The Doctor's Wife For Keeps. Alison Roberts

shaded her eyes against the sun. ‘That’s better, Georgia, but you’re too slow now...’

      ‘A partner?’ Luke persisted. ‘A boyfriend? Any kind of significant other?’

      Kate sighed, sounding a little exasperated. ‘No.’

      Luke was silent for a moment, digesting the information, as Georgia circled back to where the officials were standing. They seemed to be having a discussion about whether she would have another attempt.

      So Kate was single.

      This was good, he decided. It meant that there were no barriers to them spending some time together and he didn’t have to find someone so that they could double date.

      This was more than good. It was excellent.

      ‘And you’re thirty-five...’ Oh, help. Had he said that aloud?

      Judging by Kate’s dismissive snort, she had heard the impulsive statement.

      ‘I can’t believe you even remember that, given how drunk you were at the time.’

      Kate had been just as enthusiastic about opening that second bottle of champagne. And she obviously remembered the pact...

      ‘Anyway, it’s null and void now. You got married.’

      ‘Hey... I made a mistake.’ Luke kept his tone light. ‘You don’t need to rub my nose in it.’

      ‘Sorry.’ Kate offered him a smile. ‘Good thing you didn’t have kids, I guess. Or did you?’

      ‘No. Thank goodness. It was a clean—and complete—breakup.’

      There was a moment’s silence. Georgia was lining up to have what would probably be her last attempt at the driving test. Matteo was leaning out of his window, watching carefully.

      Kate was also watching carefully but Luke couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease her a little.

      ‘The pact didn’t have any sub-clauses that I remember,’ he said. ‘Didn’t we solemnly declare that if we were both still single when we were thirty five, we would marry each other?’

      The glance Kate gave him over her shoulder was dismissive. ‘Thanks, but I intend to give it a bit more time. I haven’t given up on true love yet. My soul mate is out there somewhere—I just haven’t found him yet.’

      Luke had to groan. ‘You don’t really believe in that, do you? Finding ‘the one’?’

      He could see her shoulders stiffen. And her voice was cool. ‘Maybe I want what you and Nadia had.’

      ‘No.’ The word came out with unexpected vehemence. ‘You don’t.’

      ‘It was great when it started, though, wasn’t it? I’d never seen you so happy.’

      There was that wistful note again and Luke’s brain broke the rules and dredged up a memory of what it had been like to be so in love. How magic it had been. He shut down the memory instantly. He didn’t need that kind of magic in his life now because that was all it was. A spell. One that could be reversed with no more than a click of someone’s fingers to leave devastation in its wake.

      Kate broke the silence. Maybe she realised she’d stirred up something unpleasant for him because her tone was gentle.

      ‘You just found it with the wrong person,’ she said.

      ‘And you think you can find the right one?’

      ‘I hope so.’

      ‘How will you know?’ Luke was genuinely curious.

      ‘I don’t know exactly,’ Kate admitted. ‘I guess I’ll have to trust my instincts.’

      ‘Good luck with that.’ Luke was more than happy to leave this conversation. He was relieved to see that Georgia was driving back towards them, passing Matteo who went to take his position at the start. ‘I really hope you’ll find him,’ he added. ‘And that you’ll live happily ever after.’

      Kate smiled at him. ‘So you agree that the pact is null and void, then?’

      Luke shrugged. ‘I’m over the whole marriage thing, anyway. Been there, got the T-shirt. Friendship’s better.’ He smiled back at Kate. ‘Seems to last a lot longer, too.’

      He could see sympathy in Kate’s eyes. And something more. Something warm.

      ‘You’re right. True friendship is the most important thing in the world.’ Her breath came out in a sigh as she smiled again. ‘It’s really good to see you again, Luke.’

      ‘Likewise. We’ll have to make sure we don’t lose touch when we get back home. I’m still a fish out of water in Scotland. I haven’t had time to meet anybody, apart from the people I work with, yet. I haven’t been anywhere or seen anything, either.’

      ‘I haven’t done much sightseeing myself,’ Kate told him, as Georgia joined them. ‘I’m sure there are some great places to go in Scotland.’

      ‘Are you kidding?’ Georgia sounded offended. ‘It’s the most beautiful country in the world. We’ve got the most gorgeous lakes and forests and more castles than could ever wish for.’ She grinned. ‘The weather can be a bit grey and wet, of course, but it’s summer now. You’ll get at least three days of sunshine.’