by Kate Hardy
Twin Docs’ Perfect Match
When Dr. Rob Langley needs an urgent kidney transplant, his twin brother, Ollie, steps in to help—changing their lives forever! As these twin docs start over, it might be time for them to meet their perfect match!
Second Chance with Her Guarded GP
Starting work in a new practice, GP Ollie Langley hadn’t anticipated falling for gorgeous nurse practitioner Gemma Baxter! Dare he take a risk on love?
Baby Miracle for the ER Doc
When Dr. Rob Langley meets ER doc Florence Jacobs, sparks fly! And one special night leads to life-changing consequences.
Both titles available now!
Dear Reader,
Rob’s one of those larger-than-life characters who simply sweeps everyone away with him—and that’s precisely what he does to Florence. Neither of them expects to fall in love, and certainly not with someone who’s their complete opposite; and neither of them expects their dreams to come true. But thanks to each other, and after a few twists and turns, those dreams really do come true.
Oh, and there’s Rob’s diagnosis. I’ll admit here that I borrowed that from me. I, too, thought I was simply a “busy” person and a bit of a daydreamer with a low boredom threshold; learning there was a reason for it was quite illuminating! And the thing that grounds me is exactly what grounds Rob: the love of someone who’s more down-to-earth. I’m very, very grateful for it.
With love,
Kate Hardy
Baby Miracle for the ER Doc
Kate Hardy
Kate Hardy has always loved books and could read before she went to school. She discovered Harlequin novels when she was twelve and decided that this was what she wanted to do. When she isn’t writing, Kate enjoys reading, cinema, ballroom dancing and the gym. You can contact her via her website, katehardy.com.
Books by Kate Hardy
Harlequin Medical Romance
Twin Docs’ Perfect Match
Second Chance with Her Guarded GP
Changing Shifts
Fling with Her Hot-Shot Consultant
Miracles at Muswell Hill Hospital
Christmas with Her Daredevil Doc
Their Pregnancy Gift
Unlocking the Italian Doc’s Heart
Carrying the Single Dad’s Baby
Heart Surgeon, Prince...Husband!
A Nurse and a Pup to Heal Him
Mistletoe Proposal on the Children’s Ward
Forever Family for the Midwife
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
For my readers. Because writing for you got me through lockdown.
Praise for Kate Hardy
“Ms. Hardy has definitely penned a fascinating read in this book... Once the hero confesses to the heroine his plan for a marriage of convenience, I was absolutely hooked.”
—Harlequin Junkie on Heart Surgeon, Prince...Husband!
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
EPILOGUE
EXCERPT FROM HAWAIIAN MEDIC TO RESCUE HIS HEART BY ANNIE O’NEIL
CHAPTER ONE
ROBERT LANGLEY WALKED through the doors of Asherwick General Hospital.
How good it felt to be back on the side of the hospital where he belonged. To be the fixer again, not the fixee.
Not in a helicopter, being evacuated after a burst appendix. Not developing severe blood poisoning that went on to wipe out his kidneys. Not lying in a hospital bed, on dialysis. Not on the operating table, while his twin Oliver was in the operating theatre next door—a living donor, having a kidney cut out for Rob. Not stuck at home after the transplant, with his mother wrapping him in so much cotton wool that he was beginning to resemble a snowman.
The last six months had been tough. Rob had had to come to terms with the fact he’d never again be able to work for the humanitarian aid organisation where he’d volunteered; with only one working kidney, and a transplanted one at that, he was too much of a potential liability. The mountain rescue team where he volunteered had offered him a support role when he was well enough to come back, but they’d made it clear that he couldn’t do the rescue work he’d been used to doing for them. Desk job only.
It had been months since he’d climbed anywhere. Months since he’d done anything riskier than playing chess with his twin. Months since he’d worked—apart from the day the previous weekend when he’d taken Ollie’s place among the medics for a sixty-mile fundraising cycle race.
And right now Rob was desperate for a bit of normality. He wanted his life back. His lovely, busy life.
He’d taken the first step at the weekend. While he’d been recuperating, he’d let his hair grow out so it was more like his twin’s, with his fringe flopping over his eyes, and he’d shaved every day because it was another way of filling the endless seconds until his life went back to normal. But on Saturday morning he’d walked into the barber’s and asked them to shave it back to his normal crop, just shy of military barbering. He hadn’t shaved for a couple of days. And this morning, when he’d looked in the mirror, he’d seen himself again. Not the patient who could barely do a thing for himself that he’d been forced to be for so long.
His consultant had agreed that Rob wasn’t quite ready to go back to climbing, but could go back to work part-time, and now he had a temporary post working three days a week as a registrar in the Emergency Department at Asherwick.
It was so, so good to be back. The fact that nobody knew him here made it all the better, because nobody would fuss that he was overdoing things, or treat him as anyone other than normal.
Rob knew better than to overdo things. The last thing he wanted was to be stuck recuperating again. But it would feel so good to be seen as a doctor first, not as someone recovering from a kidney transplant. To help someone instead of being the one who needed help. To do the job he’d spent years training to do and knew he did well.
‘Hello! I wasn’t expecting to see you here.’
Rob stared at the woman who’d just spoken to him. He’d never seen this woman in his life before. And he would definitely have remembered her: slight, with dark hair in a pixie cut and huge brown eyes, a heart-shaped face and a generous mouth. She reminded him of a young Audrey Hepburn. All she needed was the little black dress instead of a white coat, the enormous hat and a pair of dark glasses, and she’d be a ringer for Holiday Golightly.
According to her lanyard, she was Dr Florence Jacobs; given they were both in the Emergency Department, it was a fair assumption that she was one of his new colleagues.
Before Rob could apologise for having no idea who she was, she asked, ‘How’s your patient with chickenpox pneumonia doing?’
‘Patient?’ What patient? He hadn’t treated anyone for months, let alone anyone with chickenpox. Or pneumonia.
She looked disappointed, as if he’d just outed himself as the sort of doctor who couldn’t be bothered to remember his patients. Which wasn’t who he was at all. ‘The elderly woman you brought in, a couple of weeks ago.’
‘I’m sorry. I think you must have the wrong person.’
She frowned. ‘I’m sure it was you. Just your hair was different.’
His hair was different?
Then the penny dropped.
‘Ah. You must mean Oliver. My twin,’ he
explained. GPs didn’t usually bring their patients to the Emergency Department, but Oliver Langley was the kind of doctor who went above and beyond. And Oliver was the sort of person people remembered; he exuded warmth and kindness and made friends in the blink of an eye. ‘I can ask him for you, if you like.’
‘It’s OK. I just...’ She flapped a dismissive hand, and a tide of colour swept through her face. ‘Never mind.’
Clearly she was embarrassed at making a mistake, and Rob didn’t want things to feel awkward between himself and his new colleague. ‘Let’s rewind that and start again. Good morning. I’m Robert Langley,’ he said. ‘I’m the new part-time registrar. Rob, to my friends.’
‘Florence Jacobs. Senior Reg. Good to meet you.’
Though she didn’t offer a shortened version of her a name, he noticed. Did that mean she was the sort who kept a distance between herself and her colleagues? Or did she not like shortening her name?
He shook her hand and his palm tingled.
Uh-oh. That wasn’t good.
He was supposed to be concentrating on his new job, not getting side-tracked by attraction. Even if Florence Jacobs was a) single and b) interested in him, he was only here for a few months before he went back to his old job in Manchester. Although Rob was happy for all his relationships to stay short and sweet, he knew from experience that his girlfriends didn’t necessarily see things the same way; there was no guarantee that Florence would be interested in a fling. So it was better to keep things strictly professional rather than act on that pull of attraction he felt towards her. His life had been complicated enough for the last few months. He wanted things kept nice and simple. Just him and his job. No expectations he couldn’t fulfil and no girlfriends to be let down when his low boredom threshold kicked in.
‘I see they’ve already given you a lanyard. That’s good. Come with me and I’ll show you where the staff kitchen is,’ she said. ‘And you’re rostered in Resus with me today, so if there’s anything you need just let me know.’
He gave her his best smile. ‘Thanks. That’d be great.’
‘Welcome to Asherwick General,’ she said.
* * *
Robert Langley was gorgeous.
Absolutely gorgeous.
Like a young Hugh Grant, without the floppy hair and smooth skin. Though, actually, Florence rather liked the stubble. And those startling blue eyes, the brighter because there was no fringe getting in their way. Part of her was seriously tempted to reach out and touch his face, find out whether the stubble was spiky or soft.
But she’d learned the hard way: getting close to someone netted you a broken heart, broken dreams and a divorce. So she wasn’t going to act on that flare of attraction to their new registrar. Besides, looking like that, he must have women queuing a mile deep to date him—if he hadn’t already been married for years.
So she switched her head to friendly and professional mode, smiled and led him through to the kitchen. ‘We have a kitty system here. Everyone gives their subs to Shobu on Reception once a month and she keeps us stocked with tea, coffee and stuff. Any special dietary requirements, just let her know.’ She gestured to the cupboards. ‘Mugs and plates are there, cutlery in the drawer, and if we’re lucky it’s someone’s birthday and they bring in cake.’
‘Or if someone starts in the department and wants to say hello to his new colleagues,’ Rob said, and placed the carrier bag he’d been holding on the worktop. ‘Cake, cheese straws and fruit.’
‘That,’ Florence said with a smile, ‘is definitely a good way to say hello.’ He’d been thoughtful about it, including things for people who didn’t like cake or had other dietary requirements. It was such a nice thing to do, and it made her warm to him.
He took everything out of the bag, including a note.
Please help yourself!
All the best from your new colleague,
Rob Langley
He placed it on the worktop. Then he glanced at his watch. ‘We haven’t got time for coffee. Not if we want to get a decent handover rather than making people stay on after their shift.’
She liked that, too. He was thinking of their colleagues who were already busy. A team player. Good. That was exactly what they needed. Their last three temps hadn’t been team players at all. ‘Agreed. Let’s go through,’ she said.
She introduced him to everyone they passed; and they’d just got to Resus when the red phone shrilled.
Florence answered it, made a few notes, and blew out a breath.
‘ETA ten minutes. Elderly patient, fallen and banged his head. He’s lost a lot of blood; he collapsed in the ambulance but they’ve stabilised him,’ she said. ‘Though he’s also a bit confused.’
‘So we’re looking at an urgent cross-match of blood, getting fluids into him, possibly a transfusion, and then a CT scan from his head to his hip to check for other injuries,’ Rob said.
She liked the way his thoughts chimed with hers. ‘Exactly.’
* * *
Everything was ready by the time their patient arrived.
As the paramedics talked her through what they’d done, she could see that his blood pressure was low, thanks to the blood he’d lost.
‘Mr Walker, do you know where you are?’ Rob asked.
‘I’m not at home, am I?’ the elderly man asked, sounding confused.
‘No, you’re at Asherwick General.’
‘My cup of tea...’ He looked anxious.
‘Do you remember anything that happened?’ Florence asked.
‘No.’ Mr Walker began to shake his head, and stopped, wincing. ‘My neck hurts.’
‘We think you had a fall and hit your head,’ Rob said. ‘Your wife’s on her way in, with your daughter. I’m Dr Langley, and this is Dr Jacobs. We’re going to look after you. I’m just going to take a tiny sample of blood, if that’s all right.’
‘Yes.’ Mr Walker’s face crumpled. ‘I want Lizzie.’
‘She’ll be here soon,’ Florence reassured him, assuming he meant his wife or his daughter. She glanced at the monitor, deeply unhappy with his blood pressure reading; he’d clearly lost a lot of blood, meaning that not enough was going to his vital organs. ‘We’re going to get some fluids into you,’ she said.
Rob was already on top of it. And he’d done the blood sample without a fuss while they’d been talking to their patient. He might be new and he might only be a temporary colleague, but he was already acting as if he’d been part of the team for years. Unlike their last couple of temps, who’d seemed to wait to be told what to do.
Once Mr Walker was stabilised and they’d stemmed the bleeding, she sent him for an urgent CT scan; then she and Rob went to see his wife and daughter.
‘I’m Dr Jacobs and this is Dr Langley,’ she introduced them swiftly.
‘Lizzie Walker,’ his wife said, ‘and Jeannette.’
‘He was asking for you earlier,’ Rob said. ‘We told him you were both on your way.’
‘Your husband’s having a scan at the moment so we can check him over properly and see if he’s got any other injuries. He’s lost a bit more blood than we’d like, so we’re going to give him a transfusion,’ Florence said. ‘Can you tell us what happened?’
‘I’m not sure. He’d gone downstairs to let the dog out and make us both a cup of tea,’ Mrs Walker said. ‘He must’ve slipped on the stairs, though I didn’t hear him fall. I was in the shower. It was only when I was getting dressed that I heard the dog barking. I thought it was a bit odd, and when I went out I saw Pete lying at the foot of the stairs and there was blood everywhere. I called the ambulance, and I put a blanket over him to keep him warm because I didn’t want to risk moving him. He couldn’t remember falling, so whether he blacked out or something happened...’ She shook her head. ‘I don’t know. I’m sorry.’
‘You did the best thing, keeping him warm an
d calling the ambulance and not moving him,’ Florence reassured her.
‘There was so much blood.’ Mrs Walker’s face was pinched.
‘Scalp wounds always seem scary and bleed a lot,’ Rob said, ‘because the skin’s thicker and there are more veins and arteries. But we’ve stopped the bleeding now.’
‘Is Dad going to be all right?’ Jeanette asked.
Florence didn’t have enough information to be able to answer that. ‘We’re looking after him,’ she said instead. ‘He did seem a little bit confused.’ Had he just missed his footing, or had he had a stroke, or was it something else—had he banged his head hard enough to cause an internal bleed? ‘Can I ask about his general health before the fall? Any medical conditions?’
‘He was fine,’ Mrs Walker said.
Jeanette sighed. ‘Oh, Mum. That’s not quite true. Dad’s memory is starting to go a bit.’
‘We manage,’ Mrs Walker said defensively.
‘Nobody’s assigning any kind of blame,’ Florence said gently. ‘We’re just trying to put the clues together to work out what happened and what caused it, to help us decide on the best treatment to give him.’
Mrs Walker grimaced. ‘We’re just getting old. Jeanette’s right, Pete’s a bit forgetful. He’s got high blood pressure, but he takes his medication every day—I bought him one of those weekly pill box things to make sure.’ She bit her lip. ‘Do you think he had a stroke and that’s why he fell? Is that why he can’t remember anything?’
‘We’ll know more when we’ve seen the scan,’ Florence said.
‘But if you can give us a full run-down of his medical history, that would really help us work things out,’ Rob said, giving her a warm smile.
Mrs Walker and her daughter both seemed to react well to his charm; Florence left him to do the talking and noted down everything they said.
‘Thank you—that was very helpful,’ she said when they’d finished. ‘We’ll come and get you as soon as he’s back in the department, so you can see him.’
