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see June’s apprehension so she tried to help with the little she knew. ‘It sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it?’

      She gestured to Marco. ‘Dr D’Arvello is consulting here on a secondment. Intrauterine surgery is his specialty and he’s here to help our obstetric and paediatric surgeons increase their skills.’

      June narrowed her gaze. ‘So you’re the expert?’

      ‘Si.’ Marco nodded.

      ‘So you don’t deliver babies, then?’ June frowned. ‘Just laser them?’

      White teeth flashed as he grinned, and Emily could feel her own mouth curve because he just made her want to smile. ‘But no. I am present for many births. Thankfully, only few babies need what I offer and a normal birth is always a joy.’ He glanced at Emily. ‘You would agree, Sister Cooper?’

      ‘Of course.’ Emily wondered if he did see many normal births. Nowadays, at Sydney Harbour Hospital anyway, obstetricians were usually only called when complications occurred. Or for hands-on service for their private patients, but perhaps it was different in Italy.

      June had thought it through and now she nodded. ‘So what happens now?’

      ‘Tonight we give you the second injection to encourage your twins’ lungs to mature in case premature labour cannot be stopped.’ He glanced at Emily who inclined her head in agreement. ‘And please, no more food or fluids until after we operate tomorrow morning.’

      June chewed her lip as the closeness of the operation sank in. ‘What time will they come for me?’

      ‘It will be soon after breakfast.’ He smiled. ‘Which is not for you.’

      She pretended to sigh at that and Emily wanted to hug her for being so brave, though the anxiety lay clearly behind her joking manner. ‘Thank you, Doctor.’

      Marco narrowed his eyes and studied her. ‘You have a mother’s courage. Would you like something to help you sleep? Sister could give you something to help you relax.’

      ‘No. Thank you. I guess I won’t be doing much tomorrow and I can catch up then.’

      Marco stood up. ‘Bene. Goodnight, then.’ He caught Emily’s eye. ‘May I have a word with you, Sister?’

      Emily nodded. ‘One minute.’ And smiled at June. ‘I’ll be back soon. Would you like a drink of water before I take it away?’

      June swallowed half a glass and Emily collected the water and followed him out to the desk, where he was writing up his orders for the night.

CHAPTER TWO

      EMILY glanced at the clock. A quarter to one. Dr D’Arvello would have little sleep before his surgery day. She wondered if he was as used to lack of sleep as she was.

      From her height above where he sat at the desk she couldn’t help noticing the thickness of his dark hair. No sign of grey but he must be in his mid-thirties. A few years older than her and so much more experienced with the world. That deficit hadn’t bothered her before. Why should it now? Silly. ‘You wished to see me, Doctor?’

      His dark eyes swept up from the notes and over her face. He smiled and she found herself grinning back like a goose before she could stop herself. ‘I did not know you were a midwife at your daughter’s visit this morning.’

      It felt so long ago. ‘It’s not important?’

      He frowned. ‘But I would have offered more explanation if you wished. Is there more I can tell you?’

      ‘No. Thank you.’ She shrugged, a little embarrassed to admit it. ‘Of course I have researched the internet and read what I can find. I think I understand the operation well enough.’

      He nodded. ‘Sometimes I wish my clients would not look up on the internet but I am sure you picked well with your sites. The procedure is fairly simple. Perhaps a little more complicated than June’s surgery, but over almost as quickly.’

      He stood up, towered over her again, and seemed to hesitate. ‘And will you have to come to work tomorrow night after your daughter’s operation?’

      Her stomach dropped with a tinge of alarm. Was there bad news he hadn’t mentioned? ‘Actually, I’m not.’ Did he think she would be too upset?

      Still he frowned. ‘So when will you sleep?’

      ‘I’ll go home as soon as Annie is out of surgery. So I will sleep when she does, afterwards.’

      ‘You will be tired.’ He handed her the completed notes and she took them and stared at the pages. Not really seeing his looping scrawl. Looked anywhere but his face. It had been a while since anyone had wondered if she was tired and his kindness made her feel strange. This whole conversation was surreal because she was so ridiculously conscious of him.

      She risked a glance. ‘I was just thinking the same for you.’

      He shrugged his manly shoulders and she felt her stomach kick. This was crazy. She was way too aware of this man, this transient doctor. ‘I sleep less than four hours a night. Always have done.’

      ‘And I survive on about the same. I’m used to it.’ She opened the folder at the medication page. She needed to get this injection for June happening. The last one had been given twelve hours ago at the regional hospital. ‘So we have something in common.’

      He wasn’t ready to let her go. ‘Perhaps we have more than that.’

      She blinked. ‘I don’t know what you mean?’

      He smiled but there was mischief that made her cheeks pink again. ‘A concern and empathy for our patients.’

      What had she thought he meant? ‘Oh. Of course. Well, thank you for your concern. I’ll just go for the hydrocortisone for June.’

      ‘Perhaps one more thing?’ He held up one finger. ‘The reason I asked.’

      She stopped. ‘I’m sorry?’

      ‘Tomorrow night. Because your daughter will be in the hospital. Perhaps you will need diversion from worry. It is Friday.’

      She didn’t get it. ‘And?’

      ‘A favour. I have promised myself a dinner on your so beautiful Sydney Harbour. I am only here for a month. It would be more pleasant to have company.’

      Good grief. He was asking her out. On a date? ‘I’m sure lots of ladies would love to be your company.’

      He shrugged, as if aware what she said was true, not with conceit but with disinterest. ‘I would prefer you.’

      Normally he had no problem asking a beautiful woman to dinner. So why was this difficult? He just wanted to enjoy a diversion with this woman, not ask her to have his babies. Why stumble around like a callow youth when she obviously wanted to get on with her work?

      It seemed his offer was the last thing she’d expected. He did not think shock was a good reaction and waited with unusual tension while she recovered.

      ‘Well, I guess you won’t run away because you find I have a teenage daughter.’

      ‘This has happened?’

      ‘Imagine.’ She turned away. ‘Anyway. Thank you. But, no, thank you. I don’t date.’

      ‘But this is not a date. Just kindness on your part.’

      She raised her eyebrows. ‘Really? Tricky. Then perhaps I could let you know tomorrow. In the mean time, you could keep looking. Now I must get back to June.’

      ‘Bene. Of course. Buonanotte.’

      ‘Goodnight.’

      Marco left the ward with a smile on his face. It

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