She threw her sunglasses down onto the sand and swivelled until she was facing him, her legs tucked under her, her face anguished, her hands clenched together. ‘I know, it sounds mad. It was mad, all of it. It made no sense. Even if I was going to sacrifice my own happiness for the children, being with Philip would never have been the right thing. He doesn’t love the children. They don’t love him. And neither do I. It was never about that.’
She searched his face for a reaction and with difficulty he remained impassive. She went on. ‘I still can’t believe all the trouble I created just by considering that option for a millisecond.’ She shuddered. ‘I still can’t bear to think what might have happened if the twins hadn’t known where you lived, if you hadn’t found them.’
‘And now?’ He believed her. Crazy as her explanation was, he believed her, but did it make any difference? She hadn’t thought what he was offering was worth fighting for. He bit back the retort. Patience was what was needed. He needed to hear her out. And then make up his mind. ‘It’s been a couple of weeks, Rosie. Why the delay, if you wanted to explain? To apologise?’
‘I…’ She swallowed, glanced away and then knelt up on the sand, slipping her sunglasses onto the top of her head and sliding his from his face so she could look into his eyes. ‘The story of my life. I didn’t think I deserved the chance. I’d made such a mess of it all. I made my niece and nephew so terrified and insecure they ran away. I drove you away because I convinced myself I didn’t deserve to be happy when the twins had suffered so much.’
‘Yet you’re here now. What’s changed?’
‘Put simply, Ally helped me see today that’s nonsense. She said I’m so used to putting myself second, it was easier to keep doing that than accept the challenge of giving myself some priority.’
He hadn’t thought of that but the explanation fit what he knew about her, fitted what had happened. The shroud of rejection and hurt evaporated from around him but he couldn’t act on that. Not yet. There was more he needed to hear. Knowing she was what he wanted, needed, wasn’t enough. He needed to know she really believed in them, needed to be sure she knew she was entitled to the sort of happiness he wanted to bring her.
‘What else did she say?’
‘That I was making excuses so I could avoid dealing with the real issue. And she made me see clearly how well the twins are doing now and take some credit for it. Watching them today, I suddenly realised they’re much happier than I am.’
‘So they’ve bounced back.’ Quicker than us, he could have added but restrained himself. She didn’t need to know he’d had insomnia ever since they’d parted and it had got worse since that night the twins had disappeared. Work had been his only saviour and last night it had ceased to even be that. Once he’d finally known that was all there was for him, he’d never felt more dismal.
‘But they’re missing you. As soon as they believed I wasn’t going anywhere, that we’re staying in Sydney for good, all their angst surrounding you disappeared. Now I get a daily inquisition over why you don’t come around any more.’
‘What do you tell them?’
‘I say I made a mistake and I hurt you. They tell me to say sorry and we can be friends again. Up until today I didn’t think that could happen. I’ve made such a mess of things.’
‘It has been that.’
‘But according to Ally, it doesn’t have to be.’
‘What does she suggest?’ Nick asked curiously.
‘Actually, she thinks I should go online and find someone.’
‘She does, does she?’ He had a few words to say to Ally!
‘But she says not to expect miracles online. And it’s a miracle I’m after.’
‘Miracles? What sort are we talking?’
‘The happy-ever-after sort.’
‘From what I’ve seen of the Internet, I agree with Ally. Expecting miracles is a tall order.’
‘You’ve been looking for someone?’ She sounded aghast.
For a brief moment he considered leading her further down that path, making her suffer like he’d suffered, but lying wasn’t his style and neither was being mean. ‘No.’ He was gratified when she exhaled the breath she’d clearly been holding, waiting for his answer. ‘But I’ve had a bit of time on my hands lately, since I became part of a couple and then single again all in the same night. The Internet has been a handy time-killer but mostly I’ve been looking for the best deal on importing Perky Nanas.’
She was watching him through narrowed eyes. ‘Truly?’
He drew the shape of a cross over his chest. ‘Truly. I’ll give you a tip. For free.’
‘Yes?’ She was looking at him, eyes wide, lips parted, face full of hope. He resisted the urge to reach out and touch her freckles. There were still things to be said and he knew touching her would mean the end of talking.
‘Advertising locally is the safer bet. Try it.’
‘Here?’
He shrugged. ‘Couldn’t hurt.’
She cleared her throat, sending him a slightly embarrassed glance before saying, ‘Unemployed female doctor—’
‘Hold it. So you really have quit your job?’
She nodded. ‘The day after the twins ran away. There was never really any doubt about it, I just needed a little push to make the break.’
So far, this ad was looking okay. ‘Go on.’
‘Unemployed female doctor, new mother to two rapscallion children…’ she was smiling now, warming up to the task ‘…seeks permanent partner, has to be a Kiwi, and a doctor, must like Sunday morning coffee by the beach, have a sweet tooth—’
‘You do or he has to?’
‘He has to. I have to watch my weight.’ She frowned at him. ‘I’m advertising for a man.’ She bit down on her lip to keep from smiling. With difficulty, he kept a straight face, too.
‘Fair enough.’ He nodded. ‘Keep going.’
‘Must love children, puppies that chew everything in sight, and utter chaos in the morning. Must kiss like a bad boy and—’ She stopped, apparently distracted by his mouth, which she appeared absorbed by.
‘What? And he must what? After the kissing part.’
‘I don’t know what happens after the kissing part. That’s why I need to find this man. The man I want did kiss me once, but we were fairly thoroughly interrupted. Nick?’ She leant forward, her hand trailing down his cheek. ‘I hate cliffhangers. Would you mind very much if we found out how that kiss ended?’
‘We can’t.’
Shock filled her face. ‘You don’t want to?’
‘I have to answer that ad first, before some other Kiwi sees it and responds.’
She nodded slowly and he noticed she had crossed her fingers on her right hand and was holding them tight.
‘As far as the ad goes, yes, I’m interested. Yes, I fit the criteria but, like you said, there’s one item we have to finish testing before I can give you my final answer.’
Her lips parted but it seemed she, too, was done with talking. She placed her hands on his chest and leant into him, her gaze roaming across his face before settling on his mouth. She leaned in a little more, her lips opened every so slightly. He pulled away and hauled her onto him, rolling over in one smooth movement so he had her lying on her back in the sand. The length of her toned body was moulded under his, skin against skin, where he’d wanted to be.
He’d never claimed to be a saint and right now all he wanted was the sinning.
Her hands threaded through his hair, and he breathed in the scent of her—roses, sunscreen and coffee. Looking deep into his eyes, he knew she’d never been more beautiful, her cheeks flushed, her pupils large and inky black. With a sound somewhere between a growl and a groan that expressed the anguish of these last weeks, he brought his mouth down to cover hers and kissed her with all the passion he’d been suppressing for so long.
When they finally came up for air she was grinning at him. Her hair had come loose from the constraints of its ponytail. She looked messy
and lovely and pink and happy.
‘So I guess now we know how the kiss ends. Does this mean you like my ad?’
‘No, it’s awful.’ He grinned, sitting up and pulling her up with him. If he didn’t sit up, he wouldn’t be able to stop kissing her and there were still things that needed to be sorted. ‘It needs to be withdrawn because you, Rosie Jefferson, are officially off the market.’
‘You forgive me?’ Her smile widened, transforming her face into a picture of unabashed, immeasurable happiness and loveliness.
‘Yes, I forgive you for putting the children first. I’d expect nothing less from you. I even forgive you for putting me through hell. But only if, this time, when I tell you I love you, you don’t push me away. Because I do love you, Rosie, and without you all my plans, all the work is meaningless. James asked me last night if it was lonely at the top.’ He shuddered, remembering the last weeks of despair. ‘I’m nowhere near the summit and already I’m miserable, wondering what it’s all been for and knowing the answer can only be you.’
He wasn’t sure but it looked like there were tears in Rosie’s eyes as she searched for confirmation. ‘Me?’
He nodded, reaching out to tuck some loose strands of blonde hair behind her ear. ‘It’s you, Rosie. It’s been you since the moment you first smiled at me. You and those rapscallion children. I want to make a life with the three of you.’
Over Rosie’s head he could see Ally and the twins making their way back up the beach towards them. He moved until he was kneeling up on one knee in front of her. ‘I’d like to be able to give you a long speech right now but I reckon we have maybe fifty-five seconds until we’re invaded. If it’s all right with you, I’ll give you the condensed version.’ He took her hand in his. ‘Rosie, let me love you. Let me adore you and cherish you.’ Her eyes were wide as saucers and she was nodding mutely. ‘Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
She was nodding, smiling, her green eyes still dark with desire, her face aglow with surprise and pleasure. ‘Yes, yes, to all of it. For the first time I can truly say I’m okay with someone doing things for me. I can’t wait to be adored. And as for being cherished, yes, please.’ Rosie took his other hand in hers too and clasped it tight. ‘Nick, I’ve made every mistake I can think of and I’m sure I’ll make many more. But I promise to never, ever doubt that you are the one I need. And love.’
He slid an arm behind her and leant her back until they were lying on the warm sand again. And this time there were no questions behind their kiss, there were only answers.
‘Yuck!’ said Charlie from somewhere above them. ‘More kissing.’
Reluctantly, Nick ended the kiss and sat up, pulling Rosie up again but tucking her in against his side, where she belonged. He surveyed their company. They were surrounded by a grinning Ally, two bouncing children and a wet, sandy dog. ‘Hello, there. I can see kissing Rosie will need some careful planning. Either that or I’ll have to get used to an audience.’
‘Does this mean you two have sorted out your differences?’ Ally asked.
‘What this means is that Rosie has agreed to marry me.’
‘You’re getting married!’ Lucy clapped her hands together in excitement.
‘But Rosie has one condition. You.’ He grabbed Lucy and tugged her down onto their laps, touching the little girl on the tip of her nose. ‘And you,’ he said to a squealing Charlie as he pulled him, too, off his feet down on top of Rosie, Lucy and himself. ‘And even that naughty puppy over there have to agree to live happily ever after, too. What do you say?’
The twins squealed with delight and promptly jumped up and down on top of Rosie and Nick. In perfect unison, they shouted, ‘We say yes!’
His beautiful Rosie was laughing, and even with two small children using him as a trampoline, Nick couldn’t wait any longer. He leant over, squashing the twins in the process, making them screech even louder, and kissed Rosie.
Because this was the time.
This was the place.
And this, most definitely, was the woman.
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.
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First published in Great Britain 2009
Harlequin Mills & Boon Limited,
Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
Italian Doctor, Dream Proposal© Margaret McDonagh 2009
Wanted: A Father for her Twins© Emily Forbes 2009
ISBN: 978 1 408 91215 7
Table of Contents
Cover Page
Excerpt
Title Page
Italian Doctor, Dream Proposal
Praise
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Wanted: A Father for her Twins
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Copyright
Italian Doctor, Dream Proposal / Wanted: A Father for her Twins Page 35
