relationship with.’
There was a stunned silence and then Mark cleared his throat. ‘That’s rubbish. Look at you and I for a start. We’ve been friends for ever.’
‘That’s different.’ Holly gave a shrug. ‘I’ve known you for twenty-four years and I don’t see you the way other women see you. I’m immune.’
It was true. While other women had fallen heavily for Mark, she’d never seen him as anything other than her dearest friend.
‘Oh, here we go again. More ego-bashing,’ Mark drawled, his tone making it obvious that his ego was definitely intact. ‘You’re saying you don’t find me attractive?’
‘Why would you want me to? Mark, you’re my best friend!’ She rolled her eyes with exasperation. ‘I’m not in the habit of fancying my best friend. Anyway, as I said before, you’re not my type.’
‘Why?’ Suddenly he sounded curious. ‘Go on—tell me. Why aren’t I your type?’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, Mark, I don’t know.’ She frowned impatiently. ‘I’ve never analysed it before. Basically because I don’t go for macho males, I suppose. And you’re very “male”, if you know what I mean.’
‘I’m not sure I do.’ Mark started to laugh. ‘Surely I’m meant to be “male”?’
Suddenly Holly felt flustered. ‘What I mean is you’re—you’re—very rough and tough. You know, black belt in judo, accomplished sailor, rock climber. You like fast cars and—’
‘You’re basically saying I can’t hold a conversation?’
‘No.’ Holly smiled and nestled deeper into the sofa. ‘I’m not saying that at all. You’re jolly good at conversation. I’m just trying to tell you why I don’t fancy you. You’re too macho. I prefer the sensitive sort.’
Actually, she didn’t really know what she preferred any more. Her love life was such a disaster she’d given up analysing it.
‘You don’t think I’m sensitive?’ Mark sounded hurt and she grinned, knowing it was a pretence. Mark wasn’t that easily wounded. He was totally comfortable with himself, self-assured and confident in everything he did.
‘You’re sensitive with your friends. Just not your girlfriends. And it’s not a post I’ve ever been interested in. And on top of that—’ she played idly with the sleek curtain of blonde hair that fell over her shoulder ‘—I’ve known you since I was two and I remember the time when you put sand down my nappy—’
‘Ouch. Surely I didn’t do a thing like that.’ His sudden laughter was infectious and she started to laugh, too.
‘You did indeed. And when I was too old for nappies you put ice down my knickers, a snake round my neck and you cut off my pigtail to try out your new Swiss army knife.’
Mark was still laughing. ‘What a lousy friend I must have been. OK, I get the message. In fact, I’m amazed our friendship has endured in the circumstances.’
‘Well...’ Holly’s voice was gruff. ‘I suppose I should also add that you’re a great listener, good company and the best friend a girl could want.’
Mark broke the long silence that followed. ‘That’s nice to hear. And it means you can definitely be my fiancée without me worrying that you’ll expect me to marry you at the end of it.’
‘Which brings us back to your story of the woman,’ Holly prompted him, and he sighed.
‘So it does. Anyway, we went out for this drink and she cornered me. I managed to escape without hurting her feelings but it’s getting worse by the day.’
‘Did you kiss her?’
There was an explosion of sound. ‘No, I did not kiss her!!’
‘Maybe you should have done. You should have given her a really horrid, wet, wimpy, slimy kiss that would have put her off you for ever.’
‘I’m not sure I know how to kiss like that.’ His voice shook with laughter. ‘And if you know how that sort of kiss feels then you’ve definitely been going out with the wrong sort of men.’
Holly’s smile wavered. She didn’t need him to tell her that, but men and relationships were the last thing on her mind right now.
‘OK.’ She changed the subject quickly. ‘So what’s happening with this woman at the moment?’
He gave a groan. ‘It’s becoming embarrassing at work. I didn’t want to be rude and ruin a working relationship, so I mentioned that I was engaged to you.’
Holly took a deep breath. ‘Well, that’s all right,’ she said carefully. ‘Other people have long-distance relationships. Just tell them I’ve got a job I can’t leave.’
There was a long pause. ‘It isn’t that simple. They wormed the truth out of me, I’m afraid.’
‘The truth?’
‘That you left your job a few months ago and have done bits of agency work since. Unfortunately my confession coincided with our practice nurse leaving to have a baby, so they came up with the idea of you joining me. I was cornered really, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a brilliant solution. If I have a fiancée down here in Cornwall, then this woman is more likely to leave me alone.’
Holly’s mouth opened and closed. ‘So they already think I’m coming? You didn’t think to ask me first?’
If he hadn’t been her dearest friend she would have put the phone down!
‘I’m asking you now! In fact, I’m begging you, Holl!! Think about it,’ he urged, his voice deep and persuasive. ‘If I have a fiancée I don’t have to spend every minute of the day wondering whether what I’m doing or saying could be misconstrued. I can just get on with my life.’
‘But, Mark—’
‘And you can get on with your life, too. You still haven’t found a permanent job, have you?’ He paused. ‘You haven’t told me why you resigned from your last practice nurse post, but I know something happened.’
Holly stiffened, and her heart rate bolted. Suddenly they’d moved onto dangerous ground. ‘Nothing happened.’
‘Come on, Holl, this is me. I know you better than anyone.’ His voice was gruff. ‘You’re not the sort of person to leave a job without good reason.’
She’d had a good reason. A very good reason. ‘I—It was nothing. Just politics.’
‘Don’t lie to me, Holly.’ His voice was calm and matter-of-fact. ‘I know something’s wrong. And I know it’s something big because it’s the first problem in your life you haven’t shared with me.’
He was right. It was the first thing she hadn’t been able to tell him. But he’d been miles away in Cornwall and it wasn’t something she could talk about on the phone.
She bit her lip. ‘Mark—’
