The Doctor's Engagement Read online

  ‘Dr Logan!’ One of the paramedics dropped to his knees next to the patient and nodded to Mark. ‘Glad to see you here. What do you need?’

  ‘Let’s get a line in,’ Mark grated, ‘and I want to pass a nasogastric tube and get some of the water out of his stomach.’

  ‘Do we need to check his core temperature?’ The paramedic ripped open a venflon and Holly held the man’s arm while Mark searched for a vein.

  ‘Don’t waste your time. I’ve felt him and I can tell you that he’s hypothermic. His skin feels like marble.’ Mark frowned down at the man’s veins. ‘Damn it, I can’t see a vein. Try the other arm, Holl—quickly!’

  Holly lifted the other arm and squeezed, searching for a vein, and then Mark gave a grunt of satisfaction.

  ‘Bingo!’ He jerked his head towards her. ‘Can you squeeze? I don’t want to lose it.’

  She locked her fingers round the man’s arm and watched while Mark flicked the vein, his handsome face still glistening with sea water.

  Brushing water out of his eyes with one strong forearm, Mark took the venflon and paused for a fraction of a second, his face a mask of concentration as he felt for the vein again. Then he gritted his teeth and inserted the venflon with a sure movement.

  ‘OK, I’m in.’

  There was a palpable sigh of relief from the paramedics. ‘What do you need, Doc?’

  ‘Plasma expander,’ Mark said quickly. ‘I need to try and combat the hypotension.’

  Within minutes the intravenous infusion was running and Mark judged that it was time to evacuate the patient.

  ‘We need to keep him horizontal,’ he instructed, and as he dried himself with a towel, he huddled with the police and paramedics to try and work out the best way.

  By the time they finally slid the stretcher into the waiting helicopter, Holly found herself shaking with reaction.

  ‘Are you OK?’ Mark hesitated as he pulled his top back on before climbing into the helicopter after his patient. ‘Can you find your way home?’

  ‘Of course.’ She gave him a smile and a little push. ‘You go. I’ll see you later.’

  They stood well back while the helicopter took off, carefully transporting the casualty to the nearest hospital.

  The police were talking to the coastguard who agreed to talk to the rest of the boys on the boats.

  ‘We’ll need some sort of statement from you,’ the policeman said, walking across to Holly. ‘Looks like Dr Logan saved the day.’

  ‘He was a hero,’ one of the men said gruffly, and his wife nodded.

  ‘Lucky for them he was passing and that he’s so fit. Not many people would have made it through that water and managed to rescue that lad.’

  Holly managed a stiff smile and the policeman frowned.

  ‘You look a bit shocked, love. Why don’t you come with us and we’ll get you a hot drink?’

  Holly shook her head. ‘No, honestly. I’ll be fine. It’s only a short walk home for me.’

  ‘Well, then, I’ll walk with you,’ the policeman said firmly, and she found herself surprisingly relieved to have his company. It stopped her thinking about what would have happened if she’d lost Mark.

  * * *

  It was dark by the time Mark returned, the sound of his key in the lock breaking the silence in the house.

  ‘Holly?’

  There was a clatter as he dropped his keys on the table and walked into the darkened living room.

  ‘Holl?’ His voice was sharp with concern and he flicked on the lights. ‘Why are you in the dark? What’s going on? Are you all right?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ she lied, tucking her legs further underneath herself on the sofa.

  She wasn’t fine at all. She was confused by her own feelings, by the strength of her feelings for Mark. She’d always known she loved him, of course; he was her oldest and dearest friend. But until this afternoon she hadn’t known that she loved him like that.

  ‘So why are you sitting in the dark, babe?’ His soft endearment made her stomach flip and she hugged her arms round her slim body to try and subdue the sensation.

  ‘I—I just feel a bit shocked. Stupid, I know...’

  If she was lucky he’d misinterpret her words and assume that the shock she was referring to was the near drowning of the teenage boy.

  She was right. That was exactly what he did.

  ‘They think he’ll be all right,’ Mark told her, sitting down next to her. ‘He was in the water for about ten minutes so it could have been worse. And he’s young and there were no signs of aspiration.’

  ‘That’s good.’ Holly hugged her arms more tightly round her body to prevent herself from giving in to the temptation to throw herself at him and hold him close.

  ‘They think he’ll make a full recovery,’ Mark said, his eyes fixed on her face. ‘The police and the coastguard have read the Riot Act to his friends, so it should be a happy ending.’

  ‘Good.’ She gave him a smile that cost her dearly in terms of effort. Oh, she was pleased about the boy, of course she was. But every time she closed her eyes she saw Mark ploughing through the water, risking his life to save a boy that he didn’t even know.

  And the incident had shown her, without a shadow of a doubt, that the reason she’d never managed to find a man she was interested in was because she loved Mark.

  She loved Mark and she always had.

  CHAPTER SIX

  ‘IT’S THE Evening Herald on the phone for Mark,’ Caroline said, walking into the staffroom with an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry. I tried to tell them that you didn’t want to talk to any more journalists, but they were insistent.’

  ‘I bet they were,’ Mark muttered darkly, his mouth tightening as he picked up the phone.

  Only half listening as Mark gave a reluctant interview to the persistent reporter, Holly glanced curiously at Caroline, noticing that she was wearing more make-up than usual and looked decidedly more cheerful. Was it Greg?

  ‘Haven’t they got anything better to stick in their newspapers than a story about me having a dip in the sea on a June afternoon?’ Mark said, replacing the receiver and returning to his half-eaten sandwich.

  ‘Everyone loves a hero, Mark,’ Caroline said brightly, carefully loading a tray with mugs of coffee for the reception staff. ‘It’s nice to read something cheerful in the papers for a change.’

  As the door swung closed behind her, Mark frowned. ‘Is it my imagination or was she wearing make-up?’

  ‘She was definitely wearing make-up.’ Holly cast him a dubious look. ‘Do you think it was for your benefit?’

  ‘No.’ Mark shook his head slowly. ‘No, I’m sure it isn’t that. She looks different. Much more cheerful.’

  Holly nodded. ‘You’re right actually. That’s exactly how she looks.’

  Mark grinned. ‘I must ring Greg. Things are obviously going well in that direction.’

  ‘But now that you’re a hero, maybe she’ll have second thoughts about moving on to Greg,’ Holly teased, and Mark rolled his eyes.

  ‘Next time I jump into the water after some teenage idiot, remind me to wear a bag on my head.’

  ‘Next time?’ Holly’s smile faded and she put her coffee down, untouched. ‘Next time? Please, don’t tell me you’re planning to repeat the experience. My nerves couldn’t stand it.’

  ‘Your nerves?’ He stared at her curiously. ‘Come to think of it, you were rather stressed about the whole incident. I never saw you panic when we worked in A and E. Why did it bother you so much?’

  As if she could tell him that!

  She didn’t have much faith in her ability to hide her feelings from him, so she avoided his gaze. ‘Going into cold water to rescue someone is a stupid thing to do,’ she said quickly. ‘Of course you scared me.’

  He watched her in silence, his expression thoughtful. ‘I wore a rope and I’m a strong swimmer, Holly. What was there for you to be scared about?’

  Against her better judgement she glanced at him and
immediately saw the speculation in his eyes. Bother!

  ‘You’re my best friend, Mark,’ she muttered, standing up quickly and taking her coffee over to the sink. ‘I’ve known you for twenty-four years.’

  There was a pause. ‘And that’s why you were worried?’ His voice was casual. ‘Because you thought you’d lose a friend?’

  ‘Of course.’ Holly tipped her coffee down the sink and washed the mug. ‘What other reason would there be?’

  ‘You tell me...’

  Holly’s pulse rate increased. Had he guessed why she’d been so upset last night? That she’d been terrified she was going to lose him?

  She glanced towards him, wondering just how much he knew about her real feelings, but his expression was unreadable.

  ‘You’re far too handsome to drown, Mark,’ she said lightly, straightening her uniform and making for the door. ‘Think of all the female hearts you’d break.’

  With that she closed the door firmly behind her and went to her treatment room. She was going to have to work harder at hiding her feelings or it would take Mark no time at all to work out how she really felt about him—and that would be the end of their friendship.

  * * *

  Monday afternoon was the family planning clinic which she was scheduled to run with Mark.

  ‘Typical,’ she muttered to herself as she got everything ready for the session. ‘The more I try to avoid the man, the more we’re thrown together.’

  Her first patient was Anna Watts, looking a little better than she had the previous week.

  ‘I hope you don’t mind me coming.’ She looked at Holly almost shyly and lifted little Harry out of his car seat.

  ‘I’m pleased to see you, Anna,’ Holly said quietly. ‘How are you feeling?’

  ‘A bit better actually.’ Anna settled the baby more comfortably against her shoulder. ‘My husband’s got three interviews. He was so pleased about that he stayed at home all weekend so he could help me. It was bliss, to be honest. I finally had some time to myself.’

  ‘That’s good.’ Holly nodded encouragingly. ‘And how’s the crying?’

  ‘Your massage has worked wonders,’ Anna told her with a grateful smile. ‘I’ve been doing it every evening and he’s much more settled.’

  ‘And how about you?’ Holly asked softly. ‘Eating, sleeping?’

  Anna looked at the floor. ‘Well, I still haven’t got much of an appetite, I must admit, and I’m still not sleeping very well, but Dr Logan did say that the drug he gave me doesn’t necessarily make you sleepy.’

  Holly glanced at her notes and saw that Mark had prescribed an SSRI, one of the newer antidepressants. ‘That’s right. It isn’t a sedative. But as the drug starts to work you should find that you sleep better, just because you’re generally more relaxed.’

  ‘I hope so.’ Anna stood up and walked around with Harry who had started to fret slightly.

  ‘So, what can I do for you today?’ Holly asked carefully, knowing that Anna had obviously come for a reason.

  Anna coloured and didn’t quite meet her eyes. ‘Well, I had all those problems after the birth...’

  Holly nodded. ‘Debra filled me in. It must have been awful for you.’

  ‘It was.’ Anna shifted Harry onto her other shoulder and rubbed his back gently. ‘The thing is, I had to have surgery afterwards, and I’m wondering when I can—I mean, when it’s safe to...’

  ‘Make love again?’ Holly finished for her, and Anna nodded.

  ‘Yes.’ Then she blushed furiously. ‘My husband—well, now things are looking up, he really wants—he’s more in the mood...’

  ‘And what about you?’ Holly sat back in her chair and watched her closely. ‘What do you want, Anna?’

  ‘I want us to get back to being a normal family as soon as possible,’ Anna said simply. ‘We’ve had so many worries for so long, I just want everything to be like it used to be.’

  ‘But you’re nervous about it?’ Holly’s voice was gentle and kind and Anna shifted awkwardly.

  ‘Yes, very. The birth was so painful and afterwards...’ She gave a wry smile. ‘I haven’t even had a postnatal check really. Actually I’m terrified of trying anything until I know it isn’t going to hurt.’

  ‘In that case, I think you should let Dr Logan take a look at you,’ Holly said. ‘Unless you’d rather see one of the female partners?’

  Some women preferred to see female GPs for intimate examinations but Anna shook her head.

  ‘No. I’d rather see Dr Logan. He’s the only doctor I trust after what happened,’ she confided, shifting Harry back to the first shoulder and jigging him slightly to calm him down. ‘I don’t care that he’s a man—once you’ve had a baby and been poked and prodded down there you don’t have any modesty left.’

  Holly smiled. ‘I’ll go and see if he’s free.’

  She tapped on Mark’s door and heard his sharp, ‘Come in.’

  ‘Mark?’ She opened the door and popped her head round, checking that he didn’t have a patient with him. ‘Can I talk to you?’

  ‘Of course.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘What’s up?’

  Lounging behind his desk, he looked very sexy and more than a little remote and she felt ridiculously self-conscious. Every time she looked, she saw less of her old friend Mark and more of a very strong, virile male.

  ‘I’ve got Anna Watts in my room...’

  He frowned. ‘And...?’

  ‘And she wants to know whether it’s OK for her and her husband to have sex.’ Holly blushed as furiously as Anna had and Mark grinned wickedly.

  ‘She wants my permission?’

  ‘Mark!’ Holly was totally flustered. ‘For goodness’ sake! You know what I mean.’

  ‘Of course I do,’ he said softly. ‘I just like to tease you. What is it about sex that makes you so shy, Holly?’

  Holly bit her lip. ‘I’m not shy.’

  ‘No, maybe not shy.’ He leaned back in his chair and watched her closely, his dark eyes sharply perceptive. ‘Shy’s the wrong word. Just inexperienced. Under that innocent exterior I suspect you’re a burning cauldron of emotions just waiting to explode.’

  He didn’t know the half of it, she thought, backing away towards the door, trying to remember how this awkward conversation had started.

  She didn’t argue with his comment about her inexperience. Her lack of serious boyfriends was no secret, especially not to Mark who’d known her for so long.

  ‘I just need to you to examine her and see whether everything is back to normal,’ she muttered, trying to remind him about the original purpose of their conversation.

  ‘She should have had a follow-up appointment at the hospital.’ Mark’s mouth tightened. ‘Didn’t they call her back?’

  Holly shook her head. ‘I don’t know. I didn’t ask, I’m afraid. I wasn’t really sure what had happened before.’

  ‘OK.’ He rose to his feet in a fluid movement and walked towards her. ‘Let’s go and see her. Will you chaperone?’

  ‘Of course.’ Holly followed him back to the treatment room and hovered while he questioned Anna.

  ‘Didn’t you have a follow-up appointment at the hospital?’ He checked her notes with a frown and she blushed deeply.

  ‘I was supposed to go...’

  Mark’s head jerked up from the notes and his eyes narrowed. ‘But?’

  Anna shrugged helplessly. ‘I couldn’t face it. I hate that hospital, Dr Logan. And I don’t really trust them.’

  Mark sighed and put the notes down on the desk, his expression grim.

  ‘Well, I’m sorry you feel that way.’ He gave Anna a crooked smile. ‘OK, here’s what we’ll do. I’ll give you a full examination now and then I’ll write to your consultant and tell him my findings so that they can discharge you. Is that all right?’

  Anna nodded gratefully. ‘Thanks.’

  Mark shrugged and gave her a relaxed smile. ‘No problem. Holly? Can you get me a speculum and some gloves, please?’
r />   Holly quickly set up a trolley for him and drew the curtains so that Anna could get undressed.

  ‘Just your lower half, Anna,’ she said quietly, taking Harry from her and strapping him back into his car seat so that she was free to assist Mark.

  Mark washed his hands and then snapped on a pair of gloves. ‘OK, Anna, just relax. I promise not to do anything without warning you. I’m just going to look at your episiotomy scar first.’

  Anna tensed and stared at the ceiling and Holly gave her hand a squeeze. She always hated gynaecological examinations, too—especially by male doctors. But to give him his due, Mark was very careful and considerate.

  ‘That’s healed beautifully, Anna,’ he said quietly, reaching for a speculum. ‘I’m just going to examine you internally. Can you adjust the light for me, please, Sister?’

  Holly reached up and did as he asked, wincing as Anna gripped her hand.

  ‘Am I hurting you?’ Mark’s face was concerned as he looked at his patient. ‘I need to know whether this actually hurts, or whether it’s just because you’re scared and tense and expecting it to hurt.’

  ‘I—I don’t know.’ Anna bit her lip and held onto Holly. ‘I just can’t believe that it won’t hurt.’

  ‘Actually, it seems to have healed very well,’ Mark said calmly as he finished his examination. ‘When did you last have a smear?’

  ‘I can’t remember.’

  Holly disengaged her hands and checked the notes quickly. ‘Five years ago.’

  ‘Let’s do one, then. Can I have a spatula, please?’ Mark held out his gloved hand and Holly passed him an Aylesbury spatula.

  ‘That’s OK, Anna. All finished.’

  He straightened and stood back while Holly pulled a cover back over Anna and helped her sit up.

  ‘It all looks fine,’ Mark told her, his voice very reassuring. ‘As for intercourse, well, I should give it a go and see how you get on.’

  Anna went red, watching as he walked across the room and stripped off his gloves. ‘You don’t think it will hurt?’

  Mark hesitated and then gave her a gentle smile. ‘It might, Anna,’ he said honestly, ‘but I think it’s more likely to be psychological than physical. You had a bad experience and you’re naturally anxious that penetration might be uncomfortable.’