Page 63 of The Midwife's Marriage Proposal (Lakeside Mountain Rescue 3)

She wouldn’t make herself that vulnerable again.

She was going to resist him.

* * *

But it was easier said than done.

Wherever she was, Tom seemed to be there.

Even when she was doing a normal delivery that had no need for the presence of an obstetrician, he seemed to find a reason to pop in and ask her something.

And their awareness of each other was rising to such an intensity that Sally could hardly breathe.

Even in her social life there was no escape. If she went for a drink with the mountain rescue team, he was there. If she went for supper with Bryony and Jack, he was there.

Even when she spent an evening at Helen’s, discussing the wedding, he was there, sharing a beer with Oliver.

Finally she cornered Bryony at the final fitting of their bridesmaids’ dresses.

‘The wedding’s on Saturday,’ Bryony said cheerfully, doing a twirl and trying to see her back in the mirror. ‘If they don’t fit now, we’re in trouble.’

‘They fit beautifully,’ Helen said, smiling from the depths of a comfortable sofa. ‘Try them with the shoes.’

Sally winced. ‘I don’t think I can walk in those shoes.’

Helen laughed. ‘I’ll give you lessons. And if you struggle you can always hold Tom’s arm. He is the best man after all.’

Sally gritted her teeth. She didn’t need reminding that he was the best man. Oliver and Helen’s wedding was just another occasion where she was going to have to avoid him.

Twice during the day he’d cornered her.

Twice he’d kissed her until her body had been one big screaming ache.

And then he’d walked away.

/> If she hadn’t seen the tension in his wide shoulders and heard the uncharacteristic snap in his voice when he spoke, she’d have thought that he was finding the whole thing amusing.

But there was no laughter in those sexy blue eyes.

Only determination.

And a raw masculine need that almost took her breath away.

‘He loves you, Sally.’ Bryony spoke in a quiet voice and she and Helen exchanged glances. ‘And you know you love him.’

Sally adjusted the neck of her dress. ‘Do you think this is too revealing?’

Bryony frowned. ‘Sally …’

‘Look.’ Sally turned to face her, her breathing rapid. ‘I don’t want to talk about this, all right? I really, really don’t want to talk about it.’

As far as she was concerned, it was a problem that couldn’t be solved by talking so she wanted to just try to ignore it.

Eventually it would go away.

It had to.

‘I was angry with him, too, you know that,’ Bryony said quietly, ‘but he thought he was doing the right thing and he regrets it so much, Sally. I’ve never seen my brother doubt himself before—never seen him admit that he was wrong, but he’s admitting it now. He used to be everything to you. Can’t you forgive him?’

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