He raised an eyebrow at that, irritated by the way so few people saw beyond the image. Sure, he enjoyed life, he liked to have a good time, indulge in the things he could afford and which gave him pleasure and relaxation away from the pressures and responsibilities of his work, things like surfing and jet-skiing. That didn’t mean he was a jerk.
‘I wanted time to settle, for the community to accept me, not judge on rumour and gossip or the family name.’ He paused, reining in his disgruntlement. It wasn’t Kate’s fault. He needed to earn a new reputation, a true one. ‘I’ve noticed you and Lauren are very protective of Chloe.’
Kate’s expression softened. ‘Chloe is special. Be patient, Oliver. Go slowly. Don’t scare her.’
‘She’s frightened of me?’ Shocked, he stared at Kate in disbelief. He respected women, would never cause anyone harm. ‘I don’t understand. I’d never hurt her.’
‘Not intentionally, maybe.’
‘But—’
‘Chloe puts up a lot of barriers and not many people get to know the real woman,’ Kate explained. ‘Her work is her life and that has always suited her.’
‘She doesn’t date?’
‘No.’
Confused, Oliver studied Kate’s face. ‘But why? She’s intelligent, beautiful, funny.’
‘I know.’ The older woman’s smile was filled with affection and a hint of sadness. ‘You’ll have your work cut out to persuade Chloe. It won’t be easy. But I think you’d be good for her.’ She hesitated a moment, biting her lip as she considered him. ‘I can’t break a confidence, Oliver, and Chloe is one of my best friends. I don’t know everything, but I do know that she has issues.’
‘Issues?’
‘I can’t say more. I would if I could—and I encourage you to persevere.’
He mulled over the information. ‘Issues from her past? With men?’ Was that why Chloe was so skittish?
‘Only Chloe can explain…if she trusts you enough.’
So, if he really wanted to take things further, he had to keep working hard to earn Chloe’s trust. Patience wasn’t his strong suit, not when he wanted something badly enough…and he did want Chloe. To her friends she was special. Hadn’t he sensed that, too? There was something different about her. Wasn’t that why he was still interested when a relationship so soon had never been on his agenda? For some reason he couldn’t yet fathom, Kate saw something in him, and was encouraging him not to give up on Chloe. He had no idea where the journey would end, but for now he was along for the ride.
‘Oliver, I think you should talk to Lauren. She knows much more than I do about Chloe’s past…not that she’ll divulge any secrets. But she might have some better advice on how to gain Chloe’s confidence.’ Kate hesitated, her gaze assessing. ‘If you’re serious about this. Chloe’s not a temporary kind of girl.’
‘I know that.’ Oliver frowned, seeking a way to explain feelings he scarcely understood himself. ‘I came here to begin a different life, Kate, to settle down. This is new to me, but I’d like the chance to get to know Chloe, to see what develops. She affects me in ways I’ve never experienced before.’
‘Then I think you’ll find Lauren and I will do all we can to help.’
A slow smile curved Oliver’s mouth as hope flared inside him. He didn’t imagine wooing Chloe was going to be easy, not from the subtle, mysterious hints Kate had given him. He wasn’t even sure of himself, of what he was getting into. But giving up on Chloe was not an option.
Kate stood outside Nick’s imposing stone built house, situated at the opposite end of the village to her own whitewashed cottage. Was she doing the right thing? She had managed to sound confident when she had told Chloe of her plans, but much of that bravado had evaporated. It was impossible to explain how hurt she was. Nick had genuine cause to be angry at the way he had found out about Jem—overhearing her confidential confession to Eloise that day at the surgery must have been a shock—but she didn’t feel it excused his behaviour towards her since. Today he had taken the easy way out in his eagerness to avoid her, but in doing so he had drawn Chloe, Oliver and a host of patients into their personal disagreement, and that wouldn’t do.
Having worked up a fresh head of indignation, she walked along the path to the single-storey extension where the top half of the yellow-painted stable door stood open. Inside the expensively fitted kitchen, all wood and granite and steel, Nick stood at the island unit, his back to her. Before she lost her nerve, she rapped on the door. Nick swung round in surprise, his face creasing in a scowl of displeasure, the expression in his eyes cooling, leaving her in little doubt that she was not welcome. Tough.
‘What do you want?’ he demanded, voice harsh.
‘We need to talk, Nick.’
He folded his arms across his chest, withdrawing into himself. ‘We have nothing to talk about.’
‘You’re wrong.’ As he turned and left the room without another word, she reached over the lip of the door and opened the bottom half, swinging it open and following him into the main part of the house, finding him in the airy sitting room. ‘Don’t walk away from me!’
‘You’re trespassing.’
‘For goodness’ sake!’ Usually slow to ire, Kate wanted to shake the man. ‘How long are you going to keep this up? It isn’t going to go away by ignoring it.’
Nick faced her, his scowl deepening. ‘I’ve told you, I don’t want to talk about it. I feel betrayed, I—’
‘You feel betrayed? That’s rich. For once in your life stop and think how other people might feel. How I might feel.’ Her hands clenched to fists at her sides. ‘What we did, Nick, we did together. It was a terrible time, we needed each other. Then we both admitted it was wrong and we never spoke of it again. I had the guilt of betraying James while he was out there, dying, his body never found. How do you think it was for me, coming to terms with losing my husband, discovering I was pregnant from my one night of comfort with you? What was I supposed to do? Come and tell you and Annabel about it? Or would you rather I had sprung it on you a few years later while you were going through your own desperate grief at losing your wife? When would have been the “right time”, Nick?’
He looked surprised at her outburst but no more approachable. ‘I don’t know. I don’t have any answers. What do you expect of me?’
‘Nothing. Nothing at all,’ she shot back, knowing she had long ago given up expecting anything from the man she had always loved but who had chosen another woman over her, a woman for whom he was still grieving.
‘What about Lucy, Jack and Edward?’ he demanded, naming his grown-up children. ‘What do you think this will do to them?’
‘I have no idea. All I do know is that they are adults, exceptional people who have their own lives and responsibilities. You can tell them or not, as you think fit. What really worries you? That they’ll think less of you?’
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Nick turned away to stare out of the window. ‘My relationships with all three of them haven’t been easy.’
‘No.’ Kate resisted pointing out that he was largely to blame for that. It wouldn’t help the current situation. ‘The person who most concerns me is Jeremiah. He’s only a child. I don’t want him hurt.’
‘I repeat, what do you want?’ he challenged, swinging back to face her, his expression fierce.
Kate held her ground. ‘I have no intention of making demands on you, or of publicly outing you as Jem’s father. If you would like to spend more time getting to know him until you decide what you want to do, that’s fine with me, but I won’t have him hurt, used or tossed aside if it gets too much.’ Taking advantage of Nick’s continued silence, she pressed on. ‘At work, I want you to at least be civil. It isn’t fair on the other staff, or the patients, that you treat me like a pariah. Today was embarrassing for everyone, especially Chloe and Oliver. And it isn’t right for people like the Trevellyans and the Fiddicks that you put our personal business before their medical needs. They are your patients, Nick. We ha
ve to see their journeys through with them, even if you cut back some of your other antenatal work for patients not on your list. We’re adults. We made adult decisions, adult choices, adult mistakes. We have to bear the consequences like adults,’ she finished, the fight draining out of her.
A muscle pulsed along Nick’s jaw and he evaded her gaze. They stood in tense silence for several moments until Kate could bear it no longer. Her shoulders slumped. She knew him well enough of old to know he wasn’t about to unbend, not until he had time to think things over for himself. If only she didn’t still care for him, if she didn’t still love him, despite all their ups and downs and all that had happened in their years of friendship.
‘Think about it, Nick,’ she advised quietly. ‘I’ll see myself out.’
She was shaking, her pulse racing from the fraught encounter, as she walked back towards the centre of the village. Finally she was passing the library and approaching the cluster of six cottages known as Fisherman’s Row, which occupied the last of the space before the harbour bridge and the turning to Bridge Street. Forcing back the threat of tears, she stopped outside one of the colourful old cottages and rang Chloe’s doorbell.
With Jem safely occupied, kicking a ball around the small enclosed garden at the rear of her cottage, Chloe dried her hands and went to answer the front door.
‘Hi,’ she greeted, stepping back to let Kate enter, noticing the glisten of unshed tears in her brown eyes and the paleness of her face, presumably evidence of her recent encounter with Nick. ‘Come on in. I’ve just made some fresh lemonade.’
‘OK.’
‘Jem’s out at the back. He’s been fine. He wore Pirate and Cyclops out in no time,’ Chloe chattered on, gesturing to the two cats curled up asleep side by side in an armchair.
Kate managed a smile. ‘Thanks, Chloe. For everything.’
‘No problem.’ Returning the smile, she poured two glasses of the ice-cold, tangy drink and handed one to her friend. ‘Would you like to sit a while?’
‘That would be good.’
They chose chairs by the open doors, watching Jem play outside. Chloe curbed her nosiness but couldn’t help wondering what had happened when Kate had visited Nick. It seemed clear that Kate didn’t want to talk about it, however. Nick was a wonderful doctor, but he could be difficult, and he was known to be rigid in his opinions. Chloe ached for her friend and the predicament she now found herself in.
Kate had recently taken her into her confidence about Nick being Jem’s father and, whilst she didn’t know the circumstances of how it had all come about, she knew how much her friend fretted over it and felt guilty. Chloe could understand how Nick felt at not being told before, but she could also understand Kate’s point of view. Although Kate had always been staunch in her friendship and support, Nick often appeared to take her for granted and not appreciate all she did, for the practice and for him. If both of them had felt guilty for their aberration all those years ago, and then both had needed to deal with bereavement at different times, it couldn’t have been easy for Kate to know what to do for the best.
‘Chloe?’
‘Hmm?’ Feeling relaxed, she leaned back in the chair and sipped her drink.
‘Why did you let Oliver think you had a date tonight?’
Surprised at Kate’s question, Chloe faced her. ‘I’d made arrangements with you.’
‘I could easily have changed my plans.’
‘But why?’ She frowned in confusion. ‘Oliver probably just wanted to talk about work after our meeting. I told him we’d discuss it next week.’
Kate laughed. ‘That’s not at all what he wanted, Chloe!’
‘It isn’t?’
‘No, my love!’ Shaking her head, Kate reached out and patted her arm with amused tolerance. ‘Oliver’s interested in you.’
A prickle of breathless apprehension rippled through Chloe. ‘Excuse me?’
‘As a woman. Chloe…’ She sighed, her smile reflecting both affection and a hint of exasperation. ‘I know you don’t think of yourself that way, but you are a woman. A beautiful woman. And Oliver has noticed.’
‘He can’t have!’
Laughing again but kindly, Kate finished her lemonade. ‘Oliver reminds me of my late husband, James, when he was that age. The whole sexy surfer image and the warm charm, but with that underlying kindness and honesty.’
‘But what am I going to do?’ Chloe fretted, with increasing alarm.
‘It’s a new experience for you, I know, but why not try it?’ Surprisingly calm in comparison to her own raging emotions, Kate’s voice was gentle with understanding. ‘Spend time with Oliver. Get to know him. You might find you enjoy being with him.’
With the heavy weight of her past preying on her mind, holding her in chains, Chloe stared at her friend, speechless with shock. How could Kate even suggest such a thing?
‘Oh, Chloe, my love!’ Chuckling, Kate set down her empty glass. ‘You should see your face!’ Sobering, the older woman reached out and took her hand. ‘I know a little about your past, but maybe this is the perfect time for you to finally put it behind you. I hate to see you missing out on such a big part of life. Outward images can be deceptive. There’s so much more to Oliver. Don’t judge him on rumour. He could be the perfect man to teach you to be a woman in the fullest sense of the word—the real woman you are inside—if only you would let him.’
CHAPTER THREE
‘HELLO, Oliver.’
At the sound of the female voice behind him, Oliver turned from scanning the crowds at Penhally’s Saturday morning farmers’ market and met Lauren Nightingale’s slate-grey gaze. Tall, athletic and curvy, she was attractive, with an engaging smile, her long, light brown hair glowing lighter under the summer sunshine. Excellent at her job, the thirty year old was renowned for building rapport with her patients—and, he had discovered, affectionately teased for her inherent clumsiness. Oliver had only heard good things about her, and following the interactions he had already had with her through work, he liked her immensely.
‘Hi, Lauren.’
Unable to help himself, his gaze strayed past her, eager for a glimpse of Chloe, whom Kate had hinted would be here with her friend today. He felt deflated when he could find no sign of her.
‘Kate was right, you do have it bad!’
‘Sorry?’ The teasing in Lauren’s tone had him switching his attention back to her. A frown creased his brow. ‘What did you say?’
Grey eyes sparkling with mischief, Lauren linked her arm through his and led him towards a haphazard collection of tables and chairs. ‘Sit for a few minutes. We’ll have something to drink and discuss a strategy.’
‘A strategy?’ Feeling he had stepped into some kind of twilight zone, Oliver’s frown deepened, but he did as instructed and sat down.
‘About Chloe.’ A dimpled smile appeared as Lauren faced him. ‘I assume she is the reason you are here?’
‘You assume correctly,’ he admitted, returning the smile.
Accepting a chilled fruit smoothie, he began to relax as it dawned on him that Kate must have told Lauren about their talk, and that the younger woman was possibly not averse to the idea of him dating Chloe. At least, he hoped that was what Lauren meant by planning a strategy. Again his gaze strayed around the shifting crowds of tourists and locals examining the stallholders’ wares.
‘I’m afraid Chloe won’t be joining us,’ Lauren told him, correctly reading the direction of his thoughts. ‘She was paged this morning to attend a pregnant tourist staying at the Anchor Hotel.’
Trying to mask his disappointment, Oliver nodded and decided to get straight to the point. ‘So Kate’s spoken of my interest in Chloe?’
‘She has. And however daft it sounds, I feel as protective of Chloe as some old Victorian aunt.’ The warning was softened by the smile and the laughter in her eyes, but was there nonetheless.
‘That’s OK. I’m glad Chloe has such good friends looking out for her,’ he answered calmly, hoping
to allay any fears Lauren might have. ‘This isn’t a game for me, Lauren. I don’t know what you might have heard about my past, but—’
She raised a hand and forestalled his words. ‘I’m not much of a one for heeding rumour and gossip, Oliver. I take people as I find them. And I’m a pretty good judge of character. You may not have been with us long, but I like you, so does Kate, and we both think you could be just what Chloe needs. But things are not going to be straightforward,’ she finished, and this time her warning sounded more serious.
‘Kate mentioned there were issues, but I don’t know what they are.’ He met Lauren’s gaze, his own sincere. ‘You and Kate both say I should keep trying. What is it you think Chloe needs? And why me?’ he asked, his uncertainty showing, unsure himself whether he, who had never had a steady relationship, was able to deliver what her friends believed he could. ‘What can you tell me that I need to know if I’m to begin to win Chloe’s trust?’
Lauren took a sip of her tangy drink, her expression thoughtful. ‘First of all, Chloe doesn’t date.’
‘You mean she isn’t dating anyone right now?’ Oliver clarified, but Lauren was shaking her head.
‘No, I mean she doesn’t date. Full stop.’
‘Ever?’ For a moment he was sure he had misunderstood but then remembered Kate had said something similar the night before. ‘Chloe never dates at all?’
‘That’s right.’
‘But why?’
Lauren’s grey gaze was sombre as she faced him. ‘It’s a long story, Oliver, and it isn’t mine to tell. I won’t break Chloe’s confidence, no matter how much I support what you are trying to do.’
‘I wouldn’t expect you to. So where do I go from here?’ he persisted, puzzled.
‘You’ll have your work cut out for you.’ Lauren’s words again echoed Kate’s and her smile was just as sad. ‘Be Chloe’s friend, don’t take away her choices, don’t push too hard too soon.’
A heavy knot of suspicion tightened his gut. ‘Someone hurt her in the past? Physically? Emotionally? Or both?’ Lauren didn’t reply but, then, she didn’t have to. The shadows clouding her eyes as she withdrew her gaze answered his questions more effectively than words.
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