Marion Lennox: Storm Haven

‘You mean you were going to do your usual trick of employing a locum and then doing the work yourself,’ Charlotte said drily. ‘For heaven’s sake, Nikki-’

‘Leave it, Charlie,’ Nikki said brusquely. She looked up, saw the fleeting look of hurt in her friend’s eyes and immediately regretted her words. ‘Look, Charlie, it’s just that…’

‘It’s just that if you stop working then you have time to think,’ her friend retorted. And then a sudden smile flashed over her face. ‘Well, you and Luke Marriott should get on famously. Two workaholics and only enough work for one. Dear, oh, dear…’

‘So tell me about him,’ Nikki demanded, anxious to get the conversation away from herself. ‘Why on earth is he acting as a locum if he’s so darned clever and conscientious? He looks like…’ She thought back to Luke Marriott’s disreputable appearance, and the sudden memory of naked legs appearing from under his scanty hospital gown made her almost gasp. ‘He looks like a bum to me,’ she said unsteadily.

‘Well, he’s not a bum.’ Charlotte shook her head vehemently, frowning. ‘I suppose we’re talking of the same Luke Marriott? I don’t think I’ve ever seen the man without imported, tailored suits and amazingly expensive silk ties.’ She looked at Nikki. ‘What’s your Luke Marriott like?’

How to describe naked legs and laughing blue eyes…? Nikki couldn’t. She opened her mouth and tried but the words stuck. And then Charlotte laughed.

‘OK,’ she smiled. ‘That’s our Luke you’re thinking of. I know Luke Marriott. There’s not many men who could make you look like that, Nikki Russell, but Luke Marriott has to be a good bet. He hasn’t changed, then.’

‘Hasn’t changed…?’

‘Luke Marriott was the most gorgeous male within jet-plane distance of this hospital,’ Charlotte said firmly. ‘He had every junior nurse, some senior ones, and a few female doctors besides, making fools of themselves every time he walked past. He’s broken more hearts than I care to name.’ She peered at Nikki. ‘Not yours yet, sweetie?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Nikki snapped, and to her annoyance found herself flushing.

‘No.’ Charlotte stood up abruptly. ‘I’m not being ridiculous. Nikki, it’s five years since Scott-’

‘I don’t want to talk about Scott.’

‘I know,’ her friend said grimly. ‘You don’t want to remember Scott. Well, that’s never going to happen if you don’t ease up on work and start enjoying yourself a bit more,’ Charlotte said bluntly. She looked at her watch. ‘Hey, your new locum ordered you to shop,’ she smiled. ‘And I have the afternoon off. When was the last time you went clothes shopping, Dr Russell?’

‘I don’t need clothes,’ Nikki snapped. ‘I can use this afternoon at the library. I need to study, Charlie.’

‘The medical library is closed on Wednesday afternoons,’ her friend grinned. ‘Now isn’t that a shame? And you haven’t a text with you-and I’m damned if I’ll lend you a single one of mine.’

‘Charlie-’

‘Nikki Russell, you must have more money than you know what to do with. Your parents left you that fabulous house, and you have a perfectly sound income from a too busy medical practice. And I don’t see a single sign of frivolous spending. Those jeans you were wearing last night were years old. Now either you come shopping with me or I’ll personally ring the airport and cancel your flight home tomorrow.’ She put her hands on her hips. ‘Coming, Dr Russell?’

Nikki sighed. Well, maybe she could do with some new jeans…‘If you’re not doing anything…’ she said reluctantly.

‘I’m doing something all right,’ her friend grinned. ‘I’m spending the afternoon with my closest friend to spend someone else’s money. There’s nothing I could enjoy more.’

‘I have to telephone Amy.’

‘There’s a telephone beside your bed,’ her friend told her. ‘You have fifteen minutes, Dr Russell. And then you’re coming shopping, whether you like it or not.’

Jeans weren’t what Charlotte envisaged when she said shopping. Charlie dragged her friend from one shop to another and there wasn’t a pair of jeans in sight.

‘Honestly, Charlie,’ Nikki expostulated. ‘This stuff is crazy.’ The shop Charlie had pushed her into was up-market and exclusive, dealing in everything from beautiful imported shoes and designer fashions to the most indulgent of lingerie. Nikki fingered the soft Swiss cotton of the dress her friend had just discovered. The frock was lovely, light and soft, with swirling green pastels which lit the brilliant red of Nikki’s hair. ‘I wouldn’t wear this in Eurong. It’d be wasted.’

‘Maybe yesterday you wouldn’t have worn it,’ her friend grinned. ‘But today…today Luke Marriott is your new locum. I wouldn’t be seen dead in anything less than this dress if Luke Marriott was in the vicinity. Honest, Nikki-’

‘Charlie, I am not the least bit interested in Luke Marriott,’ Nikki snapped.

‘You’re lying,’ Charlotte said simply. ‘My grandmother would look twice at Luke Marriott. And she’s been happily married to my grandfather for fifty years!’

‘Charlie-’

‘Look, just try it on,’ Charlie pleaded. She thrust the dress into Nikki’s hands and pushed her towards a changing-room. ‘You could even wear this to work-with a nice white coat over the top. It’s time you gave the bachelors of Eurong their money’s worth. I bet you charge top rates even when you wear your mouldy old jeans.’

Half laughing, half exasperated, Nikki gave in. She was fond of Charlie-in fact Charlotte Cain had been a true friend for a long time. It wouldn’t hurt to humour her. And these clothes-she fingered the soft cotton with a trace of regret-these clothes could join the rest of the things she had put away five years ago. Her mother’s jewellery. Her cosmetics. Her contact lenses. She looked up to her face and grimaced at the too heavy glasses. She knew she was being stupid wearing these but they were a defence against something she no longer wanted.

They were a defence against the likes of Luke Marriott. Unbidden, the thought of Nikki’s new locum flashed before her and it was all she could do not to rip the dress she was trying on from her back. The thought of him produced something that was close to panic.

This was crazy. There was no need for her to panic. Luke Marriott obviously had problems of his own and a three-week stint as her locum was hardly going to change either of them. Her panic was inexplicable and needless.

Nikki forced herself to concentrate on the dress. It was pretty, there was no doubting that. It fell in soft folds around her slim form, catching the colour of her eyes and highlighting her brilliant hair. She should get her hair cut, she thought crossly. There was too much of it. Or maybe she should just tie it back into a severe knot. She shoved her glasses back on and opened the curtain. Charlie and the shop assistant were both waiting.

‘Oh, Nikki, it’s lovely!’ Charlie exclaimed delightedly. ‘Don’t you like it?’

‘It’s OK,’ Nikki agreed reluctantly. She fingered the fine cotton. ‘It feels good.’

‘And so it should.’ Charlotte took her by the shoulders and spun her around. ‘It really makes you look like…well, like you ought to look. Apart from those glasses.’

‘There’s nothing wrong with my glasses.’

‘Why do you wear them all the time?’ Charlotte demanded. ‘You know you only need them for reading.’

‘I’m more comfortable with them on.’

‘But you used to wear contact lenses.’

‘Well, I don’t any more,’ Nikki snapped. ‘I’ll take this off.’

‘You’ll buy it?’