‘We’ll get married,’ he said. ‘As soon as we can.’
She pulled away from him, feeling the cool wind of their separation. She looked up at him. His dear, puzzled face.
‘That’s very honourable of you,’ she said stiffly, ‘but I haven’t decided what to do yet.’
He narrowed his eyes. ‘What do you mean?’ Then he cursed. ‘You can’t be thinking of getting rid of it? My God, Caitlin, does the thought of having a child, my child, revolt you so much?’
She shook her head at him. ‘The timing—’ she managed, before he interrupted her.
‘You mean that the timing is all wrong? That it will interfere with your career plans? God, Cat.’ He tried to pull her back into his arms but she resisted. ‘There will be plenty of time for your career when the baby, our baby, is old enough.’
She tried a laugh, but it wasn’t very successful. ‘You’ve changed your mind. I thought you disapproved of women who combined motherhood with careers.’
He looked sheepish. Raising his hand, he drew a finger down the contours of her cheek, following the trail to the base of her neck. Caitlin shivered, feeling desire throughout her body. ‘I was wrong, okay? I hadn’t met you when I thought all that. Now I have…’ he laughed, as if astonished ‘…I realise that being with the right woman, supporting her, is what matters. I couldn’t help falling in love with you, and I guess I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t been you.’ He laughed again. ‘I’m making a mess of this, aren’t I? I guess it’s because I have never been in love before.’
In love? Caitlin’s mind was reeling. He was in love with her? For a brief moment her heart soared. He loved her and wanted to marry her. She could be with him, grow old with him, share her life with a man who made her world come alive. But then she remembered. She might not have a future. And could she really believe him? What if he was just telling her he loved her to convince her to have his child? And if she told him the truth and she turned out to have cancer, what then? Would he pity her? Stay with her because of a sense of duty? Persuade her to terminate the pregnancy to save her own life and then spend the rest of their lives together, however long that was, resenting her? Even coming to hate her? She could never, ever allow that to happen. She loved him too much. But perhaps, she thought, hope springing, the results would be negative. If that was the case, then they could be together, if she could bring herself to believe he was telling the truth that he loved her. That he didn’t want to marry her because of the baby.
He was looking at her expectantly, a small smile playing on his lips. Caitlin took a deep breath, knowing she was about to hurt him deeply.
‘I haven’t decided what to do about the pregnancy,’ she said. ‘There’s a good chance I may not keep it.’ As she said the words she knew it was as if she was stabbing him in the heart. The smile froze on his lips and he drew his brows together. He had never looked so handsome or so frightening to Caitlin before.
‘You are a piece of work,’ he said at last. ‘I have never met a woman like you before.’ He laughed bitterly. ‘I know you told me your career is important, but I thought you had changed. God, woman, I thought you felt something for me. It just goes to show you how wrong a man could be. I was prepared to go against everything I’d been brought up to believe just to be with you.’ He shook his head. ‘What a fool.’
Caitlin reached out for him, wanting to tell him the truth. But she let her hand drop to her side. She still thought she might be right. If he couldn’t have the baby, then he didn’t want her.
‘Then I’ve just prevented you from making the biggest mistake of your life,’ she said gently, before turning on her heel and leaving him standing in the darkness.
Later, when Mrs Crouse and her baby had been taken to the ward and Dr Hargreaves relieved, Caitlin made her way tiredly to the on-call room. She had no idea where Andrew had disappeared to, she was simply relieved that they were no longer confined in the small aircraft together.
Wearily she decided against a shower and lay down on the single bed, still in her crumpled theatre greens. It had been a long and emotional night. Her thoughts jumbled around her head. It was all such a mess. If she had known that coming to Australia would throw her life into such turmoil, would she have come? But then she wouldn’t have met and fallen in love with Andrew. And while that might have been easier in many, many ways, she would never have known what it was like to be in love. She would have continued through her life, shutting out the world, only halfalive. Whatever happened, she knew that something inside her had changed irrevocably. At the very least she knew she’d be turning down the chair of obstetrics. She would never again seek to hide from life behind papers and research. She would stay with clinical medicine. Her first love. And if she had breast cancer? Well, she would cope with that too. If Bri could get through it, so could she. And the baby? the thought whispered in her mind. What about your baby? Can you really terminate it, even if it means saving your own life? The thought brought tears to her eyes. How ironic. She had never wanted children and now here she was, possibly having to decide between her own life and that of her unborn child. It was an impossible decision.
She thumped the pillow, rolling over on her side. Please, let her sleep. Let her have a little peace. Just for a while. Perhaps by tomorrow she would know the worst. But she couldn’t help the tears from falling when she thought about living the rest of her life without Andrew.
A soft knock on the door woke her from an uneasy sleep. It was still dark and a glance at her watch showed it was just after six in the morning. Caitlin assumed it was someone from the labour ward come to fetch her, but instead when she opened the door it was to find Andrew. He looked dishevelled and haunted. Without waiting for her to invite him in, he strode into the room.
‘I’ve been walking for hours,’ he said, keeping his back to her, ‘thinking about everything, and it just doesn’t make sense.’ He turned around and Caitlin could see the lines of anguish around his mouth. ‘I know you, Caitlin. I’ve come to know you almost as well as I know myself.’ He raked his hand through his hair as he paced the tiny room. Suddenly he looked over at her and Caitlin felt the intensity of his eyes burn into her soul. ‘I’ve watched you with your patients—how dedicated and emotionally involved you are with them, despite yourself. And I know you’re not the type of person to have a termination just because a baby is inconvenient.’ Caitlin’s heart thumped painfully in her chest as she noticed a wave of despair flit across Andrew’s face. ‘Please, darling,’ he whispered hoarsely. ‘Tell me. Tell me what’s wrong.’
Caitlin couldn’t trust herself to speak as she threw herself into his arms. How could she have ever doubted his love? she wondered, feeling Andrew’s powerful arms wrapping round her body and holding her tightly, as if he was afraid she would vanish into thin air.
She felt his lips against her hair. ‘Please, Caitlin. Tell me what’s really troubling you.’ He cupped his hand round the back of her neck, letting out a wry laugh. ‘I never believed those soppy love songs—but, my God, I’d move heaven and earth for you.’
Caitlin twisted her hands into his shirt. She wanted this moment to last for ever. But she was gaining strength from the love emanating from him, she realised. He had a right to know. And somehow they would face the difficult decisions together.
‘I know now why I always told myself I didn’t want children,’ she mumbled into his chest. ‘It was because I saw so much fear and longing with my own patients. It was easier to pretend that that wasn’t for me, rather than imagine going through all that heartache. And I thought my career would be enough. But that was before I met you.’ She pulled her head back, her eyes searching his. He had the right to know the truth. She took a deep breath. ‘Andrew, I might have breast cancer too. That’s why I wasn’t sure if I could carry on with the pregnancy.’ The thought of losing the life inside her welled up again, and Caitlin choked back the tears that were threatening to overwhelm her.
‘I love you,’ she added, feeling
a weight lift from her shoulders. ‘I love you more than life itself. I know that now. But this has to be my decision and despite what I said earlier, I don’t know if I could go through with a termination.’ Caitlin shuddered at the thought.
Before she knew it, Andrew was across the room and lifting the telephone. ‘Who is doing the tests for you?’ he asked tersely.
‘Dr Sommerville,’ Caitlin replied. ‘But, Andrew, it’s only 6.30! You can’t get her up…’
‘Can’t I? Watch me!’ His eyes held hers as he waited for the operator to pick up. ‘You’re not going through another second of this agony, waiting to hear whether you’ve got cancer or not.’ He turned his attention back to the receiver. ‘This is Dr Bedi—can you page Dr Sommerville straight away? Yes, yes, I know what time it is, but tell her it’s an emergency.’ Dropping the phone back in its cradle, Andrew pulled her back into his arms. ‘If the test is positive, I’ll respect your decision—no matter what it is. All I know is that I want you in my life. Strong and healthy. That’s what matters.’
Caitlin attempted a smile. ‘Whatever happens, I’m not going to take the post in Ireland. I’m going to live here with you and near Bri. She can help with the baby.’ She smiled at the image.
‘You’d do all that? For me? Risk your life? Not that there’s a chance in hell I’m going to allow you. And give up your career?’ He pulled her closer. ‘I love you more than I thought it was possible to love a woman.’
‘I don’t mean give up my career entirely,’ she said warningly. ‘I have to work, but there’s no reason, if you help, that I can’t have both.’ She snuggled into his arms. And if she had cancer, well, life sometimes dealt a blow. She would just have to take her chances. She knew that even short a life with Andrew was better than a long life without him.
‘I suppose I can learn how to change a nappy,’ he said. ‘Better men than me have managed. Just don’t expect me to make a very good job of it.’
Caitlin giggled, imagining his large hands struggling with the fiddly ties of a small nappy. Just then the phone rang. Andrew and Caitlin stared at one another, the air suddenly thick with tension. They both knew it was Dr Sommerville returning Andrew’s page. The next few seconds would determine their future—and that of their baby.
Caitlin picked up the phone. She was right. It was Dr Sommerville.
‘Oh, Dr O’Neill, I thought it was Dr Bedi who was paging me. It sounded pretty urgent. Switchboard must have put me through to you by mistake.’ Before Antonia could end the call, Caitlin interrupted.
‘Please, don’t go. He was phoning on my behalf. We were wondering whether you had my results. I know it’s pretty early to be calling but…’ She was aware of Andrew hovering directly behind her. She knew he was perfectly capable of wrestling the phone from her hand.
‘Of course. I know you must be anxious. As it happens, I have your results right here. I did try to catch you at home earlier, but Brianna said you were out on a call.’
Suddenly Caitlin couldn’t bear to know. If it was bad news, she didn’t know if she could hold it together. But for once she had someone to share the burden with. She didn’t have to be the strong one all the time. Not any more.
‘Antonia,’ she said softly, ‘I’m going to pass you to Andrew. Could you tell him the results please?’
As she held out the phone to Andrew their eyes locked. As he took the receiver he tipped her face to him.
‘I love you,’ he said. ‘Whatever happens, it’s you I want. You will always be enough for me.’ As she returned his steady gaze, she felt his strength flow through her. With him by her side, she could face any thing.
It was only when Andrew replaced the receiver that Caitlin realised she had been holding her breath.
Fear clenched her throat as she noticed tears glistening in Andrew’s eyes. Her heart sank. She had cancer. Instinctively, her hand fluttered protectively over her stomach, until she realised Andrew was smiling.
‘What…what did she say?’ she whispered.
‘The tests have come back negative. It’s a benign cyst. You’re all right. Thank God!’
And then there was no more need for words. Wrapping her arms around him, Caitlin knew she would never live in fear again. With Andrew by her side, and their baby to look forward to, life was going to be a real roller-coaster. And she couldn’t wait for it to begin.
All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
First published in Great Britain 2009
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
Hired: GP and Wife © Judy Campbell 2009
The Playboy Doctor’s Surprise Proposal © Anne Fraser 2009
ISBN: 978-1-408-91205-8
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Dear Reader
Hired: GP and Wife
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
The Playboy Doctor's Surprise Proposal
About the Author
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Copyright
Hired: GP and Wife / The Playboy Doctor's Surprise Proposal Page 32
