Marrying the Runaway Bride

by Jennifer Taylor

  Archie was glad to have a few minutes to himself as he filled the coffee-maker and set it to drip. Having Heather in his home felt so right that it scared him. He couldn’t remember feeling this comfortable with anyone before, not even Stephanie.

  He sighed. Stephanie had been the woman he’d been intending to spend his life with and he felt guilty about having such thoughts. However, he couldn’t lie to himself. He had to face the facts no matter how painful they were: he had never felt as at ease with Stephanie as he felt when he was with Heather.

  He sat down at the kitchen table while he let the idea settle in his mind. Was it true or was it merely a cover for his real feelings? Did he prefer to think that he and Heather shared a special kind of rapport rather than admit that he wanted her sexually?

  He tested out that theory but he wasn’t convinced it was true. Although he was attracted to Heather, it didn’t alter the fact that he felt more in tune with her than anyone else, including Stephanie. Stephanie had been beautiful and clever, witty and charming, but there’d always been a certain distance between them. He’d never felt as though they had meshed completely even though he had loved her very much.

  Or thought he had.

  The thought brought him up short. He had never doubted his feelings for Stephanie before, so why was he doubting them now? Even when he’d found out that she and Duncan had been having an affair, he’d kept on loving her—or so he’d assumed. Now, for the first time ever, he found himself wondering if it had been an overwhelming sense of betrayal that had caused him so much pain. His pride had been wounded, his faith had been shaken, but had his heart been broken?

  The coffee-maker gurgled to a stop and he stood up, took two cups out of the cupboard and placed them on a tray along with the carafe. He found the sugar bowl and poured some milk into a jug then carried everything into the sitting room. Heather was sitting on the couch and his heart seemed to swell to double its normal size as he studied the sweetness of her profile. Was this what true love felt like, this overwhelming tenderness he felt whenever he was with her, this desire to protect her from harm and cherish her? He didn’t know. He’d thought he’d found love before and lost it, too, but he was no longer sure any more. All he knew was that he felt differently when he was with Heather.

  ‘Mmm, that smells good. Obviously it’s not instant.’

  Archie jumped when Heather turned and smiled at him. It was an effort to disguise how on edge he felt as he crossed the room and set down the tray. To suddenly discover that his feelings for Stephanie might not have been as deep as he’d assumed they’d been was scary. In some indefinable way it altered everything that had happened and forced him to reassess the situation. If he’d not been in love with Stephanie then he had no right to feel bitter about her and Duncan.

  The idea was far too complex to deal with it right then. Archie drove it from his mind as he picked up the carafe. ‘Help yourself to milk and sugar,’ he said, handing a cup to Heather.

  ‘Thanks.’ She added a splash of milk to her cup then took a sip. ‘Excellent. If you fancy another career change, you could earn a fortune running your own coffee-bar.’

  ‘Maybe I’ll open one on the estate,’ he replied lightly, adding both milk and sugar to his cup.

  ‘Good idea.’ She took another sip of her coffee then looked at him. ‘Are you sure you’re doing the right thing, Archie? It’s obvious how much you adore your job and it seems crazy to give it up and do something else.’

  ‘Believe me, I’ve thought about it a lot and it’s the only solution.’ He tipped back his head and stared at the ceiling. ‘Running the estate is a full-time job and there’s no way I can combine it with my work. I’m just not prepared to give my patients anything less than a hundred per cent commitment.’

  ‘I understand that, but why should the estate take precedence?’ she protested. ‘I know how hard you must have worked to reach your present position. It’s a crying shame all that experience you’ve gained will go to waste.’

  ‘I really don’t have a choice. I need to ensure that the estate is run properly, the way my brother intended it to be run.’

  ‘I doubt he would have expected you to sacrifice your career for it.’

  ‘Maybe not,’ Archie agreed, stung by the comment. Duncan would never have expected him to give up medicine to take over the estate. In fact, his brother would have been horrified by the idea. But Duncan wasn’t here any more and it was all Archie’s fault. That was why he had to do this, to make up for the fact that his actions had resulted in his brother’s death.

  ‘But you’re determined to go through with it anyway?’

  ‘It’s something I have to do, Heather.’ Just for a moment he toyed with the idea of telling her the whole sorry story but what was the point of doing that? The last thing he wanted was to burden her with his problems.

  ‘In that case, I only hope you don’t regret it, Archie.’ She leant forward and he could see the concern in her eyes. ‘Promise me that if it doesn’t work out, you’ll reconsider your decision. I…well, I would hate to think of you being unhappy.’

  ‘I promise.’ He placed his cup on the table and reached for her hand. ‘Thank you for caring, Heather. I really appreciate it.’

  ‘I’ll always care what happens to you, Archie,’ she said softly.

  Her eyes rose to his face and his breath caught when he saw the expression they held. It wasn’t as bold as an invitation but he knew all the same that she wanted him to kiss her. He drew her towards him until there was only the tiniest gap separating them. This close to her he could see how finely textured her skin was and couldn’t resist running the pad of his thumb across her cheek.

  ‘Your skin’s like satin,’ he murmured, and she shuddered.

  He wasn’t sure if he moved then or if she did, but all of a sudden there was no longer any gap between them. Archie felt shock sear through him as their mouths met for the very first time. Heather’s lips were so deliciously smooth and soft that he groaned. Kissing Heather was even better than he had imagined it would be!

  Their mouths meshed, clung, then reluctantly drew apart. Archie could feel a tremor working its way through his body and knew that Heather could feel it, too. Maybe he should have tried to disguise how he felt, but what was the point? In a couple of weeks’ time they would go their separate ways and this would become just a dim and distant memory.

  It was painful to realise how short-lived these feelings could be. He brushed his fingers across her mouth and sighed when he felt her tremble this time. ‘At least I’m not the only one who feels poleaxed.’

  ‘No.’ She gave him a shy smile. ‘You’re a great kisser, Archie Carew.’

  ‘Ditto, Miss Thompson,’ he whispered, going back for a second kiss. Maybe it was madness but he simply couldn’t resist the temptation of her lips.

  He kissed her long and hungrily this time, but she responded with equal fervour and he was glad about that. He didn’t need to worry that he had coerced her when he felt her eagerly returning his kisses. He wasn’t sure what would have happened next. He doubted if Heather would have called a halt and knew that he certainly wouldn’t have done but the decision was taken from them when the telephone suddenly rang. He sighed as he broke away from her and stood up.

  ‘I’ll have to get that in case it’s work,’ he explained, heading into the hall.

  It was Gina Davidson, his junior registrar. Archie listened with mounting concern as the young doctor explained why she was calling. ‘You did the right thing by phoning me,’ he said, cutting short her apologies. ‘I’ll be there as soon as I can. In the meantime, tell Wendy that under no circumstances are the parents to be allowed in to see her. Is that clear?’

  He hung up after Gina promised to pass on his instructions. Heather looked at him in concern when he went back to the sitting room and he guessed that his expression gave away more than a hint about his feelings.

  ‘Emily Jackson has been admitted with a ruptured spleen,’ he sa
id without any preamble. ‘According to her parents, she fell off her bike, but A and E didn’t believe them. They checked Emily’s notes and discovered that I’d had concerns, too, so they asked Gina to phone me. I said I’d go straight in.’

  ‘The poor little thing!’ Heather exclaimed, standing up. She followed him out to the hall. ‘Did you get any feedback from the social workers?’

  ‘Not yet. Apparently, Emily’s father works for the Foreign Office and the family has been living abroad for the past few years.’ Archie scooped up his car keys and opened the front door. ‘They’re still investigating but it’s difficult to get information about possible child abuse in a situation like this.’

  ‘I can imagine.’

  They went down in the lift and out to the car park, but Heather stopped when he hurried over to his car. ‘I’ll make my own way home, Archie. It’s more important that you see to Emily.’

  Archie shook his head. ‘I’m not leaving you to trail across the city on your own.’

  ‘I’m a grown woman. I’m perfectly capable of getting on a bus.’

  ‘I’m sure you are but just humour me, eh?’ He unlocked the car and opened the door for her. ‘I’ll feel happier if I know you’re home safe and sound.’

  She sighed as she slid into the seat. ‘Well, I certainly don’t want you worrying about me. You have enough on your plate with poor little Emily.’

  Archie didn’t say anything. It didn’t seem appropriate to tell her that he would always worry about her. He drove her home then set off for the hospital, trying not to dwell on the thought that in a few weeks’ time Heather would be on her own. As she’d pointed out, she was a grown woman and more than capable of taking care of herself. The problem was that he would love to be able to take care of her if she would only give him the chance. Looking after Heather would be a pleasure, not a chore.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  IT WAS Monday evening and once again Heather had arrived early for work, only this time it had been deliberate. She’d not heard from Archie since he had dropped her off at her flat and she was longing to find out what had happened about little Emily. That she was also longing to see him was something she tried not to think about. There was no future for her and Archie, and there was no point getting too attached to him.

  She sighed as she made her way to the paediatric unit. It was good advice but it was a tad too late. She was already more involved with Archie than she should have been. Those kisses they’d shared were proof of that. If he hadn’t received that phone call, they would have ended up in bed together and that certainly wouldn’t have been the right thing to do.

  She had never slept around. Whilst many of her friends had thought nothing of having a one-night stand, Heather had never been able to treat sex so casually. There needed to be an emotional bond as well as a physical attraction before she could consider sleeping with a man, and even then there was no guarantee it would work out right if past events were anything to go by.

  It was worrying to realise how close she’d come to making a mistake. Even though she had been longing to see Archie when she had set off that night, it was a relief when there was no sign of him on the ward. Heather got straight down to work, helping Abby make up a bed for a ten-year-old boy who had been admitted via A and E. They had just finished when the child arrived and her heart fluttered wildly when she discovered that Archie had accompanied him to the ward.

  ‘This is Adam Regis,’ Archie explained as the porters positioned the trolley next to the bed. ‘He had a bit of squabble with a bus and ended up with a bump on his head. He has a mild concussion so I’ve decided to keep him in overnight as a precaution.’

  ‘Hello, Adam,’ Heather said, smiling at the boy.

  They got him settled then Abby was called to the office to sort out a query about the linen supply. Heather checked Adam’s notes and saw that he was down for half-hourly obs. She checked his vital signs and noted them down on the chart, and all the time she was doing so, Archie was watching her. He took the chart from her after she’d finished and read through her notes.

  ‘That looks fine. I just want to make sure that nothing untoward happens in the next few hours.’

  ‘I’ll keep a close eye on him, Mr Carew,’ she said formally, and he smiled at her.

  ‘I know you will, Heather.’

  He turned to speak to Adam then but Heather could feel herself blushing as she recalled the warmth in his eyes. She groaned under her breath. Being sensible wasn’t going to be easy if Archie looked at her like that too often!

  ‘I want you to get some rest now, Adam,’ Archie was saying, his attention firmly focused on the child now. ‘Your parents should be here shortly and the nurse will bring them in to see you when they arrive.’

  He glanced at her for confirmation and Heather nodded. ‘Of course.’

  ‘My dad will go ballistic,’ Adam muttered, his lower lip wobbling ominously. ‘He told me that I wasn’t to go out on my bike after school but I wanted to go to the shops so I took no notice of him.’

  ‘I’m sure your dad will be more relieved that you’re all right than anything else,’ Heather said soothingly.

  ‘You don’t know my dad,’ Adam replied miserably.

  Heather sighed as they left the boy to rest. ‘I hope we don’t have another aggressive parent to contend with.’

  ‘I’ll have a word with Mr and Mrs Regis when they arrive and make it clear that it won’t achieve anything to shout at him.’

  ‘Good.’ She gave him a quick smile, trying to contain the feeling of excitement that rose inside her when he smiled back. ‘What’s happened about Emily? I see from the board that she’s in the high-dependency unit.’

  ‘That’s right. I had to perform a splenectomy so she needed a few days of intensive nursing.’ Archie sighed. ‘I was hoping to re-implant a small section of healthy tissue in case the spleen would regenerate itself. It does occasionally happen in children but, sadly, Emily’s spleen was too badly damaged for that.’

  ‘What a shame. Did you get to the bottom of what had happened?’

  ‘No. The parents insist it was an accident but I still don’t believe them. I’ve passed the case over to the police and asked them to look into it.’

  He glanced round then ushered her into the sluice room when a couple of visitors arrived. Heather guessed that he didn’t want anyone to overhear them but she couldn’t help feeling even more keyed up when he closed the door and they were alone. She had to force herself to concentrate as he continued.

  ‘Emily’s father has threatened to sue me and the hospital if we continue to deny him access, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. There is no way that I’m allowing him to see the child if he’s the one who hurt her.’

  ‘Has Emily said anything?’

  ‘No. The poor little mite is terrified, and the mother’s exactly the same. She clammed up when I told her that we suspected Emily’s injuries weren’t accidental.’

  ‘I take it that she’s allowed to see Emily?’ Heather queried.

  ‘Oh, yes. The poor kid’s been through enough without us cutting her off from her mother as well.’ He glanced round when he heard footsteps outside the door. ‘Anyway, I’d better let you get on. I’ll be here for another hour or so. If you need anything, just phone my office.’

  ‘Thank you. I will.’

  Heather went back to the ward. It was time for the evening obs so that kept her busy. However, more than once she found her thoughts straying to the conversation they’d had. In truth it had been nothing out of the ordinary—they’d spoken about the usual things that a doctor would discuss with a member of his staff—but it had meant more than that to her.

  After a couple of months working as an agency nurse, Heather had grown accustomed to being viewed as just someone who filled in the gaps, but Archie hadn’t treated her that way. He never had. It brought it home to her all of a sudden how much she missed the responsibility she’d had at Dalverston General.

 
As a senior staff nurse on a busy ward, she’d been used to making decisions and acting on them. She knew that she was good at her job and that if she’d stayed in Dalverston, she would have been offered a sister’s post this year. However, if she carried on doing agency work, she would never fulfil her true potential.

  It made her see that she must find herself a permanent post so she could continue her training. It made sense, too, because the better qualified she was, the easier it would be to find a job anywhere in the world. Maybe she should think about taking a post in Scotland, she mused as she jotted down Adam Regis’s obs. That way she could continue to pursue her career. After all, it was mainly thanks to Archie that she had got this far. With his continued support she would soon be back on track.

  Heather bit her lip when she realised that it was just an excuse. It was less her career she was thinking about than seeing Archie. Maybe she was going to miss him, but she needed more time to get over what had happened with Ross, not to mention the fact that Archie had given no indication that he wanted to see her after he left London. He might be happy enough to spend time with her right now, but he certainly wasn’t looking for a lifetime’s commitment.

  Archie remained in his office for over an hour but there were no phone calls. In the end, he was forced to accept that his services weren’t needed and left. He sighed as he made his way out to his car. He was acting like an idiot by hanging around in the hope that Heather would call him. Surely he had better things to do with his time?

  He drove home, stopping off on the way at the local Chinese restaurant to buy a takeaway supper. Despite the piles of boxes stacked in every nook and cranny, the flat looked depressingly empty when he let himself in. It was no longer his home, just somewhere he came to sleep in between going to work.

  He took the food into the kitchen and sat down at the table, not bothering with a plate as he ate it straight from the cartons. He’d ordered his favourite meal—sliced beef with ginger and spring onions plus egg fried rice—but he didn’t enjoy it. It was no fun eating on his own. He was merely providing himself with fuel to keep his body functioning.