Will wanted her. That knowledge gave Meg power.
Hell, she was an adult. There were no stars in her eyes anymore; Graeme had extinguished them. Will had told her he had no plans to marry, no plans for a long-term relationship. Even if he’d changed his mind, he wouldn’t choose her. She couldn’t give him a child and he wanted a family.
But this wasn’t about happy families, she knew that.
This was reality. This was unmistakeable lust.
She had needs like any other woman. She’d just survived a plane crash. Life was fickle and unreliable. She wanted him and now she was certain he wanted her. And damn it, this time she was taking what she wanted, even if it was only for a day and a night.
There is certain magic about the Victorian high country in southern Australia: the towering mountain ash trees soar straight to the sky; the Southern Cross constellation sparkles in a clear starry night; and craggy snow-lined winter peaks stand proud. All of this is overlaid by the romance of the bush horsemen in The Man from Snowy River.
I am a keen skier and have been visiting the Australian Alps for many years. Each year someone gets lost and rescuers go into the rugged terrain to safely escort the person out.
This got me thinking about a book that included an alpine rescue, and I imagined my hero and heroine being part of the rescue team. But then a dear friend, Judith Lyons, turned that idea around by saying, “What if the hero and heroine needed rescuing?”
I took that idea and pushed it further. What if you just met someone and experienced a life-and-death situation? How would that impact the relationship?
In everyday circumstances Will and Meg were unlikely to meet. She is a country girl and he is a member of society’s A-list. Both had battered hearts from previous relationships and neither were looking for love.
But the high society knew better and it wove its magic over Will and Meg.
I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Love,
Fiona
Her Miracle Baby
Fiona Lowe
To Carolyn for her lasting friendship and her amazing medical facts!
Special thanks go to:
Lee, a wonderful pilot who advised me on all things aviation, and gave me a gorgeous helicopter ride over Sydney Harbour.
Steve, from Bogong Horseback Adventures for his poetic description of horse riding in the snow.
Catherine, for the idea of riding horses in the snow.
CONTENTS
‘IS HE always late?’
‘He’s a doctor, Meg.’ The pilot gave her a wry smile.
‘Now you tell me, Tom!’ She tried to laugh but her frustration strangled it. Standing on the tarmac with icy wind whipping her, she shielded her eyes and peered into the late-afternoon, winter sun, willing the other passenger they were waiting for to appear from behind the hangar.
She wanted to get home. She’d had her fill of Melbourne, five days in the ‘Big Smoke’ was long enough. Now she couldn’t wait to get back to the farm nestled in the Australian Alps, back to her job at the bush nursing centre, and back to check on her mother.
‘There he is.’ Tom pointed and moved toward a tall man, who had a ski bag slung casually over one broad shoulder and a travel bag on the other.
An irrational irritation zipped through her at the sight of the skis. She reminded herself that not all skiers were rich and obnoxious. Not all skiers were Graeme.
She watched, with the sun blurring their features, as the two men shook hands, and Tom relieved the doctor of the travel bag.
They walked toward her. To her horror she felt herself giving the passenger the once-over. His impressive height she’d noticed immediately but now he was closer she saw his chestnut hair, streaked with blond, kicking up behind his ears. To match that dishevelled look he had a two-day stubble, which outlined firm lips. Lips that suddenly curved upwards, along with his dark brows.
Hell, she’d been caught scoping him out.
‘Meg, this is Dr Cameron,’ Tom called out over his shoulder as he walked past to stow the skis into the wing lockers and the luggage into the back of the light plane. He secured it all with a mesh safety harness.
‘Call me Will.’ The man’s deep voice wrapped around her like hot chocolate on caramel. He smiled and stuck out his hand.
His large warm hand enveloped her cooler one, his heat transferring itself to her palm. But it didn’t stop there. It wove up her arm and deep into her body. Heat and tingles. Heat and quivers.
The delicious sensations unnerved her. It was the end of a long week, she was tired and cold, so of course