by Lucy Clark
Could this doctor and her baby bump...
be the family he’s longed for?
Surgeon Ethan Janeway locked his heart away when he lost his wife and baby daughter. But then he meets gorgeous GP CJ Nicholls, his new—and very pregnant!—boss. After her late husband’s infidelity, CJ has no reason to trust men, but kind, caring Ethan is different. They could be the perfect family—but first they’ll have to leave the past behind...
“I want to kiss you.”
Ethan kept his gaze trained on CJ’s mouth as he spoke, shaking his head slowly from side to side. “I know it’s wrong and stupid and impulsive and confusing, but the desire is there. I don’t know how or why...” He breathed slowly as he closed the small distance between them, drawn to her as though it was the most natural thing in the world. He was still holding her hands, still touching her, and whether it was that combined with the pheromones surrounding them that propelled him to within the close proximity of her mouth, there didn’t seem to be any force there to stop him.
“This is foolish,” she managed to whisper right before his lips brushed a featherlight kiss to hers.
Dear Reader,
The bond between siblings is often a strong one, and this is the case with Ethan and Melody Janeway in my Sydney Surgeons duet. After Ethan goes through a tragedy, Melody encourages him to find a new path...one that leads him to meeting heavily pregnant Claudia-Jean in Falling for the Pregnant GP.
Claudia-Jean loves her town of Pridham. In return, the community rallies around her when she needs them most. Ethan comes from a large city, so it’s little wonder he struggles at first with the way strangers chat with him. After a while, Ethan mellows and realizes not only the benefits of Pridham, but also the benefits of being around a wonderful person like CJ.
Likewise, in One Week to Win His Heart, Melody can rely on Ethan to offer sage advice when visiting surgeon George Wilmont comes into her life and turns it upside down. Melody is a strong woman who does her best to fight the attraction to George, but his open and honest manner wins her heart. George isn’t sure what’s happening when he meets Melody. It’s as though she’s jump-started his grieving heart. However, he doesn’t know how to handle his feelings, nor the way he seems to be forgetting his first wife.
Sometimes being brave and taking a second chance at love can reward us with the utmost in happiness, contentment and, of course, wonderful families.
Warmest regards,
Lucy
FALLING FOR THE PREGNANT GP
Lucy Clark
Books by Lucy Clark
Harlequin Medical Romance
The Lewis Doctors
Reunited with His Runaway Doc
The Family She’s Longed For
Outback Surgeons
English Rose in the Outback
A Family for Chloe
The Secret Between Them
Her Mistletoe Wish
His Diamond Like No Other
Dr. Perfect on Her Doorstep
A Child to Bind Them
Still Married to Her Ex!
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
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To dearest Aunty Rae, the road ahead might get bumpy but at least we have each other to lean on.
Ephesians 3:12
Praise for Lucy Clark
“A wonderful yet slightly emotional read in this book, which hooked me from the very beginning...I would recommend Reunited with His Runaway Doc.”
—Harlequin Junkie
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
EPILOGUE
EXCERPT FROM ONE WEEK TO WIN HIS HEART BY LUCY CLARK
CHAPTER ONE
CLAUDIA-JEAN NICHOLLS STOOD on tiptoe, stretching as high as she could to the top shelf. ‘Nope.’ She relaxed back with a sigh and rubbed the large baby bump. ‘It may help, little one, if you didn’t continue to stab me with your elbows. Hmm? How about giving Mummy a break?’ She stepped back to look at the item she wanted with longing. ‘Why didn’t I wear my platform shoes?’
‘Do they make platform shoes that high?’
CJ turned to look at the owner of the deep voice but all she saw was a firm chest beneath a navy polo shirt. She lifted her chin to meet the man’s gaze and saw a small grin on his lips. ‘Are you teasing me about my height?’ she asked, her tone light and jovial. When you lived in a small country town, it was almost second nature to have a chat with anyone you met, even if they were a stranger.
He shook his head, his grin widening. ‘Not at all. Merely posing a question.’
‘Well, to answer your question, no, I don’t think they do.’ Her own smile increased and she pointed to the item on the shelf that was out of reach. ‘Would you mind helping me, please? Coffee beans. The red bag.’ She placed a hand on her belly. ‘There are a few at the back but how they expect me to get them in my condition is beyond me. I should demand a step stool for every aisle.’
‘Or enlist the help of a tall friend every time you want to go shopping,’ he offered. ‘A safer option to platform shoes and step stools, especially in your condition.’ He quickly obliged, obtaining the coffee for her. ‘How tall are you?’
‘Five feet, two inches tall and thirty-five weeks wide.’ CJ chuckled at her own joke as she placed the coffee beans into her disorganised grocery trolley. ‘Thank you for your help.’
‘You’re more than welcome.’
With another smile in his direction, she pushed her trolley a little further down the aisle, looking for the next item on her list. She could feel him still watching her and when she looked over her shoulder, almost hitting herself in the face with one of her blonde pigtails, she saw him frowning and looking down the otherwise empty aisle. ‘Something wrong?’
‘Er...no.’ He looked up at the sign above them. ‘This is aisle eight.’
‘I know.’
‘It’s just I was told by the store manager that I’d find Dr CJ Nicholls in aisle eight.’
‘And you did.’ CJ spread her arms wide. ‘And then you helped her get coffee beans from a high shelf.’
The man did a double take. ‘You’re CJ Nicholls?’
‘I am.’
‘But...but...you’re...er...too young.’ At her arched eyebrow, he quickly continued. ‘What I mean is...you look about eighteen years old.’ He shook his head, his wide grin returning. ‘You’re having a laugh, right?’
‘You think I look eighteen? How very flattering but add at least another twelve years to that and you’ll be right on the money.’
‘You’re thirty!’ The incredulity in his tone should have been flattering.
‘I guess wearing my hair in pigtails doesn’t help the argument that I am indeed a qualified general practitioner. It’s just that wearing my hair up gives me headaches, keeping it loose makes me hot, and I really don’t want to cut it so...’ She allowed her sentence to trail off as she held out her hand. ‘Claudia-Jean Nicholls. Dr Claudia-Jean Nicholls. I went to medical school and everyth
ing.’ Her smile was wide, bright and absolutely dazzling. Her green eyes twinkling with merriment.
‘Uh... Ethan Janeway.’
‘Oh, you’re Ethan.’ She shook his hand enthusiastically, ignoring the small wave of heat that spread up her arm at the touch. ‘I wasn’t expecting you until this evening.’ She gestured to her shopping trolley. ‘Hence the reason for this last-minute shop. There’s nothing in the cupboards.’ Why, all of a sudden, did she feel so self-conscious? Perhaps it was because she was faced with a very tall, very dark and very handsome stranger who had the most amazing blue eyes she’d ever seen. A stirring of something foreign sizzled in her tummy and it definitely wasn’t indigestion! He frowned and she flicked her pigtails back over her shoulders. ‘Problem?’
‘Why should it matter if there’s nothing in the cupboards?’
CJ shrugged and glanced at her watch. ‘Whoa, look at the time.’ She started pushing the trolley and was pleased when he fell into step beside her. ‘I guess I like to eat food when I get home from work,’ she remarked, answering his previous question. ‘I naturally presumed you would, too.’
‘I don’t follow. Why should you be concerned with where and when I eat?’
‘Your lodgings, while you’re in town, are at my house.’
‘They’re...what now?’
‘I thought you knew. It was in the paperwork I sent through. We share a kitchen, laundry and lounge room.’
‘The paperwork stated that accommodation was provided with the job. It’s why I’m here.’ He indicated their present surroundings. ‘I went to the clinic to pick up the key for my lodgings, only to be directed here and told to find you.’ His gaze rested momentarily on her pregnancy. ‘I’m the locum to cover...maternity leave.’ He spoke the last two words slowly, as though finally realising that she was the person he was locum for.
‘That’s right. I’m going on maternity leave as soon as we’ve got you settled, although why Donna doesn’t think I can work up until—’ She stopped. She and Donna had had several discussions about this maternity leave, namely that CJ didn’t think she needed to take leave at all. Decreasing her workload to part time would have worked just fine but Donna had stood her ground and insisted CJ employ a locum. CJ had finally agreed to find someone for three months, Donna had insisted upon six months. ‘Never mind. Any other questions?’
‘Er...do we share a bathroom?’ He glanced once more at her pregnant belly.
‘No.’ Her smile broadened. ‘Which is just as well because, with Junior jumping up and down on my bladder all night, I need a clear path.’
‘And that’s why you’re shopping? Because I’ll be living with you?’
‘Sharing a house,’ she corrected. ‘The bedrooms, with en suites, are at opposite ends of the house. We only finished the renovations last week.’
‘You and your husband?’ A small frown puckered his brow. ‘Or partner?’
CJ dropped her gaze to her ringless fingers. ‘My husband passed away. It’s just me and the baby now.’ She flicked a pigtail over her shoulder.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be...indelicate.’
‘You weren’t to know and, besides, Pridham is a very small town. I’m sure you’ll know all there is to know about me from the patients by the end of your first week.’ She grinned. ‘At any rate, the “we” I was referring to was myself and Brett, the builder.’ She turned into the next aisle and checked her list again, then looked at the shelves and lifted a hand dejectedly.
‘Why is everything on the top shelf today? I swear it’s a conspiracy to stop pregnant women from getting what they want. Ethan, would you mind getting that jar of pickles down, please?’
‘Cravings?’
She grinned again. ‘Oh, yeah. Pickles and bananas are high on the list at the moment.’
‘Your body must be low in sodium and potassium.’
‘Excellent deduction, Dr Janeway. If I hadn’t already been impressed with your extensive résumé, I am now.’ She chuckled as she added a few more things to the trolley, checked her list and nodded. ‘That’s it...unless there’s something you’d really like or need?’
He scanned the contents of the trolley before shrugging. ‘I can come back tomorrow if need be.’
‘OK.’ She headed for the checkout.
‘Ah, I see you found her,’ Idris, the store manager, said as CJ started to unload the contents of the trolley.
‘In aisle eight, just like you said.’ Ethan quickly took over unloading the trolley, especially when she picked up a large tub of ice cream and almost dropped it. ‘Allow me,’ he stated.
‘It’s OK. I can manage.’
‘I have no doubt but still, this one time, allow me.’ Ethan continued to put the groceries onto the checkout conveyer belt. ‘I thought, as you’re almost to term, that you would have given up work a while ago.’
‘Ah...the life of working in a small town. It’s definitely a vocational calling because it’s all work and no play. Plus, it’s usually very difficult to get locums to agree to come this far away from a major city for any extended period of time.’
‘I did.’
‘Which means you’re rare and valuable.’ She smiled at him as he finished emptying the trolley. ‘Thank you. It’s also nice to meet a true gentleman.’
‘Do you mean because I helped a pregnant woman?’ He shook his head. ‘That’s not what makes me a gentleman because in my opinion anyone, male or female, should help a pregnant woman, especially one in her last trimester.’ There was a slight vehemence to his words that CJ admired. When her phone rang, she pulled it from her pocket. ‘Dr Nicholls.’ Her words were absentminded, still thinking about what Ethan had said, but her mind quickly cleared as her practice manager’s voice came down the line.
‘Just a heads up, CJ. Ethan Janeway’s arrived. He came to the clinic to collect the key to the house and I told him you were at the supermarket. Did he find you?’
‘Yes. Yes, he found me. We’ll head back to the house so I can put the shopping away and then come over to the clinic. Nothing urgent?’
‘No. Just wanted to make sure you’d met our new locum.’
‘OK. See you soon.’ CJ disconnected the call and paid for her groceries, watching Ethan put the bags into the trolley and begin to push it outside. He was definitely considerate. Hopefully that was a good sign that he would fit well into the town, the medical practice and the shared accommodation.
‘Where’s your car?’
‘Over there.’ She pointed to the silver Mercedes.
‘Nice wheels.’
She shrugged. ‘Not really my kind of car. It was my husband’s,’ she explained. ‘It gets me from here to there and, at the moment that’s all that counts.’ They unloaded the shopping...well, Ethan unloaded the shopping, glaring harshly at her when she attempted to lift a bag. ‘I used to walk most places but now...’ she rubbed the heel of her hand over a part of her abdomen, pushing gently on the little foot that was underneath her ribs ‘...it’s kind of impossible.’ She took her keys out of her handbag. ‘Did you walk or drive here?’
‘Drove.’
‘OK. Follow me in your car and we’ll take this stuff back to the house.’
‘Then to the clinic.’ He nodded. ‘I heard your conversation.’ With that, he headed towards a red car parked opposite hers. The car immediately drew her attention. It was vintage with a soft top and leather seats.
‘Wow! This is yours?’
‘It is.’
CJ headed over to the vintage car and ran her fingertips lovingly over the rim of the door. The soft top was down, which gave her a complete view of the leather upholstered seats and wooden panelled dash board. ‘It’s in great condition.’
‘I’ve had it restored.’
‘Did you do it?’
‘Most of it but my brother’s a mechanic so I let hi
m help.’
‘Big of you.’ She grinned and continued to walk around the car as she spoke, inspecting and admiring it as she went. ‘May I have a quick look at the engine?’ She’d come to stand before him, her green eyes glazed with an honest passion that Ethan found intriguing.
‘Of course.’ He lifted the concertina hood and stood back.
‘Nice cams.’
* * *
Ethan was momentarily taken aback by her knowledge. He’d yet to meet a woman who understood cars. Now it appeared he’d met one—a pregnant one at that. ‘Uh, thanks.’ He scratched his head. ‘How do you know so much about cars?’
‘My dad. He used to restore them when I was a kid.’ She shrugged one shoulder. ‘I helped.’ Her smile was still wide with delight. ‘I think I should let you know that I will be begging for a ride or two while you’re here.’
‘Of course,’ he said again. He lowered the hood and when she didn’t say anything else, he gestured to her car. ‘Shall we get going?’
‘Yes. The ice cream’s already started melting. Lucky it’s not the height of summer.’ He watched as she walked back to her car. What a unique woman. He shook his head as though to clear it from thoughts of CJ Nicholls—Dr CJ Nicholls, he corrected, who he’d discovered didn’t look a day over eighteen, was heavily pregnant and had a passion for vintage cars. Definitely not the type of woman he was usually interested in, but she was definitely intriguing.
It wasn’t the fact that she was pregnant that was presently bothering him, but the fact that they’d be sharing a house. Being around pregnant women wasn’t his thing. He didn’t shy away from them, and he’d proved that when his brother and sister-in-law had had their second child. He’d been the dutiful uncle, visiting in hospital, cooing and making all the right noises, but at the end of the day he’d returned to the peace and quiet of his apartment.
Living, for the next six months, in the same house with the temporarily pregnant CJ Nicholls and soon-to-be newborn baby wasn’t what he’d signed up for. He wished he’d known the intricate particulars prior to his arrival because if he had, he wouldn’t have come. Perhaps there was a hotel he could stay at, or an apartment he could rent, but both of those would take time to organise and would be exceptionally expensive.
