any part in her decision—’

  ‘Sean, Isabel was offered a year’s secondment in England. Who wouldn’t give their right arm for that?’

  ‘It just—’

  ‘I’m too busy to stand here, chatting,’ Isla said, and walked off.

  Yes, she could be aloof at times but it was surely better to be thought of as that than to stand discussing Isabel’s leaving with Sean.

  Isla went to the store cupboard and got some samples of condoms. She put them in a bag and then headed in to speak with Christine, who was there with Blake, her boyfriend, who was also eighteen. Little Joel, their older baby, was also there.

  Isla was usually incredibly comfortable approaching such subjects with her patients. She discussed contraception many times a day both on the ward and in the postnatal clinic but when she walked behind the curtains, where Christine was nursing her baby, she also saw Alessi’s shoes gleaming beneath the other side of the curtains. That he was examining the baby in the next bed to Christine made Isla feel just a little bit self-conscious.

  ‘Hi, there, Christine.’ Isla smiled. ‘Hi, Blake. I hear that you’re all going home this morning?’

  ‘I can’t wait to get him home,’ Christine said, and gazed down at Robbie. He was latched onto Christine’s breast, beautifully and happily feeding away.

  ‘You’re doing so well,’ Isla commented. ‘You’re still feeding Joel, aren’t you?’

  ‘Just at night,’ Christine replied, ‘though he’s jealous and wants me all the time now, too.’

  Isla glanced over at Joel, who was staring at his new brother with a very put-out look on his face. Christine really was an amazing mum, but Isla could well understand Sean’s concern and why he was asking her to reiterate what he had said. Christine was incredibly pale and breastfeeding a newborn and a ten-month-old would certainly take its toll. ‘I wanted to have a word with you about contraception—’

  ‘Oh, we’ve already been spoken to about that,’ Christine interrupted. ‘The midwife said something this morning and Dr Sean has been in, so you really don’t need to explain things again.’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘I’ll leave you to it, then.’ Blake went to stand but Isla shook her head.

  ‘Oh, no.’ Isla smiled as Blake reluctantly sat down. ‘I want to speak with both of you. As you know, the IUD insertion didn’t work. That happens sometimes, but now it’s better that the doctor waits for your six-week checkup to put another in.’

  ‘Dr Sean has explained that,’ Christine sighed.

  ‘You do know that you can’t rely on breastfeeding as a form of contraception,’ Isla gently reminded them, and Christine started to laugh as she looked down at Robbie.

  ‘I know that now—given that I’m holding the proof.’

  ‘And you understand that you can’t take the Pill because of your history of blood clots,’ Isla continued as Christine vaguely smiled and nodded. She really wasn’t taking any of this in. ‘You need to use condoms every time, or not have intercourse …’

  ‘There’s always the morning-after pill,’ Christine said, and Isla shook her head. Privately she didn’t like the morning-after pill, unless it was after an episode of abuse, not that she would ever push her own beliefs onto her patients. It was the fact that Christine had a history of blood clots that ruled it out for her and Isla told her so. ‘You need to be careful—’ Isla started, but Christine interrupted again.

  ‘I’m not waiting six weeks and he …’ she nodded her head in Blake’s direction ‘… certainly can’t wait that long.’

  ‘I’m not asking you both to wait till then,’ Isla said patiently. ‘Though you don’t have to have penetrative sex, there are other things you can do.’ Christine just rolled her eyes and Isla ploughed on. ‘If you are going to have sex before the IUD is put in then you are to use condoms each and every time.’ She looked at Blake. ‘That’s why I asked to speak to you, too.’

  ‘Oh, leave him alone.’ Christine grinned.

  ‘Christine, you’re very anaemic and the last thing your body needs now is another pregnancy. I’m just asking Blake to make sure that he’s careful.’

  ‘It’s not his fault, he tries to be careful,’ Christine said, happy to leap to Blake’s defence. ‘Haven’t you ever got so carried away that you just don’t care, Isla?’

  Isla glanced at the shoes on the other side of the curtain and just knew that Alessi could hear every word and was no doubt having a little laugh.

  Rarely, her cheeks were pink as she looked back at Christine.

  ‘Well?’ Christine demanded. ‘I think you know what I’m talking about, Isla.’

  ‘But this isn’t about me,’ Isla answered calmly. ‘I’ve raided the store cupboard.’ She handed Blake what would hopefully be adequate supplies. ‘One each time!’ Isla said. ‘Or I’ll be seeing see you very soon. Perhaps with twins this time, wouldn’t that be nice? Four under two, what fun!’

  She saw Blake blink and he glanced at Christine and then back at Isla, and hopefully the message had sunk in. ‘Got it?’ Isla said.

  ‘Got it,’ Blake agreed.

  As she left them to go through their goody bag she walked straight into Alessi, who was wearing a smile, and there was an extremely rare truce because all Isla could do was let out a little laugh.

  ‘You didn’t answer the question, Isla,’ Alessi teased.

  ‘No, I didn’t.’

  ‘A case of do as I say, not as I do?’ Alessi nudged and Isla gave a non-committal smile. He’d die on the spot if he knew the truth but thankfully the small armistice was soon over and Alessi got back to talking about work, which Isla knew better how to handle. ‘I’m very happy with the baby that Sean just asked me to see. There’s no sign of infection—I think he has a floppy larynx, which is causing the husky cry. Still, I’m going to do a blood test and can his temperature be checked every two hours? Any deterioration at all then I’m to be called straight away.’ He watched as Isla nodded and he again took in her puffy eyes and was tempted to say something.

  But what could he say?

  I’m sorry to hear that your boyfriend’s been screwing around on you again?

  Alessi wasn’t sorry.

  Well, perhaps he was sorry for the hurt that had been dished out to Isla but he wasn’t sorry that her relationship with Rupert was over.

  Close to a year on, despite not particularly liking her, Alessi still found himself thinking about that night.

  Still, despite her cool disdain, despite having been born with a silver spoon in her mouth, as opposed to the plastic café one that he had been born to, he could not quite get her out of his head.

  ‘What time is everybody meeting tonight?’ he asked.

  ‘About seven.’

  ‘Good. Shall I see you there?’

  ‘You shall.’

  This was as close to a personal conversation they’d had since that night.

  And that was how it would remain, he decided as he walked off.

  He didn’t like his attraction to her, didn’t like that eleven months on, the scent of her was a familiar one whenever they were close, and he didn’t like that, despite trying not to, today he had found himself with no choice but to smile into her eyes.

  Stay back, Alessi, he told himself.

  He liked to keep things light with women. Since Talia he hadn’t liked to get too involved. But all that aside, Alessi was determined that Isla Delamere would not be changing her mind on him twice.

  CH
APTER THREE

  ISLA GOT CAUGHT up in a delivery and didn’t make it home until well after six, but Darcie was up and it was actually nice not to come back to an empty flat but share in a glass of wine as they got ready.

  ‘Can I borrow your hair dryer?’ Darcie asked. ‘The adapter that I brought isn’t working.’

  ‘Sure,’ Isla said, and went and got it. ‘I’ll just text Rupert and let him know that I’m running a bit late and to meet us there.’

  ‘Oh, so you’re still seeing each—’ Darcie abruptly halted whatever it was she’d been about to say. ‘I’m so sorry, Isla. That is absolutely none of my business. I think I must have left my manners in England!’

  ‘It’s fine.’ Isla shrugged. ‘My sister said pretty much the same thing this morning. Look, it really isn’t awkward. I don’t get upset by what’s said in the magazines, they’re full of rubbish and lies …’

  ‘Of course they are. It’s nice that you can trust him.’ Darcie smiled but Isla could see a small flicker of pity in her eyes and knew that Darcie, like everybody else, assumed that Isla was being taken for a fool.

  Isla went to have a very quick shower, though perhaps it wasn’t quite as quick as the one she had intended to have.

  New Year, new start, Isla decided as she soaped up.

  She was going to break up with Rupert.

  Isla already knew that she had to stop hiding behind him and certainly she didn’t like it that people thought she was somehow standing by her man as Rupert seemingly made a fool of her.

  Rupert had rung and explained what had happened before the news had hit. The actress had the same agent as Rupert and the supposed tell-all had been at the agent’s direction. Only when the exposé had happened had Rupert found out it had been planned.

  ‘Not good enough,’ Isla had said. Still, she found it hard to be cross with him—after all, she knew that what had been said in the article was all lies.

  Isla was determined to end it, though she was tempted to put off the break-up. She had asked Rupert to stick close to her tonight and she was nervous about the charity ball coming up in a couple of weeks. Alessi’s award meant that he would be sitting at the same table as her father—the same table as her!

  Yet things had seemed better when they’d spoken today, Isla thought, recalling the smile he had given as she’d come out from behind Christine’s curtain. She closed her eyes for a moment and remembered their kiss that night and just how nice it had been to briefly be in his arms. She stood in the shower, the water cascading over her, as she returned to the blissful memory. Her hands moved over her hips as she remembered his there, and then her eyes snapped open as one hand started to move down of its own accord as she ached, honestly ached to return to the memory and bring it to a more fitting conclusion. She wanted to know what might have happened had she not said no. She wanted to explore the possibilities, her body was almost begging her to.

  Isla stood, stunned by her own arousal.

  She had buried her sexuality completely.

  Since the night she’d delivered Isabel’s baby she’d just quashed that side of herself.

  Now, though, her breasts felt so heavy she was fighting herself not to touch them and the intense ache between her legs refused to recede. For the first time she wanted to explore her own body.

  Shocked, Isla turned off the shower taps and stepped out. She quickly dried herself and pulled on some underwear and dressed. She wore a very pale green summer dress that did nothing to reduce the flush on her cheeks. She simply couldn’t stop thinking about Alessi and that he’d be there tonight and so, too, that smile.

  And the memory of that kiss.

  He’d use you, Isla reminded herself as she put on lip gloss. The same way he’d worked his way through half of MMU.

  Not that any of the staff seemed to regret their flings with Alessi.

  Would she regret one?

  Isla snapped herself out of it.

  There was no way she was going to do anything about the reluctant torch she carried for Alessi. She could actually picture his incredulous smile if she told him her truth. Scrap that, incredulous laughter, she amended, and then headed out to the lounge.

  ‘You look great.’ Darcie smiled. ‘I’m actually nervous about meeting everyone.’

  ‘Well, don’t be,’ Isla said. ‘They’re a friendly bunch.’

  It was a warm, sultry night and they took a tram for a couple of stops and then arrived at the bar and, as promised, everybody was incredibly friendly and pleased to meet the new obstetrician.

  ‘This is Lucas,’ Isla introduced them. ‘He’s a senior midwife on the MMU …’

  ‘It’s nice to meet you,’ Darcie said with a smile, and Isla continued the introductions.

  ‘And this is Sophia, a community midwife …’ Thankfully, for Isla, Alessi wasn’t there, and she allowed herself to relax. She went and bought some drinks and ordered a couple of bottles for the table but as she walked back she saw Alessi had just arrived. What gnawed at Isla was that he was there with Amber.

  ‘This is Alessi.’ Isla pushed out a smile. ‘He’s a neonatologist. Alessi, this is Darcie …’ She watched as he smiled his killer smile at Darcie and then Isla continued. ‘And this Amber, a student midwife …’ Isla almost winced as she heard the tart note to her voice and she caught Alessi’s eye. She wasn’t jealous that he was dating her student; she wanted to tell him instead that she was cross.

  ‘Hi, there.’ Isla jumped as she heard Rupert’s voice and felt his arm come around her waist. ‘Sorry if I’m a bit late.’

  ‘It’s fine.’ Isla had never been more pleased to see him and gave him a kiss—the practised kiss that they were both used to. What she wasn’t so used to was turning back to the table and the black look Alessi was throwing in Rupert’s direction.

  He looked then at Isla and gave the smallest shake of his head.

  All evening she found herself aware of his disapproval.

  Well, she very much disapproved of who Alessi was dating, too.

  Her skin prickled when he spoke with Amber. Her usually cool edge seemed to be melting and though the conversation flowed at the table, for once Isla wasn’t the perfect hostess. Thankfully everybody was keen to hear about how things worked in Cambridge, where Darcie was from and where Isabel would now be working. No one, apart from Rupert and Alessi, seemed to notice her tension.

  ‘Take it easy,’ Rupert said, because Isla was again topping up her glass. Isla rarely drank more than one glass of champagne but tonight she was rather grateful for the wine, and Rupert, who could sense her volatility, was right to warn her.

  Not that Alessi approved of Rupert telling her what to do—Isla saw the sharp rise of his eyebrows at Rupert’s words.

  Alessi didn’t like it that Rupert, given what he was putting her through, had just warned Isla to slow down. He didn’t like it that Rupert was here in the least. Alessi was, in fact, having an extremely uncomfortable evening, though it wasn’t Isla that he felt bad for, but Amber. Alessi, even if his relationships didn’t last very long, would never cheat or flirt with another woman, except his mind was fighting not to do just that.

  It felt wrong to be sitting with Amber while Isla was there.

  He was very aware that he was sitting next to the wrong woman.

  ‘I’m just going to go to the loo,’ Isla said, and as she got up to leave, Alessi made himself sit there, though the temptation was to follow her.

  The restrooms were located right on the other side of the bar and Isla headed off. She knew she had maybe had a little bit too much to drink and was glad of the chance to just take a breath.

  No one had said a word about Rupert. They were all used to Isla bringing him along but she was aware of slight pity in her colleagues’ eyes and Isla loathed it.

  Tonight she was ending it, which left her without a safety net, and as she walked out of the loos and straight into Alessi the Rupert-free tightrope got its first wobble, the first inkling of what was to come.
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  ‘Everything okay?’ Alessi asked, because the look that she gave him was less than pleasant.

  ‘Actually, no,’ Isla said. ‘What are you doing, dating one of my students?’

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘You heard.’

  ‘She isn’t my student,’ Alessi pointed out. ‘You’re talking as if Amber’s eighteen when, in fact, she’s a thirty-two-year-old single mother of two. I’m hardly leading her astray—’

  ‘I don’t like the way you flirt with my midwives,’ Isla interrupted, and Alessi gave her a slow smile, though his eyes told her he was less than impressed with what she was saying.

  ‘Have there been any complaints?’

  ‘Of course not.’

  ‘Any hint as to inappropriateness on my part?’ Alessi checked, and watched Isla’s cheeks turn to fire as she shook her head. ‘Then I’d tread very carefully here if I were you, Isla,’ he said. ‘The staff don’t have an issue?’ He raised an eyebrow and Isla gave a terse shake of her head. ‘And I don’t have an issue,’ he drawled. ‘So, in fact, the only person who has a problem with my dating Amber is you. I wonder why that is?’

  Isla stood, her face flaming. She knew that she shouldn’t have said anything, especially not tonight, but now that she had it was impossible to take it back. ‘I’m just letting you know how I feel about the issue.’

  ‘What issue?’

  Isla licked her tense lips as he backed her to the wall but her lack of response didn’t end the conversation.

  ‘I flirt, Isla. I date. I enjoy women but only women who get that it’s only ever going to be short-term …’

  ‘Why?’

  The question was out before she considered it but it was pertinent enough to halt Alessi in his tracks.

  Why?

  It was a question few, outside the family, asked him. A question he had never truthfully answered and he had no intention of doing so now.

  ‘Because that is how I choose to live my life. I don’t need your approval, or you to rubber-stamp who I date from MMU, but I can tell you now I have never once cheated on anyone. I don’t have to make up lies or excuses about what’s been said or where I’ve been …’