Free Return of Dr Maguire (Mills & Boon Medical) by Judy Campbell Page B

enjoyed her weekly workout at the gym, which her friend Richie had converted from one of the little warehouses off the main road. She admired Richie so much—he had been a ski instructor in the Cairngorms during the winter, but after a bad accident had had to give that up. After that he had trained to become a personal trainer, and had set up this small business. Gradually he was building up his clientele.
    ‘Now a final exercise for those abdominals!’ he shouted. ‘Touching the floor with the heels as you air-bicycle for twenty... Good, good—and stop! Now a good stretch against the bars and then you can put the kettle on!’
    Eight pairs of legs collapsed back on the floor and there was a general gasp of relief.
    ‘You worked us hard tonight, Richie,’ protested Christa, wiping her forehead. ‘I’m so out of condition!’
    ‘That’s because you’ve missed a few weeks,’ said Richie mock-sternly. ‘I know you’ve been run off your feet, but no excuses now because I hear you’ve Isobel’s son to help!’
    ‘Yes, thank God. He starts properly on Monday—such a relief.’ She smiled at Richie and looked around the gym, which seemed quite crowded. ‘You seem to have more people here since I was here last. Things going well?’
    Richie pulled a face and rotated his hands. ‘So, so. At the moment I feel I’m just about making a breakthrough. But I’ve heard rumours about a new development...’
    ‘When did you hear that?’ asked Christa, amazed that what had apparently just been an idea of Lachlan’s should be almost common knowledge so quickly. Hard to keep any secrets in a small place like Errin Bridge!
    ‘The builder who adapted this place for me said that all the land around your medical centre could be sold off for a leisure centre and holiday complex, even a golf course! Can you imagine what that could do to a little place like this? I’ve invested quite a bit of money in it...’ His voice trailed off, but Christa got his drift.
    She looked at Richie’s worried face with concern. ‘It’s not set in stone, is it, though?’
    ‘Hopefully not. But I couldn’t possibly compete with that sort of thing so close.’ He sighed heavily. ‘It’s not something I want to think about, especially now Ruth is expecting our first baby.’
    Christa was filled with sympathy for a guy who had tried so hard to turn his life round after his accident and the numerous operations he’d had to mend his hips. She tried to think of some positives. ‘But surely that sort of place would be much more expensive than coming here. The subs would be huge.’
    Richie shrugged. ‘I’ve no doubt they’d hold out a carrot for a special opening offer. Anyway...’ he straightened his shoulders and gave a wan smile ‘...I’m damned if I’ll give in—I’ll just have to try and attract more people somehow!’
    ‘Good for you, Richie. I’ll certainly try and get my friends to come, and some of my patients could definitely do with the exercise! It may never happen anyway.’
    Christa went into the changing room, feeling slightly depressed for Richie and more than ever determined to try and convince Lachlan that his plans could adversely affect a great many people in the village.
    She slung her old warm jacket over her shoulders and changed her shoes, deciding that she’d have a shower at home as there was a queue to use it in the cloakroom. She flicked a look at herself in the mirror and pulled a face—hair like a bird’s nest and a face like a tomato! What a marked contrast to the photos round the walls of various celebrities apparently having just finished a punishing routine and looking neat and glowing.
    Alice, one of the practice receptionists, had also been to the class. She saw Christa glancing at the photos and grinned. ‘There’s been a bit of airbrushing on those photos! How else do you think the girls in keep-fit DVDs manage to look so cool and glamorous after forty minutes’ punishment without some