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Rescuing Dr Macallister
Sarah Morgan
A&E nurse Ellie Harrison is immediately intrigued by the ruggedly handsome new doctor at Ambleside. Dr. Ben MacAllister is playing it cool but, the pace and excitement of the A&E department thrusts them together and reveals that Ben's growing attraction is as strong as hers.Then Ellie realises Ben has a secret that is holding him back, and she decides there is only one way to help him move on by offering herself as a distraction!
Ellie handed the baby back to her cousin
still misty-eyed from the experience
of the unexpected home delivery.
The baby was gorgeous.
Ben appeared in the doorway, his handsome features unsmiling. “How is she doing?”
Ellie smiled. “Come and see her, Ben. She’s beautiful!”
Was it her imagination or did his entire body tense?
“I need to make a phone call,” he said curtly. “Dress both of them warmly and I’ll meet you downstairs in five minutes.”
Ellie watched as he strode out of the room, wondering what on earth was wrong. Because something was wrong, she was sure of that.
Ben had saved the baby’s life—but now he was remote and untouchable again.
Dear Reader (#ulink_7b71ae41-6ed6-5195-9bd6-8aad98b905d0),
Perhaps you are driving home one evening when you spot a rotating flashing light or hear a siren. Instantly, your pulse quickens—it’s human nature. You can’t help responding to these signals that there is an emergency somewhere close by.
Heartbeat, romances being published in North America for the first time, brings you the fast-paced kinds of stories that trigger responses to life-and-death situations. The heroes and heroines whose lives you will share in this exciting series of books devote themselves to helping others, to saving lives, to caring. And while they are devotedly doing what they do best, they manage to fall in love!
Since these books are largely set in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand, and mainly written by authors who reside in those countries, the medical terms originally used may be unfamiliar to North American readers. Because we wanted to ensure that you enjoyed these stories as thoroughly as possible, we’ve taken a few special measures. Within the stories themselves, we have substituted American terms for British ones we felt would be very unfamiliar to you. And we’ve also included in these books a short glossary of terms that we’ve left in the stories, so as not to disturb their authenticity, but that you might wonder about.
So prepare to feel your heart beat a little faster! You’re about to experience love when life is on the line!
Yours sincerely,
Marsha Zinberg,
Executive Editor, Harlequin Books
SARAH MORGAN trained as a nurse and has since worked in a variety of health-related jobs. Married to a gorgeous businessman who still makes her knees knock, she spends most of her time trying to keep up with their two little boys but manages to sneak off occasionally to indulge her passion for writing romance. Sarah loves outdoor life and is an enthusiastic skier and walker. Whatever she is doing, her head is always full of new characters and she is addicted to happy endings.
CONTENTS
COVER (#ua3532683-85ab-5e05-a1b8-5a249b90a011)
BACK COVER TEXT (#ucc6bc503-febd-5b8a-8412-3c03a86895a6)
Dear Reader (#ulink_d573a5e5-a07a-574a-a2b0-c182737444a0)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (#u3ccc8c93-0a5a-5cfb-85c2-a41139c47764)
TITLE PAGE (#ua09f3c9f-789e-5754-a16a-90b7bd6643b8)
PROLOGUE (#ulink_8c335fec-66bd-5feb-8b29-730463b53b7e)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_97794c76-70c9-5456-bede-94fa3a318f4d)
CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_53b93f49-66c1-5308-9025-3f929b76dd5d)
CHAPTER THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
GLOSSARY (#litres_trial_promo)
COPYRIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
Rescuing Dr MacAllister
Sarah Morgan
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
PROLOGUE (#ulink_367c6726-ce35-5c35-a566-48223bef429e)
HE HATED hospitals.
Ben MacAllister stared at the bold red sign for the Accident and Emergency unit and wondered what on earth had possessed him to take the job. It had been a moment of weakness and one which he was already bitterly regretting.
What the hell had he been thinking of?
He could have stayed in the clinic in Pakistan where they were desperate for doctors with his skills, or he could have done what he’d been promising himself for ages and taken a year off and travelled.
In fact, he’d had any number of options, all of which were considerably more appealing than the one that he’d chosen.
With an impatient sigh, he strode across the car park to the entrance. If he didn’t get himself inside the building soon he’d be climbing back into the car and driving back the way he’d come.
Forcing himself to move, he strode through the swing doors and stopped dead as the memories came rushing back. The smells, the noise, the bustle...
That one awful day that had changed his life.
Sweat broke out on his brow and he gritted his teeth to stop himself running.
This was never going to work.
He was about to turn and go back the way he’d come when his oldest friend came striding through the swing doors towards him, a stethoscope looped round his neck like a tame serpent.
‘Ben—great to see you!’
‘Nicholson.’ He clasped the hand that was offered, aware that his brief chance for escape had vanished. ‘How are you?’
‘Relieved to see you.’ Sean Nicholson shot a telling glance towards the crowded waiting room. ‘Where do they all come from? I’m trying to run this department with zero staff at the moment so you’re as welcome as alcohol on a stag night. Let’s go to my office and talk.’
Ben reluctantly kept pace as the other man led him down the corridor into a small office which over-looked the car park and the mountains beyond.
Sean waved a hand at a chair buried under a mound of papers. ‘Move those files and sit down.’
‘I’d rather stand.’ Ben paced over to the window and stared outside, feeling some of the tension in his body dissipate as he stared at the snow-capped mountains. It always soothed him to be in the mountains. It was a reminder that there was a world outside if things got too bad within the hospital. ‘Nice view.’
Sean smiled. ‘Being the senior consultant comes with some perks. It’s not the Himalayas, but we like it.’ His smile faded. ‘You stayed away too long. You look like hell, MacAllister.’
‘Thanks.’ He should have been offended by Sean’s blunt comment, but he wasn’t. After all, it was true. He did look like hell.
And he didn’t want to be here. It wasn’t going to work.
Sean’s voice was rough but there was sympathy in his blue eyes. ‘You needed to come back, Ben, and you know it.’
‘Is that what this is all about? Rehabilitation?’ Ben’s tone was weary and his mouth tightened. ‘When you called, you told me that you were desperate for doctors.’
‘I am desperate,’ Sean said calmly. ‘You have no idea just how desperate I am. I’m trying to run a department on fresh air at the moment. Having you here helps alleviate the problem and it makes my wife feel better.’
The expression in Ben’s eyes softened slightly at the mention of Sean’s wife. ‘How is Ally?’
‘Worried about you,’ Sean said frankly. ‘She wants you close by so that she can help.’
Ben’s expression was unreadable. ‘So basically you’re interfering?’
‘Well, it’s time someone did.’ Sean met his accusing gaze head on. ‘It’s been two years, Ben.’
‘And what’s that supposed to mean?’ Ben’s eyes glittered dangerously. ‘Is two years some sort of magic figure? Am I supposed to feel better just because it’s been two years?’
Sean sighed. ‘No. But it’s time you stopped running.’ He hesitated. ‘And maybe it’s time you talked about what happened.’
‘Why the hell would I want to do that?’
Sean looked him in the eye. ‘Because sometimes it helps to talk?’
Ben threw back his head and laughed. ‘That’s rich, coming from you! When have you ever talked about your feelings?’
Sean rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. ‘I talk to Ally.’
Ben lifted an eyebrow. ‘You’re offering to lend me your wife?’
‘I’m offering to lend you her listening skills. Ally wants you to come and spend some time with us.’
Ben’s mouth tightened. ‘You can tell Ally not to meddle.’ But he knew she meant well. He was very fond of Sean’s wife who was mature and sensible and knew exactly what she wanted out of life.
Unlike some women.
‘You can tell her yourself,’ Sean said crisply. ‘She wants you to come to dinner as soon as you’re settled in.’
Ben digested this information. ‘Don’t tell me— she’s inviting a spare woman?’
Sean fiddled with some papers on his desk and avoided eye contact. ‘I’m not involved with the guest list. I just turn up and eat the food.’
‘Sean!’ Ben’s tone held a warning note and Sean sighed and raked a hand through his hair.
‘All right, there’s a possibility that she’s match-making...’
‘Possibility?’
Sean shifted uncomfortably. ‘Probability. You know Ally.’ He gave a shrug. ‘It doesn’t mean anything.’
Ben gritted his teeth. He had no intention of being set up. ‘Forget it.’
Sean sighed. ‘It’s only dinner! Dinner, and one available woman to talk to. It’s not as if you hate women—or are you trying to tell me that you’ve been celibate for the past two years?’
Ben chose to ignore that question.
‘I’m not interested.’
‘Oh, come on!’ Sean gave a disbelieving look. ‘I knew you in medical school remember? Women get cricked necks when you pass them in the street. You had more girlfriends than—’
‘That was a long time ago.’ Ben interrupted him with a grim expression on his face. ‘Things have changed.’
He’d changed.
Sean’s look spoke volumes. ‘You’re seriously trying to tell me that you haven’t been with a woman for two years?’
Ben’s dark brows settled into an ominous frown. ‘What business is that of yours?’
‘I’m your friend,’ Sean reminded him, ‘and I want to see you get your life back together. Maybe it would help to meet a decent woman and—’
‘Sean, listen to me.’ Ben’s voice was tired. ‘I know you think women solve everything, but in my case you’re wrong. My life is fine and I’m certainly not a good deal for any decent woman.’
Sean looked genuinely bemused. ‘Well, why the hell not? According to Ally, you’re stunningly good-looking—’ He broke off as he considered the implications of what he’d just said. ‘I grilled her over that, by the way. I’m not at all keen on the fact my wife freely admits to finding you irresistible.’ He shook himself slightly. ‘Anyway, that aside, apparently you’re the original macho action man and women love that, you’ve got money, you—’
‘I never realised you felt this way about me.’ Ben’s tone was dry and his friend waved a hand.
