Tempting Dr. Templeton

by Judy Campbell

  ‘Well?’ he prompted, looking at her with twinkling eyes. ‘Will I see you?’

  ‘Perhaps.’ She smiled noncommittally and started to walk quickly towards the hotel. He started to match his stride to hers.

  ‘I’ll walk back with you,’ he said pleasantly. ‘Are you here on your own?’

  Here we go, thought Rosie. Why don’t I just put a placard round my neck saying, SINGLE MOTHER, LOOKING FOR SECURE RELATIONSHIP!

  She looked steadily ahead of her. ‘Yes,’ she replied tersely. She wished he wasn’t walking quite so close to her. His large frame seemed to dominate hers—it was a rather disturbing feeling.

  Andy gazed at Rosie thoughtfully. He seemed to have touched a raw nerve there somewhere. He chuckled to himself. He liked a little bit of mystery to a woman. Coupled with the stunning looks of Rosie Loveday, it made an intriguing combination!

  ‘And have you come far for the conference?’ he persisted.

  ‘No.’ Her voice was crisp, inviting no further questions.

  He took no notice of her reticence. ‘Ah, so you’re a Cornish girl, then? I’m surprised we haven’t met before.’

  Talk about determination—the man didn’t give up easily! ‘I’m not from this area,’ she relented. ‘I’m from the North of England, but I’ve started a new job.’ She smiled at him. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go to my room.’

  Andy touched Rosie’s arm before she swung away. ‘Why don’t we meet in the bar before dinner? I think you deserve a drink after that little drama this afternoon—it would be a sort of “thank you”.’

  Rosie hesitated for a moment. There was nothing so ghastly as turning up alone to these dinners where everyone else in the room had a partner, and one stood out as the only ‘single’ in the place. A drink with Andy before the meal might give her Dutch courage for the evening. In the old days, with Tony by her side, she had brimmed with social confidence, but since his death she had hated the thought of these big gatherings. Absurdly now she felt she stood out as alone and unattached, and that was why she very rarely went to parties even when she knew many of the people there.

  ‘That…that would be nice,’ she agreed. ‘I’ll see you later, then.’

  He watched her disappear to the lifts, her thick hair bouncing, her long legs swinging, and a little smile lifted his firm lips.

  ‘You’re a bit of a beautiful enigma, Dr Rosie Loveday,’ he murmured. ‘Could make for an interesting evening…’

  Despite the factor 20 sunscreen Rosie had slapped on her face that afternoon, her skin had begun to resemble her name, she thought wryly. She toned it down with a hint of foundation and swept her springy hair back from her face with two combs. She looked critically at herself in the mirror—her old standby, the black crêpe trouser suit, had stood up well over two seasons, but it was about time she got herself something new.

  She sighed. Tony had always loved her in black. He’d thought it looked smart, but she was just beginning to wish she had something more daring to wear—something that didn’t have to co-ordinate with everything else in her wardrobe, which was mostly navy blue or black! Perhaps, she thought optimistically, she’d buy herself something wild with her first pay cheque! Then she laughed ruefully at herself. Not much point in buying something like that if you never went out anywhere…Her evenings over the past two years had been mainly concerned with coping with a baby’s multifarious needs when she’d come home exhausted from work.

  She picked up the photo she’d propped up on the bedside table and a tender smile curved her lips. Amy looked so adorable with her sweet round little face and springy hair so like her own. She was in the arms of Auntie Lily, who was looking after her while Rosie was at the conference. Rosie bit her lip reflectively. Lily was a darling, and happy to help Rosie as much as she could—but was it too much to expect her to look after a lively toddler for two days when she wasn’t in the first flush of youth?

  Rosie sighed. It was useless to worry. She’d rung Lily, who’d assured her that she and Amy were having a marvellous time making cakes, and later both of them were going to do finger-painting. She was lucky that Lily lived with them—invaluable when there was a last-minute panic if either she was unwell, or Amy was ill and couldn’t go to the childminder, even though Lily still had her own fashion business.

  She put down the photo and glanced at her watch. It was getting late and she would have to go and meet Andy Templeton. Rosie felt a moment’s panic as she thought of the evening before her, and the fact that it had been so long since she’d actually had to be sociable. With a flutter of alarm she realised that it was the first time in nearly three years that she’d actually been to a large gathering where she knew precisely no one! What on earth would she talk to this Andy about? Her knowledge of sports was rather limited, and he probably wouldn’t be interested in the life and times of her little Amy.

  The hubbub of voices and chink of glasses floated over to Rosie as she stepped out of the lift. She swallowed and clutched her handbag more tightly. Come on, get a grip, she told herself sternly. This is the beginning of your new life. Surely if she could abseil down a perpendicular slope she could face a drink with an attractive man!

  ‘Great!’ said a cheerful voice in her ear. ‘I’m glad you’re on time—I thought perhaps a little bubbly might be a good start to the evening!’

  Andy materialised before her, with two glasses of pink champagne in his hand. He looked down at her smilingly, his eyes sweeping over her tall figure and her halo of pre-Raphaelite honey-coloured hair.

  ‘Here’s to a good evening,’ he murmured, taking her elbow and leading her to a seat in a small alcove.

  Andy looked good—too good to be true. Rosie’s heart fluttered a little as his hand touched her arm. She sensed other women in the room flicking covert looks at his tall figure, set off to advantage in his dinner jacket and his noticeable shock of tawny hair, as he strode confidently across the room. She flushed slightly—they were probably thinking that he and she were an item! Let them think it, then, she thought defiantly It had been too long since she’d had any kind of escort, and even if it was just for one evening, she’d make the most of it! She sat down carefully and raised her glass to Andy.

  ‘Salut! I need this after Bob’s mishap, not to mention the torture you put me through this afternoon!’

  ‘Nonsense!’ He grinned with that boyish teasing look she was beginning to realise was part of Andy Templeton’s style. ‘You loved every minute. And by the way, I called in to see Bob after we’d parted this afternoon, and your diagnosis was correct—tib and fib fractures, with a badly twisted ankle, but fortunately no spinal injuries. They’re operating on him tonight, so he may be there for a day or two.’ He leaned forward and refilled her glass. ‘I hope this afternoon’s little escapade hasn’t put you off. You know, we made quite a good team down there—we could run our own little emergency service between us!’

  ‘I think I did enough of that when I was in A and E some years ago.’ She laughed.

  ‘Well, I hope you’ll be part of the country trek we’re doing tomorrow!’

  Rosie smiled, almost with relief, and said quickly, ‘I can’t, I’m afraid. I can only stay for the lecture tomorrow morning, then I have to get back.’

  He nodded, a questioning look in his eyes. ‘A pity. Responsibilities at home—is that it?’

  ‘I have a lot to do before Monday, that’s all.’

  She was darned if she was going to tell him her life story so soon! Perhaps it was the champagne kicking in, but quite suddenly she decided that tonight she wasn’t going to be a widow or a young single mother. She was going to be her own woman for once—someone on the edge of a new career, independent and carefree. It was the first time in ages that she’d had a night out on her own, and she was going to enjoy it!

  Andy leaned towards her and looked at her engagingly. ‘Then we just have this evening to get to know each other, don’t we?’

  His hand brushed against hers as he re
placed the bottle, and there was a mischievous twinkle in those amazing blue eyes of his that held hers so tenaciously. Rosie nervously pulled back a tendril of hair behind her ear—it was quite ridiculous the way her heart jumped when the man looked at her! It had been so long since she’d flirted with anyone that she wasn’t sure she could remember the rules of the game!

  She looked at him assessingly. She couldn’t believe this attractive man wasn’t spoken for—there had to be a partner somewhere in his background or, if not, several gorgeous girls vying for his attention! She was intrigued to know his background—without seeming too nosy!

  ‘So, do you instruct people in this torturous abseiling and mountain-climbing all the time?’ she asked.

  He chuckled. ‘I know you’d get to like it if you had more training with me. But actually this is just a hobby. In the real world I’m a GP doing locum work at the moment. It suits my lifestyle as I need to have time off fairly frequently.’

  ‘To do your mountain-climbing?’

  The expression on his face changed and he frowned, a bleak look in his eyes. ‘Afraid not,’ he said briefly, ‘There’s never time. I’m always taken up with other, more pressing things when I take off. A refill of wine, Rosie?’

  Rosie looked at him thoughtfully, noticing the smooth change of subject. She guessed there was a story behind that remark—but, then, who hadn’t some secrets in their life they preferred to keep to themselves? She hadn’t told him about Amy—why should he be interested in children and the problems of being a single parent? She smiled at him.

  ‘I’d like to take off sometimes—I’ve only been abroad once, when I went to France on an exchange visit when I was thirteen. My counterpart and I hated each other on sight so it wasn’t very successful!’

  He laughed. ‘That sounds a rather common event—perhaps it’s a rite of passage in order to learn a language!’

  The awkward moment had passed and Andy’s cheerful demeanour reasserted itself. Rosie began to relax. Tonight was to be a light interlude in the sterner world of everyday life that she had to go back to tomorrow—at this moment she had no responsibilities except herself, and she was going to enjoy it!

  The meal had finished and a man with a keyboard and a powerful voice appeared on the small stage. His songs were bouncy numbers that were easy to dance to and soon had most of the room on the floor, gyrating happily to the rhythm.

  Despite Rosie’s misgivings, the evening had been more fun than she could have hoped for. It was good to be looked after, asked one’s opinion and, let’s face it, generally flattered. Andy Templeton knew how to make a girl feel relaxed, thought Rosie with amusement. He had a blend of charm and wit that made for easy conversation, and he seemed genuinely interested in what she did. He watched the antics on the crowded dance floor for a second, then turned to her with a questioning eyebrow.

  ‘How about giving this a try?’ suggested Andy. ‘What do you think?’

  Rosie laughed. ‘Why not?’ she declared. ‘I’m better at dancing than I am at abseiling!’

  Perhaps it was the wine, perhaps it was because she wasn’t worrying about Amy, but she felt a lightness of spirit she hadn’t felt for a long time—she was glad she’d come to the conference now. She sprang from her chair and held out her hand to Andy, who took it with an amused grin and began spinning her round in time to the music. For the first time in many months Rosie felt the intoxication of enjoying herself and being alive—and with someone who seemed to enjoy life, too. She flicked a covert glance at her partner, his powerful physique with his longs legs and broad frame performing surprisingly gracefully on the crowded little dance floor. She flung herself energetically into the dance with him.

  The music came to an end, and Andy swung her round one more time, his arms remaining round her so that she was held for a second against his body as it took the momentum of her spin. His eyes twinkled as they swept over her flushed face and sparkling eyes, lingering for a second on her parted lips.

  ‘You’ve got great rhythm,’ he murmured. ‘I thought you said you were a doctor, not a dancer…’

  In her heightened state, the feel of Andy’s hard body against hers was almost shocking in its physicality. Was she going mad? She just wasn’t ‘that’ sort of girl, she thought wildly, but the maleness and the strength of him in that brief second reminded her only too poignantly of what she had missed for so long.

  Rosie pulled herself away from him abruptly, feeling a flush of shame that she could think these thoughts about a total stranger. It was out of character for her and she was probably giving out all the wrong signals. Worse, she was letting down the memory of Tony.

  It was time to go before she embarrassed herself any more. ‘I’m sorry, Andy,’ she said brusquely, ‘but I must have an early night. It’s been lovely, but—’

  ‘You can’t take all the excitement?’ he finished for her, with a grin. ‘Perhaps one more dance? This is a slower number, and surely you know that after vigorous exercise one should wind down gently?’

  It was true—the music had become slower, the singer’s voice more seductive and throbbing, and the couples on the floor all seemed to be twined lovingly round each other. Rosie’s heart fluttered. No way was she going to become any more intimate with Andy Templeton. She’d had a good time—better than she had dared to hope—but this sort of dancing with this sort of man would be too close for comfort, and too much of a reminder of the last time she’d been with Tony.

  She closed her eyes for a second, her last memory of him flashing back into her mind. Tony and herself on the dance floor, like so many of the people here. Swaying together in a loving embrace to soft music, his arms round her almost protectively. It had been nearly three years ago and she had just told him she was pregnant. Both of them had never been happier. How could she have known that only an hour later her happiness would be shattered?

  She felt a warm hand on her shoulder and opened her eyes. Andy was gazing down at her with a quizzically perceptive expression. ‘Penny for them,’ he said lightly. ‘You were a million miles away then.’

  ‘I…I just felt a little faint,’ she whispered. ‘Perhaps if we went outside for a minute?’

  He took her hand and led her out onto the terrace. ‘Probably the heat in that place,’ he said easily. ‘And I imagine your cardiac rate went up a few notches during that last dance!’

  It was a balmy evening, just the slightest of breezes carrying the elusive sweet smell of honeysuckle mingled with new-mown grass from the garden beyond. A silver moon hung in the sky above their heads, its luminous beam dancing on the sea beyond. Rosie took several deep breaths and smiled up at Andy apologetically.

  ‘Sorry about that. I’m not usually such a wilting flower.’

  He looked down at her seriously, his face in shadow. ‘I know you’re not—you’re one feisty girl. You showed me that when you were abseiling this afternoon. You kept your head, doing something completely alien to you. I was impressed—not to mention the little adventure with Bob.’ Andy squeezed her arm reassuringly. ‘Why don’t we walk down the path to the shore—get away from all that noise and heat for a minute?’

  Rosie nodded. It would be a good thing to get away from those couples clasped together and reminding her too poignantly of happier times.

  She felt his arm go round her shoulders as they walked down the terrace steps and there was a comfort and strength in his touch that wasn’t threatening. They followed the little path round a rocky outcrop to a small private cove, completely deserted and full of moonlit shadows under the cliffs. They stopped as they reached the sea’s edge and stood in silence for a moment,watching the little rills of water fluttering towards them, like frills of white lace.

  ‘They say that every seventh wave is a big one,’ he murmured absently, his foot drawing a pattern in the sand. Then he turned towards her and lifted her chin with his finger. ‘Something worried you back there,’ he said gently. ‘What was it—a bad memory?’

  A lump came t
o Rosie’s throat. She never talked about Tony to anyone, never revealed any of the terrible loneliness and despair she’d felt at his death just as she’d become pregnant. And now, nearly three years later with a two-year-old to look after, she’d become used to that solitary state. But there was something about this evening which had triggered those feelings again. Seeing all those couples had somehow reinforced just how single she was.

  She turned her head away. ‘Something like that,’ she murmured. She scrabbled for a tissue in her pocket and blew her nose. ‘I’m OK now…don’t worry. It was nothing.’

  Andy turned her towards him, his voice low. ‘I don’t believe that. You were enjoying yourself, and suddenly that happiness disappeared. It wasn’t something trivial. Why?’

  She could feel those perceptive blue eyes searching her face, trying to find the truth, trying to make her reveal the reason for her unhappiness. She swallowed, amazed at the temptation she felt welling up inside her to do just that—to lay bare her feelings for the first time to someone she’d only met that afternoon!

  She sighed. ‘I don’t think it would interest you to know about my private life.’

  ‘You are so wrong,’ he whispered softly. ‘I hate to see you look so sad. A beautiful girl like you should be happy…and you are so beautiful,’ he added almost inaudibly. ‘Won’t you tell me what’s wrong?’

  She looked up at him indecisively. He was so gentle and concerned. He had a companionable air about him, and perhaps it would be easier to tell Andy than to tell someone she knew very well about the memories that had been brought back that evening.

  She clasped her hands together and looked out to the inky waters of the sea. ‘I think it was the music that did it…’ she murmured slowly. ‘You see, it was very like the music that was playing the night my husband was killed—nearly three years ago now.’ She halted and swallowed, trying to control her emotions. ‘We…we’d had such a happy evening. It was our wedding anniversary, and…and I’d just told him some very good news. I remember thinking as we danced that I’d never been happier.’