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‘I don’t have feelings, Flora. Providing I still get paid, I don’t care whether the patients see me or not. It’s Logan’s problem.’ He could tell she didn’t like his answer because she frowned and shook her head slightly.
‘I can’t believe that you’re not at all sensitive about the way people react to you.’
‘That’s because you’re a woman and women think differently to men.’ This time his smile was genuine. ‘Do I look sensitive?’ He watched as her eyes drifted to his shoulders and then lifted to his jaw line.
‘No.’ Her voice was hoarse. ‘You don’t.’ And then her eyes lifted to his and the atmosphere snapped taut.
Conner felt his body stir.
Well, well, he thought. How interesting. Sexual chemistry with a woman who probably didn’t know the meaning of the phrase. His gaze lowered to her mouth and he saw that her lips were soft and bare of make-up. He had a sudden impulse to be unforgivably shocking and kiss her.
‘Well, if you’re sure you’re fine …’ She was flustered. He could tell she was flustered.
Normally he had no qualms about making a woman flustered but somehow with Flora it seemed unsporting. She might be older but she obviously wasn’t any more experienced. With an inner sigh and lingering regret, he backed off. ‘I’m fine,’ he said gently. ‘But thank you for asking.’
He wondered idly if she’d ever had sex.
A boyfriend?
‘My consulting room is next door.’ Apparently unaware of what had just happened between them, she suddenly became brisk and efficient. ‘Evanna is still doing a morning clinic, but if you need a nurse to do a home visit then ask me because she’s too pregnant to be dashing around the island. You know your way around, so that shouldn’t be a problem. If there’s anything you’re not sure of, ask.’
‘I’ll do that.’
If she had a boyfriend, it was someone tame and safe, he decided. Someone who hadn’t taught her the meaning of passion.
‘Well—I’ve held you up long enough. Morning surgery can be a long one.’ Her gaze slid to his legs, encased in black leather. ‘You know, people might feel more comfortable with you if you changed.’
‘I am who I am, Flora.’
‘I meant your clothes.’ She pushed her glasses onto the bridge of her nose. ‘You could change your clothes.’
‘Why would I want to do that?’
‘Because the patients expect a doctor to look like a doctor.’
‘Flora.’ He failed to keep the amusement out of his voice. ‘It wouldn’t matter whether I was wearing a set of theatre scrubs or a white coat, the inhabitants of Glenmore would still struggle to believe that Bad Conner is a doctor. Just as you’re struggling.’
‘I’m not. Not any more. But I don’t see why you should confirm their prejudices by dressing like a biker.’ She flushed. ‘Do you always have to antagonise people? Break the rules?’
‘Yes. I think I probably do.’ Conner watched her. ‘Just as you always like to please people and do everything that is expected of you. In our own ways we’re the same, you and I. We’re both working hard to meet society’s expectations of us.’
She looked at him, her dark eyes reproachful. ‘There’s nothing wrong in being part of a community.’
‘True. But neither is there anything wrong with not being part of it,’ he said gently. ‘Do you really think the way I’m dressed is going to compromise my ability as a doctor?’
‘No. Of course not. It’s just that you look—’ She broke off and he knew he shouldn’t follow up on that comment but he couldn’t help himself.
‘How do I look, Flora? Tell me. I want to know what you think of the way I look.’
She looked hot and flustered. ‘I-intimidating,’ she stammered, eventually. ‘I wouldn’t want to bump into you on a dark night.’
‘Is that right?’ Conner gave a slow smile and gave up trying to subdue his wicked streak. ‘In that case, we’ll have to make sure that we leave the lights on, angel.’
He was impossible and she was never going to be able to work with him.
Flora tried to concentrate on the dressing and not reveal how shaken she was by her encounter with Conner. He’d played with her, toyed with her carelessly, like a predator having fun with its prey before a kill. And as usual she hadn’t been able to think of the right thing to say because she’d been trying to sort out surgery business and he’d been—well, he’d been Conner. Selfish, indifferent and supremely cool. Just the thought of him seeing patients—or not seeing patients—in the room next door unsettled her.
She shook her head and studied the skin around the leg ulcer. ‘You still have a degree of varicose eczema, Mrs Parker. Are you using the cream Dr MacNeil gave you?’
‘The steroid cream? No, I forget.’
Flora studied the skin, checking for infection. ‘Is this tender when I press?’
‘No more than usual.’
‘There’s no erythema and your temperature is fine.’ Talking to herself, Flora made a judgement. ‘We’ll leave it for now but do me a favour and try the cream, would you? If it isn’t looking better in a week or so, I’m going to ask one of the doctors to look at it.’
‘As long as it’s Logan.’ Mrs Parker’s mouth clamped in a thin line of disapproval. ‘I’m not afraid to say that I almost fainted dead away when I saw Conner MacNeil stroll into the surgery this morning. Bold as brass. Not even trying to hide his face.’
‘Why would he hide his face, Mrs Parker?’ Flora swiftly finished the dressing and applied a compression bandage. ‘He’s a doctor and he’s come to—’ create havoc? ‘—help Logan.’
‘Help? Help? This is the boy who was so much of a handful that his mother left home! Can you imagine how badly the boy must have behaved for his own mother to give up on him? His father stayed, of course, but he was driven to drink by Conner’s antics. Died five years ago and did his son bother turning up to his funeral? No, he didn’t.’
Flora flew to Conner’s defence. ‘He’s a man now, not a boy. And no one knows what happened in his childhood, Mrs Parker.’ He hadn’t told anyone.
She paused for a moment, lost in thought as she remembered the love of her own family. Just what had Conner endured? She remembered the day she’d walked along the cliffs to his house.
She remembered the shouting.
‘Well, I tell you this much,’ Mrs Parker said firmly. ‘That boy isn’t capable of warmth or sensitivity and he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I still don’t believe he’s a doctor. He never did a day’s studying in his life and as for the way he dresses—well, I mean, Logan’s always smart in trousers and a shirt, but Conner hadn’t even shaved! He looked—’
Handsome, Flora thought helplessly as she fumbled with the bandage. He’d looked impossibly, outrageously handsome.
‘Dangerous,’ Mrs Parker continued with a shudder, watching as Flora finished the dressing. ‘Who in their right minds would trust him with a medical problem? He causes more problems than he solves. Not too tight, dear.’
‘It has to be quite tight because we need the pressure on the ankle.’
‘I couldn’t believe it when I heard Janet booking patients in to see him. I said to Nina Hill, “Well, that’s going to be interesting to watch. Now he’ll get his comeuppance because no one will see him.’” Having delivered that prediction, Mrs Parker paused expectantly and Flora glanced up at her, realizing that some sort of response was required.
‘They’ll see him, Mrs Parker,’ she said quietly. ‘That was then and this is now. Conner is well qualified. And it’s great news that Logan finally has help. Super.’
‘Super?’ Mrs Parker gaped at her. ‘You think it’s great news?’
Far too loyal to reveal her own reservations, Flora secured the bandage. ‘Of course. Logan is barely managing on his own. We need another doctor on the island.’
‘Well, don’t imagine for one moment that Conner MacNeil will make a difference! Even if he is a doctor now, which frankly I doubt because everyone knows that these days you can fake everything for a price, there won’t be a soul on this island who will trust his opinion.’
Flora took a deep breath and tried to speak. ‘Mrs Parker, you really shouldn’t—’
‘Anyway, enough of that conversation.’ Mrs Parker apparently didn’t even notice the interruption. ‘I refuse to waste the air in my lungs on Conner MacNeil when there are so many more important things going on around us. I meant to say to you, John Carter was seen talking at the school gate with Meg Watson. Now, that’s an interesting match, if you ask me. She’s a single mother and he’s …’
Realising that a two-way conversation wasn’t required, Flora stood up and washed her hands, only half listening as Mrs Parker regaled her with all the latest island gossip.
How could Conner not be hurt by the negative reaction of the islanders?
Was he really as indifferent as he seemed?
If it were her, she’d be completely mortified.
She tugged a paper towel out of the holder and dried her hands, part of her brain listening to Mrs Parker while the other half thought about Conner. He’d built a shell around himself, and who could blame him?
‘So what do you think, dear?’
Realising that this time Mrs Parker was waiting for a response, Flora turned. ‘I honestly don’t know,’ she said truthfully. ‘I couldn’t give an opinion.’ And even if she could, she wouldn’t. ‘Don’t forget it’s important to walk when you have a venous ulcer.’
‘Yes, yes, I can’t possibly forget because you keep telling me.’ The elderly lady put her foot on the floor and tested it gingerly. ‘Oh, that’s much more comfortable. You’re a wonderful nurse, dear. Simply wonderful.’
But a useless gossip, Flora thought wryly. ‘That’s very kind of you, Mrs Parker.’
‘Not kind at all. I’m only saying what everyone else is saying.’ Angela Parker slipped on her shoes. ‘We’re all so thrilled that you’ve come back to the island to take over from our Kyla. Only yesterday I was saying to Meg in the café that we could have ended up with some mainlander with no idea how things work on Glenmore but, no, Dr MacNeil managed to tempt you back. When your father died I thought you might never return but then Nina reminded me that your aunt is here. Did you miss it when you were away?’
Flora felt a sudden shaft of pain as she thought of her father. She still missed him. ‘Well, I suppose I—’
‘Of course you did and now you’re back, which is perfect. And Logan has been in desperate need of a practice nurse since Kyla and Dr Walker left, and what with poor Evanna being so pregnant.’ Without waiting for Flora to respond, Mrs Parker forged ahead like a ship in a force-nine gale. ‘Well, we all know that Dr MacNeil is worried about her, given the tragedy with his first wife. Not that Evanna should have a problem in that direction. She’s a girl with good childbearing hips.’
Flora winced and hoped that no one repeated that comment to her friend and colleague. ‘Logan doesn’t seem worried,’ she lied, ‘and Evanna is a midwife, so if anyone understands her condition, she does!’
‘Do you really think she should still be working, this close to having that baby?’
Aware that whatever she said would be spread around the island by nightfall, Flora once again kept her answer suitably neutral. ‘She isn’t on her feet that much. She’s just doing the odd morning clinic.’ She sat down at her desk and updated the notes on the computer. ‘It’s fortunate that their house is attached to the surgery. At least she doesn’t have to come far to work and I do all the community calls so she doesn’t have that to cope with.’
‘You see? That’s what I mean. It’s great that you’re back.’ Angela Parker picked up her bag and stood up. ‘Everywhere I go I hear people saying, “Have you seen our Flora? Doesn’t she look well?’”
An intensely private person, Flora felt herself shrink slightly inside. ‘People are talking about me?’
‘Of course,’ Angela said cheerfully. ‘A new nurse on Glenmore is big news. People are thrilled. We’re all hoping you’ll meet a nice young man and then you’ll be a permanent fixture on the island. Glenmore is a good place to raise a family, dear.’
A family? ‘I think it’s a bit soon to be thinking of that,’ Flora said faintly, deciding that it was time to end the conversation before gossip about her ‘wedding’ reached the pub. ‘Your leg is healing well, Mrs Parker. Make an appointment to see me again on your way out.’
‘Yes, I’ll do that. I certainly won’t be seeing Conner, that’s for sure.’ She sniffed. ‘I value my health far too much for that.’
Flora opened her mouth to reply and then realised that no reply was expected because Angela Parker was once again answering her own question.
‘I think this time Logan will discover he’s made a mistake.’ She slid her bag over her arm. ‘If he’s not careful, he’ll find himself handling the summer singlehanded and that won’t be an easy task with a toddler and a new bairn.’
Knowing that to comment on that statement would trigger a conversation she didn’t have time for, Flora stood up, worried that she’d never finish her clinic if all her patients had as much to say as Angela. ‘It was nice to see you. Don’t forget to put that leg up when you’re sitting down.’
‘I always do that.’ Angela opened the door. ‘Take care of yourself and give me regards to your aunt.’
‘I’ll do that, Mrs Parker.’ Flora waited for the door to close behind her and then sank back into her chair. A quick glance at the clock on the wall confirmed that she was now running seriously late and she gave a despairing shake of her head. She still hadn’t adjusted to how long each appointment took on Glenmore. Everyone had something to say and a consultation involved so much more than it did on the mainland.
‘Problems?’ Logan stood in the doorway, a question in his eyes. ‘Angela Parker was with you a long time. Is her leg giving her trouble?’
‘She still has some signs of eczema around the ulcer but that’s because she isn’t using the cream you gave her. She’s not pyrexial and there’s no pain or tenderness to speak of and no obvious signs of cellulitis or infection. I’ll keep an eye on it. If it isn’t looking any better next week, I’ll give you a shout.’
Logan walked into the room and closed the door behind him. ‘If there’s no sign of healing in another month or so, I’ll refer her for a biopsy. We need to exclude malignancy.’
‘I think it is healing, it’s just that she doesn’t do much to help it along.’
‘So why are you looking so worried? I can’t believe that Mrs Parker’s leg ulcer is responsible for that frown on your face.’
‘I’m hopeless at this job,’ Flora confessed simply. ‘Absolutely hopeless.’
‘That’s utter nonsense.’ It was Logan’s turn to frown. ‘You’re a brilliant nurse.’
‘It’s not the nursing that worries me, it’s the rest of it. The gossip, the chat, the rumour machine.’ Flora waved a hand in a gesture of despair. ‘I’m just no good at it. I’ve never been any good at just chatting. When I did the clinic in Edinburgh, patients just wanted me to dress their leg or take their blood. On Glenmore, I’m supposed to have an opinion on everything from the Carpenters’ divorce to Janey Smith’s speeding fine.’ She brushed her hair out of her eyes and shot him a helpless look. ‘I don’t know how to handle it. I don’t want to join in, I have no intention of revealing confidential information, but I don’t want to look rude. How do you do it? How do you cope?’
‘I say “That’s interesting” a hundred times a day and if they’re really rambling on I adopt my “this could be something serious” look and that soon focuses their minds back on their medical problem. The skill is to cut them off tactfully.’
‘I definitely need to work on that skill,’ Flora muttered. ‘And I confess that I hate the idea that everyone is talking about me.’
‘This is Glenmore,’ Logan said easily. ‘Of course people are talking about you. They’re talking about everyone. But it’s mostly friendly talk. People care and that’s what makes this island so special. You’ve been in the city for too long. You’ve forgotten what island living is all about. You’ll adjust.’
‘But the talk isn’t friendly about Conner, is it?’ Troubled, Flora looked at him. ‘They’re being horrid to him. I mean, I know I was shocked to see him and even more shocked to discover that he’s a doctor, but boycotting his surgery …’
‘Some of the patients saw him and word will spread.’ Logan smiled. ‘Providing he isn’t too outrageous. Don’t worry about Conner. He can look after himself.’
‘Maybe.’ She suddenly noticed the dark shadows underneath his eyes. ‘You look really, really tired, Logan. Is there anything I can do to help?’
‘You’re already doing it. Being tired is part of the job description when you work here, as you’re fast discovering.’ He rubbed his fingers over his forehead. ‘And on top of that I was up in the night with little Helen Peters because she—’
‘Had a nasty asthma attack,’ Flora finished his sentence with a laugh, ‘and before you ask, the reason I know is because Mrs Abbott mentioned it when she came in to have her ears syringed and she heard it from Sam when she was buying fish on the queue this morning and Sam knew because—’
‘He lives across the road from the Peters’ sister.’ Logan looked amused. ‘Relax, Flora. This is how things work on Glenmore. Don’t knock it. Sam was the one who called me because there were lights on all over the house and he went across the road to see if he could help.’
Flora’s eyes softened. ‘That was kind.’
‘People are kind here. Don’t worry—you’ll soon get back into the swing of it. And they’ll get used to Conner.’
‘I hope you’re right. So what happened to little Helen? Did you change her medication?’
‘No, but I talked to her mum about exercise.’ He frowned. ‘It was sports day yesterday. I’m confident that the physical exertion is what triggered it. Any chance that you could you pop in and see them today? It was pretty scary for everyone and I think they’d appreciate an extra dose of reassurance. You might want to have a conversation about lifestyle.’
‘I’ll pop in, no problem.’ This was the Glenmore she knew and loved. Where else would the medical team find time for that sort of visit? That level of care and attention was what made the island special. And she was doing the job she’d been trained to do. Feeling more relaxed, Flora added Helen’s name to her list of afternoon calls.
‘I’ll see you later.’ Logan opened the door to leave and Conner strolled in.
Flora’s world tilted and her insides knotted with an almost unbearable tension. ‘Conner.’
