Trust Me - Sheryl Browne Page 0,34

been treated badly by a man and I was nervous.’

‘Was I treating you badly?’

‘No, I …’ Emily faltered. ‘I was pregnant. I was confused. I didn’t want you to be with me because you felt obliged to be.’

‘I didn’t feel obliged.’ Jake kneaded his forehead in frustration. ‘I’ve just told you. I—’

‘But that’s beside the point,’ Emily cut in. ‘We’re talking about where we are now. Our marriage. People who are married do have affairs. Most marriages break up because people have affairs. If two people are sexually attracted, they tend to throw everything that’s supposed to matter to them out of the window. I mean, let’s face it, the thought of illicit sex is a powerful aphrodisiac, isn’t it?’

‘Unbelievable.’ Jake eyed the ceiling. ‘I am not sexually attracted to Natasha, for God’s sake,’ he grated, looking back at her. ‘Why the hell do you think I would be?’

‘Because she’s attractive,’ Emily pointed out, ridiculously. ‘Slim, abundantly blessed in the breast department.’

‘That’s utter rubbish, Emily.’ His jaw tightened. ‘You can’t just accuse me of having an affair out of jealousy. You’re every bit as attractive—’

‘She fancies you!’ Emily’s voice rose. ‘She practically drools whenever she sees you.’

Jake studied her carefully. ‘You’re deadly serious, aren’t you?’

Emily said nothing. Her eyes ablaze, she simply stared at him.

Cold apprehension clutched his stomach. If she’d been comparing herself to Natasha, if this notion that he was having an affair with her, this resentment, had been simmering away inside her, then might she have … ‘Did you send that letter to Michael?’ he asked her. ‘A letter that contained private medical information that could easily have come from here. Did you send it, Emily?’

Her expression was a combination of shock and hurt. ‘What?’

‘The contents of that letter caused an argument that ended in physical violence,’ Jake pointed out, though he knew he didn’t need to, nor did he need to point out the consequences of patient information somehow being leaked. ‘If it did come from here, then I need to know.’

Emily eyed him furiously. ‘I can’t believe you just accused me of that,’ she fumed, pushing past him to yank the door open.

Me neither, Jake thought, his own temper dangerously close to spilling over. Breathing in hard, he turned to go after her.

‘She obviously spoke to you about the contents of the letter then,’ Emily threw over her shoulder.

‘I went to see her. Obviously she told me—’

‘I know. In a hotel,’ Emily hissed, striding out.

‘Emily …’ Jake stopped, realising they had an audience: Nicky, who was looking warily past Emily towards him; and Fran Nateman, their cleaner, who revelled in local gossip, embroidering it or even inventing it half the time, and who looked actually excited to be getting a juicy dollop to get her teeth into. There were also patients waiting, most of whom, obviously having heard raised voices, looked uncomfortably away. Also Sally, whose sympathetic frown accompanied by a heartfelt sigh made him feel uncomfortable.

Shit. Averting his gaze, he walked back to his office, trying to recall as he went what he and Emily had just said. Closing the door, his heart jolted when he realised that he’d as good as announced they were breaking patient confidentiality.

Christ. Once the village drums started beating, that would get around like greased lightning.

Eleven

Emily

Her professional smile fixed in place, Emily exited the toilets more composed than when she’d gone in. She wasn’t surprised to find Fran behind the reception desk, dusting being her excuse to natter to Tom, who’d obviously just arrived, and whom she would feel duty-bound to fill in on the gossip. All eyes swivelled in her direction and there was a sudden obvious silence as she approached.

‘Okay, Emily?’ Nicky asked, smiling tentatively as she went around to her desk.

‘Yes thanks, Nicky.’ Forcing a smile in return, Emily seated herself at her PC, behind which she hoped she might hide her embarrassment.

‘Morning,’ Tom said, his tone far too chipper and obviously determined to engage her in conversation. From the curious look on his face, Fran had obviously already told him about her argument with Jake and he was on a fishing expedition to find out more.

‘Morning, Tom,’ Emily replied, determined not to get drawn into conversation. She felt like running away, but she could hardly go home, setting an example to Nicky that relationship problems justified time off sick. In any case, the beautiful home she and Jake had built together wasn’t a place she particularly wanted to be right now. It would be too