by Sarah Morgan
Carlo turned his attention back to the man he was holding, trying to contain his anger.
‘Let him go, Carlo.’ Zan was suddenly next to him, her voice soft. ‘He needs help. He’s devastated.’
‘Devastated enough to want to kill a member of my family.’ Carlo’s grip tightened and he felt a murderous rage tear through him.
He’d never thought of himself as violent before, but if anything had happened to Zan…
‘I’m sorry.’ Suddenly all the fight went out of him and the man went limp and started to cry. Great tearing sobs that shook his whole body. ‘I don’t even know what I’m doing any more. I just wanted to blame someone.’
Carlo’s mouth was still tight but he relaxed his grip slightly.
‘Of course you did.’ Zan reached out a hand, her touch gentle. ‘That’s a normal part of grieving for someone you love. It’s easier to blame someone than believe that something so awful just couldn’t be avoided.’
Sensing that the man was no longer a danger to them, Carlo let him go and took a step backwards. Even making allowances for the man’s loss, he couldn’t be as forgiving as Zan.
The man had threatened his mother, his sister and the woman he loved.
‘Nothing will ever take the pain away,’ Zan said quietly, ‘but time will make it less acute. But Carlo’s right—your family needs you. You’ve already lost a child. Don’t lose your family, too.’
Before the man could reply the police stormed into the room and Carlo dragged Zan against him possessively.
He wasn’t letting her out of his sight ever again.
He spoke briefly to the police and they handcuffed the two men and marched them out of the door.
Zan watched them go with sadness in her eyes. ‘Poor man.’
Matt stared at Carlo. ‘The man had a knife to her throat and she thinks he’s a poor man.’
Carlo gave a twisted smile. ‘I’m afraid I find it hard to be so forgiving.’
Zan sighed and touched his cheek gently. ‘I’m not really that forgiving. He frightened the life out of me and he’s made your life hell, I know. But he lost a child and grief does odd things to people.’ She gave a wan smile. ‘I thought you were never going to come. How did you get in?’
‘Matt’s good with locks.’ Carlo moved towards her and she looked at him warily.
‘And where did you learn to fight like that?’
Carlo shrugged. ‘I always refused to have a bodyguard so Dad made sure I had the right training—a bit like your brothers and your judo, I suppose.’
Her eyes were wide. ‘You were scary.’
‘I’m Italian. We know how to protect our own and he threatened the most important person in my life,’ Carlo said softly.
Matt cleared his throat. ‘I’ll go and sort things out with the police and ring the family. Nico will want to know that it’s all sorted.’
* * *
An hour later Zan was curled up on the sofa, snug and warm in Carlo’s arms. Judging from the way he was holding her, he was never going to let her go.
And it was a really good feeling.
‘Usually all that happens on Boxing Day is that I get to eat the remains of the turkey and the mince pies,’ she said lightly, tilting her head so that she could look at him. ‘Life with you is certainly exciting; I’ll give you that.’
Carlo pulled her against him with a groan. ‘When that midwife told me you’d gone to your flat to meet me, I almost had a heart attack.’
‘I wasn’t thinking straight or I would have realised that it wasn’t you,’ Zan confessed sheepishly. ‘But I was so excited about seeing you that I just dashed off and walked right into their trap.’
Carlo’s grip tightened and his eyes darkened in anger. ‘They were waiting inside the flat?’
She nodded. ‘The moment I walked inside they shut the door and attacked me. I managed to floor one of them.’
Carlo gave a wry smile. ‘I wish I could have seen that. I bet you gave him a shock.’
‘Well, he hit his head when he fell so I don’t think he thought about it too much. Unfortunately the other guy grabbed me from behind and I couldn’t shift him. He said he was going to wait until you arrived and then kill me.’
She gave a shudder and Carlo frowned. ‘How did he know I was coming?’
‘Don’t ask me. I can’t read men’s minds. I just know he wanted to kill me with you watching.’
‘Nice guy,’ Carlo drawled, and she gave a sad smile.
‘Hurt guy.’ She let out a breath. ‘How did you know I was here?’
‘I saw you on television, announcing to the world that you loved me and trusted me,’ Carlo said smugly. ‘Naturally I tried to find you to compliment you on your taste in men.’
Zan laughed. ‘Is your ego as large as your fortune, Mr Santini?’
‘Larger,’ Carlo said proudly. ‘I’m Italian, remember. And size matters when it comes to egos. Egos, Christmas trees and—’
‘Yes, yes, I know,’ Zan interrupted him quickly, her eyes twinkling and her cheeks pink. ‘You still haven’t explained how you found me.’
‘I asked the midwife where you were. The same midwife who’d told you to meet me at the flat. I put two and two together, as you say in this country.’
‘I was starting to get worried.’
Carlo hugged her against him. ‘You don’t know worried,’ he groaned. ‘Worried is what I felt when I saw that lunatic holding a knife to your throat.’
She hugged him back and then saw him wince. ‘Your hand! I forgot about your hand. Show me.’
Carlo wiggled his fingers. ‘I’ll live.’
‘It’s bruising already.’ She looked up at him. ‘You hit him hard, Carlo.’
She’d never forget the raw fury in his eyes when he’d looked at her attacker and the skill with which he’d freed her. It was no wonder he didn’t use a bodyguard.
‘He threatened the woman I love.’ Carlo’s voice was soft and Zan bit her lip shyly.
‘You’re sure you love me?’
A strange expression crossed his face. ‘Could you fetch me some ice for this hand, tesoro?’
So his hand was hurting more than he’d let on.
Slightly disappointed that he hadn’t declared his love more emphatically, she stood up and hurried into the kitchen.
Maybe he didn’t love her that much.
She pulled the ice tray out of the freezer compartment and then gasped.
Inside one of the squares was a stunning diamond ring.
Was he proposing?
‘I love you, Suzannah, and I want you to marry me.’ His velvety male tones came from behind her and she turned quickly, still clutching the tray of ice cubes with the ring inside.
‘How long has this been in here?’
‘Since this morning when we finished tidying up your flat. It’s a good job those thugs didn’t want ice in their drinks,’ he drawled, lifting the ring out of the ice tray and holding it in his palm. It sparkled and winked temptingly and she gazed at it in astonishment.
‘You bought it this morning? But it’s Boxing Day. You can’t buy a ring on Boxing Day. The shops are shut.’
Carlo smiled. ‘Not if your name is Santini.’
She shook her head in wonder as he reached forward and took her hand.
‘I can’t believe you mean this,’ she whispered, her lips parting in a sigh as he slipped the ring onto her finger. ‘You seriously want me to marry you?’
‘Oh, yes.’ His dark gaze was fixed on her possessively. ‘I’ve never been more serious about anything in my whole life.’
‘B-but you date models and film stars,’ she stammered, twisting the ring on her finger and looking at him doubtfully. ‘I’m just me.’
‘And I love everything about you,’ he said softly, pulling her closer. ‘I think I loved you from the moment you knocked me onto the wet street. You were brave and funny and dedicated to your patients and you were nothing like the women I’ve ever known before. I
love your green eyes and your dimples and your amazing legs. I love the fact that you care about everyone—I even love the fact that you can give me a black eye if I ever step out of line.’
Zan put a hand on his chest. ‘But we’re so different. I haven’t got money.’
Carlo looked amused. ‘But I have more than enough for both of us.’
‘Aren’t you worried I’d be a threat to your bank balance?’
‘Fortunately my bank balance is big.’ He laughed. ‘It would take quite a lot to threaten it.’
Zan looked at him, her eyes twinkling. ‘So, if I marry you, do I get to spend your money?’
‘You do indeed, tesoro.’ He was still smiling. ‘What did you have in mind?’
‘Nothing. I was just teasing.’ She looked at him and smiled shyly. ‘I don’t care about the money. All I want is you.’
‘You’re sure?’ He sucked in a breath and his arms tightened around her. ‘I thought what we had was special but then, after last night, I wasn’t sure you felt the same way. I thought I’d blown it totally.’
‘I was so angry with you.’ She bit her lip guiltily. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be.’ His voice was gentle. ‘You had every right to be angry and, believe me, I felt very bad about not telling you the truth. But everything else about us was real.’
‘I know.’ She stared into his eyes. ‘I realised that when those journalists started spouting lies about you. I suddenly realised just how well I knew you.’
He stroked a thumb over her cheek. ‘Do you think what you feel for me is strong enough to withstand the dirt that journalists throw at me?’
‘Yes.’
He took a deep breath. ‘And how do you feel about living in Italy with me?’
‘Excited.’
She couldn’t believe that it was really happening. That he really wanted to marry her.
He lowered his head and took her mouth, his kiss hot and demanding, and when they finally broke apart she was flushed and breathless.
‘When you were shouting at me last night, you said you didn’t want my babies and that you weren’t going to punch the woman I married. Frankly, I had trouble keeping up. What did you mean?’
‘Oh…’ Zan went pink and rubbed her toe on the wooden floor. ‘It was a conversation I had with Kim.’
‘Which was?’
He wasn’t letting her be evasive and she gave a sigh. ‘She asked how I’d feel if you married someone else and I said I’d want to punch her on the nose.’
Carlo threw back his head and laughed. ‘Good job I’m marrying you, then.’ He hesitated slightly and there was an odd gleam in his eye. ‘And the baby bit?’
She blushed shyly. ‘I looked at you on Christmas Eve when you were Father Christmas and I knew I wanted to have your children.’
His smile faded. ‘And do you still feel that way?’ His voice was hoarse. ‘Do you still want my babies, tesoro?’
She sucked in a breath. ‘More than anything.’
‘And you’ve forgiven me for keeping my identity a secret?’
‘Providing you never keep a secret from me again.’ She reached up to kiss him. ‘Otherwise I might just give you a black eye.’
He hugged her close. ‘No more secrets. I promise you that. From now on we share everything. And you need to stop doing the Lottery. It would be embarrassing if we won.’
Zan smiled. ‘I’ve already won,’ she said softly, standing on tiptoe to kiss him. ‘I found you.’
* * * * *
The Celebrity Doctor’s Proposal
Sarah Morgan
CONTENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
CHAPTER ONE
‘I CAN manage without you just for the summer. I want you to go off and breathe mountain air and forget all about medicine and your patients.’ Anna turned off the motorway and followed the signs for the airport. She was all brisk efficiency, mentally ticking off things to be done when she got home. There were lots of them. Too many. Her life was manic, but she loved it that way. ‘And when you come back your lungs will be better and you’ll be totally refreshed and raring to go.’
At least she hoped he would be because she couldn’t keep this pace up for much longer.
David McKenna glanced across at her with a tired smile. The smile said it all. ‘We both know that that isn’t true. The truth is that you should be looking for a new partner. I’m getting too old for this, Anna,’ he said gruffly. ‘Your dad and I set up the practice almost thirty-five years ago. It’s time for new blood.’
‘That’s right.’ His wife, Elizabeth, nodded agreement, a determined look in her clear blue eyes as she leaned forward from the back seat to join in the conversation. ‘It’s time for us to enjoy retirement and our grandchildren.’
Anna glanced in her rear-view mirror and laughed. ‘You don’t have any grandchildren.’
‘Not yet,’ Elizabeth agreed placidly as she settled back in her seat and adjusted her seat-belt. ‘But it’s going to happen shortly.’
Anna carefully fixed her eyes back on the road and clamped her jaw closed. Safer to do that than voice an opinion on that particular subject. The McKennas only had one son and he showed absolutely no inclination to settle down. He was far more interested in pursuing a glamorous career as a high-profile media doctor and dating everyone female.
And he drove her nuts. Always had done. Always would do.
Anna ground her teeth and tightened her grip on the steering-wheel. The mere thought of the man was enough to raise her blood pressure to dangerous levels. Every time she turned on the television, Sam McKenna was on the screen, giving his opinion on something medical. Dr Smooth. Dr Handsome. She doubted he even remembered what it was like to be a real doctor. He’d spent far too long in front of the cameras to remember how to diagnose anything other than an ingrowing toenail.
Reminding herself that dwelling on Sam McKenna wasn’t good for her health, she turned her attention back to the present and braked neatly as a car cut in front of her. ‘You can’t possibly talk about retiring, David,’ she said briskly, adjusting her speed to ensure a safe following distance. ‘The patients love you and you’re a brilliant doctor. And you know you enjoy it. You just need to get yourself well again.’
The practice needed him. The practice he and her father had built from nothing. She needed him. She didn’t want her life to change. She liked it just the way it was.
David looked at her thoughtfully. ‘It will be interesting to see how you find working with the locum I’ve arranged,’ he said idly. ‘We both know you’ve been carrying the lion’s share of work for months now. You might find you prefer a younger person who can share the load fairly.’
Anna shot him a quick glance, her brown eyes searching. There was something in his tone that wasn’t quite right. But the look he gave her seemed completely innocent so she decided that she must have imagined it.
‘I don’t want younger,’ she said firmly, flicking the indicator and turning towards the airport. ‘I want you. With all your experience. Which reminds me—we’ve been so busy, you still haven’t told me anything about this locum. You just arranged it all. I hope he knows something about medicine.’
But she wasn’t really worried. She trusted David’s judgement in everything. If David thought the locum would cope then she had no doubt that he would.
‘Of course he does. And you’ve been far too busy to bother you with the details,’ David said vaguely, glancing at his watch and casting a pointed glance at his wife. ‘We don’t have time for you to dither in the airport, dear.’
‘I never dither,’ Elizabeth protested with dignity, and her husband smiled.
‘So why are we late?’
Anna glanced at them fondly as she pulled up outside the termi
nal building. Since her own parents had died, Elizabeth and David had stepped into the role. And why not? David had been at medical school with her father. They’d worked together for all those years and she’d taken over her father’s role in the practice when he’d been forced to retire because of ill health. It was hardly surprising that the McKennas regarded her as a daughter.
Suddenly filled with an awful feeling that her whole life was about to change, and hating the thought, Anna switched off the engine and turned towards them. ‘I want you to be careful,’ she said urgently, undoing her seat-belt and reaching across to hug David. ‘I want you to rest and take it easy. I couldn’t bear it if anything—’ She broke off, a lump in her throat, and David hugged her back, as understanding as ever.
‘Nothing’s going to happen to me, Anna, so stop worrying,’ he said gruffly, stroking her long, dark hair with an affectionate hand. ‘It was just a nasty dose of pneumonia brought on by mixing with too many ill patients! I’m recovering well and I’m intending to see my grandchildren grow up.’
Anna sniffed and then gave him a shove. ‘You’re definitely getting senile. I keep telling you, you haven’t got any grandchildren.’
‘Yet.’ Over the top of her head, David winked at his wife. ‘Gather your belongings, woman. Time to get this show on the road.’
Anna pulled away from him, feeling as though something momentous was happening. Suddenly she really, really didn’t want them to go. Which was utterly ridiculous, she told herself firmly, since this whole sabbatical idea had been her brainchild.
What was the matter with her?
She wasn’t the sentimental sort. She was practical and efficient and she really tried not to let emotions get in the way. David and Elizabeth needed a break and it was great that they were finally having one. She should be delighted. It was just the last few months, she decided, stepping out of the car and walking round to retrieve the luggage from the boot. She’d been working too hard. Not having enough time off.
Suddenly she envied David, taking a long break.
