Margaret McDonagh - Virgin Midwife, Playboy Doctor

‘So,’ he said, getting them back on track and reluctantly removing his hand from her skin, ‘about tonight…’

‘I’m sorry, I can’t.’ Her voice sounded less steady and assured than before. ‘We can talk more about any patient queries you have next week.’

She thought he was asking her out to talk about patients? Frowning, he shook his head. ‘No, that’s not it.’ Frustrated that she didn’t seem to understand his intentions, he thrust his hands in his pockets to stop himself reaching for her again. ‘Chloe.’

She shifted uneasily, looking ready to flee. ‘I already have plans, Oliver. I need to go.’

‘Sure.’ He was still puzzled by her reaction but he let it go…for now. Knowing she often met up with physiotherapist Lauren Nightingale and some of their other friends, he smiled again. ‘Girls’ night out?’

‘No. Not this time.’

‘You have a date?’ Bitter disappointment and a wave of jealousy coursed through him. Had his caution meant he had missed his chance? Had some other man beaten him to Chloe?

She edged around him towards the door, her movements jerky. ‘Excuse me. I’ll, um, be late.’

‘Of course.’ Swallowing a curse, he reluctantly stood aside to let her by. ‘Maybe another time.’

Scowling, unsure of himself, wondering what the hell he was doing chasing after the woman when he wasn’t sure he was ready to get involved, he watched Chloe hurry to the stairs and disappear from view. He had been positive she wasn’t seeing anyone. Her rejection left a sour taste in his mouth and an ache inside him. Not to mention the fact she had seemed so surprised that he would ask her out at all. Why was the idea so strange to her? What was wrong with him? Did Chloe just see him as some feckless playboy, like so many other people did?

Why was he even torturing himself over her? There had always been women who wanted to be with him, but he hadn’t been interested in any of them. All he could think about, all he wanted, was Chloe. Something about her drew him in. In some inexplicable way, just being around her centred him, calmed him, made him feel real. There was so much about her he had yet to discover and he sensed there was something mysterious she held inside. He wanted to know her. Wanted Chloe to trust him, to open up to him. The prospect of an evening alone wondering where she was, what she was doing…and, dammit, who she was doing it with…was distinctly unappealing.

‘Oliver?’

Glancing round in surprise, he saw Kate hovering at the staffroom door. He moved to join her, thankful to discover they were alone.

‘How are you doing, Kate?’ he asked, concerned that she had looked pale and stressed since the upset with Nick.

‘I’m fine.’

He wasn’t taken in by the brave smile she sent him. ‘You can talk to me. If you ever need to.’

‘Thanks.’ He saw her knuckles whiten as she gripped her hands tightly together.

‘I’m sorry about today. About Nick ducking out of the antenatal meeting.’

‘It’s not your fault.’ She tried another smile, no more successful than the last. ‘Nick and I have to work this out between us, Oliver.’

‘OK.’ He’d back off…for now. But he’d be keeping his eye on her just the same.

Kate’s expression lightened as she watched him. ‘How about you?’

‘Me?’

‘I’ve noticed you seem smitten with our Chloe.’

‘Yeah.’ That was one way of putting it. Oliver sent Kate a rueful smile. ‘Not that I’m getting very far. Chloe treated me with the same friendliness she does everyone else for the first few days I was here but now she’s cooled and it’s almost impossible to get close to her.’

Now Kate’s smile was genuine. ‘I think it dawned on her that you were seeing her in a way that the other doctors don’t.’

‘I was interested from the first moment I met her.’

‘Chloe wouldn’t have realised that,’ Kate commented, surprising him.

‘Why not? She’s a beautiful woman. Men must beat a path to her door.’

Kate shook her head. ‘Hardly.’

‘What are you trying to tell me?’

‘Just that Chloe really is as unaware and innocent as she seems.’ Kate paused and rested a hand on his arm. ‘Tread carefully with her, Oliver.’

He was sure there was more here than Kate was saying. ‘Tell me about Chloe.’

The older woman’s expression contained a mixture of amusement and caution. ‘What do you want to know?’

‘Everything. Anything.’ He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration showing. ‘I just asked her out. She turned me down flat. She seemed to think I wanted to discuss work, but…I don’t know. I gather she has a date tonight, anyway.’

‘Actually, she’s watching my son for me while I run an errand.’

‘She is? Why didn’t she say so?’ Oliver stared at her in bemusement. ‘I know you’re friends, Kate. What do you think I should do? I didn’t plan on getting involved with anyone when I came here,’ he admitted, sitting down and resting his elbows on his knees. ‘But…well, I hadn’t counted on meeting Chloe.’

Kate frowned, taking a chair next to his. ‘Chloe is…’

‘What?’ he prompted after she paused and the silence lengthened.

‘She’s not like the kind of women you’re probably used to mixing with.’

He raised an eyebrow at that, irritated by the way so few people saw beyond the image. Sure, he enjoyed life, he liked to have a good time, indulge in the things he could afford and which gave him pleasure and relaxation away from the pressures and responsibilities of his work, things like surfing and jet-skiing. That didn’t mean he was a jerk.

‘I wanted time to settle, for the community to accept me , not judge on rumour and gossip or the family name.’ He paused, reining in his disgruntlement. It wasn’t Kate’s fault. He needed to earn a new reputation, a true one. ‘I’ve noticed you and Lauren are very protective of Chloe.’

Kate’s expression softened. ‘Chloe is special. Be patient, Oliver. Go slowly. Don’t scare her.’

‘She’s frightened of me?’ Shocked, he stared at Kate in disbelief. He respected women, would never cause anyone harm. ‘I don’t understand. I’d never hurt her.’

‘Not intentionally, maybe.’

‘But—’

‘Chloe puts up a lot of barriers and not many people get to know the real woman,’ Kate explained. ‘Her work is her life and that has always suited her.’

‘She doesn’t date?’

‘No.’

Confused, Oliver studied Kate’s face. ‘But why? She’s intelligent, beautiful, funny.’

‘I know.’ The older woman’s smile was filled with affection and a hint of sadness. ‘You’ll have your work cut out to persuade Chloe. It won’t be easy. But I think you’d be good for her.’ She hesitated a moment, biting her lip as she considered him. ‘I can’t break a confidence, Oliver, and Chloe is one of my best friends. I don’t know everything, but I do know that she has issues.’

‘Issues?’

‘I can’t say more. I would if I could—and I encourage you to persevere.’

He mulled over the information. ‘Issues from her past? With men?’ Was that why Chloe was so skittish?

‘Only Chloe can explain…if she trusts you enough.’

So, if he really wanted to take things further, he had to keep working hard to earn Chloe’s trust. Patience wasn’t his strong suit, not when he wanted something badly enough…and he did want Chloe. To her friends she was special. Hadn’t he sensed that, too? There was something different about her. Wasn’t that why he was still interested when a relationship so soon had never been on his agenda? For some reason he couldn’t yet fathom, Kate saw something in him, and was encouraging him not to give up on Chloe. He had no idea where the journey would end, but for now he was along for the ride.