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‘Believe what you like, but leave me alone, Sean.’ She looked away from him. ‘It wouldn’t work.’
Strong fingers grasped her chin and forced her to look at him. ‘Give me one good reason.’
‘I already have. Charlie.’
He stared at her for a long moment and then his hand dropped and he frowned. ‘You’re serious? You don’t date men because of your daughter?’
Ally turned away and stirred the Bolognese sauce. ‘Whatever you may think about the mistakes I made in Charlie’s past, I intend to make sure there aren’t any more in the future.’
‘And I’d be a mistake?’
‘O
h, yes. A huge mistake.’ She wasn’t the sort of person he obviously thought she was. The truth was she’d never had a fling with anyone before in her life. Never. She was one of those idiots who still believed in fairy tales and Father Christmas, and one special love that lasted for ever. Sean didn’t. They were as different as chalk and cheese, and to pretend otherwise would lead to nothing but disaster. He might be attractive but he was also dangerous. Dangerous because he’d made it clear that he didn’t want commitment, but for the first time in her life she was sorely tempted to put her principles to one side and take whatever was on offer.
But it wasn’t going to happen, she told herself firmly. No matter how many times those dark eyes captured hers or that smile turned her insides to a pool of jelly. It wasn’t going to happen. It wasn’t fair on Charlie.
For all his easy charm Sean was too cool and detached for her. He obviously avoided any real intimacy. The sort of man who wouldn’t think twice about having a brief affair and then moving on. He’d made that perfectly plain and chemistry or no chemistry she wasn’t fool enough to think she’d be the one to change him.
She’d had enough of men who ducked responsibility. She was better off on her own. At least then no one could let you down.
‘You’ve got the keys, so just go.’ She kept her back to him, aware that he was standing only inches behind her. With a huge effort she made her voice crisp and businesslike. ‘You can live in my stable, Sean, but that’s all.’
His voice was soft and disturbingly close. ‘For now.’
‘For ever,’ she said firmly, gripping the spoon tightly and praying that he’d leave.
There was a long silence and then she heard his soft laugh and the click of the door as he closed it quietly behind him.
CHAPTER FOUR
SATURDAY surgery was as busy as ever, which was just as well, Ally reflected wryly, because it stopped her thinking about Sean. Ever since he’d moved into the stable she just hadn’t been able to concentrate on anything, even though she’d managed to avoid him very successfully. Apart from hearing the roar of his motorbike early in the morning, she was barely aware that he’d been living next to her for two days. And now he was next door again, this time running Will’s minor accident surgery in the treatment room.
With a groan and a shake of her head Ally pressed the buzzer for her next patient who came in, clutching the hand of a fractious toddler.
‘Hello, Felicity, how’s the pregnancy?’
Felicity rolled her eyes and sagged into the chair, picking up a toy from Ally’s box. ‘Here we are, Tom, choo-choo train.’
The little boy took the train and plopped down on the floor contentedly. Felicity gave Ally a tired smile.
‘The pregnancy, did you say? I don’t know. I haven’t got time to think about it. This little one and his older brother keep me too busy.’
Ally gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘I’ll bet. Not like the first time around, is it?’
‘You can say that again.’ Felicity gave a short laugh. ‘The first time around I felt special. Put your feet up, pet, Hugh used to say. He used to cook, clean, bring me tea in bed…’
‘But not any more?’
Felicity laughed and passed Tom a bag of bricks which he cheerfully upended, before bursting into noisy sobs.
‘Definitely not any more.’ Felicity stooped to pick up the little boy, murmuring soothing noises as she bounced him on her knee. ‘Anyway, believe it or not, I didn’t come to moan! This little fellow is very out of sorts and he’s got a nasty rash. I think it might be chickenpox because there have been a few cases in his nursery.’
‘Let’s have a look at him.’ Ally picked up a puppet from her desk. ‘Tom? Look what I’ve got…’
She jiggled the puppet until Tom started to chuckle and then handed it over to Felicity while she examined the little boy quickly but thoroughly.
‘When did the rash start?’ She listened to Tom’s chest and checked his throat and ears.
