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Conner sat back down in his chair. ‘Call the surgery in three days for the result and then make another appointment to see me. We can talk about what to do next.’
‘All right, I’ll do that. Thank you.’ Susan picked up her bag, rose to her feet and walked to the door. Then she turned. ‘I always regretted it, you know.’
Conner looked up. ‘Regretted what?’
‘Calling the police.’ Her voice was soft. ‘At the time I thought you needed a fright. I thought a bit of discipline might sort you out. But I was wrong. You were wild. Out of control. But what you needed was a bit of love. People to believe in you. I see that now. What with everything that was happening at home—your mum and dad. Of course, none of us knew the details at the time, but—’
‘You did the right thing calling the police, Mrs Ellis,’ Conner said in a cool tone. ‘In your position I would have called them, too.’
‘At the time I was angry that they didn’t charge you.’
‘I’m sure you were.’
It was her turn to smile. ‘Now I’m pleased they didn’t. Can I ask you something?’
‘You can ask. I don’t promise to answer.’
‘There was a spate of minor shoplifting at that time but everyone else was taking sweets and crisps. You took the oddest assortment of things. What did you want it all for?’
Conner leaned back and smiled. ‘I was making a bomb.’
‘He blew up the science lab!’ Flora stood in front of Logan, trying to make him to see reason.
‘Funny.’ Logan scanned the lab result in front of him. ‘Conner said that you’d bring that up.’
‘Of course I’m bringing it up. It says everything about the type of person he is.’
‘Was.’ Logan lifted his eyes to hers. ‘It tells you who he was. Not who he is.’
‘You really think he’s changed?’
‘Are you the same person you were at fifteen?’
Agonisingly shy, barely able to string a sentence together in public. Flora flushed. ‘No,’ she said huskily. ‘Of course not.’
Logan shrugged. ‘Perhaps he’s changed, too.’
‘And what if he hasn’t? What sort of doctor is he going to make?’
‘An extremely clever one. Most people wouldn’t have had such a good understanding of the reactivity series to cause that explosion. Anyway, I thought you were relieved that I’d found another doctor.’
‘I was, but I never thought for a moment it would be— I mean, Conner?’ Flora’s expression was troubled. ‘He’s right, you know. The locals won’t be happy. What if they make life difficult for him?’
‘They always did. He’ll cope. Conner is as tough as they come.’
‘I can’t believe he’s a doctor. How did you find out? I mean, he vanished without trace.’
‘I stayed in touch with him.’ Logan lifted his gaze to hers. ‘He’s my cousin, Flora. Family. I knew he was a doctor. When I knew I needed help, he seemed the obvious choice.’
‘Are you sure? He used to be very unstable. Unreliable. Rebellious. Disruptive.’ Attractive, compelling, addictive.
‘You’re describing the teenager.’
‘He created havoc.’ she looked at him, wondering why she had to remind him of something that he must know himself. ‘He was suspended from school three times. If there’d been an alternative place for him to go, I’m sure he would have been expelled. Not only did he blow up the science lab, he set off a firework in the library, he burned down the MacDonalds’ barn—the list of things he did is endless. He was wild, Logan. Totally out of control.’ And impossibly, hopelessly attractive. There hadn’t been a woman on Glenmore who hadn’t dreamed of taming him. Herself included.
She’d wanted to help.
She’d wanted.
She pushed the thought away quickly. She’d been a dreamy teenager but she was an adult now, a grown woman and far too sensible to see Conner as anything other than a liability.
‘His parents were going through a particularly acrimonious divorce at the time. There were lots of rumours about that household. My aunt—his mother—left when he was eleven. That’s tough on any child.’ Logan turned his attention back to the pile in his in-tray. ‘Enough to shake the roots of any family. It’s not surprising he was disruptive.’
‘He isn’t interested in authority.’
Logan threw the pen down on his desk. ‘Perhaps he thinks that those in authority let him down.’
Flora bit her lip. ‘Perhaps they did. But if that’s the case then it makes even less sense that he’s back. He couldn’t wait to get away from Glenmore the first time around and he stayed away for twelve years.’
‘Is it that long?’ Logan studied her face thoughtfully. ‘I haven’t been counting, but obviously you have.’
‘It was a wild guess,’ Flora muttered quickly, ‘but either way, it’s been a long time. And the question is, why has he picked this particular moment to come back?’
‘Why does it matter? If he turns out to be a lousy doctor, I’m the one who will pay the price. Or is there more to this than your concern for the reputation of Glenmore Medical Centre? Is this personal, Flora?’ Logan’s voice was gentle. ‘Is there something going on that I should know about?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ Flora rose to her feet swiftly, her heart pounding. ‘And I think it’s obvious to everyone that I’m not his type. I’ve never been attracted to unsuitable men.’ A painful lump sat in the pit of her stomach. He’d never looked at her. Not once.
‘Then you’re probably the only woman on the island who wasn’t,’ Logan said mildly, ‘if I recall correctly, Conner had quite a following, and the more reprehensible his behaviour, the bigger the following.’
‘I suppose some of the girls found him attractive because he was forbidden territory.’ Flora wished her heart would slow down. ‘I still can’t believe he’s a doctor.’
‘I know you can’t. You didn’t exactly hide your astonishment,’ Logan said dryly and Flora felt a twinge of guilt.
‘I didn’t mean to be rude but weren’t you surprised when you found out?’
‘No.’ Logan rolled his shoulders to ease the stiffness of sitting. ‘Conner always was ferociously clever.’
‘He hated school. He was barely ever there.’
‘And he still managed straight As in every subject. As I said—we all let him down. He was too clever to be trapped behind a desk and forced to learn in a prescribed pattern. People were too conventional to notice the brain behind the behavioural problems.’
Flora gave a puzzled frown. She’d never thought of it that way before. ‘Well, he obviously learned to study at some point. Where did he train, anyway?’
‘In the army.’
‘In the—’ Stunned, Flora swallowed. ‘He was in the army?’
‘Army medic.’ Logan flipped through a pile of papers on his desk and removed a file. ‘Read.’ He handed it to her. ‘It’s impressive stuff. Perhaps it will set your mind at rest about his ability and dedication.’
‘But the army requires discipline. All the things Conner doesn’t—’
‘Read,’ Logan said firmly. ‘The patients might doubt him to begin with, but I don’t want the practice staff making the same mistake. The man’s qualifications and experience are better than mine. Read, Flora.’
Flora opened the file reluctantly. After a moment, she looked up. ‘He’s a surgeon?’
‘Among other things. I did tell you that the man was clever.’
Her eyes flickered back to the page. ‘Afghanistan? That doesn’t sound very safe.’
‘No.’ Logan’s voice was dry. ‘But it sounds very Conner. I don’t suppose anything safe would hold his interest for long.’
‘Which brings me back to my original question.’ She dropped the file back on his desk. ‘What’s he doing back on Glenmore? He hates Glenmore and if he still needs adrenaline and excitement in his life, he’s going to last five minutes on this island.’
‘I don’t think it’s any of my business.’ Logan leaned back in his chair. ‘He’s back, that’s all I need to know.’
‘It’s going to be like putting a match to a powder keg. And I’m just worried he’ll let you down in the middle of the summer tourist season. You and all the islanders.’
Logan’s gaze followed her. ‘They let him down. This is his chance to even the score or prove himself. Either way, he’s family, Flora, and I’m giving him this opportunity. It’s up to him what he chooses to do with it.’
Flora bit her lip. Family. On Glenmore family and community was everything. It was what made the island what it was. But Conner had rejected everything that Glenmore stood for. He’d walked away from it.
So why was he back?
CHAPTER THREE
CONNER WATCHED as Flora entered the room. Her eyes were down and she was clutching a bunch of forms that he assumed were for him.
Probably from Logan, he thought, finding an excuse to engineer peace.
The fact that she seemed reluctant to look in his direction amused him. As a teenager she’d been impossibly shy. He remembered her sitting on her own in the corner of the playground, her nose stuck in a book. What he didn’t remember was her ever stringing more than two words together. But today, in Logan’s surgery, she’d been surprisingly articulate.
He gave a cynical smile.
It seemed his presence was enough to encourage even the mute to speak.
‘The lamb enters the wolf’s den unprotected,’ he drawled softly, and watched as the heat built in her cheeks. ‘I never saw you as a risk-taker, Flora. Aren’t you afraid I might do something evil to you now we’re on our own?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ She adjusted her glasses and put the forms on his desk. ‘Logan wanted you to have these.’
No, Conner thought to himself. Logan wanted us to have a moment together because he doesn’t want his staff at odds with each other.
He heard her take a deep breath and then she looked at him.
As if she’d been plucking up courage.
‘So …’ She cleared her throat. ‘How is it going? Any problems so far?’
‘No problems at all. The locals are refusing to see me, which means I don’t have to spend my time listening to the boring detail of people’s minor ailments.’ He studied the slight fullness of her lower lip and the smooth curve of her cheeks. She was pretty, he realised with a stab of shock. She was also wonderfully, deliciously serious and he couldn’t resist having a little fun with her. ‘And it’s really interesting to make contact with all the girls I … grew up with.’
As he’d anticipated, she flushed. What he hadn’t expected was the sudden flash of concern in her eyes. The kindness. ‘The patients are refusing to see you?’ She sounded affronted. ‘That’s awful.’
‘Don’t worry about it. I’m allergic to hard work and it gives me more time to spend on the internet.’
‘You’re just saying that, but you must feel terrible about it.’
‘I don’t give a damn.’
She gave a faint gasp and blinked several times. ‘You don’t need to pretend with me. I’m sure you’re upset. How could you not be?’
‘Flora,’ he interrupted her, amused by her misinterpretation of the facts, ‘don’t endow me with qualities that I don’t possess. To feel terrible I’d have to care, and I think we both know that my relationship with the islanders is hardly one of lasting affection.’
‘You’re very hard on them and perhaps that’s justified, but you need to see it from their point of view. Everyone’s a bit shocked, that’s all. No one was expecting you because Logan didn’t say anything to anyone.’
‘Given that this is Glenmore, I expect he’ll be struck off for respecting confidentiality.’
Her sudden smile caught him by surprise. ‘They do gossip, don’t they? Everything takes three times as long here because of the conversation. I can’t get used to it.’ Her smile faded. ‘Logan told me about what you’ve done—your training. That’s amazing. I had no idea.’
Conner sat in silence and she spread her hands, visibly uncomfortable with the situation.
‘I’m trying to apologise. I didn’t mean to be rude. It was just that …’ She gave an awkward shrug. ‘Anyway, I really am sorry.’
‘Never apologise, Flora.’
‘If I’m wrong, then I apologise,’ she said firmly. ‘Don’t you?’
‘I don’t know.’ Enjoying himself, he smiled. ‘I’ve never been wrong.’
Derailed by the banter, she backed away slightly and then stopped. ‘I’m apologising for assuming that you weren’t qualified for the job. For thinking that you being here would just cause trouble.’
‘It will cause trouble,’ Conner drawled softly, ‘so you weren’t wrong.’
‘You knew it would cause trouble?’
‘Of course.’
His answer brought a puzzled frown to her face. ‘If you knew that, why did you come back?’
‘I thrive on trouble, Flora. Trouble is the fuel the drives my engine.’
This time, instead of backing away, she looked at him. Properly. Her eyes focused on his, as if she was searching for something. ‘You’re angry with us, aren’t you? Is that why you’re here?’ She fiddled with her glasses again, as if she wasn’t used to having them on her nose. ‘To level a score?’
‘You think I became a doctor so that I could return to my roots and exterminate the inhabitants of Glenmore, one by one?’
‘Of course not. But I know you’re angry. I can feel it.’
Then she was more intuitive than he’d thought. Raising his guard, Conner watched her. ‘I’m not angry. If people would rather wait a week to see Logan, that’s fine by me.’
‘But it must hurt your feelings.’
‘I don’t have feelings, Flora. Providing I still get paid, I don’t care whether the patients see me or not. It’s Logan’s problem.’ He could tell she didn’t like his answer because she frowned and shook her head slightly.
‘I can’t believe that you’re not at all sensitive about the way people react to you.’
‘That’s because you’re a woman and women think differently to men.’ This time his smile was genuine. ‘Do I look sensitive?’ He watched as her eyes drifted to his shoulders and then lifted to his jaw line.
‘No.’ Her voice was hoarse. ‘You don’t.’ And then her eyes lifted to his and the atmosphere snapped taut.
Conner felt his body stir.
Well, well, he thought. How interesting. Sexual chemistry with a woman who probably didn’t know the meaning of the phrase. His gaze lowered to her mouth and he saw that her lips were soft and bare of make-up. He had a sudden impulse to be unforgivably shocking and kiss her.
‘Well, if you’re sure you’re fine …’ She was flustered. He could tell she was flustered.
Normally he had no qualms about making a woman flustered but somehow with Flora it seemed unsporting. She might be older but she obviously wasn’t any more experienced. With an inner sigh and lingering regret, he backed off. ‘I’m fine,’ he said gently. ‘But thank you for asking.’
He wondered idly if she’d ever had sex.
A boyfriend?
‘My consulting room is next door.’ Apparently unaware of what had just happened between them, she suddenly became brisk and efficient. ‘Evanna is still doing a morning clinic, but if you need a nurse to do a home visit then ask me because she’s too pregnant to be dashing around the island. You know your way around, so that shouldn’t be a problem. If there’s anything you’re not sure of, ask.’
‘I’ll do that.’
If she had a boyfriend, it was someone tame and safe, he decided. Someone who hadn’t taught her the meaning of passion.
‘Well—I’ve held you up long enough. Morning surgery can be a long one.’ Her gaze slid to his legs, encased in black leather. ‘You know, people might feel more comfortable with you if you changed.’
‘I am who I am, Flora.’
‘I meant your clothes.’ She pushed her glasses onto the bridge of her nose. ‘You could change your clothes.’
‘Why would I want to do that?’
‘Because the patients expect a doctor to look like a doctor.’
‘Flora.’ He failed to keep the amusement out of his voice. ‘It wouldn’t matter whether I was wearing a set of theatre scrubs or a white coat, the inhabitants of Glenmore would still struggle to believe that Bad Conner is a doctor. Just as you’re struggling.’
‘I’m not. Not any more. But I don’t see why you should confirm their prejudices by dressing like a biker.’ She flushed. ‘Do you always have to antagonise people? Break the rules?’
‘Yes. I think I probably do.’ Conner watched her. ‘Just as you always like to please people and do everything that is expected of you. In our own ways we’re the same, you and I. We’re both working hard to meet society’s expectations of us.’
She looked at him, her dark eyes reproachful. ‘There’s nothing wrong in being part of a community.’
‘True. But neither is there anything wrong with not being part of it,’ he said gently. ‘Do you really think the way I’m dressed is going to compromise my ability as a doctor?’
‘No. Of course not. It’s just that you look—’ She broke off and he knew he shouldn’t follow up on that comment but he couldn’t help himself.
‘How do I look, Flora? Tell me. I want to know what you think of the way I look.’
She looked hot and flustered. ‘I-intimidating,’ she stammered, eventually. ‘I wouldn’t want to bump into you on a dark night.’
‘Is that right?’ Conner gave a slow smile and gave up trying to subdue his wicked streak. ‘In that case, we’ll have to make sure that we leave the lights on, angel.’
He was impossible and she was never going to be able to work with him.
Flora tried to concentrate on the dressing and not reveal how shaken she was by her encounter with Conner. He’d played with her, toyed with her carelessly, like a predator having fun with its prey before a kill. And as usual she hadn’t been able to think of the right thing to say because she’d been trying to sort out surgery business and he’d been—well, he’d been Conner. Selfish, indifferent and supremely cool. Just the thought of him seeing patients—or not seeing patients—in the room next door unsettled her.
She shook her head and studied the skin around the leg ulcer. ‘You still have a degree of varicose eczema, Mrs Parker. Are you using the cream Dr MacNeil gave you?’
‘The steroid cream? No, I forget.’
Flora studied the skin, checking for infection. ‘Is this tender when I press?’
‘No more than usual.’
‘There’s no erythema and your temperature is fine.’ Talking to herself, Flora made a judgement. ‘We’ll leave it for now but do me a favour and try the cream, would you? If it isn’t looking better in a week or so, I’m going to ask one of the doctors to look at it.’
‘As long as it’s Logan.’ Mrs Parker’s mouth clamped in a thin line of disapproval. ‘I’m not afraid to say that I almost fainted dead away when I saw Conner MacNeil stroll into the surgery this morning. Bold as brass. Not even trying to hide his face.’
‘Why would he hide his face, Mrs Parker?’ Flora swiftly finished the dressing and applied a compression bandage. ‘He’s a doctor and he’s come to—’ create havoc? ‘—help Logan.’
‘Help? Help? This is the boy who was so much of a handful that his mother left home! Can you imagine how badly the boy must have behaved for his own mother to give up on him? His father stayed, of course, but he was driven to drink by Conner’s antics. Died five years ago and did his son bother turning up to his funeral? No, he didn’t.’
Flora flew to Conner’s defence. ‘He’s a man now, not a boy. And no one knows what happened in his childhood, Mrs Parker.’ He hadn’t told anyone.
She paused for a moment, lost in thought as she remembered the love of her own family. Just what had Conner endured? She remembered the day she’d walked along the cliffs to his house.
She remembered the shouting.
‘Well, I tell you this much,’ Mrs Parker said firmly. ‘That boy isn’t capable of warmth or sensitivity and he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I still don’t believe he’s a doctor. He never did a day’s studying in his life and as for the way he dresses—well, I mean, Logan’s always smart in trousers and a shirt, but Conner hadn’t even shaved! He looked—’
Handsome, Flora thought helplessly as she fumbled with the bandage. He’d looked impossibly, outrageously handsome.
‘Dangerous,’ Mrs Parker continued with a shudder, watching as Flora finished the dressing. ‘Who in their right minds would trust him with a medical problem? He causes more problems than he solves. Not too tight, dear.’
‘It has to be quite tight because we need the pressure on the ankle.’
‘I couldn’t believe it when I heard Janet booking patients in to see him. I said to Nina Hill, “Well, that’s going to be interesting to watch. Now he’ll get his comeuppance because no one will see him.’” Having delivered that prediction, Mrs Parker paused expectantly and Flora glanced up at her, realizing that some sort of response was required.
‘They’ll see him, Mrs Parker,’ she said quietly. ‘That was then and this is now. Conner is well qualified. And it’s great news that Logan finally has help. Super.’
‘Super?’ Mrs Parker gaped at her. ‘You think it’s great news?’
Far too loyal to reveal her own reservations, Flora secured the bandage. ‘Of course. Logan is barely managing on his own. We need another doctor on the island.’
‘Well, don’t imagine for one moment that Conner MacNeil will make a difference! Even if he is a doctor now, which frankly I doubt because everyone knows that these days you can fake everything for a price, there won’t be a soul on this island who will trust his opinion.’
Flora took a deep breath and tried to speak. ‘Mrs Parker, you really shouldn’t—’
‘Anyway, enough of that conversation.’ Mrs Parker apparently didn’t even notice the interruption. ‘I refuse to waste the air in my lungs on Conner MacNeil when there are so many more important things going on around us. I meant to say to you, John Carter was seen talking at the school gate with Meg Watson. Now, that’s an interesting match, if you ask me. She’s a single mother and he’s …’
Realising that a two-way conversation wasn’t required, Flora stood up and washed her hands, only half listening as Mrs Parker regaled her with all the latest island gossip.
How could Conner not be hurt by the negative reaction of the islanders?
Was he really as indifferent as he seemed?
If it were her, she’d be completely mortified.
She tugged a paper towel out of the holder and dried her hands, part of her brain listening to Mrs Parker while the other half thought about Conner. He’d built a shell around himself, and who could blame him?
‘So what do you think, dear?’
Realising that this time Mrs Parker was waiting for a response, Flora turned. ‘I honestly don’t know,’ she said truthfully. ‘I couldn’t give an opinion.’ And even if she could, she wouldn’t. ‘Don’t forget it’s important to walk when you have a venous ulcer.’
‘Yes, yes, I can’t possibly forget because you keep telling me.’ The elderly lady put her foot on the floor and tested it gingerly. ‘Oh, that’s much more comfortable. You’re a wonderful nurse, dear. Simply wonderful.’
But a useless gossip, Flora thought wryly. ‘That’s very kind of you, Mrs Parker.’
‘Not kind at all. I’m only saying what everyone else is saying.’ Angela Parker slipped on her shoes. ‘We’re all so thrilled that you’ve come back to the island to take over from our Kyla. Only yesterday I was saying to Meg in the café that we could have ended up with some mainlander with no idea how things work on Glenmore but, no, Dr MacNeil managed to tempt you back. When your father died I thought you might never return but then Nina reminded me that your aunt is here. Did you miss it when you were away?’
Flora felt a sudden shaft of pain as she thought of her father. She still missed him. ‘Well, I suppose I—’
‘Of course you did and now you’re back, which is perfect. And Logan has been in desperate need of a practice nurse since Kyla and Dr Walker left, and what with poor Evanna being so pregnant.’ Without waiting for Flora to respond, Mrs Parker forged ahead like a ship in a force-nine gale. ‘Well, we all know that Dr MacNeil is worried about her, given the tragedy with his first wife. Not that Evanna should have a problem in that direction. She’s a girl with good childbearing hips.’