Gabe’s mouth covered Elly’s without a hint of hesitation. He knew exactly where to go and what to do to make her his.

‘Daddy!’

Gabe stiffened and instantly broke the kiss. Shock scarred his handsome face, giving it a haggardness she’d never seen before, and her blood turned to ice. ‘What’s wrong, Gabe? What’s happened?’

‘Daddy!’

A toddler threw himself at Gabe, who hastily rose to his feet, swinging the child up into his arms. ‘Hey, honey-pie.’

Daddy? Honey-pie?

Elly stared at the blonde little girl whose head rested so trustingly against Gabe’s chest.

‘You … have a child?’

Elly swung around to see two dark-haired little boys, making a bee-line for Gabe. She swayed as the world started to spin. Gabe had three children all under two.

Triplets!

SINGLE DAD’S

TRIPLE TROUBLE

FIONA LOWE

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Meg.

We’ve travelled together for twelve books

and the journey continues to be a pleasure.

Thanks for your sage advice and support.

CHAPTER ONE

‘I CAN’T believe I’m actually saying this, but I don’t think he’s the one for you.’

Elly Ruddock, GP, community member of Coast- Care, and desperately late for the annual ‘blessing of the fleet’ dinner, spritzed perfume on her wrists, slid an emerald-green bead necklace around her throat and tried unsuccessfully to block out the conversation she’d had earlier in the day with her friend, Sarah.

‘Dev is a good man.’ Elly had defended her date for the evening. ‘Besides, you’re the one who sat me down two months ago, called me a “one-date wonder” and said I’d sabotaged every attempt at a relationship since I’d arrived.’ She’d over-stirred her latte as indignation had partnered up with disquiet. ‘Besides, this is my fifth date with Dev and now you’re telling me he’s not right. You can’t have it both ways, Sarah.’

The nurse and mother had rescued her keys from her toddler and sighed. ‘Just be careful you’re not confusing good and solid with dull and boring.’

Thankfully Elly’s mobile phone had rung at that exact moment, ending the conversation, and she’d rushed to the hospital to treat a child who’d been knocked off his bike by a car. The emergency had consumed the rest of the afternoon and was the reason she was now so late for the dinner.

She threw lipstick and her phone into an evening bag and snapped it shut. Dev Johnston was not boring. He was CEO of the shire, reliable, dependable, coached the under-twelves’ cricket team and, most importantly, he was unlikely to break her heart.

‘I love you, El, but I can’t give you what you want.’

She tugged on her wardrobe door and rummaged through her evening shoes, most of them rarely worn these days because Midden Cove’s night life didn’t come within a bull’s roar of Melbourne. When she’d told her friends and family she was relocating to the verdant island of Tasmania, she’d dealt with raised brows and knowing looks. Her mother had accused her of running away. Her sister, Suzy, who was happily married with twin daughters, had said, ‘Hobart isn’t Sydney, sis,’ which was code for the dating pool being small. There was an element of truth in both statements.

But when they’d found out she was bypassing Hobart completely and going to an isolated coastal hamlet, they’d threatened therapy. She’d retaliated by saying that good men, men who wanted the same things out of life as she did, turned up in unlikely places. At least she’d know straight up that living in a country town would be something both she and a future partner wanted.

So far, after two years in Midden Cove, she’d met a lot of good men. Most of them married, many of them grandfathers, and far too many were her patients. That left the guys who came to town and worked the season in the tourist industry, the principal of the primary school and the shire employees. She’d dated them all and Dev was the last eligible bachelor left in the district.

The old grandfather clock chimed seven and the doorbell pealed. Unlike her, Dev was never late. She grabbed her shoes and ran.

Dr Gabe Lewis stroked the heads of his sleeping children and found it hard to believe that whirling tornadoes could look this angelic in sleep. He stifled a yawn, his body wanting to fall into bed with them and crash into a deep and uninterrupted sleep; a sleep he hadn’t known for well over a year.

‘Gabe, you’ll be late if you don’t leave now.’ His mother spoke quietly from the doorway. ‘Dad and I have got everything under control.’

I wish I did. ‘Thanks, Mum.’ He really didn’t want to go to the yacht club but his parents thought they were helping by giving him a night off and he didn’t have the heart to disappoint them. His reputation as the party guy had taken such a severe battering in the last eighteen months that he hardly recognised himself. ‘Ring me if you need me.’

‘I raised you, your brother and sister, and I’m sure I can handle your three for a night. ‘ Concern was etched deeply around her eyes. ‘Visiting us is supposed to be a holiday for you as well as the kids. Go out and have some fun, Gabe. You need it.’

Fun. He’d forgotten the concept.

The speeches were over, dessert had been eaten and the band swung into a retro set. The music filled Elly’s veins and her feet tapped under the table but Dev didn’t move from his chair. He was totally engrossed in outlining his plans for the foreshore conservation project and the protection of the fairy penguin colony. It wasn’t that she wasn’t interested, she was, but he’d spoken about it in such detail that she knew more about the programme than the workers who’d be implementing it.

He suddenly gave a self-conscious laugh. ‘I’m boring you.’

She shook her head, almost too quickly. ‘It’s wonderful that you’re so passionate about your job.’

Leaning forward, he picked up her hand. ‘You look lovely tonight, Eleanor.’

She smiled, pushing down deep the fact that she’d asked him to call her Elly at least five times. ‘Thank you.’

‘I really enjoy spending time with you.’

‘So do I.’ Mostly.

‘We share a lot of things in common and five dates is a bit of a watershed, don’t you think?’ His serious brown eyes roved over her face. ‘I want to spend a lot more time with you.’

The noise of the room seeped away, deafened by the pounding of blood in her head. A lot more time meant a serious relationship. A chance at a family?

‘I don’t want children, El, it’s just not me.’

Dev cleared his throat. ‘I’m not rushing you, Eleanor, but I need you to understand that I’m looking for a relationship that’s going to move forward into the future. One for the long haul with a view to marriage, kids and a superannuation portfolio. We can go slowly, but if what I’ve just said isn’t something you can see in your future then let me down now.’

‘You’ve sabotaged every relationship in twenty-three months.’

His fingers stroked hers but only a slight shimmer of warmth wove through her, like weak sunshine on a cold day.

Without warning, vivid recollections from the past thundered in, mocking her tepid response. Memories of molten lust pounded her, reminding her how need had once poured through her so strong and fast that she’d been incapable of standing, and that long desire-fuelled days had been spent in tangled sheets. But all of that wonder had ended with her heart being shattered.

‘Sexual attraction is overrated. Dev’s a good man, you share things in common, and you both want children.’

She bit her lip, pushed her past down deep and squeezed his hand. ‘I want to try.’

He shot to his feet, dropped a perfunctory kiss onto her forehead and twirled her out onto the dance floor. The tiny parquet floor was crowded as everyone rocked and jived, dancing in a communal group rather than as intimate couples.

Dev laughed as he spun away from her, joining in an impromptu twist competition. Elly smiled, watching the dancers strut their stuff, and reminded herself that this was what living in a small community was all about. Sharing. After all, it wasn’t like Dev had just proposed to her, but that didn’t stop disappointment from niggling that he wasn’t dancing with her cheek to cheek as a sign that something significant had just happened between them.

‘We’ve had a request from the commodore for the barn dance.’ Joel Rubens—the grandson of the commodore—whose spiked black hair and body piercings made him look like he’d be more at home playing punk rock than parlour music—obviously knew that payment came only if he did as he was asked. ‘So can all the ladies make a circle and then you blokes go stand next to the woman you came with.’ He leaned into the microphone and winked. ‘Of course, you might not get to go home with her after this raunchy dance.’

Elly stepped into the circle and Dev found her, sliding his arm lightly around her waist as the traditional folk music started up. She stepped in closer, fighting the feeling she was dancing with her brother.

Dev tightened his arm around her and smiled as he expertly executed the steps to the dance. ‘Enjoy yourself,’ he said, and he danced her into the arms of the next man.

As she danced around the room, she danced with the mayor and with schoolboys who loved to sail, she danced with shopkeepers and wood turners, sawmill owners, hobby farmers and fishermen—the eclectic and caring community of Midden Cove; her adopted town and one she loved. Her feet were taking a pounding as not all Midden Cove men had smooth moves but she forgave them as the sense of belonging washed over her. The burly woodcutter thanked her for caring for his mother recently and then twirled her on.

Strong, tanned arms, with a smattering of golden hair enveloped her, as did the scent of musk, soap and danger. Her head jerked up and suddenly she was looking into the bluest-of-blue eyes that sparkled like the facets of a sapphire. Eyes she knew. Eyes that had dazzled her before and had once flickered with undiluted lust just for her.

Her breath turned solid in her chest, all words sticking in her throat, and her feet stumbled, pushing her against his broad and muscular chest. A chest whose every convex and concave line was tattooed on her brain for ever. It only took one brief touch of his hand and her body lit up like the fireworks-filled-sky on New Year’s Eve.

Long fingers laced through hers, pulling her arm up in a perfect dance square. His other arm gripped her waist, holding her upright as her legs melted. ‘Deep breath, El. It’s just one dance and it’ll soon be over.’

And less than five steps later she’d been spun out to her next partner. Somehow she managed to finish the barn dance and join in with the enthusiastic clapping at the end. But as Dev’s hand reached for hers, her eyes strayed across the room to the bar, taking in very familiar sun-bleached hair, and broad, dress-shirt-clad shoulders. Her head spun, making silver spots dance before her eyes. What was adventure-seeking, high-living Gabe Lewis doing in tiny Midden Cove?

Elly’s heart hammered so hard she was sure everyone could hear it. As the band took a break, people drifted off to the bar and out onto the deck, and she excused herself, dashing to the ladies.

Deep breath, El.

She gulped air into her cramping lungs. Gabe had always been the calm one. Calm, laid back and easygoing, unless crossed. When people hit his stubborn streak for the first time, it always led to shocked surprise. She should have heeded the warning the first time their opinions had differed.

Her breathing almost steadied as she gave herself a stern talking to. What did it matter that Gabe was in town? It didn’t matter at all. Sure, they shared a past but that’s exactly what it was: history. They’d broken up almost two years ago, their relationship floundering on the rocks of irreconcilable differences.

She raised her eyes to the mirror and groaned at her pale image. How could she be so rattled by seeing him again when he’d looked so composed and at ease? Damn it, she’d spent months getting over him and she was furious with herself for turning into a quivering mess at one brief touch. She stiffened her spine. She was over him. She had to be over him. With trembling fingers, she smoothed down her hair. This reaction was just the unexpected shock of seeing him again after all this time and the next time she saw him she’d be just as cool as he’d been.

You go, girl. She opened her evening bag, wound out her lipstick and swiped cherry red across her lips; ignoring the fact it was the only colour on her face.

Women drifted in and out of the bathroom, smiling and chatting, and Elly knew she couldn’t stay locked away much longer. She took one last glance in the mirror, tilted her chin and pushed open the door.

Joel had the microphone in his hand and was nodding to the bass guitarist, who was plugging in his guitar. ‘We’re going to play you a song we wrote so stand by as we rock this room.’

The screeching noise of feedback squealed through the amplifiers and the guitarist put down his instrument and adjusted the sound. ‘Sorry, guys, we’re just gonna change amps.’

Elly started to move across the crowded room toward the deck, thinking that the best place to hear an original Fires’ composition was as far away from the amplifiers as possible. As she reached the halfway point, the lights suddenly flickered then almost simultaneously a deafening bang ricocheted around the room. An arc of silver-white light flared and the room was plunged into darkness as a stomach-curdling, piercing yelp rent the air.

‘Doc Elly!’ Joel screamed in terror.

Elly swung round and helpful hands pushed her forward, as she used the moonlight to find her way. Just as she reached the stage a hand gripped her upper arm and tugged her back.

A smooth, deep voice spoke firmly but quietly in her ear.

‘Wait. I don’t want you fried too.’ With his fingers still pressing into the soft flesh of her arm, Gabe called out in a commanding tone, ‘Has the power been turned off?’

‘Yes.’ The barman held up a torch providing much-needed light.

‘Are you absolutely certain?’

He gave a brisk nod. ‘I did it myself.’

‘Go.’ Gabe’s arm fell from Elly’s.

She pulled her dress up above her knees before clambering onto the stage. As her eyes searched in the dim light around all the sound equipment and musical instruments, she heard Gabe announcing he was a doctor and instructing someone to get his medical bag from his car. She bumped into the drum kit, the cymbals clashing loudly, and then she saw Joel crouching down over the inert body of the guitarist.

‘Will plugged in the amp and … and then he flew backwards.’ Joel’s shadowed eyes reflected the horror of watching his mate being electrocuted.

‘Gabe, call an ambulance!’ She rushed forward, her fingers reaching for the unconscious man’s carotid pulse. She felt around. Nothing.

‘Mate.’ Gabe’s firm step sounded on the stage and he touched Joel on the shoulder.

Joel stared at him blankly.

Gabe spoke slowly. ‘Go to the front of the yacht club and meet the ambulance so you can bring them straight to us, OK?’

‘Will he be OK?’

‘We’re doing our best.’ Elly checked her patient’s mouth for any obstruction and then with her fingers under his chin she tilted his head back.

‘You breathe, I’ll compress.’ Gabe knelt beside her, his expression wry. ‘Just like old times, El.’

‘Only without the back-up of a state-of-the-art hospital.’ She knew she sounded brusque but she didn’t want to think of old times spent at work, and no way was she thinking about old times spent together away from work. That had jeopardy written all over it.

Like a well-oiled machine they fell into the emergency, each of them anticipating the other, seamlessly working toward the same wished-for outcome.

‘Still no pulse. We need the ambulance and the lifepack.’

‘We need more light—and where’s my medical kit?’ Gabe’s muscular arms pushed against Will’s chest, compressing blood through the heart and urging it to start pumping again.

‘Emergency lights are on their way but we’ve got five torches.’ The barman slid Gabe’s medical kit onto the stage and organised Dev and three other men to hold torches above them.

‘On my count, El, you start compressing and I’ll attach him to the AED.’

Surprise competed with relief. ‘You travel with an automated external defibrillator?’

He shrugged. ‘Once an emergency specialist, always one.’

With expert fingers, he connected Will to the tiny but rugged lifesaving device. ‘All clear.’

Elly kneeled back, making sure no part of her was touching Will. ‘Clear.’

Gabe discharged the AED but the heart rate traced across the screen like a squiggly line. His normally wide and smiling mouth flattened grimly. ‘He’s in ventricular fibrillation.’

Elly resumed compressions and Gabe prepared to shock again.

‘All clear.’

Will bucked as the electricity shot through his body but the longed-for change didn’t occur.

‘Adrenaline.’ Elly kept up the cardiopulmonary resuscitation, shutting out how good it felt to be working with Gabe again.

‘On it.’ He quickly tore open a large bore butterfly cannula pack, and with the skill born of years of practice he slid it into the large vein on the inner aspect of Will’s arm. He immediately followed with the adrenaline. ‘Come on, Will.’

‘Let it work this time.’ Elly bit her lip as she kneeled back.

‘God knows what’s burned inside him.’

The quiet words mirrored her thoughts. They might get Will’s heart beating properly but the hidden damage might be just as life-threatening.

‘All clear.’ Gabe’s fingers pressed the button.

Time rolled out at one-eighth speed as both of them stared at the visual display, willing it to show a normal heartbeat.

‘Yes! Sinus rhythm.’ Elly grinned at Gabe, high on the buzz of teamwork and a good save.

He met her gaze, his eyes sparkling with his own high, and her heart took a shock. Heat scudded through her and like oxygen to a flame it sparked and fanned the deeply buried ashes of her longing. Shimmers of delicious need tingled along her veins, diving deep until the embers flared into a hot and raging fire. Her hands trembled on the air-viva. Look away now! She dropped her gaze and concentrated on puffing air into Will’s lungs.

‘I need ice in towels for his burns,’ Gabe yelled to the torch bearers, the sound slightly strangled.

They continued to work in silence until the paramedics arrived and Elly gave a handover. ‘We’re taking him to the hospital’s helipad because he needs to be airlifted to Hobart, but I’ll ride with the ambulance.’

Gabe stood up. ‘I’ll call the Royal and meet you at the hospital.’

Dev stepped up. ‘Eleanor, ring me from the hospital when you’re ready to go home.’

She swung round. God, she’d forgotten all about Dev and the fact he’d driven her to the yacht club. ‘I could be hours, Dev.’

Gabe’s shoulders rolled back and he clapped Dev on the shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, mate, I’ll make sure she gets home safely.’

For the first time Dev’s eyes narrowed. ‘And exactly who are you?’

Gabe extended his hand. ‘Gabe Lewis, doctor, and good friend of Elly’s.’

Friends? Snapshot images of their time together formed a montage in her mind—lovers, colleagues and combatants were words that came instantly to mind, but friends? Perhaps once, but not now. Not when he’d broken her heart so badly.

‘Ready when you are, Doc.’

The senior paramedic brought her back to the moment and she nodded, checking Will’s vital signs. ‘Let’s go.’ With the air-viva in her hand she walked out, steeling herself not to look back.

CHAPTER TWO

‘SO, WHAT’S a girl like you doing in a tiny joint like this?’

The moment the roar of the helicopter blades had receded to a distant buzz, Gabe asked the question that had been constantly playing in his head from the second he’d spotted Elly at the yacht club. He hadn’t expected to meet anyone he knew from Melbourne, or from anywhere else for that matter, let alone Elly. He’d seen her across the room five minutes before she’d danced into his arms, giving him a few precious minutes to dig deep and attempt to cover his stunned and shocked surprise.

God, she looked amazing. Different, but still amazing. When his arms had wrapped around her soft, lush curves and when he’d breathed in her tantalising scent of tropical fruit and the tang of the ocean, he’d experienced the completely unexpected sensation of not wanting to let her go. But he knew that was just the trickery of memory and the body’s craving for familiar things. They’d split two years ago, with Elly accusing him of letting her leave and him furious that she wouldn’t stay. Now so much had changed in his life that craving for the past was pointless.

Craving for any woman was pointless because after what he’d been through with Jenna he was keeping his very complicated life as simple as possible. Work and the children consumed every waking hour and a good part of the night, and he had no energy left for anything else.

Her dainty sandals clacked against the gravel as they walked toward the hospital. ‘I live here, Gabe. You might recall that moving out of the inner city was something I talked about.’ Emerald-green eyes hit him with a bone-weary look. ‘It wasn’t something that you wanted so it makes more sense for me to be the one asking what a guy like you is doing in a tiny town like Midden Cove. I thought your plan included trekking in Nepal and base jumping in Norway.’

He recognised the hurt in her eyes, hurt he’d help put there and she’d cemented in. ‘I did the base jump but I haven’t got to Nepal.’

Her chestnut brows rose. ‘You’ve had two years, Gabe. What have you been doing? It’s not like you to let the grass grow under your feet.’

Jenna’s blank face swam before his eyes and he had to work hard not to flinch. Just keep it light.

‘Oh, you know me, I go with the flow and it hasn’t taken me to Nepal yet, but one day it will.’ Knowing that in the past Elly had often lost her train of thought when he’d smiled at her, he gave her a full-wattage beam in a desperate attempt to derail her.

She didn’t even blink. ‘But the flow has brought you here?’

Hell, this was going to be harder than he’d thought. He refused to talk about the real reason he was in Midden Cove, not yet anyway, but he knew he had to give her something so the questions would stop. ‘There’s great sea kayaking around the peninsula.’

‘Isn’t that a bit tame compared with base jumping?’ Her usually open and friendly demeanour had a distinct chill.

He opened the door to A and E and forced himself to lean back as she passed through before him. ‘Not when there’s a sou-wester blowing. But mostly I’m in town because my parents recently retired down here and I’m visiting them.’

‘James and Cathleen Lewis are your parents?’

Her eyes widened to rippling pools of green that called to him, tempting him to dive in deep and become part of her. You moron. Haven’t you learned anything in two years? Desire like this will only cause you more heartache.

A barbed arrow of reality plunged in deeply. Hell, she knew his parents! He silently dammed small towns and hoped against hope his mother hadn’t shown Elly her wallet photos of the children. ‘Yep, that’s Mum and Dad. ‘ He worked on keeping his tone casual. ‘Are they patients of yours?’

She shook her head, her knuckles whitening on the edges of her white coat. ‘No, but if they need medical care in the next few weeks then they’ll see me as I’m the only doctor in town at the moment. I’ve met them briefly at a Coast-Care meeting but I didn’t make the connection with you.’

A breath of relief rushed out. He wanted to be the person who told her about the children. He owed her that but blurting it out on their first meeting wasn’t the way to go. ‘There’s no reason for you to connect them with me. As you say, me and small towns are not exactly a match, and when we were dating they were living in Hong Kong.’ Words tumbled over each other and he worked on slowing them down to his usual laid-back speed. ‘Dad’s decided he wants to be surrounded by vast tracks of space. I give him a year and he’ll be chomping at the bit to head back to the mainland.’

‘You might be surprised. Midden Cove has a way of getting into your blood. ‘ She tucked her chin-length hair behind her ear.

A snag of something akin to disappointment slugged him. He’d always loved her long, soft locks. Loved burying his face and hands in their silky length and breathing in their rich vanilla scent. ‘You changed your hair.’

The corner of her mouth lifted, the action resigned. ‘I changed a lot of things, Gabe. Some changes were forced on me and some I chose myself.’

Old hurt rumbled through him at her choice to leave him. Almost two years ago they’d both been immovable about what they wanted and unfortunately those wants had been poles apart. ‘Fair enough.’

She scrawled her signature across Will’s paperwork and then slipped off her white coat, exposing lightly tanned shoulders.

His gaze immediately drifted lower to the bead-adorned neckline and the hint of creamy soft breasts that nestled underneath. Breasts he’d once considered his. Blood pounded directly to his groin as memories of long afternoons spent exploring every centimetre of her body rushed back with an intensity that shocked him. His libido had been AWOL for months and this was a seriously inconvenient time for it to return.

Picking up her evening bag, she spoke brusquely. ‘You can drop me home now.’

He stifled a groan and tried to pull his recalcitrant body back together. The offer to drive her home had been spontaneously made the moment he’d laid eyes on the up-tight bloke who’d called her Eleanor. Now, the idea of sitting in the close confines of his car with Elly seemed too much like a temptation he’d have to work hard to resist. ‘Sure. Let’s go.’

He fished his keys out of his pocket and they walked silently into the now-inky night. He looked up and stopped. The Southern Cross hung low, and the Milky Way wove through the sky like a carpet of dazzling crystals. ‘This sky is amazing.’

Elly shrugged as if it was no big deal. ‘The moonshine’s masking most of it but if you hang around long enough it will fade and you might even see the aurora australis.’

‘The southern lights? You can see them from here?’

‘Sure. Midden Cove is one of the best places.’ She left him staring at the sky and opened the car door, settling herself in the passenger seat.

His body went rigid and he starting walking again, this time very quickly. Hell, how had he forgotten about the car? He hauled open his door, thankful he’d turned out the interior light after too many flat batteries, and hoped she wouldn’t glance into the back seat where the moonlight silhouetted the children’s car seats.

He slid into the leather seat and pressed the ignition button. ‘So where’s your place?’ Perhaps she’d invite him in and then he’d tell her about the children.

‘Turn right and take the second left. ‘ The metal of her seat belt clanged against the plastic lock as she tried to find the clasp.

‘Here, let me.’ He leaned over and her hair brushed his cheek as he snapped the buckle into place. The infusion of berries and the beach filled his nostrils and he hated the way he found himself breathing more deeply.

‘I can’t believe you parted with the Porsche.’

He felt her intense gaze on him as he steered the vehicle out of the car park. ‘It’s tucked up in the garage in South Yarra. This four-wheel drive is good for getting up to the out-of-the-way places for hang gliding. ‘ True, but it’s not the reason you bought it.

She glanced at the BMW logo. ‘I think the locals would call this a Toorak truck, not a four-wheel drive.’

He rolled his eyes. ‘I’ll make sure I get it dirty so it can hold its own in the car park.’

She laughed, a throaty, joyous sound devoid of all the tension that had been rolling off her from the moment she’d looked up into his eyes at the dance. ‘My place is just up here on the left with the ti-tree hedge.’

He slowed, his headlights making out the hedge and catching glimpses of what looked like an old fishing cottage; the antithesis of the spacious apartment they’d shared in Melbourne. Once, they’d shared a lot of things.

She clicked the release on her seat belt, her tension slotting back into place like a wall. ‘Thanks for dropping me home and I hope you have a lovely visit with your parents.’

No hint of an invitation there, pal. Well, hell, he could match her strained politeness and raise it. ‘It’s great to see you. Perhaps we can have coffee and catch up at a more sensible time?’ So I can tell you about the children.

‘I don’t think so, Gabe.’

This time the barb stung and he snapped. ‘Look, I’m being polite here in a difficult situation. I had no clue you’d moved to Midden Cove. Hell, I didn’t even know you’d left Melbourne, so me being here is not in any way part of an attempt at reconciliation.’

Her body recoiled against the seat as if he’d slapped her. ‘Lucky I wasn’t under any illusions, then, wasn’t it.’

Remorse raised its head and he ran his hand through his hair, regretting that he’d inadvertently hurt her. Again. ‘I’m sorry, that came out wrong. I get it that you don’t want to see me and if you want, I won’t bother you while I’m here.’

That means you have to tell her now.

No way, not now, not like this.

Elly gave him a curt nod as her hand reached for the doorhandle, antipathy mingling with her intoxicating scent.

Memories instantly piled up of happier times—moments when they’d laughed until their sides had ached, occasions when they’d finished each other’s sentences. Times so far removed from this where they now sat side by side like strangers.

Despite what she’d said about wanting to leave Melbourne, he’d never understood that to mean coming to such an isolated spot as Midden Cove. He gave her a wry smile, and asked the question that had been on his mind from the moment he’d seen her. ‘Just tell me one thing. Are you really happy here, El?’

This time she blinked. Twice. Then with a toss of her head, which sent her rich chocolate hair flying around her face, she stepped out of the car. ‘I’m perfectly happy, thank you.’ Without looking back, she slammed the door shut behind her.

He didn’t believe her.

Elly sat at her kitchen table and stared out through her glass patio doors, watching a little blue wren take on his reflection in a territorial battle. That settled it: housework was a health hazard to birds and she shouldn’t bother to clean the glass again. She sipped her tea and tried to focus on what she had to do on this sunny Sunday. Her list was long and she really should get going on it, but her brain was stuck on Gabe.

Gabe was in town.

It shouldn’t matter a jot to her that he was in ‘the Cove’, but her brain mocked her by spinning that one thought around like a scratched CD.

More importantly, how long is he in town? She lowered her mug and groaned. Why hadn’t she asked him that last night? But she knew the answer—she’d been petrified that if she did ask she’d sound too desperate. Desperate for him to leave or desperate for him to stay, she wasn’t certain, and both ideas had actively competed for a brief moment. So when he’d suggested coffee, she’d panicked and the ‘ice queen’ had come out to protect her.

Boy, did she need protection. She didn’t trust herself not to go down the self-destructive path of wanting to spend time with him, which was completely ironic given his response.

Me being here is not in any way part of an attempt at reconciliation.

Gabe was nothing if not honest. He was right, too. Reconciliation wasn’t an option because nothing had changed between them and their lives were on two different trajectories. She took another sip of her tea. She still couldn’t believe he hadn’t trekked in the Himalayas because it had been the idea of that trip that had precipitated their demise as a couple.

She could remember his excitement clearly as he’d organised the delivery of Nepali food—a meal of dhal with roti and curried vegetables—before making her a cup of chai and presenting it with the glossy brochures. It would have been the third trip they’d taken in a year and it wasn’t that she didn’t love to travel, she did. But she’d also had an overwhelming need to stop and settle down.

I’m not interested in settling down, El. Come travel the world with me, it will be more fun.

And here she was in Midden Cove, working, and he was still travelling, although not to the places she’d expected.

The past is over, move forward. Giving herself a quick shake, she picked up her phone and got an update on Will, who was still critical and in ICU at Royal Hobart after skin graft surgery to his hands and feet. As she rang off, a text came through from Dev, suggesting lunch. She should go. She started to key in a reply when her phone rang.

‘Sorry to call you, Elly, but we’ve got an elderly tourist here with shortness of breath.’ Sandy, the experienced RN, sounded apologetic.

She swallowed a sigh as she glanced at the postcards on her fridge. Her medical practice partner, Jeff, and his family had taken off for a few months’ camping around Australia and although she was thrilled they were having such a great trip, the timing for her was lousy. She hadn’t had a complete day off in three weeks. ‘I’m on my way.’

‘How long have you been feeling unwell, Mr McGovern?’ Elly’s fingers gently probed under her patient’s jaw, feeling for raised lymph nodes.

‘My name’s John, love, and I’ve had the blasted cold for over a week. It started just as I got off the boat from Melbourne. We’ve come to visit the grand-kiddies and the new baby, but getting sick has put a bit of a dampener on things.’ He sighed. ‘Rachel, my daughter, she’s not too happy with me now the baby’s got the sniffles too.’

Elly felt for the poor bloke. ‘Viruses are in the air all the time. So you’re Rachel Morgan’s dad?’

‘That’s right.’

Rachel was Jeff’s patient so she wasn’t really familiar with the family. ‘How are you sleeping?’

‘That’s why I’m here. My cold’s pretty much on the turn but it’s this damn cough that’s really bothering me. The wife’s complaining I keep her awake at night.’ The grandfather winked at her. ‘I thought it prudent not to mention she’s snored for years.’

Elly laughed. ‘Sounds like a very wise move, John. Did you have a sore throat with this cold?’

‘A bit of a sore throat but that’s all gone now. I just feel tired, you know, run down.’

She nodded as she picked up a tongue depressor. ‘I’ll check your throat. Open wide, please.’ She peered into the back of his throat, which didn’t look inflamed. ‘Can you lift up your shirt, please, so I can listen to your chest?’

‘Go for your life, Doc.’

Elly pushed her stethoscope into her ears and listened to John’s breathing. The lower lobes were clear with no rales, and she ruled out pneumonia. ‘You can have a post-viral cough that lingers after a cold.’

John nodded. ‘Thing is, this cough seems to be getting worse, not better.’

Elly’s radar went on alert. ‘How do you mean?’

‘Well, when I cough, I can’t seem to stop and it’s hard to get my breath.’

She checked his pulse, which was regular and ruled out any cardiac issues. ‘What about your breathing when you stop coughing?’

‘That’s fine.’

‘Do you or have you ever suffered from asthma?’

He shook his head and gave a tired smile. ‘They say Tassie’s got the cleanest air in the country but here I am hacking away like I’m a packet-a-day smoker.’

Her phone buzzed. ‘Excuse me for just one minute, John. ‘ She took the call from Sandy, who told her that she had four more people with similar symptoms to John waiting to see her. So much for a quiet Sunday.

Elly dropped the receiver back onto the cradle and returned her attention to John. She couldn’t smell any cigarette smoke on him but she asked the question anyway. ‘Do you smoke?’

‘Cancer sticks?’ Again he shook his head and started to cough. ‘No way.’

The last words were forced out amid a coughing fit that had John leaning forward, his shoulders hunched as he struggled to get in a breath. When it finally passed he slumped in his chair. ‘I tell you, Doc, it’s wearing me out.’

Elly rubbed the bridge of her nose. ‘How many times a day do you cough like this? ‘

He scratched his head. ‘A couple of times an hour, I reckon.’

She suddenly thought of his baby grandchild and with three clicks brought up the Morgan family’s medical history on her computer screen. ‘You said the baby had a cold too.’

‘Yeah. Told you I’m in the doghouse.’

Elly quickly scanned the date of birth of the baby and calculated the age. Three months. ‘Has your daughter come in with you?’

John nodded. ‘She drove me.’

Elly reached for the phone. ‘Sandy, please send in Rachel. ‘ She had a very strong suspicion that the baby had more than a cold.

‘John, have you been out much in Midden Cove while you’ve been here? To the pub or cafés?’

‘The wife and I took a cruise the other day, which was lovely, and most days I’ve walked down to the pub for a beer. You know, get out from under the wife’s feet.’

Elly stifled a groan. John had probably coughed over half the town.

Rachel walked in, cradling her baby, followed by an older woman Elly assumed was John’s wife.

‘Is there something wrong?’ The young mother sat down in the chair Elly had pulled up.

Elly spoke slowly. ‘Your dad says the baby’s had a cold so I thought while you were here I could examine her.’

Rachel relaxed. ‘Thank you. Yesterday I thought it was just the sniffles but Millie’s not feeding very well at all today.’

Elly laid the baby on the examination table. As she unwrapped the bunny rug, the wave of longing for a child of her own slugged her under the ribs in the same way it had done for the last three years.

The child whimpered. ‘Has she vomited or had trouble breathing?’

‘She keeps pulling off the breast but that’s because her nose is blocked, right?’

No. Elly noticed the child’s breathing was laboured and her lips were tinged with blue. Millie was one sick baby.

‘I’m going to send off some throat swabs from John and Millie and although we won’t know definitively until the results are in, I have a strong suspicion that they both have whooping cough.’

A stunned expression froze Rachel’s face. ‘But that’s a kid’s disease from a hundred years ago. I thought we’d cured it?’

John sucked in a sharp intake of breath as his wife gasped. ‘I thought the cough had to sound like a whoop?’

Elly shook her head in answer to both questions. ‘Unfortunately, it’s still alive and kicking, and adults and young babies don’t tend to have the whooping sound.’

Rachel’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, God, I thought it was just a cold.’

‘I want to admit you and Millie into hospital for observation and treatment.’ She wrapped up the baby and handed her back to her mother. ‘John, I’m going to give you antibiotics so you’re no longer infectious, but I have to ask you to stay in isolation at home for three weeks.’

John’s hand immediately touched Rachel’s shoulder, his face grey with despair. ‘Oh, love, I’m so sorry.’

‘It’s not your fault, John.’ Elly quickly tried to reassure them all. ‘Whooping cough has sporadic outbreaks and is always out in the community. It’s just unfortunate that Millie’s too young to have had all her immunisations. I need to treat everyone in the household and anyone else you’ve been in close contact with.’

John’s wife emitted a wail. ‘We were at the christening party on Sunday and we all cuddled the other three babies who were baptised with Millie.’

Elly pulled out a sheet of paper, trying to work out the best way to tackle the fact she had a possible epidemic of whooping cough on her hands. ‘OK, I need you to write me a list of everyone you know you’ve been in close contact with, especially young children and anyone who might not have been immunised against whooping cough.’

Her head raced as she jotted down all the things she had to do, which included notifying the health department and filling in all the paperwork that a communicable disease generated. The phone interrupted her thoughts.

‘Elly.’ Sandy’s usually calm voice sounded stressed. ‘Karen Jennings has just arrived with her baby, who’s having trouble breathing.’

Elly closed her eyes and breathed deeply. She was just one doctor and she had two sick babies and a growing queue of patients with similar symptoms to John. The babies needed close observation and she needed to treat everyone else as well as set up a vaccination clinic. Help from the health department in Hobart was hours away.

Gabe.

No, there has to be another way.

But she knew that was just wishful thinking. The people of Midden Cove needed another doctor as soon as possible and Gabe fitted that criteria. The fact he was her ex-lover and had pulverised her heart was totally irrelevant.

It had to be.

CHAPTER THREE

‘WHOOPING cough?’ Gabe quickly absorbed Elly’s news, having rushed to the hospital after hearing her tense and stressed voice on the phone. He gave silent thanks that his children were all old enough to have been fully immunised, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to help.

‘Yes, whooping cough and at least four babies have been exposed to it.’ Elly tucked back the few strands of hair that he was learning always fell forward against her cheek. Hair that his fingers itched to brush back so he could feel the silken strands caressing his skin, just like they had in his dream last night.

From the moment he’d dropped her home from the hospital, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. Thinking about them as a couple. They’d been separated now for longer than they’d been together and when they’d parted he’d made the decision not to ever think back. There’d been no point; at first because he’d been too angry and hurt at her uncompromising position and abrupt departure, and then when his life had spiralled so far out of control with Jenna, thinking back and wishing for what might have been with Elly would have been a one-way ticket to despair. Elly hadn’t trusted him enough or loved him enough to stay, and Jenna had burned him so badly that the thought of any relationship had him ducking for cover. Yet last night he’d relived most of his time with Elly, in all its Technicolor glory, and he’d woken with an unfamiliar ache under his ribs that just wouldn’t shift. But right now she wasn’t looking at him like he’d been featuring in any of her dreams, although perhaps he’d made an appearance in her nightmares.

‘You should immunise your parents too even though they’re probably not mixing with kids, unless your brother or your sister’s had a child?’

The green in her eyes shimmered with barely concealed hurt; the main reason they’d separated. You have to tell her about the children.

But sick patients came first. The appropriate time for that story had to be finessed to avoid inflicting any more pain because he could still hear her departing words when she’d left. I want children now, Gabe, and it’s breaking my heart to love you.

He used every strand of concentration he had to return his focus to the present because the past was full of traps. ‘No, Vanessa’s still in Sydney, slaying corporate dragons, and Aaron’s still Aaron.’ He thought of his younger brother, whose easygoing lifestyle no longer mirrored his own, and immediately switched the conversation back to the job at hand, which, although dire, was in many ways safer. ‘Do you want a consult on the babies or shall I start with the backlog of walk-ins?’

‘I’d appreciate the consult, thanks.’

She smiled, her face lighting up with gratitude, and unexpected sadness throbbed inside him as he realised that was all it was. Yesterday he’d thought he’d seen desire flare in her eyes but perhaps that had just been wishful thinking. He’d been doing quite a bit of that in the last sixteen hours, which made no sense because he couldn’t turn back time, couldn’t change how they’d hurt each other or erase what had happened to him in the intervening two years. All he knew was that he was a completely different person from the man he’d been when he’d loved Elly. It stood to reason Elly had changed too.

She started walking. ‘It’s a bit of a rabbit warren to the children’s ward so follow me.’

The Midden Cove hospital sat high on the hill, its position garnering five-star views out across the Pacific Ocean. Like many Australian country hospitals, it had been built with money raised after the First World War specifically to care for returned servicemen. The position and spacious grounds would have been part of the plan because back in 1919 the healing qualities of sea-air had been as close to antibiotics as medicine got. Given the rising number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it was frightening to think that some things had come full circle.

As Gabe crossed the large built-in veranda, a shiver ran across his skin, which was crazy as it was a warm day.

Elly shot him an understanding look. ‘Often at three a.m. I think I can hear the ghosts of patients past lying in their old iron beds out here.’

He tried to shrug off the feeling. ‘You always did have an overactive imagination.’

She raised a questioning brow. ‘Oh, right, and you don’t? I saw you rub your arm.’

She’d always been incredibly observant and never missed much. Which is why you have to tell her about the kids sooner than later. He pulled open the door clearly labelled ‘Children’s Ward’ and ushered her inside. ‘Ironically, today we’ve gone back in time, dealing with an age-old illness.’

‘At least we’ve got antibiotics.’

‘True, but we both know how serious an illness this is for children under six months so we’re almost as impotent as medicos were before 1945.’

They walked into the isolation ward to see a pale and haggard woman sitting next to a cot. Elly put her hand on the mother’s shoulder. ‘Rachel, this is Gabe Lewis. He’s a … doctor too.’

Gabe heard the hesitation in her voice and wondered what she’d dropped from the sentence. Colleague, friend, lover? Once he’d considered himself to be all of those things. Ignoring the kernel of disappointment that buried itself deep inside him, he smiled at Rachel, totally understanding her fear for her child, and then reached out to stroke Millie’s head.

Recognition lit Rachel’s face. ‘Oh, you’re Cathleen’s son.’

He nodded as a rush of acid burned his stomach. Damn small towns, where everyone knows everybody. He tried to pre-empt the conversation and direct it away from him.

But Rachel got in first. ‘I bet you’re busy with—’

An incessant beeping split the air and Elly watched Gabe’s expression, which had already changed from open to tense, immediately become all doctor. He firmly stimulated Millie to take a breath by blowing on her face and rubbing her chest with his hand.

‘Why does that machine keep beeping?’ Rachel’s pinched and pale face stared up at her.

The question somehow managed to penetrate Elly’s brain, which was still spinning from the fact Gabe had greeted the baby by caressing Millie’s head. The Gabe she’d known had always been slightly aloof and uncomfortable around children, but right up until the machine had announced its urgent message, he’d looked anything but uncomfortable with Millie. If anything, he’d looked uneasy with Rachel.

She hauled her concentration back to the scared mother. ‘Millie’s having trouble breathing and sometimes she stops for a short time, and that’s called ap-noea. The mattress she’s lying on tells us when that happens.’

Rachel laced her fingers tightly. ‘But she starts again, right? She’ll always start again, won’t she?’

Elly wished she could promise her that. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Gabe examining the baby, his forehead furrowed by a line as deep as a trench. ‘Millie’s receiving oxygen and has started on antibiotics, but she’s not responding as fast as we’d hoped.’

Gabe swung his stethoscope round his neck and with eyes filled with concern he bobbed down so he was at the same height as Rachel. ‘Believe me, I get how terrifying this must be for you, and Elly’s done everything by the book, but Midden Cove’s not equipped to handle a baby this sick. Millie’s not improving, she’s getting worse.’

Rachel grabbed Gabe’s arms. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Millie’s going to need assistance to breathe. The sooner we evacuate her to Hobart or Melbourne the better.’

His melodic voice that had always sounded so deep and in control when he spoke to patients suddenly had an unanticipated tone of understanding threading through it. It was as if he really did know how she was feeling. It all seemed surreal. First he’d touched the baby and now he had empathy she’d never seen in him before.

‘What do you think, Elly?’ Rachel’s trembling voice immediately grounded her. ‘Josh is on his way back from Launceston. Can we wait?’

She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, Rachel, but Gabe’s right. Millie needs treatment by a specialist paediatrician.’ She pulled her phone out of her coat pocket. ‘I’m ringing the retrieval team now.’

As she spoke to the triage doctor at Royal Children’s Hospital, she heard Gabe gently and carefully explaining to Rachel how the team would intubate Millie and attach her to a portable ventilator before taking off in the helicopter.

She rang off. ‘They’ll be here in forty minutes and, Rachel, you’re going to Melbourne with her.’

Gabe immediately handed Rachel his phone. ‘Ring your husband and tell him what’s happening. I can talk to him if he wants that and he can ring either Elly or me at any time.’

The terrified woman nodded mutely and with trembling fingers pressed the numbers on the touch screen.

Gabe caught Elly’s elbow and gently pulled her aside, his touch sparking off a traitorous wave of heat that spun through her, calling up the memory of every embrace and every kiss they’d shared.

That’s just silly. Not every kiss would have been wonderful.

‘Elly.’

He spoke softly and his warm breath stroked her ear. She felt her body start to sway toward him, seeking his as dangerously as a bug flying toward light. Be strong. She turned, which moved her slightly away from him but gave her a full view of his face. For the first time she noticed deep creases carved in around his eyes, and half-hidden in the shimmering blue was a seriousness she’d never seen before. A light shiver whooshed across her but this time she knew it wasn’t a ghost.

He ran his hand through his hair. ‘I’m staying with Millie until she’s airlifted.’

Surprise skittered through her. Gabe was a triage specialist—assess, prioritise, organise and move on. ‘One of the nurses will special her until the team arrives and we’re just next door, examining the other three babies.’

He shook his head vigorously. ‘You examine the other babies, send the nurse to set up the vaccination clinic in A and E and as soon as Millie leaves I’ll deal with all the suspected adult cases.’

Without waiting for a reply, he turned his attention back to Millie, examining her and rechecking that everything in the emergency intubation kit was ready just in case he needed it.

She’d never seen him drop the triage code like this or seen him so connected with a child. A million questions flooded her but not one could be voiced. Yet.

Six hours later, Elly came up for her first real break. The Jennings baby had been airlifted along with Millie, and the babies from the christening, although thankfully symptomless at the moment, were under close observation.

The local chapter of the Red Cross had joined forces with the state emergency service and had put together a phone-tree and a door-knock, notifying everyone of the need to come to the vaccination clinic over the next two days. Elly marvelled at how much could happen so quickly when a community pulled together.

Her phone beeped and vibrated as two text messages came in. She read the first one. ‘Hoping to see you this evening. Dev.’

A stab of guilt pricked her. She’d completely forgotten to get back to him after her one word text of ‘patient’ she’d sent earlier in the day. Now, after the day she’d experienced, she really only wanted to go home and sink into a bubble bath and pretend that her day off had actually been relaxing. Putting off her reply to Dev, she pressed ‘show message’ on her phone and the second text came through. ‘Just dim. U?’

She smiled and typed ‘dim’ on her phone, using predictive text, and got ‘fin.’ Some things didn’t change. Gabe’s fingers flew faster than his predictive text and he never checked before hitting ‘Send’. She walked down to A and E and as she rounded the corner of the central desk she saw him over by the window, talking on his mobile. She waved as he looked up.

He gave a quick, tight smile loaded with tension before turning away and ploughing his left hand through his hair. She caught the words ‘I won’t be too much longer but only if you think can you manage.’

Manage what? A ripple of sadness washed through her, reminding her of how much everything had changed and how separate their lives really were. Once his face would have lit up when she walked into a room and he would have pulled her into his arms, phone call or not.

Come on, get a grip, don’t go backwards. He obviously wanted privacy and not wishing to be accused of eavesdropping she moved away and tossed her white coat into the linen-skip. She’d just collected her bag from the bottom of the filing cabinet when Gabe appeared at the desk, pocketing his phone. His wide and generous mouth quirked up at the edges in a weary smile and again she noticed deeper lines that hadn’t been there two years ago.

‘So where can we go for an uninterrupted debrief?’

She hadn’t expected that, especially given the phone call. ‘If you need to leave we can always—’

He held up his hand. ‘As colleagues, we always debriefed our cases and the fact we’re no longer a couple isn’t a reason to stop.’ He plunged his hands into his pockets. ‘But can we get out of here to do it?’

Unwanted anticipation fluttered in her stomach and she tried to shut it down. This was work. ‘Sure, why not? I could do with some fresh air. Are you up for a walk?’

He grinned, the old Gabe suddenly front and centre. ‘Sounds good to me.’

They strolled through the hospital gardens, past the massed silver-bush plants with their cheery white flowers and silver-grey leaves, and then they turned toward the beach; two doctors discussing their cases, rethinking their treatment options and learning from pooling their thoughts.

Elly automatically turned left at a spindly tree and walked into the picnic area-cum-children’s playground nestled in the dunes above the sea wall. It was a popular place for families as the tidal river on this side of the bridge was quiet compared with further downstream where an eddying rip swirled at the tidal junction. She loved to sit on the sea wall and watch the parade of yachts, their brightly coloured spinnakers bulging in the wind as they raced between the channel markers, but most of all she loved to listen to the children’s shrieks of delight as they played on the swings and play equipment or on the beach below.

Often children would come and chat to her, holding up their buckets and proudly showing off their soldier crabs and periwinkles. Even though she knew it was a crazy daydream, she sometimes pretended she was part of it and was at the beach with her own children. One day. She bit her lip. She’d been telling herself that now for over two years and she wasn’t any closer.

Dev says he wants children.

Unease sat like a rock in her gut. The thought that had held tempting appeal last night seemed slightly tarnished in the full sunshine of daylight.

Gabe stopped suddenly, and did a rapid one-eighty-degree scan of the area as waves of tension rolled off him like sea-fog.

‘Something wrong?’

His sunglasses hid his eyes as he patted down his pockets and then with an audible sound of relief he produced his phone. ‘Sorry, for a moment I thought I’d left it at the hospital.’

She remembered seeing him slide it into his pocket back at the desk and at the time she’d been slightly puzzled by the uncharacteristic self-conscious look he’d given her. She’d put it down to one of those uncomfortable moments ex-lovers had. But this reaction to the phone snagged her. She’d known him to lose things in the past and barely react to their loss, other than saying, ‘It’ll turn up eventually.’ It was another jar, another change in him, and they were starting to form a list— his reaction to Millie, his empathy with Rachel, the deep lines around his mouth and eyes, and now this.

‘For someone on holidays, you seem a bit strung out.’

‘Nah.’ He grinned and winked; his blue-on-blue eyes sparkling and his gaze so direct and all-encompassing it was as if she was the absolute centre of his world.

Careful. She recognised his flirting look of old but it gave her scant immunity as she tried unsuccessfully to steel herself against the traitorous tendrils that wove through her.

The mangled strains of ‘Greensleeves’ drifted across on the summer breeze and Gabe abruptly turned and started striding out of the park, making his way toward the music and calling over his shoulder, ‘Do you want an ice cream?’

It took her brain a moment to catch up and her legs even longer, and by the time she arrived at the van he’d already ordered her favourite: a lemon gelato.

‘Enjoy.’ He handed her a waffle cone bulging with two enormous scoops of the tangy confection.

‘Thanks.’

‘Let’s sit over here.’ He tilted his head away from the park and the late-afternoon sunshine picked up the straw colour of his hair, making it dazzle like golden thread. A golden god visiting the mortals.

Elly looked at the Norfolk pines and their prickly fallen scale-like leaves and said, ‘Let’s not. The sea wall’s much prettier.’

Wariness crossed his face. ‘There are more people there.’

‘Are you worried we’ll be seen? Fear not, one ice cream with me won’t ruin your free-and-easy bachelor reputation. ‘ She licked her ice cream and started strolling to cover her jab of disappointment.

He fell into step with her. ‘That’s not what I meant. I just thought it would be good to have somewhere quiet to talk rather than a park full of tearaway toddlers.’

Now, that was more like the Gabe she remembered. ‘Rest easy, mate. It’s past six and any self-respecting toddler is at home, having dinner and a bath.’ And she was right. The park was virtually empty, and a small group of teenagers left the moment Elly and Gabe walked in.

But for someone who had wanted to talk, Gabe was strangely silent as they dangled their legs over the sea wall and ate their ice cream. When they’d had work to discuss they’d had conversation but they’d well and truly debriefed and now there was just awkwardness, an almost tangible bubble of distance bulging between them. This must be the ex factor. This was the sum of all their time apart and different dreams. This afternoon she’d realised that Gabe had changed and she guessed she must have too.

We’ve both moved on.

Melancholy circled her heart but at least now she knew for sure there was nothing left between them. The moment she finished her ice cream she was going home. She’d have that bath. Her niggling conscience said, You should ring Dev.

A cold, wet sensation crossed her hand and with a start she realised her now-melting gelato was dripping. ‘Oh, ick, I’m getting all sticky.’ She held it up high and gave it a giant lick around the perimeter of the cone. Liquid ran down her jaw.

Gabe laughed. ‘Some things don’t change. You were always hopeless with ice cream.’ He leaned forward, his hand gently cupping her jaw while his thumb slowly swept across her chin.

She stilled at the touch that should have been practical and prosaic yet was anything but. Tingles shot through her, making her tremble from head to toe. Stop it and get with the programme. You heard, we’ve moved on! She tried valiantly to claim back control and she swallowed. Hard.

Intense, light blue eyes instantly darkened to navy, holding her gaze transfixed as if it was bonded to her. His head moved slowly toward hers.

Pull back now! Maintain distance! But she stayed perfectly still. She no longer cared what was sensible or logical; she just wanted him to kiss her one more time to prove that it really was all over between them. Call it an experiment. She was a doctor, a scientist and she needed to know if she’d been living on memories overblown by time and longing. Memories that had interfered with every attempt at a new relationship. Now she had a chance for reality to finally reveal those memories as fraudulent and then she and her traitorous body could truly move forward.

His five-o’clock shadow brushed her cheek as his scent of good health and fresh pine swirled around her. She tilted her head so his lips brushed hers. Like a jolt of electricity buzzing through her body, tingles and shimmers raced through her, quickly chased by heat. Wondrous, glorious heat that set her alight and demanded more. Much more.

His tongue traced the outline of her lips and with a moan she opened her mouth as her hand released the ice cream to the sand below. He tasted of spearmint and chocolate and home. His mouth covered hers without a hint of hesitation, knowing exactly where to go and what to do to make her his, and, God help her, she never wanted it to stop.

The noise of car doors slamming, seagulls squawking and gentle waves lapping faded away as every part of her was absorbed by the kiss. She wanted to invade his mouth and reclaim it as hers, but his stroking lips derailed her so instead she gloried in his urgent pressure of desire, his softness of seduction and the intensity of his lust.

Ribbons of pure pleasure unfurled, streaming through her and stripping her bones of strength. She leaned into him for support and felt him tremble. As if reading her mind, one hand cupped the back of her head as the other pushed her shoulder and they tumbled gently back onto the grassy knoll.

His lips slid off hers for a moment and as he stared down at her a million undefined emotions flashed in his eyes. ‘God, I’ve missed you.’

Her heart quivered as his husky voice filled her with desperate yearning and hope. ‘I’ve missed you, too.’ Her hands pulled him closer, needing to touch him, needing to feel the tautness of his muscles against her skin and his leg entwining with hers as he lay half against her.

His hand slid under her blouse, seeking her breast, which ached for his touch. His fingers touched the hard nipple and she gasped as a rainbow of colours showered her mind. Now her tongue invaded his mouth, taking what she knew belonged to her, and she revelled in her power as he shuddered against her.

Sand trickled into her waistband, grass prickled her heels but she hardly noticed as her fingers traced the length of his spine, the touch and feel so familiar to her that she knew the outline of every bone and crevice and exactly where to press to make him tremble.

As if on cue, he groaned against her and his mouth trailed down her neck; nipping, branding, kissing and whispering words that ignited the last remnants of longing into raging need. She never wanted it to end.

‘Daddy!’

Gabe stiffened and instantly broke the kiss.

She vaguely heard the sweet call of a child’s voice, immediately followed by deeper adult tones, and she reached out to touch his cheek. ‘I guess you’re right. This is getting way out of hand for a public park so let’s go back to my place.’

He made a guttural sound and rolled away from her.

Warm air rushed in, making her feel cold after the raging heat of their bodies, and her desire-hazed vision instantly cleared. Shock scarred his handsome face, giving it a haggardness she’d never seen before, and her blood turned to ice. ‘What’s wrong, what’s happened?’

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