by Anne Fraser
Before he could find any answers to those questions, they had to discuss Mr Mitchell. As he had not seen the man before, he asked Francesca’s views, immediately noting her tension, the annoyance and edginess she was trying to hide.
‘What’s wrong, Chessie?’
She shook her head, her gaze down, her fingers toying with the case file. ‘As he’s the last patient of the day, I thought you might see Mr Mitchell in the other room. He’s uncomfortable and I didn’t think it fair to make him move again to come in here.’
‘That’s fine,’ Luke agreed, knowing she was stalling and hiding something. ‘Tell me what’s bothering you. Is it Mr Mitchell?’
His half plea, half instruction brought a sigh from her. ‘In a roundabout way. I’ve just had a run-in with wretched Olivia,’ she finally admitted.
‘How delightful,’ he responded sardonically. He’d scarcely been at the hospital a day before Olivia had literally hunted him down and come on to him, as Francesca had predicted, but he had set her straight in no uncertain terms about his lack of interest in her personally and about what he thought of her treatment of his mother. The trauma nurse had wisely given him a wide berth since. ‘What’s she done now?’
Luke…’
As Francesca bit her lip, her reticence and discomfort alerted him to this being something he wouldn’t like. ‘What happened?’
‘It’s nothing.’
‘It must be something or you wouldn’t be upset,’ he pointed out, knowing Francesca was not one to overreact.
‘After Victoria left, I went to call Mr Mitchell and discovered Olivia talking to him and his wife,’ she explained, anger making her grey eyes steely. ‘Olivia has no business being near the clinic. Anyway, she scuttled off when she saw me. I asked Mr and Mrs Mitchell if everything was all right and…’
As Francesca paused again, Luke leaned forward, folding his arms on the desk. ‘And? Tell me,’ he encouraged.
‘It seems that Olivia was trying to sow seeds of doubt in the Mitchells’ minds.’
‘About what?’ he persisted.
‘About you.’ He noted how Francesca hands clenched into fists, although her voice was carefully controlled. ‘Olivia had made comments about your family—apparently one of your brothers once burgled their home years ago.’
Banking the fury that flared inside him, Luke rose to his feet, unable to rid his body of the tension that gripped him and the bitter resentment of how the past he couldn’t change refused to release him from its hold.
‘Well, it’s true I’m a Devlin—or a Devil’n as people liked to play with the name. They all thought we’d been spawned by Satan himself.’
‘Don’t, Luke,’ Francesca protested, closing the gap between them and laying her hand on his arm, making him feel as if a zing of electricity had coursed through him at her touch. ‘You know that’s not true. Only a handful are small-minded enough to believe that, and Olivia has her own agenda for causing trouble.’
Francesca’s anger at Olivia was evident as she chided him, ever loyal and staunch in her support of him, just as she had been when they’d been youngsters. ‘I presume the Mitchells want to see another surgeon. I can call someone else to take the case.’
‘Of course not.’
Francesca’s reply shocked him. ‘They don’t?’
‘No.’ There was a feisty expression in her eyes. ‘Nina Mitchell might look like a frail bird in stature, but she’s strong in temperament, just like her husband. Neither of them were prepared to pay Olivia any heed—especially when they were made aware of your qualifications.’
‘You said something to them.’
It was obvious by the slight flush that pinkened freckle-dusted, ivory cheeks that Francesca had spoken up for him…again. ‘I just explained your skill as an orthopaedic surgeon and pointed out that you couldn’t be held responsible for the actions of someone else, related or not, that happened years ago. Mr Mitchell is happy to see you—if you don’t mind coming to the other room. I left the nurse with them and she’s making Mrs Mitchell a cup of tea.’
Luke wanted to kiss her. Not because she had smoothed things over with the Mitchells, or because she was angry on his behalf, but because she believed in him without question. As Francesca turned for the door, he caught her hand.
‘Just a minute. What about Olivia?’
‘You should report her—I know the Mitchells are going to—and goodness knows what she’s saying to other people. It isn’t right!’ she exclaimed, bristling with indignation.
Luke had every intention of taking care of Nurse Barr’s loose tongue but that wasn’t the primary concern on his mind at the moment. ‘I meant between you. You said you’d had a run-in with her,’ he reminded her, intrigued by the way her flush deepened and she looked swiftly away from him…but not before he caught the guilty embarrassment in her eyes.
‘I just advised her not to make any more wild accusations or tell lies to patients,’ she admitted after a moment’s pause, but he could tell from her edginess there was more to the story.
‘And?’ he pressed as she fidgeted, holding on to her hand when she would have pulled away to put more distance between them.
‘Olivia made certain…comments.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Comments?’
‘Yes.’ Francesca’s embarrassment increased. ‘About you and her.’
‘There has never been, and will never be, anything between me and Olivia,’ he was swift to state, surprised by the sudden giggle she tried to stifle.
‘I know.’
She wouldn’t look at him and his suspicions increased. He caught her chin and tilted her face up, trying to look stern as he studied her. ‘Francesca, what have you done?’
‘I didn’t mean anything by it, she just got me so mad, making snide remarks about how I was the laughing stock of the hospital in the way I was apparently throwing myself at you,’ she began, her brow knitted in annoyance.
Luke tried desperately not to laugh. She looked so cute. And nothing would delight him more than that she throw herself at him, but he knew how Olivia’s baiting and mention of being the subject of hospital gossip would upset and unsettle Francesca.
‘I’m really sorry, Luke,’ she continued, clearly disturbed and agitated.
‘Why apologise to me?’
‘Because I stupidly drew you into the argument. I should have ignored her but knowing what Olivia is like and how she talks about all the men she’s beguiled and how physically perfect they have to be to hold her interest, I’m afraid my temper got the better of me when she lied about having…relations with you.’
She huffed out a breath and he tweaked a strand of flame red hair, knowing that real explosions might be rare but when Francesca let go, woe betide her opponent. ‘So what did you say?’
‘When she was spouting off about me, the Ice Maiden, never being good enough for a man like you, especially being second best to her, I…’ Another hesitation followed and she hung her head. ‘I said it was good to know she had changed so much and hadn’t let your unsightly birthmark put her off.’
As her words trailed off, Luke could hold his laughter back no longer. ‘Chessie, you are priceless!’ he managed when he could speak, ignoring her frown and hugging her close for a moment. ‘I wonder how long it will be before word gets round the hospital that I’m flawed and have a birth defect?’ he teased, laughing again as she groaned and pushed away from him.
‘Don’t joke about it. I’m sorry.’
‘Forget it. The only one who will look stupid is Olivia,’ he reassured her.
‘I’m the stupid one. I know what they all say about me.’ Shaking her head, she picked up the file from the desk. ‘Come on, we can’t keep Mr Mitchell waiting any longer.’
As he followed her from the room, he just managed to refrain from suggesting that tonight he would be happy for her to check him all over for any imperfections. And that they could really give the hospital gossipmongers something to talk about. But it was t
he wrong time and the wrong place. And Francesca was too edgy. For now he had to focus on the problem of Hector Mitchell’s troubles.
All too soon their shift would be over. Then he would accompany her back to her flat and learn of her decision. Would she come home with him…or not?
As always when Francesca observed Luke with a patient, she could not help but be impressed with his manner and his skill. She knew how much Olivia’s interference had upset him, and how embarrassed he felt at the news that one of his brothers had once done harm to this sweet elderly couple. But he had introduced himself with his usual courtesy and charm, offering them the option of seeing a different doctor if that would make them more comfortable, and his obvious emotion and gratitude when the Mitchells had given him their wholehearted confidence had been touching to see.
Now Francesca offered Nina Mitchell silent support as Luke examined her husband. She didn’t know how many times Hector Mitchell had been through the radiology unit since her return to Strathlochan, but enough that she felt a special affinity with him and his wife. Today she had taken up-to-date images of the elderly man’s sacrum and lumbar spine and she knew what Luke would be seeing. An old injury to the second lumbar vertebrae, which had collapsed some time ago. Despite his continued pain and problems, the basic alignment was generally good.
As Luke continued his gentle examination, inspection of the images and talked in detail to Hector, Francesca found herself thinking back over the last week. A week in which all she had been able to do was think about Luke. Each night and often during the day she found herself reliving those incredible moments in her kitchen on Sunday night when Luke had introduced her to the kind of pleasure she had never believed she could experience.
She had long thought that she wasn’t particularly sexual. Her two previous encounters, while she had been living in Edinburgh, had been brief and all about the man’s pleasure and not her own. She hadn’t been able to let go, to relax, but with Luke, whom she trusted and with whom she felt safe, it had been so different. Just thinking about his touch made her all hot and bothered. She had never had an orgasm before. That she had on Sunday night was all because of Luke. He’d been so unselfish, taking nothing for himself. Indeed, he’d said giving her pleasure was important and enjoyable for him.
This week she had seen Luke every day at work. Most evenings she had spent time with him, going for walks, out for meals, acting just as they had before last Sunday night. He had never once referred to the weekend, had never pressured her to make a decision, had never behaved any differently towards her or altered their friendship. It was to be entirely her choice. They kissed goodbye—less chaste kisses than in the beginning—but they never went over the edge into the cauldron of passion that bubbled just beneath the surface. She didn’t know what it cost Luke to hold back, but she knew the terrible toll it took on her…the frustration, the longing, the confusion.
On Wednesday it had been his mother’s birthday and Francesca had found herself spending the evening with Sadie and Luke, having a special dinner. Before eating, as it was the one night of the week the animal rescue centre stayed open later, they had taken Sadie to meet Sally. Sadie had met Murphy and Harry, making a big fuss of them, but the main reason for the visit had been for Sadie to adopt a cat. She had fallen for Freya, a beautiful young white female who was friendly and sweet-natured, but because she was deaf she needed a loving home, safe from road traffic. Sadie had taken one look at Freya and that had been it. With Freya equally contented to bond with Sadie, the match had been made and Sally had been delighted to sign the paperwork and for Sadie to take Freya home.
‘Thank you for making this such a special birthday,’ Sadie had told her as she had given her a hug before Francesca had left for home.
Moved and embarrassed, Francesca had smiled. ‘It was my pleasure.’
‘Your gift means a lot to me.’ The older lady had looked at the cut-glass vase Francesca had chosen on advice from Luke with obvious pleasure. ‘But your company was the best gift of all.’ Sadie rested a palm against her cheek. ‘You’ve turned into such a beautiful young woman, so kind and dedicated to your job. And thank you for making Luke so happy.’
Two days later and she was still thinking of Sadie’s words and all the sentiments behind them. She remembered how many times, growing up, she had wished Sadie was her mother. It was the comment about her making Luke happy that had caused the most restless thought, however. Was it true? Sadie certainly thought so. If it was true, what did it mean? His return to Strathlochan, his friendship, just being with him had definitely changed her life and made her happier and more relaxed. But with those admissions came a flicker of unease…the acknowledgement that Luke had already come to mean a great deal to her. A complication she had not wanted in her life.
There was already gossip about them around the hospital, without the latest spiteful remarks from Olivia Barr, and Francesca knew Luke hated being the object of attention as much as she did. She was grateful that he always treated her professionally at work. He was always protective of her—just as he had been in their youth. Now, thanks to her own loss of temper, she had probably made things worse for them both.
As far as she could remember, there had been no rumours about Luke and girls at school. Lots of them had fancied the forbidden bad boy and had jockeyed for his attention but he had always ignored them because his focus had been on his work. Now she knew why. Like her, education had been Luke’s way out. She had learned during their visit to the Andersons on Sunday that there had been no one special Luke had been seeing in London, but she couldn’t imagine there hadn’t been women in his life and it was ridiculous that she should feel jealous about it. She’d had no claim on him. And yet, however much she tried to deny it, deep inside a part of her felt she had always been his.
Which led back to her fears and her quandary about her decision. The week was nearly over and she had little time left to give Luke her answer.
‘I would like the senior orthopaedic consultant, Maurice Goodwin, to see you, Mr Mitchell,’ Luke was saying now, drawing Francesca’s wayward attention back to work. ‘There is no sign on the X-rays or scan that your fall has done any further damage, but I am concerned how long this situation has been going on.’ He paused, careful to draw both husband and wife into the discussion, to listen to their questions and to fill them in on his thoughts. ‘It may be possible for us to try another procedure to ease your discomfort and I’d like Mr Goodwin to discuss that with you. Is that all right?’
‘We’d be really grateful,’ Nina Mitchell admitted. ‘For so long we’ve just felt we’re never getting anywhere. Not that people haven’t been kind, but we see a different doctor every time and no one seems to have an answer.’
Luke nodded, his sympathetic understanding evident. ‘I’ll talk to Mr Goodwin myself,’ he promised them, making a note in his diary and on the file. ‘We’ll arrange an appointment as soon as possible and I’ll make sure that I’m there, as well as Mr Goodwin. In the meantime, I’ve checked your notes and, with your discomfort increasing, I’m going to give you some stronger painkillers and a different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.’
‘Thank you, the discomfort is wearing me down,’ Hector confided, emotion making his voice unsteady.
‘Let’s hope these new drugs will help.’ Luke carefully helped the elderly man to readjust his clothes and then rise to his feet with the aid of his walking stick before settling into his electric-powered wheelchair. ‘If you have any problems or questions, or any effects from the change in pills that worries you, ring me here at the hospital or contact your GP.’
Hector shook Luke’s hand. ‘We’ll do that. Thank you so much.’
‘And don’t take any mind of what that awful nurse said, young man,’ Nina offered forcefully. ‘You’ve been excellent and we’ll tell the hospital management so when we complain about her.’
‘I’m just here to help you.’ Luke smiled modestly but Francesca could see he was pleased.
She held the door open for the couple, watching for a moment as they made their way slowly down the corridor towards the exit.
‘Do you think there is anything else you can do for him?’ she asked Luke, tidying up the room while he finished writing up the notes.
‘I hope so.’ He closed the file and sat back, watching her. ‘I’ve observed the prof do several procedures that have improved the quality of life for patients with symptoms the same as Mr Mitchell’s. I’m hoping Maurice will agree to investigate it and give it a try.’
Her chores finished, Francesca went to the locker room to change while Luke returned the notes for filing and then did the same. Once more her stomach filled with fluttering butterflies. Not long now before she had to make her decision. She’d never been one to confide in people or been close enough to friends to ask for advice, but just for a moment she wished Annie was around so she could talk to her. But Annie and Nathan would not be back from Italy until the next day. And she had mere minutes now to make her choice.
With Luke she had already had a taste of an unimagined paradise. With him she knew she would experience the ultimate in pleasure. She trusted him—but did she trust herself? Twice when she had been living in Edinburgh, young, lonely and confused, she had made regrettable mistakes and had succumbed to meaningless sex. Now, just once, she longed to know what it was like to make love with someone special, someone who meant something, whose touch set her on fire.
But if she said yes and spent this weekend with Luke, would she survive it? How could she ever walk away? Because she could never give up control of herself. Not again. It was ingrained in her to be alone. Would being with Luke be a form of surrender? And what of their friendship? Was he right? Could it endure whatever happened? Because she didn’t want to lose that. Not after ten years of missing him in her life.
