Italian Doctor, Dream Proposal / Wanted: A Father for her Twins

by Margaret McDonagh / Emily Forbes

  His cousin watched him closely and nodded. ‘Then we’ll find her,’ he stated confidently.

  ‘I should not involve you in this. Tomorrow is your wedding day. I will look for her when you are away on your honeymoon,’ Rico suggested, feeling guilty.

  ‘Nonsense. I want to help. It would mean the world to me for you to be as happy as I am.’ He opened the book and looked up expectantly. ‘What is her name, cugino? Have you any clue where she comes from?’

  ‘She is English, but I’ve no idea where she works. And her name is Ruth Baxter. She’s so beautiful, Seb, with long, pale gold hair, amazing green eyes and a body to die for.’

  Rico’s heart swelled as he thought of the woman who had claimed his heart in such a short time, but his smile was tinged with sadness at having lost her so quickly. His confidence and belief had been shaken to the core, leaving him floundering for the first time in his life. The silence impinged on his consciousness and he realised that Seb was staring at him as if he had grown two heads.

  ‘Seb?’

  ‘Mio Dio!’

  ‘What is the matter?’ Rico asked with a frown. ‘Why are you not looking in the book?’

  Seb huffed out a breath. ‘I do not need to look in the book,’ he said, setting it aside.

  ‘Why not? What are you doing?’

  Confused, Rico watched as his cousin dislodged Wallace and Sparky from his lap once more, then twisted round to remove his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans. He drew something out and handed it over.

  ‘Here.’

  Rico rose to his feet and closed the distance between them. Several conflicting emotions rushed through him as he took the folded photograph Seb offered and found himself staring down at an image of Ruth. His whole body went rigid in surprise and confusion.

  ‘Why do you have a picture of my woman?’ he demanded, irritated when Seb laughed at him.

  ‘Open it out, cugino.’

  Rico did as he’d been told and saw the photograph was of three women. A pretty girl with wavy, honey-blonde hair and a shy smile. Gina, curvaceous, with dark hair and laughing dark eyes. And his Ruth, one of the group and yet exuding the air of aloneness that held her apart and tore at everything inside him.

  ‘I don’t understand,’ he murmured, pressing the fingers of his free hand to his forehead.

  ‘You will see your Ruth sooner than you expected, Rico.’ Smiling, Seb rose to his feet and draped an arm around his shoulder. ‘Ruth and Holly are Gina’s best friends—and her two bridesmaids.’

  Rico found himself back in the armchair, his legs too shaky to hold him. He sat in shock, unable to believe it. Ruth was in Strathlochan? Had been here all the time? He pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart, trying to concentrate as Seb told him what he knew about Ruth. It matched up with what he had already discovered…her solitary life, her single-minded dedication to her career, her intelligence, her reserve.

  ‘Even after eight months I don’t know Ruth well, but I like her. I understand from Gina that she and Holly are the only real friends Ruth has ever had,’ Seb finished, a reflective look on his face.

  The coincidence that he and Seb should find love in the same place was extraordinary enough, but that it should turn out that Ruth should be here, too, was almost impossible to believe. Yet Ruth was in Strathlochan—and she was definitely the woman who had stolen his heart. Fate was telling him something. It was a sign. He and Ruth were meant to be. He knew it. Somehow he had to convince Ruth, too.

  It was obvious now that he had miscalculated, Rico assessed. He had rushed Ruth earlier in the week and he would have to be careful not to do that again. He needed to get her to Florence and to win her agreement to take the job. Then he would have time to regain lost ground, to break through her insecurities and barriers, and to show her the kind of life they could have together, as equals and partners, friends and lovers, husband and wife.

  ‘So, what are you going to do?’

  Seb’s question cut through his thoughts. ‘Do?’ He frowned, not sure what his cousin meant.

  ‘Are you going to let Ruth know you are here?’ Seb queried with a frown of his own. ‘Or are you going to take her by surprise when she walks down the aisle tomorrow?’

  Rico was not at all certain which was the best course of action. If Ruth found out now, would she run again? How would she feel if she came face to face with him in the church? Being so unsure of her and her feelings was playing havoc with his usual composure and rational decisionmaking.

  ‘What do you think?’ he asked his cousin.

  ‘I think we tell Gina and see what she says,’ Seb decided. ‘I’ll do everything I can to help you, Rico. I want you to be happy, and I’d be delighted if it was with Ruth. But I won’t let anything spoil Gina’s special day.’

  Rico hid his frustration and nodded. ‘I understand. Ring Gina.’

  As Seb reached for his mobile phone, Rico’s stomach was churning. Ruth was so close. He was desperate to see her, hold her, kiss her. But what if she told Gina that she didn’t want to see him? What was he going to do then? All he knew was that he needed Ruth in his life and he would do whatever was necessary to earn her love.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  HOLDING her mug in both hands, Gina leaned back on the sofa with a contented sigh. ‘I won’t believe the fairy tale is real until Seb and I are finally married. We seem to have been planning the wedding for ever, and at times I never thought the day would arrive. Now it’sjust hours away and I’m too buzzed and excited to sleep! I so hope nothing goes wrong. What if Seb doesn’t turn up?’ She bit her lip, momentary anxiety replacing the dreamy smile that was usually present on her face.

  ‘Nothing is going to go wrong,’ Ruth insisted firmly.

  ‘And of course Seb is going to turn up!’ Holly added with equal vehemence. ‘He’s madly in love with you.’

  It was late on Friday night and Maria, Gina’s grandmother, had long since gone to bed. Gina, Holly and herself should follow suit in preparation for an early start in the morning, Ruth admitted, but none of them had felt sleepy. Dressed in pyjamas, and savouring mugs of hot chocolate, they were curled on up one of the huge soft and squishy sofas in the living room of the large town house Seb had bought earlier in the year, Gina’s tiny cottage proving too small and lacking privacy. Set back from the road, and secluded from its neighbours, the town house had a self-contained, ground-floor apartment for Maria, as well as a big garden and a priceless view of the loch and the hills rising behind it.

  Their dog, Montgomery, was asleep in front of the log fire, his paws twitching as he chased rabbits in his dreams. The cosy atmosphere would never have affected her before, Ruth acknowledged, looking at her two friends with affection, emotion bringing a lump to her throat. Before…That was how everything was now divided. Before Rico and after Rico.

  Being with him had breached some inner dam, cracking open the protective wall she had long used to shield herself from more hurt and rejection. Rico had taught her how to feel, and now she was exposed, with nothing to hide behind, and she was uncharacteristically emotional. She was also envious of Gina. Not that she begrudged her friend a single thing—Gina deserved all the happiness in the world. But the last few days had made Ruth realise how much was missing from her life and how desperately she wanted to be loved and cherished, too…by Rico.

  The apparent hopelessness of that dream hit her anew. It had been a strain to keep up her front this evening, not to allow thoughts of Rico and her inner turmoil to burst free. With much of the talk being about Gina’s sexy and devoted Italian husband-to-be, the contrasts were all too apparent, making her own situation hurt even more. It was a constant ache, gnawing away inside her. Closing her eyes, she sipped her drink, trying to shore up her shaky defences.

  ‘I couldn’t think of getting married without my two best friends beside me,’ Gina said now, threatening Ruth’s tenuous grasp on her self-control. ‘I know neither of you like standing out in public, so it
means even more that you said yes.’

  ‘We only agreed when you promised there would be no hideous meringue-like dresses,’ Ruth quipped, using humour to mask her feelings and making the others laugh.

  She had been anxious about the dress, but she should have known better given Gina’s personality and good taste. They’d had the final fittings back in April and she and Holly would be wearing the palest pink. Their sleeveless, knee-length dresses had scooped necklines and some same-colour beaded detail on the bodice. The cocktail-style dresses came with matching stoles that draped across their backs and came through their arms above the elbow, but could also be opened out and used as a wrap.

  Gina’s good taste had extended to her hen event, which had taken place two weeks ago. Instead of the raucous night out Ruth had feared, Gina had taken a handful of friends for a relaxing day being pampered at a spa, followed by a meal in the evening. Although she usually felt awkward and uncomfortable around people, Ruth had enjoyed the day…which said much about the kindness of Gina’s circle of friends from within the local medical community, all of whom had embraced and included Ruth since her arrival in Strathlochan.

  As well as Gina, Holly and herself, the hen group had included A and E registrar Annie Webster, who had made a full recovery from a frightening assault in Casualty in January and was now engaged to fellow trauma doctor Nathan Shepherd; hospital radiographer Francesca Scott, who had recently found love with her childhood hero when Luke Devlin, now an orthopaedic surgeon, had returned to Strathlochan after ten years away; former flight paramedic Callie McInnes, seven months pregnant and married to Frazer, a doctor on the local air ambulance; and Hannah Frost, a GP from the outlying village of Lochanrig, who was married to her Italian practice partner, Nic di Angelis.

  Everyone around her was radiant with happiness and deeply in love, Ruth realised, a lump forming in her throat. Everyone but her. And Holly. Dear, sweet, gentle, caring Holly. Observing her friend, Ruth understood for the first time the sadness that dimmed Holly’s outward smile and brought shadows to her sky-blue eyes. A nurse on the children’s ward at Strathlochan Hospital, Holly was only interested in one man. But her relationship with A and E doctor Gus Buchanan had stalled before it had started, thanks to her scheming, manipulative older sister.

  So Holly was alone…just like her. The hollow ache intensified inside her and Ruth leaned forward to set her empty mug on the coffee table, remaining there to keep herself hidden. How could she miss Rico so much? Where was he now? Did he think of her at all? Her whole life had changed the instant she had seen him and she felt out of her depth, uncertain, scared. A shiver rippled through her. When a gentle hand settled on her back, she tensed and sucked in a steadying breath.

  ‘Ruth, honey, what’s wrong?’ Holly asked softly.

  ‘Nothing.’ Sandwiched between her two friends on the sofa, she sat up straight, trying to smile away the lie. ‘I’m fine.’

  Gina, curled up with her legs tucked beneath her, shook her head. ‘You’ve been preoccupied this evening. And, although we’ve hardly seen you since you came back from that conference, there’s something different about you. You have a new confidence, you hold your head up…your whole bearing is changed. We’ve both noticed it,’ Gina added with alarming perception.

  ‘I had a lot of work to cram into three days, especially as I’m off for the next two weeks dog-sitting Monty,’ she excused herself, but the words sounded unconvincing even to her own ears.

  Anxious, her fingers went out of habit to her locket, forgetting for a moment that it wasn’t there. She plucked awkwardly at the neck of her top, but it was too late, Gina had noticed.

  ‘Your locket!’ her friend exclaimed, coming up on her knees and sliding an arm around Ruth’s shoulder. ‘Oh, Ruth, you haven’t lost it, have you? I know how much it means to you. You never take it off—only for swimming.’

  Ruth opened her mouth to try and explain away its absence, but her mind filled with memories of just why and how it had been removed. She recalled the way Rico had unfastened it, cradling it with care as he put it safely to one side. And then his touch had been for her alone. Goosebumps stood out on her skin, and it was almost as if she could still feel the caress of his fingers as he had soaped, teased and tormented her all over, could still see the hot appreciation in his gaze, and his sinfully wicked smile that had held the promise of what was to come. She shook her head, trying to banish the images and rush of emotion, but they overwhelmed her and a sob escaped unchecked.

  Before she had the chance to escape and hide herself away, Gina and Holly closed in on either side of her and, as the tears she had tried so hard to keep at bay for days slid down her cheeks, they wrapped their arms around her.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ The apology emerged as a throaty murmur when the onslaught began to abate. Ruth was aware of Gina stroking her hair, while Holly reached for the box of paper tissues on the nearby table, sitting back and handing some to her. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘What is it, Ruth?’ Gina queried, and the sympathy and concern in her friend’s voice nearly undid her all over again.

  She shook her head, not wanting her insecurities and problems to worry Gina now of all times. ‘I can’t do this just before your wedding,’ she protested.

  ‘Nonsense! You matter to me, Ruth. To all of us,’ Gina reassured her.

  ‘I know it isn’t easy for you to talk about things.’ Holly, ever intuitive and understanding, took her hand. ‘But we’re your friends. We care. And we’re always here for you. Please, let us help.’

  Uncertain, Ruth shook her head again.

  Gina’s hold tightened, as if trying to share her strength. ‘It’s your mysterious specialist, isn’t it? The one you’ve been emailing and met at the conference?’

  ‘Yes,’ Ruth admitted, shocked again at Gina’s perception.

  ‘What happened?’ Holly asked, clearly worried. ‘Did he hurt you?’

  Ruth managed a teary laugh at the absurdity of that thought. ‘No. Of course not.’

  ‘He offered you a job—just as I feared he would,’ Gina stated with pained resignation.

  ‘Yes…but it’s so much more than that. I—’ Ruth stopped, unsure how to explain. Nibbling her lower lip, she looked from Holly to Gina. ‘Is it possible to fall in love in two days?’

  Her friends both gave exclamations of surprise, then Gina smiled. ‘I did. I knew the moment I saw Seb that something unusual and special was happening.’

  ‘Me, too,’ Holly agreed, although her smile was tinged with such sadness that made Ruth want to cry again—that or knock some sense into Gus Buchanan.

  ‘So he wasn’t some avuncular, grandfather figure, then?’ Gina teased, although concern remained evident in her dark brown eyes. ‘Or the mad professor you pictured?’

  Ruth’s answering laugh was more genuine. ‘Nothing remotely like that. The first time our gazes met, it was like an electric connection had been made, and I didn’t even know who he was at that point…and he didn’t know my identity, either. I’ve never experienced anything like it before,’ she told them shyly.

  ‘It must have been a surprise when you introduced yourselves!’ Wide-eyed, Holly could hardly contain her eager curiosity. ‘What happened then?’

  To her amazement, Ruth found herself telling her friends the whole story. She had never revealed much about her past to them before, but now Gina and Holly were hanging on her every word as she spoke about her background, her parents, Adam, the conference, the accident at the restaurant—and Rico. His belief in her, the job offer, and how he had made her feel special and desired for the first time in her life.

  ‘He told me that he wanted me, and he offered me a night out of time before reality and work intruded again the next day,’ she confided, her cheeks flushing. ‘I wanted him just as much. I wanted to know if Adam was wrong, and, just once, to see what it might be like with someone I responded to and cared about. Stupidly, I thought I could handle it.’

  Tears threatened and Ruth pa
used, gaining comfort from her friends. ‘It was the most incredible experience of my life. On Wednesday morning I knew that one night was never going to be enough. I wanted more…wanted him. But that wasn’t in the rules.’ Taking a deep breath, she lowered her gaze. ‘I ran away. While he was still asleep. I know it was wrong—cowardly—but I couldn’t face him, couldn’t pretend that what we had shared meant nothing.’

  ‘Oh, Ruth. Of course you are not a coward. It’s understandable you felt as you did. And to think of all you’ve been through that we knew nothing about,’ Gina finished, her own voice thick with emotion as she hugged her tight.

  Holly squeezed her fingers. ‘It must have been so difficult for you. Have you not heard from him since?’

  ‘We hadn’t yet exchanged other contact details—it didn’t seem urgent at the time. I’m ashamed to say I went without leaving a note or anything. I was confused, scared and upset at finding him—feeling things I never believed I could—only to lose him again.’ Ruth sighed, taking a ragged breath. ‘He emailed and I felt so guilty as I’d clearly worried him. He begged me to at least let him know I was safe. I replied and said I needed to think. He answered, saying he would give me a few days if that’s what I needed, that he had some business to take care of, but would contact me afterwards. And he found my locket. He’s keeping it safe.’ Ruth hesitated, not wanting to upset her friends. ‘He still hopes I’ll take the job.’

  ‘And you want it.’ Gina’s statement rang with disappointment.

  ‘More than anything, Gina. I’ve not felt this challenged and excited in a long time. But…’ She shook her head, fighting indecision.