Resisting Her Army Doc Rival. Sue MacKay

in to have teeth removed.’ Now she’d really crank up the questions.

      ‘One of those waiting outside earlier? I thought you said they weren’t allowed in very often.’

      ‘There are exceptions. Especially with children.’

      ‘I’m glad.’ Her hand hovered over her stomach. ‘Kids shouldn’t be denied treatment because of the adult world around them.’

      ‘Agreed.’ He took a long breath, pushed aside thoughts of children and babies, especially those he’d once hoped he might have with a special woman he could give his heart to. When Maddy opened her mouth he rushed to close her down before she said something that might have him saying things he told no one. ‘You like kids?’

      That hand flattened hard against her belly. The fingers whitened they were so tense. ‘Adore them.’ Her voice quivered.

      Why? What was going on? Things weren’t adding up. Earlier she’d been terrified of smoke that hadn’t been smoke, now there was a distinct hint of sadness in her expression. ‘So do I,’ Sam commented, still wondering if Madison had problems at home. There were no rings on her fingers. Her surname hadn’t changed. ‘You haven’t married or got into a full-time relationship?’ he asked, oh, so casually, so as not to wind her up.

      ‘Divorced and single,’ she muttered after a long minute contemplating the wall behind him.

      He hadn’t realised he’d been holding his breath until he heard those words. Would’ve been better if she was hooked up with someone. Then he’d be able to laugh at this annoying sense of wanting to get closer to her. He’d never step on another man’s patch. What did that matter when he had no intention of having a relationship at all? ‘I’m sorry to hear that. About the divorce, I mean,’ he added quickly, in case she misinterpreted his comment.

      ‘So was I. At the time.’ Then she winced. No doubt thinking she’d said far too much about herself. ‘Shall we go and see if we can help Jock?’

      ‘Sure.’ The boy did not need three doctors but Sam needed to get back on track with keeping away from Maddy, and she, he suspected, needed a diversion after revealing something so painful. The divorce must’ve been something she hadn’t wanted. Had she got over it? For her sake, he hoped so. Wasting life pining for what might’ve been would be a shame, thought the expert at it.