“Some wounds never really heal. We just cover them up and keep going.”
“You think?”
Ross didn’t answer. His arm was slung on the cushions of the sofa behind her back and Laurie slid a little closer to him. That warmth wasn’t so confronting now.
“This is a little out of my remit, too.” Clearly not too far, because Ross didn’t move away.
“I think we’re both very clear that you’re not my doctor anymore.”
He looked down at her, humor in his eyes. “Yeah, we’ve covered that one very comprehensively. You do, however, work at the clinic.”
“And you’re my boss.” Laurie pursed her lips. “But I’m not on the clock at the moment. And this is nice.”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “Maybe we make an exception, then.”
She felt his arm around her shoulders and snuggled against him. No one could possibly have said for sure that this wasn’t friendship and concern. If she disregarded her racing heartbeat and the cool scent of his body, then Laurie might almost believe it herself.
Dear Reader,
Around the time that I was planning this book, I was reminded about the first time I tried for publication. I sent my carefully typed pages off (on Valentine’s Day!) and in return I received another first—my first rejection letter. Reading through my manuscript now, I’m in no doubt that this was the right decision, and the letter was encouraging enough to prompt me to try again, albeit many years later...
This first try occupies a special place in my heart, as do the book’s hero, Ross, and its heroine, Laurie. So it seemed an appropriate gesture to name the hero and heroine of my latest book after them.
Even though the characters and the plot of this book owe nothing to the first, it was still a special pleasure to give this new Ross and Laurie the happy ending that I wanted for their namesakes. Thank you for reading their story!
Annie x
Falling for the Brooding Doc
Annie Claydon
Cursed with a poor sense of direction and a propensity to read, Annie Claydon spent much of her childhood lost in books. A degree in English literature followed by a career in computing didn’t lead directly to her perfect job—writing romance for Harlequin—but she has no regrets in taking the scenic route. She lives in London: a city where getting lost can be a joy.
Books by Annie Claydon
Harlequin Medical Romance
Dolphin Cove Vets
Healing the Vet’s Heart
Pups that Make Miracles
Festive Fling with the Single Dad
London Heroes
Falling for Her Italian Billionaire
Second Chance with the Single Mom
Single Dad Docs
Resisting Her English Doc
Healed by the Single Dad Doc
From Doctor to Princess?
Firefighter’s Christmas Baby
Best Friend to Royal Bride
Winning the Surgeon’s Heart
A Rival to Steal Her Heart
The Best Man and the Bridesmaid
Greek Island Fling to Forever
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
To aspiring writers everywhere. Wishing you many happy endings!
Praise for Annie Claydon
“A spellbinding contemporary medical romance that will keep readers riveted to the page, Festive Fling with the Single Dad is a highly enjoyable treat from Annie Claydon’s immensely talented pen.”
—Goodreads
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
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EPILOGUE
EXCERPT FROM THE PARAMEDIC’S SECRET SON BY RACHEL DOVE
CHAPTER ONE
DR ROSS SUMMERBY stood at the window of his office, staring out. The Lake District afforded many beautiful views, but this was one that he never tired of, the lake stretching off into the distance to meet mountains shrouded in morning mist. He frowned at the one blot on the landscape, a tiny figure in a small rowing boat, cutting through the still waters.
A knock sounded behind him and as he turned the door opened. Sam Kovak was clearly far too frustrated to wait for him to invite her in.
‘Have you seen her?’
Ross nodded. ‘Yep. Sit down, Sam.’
Sitting down didn’t improve Sam’s mood. It didn’t much improve Ross’s either, but as head of the Lakeside Sports Injury Clinic, he reckoned that part of his job was to listen to what everyone had to say, and provide a few calming answers if necessary. Sam looked in need of calming answers, and he didn’t blame her.
‘I told her specifically. No rowing. I’ve given her exercises to do that will maintain her fitness, without putting too much stress on her hip. What’s not to understand about that? She’s a doctor, for goodness’ sake.’
‘Doctors generally make the worst patients.’ Ross grinned at Sam. ‘Unlike physiotherapists, of course.’
‘That goes without saying.’ Sam puffed out a breath. ‘So, as a doctor, what would you prescribe for another doctor who won’t listen to her physiotherapist?’
‘It’s not you, Sam. She just doesn’t listen, full stop. That’s why I put her in your care, because if your unremitting good humour can’t wear her down then I doubt anything else can.’
The remark mollified Sam a little. ‘So what am I going to do? I’ve tried sympathetic understanding...’
Ross chuckled. ‘And how did that work?’
‘It didn’t. She just rolled her eyes at me. So I tried reminding her—because I shouldn’t need to explain—that bursitis of the hip will only get worse over time if you don’t make long-term efforts to bring down the inflammation and restore muscle balance. Not only will she end her sporting career, but the hip will gradually deteriorate...’ Sam puffed out a frustrated breath.
‘What did she say to that?’
‘Nothing! She nodded, and I thought perhaps I’d got through to her. Then I arrive here this morning and what do I see?’ Sam gestured towards the window. ‘It’s almost as if she’s determined to self-destruct.’
‘Yeah. That thought occurred to me too. Leave it with me, Sam.’
‘What are you going to do?’
‘I’m going to give up on her.’
Sam frowned. ‘I thought we never gave up on anyone. That’s one of the things I like about working here, so don’t tell me you’re changing your policy all of a sudden.’
‘Nothing’s changed, I’m just making an exception. Maybe she’s never had anyone give up on her before, and it’s what she needs to make her face reality, eh?’
* * *
Ross had fetched them both a cup of tea, which was a way of calming his own mood as well as Sam’s because Laurie Sullivan was beginning to get to him as well. A patient who had every chance of recovery but who seemed bent on destroying it seemed to mock all the people who’d fought against the odds here at the Lakeside Clinic.
As he walked out of the clinic, across the grass to the shore of the lake, he reminded himself that people came in all shapes and sizes. That no one should be dismissed because thei
r actions seemed rash or not understandable. But Dr Sullivan was stubborn, and he was going to have to show her that he too could be inflexible when he wanted to.
He sat down on one of the wooden benches that were placed here for the purpose of enjoying the view. Laurie’s rowing style was immaculate, as could be expected from a member of the England team, and Ross had noticed that there was a touch of grace about everything she did. It must have taken a great deal of work and determination to combine her impressive sporting achievements with a doctor’s training, but somehow Laurie had managed it.
And now she seemed intent on throwing it all away. The one question in his mind was why? She was either too arrogant for words or there was something going on here that he had yet to fathom. This next conversation would settle that conundrum, at least.
It seemed that Laurie had exhibited enough defiance for one day, and she was pulling towards the small dock where the pleasure boats for those patients who were allowed on the water were moored. He’d wondered where she’d got the sleeker, sporting boat that she was using, and saw the flash of a boat rental company’s logo at its prow. That must have taken a bit of planning as the boatyard was on the other side of the lake, a twenty-mile drive by road.
As she climbed out of the boat, Ross saw she was favouring her left leg. The stiffness in the right side of her hip hadn’t been apparent when she’d been rowing, but that was no surprise. In his experience many sportspeople learned to work through pain to achieve excellence. Laurie caught sight of him and pulled off the blue woollen cap she was wearing to reveal her shock of red hair, cut short so that it wouldn’t blow in her face when she was on the water.
She had the audacity to smile. There was a trace of mischief there, and somehow she managed to convey the idea that she expected him to understand that she may have bent the rules a little, but she’d done nothing wrong. As she walked towards him, she was clearly making an effort to hide the stiffness in her right leg.
She was perfect. Charming. And all this was about to stop.
‘Lovely morning.’ She stopped in front of him and Ross battled with the impulse to agree with her and allow her to go back to the clinic and get on with her day without any challenge.
‘It is.’ He motioned to the empty half of the long seat. That grace of hers, and her economy of movement, allowed her to disguise whatever pain she felt as she lowered herself onto the bench.
‘Did you come out here to see me?’ She scrunched her nose slightly. Great nose. The freckles gave it a lot of charm.
‘Yes, I did.’ Ross tore his attention from her face and got down to business. ‘I’m discharging you.’
That provoked a reaction. One that wasn’t carefully controlled to stop anyone from divining what she was actually thinking. Her face fell, and he saw a flare of panic in her golden eyes.
‘You can’t. I’m supposed to stay for seven weeks, and I’ve only been here a week.’
Ross nodded. ‘I think we’ve done just about all we can do for you.’
Laurie thought for a moment. ‘But...the consultant I saw thinks I should be here. I’m all paid up for seven weeks...’
That was the crux of the matter. The consultant who had referred her had told Ross that he’d been unable to pass Laurie as fit for selection to the England team this year, and her stubborn refusal to allow anyone else to tell her what to do about her injury had rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way. She’d be out of the team for good if she couldn’t show her commitment to addressing the injury that had been troubling her for months.
‘We’ll refund you, of course.’
Ross felt the sudden urge to smile as he watched her trying to maintain her composure. She was doing rather well, considering the ramifications of what he was suggesting.
‘I’m not...’ She swallowed, as if about to admit to having murdered someone. ‘My hip isn’t...at full strength yet.’
She wasn’t better. Despite all its success with much more intransigent injuries than Laurie’s, the clinic had failed her. And this was the only way forward that Ross could see.
‘Perhaps discharge isn’t the right word. I’m throwing you out.’
* * *
This was embarrassing, and Ross’s good looks weren’t helping. Dark hair and melting brown eyes had always pushed all her buttons and he had a body that was clearly at home with movement and action. And the fact that he was here to deliver this message, rather than Sam, had the worrying implication that Ross meant business.
He had to know what he was doing to her, and that this place was her last resort if she wanted to save her sporting career. She had been such a fool, ignoring well-intentioned advice and allowing the situation to escalate like this. But she’d always had a problem with authority...
Those long years of training under her father’s watchful eye had seen to that. Laurie had borne his insults silently, determined that he shouldn’t see her cry when he called her a failure. Keeping going was all she knew how to do, and now she’d been given an ultimatum. If Ross Summerby didn’t sign off on her stay here, then she could kiss goodbye to any hope of getting back onto the selection list to compete for her country.
Why? Why had she gone out rowing, in direct contravention of Sam’s advice? Laurie couldn’t even remember now why she’d thought that was a good idea.
‘You can’t.’ Blind panic was gripping her, and it was hard enough to keep her face expressionless, let alone think of something more persuasive to say.
‘I think you’ll find that I can.’ He was watching her closely, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. ‘My difficulty is that we have a waiting list full of patients, all of whom are committed to their recovery. I can let you stay on for another six weeks, and we can pretend to treat you for your own convenience, or I give your place here to someone who we can make a difference for. What would you do?’
That wasn’t fair. The answer was obvious. Laurie hung her head, looking down at her feet, the way she had when she’d wanted to hide her emotions from her father.
‘I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, I’ll do everything that Sam tells me...’
‘Maybe you will, for a little while. I’d give it a week. Tops.’
If they made a bet on it, then Ross would probably win. She looked up at him and saw a trace of sadness in his face. Kindness, too, in his dark eyes. He didn’t like this any more than she did, and it gave her one last chance.
‘Okay. You’re probably right. Is there anything...anything...that I can do to change your mind and let me stay? If you throw me out now, that effectively ruins my chances of getting back onto the England team.’ Honesty was her final resort. And it seemed to work, because Ross smiled.
‘There is one thing. You may not like it very much.’
Laurie had already reckoned on that. ‘That’s okay. I can live with not liking it.’
‘We have a small apartment that we use for visiting specialists. In the old building.’ He gestured towards the large residential property that stood a little way away from the modern clinic building. ‘You can stay there and make use of any of the clinic’s facilities you want to, the gym and the pool. You can even book a session with Sam, as long as you’re not planning on wasting her time by ignoring what she tells you.’
That didn’t sound so bad. It was the kind of freedom that Laurie had wanted all along.
‘But there’s something I need in return.’
Maybe she’d let down her guard and her smile had given her away. Laurie turned the corners of her mouth down. ‘In my experience, there’s always a catch...’
‘No one here gets a free ride, and I want you to work here, part time, for four afternoons a week. You can choose what you want to do. There’s a pile of filing in our basement that needs attention. Or you could make use of your doctor’s training. I have some patients that I think may benefit from your particular experience.’
Seriously? Laurie had started to think that Ross had thought everything through, but this was the most bizarre thing she’d ever heard. Filing didn’t sound all that appealing and working here as a doctor was madness.
‘You want me...a completely unknown quantity...to work with your patients. You’re sure about that, are you?’
His dark eyes softened suddenly. They were his greatest weapon, the one that made her heart pump ferociously and her instincts tell her that she could trust him. Her head was having trouble keeping all that under control.
‘Sam tells me that a few of her patients have mentioned you’ve been encouraging them with their gym work and helping them pace themselves properly. Everyone here has some kind of stake in the clinic, and since you’re no longer a patient then the only other option is employee.’
He let the thought float in the air between them. Ross clearly had few qualms about admitting his motives, but then he had nothing to lose.
‘And it means you can keep an eye on me.’ Laurie felt a trickle of embarrassment run up her spine.
‘That thought did cross my mind. And I took the precaution of calling the director of the company that runs the chain of emergency GP clinics you work with this morning, and asking for a reference.’
‘You did what? Thanks for that. Now I expect they think I’m about to leave. It’s not easy to find a job in medicine that gives me the kind of time off that I need to train and compete...’ Laurie bit her tongue.
‘I imagine not. That’s why I told her that I was considering asking you to help out here for the next six weeks, as part of your therapy, and that you’d be back with them after that. Adele thought it was a great idea and it would give you a chance to widen your experience a little. She put me through to your immediate boss and I’m sure you’ll be pleased to hear that he gave you a shining reference.’
Laurie frowned. ‘Adele. You know her, do you?’
‘I know a lot of people. A clinic in an isolated location like this gets its referrals by going out and making itself known. And by being the best, of course.’
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