Dear Reader

Taupo is one of those places from my childhood that I’ve never forgotten. We went there so my dad could go trout fishing. It was a much smaller town than nowadays; the houses were small, plain holiday homes, the footpaths unpaved, and no one was in a hurry. I have been back often for holidays, staying with my brother and his family, and seen Taupo grow into a busy, vibrant town. Despite the changes it is still the same wonderful place at the edge of a stunning lake and with a backdrop of mountains.

I chose Taupo for Charlie and Marshall’s story as it seemed the perfect setting for a wounded hero trying to find his place in life. It’s the antithesis to his constantly changing army life. It’s where Charlie grew up, where she went to school, learned to sail on the lake, where her mother is buried, where her daughter was born.

Marshall has never lived in the same place for much longer than a year at a time. Charlie has never lived anywhere else than in the house that was her mother’s family home. Does Charlie give this up to follow Marshall’s erratic lifestyle? Or does Marshall take the plunge and learn to stay put in one place long enough to get to know it and the inhabitants well? Follow these two as they nudge their way towards the right solution for them both.

I’d love to hear from you at sue.mackay56@yahoo.com

Or visit my place at www.suemackay.co.nz

Cheers!

Sue

With a background of working in medical laboratories and a love of the romance genre, it is no surprise that SUE MACKAY writes Mills & Boon® Medical Romance™ stories. An avid reader all her life, she wrote her first story at age eight—about a prince, of course. She lives with her own hero in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, where she indulges her passions for the outdoors, the sea and cycling.

After completing a degree in journalism, working in the advertising industry, then becoming a stay-at-home mum, ROBIN GIANNA had what she calls her mid-life awakening. She decided she wanted to write the romance novels she’d loved since her teens, and embarked on that quest by joining RWA, studying the craft, and obsessively reading and writing.

Robin loves pushing her characters to grow until they’re ready for their happily-ever-afters. When she’s not writing, Robin’s life is filled with a happily messy kitchen, a needy garden, a tolerant husband, three great kids, a drooling bulldog and one grouchy Siamese cat.

To learn more about her work, visit her website, www.RobinGianna.com.

From Duty to Daddy
Sue MacKay

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication

Hannah, Phil and Austin—you rock. Love you heaps.

Table of Contents

Cover

About The Author

Title Page

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

CHAPTER ONE

CHARLIE LANG FOLDED her laptop shut and put it aside on the outdoor lounger she sat on, but continued to stare at the blasted thing as though it was to blame for all of her problems. Angst at her continued failure ate deep inside. ‘I’m never going to find him, am I?’

Dad sat back on his haunches at the edge of the over-grown flowerbed he was weeding below where she sat. ‘Aimee’s father? Who knows, love? You’ve got so little to go on.’

Make that next to nothing. ‘How many doctors are there in the US army called Marshall Hunter?’ Her head spun with the frustration of it all, whizzing the ever-present fear into a maelstrom in the pit of her stomach. ‘I must’ve sent hundreds of emails.’

‘I take it the latest one bounced.’

‘Yep.’ Like every one before it. ‘Why did he give me that address if he intended shutting it down?’ Why had Marshall given her an address at all when he’d gone to great lengths to ensure she’d understood there couldn’t be any contact between them after their fling finished?

On that last day, when he’d been heading back to war and she would shortly return to New Zealand, had he felt a sense of losing something special? She’d certainly been gripped by an awareness of impending loss. Had he suddenly found it impossible to walk away without some way of reaching her again? His note with the email address had been slipped into her shirt pocket while she’d been too busy kissing him goodbye and trying desperately not to cry. Trying to ignore the heat flaring through her body that one touch from Marshall had instantly triggered. Had always triggered—right from the get-go.

But he must’ve had another change of heart after he’d left Honolulu because not once had an email of hers got through to him. Fickle? Doubtful. Unsure of himself? Definitely not. Marshall had to be the most self-assured man she’d ever come across. Except when she’d asked about his family. Uncertainty had filtered into his steady green gaze then, only to be hurriedly blinked away and replaced with a cold, distant glare.

She’d understood instantly that to remain onside with him meant talk of his family was banned. Naturally, living with the outcome of that fling, she often wondered what he’d been hiding. Not that that was important right now. Only finding him was.

‘Ever thought that the guy doesn’t want to be found?’ Dad never minced his words when he wanted to make a point.

‘If I’m honest, it’s blatantly obvious that’s exactly what Marshall intended. In this day and age everyone puts their name, photo, even excruciatingly personal details out there in cyberspace so they can be found.’ Everyone except Marshall Hunter. Which kind of told her what she’d been avoiding all along.

He really hadn’t had any intention of ever having anything to do with her again—even in passing. That note had been an aberration she could put down to the emotional goodbye they’d been going through. Each kiss had been their last, only to be followed by another, and another, until Marshall’s friend had hauled him away and into an army truck.

She’d stood, fingers pressing his kisses deep into her swollen lips, trying to keep Marshall’s touch, his scent with her. Swallowing buckets of tears as the truck had disappeared round a corner, taking Marshall away forever.

Dad broke into her memories. ‘Maybe you should drop your search.’ He’d been sceptical right from the start about the man who’d got his daughter pregnant. Fair enough, she supposed. Fathers expected every man coming within reach of their girls to treat them carefully.

But what Dad wouldn’t concede was that Marshall didn’t have a clue she’d had his child, wouldn’t believe that Marshall was a good man at heart. Of course, Dad hadn’t met him.

She knew different. Or so she told herself regularly. ‘No, I refuse to contemplate that.’ Marshall had affected her deeply the very first time she’d laid eyes on him in the ED at the hospital in Honolulu where she had been doing post-grad work. His intense gaze had locked with hers and they’d both stepped closer as he’d teased her about her accent. When he’d smiled at her she’d felt as though she’d found something, someone she’d been unwittingly looking for all her life.

At the end of their shift he’d taken her hand and led her out of the department, out of the hospital and along the road to the beach. Walking barefoot in the warm sand, the waves crashing only metres away, her hand firmly held by Marshall’s much larger and stronger one and her shoulder brushing his arm, she’d thought she’d died and gone to heaven.

And in the warm air, with laughter and chatter spilling out from the restaurants dotting the foreshore, he’d taken her in his arms and kissed her so thoroughly her body had melted. She’d held onto him like he was a lifeline. Her body had wanted his, craved the release she’d known he, and only he, could bring her. Every nerve ending had desired his touch. Every muscle had trembled with anticipation.

Then he’d swung her up into his arms and run up the sand, across the road and into the first hotel they’d come to. She had always wondered what might’ve happened if a room hadn’t been available. There’d been no way they could’ve made it all the way to the tawdry apartment block where the hospital provided rooms for temporary doctors before they gave in to the pulsing heat gripping them.

Their affair had started that night in a burst of passion that had been insatiable. It ended as abruptly two weeks later when Marshall had been sent away to some unknown place with his army troop.

She’d missed him ever since, as though he’d taken a chunk from her heart with him. Damn it. That hadn’t been part of the deal. Neither had coming home pregnant.

‘I wouldn’t be looking for him if not for Aimee.’ Yeah, sure. Her pride would’ve prevented her chasing after him like some lovelorn teenager. Did she love him? She’d enjoyed him and the things they’d got up to in bed. But love him? Unfortunately she had a feeling she did. Otherwise why else did she still dream of him most nights? What other reason was there for daydreaming about him moving here and sharing her home? Maybe marrying her?

Reaching for the laptop, she opened it and waited for her program to reboot. Reality sucked. And hurt. Her love wouldn’t ever be returned, and yet it was vitally important she track him down. For Aimee’s sake, at least. ‘I always knew there was no future for us.’

Dad gave her one of his ‘This is your father talking’ looks that she’d known all her life. It would lead into something she should probably take note of. Except she was an adult now, didn’t need her father’s wisdom. Much.

‘Why don’t you stop trying to find this guy for a while? Save your energy for getting completely well again and then maybe it won’t be essential for Aimee to have her dad here.’ He tried to hide the quiver of fear colouring his voice but she knew him too well.

Staring at her dad, holding onto the surge of her own fear, she ground out, ‘I have to find him. Aimee deserves a father, even if only a remote one.’ Would Marshall be thrilled or furious when he finally learned her news? There was only one way to find out and so far that hadn’t gone too well.

‘You’ve put too much time and effort into this for most of the past year. Let it go for a while. Put it out there and see what comes back.’

‘Dad? Put it out there?’ Despite everything, a giggle spilled across her lips. ‘Where did you get that idea?’

Dad’s cheeks coloured. ‘From your pal, Gemma.’

‘That’s typical of Gemma, but I never thought I’d hear you say it.’ Gemma and Dad? Had she missed something? Gemma often dropped by on the pretext of seeing her and Aimee but what if her older friend’s real interest was Dad? How did that make her feel? No blinding pangs of anger or disappointment struck. Surely that had to tell her something?

‘Charlie,’ Dad called loudly to get her attention back. ‘What I’m saying is there are other things you could be doing with your time rather than getting obsessed about something you’ve got no control over.’

She sat back in the lounger and stared at the laptop screen. Her finger hovered over the pad, ready to open the internet link. Could she stop searching? For a while at least? Take a break from the heart-wrenching negativity that failure to find Marshall regularly dumped on her when she already had enough to deal with?

It wouldn’t be easy when finding Marshall had dominated her thoughts for what seemed like for ever. This campaign had driven her to get up in the mornings when her body ached so badly she wanted to swallow pills and dive back into sleep to avoid the real world.

Doing what Dad had suggested might free her. Enable her to see the situation for what it was. She was a solo mother whose first priority was her daughter. Aimee needed her healthy and focused, not slumbering in self-pity and trying to do the impossible.

She closed down the laptop. Then she looked at her father, really looked, and saw the extra lines on his face, there because of her. Her chest swelled with love. ‘Okay, Dad, here’s the deal. I’ll …’ she emphasised her words by flicking her forefingers in the air ‘… put finding Marshall out there if you start focusing on getting your old life back. I don’t mean working longer hours at the medical centre. I’m talking fishing, hiking in the mountains, meeting your pals for a round of golf.’ Pausing, she watched the longing flick through his eyes so fast he probably thought he’d got away with it. She really had wrecked his life since coming home from Honolulu. Sticking her tongue in her cheek, she added, ‘Did I mention dating? Definitely need to find time for that.’ Should she bring Gemma’s name into it? No, best leave that to Dad to sort out. For now anyway. She could give him a prod later if necessary.

‘Dating?’ he snorted. ‘Me? At my age? You’ve been taking too many painkillers again.’

‘Yeah, Dad, you. At your ripe old age of fifty-nine.’ Thankfully right then a sound came from inside the house. Charlie usually heard her daughter crying almost before Aimee opened her mouth. Motherhood was so connected. As though a fine but strong strand of love ran between them so that deep inside she felt everything Aimee did.

‘There goes my peace and quiet.’ Charlie smiled, completely unfazed by the interruption.

Despite helping other women bring their babies into the world during her medical training, the overpowering strength of her love for one special little individual placed into her arms moments after the birth had been a revelation. And something Marshall had missed out on.

Her father chuckled as he returned to weeding the flowerbed beneath a pohutukawa tree. Obviously not too fazed by the dating suggestion, then. ‘Go on with you. You’ve been waiting for Aimee to wake up for the last hour.’

‘True.’ Driven by a sense of panic, of time running away on her and not knowing how long she’d be around for Aimee, she desperately wanted to grab every minute she could with her little girl. That same panic caused her to pause now. Was she forcing too much on Aimee? Rushing her through life instead of letting her learn to wait? To take each day, each little step slowly?

‘You should let her cry for a bit.’ Dad unwittingly underlined her thoughts. Sitting back on his haunches, he winked to take the edge off his comment. ‘Never hurt you to wait for your mother to come and get you at that age.’

Charlie laughed, and deliberately refrained from standing up, even though she itched to do so. ‘Maybe that’s why I used to hate lying around in bed once I woke up.’

‘Nah, that was because you were too active for your own good.’

‘I got that from you. Aimee’s the same. Guess it’s in the Lang genes.’ A yawn rolled up her throat and over her lips. It had been a long time since she’d been anything like too active. So long she’d forgotten how it felt to have abundant energy, not to need to go to bed till well after midnight.

When she’d finally gone back to work at the Taupo Family Medical Centre after her illness she’d truly believed she was ready for anything and everything, but her days off couldn’t come round soon enough so she could catch up on sleep. Not easy to do around a toddler with the energy of a trailer load of Energiser batteries.

‘Want me to get Aimee?’ Worry tainted Dad’s voice, adding to her sense of inadequacy. Not to mention her guilt for letting him see that yawn.

She tried for a grin, didn’t do too bad a job. ‘I’m making her wait, like you said.’

Dad grinned right back. ‘Look at you. Almost bouncing in the seat with wanting to go pick her up.’

He did way too much for her. It broke her heart, knowing that when he’d decided to take early retirement so he could start having some fun she’d messed up his plans. Not that she’d asked him to cancel the big trip to Europe he’d looked forward to for years. But being the awesome father he was there’d been no question of what he’d do when they’d learned her dreadful news. He had stepped up for her all her life. More especially after Mum had died. And now he did the same for Aimee.

Would she be half the parent he was? Some days that worried her sick. On the really bleak ones it frightened her to think she mightn’t get the chance to find out.

Aimee had evoked something primal within her. Like flicking a switch, bang, the love had turned on. Never to be turned off. A deep, unconditional love that had fine-tuned Charlie’s protective instincts, while also bringing so much joy to her life. She couldn’t wait for the years ahead to unfold. Already she watched with avarice as Aimee learned to feed herself, to stagger up onto her own feet and totter around the house, to give sticky hugs with those little arms—it all gave her so much pleasure. There’d be plenty more great things to come. She just knew it.

Wearing her Pollyanna hat? Definitely, though she wasn’t so naive as to think her daughter was going to be perfect. Actually, perfection was a fault in itself. Not so long ago she’d believed her life couldn’t get any better and look how that had blown up in her face. She was still recovering, might never return to the peaceful state of mind she’d innocently thought was hers for ever.

She shivered, rubbed her arms. Forced a smile. Pollyanna had quickly disappeared. The black worry that lurked at the edge of her mind expelled her happy moments all too quickly. Would that change one day? One day soon?

‘Charlie?’ Concern laced her dad’s voice. ‘You okay?’ With a lightness she didn’t feel she replied, ‘Sure am.’

Another cry from down the hall. This time Charlie didn’t hesitate. Jumping up, she headed for the door. ‘Yippee. Get up time. I want that first sleep-scented snuggle from Aimee.’

‘Okay.’ Dad conceded quickly enough. ‘Now that my grandgirl’s awake, I’ll get the hedge trimmer out and tidy up out the back.’

Charlie paused, turned back. ‘Dad, why don’t you go play a round of golf instead? The hedge can wait another few days. Take a break from the chores and enjoy yourself.’ Those lines around his mouth hadn’t been there a year ago. They were all due to her. Guilt spread through her like wildfire. ‘I’m so sorry.’

His face softened as he crossed to stomp up the steps to the deck, where he hugged her. His tone was gruff. ‘Cut that out, Charlotte Lang. There’s no point beating yourself up for something you had no say over.’

Sniffing in the dad scent she’d known her whole life, she blinked back tears and dredged up a smile. ‘Have I told you that you’re the best father ever?’ The familiar line fell easily between them.

‘Never.’ That too was the usual response. ‘Tomorrow, if the weather stays fine, I’ll take the boat out on the lake with Billy to do a spot of fishing. How’s that?’

That was progress. ‘Great. I’ll order up a perfect January day just for you. And I’ll get the barbecue ready.’ Of course the trout weren’t so easy to catch in midsummer but the men would have fun trying. At least trolling meant a bigger chance of success than river fishing. And she’d get in steak as a back-up.

Yeah, she had a plan. Plans were good, kept her on track through the rough patches. Then it dawned on her to look around, see the day for what it was. The sun shone bright and hot in the clear blue sky, making everything appear brand new and the flowers on the pohutukawa sharp red. And her tiredness wasn’t dominating her quite so much. In fact, she felt the best she had in a long time.

She surprised herself with, ‘I’m going to start getting fit. Take my bike out of the shed and pump up the tyres.’ She grinned, feeling the most relaxed she had for a long time. ‘That will probably take all my energy and I’ll have to have a nap afterwards, but it’s a start.’

Until the advent of Aimee she’d loved nothing better than to fall out of bed and hit the road on her cycle before going into work. And on her days off most of her spare time had been spent sailing her Paper Tiger across Lake Taupo, catching the erratic winds.

‘Don’t overdo it,’ said the doctor in her dad as he stepped away, averting his face in a vain attempt to hide his worry.

‘As if.’ Nowadays she took naps and spent her free time playing with dolls and building things out of plastic blocks with Aimee.

How drastically her life had changed since she’d returned home pregnant. She rubbed her tummy. Felt the surgical scar on her lower abdomen. Tried to ignore the flare of anguish. At least she’d had a child before her hysterectomy. She’d loved being pregnant and watching all the changes that had happened to her body. The months had flown past and then Aimee had arrived and she was in love.

Unfortunately, someone else had missed out on all that. Aimee’s father. Marshall Hunter, US Army medic.

If only he’d been able to share in the excitement, to be around to put his hand against her expanding belly and feel his daughter kick. Even if she found him tomorrow, he’d never get any of that back. Aimee was eighteen months old and nothing like the tiny scrap of arms and legs placed against her breast moments after the birth.

How stupid of she and Marshall to agree to going their separate ways at the end of their fling. Despite her heart breaking, she’d gone along with him. He’d assured her he was single, that they weren’t hurting anyone else, but he didn’t do long-term relationships. Rightly or wrongly, she’d believed him. He’d come across as genuine. But no one had told her she’d have a child from that liaison. There’d been no thunderclaps to warn her she’d need Marshall Hunter back in her life nine months later.

Had Marshall flown to the moon? Even if he had, he’d still be contactable. Wouldn’t he?

Well, she could be stubborn if it was important. And finding her daughter’s father ranked at the top of the scale. But as of today she wasn’t going to let the continual failure to achieve her goal get her down. She’d done with all that. It was time to start living full on, not half pie.

A louder shriek from down the hall told her Aimee was fed up with waiting. She wanted out of her cot—now. Being a determined little lady—wonder where that had come from?—she would quite likely attempt climbing out of her cot soon. Charlie moved fast. A broken head would only add to the worries this little household already faced.

‘Hey, beautiful, how’s my girl? Have a good sleep?’ Reaching for Aimee, Charlie’s heart squeezed at the sight of the little creases made by the pillow on the side of her baby’s face, and at the red cheeks and sleep-filled green eyes staring out at her over the edge of the cot. So like Aimee’s father’s eyes. Piercing green, reminding her of a polished emerald.

Aimee’s father. MIA. She shuddered. Wrong term. She might be doing everything in her power to find him, but MIA? That was definitely tempting fate. Especially if he was back in another war zone with his unit. She touched the side of the cot with her fingers for luck, definitely needing to push away that cloud of dread.

‘Mum-mum,’ Aimee instantly gurgled, and raised her arms high. ‘Mum-mum.’

Thoughts of Marshall kept trekking through Charlie’s head as she lifted her daughter up. She couldn’t really imagine anything happening to him. ‘Your dad is so virile, so much larger than life, strong and full on. He looks the world in the eye, as though daring it to throw the worst at him.’ He always acted as though nothing could touch him.

Stupid Charlie. Trying to get the man hurt now?

‘Mum-mum.’

‘Time you learnt a new word. How about Grandpa?’

How about Daddy? If only there was a need for that.

Aimee wriggled and tightened her arms around Charlie’s neck, almost choking her.

Carefully unravelling them, Charlie grinned. ‘You’ve got a very wet bottom, my girl.’ She kissed Aimee’s brow and headed for the bathroom.

Blowing kisses on Aimee’s tummy took up a few minutes. Giggles rent the air and made Charlie grin more widely. ‘You’re worth it all, my girl. I’d go through everything again if I had to.’

Careful, you might have to yet. No guarantees out there.

The dark thought lifted goose-bumps on her skin. It was this fear that kept her acting on the side of caution, kept her refusing to relax and accept she was over the worst so that she could get on with life, and that drove her to keep trying to find Marshall despite the unlikelihood of ever succeeding in that quest.

‘Mum, up.’ Aimee’s well-aimed foot banged against her jaw, making her jerk back, and refocused her on where her mind should be. On her daughter.

‘Hey, mischief, watch who you’re kicking.’ Yep, definitely an active kid.

Her baby girl, whom she’d do absolutely anything for. Along with Marshall’s green gaze Aimee had inherited a whole dose of stubbornness from him. Otherwise she was her mum with the dark blonde hair, button nose and freckles dotting her cheeks.

‘One day, my girl, we’re going to find your dad. Won’t he be surprised?’ Surprise might not cut it. There was a myriad of other emotions Marshall would no doubt feel when he learned he was father to this gorgeous bundle of joy. Hopefully love would eventually come out on top.

But first she’d get her strength back. She sighed.

Nothing was easy these days. Hadn’t been since the day the lab results had come back with all the medical jargon screaming out at her: cervical cancer.

Charlie’s world had instantly imploded. The future, in particular Aimee’s future, had become a priority in case the worst happened and Aimee lost her mum. Fear had driven Charlie throughout her surgery and treatment, had got her back on her feet. Losing her mother to cancer at seven had been dreadful, but she’d had her dad to love and cherish her. If Aimee lost her to this terrible disease then she’d need Marshall in her life.

He was out there. He’d held her in his arms, made love to her a lot, kissed her senseless. He hadn’t been an apparition.

Oh, no. Not at all. Her fingertips traced her lips. Her insides melted as her skin remembered his large hands caressing, teasing, loving her body.

Aimee needed to know both her parents. And … Charlie’s fingers brushed the bathroom cabinet … if the worst came to the worst, Marshall had to be there for Aimee if she couldn’t be.

If only she could find him.

She had to. No argument.

CHAPTER TWO

CAPTAIN MARSHALL HUNTER turned onto Spa Road and slowed, checking which side of the road he was driving on. ‘Goddamned Kiwis. Why can’t they use the right-hand side like everyone else?’

Someone tooted at him and he pulled to the kerb. ‘Yeah, yeah, give me a break. I’m a tourist.’ A tired smile stretched across his mouth. The trouble with being overtired was that everything got that much more complicated. Twisting the cap off the bottle of soda he’d purchased at the petrol station a little way back, he poured half the contents down his parched throat. At least that tasted the same as back home. Jet lag, and lack of sleep for the past six months, played havoc with his body. And his mind.

The military plane out of Kansas that he’d hitched a ride on had touched down at Whenuapai Air Force Base at the ungodly hour of five that morning.

Which only went to show how crazy he’d been. Why had he hopped a plane going in the opposite direction from Florida, where he’d intended spending some of his leave checking up on his buddy’s family? A sudden aberration of the brain? Had to be. No other explanation for finding himself in this place called Taupo. On the long-haul flight, squashed amongst gear and guys, he’d tried not to dwell on his uncharacteristically impulsive action. Like that had been possible.

What had happened to Mr Cool, the guy who planned every move of his life? He didn’t do random. Random got you shot in a war zone. Got you in all sorts of trouble anywhere. Besides, he was an officer in the army where lateral thinking didn’t go down too well with the top brass.

Marshall grimaced. All control gone in a haze of yearning for something intangible, for someone who regularly flitted through his mind. So close yet so far away. Charlie Lang. Woman wonderful.

She’d been responsible for the fog in his head and the gnawing sense of finally reaching a destination he’d been aiming for ever since he’d waved her goodbye back in Honolulu more than two years back.

Closing his eyes, he leaned back against the headrest. Charlie. ‘Because of you I’ve come all this way with no idea if I’m even welcome.’ Of course he’d be welcome. Charlie would be thrilled to see him. Why wouldn’t she? They’d got on well.

‘You spent all your time together in bed.’

So? That had worked out just fine. Could be that they might do some more bed gymnastics while he was here. Unless she’d got hitched to some dude in the intervening years. Air caught in his lungs. She wouldn’t have. Would she? Why not? Charlie was one very sexy lady who any man would be happy to get up close and personal with.

Okay. Don’t go there. Presume until told otherwise that Charlotte was still single and willing. They had been very compatible. He’d never known sex like it. She’d pressed every button he had and some. One look at her across the ED and he’d been a goner, falling into those deep blue pools blinking out at him from under a thick blonde fringe.

His belly rumbled with hunger. Snatching up the BLT sandwich he’d picked up at the same time as the soda, he bit into it. Chewing thoughtfully, he hoped it was hunger and not nerves making his gut carry on like a washing machine. Like he ever did nervous. Not even on a recce when he knew armed insurgents were waiting to take a crack at him.

The sandwich went down a treat, making him feel almost human again. Ready to do battle. If it came to that. As if it would. Charlie would be happy to see him. But he’d been on edge for so long he couldn’t quite get a grip on things. He’d come off that flight feeling like rubbish, knowing he should hop on the next plane out of the country, no matter where it went. But he hadn’t. Instead, he’d gone looking for a way to get to Taupo.

A New Zealand officer at Whenuapai had organised a room on the base so he could scrub up, shave two days’ growth off his face, change into civvies and have a decent meal. Then that same guy had driven him to the nearest car rental place.

Marshall knew he should’ve stopped overnight and caught some proper shut-eye. Instead, he’d been driving on foreign roads through a sprawling city, then through amazing countryside to reach this small town nestled on the edge of the country’s largest lake. He might’ve been more prepared to cope with what he’d travelled so far for if he’d waited until tomorrow.

He snorted. ‘For sure. If you’re not ready to see Charlie by now, know what you want to say to her, you’re never going to be.’ How else was he ever going to sleep properly again? ‘But what am I going to say to her? Hey, buddy.’ He looked up at the sky. ‘Rod, you own this idea so help me out here.’

Sweat beaded on his forehead as his heart thudded against his ribs. Charlie was the woman he went to in his head at night after a hideous day on patrol. She was the woman who’d touched him like no other ever had. She’d gotten under his skin and wouldn’t go away, no matter that he’d known he mustn’t have her again. He had obligations that didn’t include her. And yet here he was.

‘It’s not too late to turn around and head back up to Auckland.’ But then he’d never have closure. Would always wonder what he might’ve gained by seeing Charlie one more time. This time he’d say goodbye properly so as his heart understood exactly where it stood. No notes slipped into her pocket.

Back in Honolulu he’d done the right thing by deliberately telling Charlie nothing about himself, not even which state he’d grown up in. He’d been strong, tough, thinking he was doing her a favour.

Their fling had been short, sweet, exciting and hot, not to mention mind-numbing. At the end of it he’d hopped a plane ride out of Honolulu bound for the base in Kansas to prepare for his next posting to Afghanistan. He’d been so damned confident he could walk away from Charlie Lang without a care in the world, never to think of her again. Right? Wrong.

Glug, glug. The remaining soda coursed down his throat. Coming here had to be right up there with being totally selfish. But he didn’t know any other way to exorcise Charlie from his brain, where she seemed to have branded him—with images of her gut-twisting smile, her light laughter, her very sexy body. Hell, even thinking about that turned him on. The heat south of his belt had nothing to do with his head and all to do with being closer to Charlie than he’d been in a very long time.

So he’d come to get her out of his system? Not to get back in the sack with her?

‘Yeah, well, I’m a little confused right now.’

Not once in those passion-filled weeks had he asked where Charlie was headed after she’d finished her time in Honolulu. So sure had he been that he’d never follow up on her. But she’d told him anyway, making it scarily easy to locate her when he’d given in to the deepening need clawing at him. The world could be a very small place at times.

Now here he was at the bottom of that world, around the corner from Charlie’s house. Soon he’d see her for real and realise his dreams had lied, that those wonderful memories were vapour, not real. That she’d been a very ordinary woman out for a bit of fun. Then he could get on with life the way he needed to live it, following his army career as hard as possible, even if it wasn’t so rewarding any more. Especially as Rod hadn’t made it. Guilt was his constant companion. Duty to his men his creed.

Voices washed over him as kids on bikes wheeled past the open window of his rental. Free as the birds they were. Sometimes he missed being a kid and being able to ride horseback around the ranch with his grandfather.

‘Aren’t you forgetting something?’

Yup. The weeks when Dad had come home on leave from the army and forced his discipline on his son. Harsh, unforgiving, relentless. That was the old man. He’d ruled by his fists. Hard to believe Granddad had spawned his father. Couldn’t get two more dissimilar men.

Flick. His mind returned to the nagging questions that refused to die down. Would Charlie greet him with open arms?

Or would she give him a bollocking for breaking the pact they’d made in Hawaii?

Let’s have fun and leave it at that. No contact afterwards, no regrets.

In the deep of the night when he couldn’t sleep—most nights—he wondered if Charlie’s willingness to go along with his ultimatum had meant there had been someone else in her life back here in New Zealand. Some guy she’d wanted to set up house and raise a family with. Had she been sowing some oats in Honolulu before coming back to marry? Whatever she’d been looking for at the time, he’d been a willing partner.

‘Never going to know what she thinks while sitting here.’

Reaching for the ignition, he hesitated. Whatever it was deep inside his psyche that had brought him this far seemed to have suddenly deserted him.

Finally the engine turned over, purred loudly as though mocking this vacillation. He eased the vehicle back onto the road. His heart rate increased. Excited? Yeah, bring it on. He really wanted to see Charlie, no matter how she reacted. If she sent him packing he’d deal with it.

‘At one hundred metres take the right-hand turn,’ droned the GPS.

‘Yes, sir.’

In Hill Road Marshall slowed, peered at letterboxes as he cruised along, finally finding Charlie’s number. Lifting his foot from the accelerator, he glided the vehicle to the kerb and parked. Not stopping to overthink this any more than he already had, he pushed out of the clammy interior and leaned back against the hood, his arms crossed over his chest. He studied the house where Charlie supposedly lived. An old villa in good nick, surrounded by a recently cut lawn and weed-filled gardens, and with huge unusual trees equally spaced along the side fences.

Female laughter reached him, snuck under his skin, thawing the cold places deep inside. Charlie’s laughter. He’d know it anywhere. It had warmed him, tickled and delighted him. Haunted him. Hungry for his first glimpse of the woman he’d flown halfway round the world to see, he scanned the veranda running across the front of the house. Movement from the side caught his eye.

A toddler, dressed all in pink, running and stumbling, shrieking with joy while waving a plastic bucket, heading straight for—for Charlie. Beautiful Charlie. There at last, right in his line of sight, was Charlie. In the flesh.

The air trickled from his lungs as he sank further down onto the front of the car without shifting his gaze. An exploding landmine couldn’t have made him look away now. Memories of holding her close bombarded him, pummelling him with the sheer joy of her. Warmth crept into his body. Had he done the right thing coming here after all?

Charlie.

She seemed to still in her movements. Hell, had he called her name out loud? Then she said something to the little girl and jerked backwards as she was rewarded with another ear-shattering shriek of delight.

Marshall began breathing again.

And continued watching Charlie, recalling how she’d race back to him after a long day in the ED and leap into his arms, kissing him senseless, before dragging him into bed. Not that he’d been reluctant, far from it. But he had enjoyed being seduced. It had been novel and exciting. She’d teased him blatantly with her body, but had always given what she’d promised. Then there had been the times she’d gone all coy on him and he’d had to woo her into bed.

He ran his hands down his face and re-crossed his arms. Was Charlie thinner now? Nah, probably not. His memory wouldn’t be that accurate. But her hair was very different. What had she done to those stunning long, honey-coloured tresses that he’d spent hours running his fingers through? Gone, replaced with a shorter, curly cut that framed her beautiful face. Different and yet equally attractive.

His heart slowed as he watched the woman of his nights reach down and lift the hyperactive bundle into her arms. Even from here he could see the love for the child all over Charlie’s features.

Her daughter?

Pain slashed at Marshall. He was too late. Too damned late. Charlie was a mother. Which meant there’d be a man somewhere in the picture. She was taken. She hadn’t changed the rules. Instead, she’d got on with life, made a family. That hollowed him out. Made him realise how much he’d been hoping she was free and available. Great. Now he knew, what did he do?

‘You could just say hi.’

Sure. Now that he had admitted he’d been fooling himself all along, it hurt big time. His heart rolled over, cranked up enough energy to pump some much-needed oxygen around his body. Disappointment flared, mixed with the pain and despair, underlining the whole stupidity of coming here on a whim.

Getting reacquainted with Charlie again was not an option.

The reality struck, blinding him. He’d wanted to get to know her properly this time, to learn what made her tick. The doctor side of her, the serious Charlie, the loving, caring woman who enjoyed having a good time. All the Charlies that made up the woman who’d caught his attention when he hadn’t been looking.

Another movement snagged his attention. Someone was walking towards the back of the house from under a big, bushy tree. Tall, thin, and, even from the back view, definitely male. Marshall’s stomach dived. His arms tightened in on each other, holding himself together.

Damn it. He’d thought about worst-case scenarios and taken a punt anyway. But Charlie was now a mother and there was a man in her life. Marshall could no longer deny the obvious.

‘You, Marshall Hunter, have to walk away. Now. Before she sees you and the trouble starts.’ It would be so unfair to knock on her door and say, ‘Hi, remember me?’

No way did he want to hurt her. And he surely would if he stayed now. Truthfully, he’d hoped for another fling, something he could walk away from. So now he’d have to suck it up and walk away sooner than he’d expected. Get on with life and put Charlie out of his head permanently.

But his boots remained stuck to the tarmac, going nowhere. He’d come too far just to walk away without a word.

‘Oh, buddy, did you really think Charlie was sitting around, waiting for the day you might step back into her life?’

An image of her standing outside the hospital, blinking back tears and saying the sun was in her eyes as she’d waved him goodbye, slapped across his brain.

A little bit, he had. Okay, make that a big bit.

He needed to get over it. He’d had an absolutely sensational fling with her. One that he’d willingly walked away from with few qualms. And then she’d emailed. A month after Rod had been killed. Two days after he’d visited Rod’s wife and kids and seen the anguish caused by Rod’s passing. He’d deleted Charlie’s message without reading it, knowing he never wanted to be responsible for causing her the same pain Karen suffered.

As Marshall watched Charlie and the little girl chasing around the lawn he thought of the hurt she’d been saved from by finding another man to share her life with. No doubt that man wouldn’t miss birthdays and Christmas, would be around to fix the car when it broke down or to dig the garden, take her out to dinner. Things no woman would ever get from him. The army regularly sent him off to some hellhole in a bleak part of the world where he had to be strong for his men, not worrying about how he might be letting down the woman in his life.

‘Time to go, buddy. You made a mistake coming here.’ He blinked. Took one last, long look at the woman who’d unconsciously drawn him to Taupo, saw the things his memories hadn’t been particularly clear on. The way she held her compact body as though ready to leap into his arms at any moment, except now it was her child she seemed ready to leap after. The gentle tilt of her head to the right as she concentrated on whatever the little girl was saying.

‘Get the hell out of here,’ he croaked around the blockage in his throat. Dropping back inside the car, he reached trembling fingers to the ignition. Blinked rapidly as the heat inside the car steamed up his eyes. Damn it to hell. He was too darned late.

CHAPTER THREE

CHARLIE HEARD A car moving slowly past the gate and glanced up. Not recognising the vehicle, she made to turn away but hesitated. Something about the driver’s profile caught at a memory. What was it about that face that stirred her? Absolutely nothing. She bit down on the temptation to go out onto the street for a better look.

Losing her grip on reality now? Wishing Marshall Hunter back into her life wasn’t actually going to bring him to her doorstep. No matter what Dad said.

Thump. Crack. The sound of metal crunching metal screeched through the air.

‘What was that?’ Charlie placed Aimee in the sandpit and raced for the gate.

‘Sounds like someone wasn’t looking where he was going.’ Her father spoke from right behind her.

The car Charlie had noticed moments earlier was now parked with its nose deep into the side of their neighbour’s SUV, the bonnet folded back on itself. ‘John’s not going to be too pleased about that. At least it doesn’t look like anyone’s been hurt.’

‘Unless the driver had a medical event,’ Dad pointed out as he strode past her. ‘I’ll go and check.’

Charlie glanced back at Aimee but she’d become engrossed in pushing a toy truck around the pit. Locking the gate latch, Charlie spun around to join her father. And froze.

The driver had climbed out of the car, cursing quietly as he surveyed the damage he’d caused. His American accent sliced into her.

‘Marshall?’ The name squeaked off her tongue as her heart slowed. ‘Marshall?’ Louder this time but just as scratchy.

He turned in her direction and took away any lingering doubt as his intense green gaze locked with hers. In that instant she saw the man she’d shared a bed with for so many wonderful hours. Her body remembered all the heat and passion, the sensual touches and her deep, bottomless hunger for him. Marshall Hunter. The man she’d spent untold hours trying to find for their daughter had turned up outside her gate. Just like that? No way.

Put it out there. Yeah, right, Dad.

The ability to stand upright deserted her. Her hand flailed through the summer air as she reached for the fence to hold onto, and her heart stopped. It must have because suddenly she couldn’t breathe any more.

‘Charlie.’ Then he was there, directly in front of her, reaching for her, gripping her arms to hold her upright. ‘How’re you doing, babe?’

How am I doing? That’s it? No I came to see you. No Crikey what a long way from good old US of A to find you. No I’m just cruising through and thought I’d drop by. Just how am I doing? Swallowing was impossible with the lump blocking off her airway. Her eyes widened as she stared at this smiling apparition with eyes that were deep green pools sucking her into an exciting world. An unrealistic world, she knew, but one she couldn’t deny while so close to him. Her arms were heating where those strong hands gripped her. Her breasts seemed to be straining to be up close to that chest she’d once fallen asleep against in the wee hours of the morning.

‘Charlie? I’ve surprised you.’ Did he have to sound so pleased with himself?

‘I’m fine,’ she managed to croak out at last. Couldn’t be better, in fact. Who did she think she was fooling? Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, she continued to stand there, stunned.

Then those wonderful arms she’d spent many hours longing for wrapped around her and tucked her against that expansive chest threatening to pop the seams of the black T-shirt he wore. That’s when she knew this really was Marshall.

Something wet oozed down her cheek. Tears? She didn’t do tears. Not once throughout her pregnancy when she wished Marshall by her side. Hardly ever during the harrowing days of waiting for the diagnosis of cancer. Hadn’t cried while going through radiation and chemo. Must be the realisation that she didn’t have to keep searching the phone records of every state in America to find numbers for every Hunter listed that was causing this leakage. ‘You came,’ she whispered.

‘Were you expecting me?’ As he leaned back at the waist to peer down at her, his mouth cracked a smile. A genuine, warm, toe-curling, Marshall smile.

And her heart went from slow to rapid in one beat. Heat rushed up her cheeks, dried her mouth so that when she spoke it sounded as though she’d sucked on helium. ‘Don’t be daft.’

‘I’m daft now?’ His smile widened, his eyes twinkled.

‘I tried to find you. Except it seemed like you’d vanished into thin air. Even the army wouldn’t help.’ But what were the odds of Marshall turning up on her patch? Should she be buying a lottery ticket?

Marshall’s arms fell away and he stepped back so fast she staggered. His tone was clipped. ‘Of course not. They won’t give out information on my whereabouts unless you’re on my list of contacts.’

The temperature had suddenly dropped a few degrees. Of course she wouldn’t be on that list. Hadn’t expected to be, but Marshall voicing it reminded her how far apart they were, how little they’d had in common, or even knew about each other, except great sex.

And the sweetest little girl. Whoa. Red-flag warning. Her shoulders pulled back and her spine clicked straighter. She’d spent so much time trying to find Marshall that she’d never stopped to consider how she’d tell him about Aimee. Who knew what his reaction would be? What she wanted from him and what she might get could be poles apart.

Rubbing her arms, Charlie studied him. He looked exactly the same as the last time she’d seen him, the day she’d kissed him goodbye. Except then he’d worn army fatigues, not butt-hugging, thigh-accentuating jeans and a tee shirt that framed his size and muscles. His face was bronzed, his buzz-cut hair darker than midnight, that mouth that had done sensational things to her skin was still full and enticing. Marshall was still heart-stoppingly attractive.

Behind her someone cleared his throat. Dad. She’d forgotten all about him. Forgotten even where she was. And Aimee. Was she still in the sandpit? A quick look over the fence and Charlie relaxed a notch.

Aimee. Marshall’s daughter. The tension rewound tighter than ever. And anger pounced. ‘Why are you here? Turning up with no warning, as though you expected me to be happy to see you.’ Her hands clenched and her breaths were short and sharp. After all this time of searching for him and here he was, looking wonderful, not to mention cocky. So darned sure of his welcome. ‘Well, I don’t want to see you.’

Her petulance rang in her ears. So much for being mature and sophisticated. Too bad. Right now Marshall bloody Hunter deserved worse.

Marshall was staring at her as though she’d grown horns. She probably had. ‘Charlie, I’m sorry. I never thought to phone ahead.’

She gaped at him, her jaw dropping hard. A fish out of water probably looked more attractive. ‘You have no idea what you’ve done.’ She spun round on the balls of her feet and nearly slammed into her father, who looked puzzled as he glanced from her to the man and back.

‘Charlie, didn’t I tell you to let it go and see what happened?’ That Dad grin he gave her calmed her temper the tiniest bit. ‘Happened a lot quicker than we expected, didn’t it?’

He was taking the credit for Marshall’s sudden appearance? No, Dad was being Dad, gentling her when her temper ran away on her. Thank goodness for fathers. On an uneven breath she said, ‘You’re right. I don’t know what came over me.’ Now, there was a fib. Marshall was no longer MIA but standing a metre away, watching her from those intense eyes that missed nothing.

Both men seemed to be waiting for her next move. She didn’t have one. Her heart was thumping so loudly in her chest she couldn’t hear herself think. Her stomach was doing loop the loop while her hands shook so hard she had to clench them into tight fists again.

Finally Dad made the first move. He strode towards Marshall, holding his hand out in greeting. ‘I’m Brendon Lang, Charlie’s father.’

Marshall’s eyes widened with something Charlie could’ve sworn was relief. Glad of the diversion? With startling alacrity he took Dad’s hand and shook it. ‘Marshall Hunter. Pleased to meet you, sir.’

Dad returned the handshake, said, ‘Marshall, what happened? One moment you were parked on one side of the road, the next you’ve slammed into John’s SUV on the opposite side.’

Embarrassment flushed through Marshall’s eyes. ‘I got distracted.’ His gaze fell on Charlie. ‘Forgot which side of the road to drive on. Do you know the owner of that vehicle? I’ll need to sort out repairs with him.’

‘John’s our neighbour. I’m surprised he’s not out here already.’ Dad glanced up the drive.

‘He went out on his motorbike hours ago.’ She’d growled when John had roared down the road moments after Aimee had finally fallen asleep.

Dad crossed to the merged vehicles. ‘Let’s see what the damage is.’

Marshall looked embarrassed as he called after him, ‘I’ll shift the rental and then leave the guy my contact details. He’s not going to be too pleased when he sees that dent.’ He didn’t move to join Dad, instead remaining beside her, playing havoc with her senses. He was an eyeful, for sure.

Tightening her stomach muscles in an attempt to gain some control over her wacky emotions, she looked up at him, and instantly wished she hadn’t as her eyes clashed with his. A girl could get lost in those eyes. Heavens, she once had. And look where that had got her. Focus on the bent cars. Nothing else.

‘I think you’ll survive. It’s John’s work vehicle, supplied by his company. If you’d hit his Harley you’d be swinging from that tree in his front yard already.’ The words spilled out in a rush.

Marshall grinned that mesmerising grin she’d never forgotten. ‘Really? A Harley? Awesome.’

Great. Another motorbike freak. And something she hadn’t known about him. Along with just about everything, she realised. A doctor in the US army didn’t cover much about this man at all. Hang on, don’t forget his energy, athleticism and how gorgeous he looked first thing in the morning with stubble darkening his strong jaw.

A shiver rocked through her. Stop it. None of that had anything to do with Marshall suddenly turning up unannounced. Why now? She shrugged. Plenty of time to find out. Or was there? He could be passing through. Of course, Waiouru. The military base was only a few hours down the road. This would be a fleeting visit. She’d have to make the most of it and grab the opportunity to tell him about Aimee. But why was he here? Then reality hit—hard. ‘You were driving away. You weren’t stopping by to see me at all.’ What had he been planning on? A reunion? Changed his mind when he’d seen how suburban she actually was?

‘Caught.’ His smile faded as his lips pressed into a line. His gaze drifted to Dad, back to her. ‘Sorry, Charlie. I decided I’d made a mistake.’

‘Marshall.’ She grabbed his forearm, shook him to get his undivided attention. When those eyes that reminded her of hazy summer days met hers this time she all but yelled at him, ‘Don’t think you’re disappearing out of my life that quickly. Not when I’ve spent months trying to trace you.’

There was no way she’d let him walk away now. Her gut rolled, which had absolutely nothing to do with Aimee and everything to do with the wickedly hot memories of Honolulu that touching his arm brought to mind.

‘You have?’ Shock dropped his jaw. ‘Why?’

Gulp. Not out here on the street. The man deserved some lead in before she dropped her bombshell. She shrugged, trying for nonchalance and failing miserably. ‘If we sort out the vehicles first, will you promise to give me a few minutes of your time?’ A few minutes? She’d better come up with a succinct explanation for why she’d been searching for him if that was all the time available.

‘Yeah, sure.’ Marshall’s tone lightened as though he thought he’d been granted a reprieve.

As if. How could he know that? He was very astute, remember? Said it was part of his military training to always be looking for a hidden agenda. What he hadn’t worked out yet was that it would be a very short reprieve. But first the cars. ‘Think you’ll be able to back your car away from the SUV without causing more damage?’

Then he leaned closer, traced a fingertip over her lips. ‘How have you been, Charlie? Really?’

Her stomach thrummed. Her lips opened under his finger. Just like that, she was his. Or would be if she wasn’t standing in the street with Dad watching warily. Jerking her head back, she glared up at him, saw the man who was used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it, and started to spew out two years’ worth of desperation. ‘I couldn’t be better, what with—’

Aimee interrupted, ‘Mum-mum. Up.’

Charlie spun around to find Aimee half-draped over the fence. ‘You little monkey. That fence is supposed to keep you in.’ Seemed she’d be arranging for the new, higher fence to be built sooner than she’d expected. Opening the gate, she bent to lift Aimee into her arms. ‘Come here.’

Her heart was pounding as her blood sped around her veins. She’d nearly blown it then, had been about to spill it all thoughtlessly, without due consideration for Marshall and his reaction. That would definitely not earn her any points and make it harder for Aimee in the long run.

‘Your daughter?’ Marshall stood right behind her.

‘Yes.’ She saw disappointment cloud his eyes. So he didn’t like the idea she had a child. Didn’t that fit in with his plans? Whatever those were. Tough. She had more bad news for him yet. When he heard the whole story he wouldn’t even be thinking about how he felt about her.

Charlie held Aimee tightly against her chest. A shield? Did she need protection from Marshall? Now the moment of truth had arrived she suddenly wondered how he might react to being told he was a father. He might go absolutely ballistic and deny flat out he could ever be a father. Or say there was no way in hell he wanted a part in Aimee’s life. Or he might insist they move to the States to be near him. Not a hope in Hades, Marshall. Not a hope.

‘Go sort out your car, Marshall.’ Now she sounded bossy. But what was she supposed to do? Tell him everything here and now, standing on the footpath? Hand him Aimee and say, ‘Meet your daughter’? ‘Will you stay long enough for a coffee afterwards?’

Marshall’s eyes widened. Struggling to keep up with her? ‘Sure.’ He turned towards the vehicles, turned back. ‘It’s great to see you, Charlie. Really great.’

Take my breath away, why don’t you?

Her eyes feasted on his broad back and narrow hips as he walked away. A shiver of excitement rippled through her. But there was so much she didn’t know about Marshall. Once she’d tipped his world upside down with the news he was a father, would she get the chance to find out anything? Or would he storm off, never to be seen again?

Her gaze drifted to the entangled vehicles. He wouldn’t be storming anywhere in the next few minutes. Her spirits lifted. He had to hang around for a bit. At least until a new car had been arranged, surely?

Marshall headed for his rental, still trying to collect his scattered brain cells. This tall dude was Charlie’s father. Hell, he’d nearly shouted with laughter when he’d heard that. All the disappointment gripping him since he’d spied the guy under the tree had dissipated in a flash.

You’re not in the clear yet, buddy. That cute little girl has to have a father. Kids don’t just arrive in the letterbox.

His smile slipped. True.

‘Right, let’s get this sorted,’ Brendon muttered, just as a Harley shot around the corner.

‘This your neighbour?’ He tilted his head in the direction of the bike. What a way to introduce himself to Charlie’s father. If the man had any sense he’d make sure he never went near his daughter again.

‘Yes. Come and meet John.’ Brendon seemed preoccupied. ‘Are you staying in town, son?’

Straightening his shoulders, Marshall studied the man before him. There seemed to be a lot more to that question than was apparent. Until he got a grasp on the situation he’d give away little about his intentions. Intentions? Hell, they were as clear as a sandstorm. ‘Yes, sir.’

‘For long?’

So the guy did want him gone. Wasn’t happy about his sudden appearance. Protecting his daughter? ‘Two days. Maybe three, depends on my ride out of the country.’

‘So you’re flexible?’ Was that hope lightening that steady gaze? Nothing made much sense here.

‘Depends on the air force.’ Not to mention Charlie and her situation. ‘I’d like to spend some time catching up with your daughter, if that’s at all possible.’

‘You’d better stay the night with us, then.’

I don’t think so. In the circumstances that’s way too close and personal. ‘Won’t Charlie object?’ What about the kid’s dad?

Brendon gave him a knowing smile. ‘Probably, but then she’ll calm down and see the merit in my idea. You might have to weather her temper first, though.’

‘Seems like I’ve already had a wee dose.’ Marshall shook his head. He’d never once seen her get angry back in Honolulu. ‘Let’s talk to your neighbour about his wrecked SUV first.’ And give me time to decide whether I go for broke or head for a hotel in town.

Stay in the same house as Charlie? And not be able to touch her, or to hold her, kiss her like he ached to do? Because if he did he was sure he’d be history. It would go down a treat with her old man. The guy seemed decent enough but touch his daughter and there’d be hell to pay. Marshall just knew it.

Then he was being introduced to John and they got down to the nitty-gritty of sorting out his bad steering problem.

Charlie stood at the window, peering through the trees. Spying on the men. Pinching herself. That really was Marshall out there. With Dad. Talking as though they’d always known each other. There didn’t seem to be any animosity from Dad, just his regular caution.

She grinned despite the tension gripping her. Dad must’ve just about wet himself when she’d spoken Marshall’s name. For all his saying to leave it up to the universe to sort her problem, he would never actually have thought anything would come of it. She’d better remember to tell Gemma. She’d enjoy a good laugh.

But Gemma could wait. The man the universe had delivered to her doorstep was about to take all her attention. Strange that now he was here she felt reticent about telling him about Aimee.

Once Marshall knew he was a father Aimee was no longer hers alone. Someone else would have the right to make decisions about her life. Talk about selfish. She definitely wasn’t being fair to Aimee or Marshall. There again, if Marshall wasn’t interested in being a hands-on father, nothing would have changed. Except that if her health turned to custard, Aimee would still have a parent to go to. Marshall would have to take her then.

But it had been one thing wanting to find him with the intention of explaining the whole situation. It was a completely different issue to actually front up to him and turn his day upside down, if not his life.

More than two years ago he’d been adamant he didn’t wanted commitments and she was about to ask him for the biggest one possible. Part of her felt sorry for the guy. If only she’d probed a little to learn what lay behind his statement. But every time she’d started to ask serious questions he’d leaned in and touched her, with the resulting heat turning her brain to molten desire. By the time they’d made love she’d forgotten everything else.

‘Mummy.’ Aimee tugged at the hem of Charlie’s shorts. ‘Want dink.’

‘You want a drink,’ Charlie enunciated clearly for her little miss. Hard to believe how quickly Aimee was learning to talk. Almost overnight she’d gone from saying nothing to these funny little sentences. Aimee was a gift. A joy. She had to get that message across to her daughter’s father so he wouldn’t miss out on anything else as Aimee grew up.

Male laughter filtered through the trees. Seemed everyone was getting on just fine. No surprise there, with John being so easygoing and Dad acting as middle man. Marshall could also charm anyone when he put his mind to it.

Including her. Not that he’d had to try very hard. She’d been his in a blink. Never before had she known such excitement with a man. Marshall had truly shown her past lovers to be beginners. He’d known all the buttons to push or caress or kiss, turning her into a sex addict overnight. A Marshall sex addict. There had not been even a hint of anything sexual since.

Trying to ignore the old but familiar sweet tension in her tummy, she turned away and headed for the kitchen and the juice, tidying away toys as she went. Aimee tended to spread everything far and wide when she was playing, making it a constant job to keep the floor clear enough to get from one room to another. Normally just thinking about it made Charlie feel tired but not today. Right now she felt more invigorated than she’d felt since she’d first become ill.

Must be something in the air, she hummed to herself. Or a certain American on her doorstep. Her lips twitched. Marshall Hunter was here. In Taupo. Outside her home. Unbelievable. And then the tears really started, pouring down her cheeks, dripping off her chin.

Brendon told Marshall to go on inside the house, and that he’d be along shortly. Marshall could feel his antennae twitching. It was as though Brendon was pushing him and Charlie together—for a catch-up chat? Or was there more to it? But no one had known he’d turn up this afternoon so that couldn’t be right.

Did Charlie mind him being here? Or was she about to kick him to the moon? He couldn’t decide if she’d truly been happy to see him or not. Initially she’d all but thrown herself at him, but only moments later she’d pulled back, hard.

He stepped into the warm interior and paused to suck in a breath. It had been a long haul to get here, no point in retreating now. Until today he’d never retreated—unless his life had been in danger. Or his buddy’s.

His mouth soured. Now was not the time to be recalling that bleak day in hell. Fronting up to Charlie could never be as painful as dealing with what had happened to Rod. The man after whom he’d promised to name his first son, if and when he ever got around to settling down and raising kids. Some time around when he reached fifty.

Stepping along the wide hallway, he glanced at the framed black-and-white photos on the walls. Most of them featured Lake Taupo with the mountains in the background. They were very good. ‘C Lang’ was signed across the bottom-right corner. Charlie did photography? Darn, he knew so little about her.

He found her in the kitchen with the child. Definitely thinner than he remembered. Had pregnancy done that to her? Most women put on weight, didn’t lose it. Could she have taken getting back into shape too seriously? An image of running along the beach in Honolulu with Charlie at his side sprang up and he smiled. Yes, Charlie had been a fitness fanatic. Had loved her sports almost more than anything else. Almost. Sex had been top of the pops. But that was a kind of sport too, she’d told him one day, a cheeky grin lighting up her face.

‘What did John have to say?’ the woman in question asked in a strained voice as she kept her back to him and supervised the little girl drinking juice. Most of the liquid made it into the child’s mouth but the pink tee shirt had a yellow streak down the front.

The pranged cars. Of course. Focus, man. ‘He seemed okay with it all.’ Marshall tried for a nonchalant shrug to hide these oddball emotions charging around his head. He needn’t have worried because Charlie continued focusing her attention elsewhere. He told her, ‘I’ve phoned the rental company and they’ll sort it out, including supplying me with another car.’ His eyes were stuck on the child. She was so cute. Except for the eyes, she had her mother’s colouring right down to the freckles on her button nose.

‘Bet they loved that,’ Charlie sniffed, and he knew she was crying.

Three long strides and he stood in front of her, reaching his fingers to trace the wet lines on her face. ‘Hey, babe, don’t cry. Sorry if I’ve upset you by turning up out of the blue. If you want me to disappear, I’ll go. Pronto.’

Panic flared, widened those damp eyes that flicked from him to the child and back again. ‘You can’t go. Not yet.’ She hiccupped through her tears and swiped at her face again.

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