Doctor's Delight(30)

But if that was so, he wouldn’t have told her he was going to be her lover. That kind of statement wasn’t letting someone down gently. That was giving hope.

Hope? Cherry tripped over a broken piece of pavement and quickly regained her balance. Hope? Did she feel hope?

Coming to stop in the middle of the pavement, she stared unseeingly into the nearby park. Sure, she had hope that one day some man might find her desirable, some man who would accept her, generous curves and all. Some man who would see past her physical appearance and know that she was a nice person, that she had a lot of love to give the right man.

That man couldn’t be Rick Reed. No way. Granted, he was everything a woman dreamed of in a man – well, apart from the startling caveman attitude – but not the kind of man she’d ever imagined would be interested in her.

But he had certainly seemed interested. He’d come to her house, he’d kissed her, he’d told her he’d be back to…a shiver curled right through her, from the tips of her toes to the top of her head before clutching low in her loins…ravish her.

Could a man like Rick really say something like that and not mean it? Could he be that cruel to play her along? He certainly didn’t seem that kind of man, he was no juvenile with cruel intentions. Not that she really knew him, but one could never be certain about everyone.

Still musing, she returned her attention to the pavement in front of her and started walking. Hearing a familiar voice, she glanced up and came to a dead stop. Not far from her was parked a dark blue BMW and beside it stood a tall, slim, blonde woman she recognized as Annabelle Forbes. Facing her was Rick. He was speaking very quietly, so none of his words could be heard from far. Even as Cherry watched, Annabelle reached up and laid one hand on his cheek. Rick also reached up, taking her hand and curling his fingers around hers, lowering that elegant hand to hold it in his as he continued talking.

Cherry shattered inside. Her heart dipped, her stomach lurched, and she felt the world tilt a little. Turning around, she hastily took the pathway leading into the park, moving quickly so that she could be hidden by the tall hedges.

“You idiot,” she muttered. “You fat, foolish, idiot.”

Rick Reed was meeting with the slim, gorgeous Annabelle Forbes. He wasn’t interested in Cherry, or only as a side fling. Screw the chubby chick for laughs, but concentrate on the beautiful and slim for the ever after.

“Hey, hippo!” A young male voice rang out. “Move your fat arse out of the way!”

She leaped aside and a bicycle went whizzing by, a lanky young teenager on it and his two friends following fast behind.

The last youth turned around and flipped her his middle finger. “Go home, fatso! Hide your fat arse! You’re hurting my eyes!”

They laughed cruelly and disappeared around a curve in the path.

Slowly, Cherry recommenced walking. Every hope in the day had leeched out, every secret enjoyment of the masterful kiss and words that Rick had given and spoken fading away under a haze of hurt. Normally she could shrug off biting words, but right now those cruel words from the thoughtless youths raked deep.

Reaching up, she wasn’t really surprised to find a tear on her cheek. It had been a long time since she’d cried. Seemed like the drought was over.

“Oh, my dear.” Cherry glanced back to see an elderly woman behind her. The withered hand reached up and touched her shoulder, concern in the wise old eyes looking up at her. “Ignorance is the bane of youth,” the woman said softly. “You’re a lovely soul, my dear. I can see it in your eyes.”

“I’m all right.” Cherry smiled, feeling it wobble on her lips. “Thanks.” She left fast before any more tears could fall.

The old lady called out to her but Cherry kept going, not wanting to break down and cry in front of her. She was horrified at the lump in her throat. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Stupid to cry when she knew those teenagers were simply ignorant, when she knew she was worth so much more. But something had broken through her little wall and now the dam was threatening to overflow, and she didn’t know why.

Yes, she did know.

Rick Reed, his words, his kisses, and his betrayal.

It was time to forget about him and everyone else and head for the sanctuary of her home and her beloved cats who loved her and didn’t care what she looked like.

Swinging out of the nearby gate near the taxi rank, she started back down the pavement only to be drawn to a halt by a now very familiar and unwanted voice calling her name.

Horrified, she looked around to see Rick hurrying up the pathway, his face concerned – yeah, right! – and standing not far behind him was the little old lady. Cherry was going to die of embarrassment, she just knew the elderly woman had told Rick what had been said, and now he was coming.