Six Sexy Doctors Part 2. Joanna Neil

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      Meagan had to laugh at Jessie’s downcast expression.

      ‘I gather the handsome Simon has arrived, then?’

      Jessie blushed, then grinned. ‘Is it that obvious?’ she asked. ‘Oh, Meagan, there’s no point. He’s rich—well, relatively speaking—and titled, and I’m just a cook with a small child to support. It’s pointless even thinking about it.’

      ‘You’re not just a cook,’ Meagan exclaimed. ‘You are a beautiful woman who does what she needs to in order to support her child. And, by the way, you are an excellent cook. How many people can say that?’

      ‘True, having tasted your cooking when I came to lunch the other day. I’m afraid I can attest to the fact that you are many things, Meagan Galbraith, but a cook is not one of them.’

      The two women laughed and Meagan felt slightly better. One good thing at least had come out of her return to the island. She had made a good friend in Jessie. Then, as the realisation dawned that she wouldn’t be here for much longer, her smile faded.

      ‘What is it, Meagan?’ Jessie asked.

      Meagan shook her head. ‘I didn’t want to tell you until after the ball but I won’t be staying here after all. I’ve decided a permanent position is not for me. I’ll stay, of course, until Colin finds someone else.’

      ‘Oh, Meagan. I’m so sorry. I thought you were happy here. Is it the job? Do you find it boring after the excitement of the big city or working abroad?’

      ‘You’re forgetting everything that’s happened since I’ve been here,’ Meagan reminded her. ‘Air and sea rescues, emergency surgeries. How could I possibly be bored?’

      ‘I am going to miss you so much.’ Jessie went over to Meagan and hugged her hard. ‘What does Cameron say? I bet he’s sorry you are leaving.’

      Meagan stiffened. ‘I haven’t told him yet. And anyway…’ Meagan bit her lip. She had been about to tell Jessie about Cameron and Rachel and that he was leaving. But it wasn’t her place to tell. A thought struck her. With Cameron gone, Colin would be in a difficult position. It wouldn’t be fair to abandon him too. On the other hand, could she stay with all the memories that were here? And when Cameron and Rachel came back on holiday, as they were bound to do? It would be unbearable.

      Jessie was looking at Meagan speculatively. ‘I know, Meagan.’

      Meagan looked at her sharply. ‘Know what?’

      ‘I know that Rachel and Cameron are getting married again. And that they’ll be going away. He told me.’

      Meagan felt a wave of relief. For one moment she had thought that Cameron had told Jessie about them. But as soon as she thought it, she knew that Cameron wasn’t that kind of man. He would never share something that wasn’t his to share.

      ‘Were you surprised?’ Meagan asked.

      ‘Surprised? That’s putting it mildly. More like gobsmacked, disbelieving, incredulous. What on earth is he thinking?’

      Meagan didn’t have to ask—it was clear from not just Jessie’s words but her expression what she thought of Cameron’s announcement. But still she couldn’t resist posing the question. ‘You don’t approve, then?’

      ‘Approve? How could I? I don’t believe for one minute that either of them is in love with the other. If they ever were. I suspect, although Cameron didn’t say, that it has something to do with Ian.’ Jessie stood up, looked around the room and then sat down again, clearly agitated.

      ‘You don’t have feelings for him yourself?’ Meagan asked, suddenly curious. How awful that would be.

      ‘Feelings for Cameron,’ Jessie replied slowly. ‘Of course I have feelings for Cameron. I couldn’t love my own brother more than I love that pig-headed man. That’s why I’m so annoyed. I’ve been wishing for years that he would meet the right woman, someone who shared his passions and interests. Someone who would love him to death.’ She stopped suddenly. ‘Someone very like you, in fact.’ She looked closely at Meagan, her green eyes shrewd.

      Meagan blushed under Jessie’s scrutiny, cursing her inability to hide her feelings.

      ‘Well, well,’ Jessie said, giving a low whistle under her breath. ‘So that’s the way the wind blows, is it?’

      It crossed Meagan’s mind to lie. But she had never been a good liar.

      ‘Please, Jessie. Keep it to yourself. It’s nothing really. And as you said, he’s getting married. So there is absolutely no point at all in me having feelings for Cameron.’

      ‘He’s even more daft than I gave him credit for if he’s ignoring what’s under his nose,’ Jessie said crossly. ‘I just know you two would be perfect together—at the very least you both seem to love nothing more than putting your lives at risk. But now he’s insisting on marrying Rachel again. She doesn’t even like getting wet. And why? Because he feels guilty about depriving his child of both parents.’

      ‘You have to give him credit for that at least.’ Meagan couldn’t help sticking up for Cameron. ‘I have known so many women whose husbands have just walked out on them and their children. After all, isn’t the child the most important person in the relationship?’

      ‘I agree, Meagan, to a point. But Ian has always managed fine with mainly his father around.’

      ‘But has he?’ Meagan persisted. ‘You heard him when he was ill. He desperately wanted his mother. At the end of the day isn’t that what all children want? To be with their mother?’

      Jessie shook her head regretfully. ‘I suppose, thinking about it that way, you’re right.’ Her voice trembled slightly. ‘I only wish my child had the luxury of two parents. I’ve tried to do my best for her, but it would be so much easier if Hamish was still alive.’

      ‘Oh, Jessie.’ Meagan took her hand. ‘You couldn’t help what happened. I guess the difference is that Cameron can do something about it for his child.’

      Jessie blew her nose loudly. ‘I still think it’s not right, though. Two parents are best, but surely only when they love each other. Children are very sensitive like that, you know.’

      ‘Do you ever think you’ll marry again?’

      This time it was Jessie’s turn to blush. ‘Aye, well,’ she said. ‘You never know. But one thing’s for sure—I would never marry anyone who wasn’t prepared to accept Effie as his own. Not to replace Hamish, you understand—no one could ever do that.’ She looked wistful. ‘Anyway, so far there haven’t been any offers.’

      ‘Is there anyone you wish would offer?’ Meagan teased gently, knowing that Simon was back, happy to steer the conversation away from Cameron and herself.

      ‘Maybe. Neither of us have been particularly lucky in love so far, have we? Oh, Meagan, you have to stay. I’ll miss you terribly if you go.’

      ‘And I would miss you too.’ Impulsively Meagan stood and hugged Jessie. The two women broke apart and Meagan blinked away a tear.

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