The Boss Who Stole Her Heart

by Jennifer Taylor

  Ellie hurried along the corridor as though the hounds of hell were snapping at her heels. Marie looked up and grinned when she saw her approaching.

  ‘Looks as though someone’s eager to leave. It’s not been that bad a day, has it?’

  ‘No, of course not.’ Ellie dredged up a smile but she was very aware that Daniel was standing right behind her. ‘I just didn’t want to hold you up. I’m not sure of the routine yet,’ she added lamely.

  ‘Oh, no fear of that.’ Marie laughed. ‘We’re like a well-oiled machine. Aren’t we, Daniel?’

  ‘You could say that.’

  His voice rumbled in Ellie’s ear and she couldn’t help herself: she shivered. It was as though the sound of his voice had seeped through every pore in her skin. She looked round and felt her breath catch when she found herself staring into his deep blue eyes. She could see her own reflection in them, tiny images of herself imprinted on the midnight-blue, and the shiver turned into a shudder. She had the craziest feeling that he was absorbing her very essence, drinking it in, making her part of him. And the scariest thing of all was that she wanted it to happen.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  A WEEK PASSED, then another, and life at The Larches settled back into its normal routine. Or, at least, on the surface it did. Daniel, however, was very aware of the difference it made having Eleanor there. Oh, it wasn’t her work—he was more than happy with that. No, it was this feeling he had, this constant awareness of her being in the room next to his, and it was highly unsettling. He managed not to think about it when he was with a patient but as soon as they left, he found himself listening for any sign of her presence—a cough, the scrape of chair legs on the floor—any little thing at all.

  In an effort to rid himself of such nonsense, he decided to do a stint at the Hemsthwaite surgery, using the excuse that it would benefit the staff as well as the patients if they all got to know one another better. Sandra Nelson, who worked there part time, was delighted at the thought of a change of scene. However, Bernard Hargreaves, the full-time member of staff, made it clear that he wasn’t interested. Daniel suspected that Bernard was planning to retire shortly and didn’t push him. It wouldn’t benefit anyone if the older man was reluctant to take up the offer.

  He spent a busy morning. With it being Monday, a lot of people had waited over the weekend before seeking medical attention. Daniel dealt with the usual sore throats and chesty coughs then saw a young man who had been brought into the surgery by his mother. Steven Applethwaite was seventeen years of age and attended the same college as Nathan. A tall, gangly young man with sandy hair, he looked pale and listless as he sat slumped in front of the desk.

  ‘I had the devil of a job getting him here this morning, Dr Saunders, but he can’t carry on the way he’s been doing, that’s for sure.’ Mrs Applethwaite settled herself on the adjoining chair. A comfortably plump woman in her forties, she exuded an air of confidence. Daniel knew that the Applethwaites were a large farming family and guessed that Diane Applethwaite was used to taking charge.

  ‘What exactly has been happening?’ he asked, addressing the question to Steven.

  ‘He’s always tired no matter how much sleep he has,’ Diane answered immediately. ‘He stayed in bed most of the weekend but I still couldn’t get him up this morning in time for college. It’s as though he’s got no energy.’

  ‘Is that right, Steven?’ Daniel asked neutrally. He held up his hand when Diane went to speak. ‘If you wouldn’t mind, Mrs Applethwaite, it would be better if Steven told me how he feels.’

  Steven looked uncomfortable at being put on the spot. ‘I just feel tired all the time, like Mum said,’ he mumbled.

  ‘Anything else?’ Daniel prompted. ‘Have you had a temperature or a sore throat, perhaps?’

  ‘No.’ Steven hesitated then rushed on. ‘I feel thirsty all the time, though—I’m always drinking water and juice.’

  ‘I see.’ Daniel nodded. Getting up, he went to the cupboard and took out a sample jar. ‘I’d like to check your urine, Steven. The bathroom’s along the corridor to your left so can you go and pee in this for me and bring it back?’

  Steven blushed right red as he took the jar. He was at an age when being asked to do such things caused him acute embarrassment. Diane Applethwaite looked Daniel straight in the eyes after her son disappeared.

  ‘You think he’s got diabetes, don’t you, Dr Saunders?’

  ‘I think it’s a possibility, although I can’t be sure until I’ve tested his urine,’ Daniel explained carefully, not wanting to alarm the woman maybe unnecessarily.

  ‘I should have realised it myself,’ Diane said, shaking her head. ‘Our Cathy—that’s my sister—she’s had diabetes since she was a girl. I remember her drinking pints of water before they found out what was wrong with her, but I never put two and two together.’

  ‘It’s easy to overlook things when you’re busy. And, let’s be honest, teenaged boys aren’t exactly forthcoming when it comes to any issues they have,’ he added ruefully. ‘I know from bitter experience how hard it is to get them to talk.’

  ‘You’re right there. I’ve got five lads and they’re all very tight-lipped when it comes to anything personal,’ Diane agreed. She sighed. ‘Very different from the girls, they are.’

  Steven came back just then and handed the specimen to Daniel. Daniel took it over to the worktop to test it. He nodded when the chemically coated strip showed an extremely high level of glucose. ‘It’s as I suspected, Steven. Your glucose level is far higher than it should be.’ He came back and sat down. ‘I’ll need to do a blood test as well, but it appears that you may have diabetes mellitus.’

  ‘That’s what Auntie Cathy has, isn’t it?’ Steven said, turning to his mother. He went pale when she nodded. ‘Does it mean I’ll have to have injections like Auntie Cathy does?’

  ‘Most probably,’ Daniel confirmed, knowing what a shock it must be for the boy. He could imagine Nathan’s reaction and tried to make the situation sound as positive as possible. ‘However, if you do have to inject yourself with insulin you’ll be shown what to do. After a while, it will just become part of your daily routine.’

  ‘It’s not routine, though, is it?’ Steven said angrily, his eyes filling with tears. ‘None of my friends have to inject themselves!’

  ‘Perhaps they don’t but they may have other health issues you know nothing about,’ Daniel replied soothingly. However, his words had little effect as Steven leapt to his feet and rushed out of the room.

  ‘I’m sorry, Doctor,’ Diane said, getting up. ‘He’s always been a bit...well, sensitive. But that doesn’t excuse his rudeness.’

  ‘He’s bound to be upset, Mrs Applethwaite. It’s a lot to take in so please don’t worry about it. The main thing now is to ensure he gets the appropriate treatment. I’d like him to do a fasting blood test, i.e. he’s not to eat anything after his evening meal until blood is taken the following morning. It can be done here and if it confirms my suspicions then I’ll refer him to the hospital.’

  ‘I’ll make sure he has it done,’ Diane said staunchly.

  ‘Good. Jessica will give you a leaflet explaining the procedure,’ he told her, referring to one of the two practice nurses who covered both surgeries. ‘She can also take the sample, although you can have it done at Beesdale if you’d prefer the phlebotomist to do it.’

  ‘Here’d be better. It’s a busy time at the moment—the sheep need bringing down from the hills before the weather turns and I’ll be needed to lend a hand.’ Diane sighed. ‘Will Steven have to attend the hospital every week?’

  ‘No. He will be seen by a specialist initially who will decide on a course of treatment for him. After that, he can be monitored here at the surgery. There’s a monthly diabetes clinic, which the hospital staff run, so you won’t need to be driving back and forth to town all
the time.’

  ‘Oh, that’s a relief!’ Diane exclaimed. ‘Not that I’d have let Steven miss an appointment if he had needed to attend the hospital. But it will make life easier if he can be seen here.’

  Daniel saw Diane out then buzzed in his next patient. The rest of the morning flew past and before he knew it, it was time for lunch. He exchanged the usual pleasantries with Bernard Hargreaves but he didn’t linger. He was eager to get back to Beesdale to check what had been happening in his absence. He sighed as he got into his car. Why bother lying? Why not admit that he was eager to get back to see Eleanor?

  * * *

  It had been a busy morning but Ellie had enjoyed it. The range of problems she had dealt with had been very different from what she had encountered in her previous post. She knew that she was gaining valuable experience by working at The Larches, and that it would stand her in good stead when the time came to move on. Although she wouldn’t be leaving for several months, she must never forget that she wasn’t here on a permanent basis. It was a strangely depressing thought and she pushed it to the back of her mind as she left her consulting room. Sandra Nelson was just leaving Daniel’s room and she greeted Ellie cheerfully.

  ‘Been nice and busy, hasn’t it?’

  ‘It has.’ Ellie returned her smile. She had taken an immediate liking to the older woman when they had met that morning. Sandra had a friendly and down-to-earth manner that had instantly put Ellie at her ease. ‘So, have you enjoyed working here for a change?’

  ‘I have, especially as I’ve had someone to talk to.’ Sandra smiled conspiratorially. ‘Bernard isn’t one for chatting, let’s just say. He prefers to get the job done and go home. I wouldn’t be surprised if he handed in his notice soon. I get the impression he’s looking forward to calling it a day and retiring.’

  ‘Really?’ Ellie frowned, wondering if it might be the opening she needed. If a post became vacant maybe Daniel would consider hiring her on a permanent basis, although she wasn’t sure if it would be a good idea. Although she could learn a lot from working at The Larches, she was already far more aware of him than she should be. Would it really be wise to place herself in the position of seeing him day after day? She had sworn after she and Michael had parted that she wouldn’t make the mistake of getting involved in a relationship again and she intended to stick to it.

  ‘Would you consider applying for the post if Bernard does decide to leave?’ Sandra asked, unconsciously latching onto Ellie’s train of thought.

  ‘I’m not sure,’ Ellie replied. She shrugged when Sandra looked at her in surprise. ‘I took this job knowing it was only temporary. I’m not sure if it’s what I want to do long term, though.’

  ‘Well, only you can decide that, although you could do a lot worse than work here. Isn’t that right, Daniel?’

  Ellie looked up in surprise, feeling her heart lurch when she saw Daniel standing by the reception desk. She hadn’t seen him since the previous Friday and she found herself taking stock all over again. It was a chilly day, a brisk October wind giving a hint of what was to come, and he had dressed accordingly in a thick quilted coat that added bulk to his rangy figure. With his dark hair ruffled by the wind and his blue eyes sparkling, he was an arresting sight and Ellie couldn’t stop staring at him. It was only when she realised that he had asked her a question that she dragged her thoughts together.

  ‘Sorry. What was that?’ she said hurriedly, willing the betraying colour not to flood her cheeks. She didn’t want him thinking that he had an effect on her, even if it was true.

  ‘I was just asking if you planned to stay in this part of the country,’ he repeated.

  ‘I...I’m not sure what my plans are yet,’ Ellie said hastily. ‘I may decide to move abroad. There are plenty of exciting opportunities for general practitioners in Australia and New Zealand.’

  ‘There are indeed.’ Daniel gave her a quick smile then turned to speak to Lucy Burrows, who was manning the desk that lunchtime.

  Ellie headed for the door, not wanting anyone to suspect how hurt she felt. Oh, she knew it was stupid; after all, why should Daniel try to persuade her to stay in England? She was only here to cover Beth’s maternity leave so why should he care where she went after that? And yet in some fragile corner of her heart she knew that it did matter, that it mattered a lot, and it worried her. She mustn’t make the mistake of becoming dependent on Daniel, on thinking that his opinion counted. She had been down that road before with Michael and look how that had ended. The thought lent wings to her feet. Ellie had already left the building before Sandra caught up with her.

  ‘Are you all right, love?’ the older woman asked in concern. ‘You dashed off as though the hounds of hell were after you!’

  ‘Sorry.’ Ellie drummed up a laugh, inwardly wincing when she realised how false it sounded. She rushed on, not wanting Sandra to guess how confused she felt. Maybe Daniel did have a strange effect on her but she wasn’t prepared to alter her plans for him or any man. ‘I skipped breakfast this morning and I’m absolutely ravenous. I can’t wait to get something to eat!’

  ‘I know the feeling!’ Sandra laughed as well, accepting the excuse at face value. ‘I’m on one of my never-ending diets and I’m always hungry. I even dream about food—how pathetic is that?’

  ‘Poor you,’ Ellie sympathised, although she couldn’t help feeling guilty about the small white lie.

  ‘Hmm, not what my hubby says when I wake him up, muttering about how many calories are in this or that delicious concoction.’ Sandra grinned. ‘Anyway, enough of my problems. I wanted to invite you to our autumn barbecue. We have one every year around this time as a kind of swansong before everyone hunkers down for the winter. We’re having it on the nineteenth this year, if you’re free.’

  ‘My birthday,’ Ellie told her.

  ‘Really? What a coincidence! So can you come or do you already have plans, with it being your birthday?’

  ‘No, I’ve nothing planned,’ Ellie admitted, refusing to think about the previous year and how she had celebrated with Michael. There was no point harking back to the days when it had felt as though she’d had the world at her feet.

  ‘Great! Tim and I will look forward to seeing you then.’ Sandra turned to leave then paused. ‘If you want to bring anyone it’s fine. The more the merrier, we always say.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Ellie replied, not wanting to admit that she had no one to bring. She went up to the flat after Sandra left and opened a can of soup and poured it into a bowl. Popping it into the microwave to heat up, she went to the window, wondering when she would stop measuring time by the things she had done with Michael. Was she still in love with him, even after the way he had treated her?

  Closing her eyes, she tried to conjure up his face, something she had never had any difficulty doing before, but for some reason it didn’t work this time. She could picture each feature separately—hazel eyes, light brown hair, a rather thin-lipped mouth—but they wouldn’t coalesce into a whole no matter how she tried... Another face suddenly started to form and Ellie’s breath caught. There was no need to force these features to take their rightful place. One minute there was nothing in her head except that jumble and the next there was Daniel. Whole. Complete. Unmistakable.

  Ellie’s eyes few open but the image stayed with her, etched into her mind so clearly that it seemed to belong there. Was it a sign? But a sign of what? That she was far too aware of him? She already knew that, didn’t she? It was what she did with the knowledge that mattered now. If she was to avoid any more heartache then she had to stop what was happening and not allow it to progress any further.

  If she could.

  * * *

  Daniel couldn’t get the conversation he’d had with Eleanor out of his mind. She was planning to move abroad after her contract here ended? He knew that it shouldn’t have mattered a jot what she chose
to do, but it did. The thought of her moving thousands of miles away was like a heavy weight, pressing down on him. He longed to talk to her about her plans, even ask her to stay on at The Larches, but it wasn’t up to him to interfere. He mustn’t forget that he was simply her employer and nothing else.

  The afternoon turned out to be as busy as the morning, so they ended up running over time. Daniel offered to lock up so that Marie and the rest of the staff could get off home. Nathan played basketball on Monday evenings so he didn’t need to rush home for once. He set the alarm then realised that Beth’s keys to the surgery were hanging in the cupboard. Eleanor would need them to unlock the surgery. Daniel lifted them out, wondering if he should give them to her now or leave it until the morning. However, it would be typical if some kind of emergency happened and neither he nor Marie were available to open up. He would give them to Eleanor now and be done with it.

  The wind was icy as he made his way round to the rear of the building. Although it was only the beginning of October, the weather was gearing itself up for winter. Winters in the Dales could be extremely harsh and definitely weren’t to everyone’s taste. Was that why Eleanor was thinking of moving overseas, so she could enjoy year-round sunshine? It would have been easy to accept that was the explanation, yet Daniel suspected that her reason for wanting to move abroad was linked to what had happened in the past. He frowned as he climbed the steps to the front door. Whatever it was, it must have been a particularly traumatic experience. Eleanor opened the door almost immediately when he rang the bell and Daniel could tell that she was surprised to see him.

  ‘I’m sorry to bother you,’ he said, clamping down on the thought as he held up the bunch of keys. When all was said and done, what business was it of his what she did? Nevertheless, he had to admit that he hated to think that she might move abroad for the wrong reasons. ‘But I need to give you the surgery keys and explain how the alarm works. It would be absolutely typical if something happened and you needed to open up and didn’t have any keys!’