Oliver’s words fired new arousal through a body she thought must surely be sated. She couldn’t believe she was here with him, that after so many years of locking her sensual side away, Oliver had breezed into her life and so easily broken down the walls of her prison—a prison she hadn’t even consciously known existed. Now she knew what she had been missing, but she also knew it wasn’t sex per se, it was Oliver himself. She wanted to travel this erotic journey with him for ever.
‘Don’t move,’ he instructed, rolling off her.
‘I don’t think I could.’
Smiling, she watched as he left the room, presumably to dispose of the condom. She closed her eyes, trying to capture and relive every moment of the most earth-shattering experience of her life. She felt exhilarated, charged, buzzing with life and yet deliciously spent. Her eyes opened as Oliver came back into the room, unselfconscious about his nakedness, and she revelled in being able to look at him in all his naked glory. He was superb. When he knelt on the bed beside her and she realised what he was going to do, she tensed, feeling embarrassed.
Leaning down, he kissed her. ‘Let me take care of you, babe.’
A blush stained her cheeks and she closed her eyes, surrendering to him as he used a warm, wet flannel to wash between her thighs. She felt tender, but not unpleasantly so. When he had finished, he surprised her again, lifting her up in his arms and carrying her from the room.
‘Where are we going?’ she murmured, feeling sleepy.
‘I’ve run a warm bath for you. I don’t want you getting stiff and sore.’
Touched by his kindness, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. He set her on her feet beside the bath, cupping her face to bestow a lingering kiss on her lips.
‘You get in. I won’t be a minute, then I’ll scrub your back!’
Smiling, Chloe pinned up her hair and lowered herself into the fragrant bubble bath, the lavender scent relaxing her. Oliver soon returned and slipped into the bath behind her, wrapping his arms around her. For a while she enjoyed resting back against his chest, disinclined to talk. As the water began to cool, Oliver reached for the sponge, soaped it, and took his time working over every inch of her.
‘What about my turn?’ she complained when he rose and stepped out of the bath.
‘Next time.’ The devilish smile he sent her as he shook out a towel and held it ready for her made her glow inside with renewed desire. ‘I have other plans for you now.’
When he led her back to the bedroom, she discovered he had changed the sheets and again felt a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude for his thoughtfulness. She gasped as he tipped her onto the bed and followed her down, relishing the feeling that this was Oliver let off the leash of the self-control he had maintained until now. He was an amazing man and it hit her for the first time that she’d fallen completely in love with him. Oh, hell. But she didn’t have time to fret over the revelation because Oliver’s hands and mouth were taking her back to paradise.
In the days that followed, Chloe spent every spare moment she could with Oliver—and every night with him in his bed or hers. Lauren and Kate had noticed the difference in her, claiming she was glowing. Oliver was certainly teaching her things she had never imagined and she was a more than willing pupil, growing in confidence to explore his body and give him pleasure in return.
As she waited for her next patient to arrive, she couldn’t stop her mind drifting to Oliver. It always did. The last month had changed her life. Oliver had changed her life. She had never been so happy, never felt so free, so content, so whole. But she was scared it wouldn’t last. Nothing had been said about any kind of future. Oliver had never discussed his plans for when this contract ended or his flat lease expired, and he had never said how he felt about her, not in words, even while he loved her with his body. She had been equally careful not to betray her own feelings for him, but she very much feared she had given Oliver more than her body. She had given him her heart and her soul.
She had gone into this with her eyes open, so she had no one to blame but herself for falling in love with him—something she had claimed she would never do. But until Oliver, she had never known what love was. Now she did…and it just might break her heart.
CHAPTER NINE
‘A QUICK word before you go out to your house calls?’
Oliver looked round at Nick Tremayne’s words, halting on his way towards the front entrance of the surgery. ‘Of course.’
Puzzled by the request, wondering what Nick wanted to talk to him about, Oliver followed the older man to his consulting room and closed the door.
‘Sit down, Oliver.’ The senior partner’s relaxed manner and rare smile eased Oliver’s wariness. ‘You’re probably aware there are changes afoot in the practice,’ Nick began. ‘My daughter, Lucy, headed up the plans for expansion before she went on maternity leave. When the alterations are finished we’ll have a broader capability to treat minor injuries, plus there will be X-ray facilities and a plaster room. Various other services will be more in-house, including Lauren having a better physiotherapy space to see more patients here.’
‘Everyone’s very excited about the new facilities,’ Oliver agreed.
‘Good, good. The workload is continuing to increase for us all, and not just during the tourist season. Initially, your contract was temporary, but your experience suits our needs and will benefit us even more when the expansion is complete.’ The older man paused, his gaze assessing as he sat forward and rested his elbows on the desk. ‘How would you feel about staying on in Penhally Bay? You’ve fitted in here, the patients like and trust you, and the staff find you a pleasure to work with. Lucy may not come back to work full time for some time, and Dragan would like to be flexible and reduce his hours when Melinda has their baby. Even with Gabriel Devereux coming over from France for a year in the autumn, we’ll need another doctor. We’ve discussed things, Oliver—myself, Lucy, Dragan and Adam—and we’d like to offer you a full-time post and a junior partnership.’
He felt dumbstruck! When he had first decided to come back to Cornwall, he had hoped to settle down, and the opportunity to stay on permanently suited him down to the ground. Possibilities ran through his mind. Part of him wanted to accept Nick’s offer on the spot, knowing he had finally found a place to call home, one that offered the kind of community-based medicine he loved. But another part of him urged patience and caution. He needed to share this with Chloe, to have some sense of what the future held in store for them, and if he had a chance with her long term. If Chloe didn’t want him, he wasn’t sure he could stay here, to see her, work with her but not touch her and be with her.
For the first time in his life he was in love. He had laid himself bare to Chloe, was totally vulnerable in a way he had never been before. Physically, things just got better and better between them, and she was an avid learner, eager and enthusiastic to experience everything. Emotionally, he felt on shaky ground. For him it was serious. But he had no clue about Chloe’s feelings. She had never spoken of them, had never asked about his own. Neither had she asked him about his plans. So many times he had wanted to tell her he loved her but he had held back, scared of her rejection.
Old hurts and doubts nagged at him and he couldn’t help but remember the way he had been used so often before. He had never been so uncertain, or so dependent on another person for his happiness, his very existence. Did Chloe see beyond the playboy image to the person he was inside? Could she get over her past and come to love him? He needed answers before he could give Nick a decision.
‘Think about it and let me know in a few days,’ Nick said now, clearly taking his silence for reticence.
‘I will. Thank you, Nick. I’m overwhelmed—but delighted.’ Rising to his feet, he shook his boss’s hand. ‘I just need to be sure of a couple of things before saying one hundred per cent yes.’
A knowing glint appeared in Nick’s eyes. ‘I understand.’
As he headed out to complete his house calls, Oliver already kn
ew what he wanted. To accept the position, to put down roots in Penhally and make a life with Chloe. To love her, marry her and cherish her. For ever. What would she say when he told her he loved her? Could she care for him as he did for her? Or was he making a mistake in pinning all hopes for the future on her?
‘How did the barbecue go?’ Chloe asked when she met up with Kate for a quick cup of tea before the final antenatal clinic of the day began.
‘It was good.’ Kate smiled, helping herself to one of Hazel’s home-made biscuits. ‘I have to say that Gabriel Devereux, the French doctor, is absolutely gorgeous! Dark skin, dark hair, dark eyes. Charm personified. And that accent!’
Chloe smiled. ‘Sounds like you’re smitten.’
‘Unfortunately I’m fifteen or twenty years too old.’ Kate chuckled. ‘Lucky Lauren, though, having him as a neighbour when he arrives for his year’s placement. He loved the Manor House and Nick is making the arrangements for the long-term let.’
‘That’s good. And what about Jem? Was everything all right?’ Chloe asked, concealing how much she had worried about Kate and her son attending Nick’s welcoming event for the French GP.
Sitting back in her chair, propping her feet up, Kate looked thoughtful. ‘It actually went well. Nick has always known Jem, of course, just not that he’s his father,’ she explained, lowering her voice even though the staffroom was empty. ‘At one point Jem fell over, grazing his knee, and it was Nick who took him indoors to bathe it. I was desperate to go, too, but thought it best to leave well alone. Neither of them said anything but, with at least four other doctors in attendance, I took it as a step forward that Nick wanted to do it himself.’
Chloe hoped Kate was right. It would be good if Nick did come round. Even if he decided not to publicly claim Jem as his son, he could have a friendly relationship with the boy, be an influence in his life as a role model. And she knew Kate would be happy if her own friendship with Nick could return to its former footing, even if her love ultimately remained unrequited.
‘How about you and the lovely Oliver?’ Kate queried, her eyes twinkling.
Fighting a blush, Chloe thought again of how special he was, how her life had changed because of him. ‘It’s good. More than good.’
‘Why do I sense a but?’ Kate sat forward again, a frown creasing her brow. ‘What’s worrying you, my love?’
‘We’ve just not talked about anything. You know, whatever this is between us. Not beyond taking things a day at a time. I’m terrified he’ll move on soon and this brief interlude will be over,’ she admitted, her stomach tightening.
‘Oh, Chloe. Perhaps Oliver is being cautious because he knows what a big step this is for you,’ she suggested, and it was Chloe’s turn to frown as she considered her friend’s words. ‘This is new for him, too. Maybe he needs to hear how you feel.’
Chloe thought over what Kate had said as she returned to her room and prepared to greet her first patient of the afternoon. If only she had some idea how Oliver felt about her, if he planned to stay, she might have the courage to take that extra step and confess how much she loved him.
Never willing to stint on patient care, Oliver forced himself to set his thoughts about his own future aside, but he longed to return to the surgery and see Chloe. The afternoon seemed to drag, but he was soon on his final home visit.
Edith Jones, one of Lucy’s patients, lived in a bungalow in Polkerris Road. In her seventies, Edith had endured a tough year. On top of her heart problems and suffering a minor stroke, she had fallen in her home and split her kneecap in two. Since she had returned home from the hospital after initial rehabilitation, the district nurses and a GP visited her regularly, and Lauren was involved in her care, helping her remain as mobile as possible. Oliver had visited Edith a couple of times and was thankful the elderly lady was maintaining Lucy’s original advice to change her diet and reduce her salt intake.
‘Anything else I can do for you today, Edith?’ he asked, packing away his things, satisfied with the results of his examination.
‘No. Thank you, Dr Oliver.’ She sent him a gentle smile. ‘It’s a bit of a struggle, but I’m coping, and everyone is very kind. I’m relieved to be able to stay in my own home with my own things around me. Sarah Pearce, my neighbour, is an angel. And I have my cat for company.’
‘Call any time if there is anything you need.’
Reassured that Edith was settled, he took his leave. The journey back to the surgery was short and, when he pulled his four-by-four into the car park he saw Lauren getting out of her Renault.
‘Hi, Lauren,’ he greeted her, balancing his pile of patient notes and his medical bag while locking the door.
‘Hello, Oliver.’
‘I’ve just seen Edith Jones. She seems to be doing well.’
Walking with him towards the entrance, Lauren nodded. ‘Yes, she is. I’m going in twice a week at the moment.’
They walked into the reception area to be greeted by Sue, the head receptionist. Oliver smiled and set his notes down on the counter for them to be filed away, then accepted the bundle of phone messages Sue handed him.
‘Thank you. Anything urgent, Sue?’ he asked, flicking through them.
‘No, I don’t think so. I do have one urgent call for you, though, Lauren,’ she continued, handing over the message. ‘Can you call back straight away?’
Lauren frowned at the note. ‘Of course. I’ll do it now.’
‘Vicky is here—she said she was meeting you. She’s upstairs, talking with Chloe,’ Sue explained.
‘I’m going up,’ Oliver told Lauren, eager to see Chloe himself. ‘I’ll let Vicky know you’re back.’
‘Thanks, Oliver.’
Filled with urgency and a sense of purpose, Oliver left his medical bag and his phone messages in his consulting room then headed for the stairs. At the top, he rounded the corner. Chloe’s door was open, but as he heard her and Vicky talking he hesitated outside, frozen to immobility, unable to believe what he was hearing. Blindly, he put out a hand to brace himself, feeling as if his heart was being dug out of his chest with a blunt spoon, leaving him bleeding and battered.
‘Is that beard rash on your neck?’ Vicky grinned, perching on the desk and leaning closer.
‘No.’ Chloe fought a blush, determined to hide the truth from Vicky. It was just as well she couldn’t see the other places on her body that carried the faint mark of the delicious caress of Oliver’s stubbled jaw. ‘I was in the sun too long.’
Vicky’s grin widened. ‘Sure you were! So you and Oliver are finally doing the wild thing, like I told you to. I knew my plan would work. Having him around for a few weeks was bound to liven up your boring sex life.’
‘Thanks.’ Her ironic riposte was lost on Vicky.
‘What’s the stud muffin like in bed? I wouldn’t mind finding out for myself when you’ve finished with him…if he sticks around long enough.’
Chloe’s hands clenched to fists in her lap as she tried to hide her anger, wishing Lauren would hurry back and rescue her from this torture. The very thought of Oliver with anyone else twisted her insides with pain and jealousy. She liked Vicky…usually. The woman wasn’t spiteful, but she was incredibly tactless, leaping in without thinking. No way was Chloe going to leave herself or Oliver open to Vicky’s brand of loose talking. And no way did she want Vicky anywhere near Oliver.
‘You haven’t been stupid enough to fall in love with him, have you, Chloe?’ Vicky continued, flicking her fringe—today her hair was green—away from her eyes.
‘Of course not,’ she lied.
‘Well, that’s a relief. We all know he’s not that kind of man, so it’s no use you starting to think wedding bells or anything. That’s why he was so perfect for your summer fling.’
‘So you said.’ Chloe ducked her head to hide her hurt, wanting to yell that Vicky had no idea what kind of man Oliver was. She knew there was no point in explaining, the other girl would never understand how wrong she was. ‘Let’s fo
rget it, Vicky. It’s not important.’
She just wanted Vicky to go. She knew how sensitive Oliver was about people falsely labelling him as a playboy and she was disappointed and cross with Vicky for doing the same thing. She wanted to protect Oliver, to stand up for him, but at the same time she didn’t want Vicky spreading rumours and gossip around Penhally about her relationship with Oliver. And she certainly wasn’t going to confide to Vicky how she truly felt about him, not until she had told Oliver himself and knew what his plans were and if she stood any chance with him. Vicky knew nothing of her past and would never comprehend what a huge step she had taken in trusting Oliver and finding love with him. It wasn’t something she wanted talked about or mocked, however well meaning the teasing might be.
Oliver leaned against the wall, a tight band around his chest preventing him from breathing. Something inside him died and a void opened up. A dark, cold void where just moments ago there had been hope and love and the feeling that maybe this once he had met someone who saw beyond the playboy exterior. He had thought Chloe was different. Apparently not. He stepped into the room, bitter hurt and betrayal swirling inside him, mingling with anger at himself for being such a fool and at Chloe for not being all he had thought she was.
He had tried not to worry that Chloe had said nothing about her feelings, had not wanted to spoil the perfection of their days and nights together by pressing her too soon, by revealing his love for her. He had worried that she might never get beyond her past, and yet he had still gone ahead and laid himself bare to her, committing himself body and soul, leaving himself more vulnerable than ever before.
That Chloe had discussed him with her friends, had been using him as a temporary playboy for some sex education and a holiday fling, hurt more than he believed possible. He was devastated. All his dreams and plans, fledgling ones that had taken real flight after Nick’s offer earlier, now crumbled to dust around him.
Brides of Penhally Bay - Vol 2 Page 63
