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Her heart lurched when it struck her that she’d already accepted she would see him again. He wasn’t the type of man who would be put off by what had happened that day when he was obviously determined to get to know her better. Melanie had been right—Ross was attracted to her.
Heather took a deep breath but there was no way that she could pretend the idea didn’t make her feel all warm and tingly inside. She might not want Ross prying into her past, might not want him in her future either, but she couldn’t claim to be indifferent to him.
Ross took the twins home after they had tired themselves out. He was bitterly aware that he’d made a complete mess of things with Heather. He shouldn’t have tried to press her into telling him about her past. He should have waited until she’d been ready to tell him of her own accord.
He sighed as he let the boys into the house. The chances of Heather ever being ready to tell him her deepest secrets were non-existent. Why should he imagine that she would want to bare her soul to him? Just because he felt this…connection to her didn’t mean that she reciprocated.
The thought made Ross feel even more dejected and Kate—with all the astuteness of a sibling—quickly picked up on his mood. Shooing the twins into the playroom to watch a cartoon, she sat down to grill him.
‘So why are you looking so glum, big brother? And before you try to deny it, I have to say that you don’t look your usual laid-back self. Is it woman trouble, by any chance?’ she demanded, easing herself onto the sofa.
‘What makes you think that?’ he hedged. ‘I could be having problems at work or trouble with my flat—anything, in fact.’
‘You could but you’re not.’ She grinned at him. ‘Come on, Ross, I know you too well. Nothing ever affects you. That isn’t meant as a criticism. I think it goes with the job you do. When you’re faced with some of the awful situations that you have to deal with then normal, everyday worries must seem very insignificant.’
‘Mmm, I suppose you’re right. I never really thought about it that way before,’ he conceded. ‘Obviously, the four years you spent at university weren’t a complete waste of time after all!’
He ducked when Kate threw a cushion at him by way of reply. He picked it up and put it back on the sofa, thinking how tired she looked despite the fact that she’d spent the morning resting. He made a note to phone his brother-in-law and see if Mike could come home sooner than planned then sighed when he realised that Kate wasn’t going to let the matter drop.
‘You can insult me all you like but I’m not letting myself get sidetracked, if that’s what you’re hoping.’ Kate settled back again and smiled angelically. ‘So come on, out with it. Who is she and why is she causing you a headache?’
‘Her name is Heather Cooper, Dr Cooper, to be precise. She’s the senior registrar in St Gertrude’s A and E department,’ he explained wearily, knowing it was pointless trying to hold out. Kate was relentless when it came to ferreting out information. Anyway, maybe it would help to talk through the situation and get her opinion about what he should do.
‘I see. Do I take it that she’s the lady who ministered to you during your recent stay there? Soothed your fevered brow and all that?’ Kate chuckled. She was obviously enjoying herself immensely. ‘Don’t tell me that your eyes met across a bedpan and—bingo—it was love at first sight?’
‘Hardly,’ he said dryly, although the memory of how he’d felt when he’d first seen Heather wasn’t easily dismissed. He couldn’t remember ever reacting so strongly to anyone before. He cleared his throat, somewhat uncomfortable with the idea.
‘Heather doesn’t dole out bedpans for a start. She’s far too important for that.’
‘Oh, pardon me! Anyway, you’re just splitting hairs because you’re too embarrassed to admit that you’ve fallen for the lovely doctor. Am I right or am I right?’
Ross rolled his eyes. ‘You’ve been reading too many romantic novels. Pity help poor Mike when he gets home!’
He held up his hand when his sister went to butt in because he didn’t want her prising too much out of him. Admitting that he was attracted to Heather was one thing but he wasn’t prepared to go any further than that.
His stomach lurched because the thought that it might be more than just physical attraction was alarming. He knew so little about Heather that it would be foolish to imagine even for a nanosecond that he might have fallen in love with her. He’d never believed in the theory of love at first sight and wasn’t about to subscribe to it now. However, the idea prickled at the back of his mind like a thorn.
‘Heather is a very attractive woman and I admit that I’m interested in her. The problem is that she doesn’t seem the least bit interested in me.’
‘That must have been a blow to the old ego! No wonder it’s whetted your appetite, Ross. I might be your sister but I’m well aware there aren’t that many women in the world who would turn you down.’
Ross frowned as he considered what Kate had said, or the first bit of it at least. Was it Heather’s lack of interest that had, perversely, aroused his?
‘Have you tried asking her out?’
He looked up when his sister spoke, undecided if that was the real explanation as to why he was so drawn to Heather. ‘Yes. I invited her out for dinner and she turned me down flat.’
‘Maybe she’s already seeing someone,’ Kate suggested. ‘Or perhaps she’s having to work long hours. The papers are always going on about the shortage of staff in our hospitals and A and E departments are reportedly the hardest hit of all.’
‘I suppose either is possible,’ he admitted gruffly, although it grieved him to have to add another man to the equation. Maybe Heather wanted to spend any free time she had with Carlisle? He hurried on before the idea could take root.
‘She has a child, a little girl who looks to be about two years old, so she can’t have much spare time, I don’t imagine.’
‘Not if she’s working full-time and looking after a child,’ Kate agreed. ‘What about the child’s father? Is he no longer on the scene?’
‘Heather told me that he’d died before her daughter was born.’
‘Oh, how sad! It must have been really hard for her,’ Kate exclaimed sympathetically.
‘It must. Oddly enough, I sensed there was some tragedy in her past when we first met.’ He sighed when Kate looked at him quizzically. ‘I come across a lot of people in my job who have suffered and I recognised the signs.’
‘Which makes you ideally placed to understand what she’s been through,’ Kate suggested.
‘Maybe. The problem is that she seems reluctant to talk about what happened.’
‘Maybe she needs to get to know you better before she opens up.’
‘You could be right.’ Ross frowned. Was the explanation as simple as that? After all, Heather didn’t really know him so why should he expect her to open her heart and tell him all about herself?
The twins came back just then to tell Kate that the video had finished and they were hungry. Ross stood up. ‘OK, guys, I’ll make you something to eat. Let your mum have a rest.’
He herded the boys to the door, glancing round when Kate said, ‘Thanks, Ross. I can’t wait till I’m back to my normal self. All this sitting around is driving me crazy.’
‘Enjoy it while you can. You’ll have no time to lounge around once junior arrives. Anyway, it gives me a chance to get in some practice at being the perfect uncle.’
‘Oh, you’re pretty good at that already.’ Kate winked at him. ‘You need to work on your parenting skills so you’ll be ready for fatherhood. That’s your next big test.’
‘I need to find the right woman first,’ he pointed out dryly.
‘Maybe you already have,’ Kate said innocently.
Ross didn’t say anything as he left the room. He took a deep breath but the image that swam before his eyes made his blood heat. Heather would look even more beautiful pregnant with his child.
He groaned out loud. He had to get a grip before this got completely out of hand! Maybe he was attracted to Heather and maybe he did want to get to know her better, but he wasn’t planning on marrying her.
Another picture swiftly formed in his mind’s eye and his hands clenched. Now he could see Heather walking down the aisle, looking an absolute vision in white lace. She had flowers in her hair and the most radiant smile on her face….
Ross sucked in air like a drowning man and the image faded, but he was shaking as he went into the kitchen and set about making the twins some lunch. He wasn’t sure what was happening to him but he had to find a way to take control of himself. He couldn’t keep letting thoughts of Heather rule his life like they had been doing. If Heather wasn’t interested in him then there were other women who were. He would make a few phone calls when he got home, kick-start his social life, and forget about Heather Cooper.
It was only as he was spooning baked beans onto slices of toast that he remembered his forthcoming visit to St Gertrude’s. Whether he liked it or not, he would have to see Heather one last time but he would play it cool. He would stick strictly to the reason for his visit and be polite but aloof….
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