The Doctor's Engagement

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‘Oh, yes!’ She rolled her eyes to indicate what she thought of that statement. ‘Try not to break too many hearts, Mark.’

‘Me?’ He pretended to look hurt. ‘I’m always very kind to women.’

He was certainly kind to her but, then, she’d never been in love with him. She glanced at the ring and took it out of the box carefully, slipping it onto the third finger of her left hand.

‘It fits.’

‘You’re right. It fits perfectly.’ A strange look crossed Mark’s face as he lifted her hand and examined the ring. ‘What about you, Holl? What if you meet Mr Right while you’re wearing my ring?’

‘Mr Right is always in a different place when I’m around.’ Holly twisted the diamond on her finger and Mark gave a low curse and hugged her. ‘You’ll tell me about it one day and I’ll sort him out.’

‘Don’t be silly!’ She pushed him away. ‘Talking of which, are you still doing judo?’

‘Not since I left London,’ he admitted, ‘but I could still get the better of the louse. Just give me his name.’

‘There is no name.’ Holly smiled. ‘Stop playing boy hero and let’s finish our cover story. We got engaged, and then what? When are we getting married?’

Mark frowned. ‘Can’t we leave that open? It’ll make it easier when we have to break up anyway. Just say that it depends on our jobs and that sort of thing.’

‘I suppose that sounds all right.’ Holly shrugged. ‘In that case I’ll go and get ready. How dressy is the yacht club?’

Mark reached into his wardrobe and pulled out a pair of fawn trousers and a pristine white shirt. ‘Quite dressy.’

Which meant digging through her rather limited wardrobe to find something that would suit Mark’s ‘fiancée’. Normally the man dated models and women who spent half their days in beauty salons. Holly glanced down at her short, practical nails in despair. She just wasn’t Mark’s type. How was she ever going to be convincing?

* * *

The yacht club was situated just beyond the fishing village with views across the headland and the estuary.

Mark pulled into the car park and Holly grinned as he parked his beloved sports car carefully by a low wall.

‘Have you ever found a woman you love as much as this car?’ she teased, and he pulled a face.

‘Definitely not.’ He looked across at her and his eyes narrowed. ‘By the way, you look great. That colour suits you.’

She was wearing a strappy, green silk dress that looked good with her blonde hair and showed more than a hint of bare leg. As they walked into the yacht club, female heads turned to look at Mark and Holly was doubly glad that she’d made an effort with her appearance.

The restaurant was already filling up and Mark smiled and lifted a hand to a man sitting at one of the best tables.

‘There’s Ian.’ He led her across the restaurant and shook hands with the older man. ‘How are you, Ian? You’ve already met my Holly.’

My Holly.