Sure enough, that’s where she found Shea. Annie almost pulled her into a hug, but then she remembered they weren’t huggers. Shea just shook her head and followed through. Somehow, Annie wasn’t surprised when her friend and Tucker shook hands.
“So much is happening,” Annie said, trembling with excitement.
“A lot of construction. We’re sending the pregnant mares to the Sundance for the time being. Too much noise.”
“How are you doing, Shea?” Tucker asked. “Is Safe Haven keeping you too busy? You know I can hire someone to come out here full-time.”
“I’m fine, but I was hoping we’d take a look at hiring Kathy and Levi. I think they’d like the work, and could use the money.”
Annie grinned. “That’s a wonderful idea.”
“Now what’s all this about you starting a Safe Haven in Dallas?” It was Melanie.
Annie and Tucker turned to find her taking off her gloves as she walked into the stable.
“Yep. Tucker’s dedicated two hundred acres of Rocking B land for the new sanctuary. We’re designing it from the ground up. It’ll be a teaching facility, as well. Just like here.”
Melanie gave her hand a squeeze. “We miss you.”
“I know. I miss you guys, too.”
“We’re not leaving the planet,” Tucker said. “I do have a plane.”
“Can it hold a horse?”
“No. But I’m going to build a landing strip on the edge of the property so that we can start an animal rescue co-op in central Texas.”
“How long are you staying?” Shea asked.
“Just a couple of days.” Annie pulled Tucker closer, and relaxed as his arm went around her waist.
“We’re going to visit Annie’s folks for a bit.”
“You haven’t seen them yet?”
He shook his head. “We did. But things were more unsettled then. They need a chance to get reacquainted.”
“And to give him a proper third degree,” Annie said.
“Well, as long as we have a couple of days with you, why don’t you two saddle up and come see what’s what?” Shea asked. “Nothing like seeing your dollars at work with your own two eyes, right, Tucker?”
He looked at Annie. She knew he was beat and so was she. They’d really intended to rest when they arrived. She shrugged. “I guess I’m not capable of saying no when I’m here. You can go on inside if you like, and we can ride again tomorrow.”
“Oh, no,” he said. “We’ll sleep in New Jersey.”
She kissed him, right in front of Shea and Melanie and all the horses in the stable. “Don’t count on it.”
Sydney Harbour Hospital: Marco’s Temptation
Fiona McArthur
Sydney Harbour Hospital: Ava’s Re-Awakening
Carol Marinelli
Sydney Harbour Hospital: Evie’s Bombshell
Amy Andrews
Sydney Harbour Hospital: Marco’s Temptation
Fiona McArthur
A mother to five sons, FIONA MCARTHUR is an Australian midwife who loves to write. Medical Romance gives Fiona the scope to write about all the wonderful aspects of adventure, romance, medicine and midwifery that she feels so passionate about—as well as an excuse to travel! Now that her boys are older, Fiona and her husband Ian are off to meet new people, see new places, and have wonderful adventures.
Fiona’s website is at www.fionamcarthur.com.
To Flo, who went above and beyond to help me do justice to Marco.
Looking forward to more journeys with glee, Fi. xx
MARCO D’ARVELLO paused in a pool of sunlight on the suspended walkway and watched the boats in Sydney Harbour. Not your usual view from a hospital corridor. He hoped to do more than just observe this country before he had to leave, but once this last client was seen he was booked up with all the surgery he could manage before he moved on.
That was how he liked it.
His attention returned to the consultant’s referral in his hand. ‘Foetal urinary obstruction.’ Should be a fairly simple scope and shunt, he mused as he pushed open the door to his temporary rooms. The lack of waiting-room chairs meant his patients had to wait in his office. It wasn’t really ideal but the view was worth it.
‘Buongiorno, Marlise.’
His borrowed secretary blushed. ‘Good morning, Dr D’Arvello.’
‘Please, you must call me Marco.’ He perched on the edge of her desk, oblivious to the flutter he caused, and peered across at her computer screen. ‘Has Miss Cooper arrived?’
Marlise sucked in her stomach and pointed one manicured figure at the screen. ‘Yes. About ten minutes ago.’
‘Bene.’ No time for dawdling. He hated tardiness himself.
When Marco strode through his door the view of the harbour and his nebulous thoughts of probable intra-uterine surgery paled into the background as Miss Cooper’s smooth bob swung towards him.
Bellissima! The sun danced on the molten highlights of her hair like the boats on the waves outside, and emerald eyes, direct and calm against his suddenly dazed scrutiny, stared back at him as he crossed the room and held out his hand.
She shifted the big handbag on her lap and a smaller one as well, and stood up. Two bags? He forgot the bags, focussed on the slender hand in front of his, and remembered to breathe. Her fingers were cool and firm and he forced himself to let them slide from his grasp.
Her face. Serenity, wisdom, yet vulnerable? How could that be? She was older than he had expected, perhaps late twenties, maybe early thirties, the perfect age, and where she hid her baby he did not know, but she certainly had that gorgeous pregnant glow about her.
Marco consulted his notes to give time to assemble his scattered thoughts but he only grew more confused. Twenty-six weeks’ gestation? ‘You don’t look very … um … pregnant.’ Hell. Say something unprofessional, why don’t you?
Emily Cooper blinked. They hadn’t told her the new hotshot O and G consultant exuded raw magnetism like a roving gypsy king. Hair too long, too dark, windswept, and gorgeous velvety brown eyes that made her want to melt into the hospital carpet.
Her have another baby? If she could make her mouth work it’d better not laugh. ‘I’m not pregnant.’ Once was enough, she thought.
She hadn’t had a relationship in who knew how long. Her shaky legs suggested she sit, but once safely down she felt like a sex-starved midget with him towering over her. But it wasn’t only that, it was the whole broad-shouldered, ‘span your waist with his big hands’ thing that was happening. A random ‘if I was going to have sex it would have to be with someone like him’