by Anne Fraser
‘How bad was Lord Hilton’s stroke?’ Katie asked.
‘It could have been worse. Apart from some residual weakness on his left side that makes it difficult for him to walk without help, he got off lightly. Unfortunately he has a fondness for cakes and pastries and no matter how often I tell him that he needs to reduce his cholesterol, he won’t listen.’ Fabio glanced at Katie through his thick, dark lashes. ‘Perhaps he’ll listen to you.’
‘Me? I doubt that. If he’s going to listen to anyone, surely it’ll be you, his doctor.’ And not just because he was his doctor. Katie was increasingly certain that Fabio could charm the birds out of the trees, young or old.
Fabio grinned. ‘I might have been able to persuade him if it wasn’t for the fact he’s known me since I was in short trousers. My father’s mother was his cousin. I think he still finds it difficult to accept that I’m old enough to be a doctor.’
Somehow Katie could simply not see Fabio as a child. She was sure he must have sprung from his mother’s womb beautifully dressed and immaculately mannered. The image made her giggle.
‘What’s funny?’ Fabio asked as he swung the car down a broad street lined with Georgian townhouses.
‘Nothing.’ His glance told her that wouldn’t do. ‘Sorry. The image of you in a sleepsuit. I couldn’t help myself. It’s a little different to the way you are now.’
Fabio pretended to look offended, then smiled back. ‘Any image of me that makes you laugh has to be good. I like to see you smile.’
Katie’s pulse skipped a beat and for a moment the air between them was thick with something she couldn’t quite put a finger on. Flustered, she turned her head away and stared out of the window.
Now, what had made him go and say that? Fabio chided himself. His teasing comments clearly made her uncomfortable, but he couldn’t help it, no matter how often he told himself she was off limits. He wanted to see her smile. Since the evening in Monaco when he’d decided that sleeping with her was the only way to get her out of his system, he’d revised his plan. He couldn’t bring himself to seduce her. Since meeting Katie, he wanted to believe that he was better than that. He wanted her to believe he was a better man than he was. For the umpteenth time, he found himself wondering what was causing the sadness that was always lurking, even when she smiled. Had someone hurt her? It made him want to grab whoever it was and shake him by the throat. Any fool could see that she was different from other women. She was shy and reserved and … honest. When Katie gave her heart, it would be without pretence or guile. Women like her deserved better.
Why was he tying himself in knots over her anyway? She was beautiful, not in the way other women were, her mouth was slightly too wide, her nose had a little bump that stopped it from being perfectly straight, and she had the tiniest gap between her two front teeth. For some reason, he found the whole package incredibly attractive. But it wasn’t just that he found her sexy as hell, she had this unsettling effect on his psyche. She made him introspective, made him think about stuff that he had spent most of his life trying not thinking about. And—maybe this had more to do with his attraction than he wanted to admit—she seemed completely unfazed by his attention. That in itself made her different—and a challenge. He’d had his fair share of kiss-and-tells, some of the women whom he dated obviously finding the lure of who he was, or rather who his parents were, irresistible. One or two had even thought he would use his connections to kick-start their acting and singing careers. Those were the women who, once he’d steered them towards someone who might be able to help, he dropped like hotcakes. While he didn’t mind non-serious relationships, indeed made it clear from the get-go that he wasn’t into marriage and babies, neither did he like the feeling he was being used.
He slid a glance at his companion, who was staring out of the window. He was certain that she couldn’t care less who his parents were or who he was connected to. Come to think of it, she didn’t seem that impressed with him either. He hadn’t intended to ask her out earlier, but somehow he had found himself doing exactly that. And she’d said no! Her refusal had taken him by surprise. Porra! One way or another, he had to cure himself of his growing fixation with Katie Simpson before it got completely out of hand.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The visit to Lord Hilton took longer than Katie had expected. The effects of his stroke had made him irritable and out of sorts. Thankfully Fabio had been able to cajole him into accepting the need for regular physio and once Katie had put him through a set of passive movements, Lord Hilton seemed to relax and was even grudgingly grateful.
Back in the car, Katie sighed. ‘That was a bit uncomfortable.’
Fabio smiled again. ‘Don’t worry about Lord H. His bark is worse than his bite. He liked you.’
‘Liked me? I doubt that.’
‘Trust me, he would have evicted you promptly if he hadn’t been happy. He told me when you were washing your hands that you weren’t too bad for someone of your age and that he supposed he’d be happy with you doing his physio. Believe me, that’s praise coming from Hugh.’
It was all right for Fabio, Katie thought grumpily as they sped towards their next patient. He was clearly used to having people eating out of his hand.
Their next patient was a singer who had a car accident a number of weeks before. The singer, so famous even Katie had heard of her, was staying in one of London’s leading hotels while she recovered.
‘She has a house in London, as well as in New York and Los Angeles,’ Fabio said, ‘but she often stays in a hotel while she’s touring in England.’
‘Do you know her well?’ Katie asked, trying not to show how starstruck she was.
‘Not very,’ Fabio said. ‘She came to me with a medical problem the last time she was in London. Up until this accident she’s been touring non-stop. In many ways it’s not a bad thing her accident happened when it did. I warned her she had to slow down. People think it’s all glamour, but the schedules some of these stars lead can be killers.’
‘Was it like that for your father?’ Katie asked.
A muscle twitched in Fabio’s cheek and he frowned.
‘I wouldn’t know. Between my father’s career and my mother’s, I didn’t see that much of them.’ Although his voice was light, Katie thought she saw a shadow cross his face, but before she could be sure, it was gone. ‘On the other hand, whenever I was with them life was always exciting.’
And Katie knew how much Fabio craved excitement. However, she wasn’t convinced by his glib response.
‘But as a child? What was it like for you?’ she persisted. ‘What about school and friends? Did you travel with your parents?’
Fabio steered the car though the heavy traffic before replying.
‘I travelled with them on and off until it was time for me to go to school. Then I went to boarding school, along with several others who had parents in show business. Jonathan was there too. It’s how we met. I spent some school holidays with my folks. Mostly in Brazil. Sometimes in London.’ As a life story it was short and to the point. Clearly Fabio didn’t like talking about his past.
‘Do you go to Brazil to see your mother?’ Katie persisted. His reluctance to share the details of his life made her even more curious.
Once again Fabio paused. ‘I haven’t seen her for years. We don’t really have much to say to each other.’ He drummed his fingers on the steering-wheel. ‘Maybe it’s time I did something about that.’ He sounded surprised, as if the thought hadn’t crossed his mind before.
Katie wanted to probe deeper, but before she could they pulled up in front of the hotel and a doorman rushed to open the car door for them.
‘I’ll get someone to park your car for you, sir,’ the doorman offered. Fabio tossed him the keys and led Katie into the hotel.
‘Tamsin has a suite on the top floor,’ Fabio told Katie.
Her head swivelled as she caught sight of various famous faces in the lobby, some of whom waved at Fabio as they passed by. She even thought she saw a min
or royal sipping coffee. It was all head-spinning stuff. Like being in a dream. She only wished she were. Then Richard would still be alive and everything would be as it should be.
As the lift glided up to the top floor Katie was acutely aware of Fabio. He confused her. When she’d first met him, she’d thought she’d dislike him. He’d appeared to be the epitome of a playboy, but she was beginning to realise that there was far more to this man than his gorgeous looks. He was kind and thoughtful and sympathetic. No wonder his patients, even grouchy Lord Hilton, seemed to adore him. But how much was a facade? What was underneath?
‘You should be aware, if you don’t already know, that Tamsin is going through a messy divorce at the moment. She’s pretty cut up about it,’ Fabio said.
It seemed that celebrity status and wealth was no barrier to pain.
Tamsin opened the door to them and invited them in.
Katie had never been in a hotel room like it before. In fact, it wasn’t a room but a suite with breathtaking views of the Thames and London Bridge.
‘Fabio, thanks so much for coming here,’ Tamsin said with a genuine smile of gratitude. ‘I couldn’t face running the gauntlet of the paparazzi at the moment. They wait for me everywhere.’
Katie felt a stab of sympathy. It must be horrible enough to be going through a divorce without having all the details spelled out in the papers for everyone to read.
‘This is Katie, our physio, Tamsin,’ Fabio introduced her. ‘She’s going to have a look at your shoulder and leave you some exercises to do.’
Tamsin smiled again. ‘I can’t afford to have my shoulder seize up,’ she said. ‘It’s the one I hold the microphone with. I’m due to sing at a concert in a couple of weeks.’
‘There’s no reason why you shouldn’t have full use of your arm once the cast comes off,’ Katie reassured her. ‘The exercises will help you regain full mobility that much quicker, that’s all.’
‘How have you been, Tamsin?’ Fabio asked. ‘Are you getting some rest?’
Tamsin shrugged. ‘I could do with some sleeping pills if you have any in that magic bag of yours. I had to cancel some venues but my sponsors have slotted in some extra dates to make up for the ones I’ve missed. I really need to be at my best if I’m gong to cope.’
Fabio’s expression darkened and he shook his head. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t think sleeping pills are a good idea. Perhaps if you could get some exercise, that would help you sleep.’
Tamsin pouted. ‘Are you sure you can’t give me some? I can’t even leave the hotel to see you, let alone to exercise. My personal trainer comes here, but there isn’t much I can do. Not with my arm in a cast. Go on, Fabio, be a sweetie.’
But Fabio shook his head again. His mouth was set in a grim line. ‘I can’t stop you going to another doctor who will give you sleeping tablets, but I’m afraid I won’t. It’s too easy to become dependent on them.’
Tamsin sighed. ‘I don’t want another doctor, Fabio. I trust you.’
Fabio checked Tamsin’s shoulder as well as taking some blood. ‘I want to make sure there isn’t another reason for your tiredness apart from a too-hectic schedule,’ he explained. When he’d finished, Katie put Tamsin through some passive movements.
‘When does the plaster come off?’ Katie asked.
‘A week tomorrow, thank God. You have no idea how difficult it is to bath and dress while keeping a cast dry. And,’ she added, ‘it is not a good look with an evening dress. Which reminds me …’ She eyed Fabio hopefully. ‘I have tickets for Vipers tonight. Everybody is going to be there. I hear that waste of space who used to be my husband is going with his latest fancy. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to accompany a woman in an evening dress and arm cast, would you?’
‘Sorry, Tamsin, but you know the rules. You’re my patient.’
Tamsin pouted but clearly realised Fabio wouldn’t change his mind. ‘I could always change my doctor,’ she said teasingly.
Fabio smiled coolly. ‘Still wouldn’t be allowed, Tamsin. Sorry.’
Katie hid a smile. At least there were some rules Fabio wasn’t prepared to break.
‘So what do you think of Tamsin?’ Fabio asked as they waited for his car to be brought round to the front of the hotel. ‘Is she like you imagined?’
‘Not at all,’ Katie admitted. ‘The newspapers make her out to be some kind of monster, but I liked her.’
‘The newspapers are wrong about a lot.’ Fabio’s lips thinned. ‘I’ve been on the receiving end of their fabrications more than once.’
He tipped the doorman and opened the car door for her.
‘You’ll find that the patients we deal with, although often rich and famous, are, under the surface, like most people. Perhaps a little more insecure than most.’ He smiled at her. ‘More insecure than you, at any rate. You have a natural way with them. It’s good that you don’t let their celebrity status get in the way of how you treat them. It would be easy to be bullied into doing what they want rather than what’s right for them.’
‘Like Tamsin and the sleeping pills?’
‘Exactly. There are plenty of unscrupulous doctors out there who are prepared to give those rich enough or famous enough anything they ask for. Even if it ends up killing them.’ The bleak look she thought she’d seen earlier was back. It made Katie wonder how much of the rumours and speculation surrounding his father’s death were true. The papers had reported his death as being the result of an accidental overdose. In that case, no wonder Fabio had taken a firm line with Tamsin.
‘But they trust you.’
‘It helps that I’m part of their world. They know I’d rather lose them as a patient than compromise my ethics. And if they don’t …’ he shrugged ‘… they can go elsewhere.’
She believed him. Underneath his light-hearted demeanour ran a thread of steel. It would have been better had he not been someone she could admire. Far, far easier to resist the magnetism that radiated from his every pore.
‘That’s us finished for the day. How about I run you home?’ Fabio suggested.
‘Oh, there’s no need. Just drop me at the tube station.’
Again that dazzling smile. ‘It’s no problem. You’ve had a busy day and at this time the tube is packed.’
‘Don’t tell me you know from first-hand experience. I won’t believe you.’
He pulled a face. ‘No, you’re right. The last time I used the tube was years ago and nothing would tempt me to use it again. It takes far too long, apart from anything else.’
‘In which case, a lift home would be very nice.’
‘Are you sure you won’t change your mind about tonight?’
‘So you can cheer me up?’ She couldn’t keep the asperity from her voice.
He looked at her in surprise. ‘Because I like being with you,’ he said softly.
The world seemed to shrink until it contained only them. Katie’s heart tumbled in her chest. She didn’t know how to behave, what to do with this man. Every instinct was screaming to keep their relationship professional while another part of her wanted nothing more than to be with him.
She forced herself to listen to her brain. Much more sensible.
‘I can’t, really.’ She smiled. ‘But thanks for asking.’
He looked at her, the expression in his green eyes unreadable. After what seemed like minutes, but could have only been seconds, he bent over and touched her cheek with his lips.
‘Goodbye, Katie. I’ll see you on Monday. Have a good weekend.’ Then, with a casual wave of his hand, he was gone.
Katie touched her cheek with her fingertips. Every minute she was becoming more confused by him. Did he really want to spend time with her, or was he just being friendly to a colleague he knew was going through a bad time? And why did it matter?
The next morning Fabio was up and out before it was light. He’d spent the night tossing and turning, trying not to think of Katie. It hadn’t worked. He kept thinking about the way he felt when he was with
her. Peaceful was the word that sprang to mind and since when did he do peaceful? On the other hand, the way she kept probing into his life, while studying him with those steady grey eyes, unsettled him. Already he had shared more with her about his life than he had with any other woman. And no matter how often he told himself that she was off limits, he kept looking for opportunities to be alone with her. It was as if his head and his heart belonged to two different people.
At dawn he’d given up on trying to get back to sleep and after dressing quickly had jumped into his car. Driving at speed, he had reached the cliffs just as it was getting light.
He checked the buckles of his parachute once more. Everything was secure. It had to be. In this sport, nothing could be left to chance. It was risky enough as it was.
He walked across to the side of the cliff and studied the contours of the mountain one final time.
There was plenty of clearance as long as he jumped away from the cliff and turned the right way. He would open his parachute about halfway down. Adrenaline rushed through his body, almost making him giddy. He loved the feeling. He never felt more alive than when he was jumping or surfing one of the big waves.
Although he wasn’t his father, perhaps they were more alike than he wanted to admit. Dad had needed constant excitement in his life in ever-increasing amounts and he himself did too. But he chose to get his thrills from testing himself against the elements—unlike his father who had found his escape in drink and drugs until eventually they had killed him. Far better to die doing something like this than by drinking yourself into an early grave. At least he had no child, neither would he ever have one, to worry about leaving behind. No woman either. Or none that were ever likely to be a permanent feature. They were a necessary and enjoyable part of his life, but as soon as they got too serious he broke it off—he didn’t want or need emotional entanglement. He didn’t want to be responsible for another human being and especially not their happiness. Why then did he have to keep reminding himself of that these days?
All he could remember from the time his parents were still together was raised voices, slamming doors and then his father staring into the fire with a drink in his hand. They’d been exciting but indifferent parents. He missed the excitement, but as for the indifference, he’d learned from early on only to rely on himself. That way no one got hurt.
