LITMIR.BIZ

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There’s only Anna and me. That’s probably why this has happened. After our Dad died, I was overly protective. She had to rebel and a miserable partnership with an undeserving creep was the result.’

      ‘You can’t blame yourself for ever,’ she told him, and received another of his blinding smiles for her pains.

      ‘No. I can’t. But I can still try and help her. If you’ll let me.’

      ‘Like…how?’

      ‘By employing me.’

      She looked up at him. He was large and self-possessed and supremely sure of himself, she thought. And she didn’t need Dominic’s words to know he was competent. She just had to look at him to know that this was a surgeon with skill.

      And yet…

      ‘A surgeon wants to work in Bay Beach?’ Her voice was incredulous. It sounded unbelievable.

      It was unbelievable.

      ‘Only for a month or two. Depending…’

      ‘Depending on what?’

      ‘On Anna’s diagnosis.’

      ‘You want to be here for her.’

      ‘Of course.’ It was simply said, but Em knew she was hearing the truth. And it stunned her. How many high-powered city surgeons would drop their lifestyles for their sister’s sake?

      ‘You can take time off?’ she asked, and he nodded—as if his decision was of no importance.

      ‘Yes. As it happens, I was about to take an overseas posting—a teaching job in Scotland. I came down here to say goodbye to Anna, and found her in such a state that I put the job on hold. I knew whatever was frightening her wasn’t going to go away fast, and I need time. To build those bridges.’

      Once again he’d taken her breath away. To simply walk away from his profession…

      ‘Why not stay with Anna, then?’ she suggested. ‘I assume you’re not married? If you’ve been on surgeon’s wages, then surely you can just take a holiday.’

      ‘Anna won’t let me stay with her, and if there’s no good reason for me to stay in the town then she’ll reject me completely. I’m staying in a hotel—I’m not even staying with her now. As I said, we have a long way to go.’

      He was totally brisk—businesslike in what seemed, to him, to be a very sensible arrangement. ‘Which reminds me,’ he said, ignoring her raised eyebrows. ‘If I’m working here as a doctor, are there doctors’ quarters where I can stay?’

      ‘Nowhere big enough for you,’ she said without thinking, and his ready laughter sprang back.

      ‘Hey, I’m not that big.’

      Maybe not in size, but in presence, Em thought a little desperately, and she tried hard to get her scattered wits in order. OK. He needed accommodation. He’d help out for a month or so, but he needed somewhere to stay.

      The thought of his help was tantalising. Even if he just did a couple of nights’ call a week he’d be a blessing, she thought wistfully. Two nights’ guaranteed sleep a week…

      ‘I can willingly share your load,’ he said softly, and she blinked. Heck, was she so transparent?

      ‘I can manage on my own.’

      ‘Just like Anna.’

      ‘We don’t have a choice,’ she snapped, and with that the laughter died completely.

      ‘Yes,’ he told her, and a trace of sternness sounded in his tone. ‘You do have a choice. I’m here for both of you—if you let me.’

      Jonas meant it.

      He was absolutely positive, he’d brook no argument, and an hour later Em watched him drive away in his exotic little Alfa Romeo while she blinked back her disbelief.

      She had a partner—for a month.

      ‘Maybe for more if I need to be here for longer,’ he’d growled, and then had added, ‘And, please, God, I don’t need it.’

      She could only agree with him. Please, let Anna not have cancer. But if she did then Em would welcome Jonas with open arms while they waited for Anna to heal, she decided. To share her workload would be bliss. Her surgery was big enough for both of them.

      But…her home?

      That was the only part of the arrangement which left her less than satisfied. The doctors’ house at the back of the hospital had been optimistically built to accommodate up to four doctors. It therefore had four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Em, and her ancient dog, Bernard, rattled around in it.

      But it still only had one living room and one kitchen!

      So Jonas was heading back to his hotel tonight, but as of tomorrow she’d have him permanently under her feet.

      A partner and a housemate—for a month!

      But not until tomorrow, she told herself desperately. By then she should have time to get her wayward emotions under control!

      Em met Jonas again sooner than the next day. She met him that night.

      Two hours later, Em parked outside Home Two, one of the homes making up Bay Beach Orphanage, and recognised the car parked out front straight away.

      How many people in town drove silver Alfa Romeos? None that she knew of, she thought. Except Jonas.

      What on earth was he doing here?

      Drat her stupid emotions, she thought. Why did the sight of his car make her heart jolt?

      As her friend opened the front door, Em had to school her expression to hide her surprise, and she had to force her voice to sound normal. It was no mean feat, but somehow she did it.

      ‘Hi, Lori.’ She smiled at her friend but gave a sideways, cautious glance at the Alfa. ‘Am I intruding?’

      ‘Of course you’re not.’ Lori pulled the door wide, allowing her to see Jonas sitting at the kitchen table. He looked up at her and smiled, and Em’s heart did that lurching thing she was becoming familiar with and didn’t understand in the least. ‘Jonas and I are having a cup of tea. Do you have time to join us?’

      ‘I might have,’ Em said, wary. ‘Thanks to Jonas.’

      ‘He told me about taking over your surgery.’ Lori pressed her friend’s hand. ‘And about Charlie. Em, I’m so sorry.’

      ‘It’s OK.’

      But it wasn’t. She’d hardly had time to think of Charlie, but now she blinked back unexpected tears. Damn, she had to give herself time to mourn.

      When would she fit that in? Tuesday week, eleven to twelve?

      ‘I… Maybe I won’t have that tea. I’ll just see Robby and then I’ll go,’ she told Lori. Robby was the reason she’d come. Whatever Jonas was here for, she had to concentrate on her work.

      Which was Robby.

      And he needed concentration. Robby was eight months old. He’d been orphaned in a car crash two months ago. Badly burned, he’d only recently been transferred from hospital to the Bay Beach Home.

      Robby still really needed city medical facilities—physiotherapy, occupational therapy and the associated bevy of health-care services—but his aunt lived in Bay Beach and she wouldn’t hear of him going anywhere else.

      Neither would she take him in herself—or allow the thought of someone else adopting him. So Robby was being cared for by Lori at the home, with Em providing daily medical care.

      There were worse fates, Em thought. Lori offered no long-term solution for the little boy, but she loved him to bits.

      As did Em. Robby had spent two weeks in hospital in Sydney and then,

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