A Proposal to Remember

by Sarah Morgan

  A girl with a clipboard murmured something in the producer’s ear and Polly smiled. ‘It will make fantastic television. But obviously only with the family’s permission. And I agree that it was amazing teamwork.’ The producer stepped forward, an awed expression on her face. ‘The two of you were so slick. It was like watching a medical drama! Better, because it was real.’

  Anna gritted her teeth and Sam drew in a breath, clearly anticipating a problem. ‘Anna—’

  ‘You shouldn’t have filmed without the patient’s permission.’

  ‘We put a notice up saying that anyone not wishing to be filmed simply has to say so.’

  Anna glanced at the wall, scanned the notice and scowled. ‘Well, the Craddocks weren’t exactly reading the notices on the wall when they came in here, were they? They wouldn’t even have seen it!’

  John Craddock rubbed the back of his neck and cast a glance towards his daughter, who was now sitting on his wife’s lap. ‘Can’t honestly say I mind if they show it, Dr Riggs. Not if it saves someone else. What do you think, Michelle?’

  His wife gave a wavering smile. She was still very pale from the experience. ‘To be honest, I’m only too pleased for other people to learn the risks of not drinking straight from cans in the summer. It had never even occurred to me. And I worry about everything when it comes to the kids!’

  Anna released a breath, unable to argue with that. It was an important health education message, that was true, and something that people often overlooked in the summer months when the weather was hot and wasps were abundant. ‘Well, I suppose if you don’t mind…’

  John grinned. ‘Just tell me when it’s going to be shown, so that I can tell everyone who knows me.’

  ‘We’ll certainly do that.’ The producer smiled, standing to one side as the paramedics prepared to take Lucy to the hospital. ‘It’ll be part of our series on summer health.’

  Sam picked up his bag, helped himself to a few extra pieces of equipment that he thought he might need and gave Anna a nod. ‘I won’t be long. I’ll just hand over and then catch a lift back.’

  ‘Fine. I’ve got paperwork to do anyway. We’ll delay that lunch. If there’s going to be a camera stuck in my face every time I turn round, I definitely want to be part of the discussion.’

  In fact, they didn’t need to delay lunch for long.

  Sam was back within the hour and the news on Lucy was good. ‘She’s stable now but they’re keeping her in overnight. Now, let’s get on with the meeting before the sandwiches curl. Glenda, are you joining us for this?’

  ‘Oh, Dr McKenna…’ Slightly breathless, Glenda glanced at them nervously, her hand shaking slightly as she smoothed her hair. ‘I was thinking of popping home in my lunch-break, if that’s all right with you. But I could come if you’d rather…’

  ‘Not at all,’ Sam said easily, giving her a smile that made Glenda visibly relax. ‘Have a nice lunch. See you later.’

  Glenda vanished through the door so hastily that her bag tangled on the handle. With a murmured exclamation she tugged it free and hurried off without looking back, clearly in a hurry and very flustered.

  Sam’s smile faded. ‘There goes a very stressed woman.’

  Anna nodded, pacing over to the window and watching as Glenda virtually sprinted down the street towards the harbour. She knew that the receptionist would be home within five minutes. But why the hurry?

  ‘You’re right,’ she said quietly. ‘Something is very wrong and I feel very guilty that it took you to point it out.’

  Sam strolled across the reception area and stood next to her. ‘Just one of the advantages of having an injection of fresh blood in the practice.’

  ‘Don’t.’ She glanced up at him, her expression troubled. For once she wasn’t in the mood to argue with him. ‘It worries me that I didn’t notice.’

  ‘Why should you have noticed? You’re not superwoman.’ He lifted a hand and brushed a strand of dark hair away from her face. The gesture was so unexpected that she jumped as though she’d received an electric shock.

  ‘Just because we’ve managed to be civil to each other for the past half an hour, don’t think you can take liberties, McKenna.’ Thoroughly unsettled by the sudden wild increase in her pulse rate, she glared at him and he glared back.

  ‘Just clearing your vision, Riggs. You need a haircut or you’re going to trip on the stairs.’

  She resisted the temptation to lift a hand to her hair. She always wore her hair long and he knew it.

  ‘You know, it would make for riveting television if you let us film the two of you working together for the whole series.’ The voice of Polly came from behind them and they both turned. ‘There’s a tremendous chemistry between you. The room just pulses with energy whenever you’re together. And the best thing is that you two don’t even seem aware of it.’

  Chemistry?

  Anna gaped at her. ‘The sort of chemistry that causes an explosion,’ she muttered darkly, and Sam grinned.

  ‘I don’t think our Anna sees herself as a film star, Polly.’

  The producer looked thoughtful. ‘Well, a lot of people are resistant to the thought of being filmed but once they get used to it they usually find they forget about the cameras and just get on with the job. That’s one of the reasons that these fly-on-the-wall documentaries are so successful. The viewers feel as though they’re genuinely part of what’s going on.’ The producer tipped her head on one side and narrowed her eyes. ‘Even without looking at what we just filmed, I can tell that you’re going to look fabulous on camera. Gorgeous.’

  Anna glared at both of them. ‘I do not want to be filmed.’

  ‘Fine by me.’ Sam suppressed a yawn. ‘Personally I think it would be pretty hard to find your good side anyway.’

  The smooth working relationship was gone. Back was the constant needling.

  ‘You are unbelievably shallow.’

  Polly glanced between them and grinned. ‘If you’re both willing to suspend hostilities, the sandwiches are looking particularly tempting.’

  ‘Yeah, we’re ready.’ Sam strolled across the reception area and made for the stairs that led to the staffroom.

  Aware that the producer was still staring at them in fascination, Anna followed more self-consciously.

  Chemistry.

  It was utterly ridiculous to suggest that she and Sam shared any sort of chemistry. And as for looking good on the camera—the whole idea was totally ridiculous.

  ‘It would be great if we could incorporate more of your accident and emergency skills, Sam,’ Polly was saying as Anna grabbed a cup of coffee and took her seat at the table. ‘I know we need the routine stuff, too, but a bit of that does get the adrenaline pumping.’

  ‘What accident and emergency skills?’ Anna helped herself to a sandwich. ‘Since when did you have accident and emergency skills?’ Then she remembered the calm, competent way he’d reacted to the crisis downstairs and something clicked in her brain. ‘What jobs have you been doing in London, McKenna?’

  Polly smiled. ‘When he’s not doing his usual surgery and working for us, he does nights at the A and E department of…’ She named a busy London hospital and Anna put the sandwich back on her plate untouched, her eyes on Sam.

  ‘You’re working nights in an A and E department? Why?’

  His eyes gleamed. ‘So that my medical skills don’t become as rusty as a garden fork, Riggs, that’s why. We see a range of conditions in the London practice but there’s nothing like nights in A and E to hone your skills.’

  She stared at him. ‘That explains why you were able to get that line into the child.’

  ‘I’ve done it a few times, yes.’

  She glared at him. ‘You should have told me.’

  ‘You shouldn’t have assumed that I was useless.’

  ‘Now, now, children.’ Polly’s expression was amused. ‘It’s always fun to watch the two of you in action, but we’re already pushed for time so can we move on to the ma
tter in hand? We need to discuss our plans for filming this summer.’

  Anna bit hard into her sandwich and glared at Sam. But her anger with him for deliberately deceiving her was tinged with respect. The guy clearly knew what he was doing. And he was an impressive doctor.

  It was just a shame that she wanted to strangle him.

  * * *

  That evening, despite the heat, Anna decided to go for a run on the beach. She always found exercise good for tension, and the tension in her life had rocketed ever since Sam had walked into her surgery.

  Despite all their reassurances during the lunch-time meeting that the patients would love the idea of being ‘on the telly’, she still had serious reservations about filming. They’d agreed to seek permission from every patient but still Anna couldn’t quite imagine that people would want their lives exposed on television. For herself, she couldn’t think of anything worse. She liked her privacy too much and she never had been able to understand why some people craved public attention.

  Despite the fact that it was past seven o’clock, the beach was still crowded with families and Anna jogged slowly down to the water’s edge and then lengthened her stride, enjoying the cool breeze blowing off the sea.

  This was a popular surfing beach and the water was still crowded with teenagers determined to make the most of the waves.

  By the time she returned to the McKennas’ house she was panting and uncomfortably hot. She ripped off her running gear and stepped straight under a cold shower, moaning with relief as the water cooled her heated flesh. Bliss. She was tempted to stay under the water all evening but her stomach was rumbling and she knew she had to eat something after such a long run.

  She slipped on a short linen dress, padded down to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

  ‘I cooked last night so I guess tonight has to be your turn.’ Sam lounged in the doorway, a beer in his hand, watching her.

  Anna turned. ‘Has anyone ever told you that you look more like a beach bum than a doctor?’

  His hair was slightly too long, his jaw rough with stubble and he wore a pair of long surf shorts and a loose T-shirt that clung to the powerful muscles of his shoulders.

  He gave her a lopsided grin that made her heart kick uncomfortably against her chest. ‘You want me to wear a suit and tie?’

  ‘I don’t care what you wear.’ She yawned and turned back to the fridge. ‘It isn’t looking promising. The only thing I can cook is omelette and we’re right out of eggs.’

  Sam strolled over to her and peered over her shoulder. ‘So you’d better buy me dinner.’

  She wrinkled her nose and slammed the fridge shut, forcing him to step backwards or risk injury. ‘Why should I buy you dinner?’

  ‘Women fight to buy me dinner, Riggs.’ He hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his shorts, his blue eyes mocking. ‘This could be your lucky night. I’m making you an offer you shouldn’t be able to refuse.’

  Her heart kicked against her ribs and she wished he’d move away slightly. He was standing far too close.

  ‘I have no trouble refusing.’ But then her stomach rumbled and she remembered how hungry she was. And how empty the fridge was. ‘On the other hand, I’m starving. What exactly did you have in mind?’

  ‘That new place on the beach? Plates of seafood. Lashings of garlic butter. Chilled white wine.’

  Anna felt her taste buds react with enthusiasm. ‘I’ve heard good things about that place.’ She tilted her head to one side and considered. ‘And the only price is being civil to you for the duration?’

  ‘Who said anything about being civil?’ He lifted the bottle to his lips and drained the beer. ‘Just be yourself.’

  She glared at him. ‘I’m civil with most people, McKenna. It’s just you that drives me nuts.’

  ‘And why is that, I wonder?’ He put the bottle on the table and surveyed her, his eyes gleaming with speculation. ‘Perhaps you’re harbouring secret fantasies.’

  ‘The heat must have gone to your brain.’

  He lounged against the table, broad-shouldered and unreasonably handsome. ‘Face it, Riggs. You have trouble resisting me. And that really annoys you.’

  ‘You’re the one who annoys me. And it’s worse when I’m hungry. So let’s get going before I commit bodily harm. You won’t look so handsome with a black eye and no teeth.’

  He reached for his car keys. ‘In the interests of personal safety, I’ll drive.’

  She followed him to the curving gravel driveway and paused, a frown on her face as she looked at his sleek black car. ‘You expect me to sit beside you in that sex machine?’

  ‘Well, it’s that or the boot, honey, because there’s no room in the back. This is definitely a two-seater.’

  She sighed and slid into the car, too hungry to argue. ‘OK, but only because my stomach is more important to me than my reputation at this particular moment in time.’

  She was starving.

  He turned the key, started the engine and smiled. ‘Don’t you just love that sound?’

  ‘It’s an engine.’

  He shot her a pitying look. ‘No appreciation for the finer things in life, that’s your problem.’ He hit the accelerator, sending gravel flying. ‘And what does sitting in my car have to do with your reputation?’

  ‘If I’m seen with you then people will automatically think I’m a bimbo.’ She scooped her hair out of her eyes and held it firmly at the back of her neck as he picked up speed and headed for the coast road. ‘But to sample the lobster at that new restaurant, I’m willing to take the risk. And don’t call me honey. I draw the line at that, even when I’m starving.’

  * * *

  The restaurant was heaving but the manager took one look at Sam and found them a secluded table overlooking the sea.

  ‘Never miss one of your programmes. Love the way you make complicated medical stuff easy to understand. Pleasure to have you back, Sam.’ The manager handed him a menu. ‘And dining with our Dr Riggs. That’s cosy.’

  ‘Convenient, not cosy.’ Anna shot him a pointed look and took the other menu. She didn’t want gossip in the village. ‘This is just business. We have things to talk about, we both have to eat and we both wanted to try your new place, Ken. It’s that simple.’

  ‘Well, the first drink is on the house. I’ll treat you to a couple of glasses of champagne.’ He snapped his fingers, gestured to a waiter and then turned back to the two of them. ‘Been meaning to come and talk to your dad, actually, Sam. Something on my mind, to be honest.’

  ‘Stop by any time,’ Sam said easily, leaning back in his chair and closing the menu. ‘I’m covering all Dad’s surgeries now. Be glad to catch up with you.’

  Ken nodded. ‘I think I’ll do that. Thanks.’ At that moment one of the waiters arrived with two brimming glasses of champagne and Ken stepped to one side, giving Anna a quick wink. ‘Have a nice evening, both of you.’

  Anna watched him go and then lifted her champagne. ‘Why was he winking at me? Has he developed a problem with his eye? And why all this man-to-man stuff about seeing you in the surgery? He could have come to see me.’

  ‘There are some things a man can’t discuss with a woman.’

  ‘That’s rubbish.’ She swallowed a mouthful of champagne and moaned with appreciation. ‘Ooh, that’s fantastic. And, McKenna, I can deal with everything you can deal with. Probably more.’

  ‘You know as well as I do that there are some things a woman prefers a woman doctor for. It’s the same for men.’

  Anna took another sip and felt her head swim. She put the glass down on the table and decided to wait for the food before drinking any more. Otherwise she’d be tipsy and she needed her wits about her to cope with Sam. ‘That’s why I always end up with the women’s problems. Because you guys avoid them like the plague.’

  ‘That’s nonsense.’ His tone was calm and he broke off to deliver their order to the waiter. Anna stared at him as the waiter left to give their order to the kitchen.


  ‘I’m perfectly capable of reading a menu and using my voice. And for your information, I don’t have any trouble with decision-making. I can pick my own food. If I concentrate I can even use a knife and fork.’

  ‘We both want to try the seafood.’ He spoke with exaggerated patience. ‘I ordered seafood. Relax, will you?’

  Despite her resolve, Anna reached for the champagne again. She couldn’t relax around Sam. It just wasn’t possible. ‘You were trying to pretend that you don’t avoid women’s problems.’

  ‘I certainly don’t. In fact, it’s an area that we cover frequently on the programme, as you’d know if you ever bothered to watch it.’

  ‘I get enough of you in real life.’

  He leaned forward, his blue eyes fixed on her face. ‘It’s a fact that lots of women prefer to see a female doctor for some things, and it’s the same with male patients. If Ken wants to see me, you shouldn’t be defensive about that.’

  ‘I’m not being defensive.’

  Damn. She wished she hadn’t drunk all that champagne so quickly. She definitely should have waited for the food.

  Fortunately it arrived quickly, huge platefuls of seafood with hot garlic butter and baskets of freshly baked bread.

  ‘Oh, this looks fantastic,’ Anna muttered, reaching for a langoustine and stripping it quickly. ‘Great idea, McKenna. Beats omelette.’

  ‘There were no eggs,’ he reminded her. ‘Omelette was never an option.’

  ‘That’s right.’ She grabbed a napkin before the buttery juices could slide down her chin. ‘No eggs. So someone needs to go shopping. I’ll grab a few things tomorrow on my way home.’

  He scooped another langoustine onto her plate. ‘Are you offering to shop, Riggs? Something wrong?’

  ‘I don’t mind the shopping. It’s the cooking I can’t stand. And tonight I’m feeling mellow. Blame the alcohol and the food.’

  ‘You really know how to make a guy feel good.’

  ‘You don’t need me to make you feel good. You already feel far too good about yourself. It would be much easier for the rest of us mortals if you’d let a little bit of self-doubt creep in. You need to lose some of those female fans and realise that you’re human, like the rest of us.’