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Good working relationship? Ally couldn’t see herself having a good relationship with this man if she lived to be a hundred. He was everything she avoided in a man. Arrogant, handsome, chauvinistic—and totally compelling. She suppressed a groan. Work with him? Never! He made her too aware of herself and the feelings she’d squashed down for so long.
Sean was still watching her closely, his eyes intent. ‘Have a sandwich, Ally.’
A sandwich? It would choke her!
‘I thought you didn’t approve of female doctors.’ Ally found her voice at last and took refuge in sarcasm as she sat down in the nearest chair with a thump. Her legs were threatening to go on strike. It was sit down or fall down. ‘Especially blonde ones.’
His appraisal was disconcertingly male. ‘On the contrary, I totally approve of female doctors, especially if they’re blonde.’
Ally ground her teeth and then caught the gleam of laughter in his eyes. Damn the man! He was winding her up again. Well, this time he wasn’t going to succeed. Determined to look relaxed, she reached for a sandwich and concentrated her attention on Will instead.
‘Sean’s agreed to help us out until we can find a replacement for Tim,’ Will said, looking more and more pleased with himself. ‘He’s just what we need in the team.’
‘Dr McGuire may disagree.’ Sean smiled slightly. ‘She thinks I’m a chauvinist pig.’
‘Well, I dare say you are a bit,’ Will said calmly. ‘All those years in the army, I suppose. But deep down women like a man to be a man.’
Ally ignored that bit. ‘In the army? You did your medicine in the army?’
‘No.’ Sean shook his head. ‘I trained after I left the army.’
She could see him in the army. Short, cropped hair and a slightly wonky nose which had obviously been on the receiving end of someone’s fist—although, from what she’d seen of Sean, the other guy would have come off worse.
‘So what’s your special interest?’
‘Trauma.’
Stupid question, Ally thought wryly, remembering his skill with Pete. That explained why he’d been so skilled and confident. And now she knew why Will wanted him.
‘He’s going to run our minor accident clinic?’
Will beamed. ‘Absolutely.’
Ally’s heart sank and then she gave a philosophical shrug. They did need someone badly and it wasn’t as if she’d have to work that closely with him.
‘Well, your trauma experience will be useful,’ she said briskly, proud of how matter-of-fact and calm she sounded. ‘We’ve been getting very busy since we agreed to see minor accidents here, instead of sending them all the way to the infirmary.’
Will nodded enthusiastically. ‘We’ll offer daytime cover for all minor emergencies, including weekends. People won’t have to travel so far—it makes for a much more comprehensive service. And you’re the perfect person.’
Sean’s eyes narrowed. ‘This is only temporary, Will…’
Will looked out of the window across the fells. ‘Of course it is.’
Sean’s mouth tightened for a moment and then he gave a short laugh. ‘You’re a manipulative old goat.’
Will smiled. ‘Absolutely. I’ll do anything to get what I want for my practice. And I want you, lad.’
‘I would have thought general practice would be a bit tame after trauma,’ Ally suggested, and Sean shrugged.
‘So did I until that rescue the other day. Now I think it might have distinct possibilities.’ He shot a warning glance at Will. ‘As a temporary measure.’
So he obviously wasn’t planning to stay for long. Thank goodness for that!
Ally sipped her coffee. ‘I phoned the hospital about Pete and he’s doing quite well.’
Sean helped himself to another sandwich. ‘More than he deserves, then, taking those sorts of risks.’
Ally thought of Pete and the problems he’d had to face in his young life, and her blood boiled. ‘Don’t judge until you know what you’re talking about,’ she said tartly. ‘People may have a good reason for taking risks.’
