Doctor January by Rhoda Baxter Page B

‘Are you back for good?’ she asked, wishing ardently that’s he’d given up on the US and decided to come back to her. Where he belonged.
    â€˜I’m back for a few months. Got seconded to a lab here. Cool, huh?’
    Hallelujah! A few months wasn’t as good as forever, but it was better than nothing. ‘Can we go somewhere a little quieter?’ Gordon cast a disapproving glance at the table where the rest of the gang were sitting. He leaned closer. ‘Who are these guys anyway? They’re not the usual lo— guys from the lab.’
    Beth remembered why she was wearing her coat. ‘I need to get back to the lab. I’ve got to take some photos.’ Oh no – Hibs. He was expecting to walk her back.
    â€˜At this time of night?’
    â€˜It’s a long story. Come on. I don’t want to miss my time point.’ She struggled out of his arms and made for the door. Hibs would understand. He would just move on and find someone else to chat up, like he always did. Harmless flirting. That was all it had been. She would apologise to him later. Maybe buy her way back into his good books with cake. Cake usually worked with Hibs.
    â€˜How did you know I’d be here?’ she asked, over her shoulder.
    â€˜I tried the lab and your place; you weren’t there. Where else would you be?’
    Which just went to show how little life she had when Gordon wasn’t around.
    As she hurried out she caught sight of Hibs staring at her and Gordon, scowling like fury. She gave him an apologetic smile. He was going to give her a hard time about Gordon. He never did get on with him.
    Hibs stared after Beth as she and Gordon disappeared. What the hell had just happened? He had emerged from the loo to see Beth standing in the middle of the pub snogging Gordon the Git.
    He felt like he’d been kneed in the stomach. Where had he come from? Things had been going so well with Beth. It looked like there was a real possibility of something happening that evening. For the first time ever she’d noticed him as something other than a friend, and then that fuckwit had somehow materialised to ruin everything. He wanted to run after them and tear him away from her. He wanted to—
    â€˜So, who was that?’ A voice interrupted his furious thoughts.
    Hibs returned to surroundings. ‘What?’ He found Anna standing next to him, her hands in her back pockets, breasts thrust out towards him.
    â€˜That guy who just kissed Beth. Let me guess … it was Gordon.’
    â€˜What happened?’ he said. ‘I thought she was going to the lab.’
    â€˜She said she was setting off because you were taking too long and then this bloke walks up to her and kisses her.’ Anna looked thoughtfully at the door. ‘It was quite romantic in a weird sort of way.’
    â€˜He just grabbed her and kissed her? Just like that?’
    Anna nodded, grinning at him. ‘I can show you how, if you like.’
    Hibs stared at her and suddenly realised how annoyed he must look. His gaze took in his karate students, who were whispering amongst themselves, and Vik, who was watching him carefully. He couldn’t lose his cool in front of them. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘Gordon rubs me up the wrong way, that’s all.’
    â€˜I get it.’ Anna put a hand on his arm. ‘I could rub you the other way, if it would help you feel better.’
    Hibs tried to focus on her. There was no doubting he was in there. Anna raised her cute eyebrows at him and winked.
    â€˜Anna, I’m sorry. I don’t really need a relationship right now.’
    Anna shrugged. ‘Excellent.’ She slid a hand over his shoulder. ‘That makes two of us.’
    What the hell. It wasn’t as though he was going to get a better offer. He forced a smile. ‘I need to spend a bit more time with my friends,’ he said. ‘You’re welcome to