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Daredevil, Doctor...Husband?
Alison Roberts
Falling for her daredevil doc… Summer Pearson thinks she knows all about daredevil paramedic Dr. Zac Mitchell–his playboy antics are the talk of the town! But in fact he's the total opposite…and utterly irresistible!Zac was expecting a warm welcome from pint-size Summer Pearson, yet all he's got so far is winter. But when buttoned-up Summer finally lets him in she captivates Zac in ways no woman has done before.So when Summer's past finally comes knocking can Zac convince her that he's here to stay?
Praise for Alison Roberts (#ulink_a0e58ea5-b6a9-5270-a2bd-ce0db072cff2)
‘Readers will be moved by this incredibly sweet story about a family that is created in the most unexpected way.’
—RT Book Reviews on
The Honourable Maverick
‘I had never read anything by Alison Roberts prior to reading Twins for Christmas, but after reading this enchanting novella I shall certainly add her name to my auto-buy list!’
—CataRomance
‘Would you like to come in for a drink or something?’
Summer turned her head as well, and suddenly their faces were too close. She could see the genuine warmth of that invitation in his eyes.
What was the ‘something’ on offer as well as a drink?
Whatever it was, she wanted it. The attraction was as strong as it was unexpected. She could feel the curl of it deep in her belly. A delicious cramp that eased into tendrils and floated right down to her toes.
She’d been fighting this from the moment she’d first seen the man this morning, hadn’t she?
He was—quite simply—gorgeous…
She couldn’t look away. Couldn’t find anything to say. All she could do was stare at those dark eyes. Feel the puff of his breath on her face. Notice the dark stubble on his jaw and how soft it made his lips look…
Dear Reader (#ulink_94d58fe7-64a8-539b-9b2c-7fdafeedf461),
Sometimes my inspiration for a story comes from something tiny that I see or hear that strikes a chord and keeps resurfacing.
About two years ago I moved from my earthquake-damaged home of the last thirty years in Christchurch to come to New Zealand’s biggest city: Auckland. I chose to live on the north side of the harbour bridge and found myself living within walking distance of a beach for the first time in my life. A very beautiful beach—Takapuna.
On a warm night last summer I was on the beach, looking out over a sea as calm as a huge swimming pool, enjoying the silhouette of the volcanic island of Rangitoto, when I saw something that was one of those tiny things: a paddle boarder, quite a long way offshore, who had a big dog along for the ride, lying on the end of his board. It tugged at my heartstrings to recognise the bond they clearly had, and it made me smile every time I remembered.
So that was my starting point. Now come and meet my heroine, Summer, who has a dog called Flint who rides on her board. You’ll get to spend some time on Takapuna Beach, too, where my gorgeous hero Zac is lucky enough to live. The sea isn’t always calm, of course. And what happens between Zac and Summer isn’t either…
Happy reading!
Love
Alison xxx
ALISON ROBERTS lives in Auckland, New Zealand, and has written over sixty Mills & Boon
Medical Romance™ books. As a qualified paramedic she has personal experience of the drama and emotion to be found in the world of medical professionals, and loves to weave stories with this rich background—especially when they can have a happy ending.
When Alison is not writing you’ll find her indulging her passion for dancing or spending time with her friends (including Molly the dog) and her daughter Becky, who has grown up to become a brilliant artist. She also loves to travel, hates housework, and considers it a triumph when the flowers outnumber the weeds in her garden.
Daredevil,
Doctor…
Husband?
Alison Roberts
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Table of Contents
Cover (#u3e7784d2-de9f-54e2-8feb-54120ff07da8)
Praise for Alison Roberts (#uffd73cb9-59a7-50b5-9a66-94caae6d0601)
Excerpt (#u2e1de2b8-5892-52ba-91e2-5298f9350f1f)
Dear Reader (#u95eaf660-507a-5e7b-874d-8bf03036ccc9)
About the Author (#u91f9c586-b050-544b-91b1-1fcbda26b1bb)
Title Page (#ub257fb75-fe4e-501b-83e6-983a9ee90ce9)
CHAPTER ONE (#ufd7351d7-f2e0-519f-94de-0d7eaa830b06)
CHAPTER TWO (#u7930186b-426f-5968-8ba8-11de4c262521)
CHAPTER THREE (#ubec0e112-d977-5249-b585-8a5d3919e3f5)
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)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#ulink_6e3ede1a-229b-56b5-a87c-8e17bca31e5d)
HE WAS NOTHING like what she’d expected.
Well, the fact that he was tall, dark and ridiculously good-looking was no surprise for someone who’d been considered the most eligible doctor at Auckland General Hospital a couple of years ago but Summer Pearson had good reason to believe this man was a total bastard. A monster, even.
And monsters weren’t supposed to have warm brown eyes and a smile that could light up an entire room. Maybe she’d made an incorrect assumption when she’d been given the name of her extra crew for the shift.
‘Dr Mitchell?’
‘That’s me.’
‘Zac Mitchell?’
‘Yep. My gran still calls me Isaac, mind you. She doesn’t hold with names being messed around with. She’s an iceberg lettuce kind of girl, you know? You won’t find any of those new-fangled fancy baby mesclun leaves in one of her salads because that’s another thing that shouldn’t get messed with.’
Good grief…he was telling her about his granny? And there was sheer mischief in those dark eyes. Salad greens and names were clearly only a couple of the many things Zac was more than happy to mess around with. Summer could feel her eyes narrowing as the confirmation of her suspicions became inevitable.
‘And you used to work in Auckland? In A&E?’
‘Sure did. I’ve spent the last couple of years in the UK, though. As the permanent doctor on shift for the busiest helicopter rescue service in the country.’
The base manager, Graham, came into the duty room, an orange flight suit draped over his arm.
‘Found one in your size, Zac. And here’s a tee shirt, too. I see you’ve met Summer?’
‘Ah…we hadn’t got as far as a proper introduction.’
Because she’d been grilling him like a prosecution lawyer in a courtroom—making sure of the identity of the accused before firing the real ammunition? Summer felt her cheeks getting pink.
‘Sorry,’ she muttered. ‘I’m Summer Pearson. Intensive Care Paramedic. I’ve been with the rescue service for nearly three years now.’
‘I’ve heard a lot about you.’ An eyebrow lifted and his tone dropped a notch. ‘And it was all good.’
No…was he trying to flirt with her?
I’ve heard a lot about you, too. And none of it was good…
Pretending she hadn’t heard the compliment, Summer turned to Graham. ‘I’ll do the usual orientation while we’re quiet, shall I?’
A groan came from the doorway as another man entered the room. ‘Oh, no…did she just say the Q word?’
‘She did.’ Graham shook his head. ‘What’s your guess?’
‘Eight minutes.’
‘I’ll give it six.’ Graham grinned at Zac. ‘Running bet on how long till a job comes in after someone says the Q word. Worst performer of the week restocks the beer fridge. Meet Monty, Zac—one of our pilots.’
The men shook hands. Then they all looked at Summer and she tried to erase the expression that felt remarkably like a scowl from her face.
‘Three minutes,’ she offered reluctantly. Wishful thinking, maybe, but how good would it be if what was likely to be a complicated winch job came in and an untrained doctor had to be left on base in favour of experienced crewmen? ‘So I guess we’d better get started on the orientation.’
‘Just show him where everything is,’ Graham said. ‘Zac, here, is the most highly trained doctor we’ve ever had joining us. Fully winch trained. He’s done HUET and he’s even part way through his pilot’s training.’
Summer could feel the scowl creeping back. She refused to be impressed but it was difficult. Helicopter Underwater Escape Training was not something for the faint-hearted.
Zac was shrugging off the praise. ‘I’m passionate about emergency medicine, that’s all. And the challenge of being on the front line is a lot more exciting than working inside a controlled environment like an emergency department. Maybe I haven’t really grown up yet, and that keeps me chasing adventures.’
Immaturity was no excuse for anything. It certainly didn’t mitigate ruining someone’s life and then walking away. Summer tried to catch Graham’s eye. Could she tell him she really wasn’t comfortable working with this new team member?
She didn’t get the chance. The strident signal from the on-base communication system told them a job had come in.
Monty checked his watch. ‘Two minutes, ten seconds. You win, Summer.’
She picked up her helmet and jammed it on her head. She didn’t feel as if she’d won anything at all.
She was nothing like what he’d expected.
Well, she was small. No more than about five foot four at a guess. Her head barely reached his shoulder and that was including the spikes of her short blonde hair. Pocket rocket, his ED colleagues had told him. But don’t be fooled. She’s as tough as. And one of the best paramedics in the business.
But they’d also told him she was Summer by name and sunny by nature. And that she was great fun to work with. You’re a lucky man, they’d said.
He’d been expecting summer and he’d got winter instead. Funny, but he didn’t feel that lucky.
Or maybe he did. Here he was in a chopper again and he hadn’t realised how much he was missing the excitement of being airborne and heading for the unknown. Not only that, he was doing it over the sparkling blue waters of his home town instead of the grey British skies he’d become so familiar with. And they were heading for even more spectacular scenery on the far side of the Coromandel Peninsula—one of his most favourite places on earth.
‘Car’s over a bank,’ he heard through the speakers built into his helmet. ‘On the 309, between the Kauri grove and Waiau Falls. Ambulance and fire service are on scene.’
‘The 309’s still a gravel road, I presume?’
‘You know it?’ Monty sounded surprised.
‘Spent most of my childhood holidays on the Coromandel. I’m into water sports.’
‘Talk to Summer.’ Monty chuckled. ‘Queen of the paddleboard, she is.’
Zac would have been happy to do exactly that but it only took a glance to see that she had no desire to chat. Her face was turned away and she gave the impression of finding the view too fascinating to resist.
She still looked small, with the wide straps of her harness across her chest. The helmet looked too big for her head and while someone might be excused for getting the impression of a child playing dress-up, they’d only need to see her profile to sense a very adult level of focus and…what was it…judgement?
Yeah…He felt as if he’d been tried and judged and the verdict had not been favourable.
But he’d never even met the woman before today so what was he being judged on?
Was she some kind of control freak, perhaps, who didn’t appreciate having someone on board who had a medical authority higher than hers? Or did she require confirmation that a newcomer’s ability was what it appeared to be on paper?
Fair enough.
What wasn’t acceptable was making said newcomer feel less than welcome. Undesirable, even.
