Reunited...in Paris! Page 16

  ‘Go, you.’ This girl had already learned that the only way forwards was to keep pushing herself.

  The morning wore on, then it was afternoon and the number of patients waiting for Tori didn’t appear to have dwindled at all. ‘Where do they all come from?’ she asked her secretary, who delivered coffee and a sandwich to eat before Tori raced along to see Dean.

  Dean had woken minutes earlier, and she wanted to be there to reassure him she was around the place. ‘Hey, sleepyhead, you’re looking good,’ she told him.

  ‘I’m sore. My stomach and head hurt.’

  Tori read the charts Karen handed her. Everything looked good. ‘You’ve had an operation, that’s why you’re uncomfortable. You’ll feel better next time you wake up.’

  ‘Not tired.’ He was already nodding off, trying to fight sleep but rapidly losing the battle.

  ‘Of course you’d say that. Being tired means being ill to you,’ she said in a whisper, as she brushed that same errant curl aside. ‘Next time I drop by you’ll be asking if you can get up.’ Fingers crossed.

  ‘His mum and dad texted to say they’d be back shortly,’ Karen said.

  She had no excuse to stay with him. Tori sighed. She felt drawn, wanted to watch over him until he was up and laughing and ready to take on the world again. She always felt this way with her patients, as though she could give them some of her energy and strength. Except she didn’t have any spare at the moment. ‘Guess I’d better go back to my other patients.’

  ‘I hear they’re pouring in the doors today.’

  ‘They have been since I got back.’ Tori smiled tiredly at Karen, then noticed the nurse’s focus was on something behind her. ‘What?’ She turned, and gasped at the man standing in the doorway. ‘Ben?’ So her exhaustion had finally caught up with her, had her hallucinating. She’d had a momentary hiccup earlier, craving him, wanting his shoulder to lean on, his arms around her. Seemed she’d wished too hard. Shaking her head, she dashed a hand over her eyes. ‘I’m losing my grip on things.’ But when she focused on the man again she saw only Benji.

  ‘Tori, sweetheart, it’s me.’ Those arms she’d wished for were engulfing her, pulling her close to that broad chest she needed to lay her head against. ‘I’m real.’

  Pine and citrus scent teased her, convincing her sluggish brain. Tipping her head back, she gazed into the most wonderful pair of caramel eyes she’d ever seen. ‘Yes, I think you might be.’

  Right then she heard Julene say, ‘Oh, sorry, are we interrupting something?’

  Tori turned in Ben’s arms to see Dean’s parents hovering anxiously near the door. ‘Hey, of course you’re not. This is Dr Ben Wells. He’s a cardiologist from London.’ Though what he was doing here in her clinic she had no idea. ‘Ben, I talked to you about Dean. Julene and Leo are his parents.’

  As Ben shook their hands he glanced at Dean. ‘You replaced the device?’

  ‘No.’ As Tori explained Dean’s situation she couldn’t stop the questions rocketing through her brain. Why was Ben here? Was this a fleeting visit? Had someone in his family taken ill? What was going on?

  ‘Tori?’ Karen nudged her. ‘Are you all right?’

  No. She didn’t have time for this. ‘I’m fine. Ben, sorry, but I’ve got a very full schedule for the rest of the day.’

  Ben stepped up beside her. ‘I heard about your staff shortage due to flu. Need a hand dealing with all those patients lined up in the waiting room?’

  I’d love it. Spinning around, she started walking towards her office. ‘Are you up to it? When did you land? Had any sleep?’

  ‘I don’t think I’m as tired as you appear to be.’ He reached a hand to her cheek, ran a finger down to her mouth. ‘I got in at seven this morning, have had a few hours’ sleep. Anyway, I got bumped up to first class so I slept most of the way over.’

  ‘Then you’re on. I feel like I’m taking two steps forwards and three back at the moment.’ And now Ben’s here and I still don’t know why.

  Ben’s hand on her elbow was familiar and worrying. ‘Let’s get it sorted, then we’ll talk.’

  Talk? Now, there was a novel idea. ‘Thank you for stepping up. I really could do with an extra hand at the moment. In fact, if you didn’t already have one on the other side of the world I’d offer you a job right now. The clinic’s growing by the week and I need to take on another specialist.’ Ben would be the obvious choice—if only he was available.

  Ben pulled her to a stop and turned her to lay his hands on her shoulders. ‘I’ve missed you, Tori. More than ever.’ His lips brushed hers, returned for a more serious kiss, one that lightened every aching muscle in her body and gave her hope. Hope was dangerous, and probably about to explode in her face. But that was definitely hope flaring in her stomach, her head—her heart.

  * * *

  Tori went looking for Ben, found him in deep conversation with Conrad at Dean’s bedside. ‘Hey, you two seem to be getting on fine.’

  ‘Why wouldn’t we?’ Ben asked.

  ‘No reason.’ She dredged up a smile for him, automatically reaching for Dean’s notes. Glancing down the page, she said, ‘All good. Dean, you feeling better now?’

  ‘Yes, Tori. Ben talked to me when I woke up. Have you heard how Maelee’s doing?’

  ‘Her doctor in Paris emailed me the other day,’ Tori said with a smile. ‘He said she’s recovering well.’

  Glancing at Ben, Tori found his gaze fixed on her. It was time to find out why he’d turned up. If only she didn’t feel so lethargic. ‘Feel like heading out of here for a bit, going to the apartment maybe? Conrad’s feeling well enough to cover the evening rounds and be on call for the night. Which means I can get some sleep.’ After we’ve talked. Or would that be better left until after sleep? Falling asleep mid-conversation wouldn’t earn her any goodwill.

  Ben smiled. ‘Sounds like a good idea as long as I can drive. You’re beyond it.’

  She dug the keys out of the handbag slung across her shoulder. ‘All yours.’ This being looked out for was a novelty. And she could ask questions on the way home and still get her sleep once she got there.

  Some plan that turned out to be. She woke as Ben opened her door of the car at her apartment. ‘Come on, sleepyhead.’

  ‘We’re home already?’ She struggled to stand up, and Ben placed an arm around her waist.

  ‘Home, and I’ve ordered pizza. It’ll be here shortly.’

  ‘I’m not hungry.’ Just in need of fifty winks.

  ‘You can’t do the hours you’ve done on one sandwich.’ When her eyebrows rose, he nodded. ‘Yes, I know what you’ve eaten today. Next to nothing.’

  Ben was in their home for the first time since that awful day he’d left her. Sure, it was her place now but this was where they’d lived after they’d married, the home they’d picked together. She shivered with trepidation. Why was he here? She couldn’t take another knock-back.

  In the lounge her eyes locked on the photo she’d framed of them, taken at the Moulin Rouge. About the only thing she had managed to unpack yet. The urn was due to arrive next week.

  Ben picked the photo up. ‘You looked stunning that night. More stunning than usual,’ he added with a smile that reminded her of everything they’d done after the show.

  The bell rang, announcing someone in the foyer downstairs.

  ‘That’ll be dinner.’ Ben headed for the button to open the door.

  ‘Talk about a quick save.’ She smiled around a yawn and sank onto the nearest chair.

  Barely managing to eat two slices of pizza, Tori found herself yawning again and again. So much for having a meaningful conversation.

  ‘Go take a shower.’ Ben nudged her in the direction of her bedroom before she could voice the questions battering her brain.

  She managed to mutter,
‘When did you get so bossy?’ as she staggered through the bedroom to the bathroom. Benji was home. What did that mean?

  She’d never felt this tired, not even in the days she’d worked as a registrar. She dozed off, standing upright with a shoulder against the shower wall.

  ‘Hey, come on, Tori. Time you were tucked up in bed.’

  A hand shook her shoulder gently. ‘Benji?’

  ‘Who else would you let into the bathroom with you?’ He grinned.

  ‘I am so zonked.’

  ‘I know. It’s almost insulting.’ He flicked the water off and held a towel out, ready to dry her off.

  As she stepped onto the mat she asked, ‘How long are you here for?’ She could get used to this all too easily.

  ‘I’m home for good.’ Ben dried her with the fluffiest towel she owned.

  ‘That’s great.’ What did that mean? Home, as in where?

  ‘I’m not returning to London, Tori.’

  ‘What about your job?’ Concentrate. Benji’s telling me something important.

  ‘You offered me one today, remember?’

  ‘Don’t play games with me, please. I would love you to work with me. I meant that offer. But you work in London.’

  He swung her up into his arms and strode through to the bedroom to place her ever so gently on the bed. ‘I’ve given notice. I was offered a partnership and I’ve turned it down.’

  That woke her up. Jerking upright, she stared at him. ‘But you’ve worked hard for that partnership, wanted it more than anything.’

  ‘Have you ever striven so hard for something that you’ve lost sight of everything else that’s important?’ Blazing eyes fixed on her.

  ‘Yes.’ The clinic. But that had been the intention. The clinic had been her drug of choice to blot out her other dreams—the failed ones all to do with Ben and having a family with him.

  Then the tiredness was back, dragging her under even as she fought to stay fully alert.

  When Tori woke she couldn’t move for the arm draped over her waist and the warm body pushed hard against her back. ‘Ben?’

  Then she felt the aches throbbing in every muscle in her body, the pounding in her head. ‘I shouldn’t have laughed yesterday about not catching the flu.’

  ‘I’ll get you some water and drugs,’ murmured the only voice she wanted to hear right now.

  Ben was back in no time, helping her to sit up, handing her tablets and a glass. ‘Now go back to sleep.’

  Bossy. But the next thing she knew was waking up again, and Ben was bringing her a warm cloth to wipe her face before presenting her with toast and honey.

  ‘You have to eat.’

  ‘I have to get up. I’ve got patients to see.’

  ‘All sorted. I’m going in shortly to help Conrad with the appointment list. You’ll be all right here?’

  Her eyelids were drooping already. ‘I’m coming with you,’ she muttered, as she slid down beneath the duvet and snuggled into the pillow.

  Everything was a blur, days and nights rolling into each other. The only thing Tori knew for certain was that Ben was there a lot, bringing her meals, helping her shower, kissing her cheek, holding her in bed at night. Ben. Her heart. Her love. He’d come back, but why? Something about giving up a partnership. She needed to get to the bottom of that.

  Finally she woke with a clear head and no aches anywhere in her body. It had been three days since she’d first crashed. Staggering out of bed, she headed for a shower before getting dressed in something more scintillating than pyjamas.

  * * *

  When Ben got home from the clinic that night he was greeted with the mouth-watering smell of lasagne and the wonderful, heart-stopping sight of Tori looking a hundred percent better than she had since he’d arrived. ‘Hey, you’re looking almost normal again.’

  ‘I feel better.’ There was hesitancy in those green eyes as she handed him a glass of wine. ‘Thanks for taking care of me and the clinic.’

  ‘No problem. I enjoyed it. Even looking after the world’s grumpiest patient.’ Ben placed the glass on the bench before engulfing her in a big hug, quickly following up with a kiss. A proper, lips-on-lips kiss now that the flu had gone. She tasted sweet and exciting, and it would take very little to ignite the flare of desire burning in his groin. But he wasn’t following through until they’d talked.

  Tori pulled away. ‘Why did you leave me that note in Paris? Why didn’t you say goodbye properly? That hurt, Ben.’ If the past had taught her anything, it was to be honest about how she felt.

  Ben winced, hating the thought he’d upset her. ‘I was scared, Tori. We’d bared our souls to each other in Paris, but I was too busy dwelling on the past to believe we had a future. I made a mistake.’

  ‘So what’s changed? Why did you turn that partnership down?’

  ‘Because I came to my senses. When the excitement didn’t kick in after I was offered it I did some soul-searching and it finally dawned on me that, yes, I had been hurt about the baby, but to throw away another chance with you because of that would be right up there with the worst things I’ve ever done.’

  Tori’s eyes widened but she didn’t say a word. Was that good or bad? He felt a band tighten around his gut. What if she didn’t want to give him another chance?

  He laid his heart on the line. All or nothing was the way to go. Then if she kicked him out he couldn’t say he hadn’t tried hard enough. ‘I love you more than anything in the world so why wasn’t I here with you? That’s what I asked myself.’ Not a peep came out of those tempting lips. He continued, ‘I do love you, Tori. So much that I want to start over, with you, with my career, with a family if you still want one, with a home I can share with you. This time, I’ll keep my priorities straight.’

  Now shut up. He did, but his gut was roiling and sweat trickled down between his shoulderblades. Everything rode on what Tori said next.

  Tori folded her arms across her chest and eyeballed him. ‘You’re absolutely certain about that?’

  ‘Tori.’ His mouth dried up. Taking a chance, he cupped her beloved face between his hands. ‘I’m here for you. Because of you. I can’t stay away any longer. Those days in Nice and Paris showed me the truth of my heart. I love you. I have never stopped loving you.’

  ‘Benji.’ Tears spilled down her face, over his hands. ‘I tried to get over you, thought I’d succeeded, only to learn I’d been telling myself a load of porkies all the time. I’m done with hiding my feelings. When I gave you my heart on our wedding day it was for ever, no matter what happened. I’ve never reclaimed it. It’s still yours.’

  Relief was sharp and welcome. He had to kiss her again. As his mouth covered hers the woman of his dreams finally leaned in against him and lifted her arms up around his neck.

  She pulled her mouth away briefly. ‘Welcome home, Benji.’

  When she said ‘Benji’ with so much love he knew they’d be okay. He was so lucky. She’d given him another chance. He swore this time he’d be a lot more careful with her love. It was far too precious to treat any other way. Sure, there would be problems along the way. But this time they’d face them together.

  ‘I love you with everything I’ve got, Tori.’ His lips brushed her forehead, her mouth, down her throat and onto her breast. ‘This is me, for real. Let me prove how real.’

  Silently she took his hand and led him to her bedroom, where she undressed first him and then herself. On the bed he covered her body with his, then pushed gently inside her. ‘That real enough for you?’ he whispered by her ear.

  ‘Oh, yes.’ She tightened around him, drawing him in deeper so that he filled her completely. ‘Oh, yes.’

  He hadn’t known it was possible to make love so slowly, so intensely and tenderly. His body melted as desire tightened and tightened and sent them both soari
ng into oblivion.

  Six months later...

  Ben leaned close to Tori and whispered in her ear something that made her blush scarlet.

  She elbowed him lightly in the ribs. ‘No one ever gets their wedding present until after the wedding.’

  Ben groaned. ‘You mean I have to wait until this crowd have listened to our vows, eaten five courses at Porcini’s Restaurant and danced half the night away?’

  ‘I’m worth it, I promise.’

  ‘That’s my line.’ He winked.

  Happiness welled up inside her, blocked her throat as she gazed into the eyes of the man she was about to marry for the second time. This time it would be for ever. She knew they’d finally got it right, and that they’d grown, changed and yet were still the same couple with the same kind of loving going on between them.

  A very trim-looking John, holding Rita’s hand, approached them, with their two girls bouncing along beside them. He asked with a grin, ‘So it’s to be a small wedding, eh?’

  Ben shook his head. ‘Tori has no idea what small means. Apart from the usual family and friends, I reckon she’s invited all the clinic staff and every patient she’s ever treated.’

  Tori nudged him again. ‘You do exaggerate.’ But not by much. She looked around and her smile grew. Everyone important to her was here. With one exception—Ben’s father couldn’t bring himself to accept her back into the family. His attitude had hurt them both, but Ben had refused to beg, so his mother had come without him. That had to be one of the few times she’d ever stood up to him. Bet Jeffery didn’t know about the coffee dates and shopping for baby clothes that his wife and Tori had once a week.

  Her hand automatically rubbed a light circle over her slightly swollen stomach. How you doing in there, little one?

  ‘Pregnancy is making you glow.’ Rita was smiling and crying and reaching for her hand.

  Tori’s eyes moistened. ‘Stop it. I can’t cry and wreck my make-up.’

  ‘Why not? It’s your wedding.’

  ‘I am so glad you came over for this.’ They’d kept in regular contact since Nice.