E.R. DRAMA

Blood pressure is high and pulses are racing in these fast-paced, dramatic stories from Mills & Boon® Medical Romance™.

They’ll move a mountain to save a life in an emergency, be they E.R. doctors, nurses or paramedics. There are lots of critical engagements amongst the high tensions and emotional passions in these exciting stories of lives and loves at risk!

Dear Reader,

I love a good wedding—romance in the air, dressed in your best and looking as close to a million dollars as you’re ever likely to get. The perfect place to meet the man of you dreams, really.

But what happens when the shine wears off along with the lip gloss? What happens when one night of heavy flirting ties you to someone in ways you could never have anticipated? How do you cope when the man of your dreams suddenly becomes your landlord and boss to boot?

That was the setting I created for my gorgeous heroine Leah and my sexy hero Cole. Between them they created a lot of laughs and a lot of tears, and hopefully a love story you’ll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!

Happy reading,

Carol Marinelli

The Consultant’s Accidental Bride

Carol Marinelli

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CONTENTS

Cover

Dear Reader

Title Page

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOGUE

Copyright

PROLOGUE

‘I HAVE to get this flight!’ Struggling to keep the note of desperation out of her voice, Leah took a deep breath, knowing that losing her temper wasn’t going to get her anywhere. ‘I know how stupid I must look—I mean I’ve seen those airline shows, where people argue at the desk, when everyone knows that they haven’t got a leg to stand on—but it really is imperative that I get that flight.’

‘Then you should have confirmed your seat, Miss Jacobs,’ came the unimpressed response.

‘It’s Leah,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘I thought we’d at least be on first-name terms by now, Glynn.’

Glynn flashed her a very false smile. ‘Then you should have confirmed, Leah.’

It was like a broken record. They’d been arguing the point for half an hour now. Leah could see on the overhead screen that the final calls were being made and though she knew that her tears were wasted here, that feminine wiles weren’t going to win over this guy in particular, the sparkle of tears in her eyes as she again pleaded her case were far from staged.

‘As I’ve said, economy’s full…’

‘Then upgrade me?’ she pleaded hopefully.

‘I’m sorry I just don’t have that kind of authority. Anyway, Business Class is practically full with a load of doctors returning to Melbourne from a medical conference we’ve had here in Cairns.’

‘So there are some seats?’ The hope that flared in her voice died even before she’d completed her sentence as Glynn’s eyes dragged over her, and Leah could feel him snootily taking in the scraggy blonde curls tied back in a scrunchy, the faded denim shorts and scanty T-shirt that had definitely seen better days, all topped off with a rather sad-looking backpack. No doubt, Leah thought, cringing with mortification under his scrutiny, he was probably realising why he’d chosen to pursue his own type in the first place.

‘My best friend gets married tomorrow,’ Leah begged. ‘I’m the bridesmaid.’

‘So you said,’ Glynn replied tightly. ‘And, as I’ve pointed out, with your type of ticket, seventy-two hours’ confirmation prior to flying is obligatory.’ His botoxed forehead almost creased in exasperation as Leah attempted to break in, but Glynn got there first. ‘I know you’re flying to the UK on Sunday,’ he said through gritted teeth, holding up a very manicured hand to silence her as he did so. ‘And I know that there isn’t anywhere you can possibly stay tonight, given that all your friends are either back in England or have moved on to Brisbane. I know that because you’ve already told me—several times,’ he added. ‘But, as I’ve explained, the best I can offer is a flight to Melbourne at ten a.m. tomorrow. Now, if you’ll take a seat I’ll see if I can arrange some meal vouchers for you.’

‘I don’t want—’

‘Sorry I didn’t confirm.’ A voice that didn’t sound remotely sorry came rather loudly from the next checkin desk and both Leah and Glynn turned, a temporary standoff ensuing as for a moment or two their attention was diverted as they gaped in admiration at the gentleman at the next desk.

Drop-dead gorgeous just about summed him up. Very black hair, coiled over a white shirt, and heavily lidded navy eyes flashed a winning smile as he rummaged through his suit pocket for his ticket. ‘I thought the hotel had taken care of all that.’

‘No problem, Dr Richardson,’ the pretty ground staff assistant gushed. ‘They’re boarding now at Gate Four. I’ll just ring through and let them know that you’re on your way.’

At least Glynn had the grace to blush.

‘Look.’ Glynn’s smile even bordered on sympathetic as he turned his attention back to Leah. ‘Given that it was a genuine misunderstanding, I’ll see if the airline can arrange some accommodation. I can’t make any promises, I’ll have to talk to my supervisor first. I’m sorry, Leah, it’s the best I can do.’

His hand was outstretched, as it had been for the best part of the entire conversation, holding out her tickets in the hope she would just give in and take them, and this time she did.

It was pointless getting angry with Glynn, Leah reasoned, he was just doing his job.

Sitting on one of the endless empty seats, Leah cast her eyes around the deserted airport. She’d always assumed that airports were constantly buzzing, a perpetual flow of people forever milling through. After all, it had been packed when she’d first arrived, just like a mini-Heathrow really with monitors reeling off arrivals and departures and frazzled parents attempting to control even more frazzled toddlers. But, unlike the twenty-four seven circus of Heathrow, the day was obviously over here. The car hire place had pulled down its shutters, the café was in darkness. Only the piped music broke the silence, and Leah stared blankly at a massive array of greenery lining the windows, which was so lush it was hard to tell where the indoor plants ended and the outside began. A couple of cleaners were half-heartedly running their dust mops along the highly polished floors and for a tiny moment it reminded Leah of her own emergency room back in England at four a.m. But there was no nostalgia as her mind wandered back to her workplace, no fond memories trickling or eagerness to get back to where she belonged. Instead, a bubble of panic welled inside…

Oh, it was all very well to blame Glynn, all very well to point the finger and insist she truly hadn’t known it was necessary to confirm her flight, but what would be the point?

Burying her head in her hands, Leah let out a low moan. Never in a million years would she deliberately have hurt Kathy. Never in a million years would she have wanted to miss her best friend’s wedding, but when they had arranged it, when Kathy had first told her of her plans, a year had seemed such a long way off.

The wedding of the century, Kathy marrying her delicious Australian and heading back to London for a prolonged honeymoon, with Leah just a day behind.

The perfect end to the perfect year.

And what a year, Leah thought with a fond smile. She’d climbed Ayer’s Rock, snorkelled her way along the Barrier Reef, swum with dolphins and packed so many memories into twelve months it was almost impossible to fathom. But all good things must come to an end, Leah thought sadly. This time next week she’d be back in Emergency, this time next week she’d be pulling on her uniform and picking up where she’d left off, and the thought truly terrified her.

She didn’t want to go back.

Maybe missing the flight had been some sort of unintentional Freudian slip, maybe it hadn’t been entirely an accident.

‘Miss Jacobs?’

Looking up, Leah hastily wiped a stray tear, determined to apologise for giving Glynn such a hard time. A hotel and free meal sounded just about the order of the day.

‘I’ve spoken to my supervisor and, given the fact you’ve only got hand luggage…’ Holding out his hand, he gave her what looked suspiciously like a boarding card, imparting his first genuine smile as Leah stared at him blankly ‘If you run you should just make it. The plane’s departing from Gate Four.’

‘I was just getting used to the idea that I’d missed it,’ Leah admitted. ‘Would it be terribly bad if I told you I’d changed my mind?’

Glynn laughed, actually laughed. ‘I knew there was a reason I swore off women.’ This time his smile really was sympathetic. ‘Having second thoughts about going home, huh?’

Leah nodded. ‘And third and fourth.’

‘Would it help if I told you you’re flying business class?’

Blinking at the boarding card, a smile inched over her face.

‘And that that gorgeous specimen of a man that checked in a few minutes ago will be sitting in the next seat?’

‘Possibly.’ Leah grinned, picking up her backpack and slinging it over her shoulders, and even though it was probably way down on Glynn’s list of must haves he got it anyway.

Leaning over, she kissed his smooth tanned cheek.

‘Thanks, Glynn.’

‘Send me a postcard!’

Running along the empty corridor, dodging the occasional buggy loaded with domestics, she just made it. Pushing her boarding card through the machine, Leah ran down the carpeted aisle, ignoring the pursed lips of the cabin crew as she handed over her card.

‘To the left, third row from the front.’

Finally!

Finally she’d see what went on behind those smart navy curtains that were pulled as the plane taxied along the runway, finally she’d find out if the chairs really did go all the way back and if the drinks really were free!

Biting on her lip as an air steward relieved her of her backpack, Leah took a deep breath and slipped into her seat.

OK, it was only the first leg of the journey, but finally she was on her way home.

CHAPTER ONE

‘YOU made it, then?’

Slipping into her seat, Leah let out a long, exaggerated sigh before turning to her travelling companion. Glynn hadn’t been exaggerating. He really was heavenly. Superbly cut straight black hair, smoothed back from his tanned face, those stunning navy eyes, smiling as he looked over. To say he was well groomed would be an overwhelming understatement. He’d discarded his jacket, but his cotton shirt was still crisp, and his tie, though loosened, certainly hadn’t been thrown on and Leah felt like a charity advertisement in comparison.

‘I thought I’d missed it,’ Leah admitted. ‘I really thought the plane was leaving without me. I can’t believe they actually let me on.’

‘It must be because you travel light.’

Leah laughed. ‘That’s a first! Normally I need a tow truck for my backpack, but I sent a massive parcel home by sea mail yesterday, otherwise I’d undoubtedly have been on the next flight and paying excess baggage to boot.’

‘Cole Richardson.’ Even his hand was immaculate, Leah thought, beautifully manicured, the glint of a heavy gold watch under a crisp white cuff. But extremely disappointingly, Leah realised as she held out her rather scrawny nail-bitten offering, was the heavy gold band on his ring finger.

‘Leah Jacobs.’ She smiled, mentally scolding herself. As if a guy as effortlessly divine as Cole wouldn’t be taken. Not that she was on the lookout for romance, it was just the mental checklist every half-respectable single girl did when they met a halfway decent man for the first time. Despite her internal sigh, the fact he was wearing a wedding ring actually helped. There was nothing worse than, a few hours in, finding out that the man you’d actually started to like had a wife and nine children at home or even an LSG, as Kathy and she had abbreviated longstanding girlfriend to.

Or in Glynn’s case, a significant other.

No, far better to know from the outset that this was one tree it definitely wasn’t worth barking up.

‘From your accent, I take it you’re from England.’ When she nodded he carried on, ‘So how long have you been in Australia?’

‘A year,’ Leah answered. ‘I’m heading back on Sunday. How about you? Are you on your way home?’

Cole nodded. ‘I’ve been at a medical conference in Cairns.’

‘Ah, yes.’ Leah grinned. ‘Dr Richardson. And from what I remember, you didn’t confirm your flight either.’

She was sure they would have carried on talking but the plane, which had been gently taxiing along the runway, suddenly sprang into life, the lights dimming as the engines started to roar.

‘I hate this bit,’ Leah admitted. ‘I mean, I know it’s the safest form of transport, I know I’ve got more chance of being killed crossing the road and all that.’ She was gabbling now, words spilling out of her mouth as she tried not to think about what was going on. ‘I’m fine once it’s up, it’s just the take-off and landing that sends me into a spin.’

He nodded, turning those lovely eyes to hers, and she waited for a few soothing words to calm her, some tranquil platitude about how he flew all the time, how there was nothing to it, that if the stewards weren’t worried then neither was he…

‘Take-offs and landings are the most dangerous part.’

She blinked back at him, momentarily taken aback by the callous insensitivity of his statement.

‘It’s the truth.’ Cole shrugged, his eyes idly drifting to the window as Leah shrank back in her seat, screwing her eyes closed as the plane lifted into the late afternoon sky.

‘Remind me not to get sick when you’re around,’ Leah muttered, but he must have had ears on elastic because he turned sharply.

‘Excuse me?’

‘We’ll, you’re not exactly sensitive. I bet you’re one of those doctors who reel off every last possible complication before you allow a patient to sign a consent form. I bet you list off all the possible side effects before you hand over a script and are only too happy to remind people about the errors of their ways.’

‘It’s my job.’ Cole shrugged again, then gave a rather tight smile. ‘Why shouldn’t people be informed? Mind you, being an emergency consultant, most of the damage has usually been inflicted long before a patient comes into my care. Still, there’s normally a chance for a bit of patient education.’

Suddenly the wedding ring didn’t matter a jot. Divine he may be to look at, but his wife was welcome to him, the poor woman!

‘We’re up.’ Those navy eyes were smiling now.

‘Oh.’

She’d been so angry she’d forgotten to be frightened, and as the steward wheeled past with the bar Leah thought she’d died and gone to heaven when she was handed a glass with ice and lemon, let alone the hefty gin and tonic that followed a few seconds later. ‘Beats Economy.’ Leah grinned, taking a sip. ‘You have to buzz three times for a glass of water.’

‘Cheers.’ He lifted up his whisky and soda and after his little lecture, Leah was tempted to play him at his own game, to remind him about the perils of drinking, how that one tiny whisky was killing off brain cells as they spoke, but not sure he’d understand her rather offbeat humour, instead she raised her glass and touched it to his.

‘So what do you do?’ Cole asked. ‘It’s only fair you tell me, given I’ve already told you.’

‘I, well, I…’ Leah started, toying with whether or not to tell him. The fact he was an emergency consultant and she was an emergency nurse could only lead to one thing—four hours spent discussing work, which was the very thing she was hoping to forget right now. ‘A bit of this and a bit of that,’ she finished lamely, as Cole looked at her quizzically. ‘I’ve been doing some waitressing, a bit of bar work here and there—enough to save a bit and move on.’ She watched a slight frown begin on his forehead and it irritated the hell out of her. Was he such a snob he didn’t think she merited a seat next to him? ‘I’ve had a ball in Australia, white-water rafting, bungyjumping. There wasn’t exactly time to hold down a responsible job as well.’

‘I’ve just been to a conference,’ Cole responded, and his smile was most definitely derisive. ‘You see, I do hold down a responsible job. So responsible, in fact, that we spent the best part of a week discussing your type and the best way to deal with them.’

‘My type.’ Leah’s jaw clanged downwards. Just who did this man think he was? ‘And what’s my type exactly, Dr Richardson? Are you going to complain to the airline that you were forced to sit next to a lowly waitress and a backpacker to boot?’

‘I don’t give a damn what sort of work you do,’ Cole responded crisply. ‘I was talking about tourists that come here and decided to throw all caution to the wind and engage in the types of activity that no normal person would even consider. The type of person that thinks that just because they’re on holiday no harm will come to them.’

‘And no harm did come to me,’ Leah pointed out, taking a grateful sip of her gin as she recalled her one and only bungy-jump and the utter fear that had flooded her as she’d peered over the edge of the raised platform into the tiny river below, remembering how her legs had shaken convulsively as they’d tied the elastic rope around them, how she’d sworn if she only lived to tell the tale she’d never do something so stupid again.

‘Obviously.’ He gave an on-off smile. ‘But if it had, no doubt it would have been my type left to pick up and somehow try to put back together the pieces.’

A smart reply was on her lips, a really crushing one, just there for the taking, but even as she thought it, her fury died.

Cole Richardson had a point and, as uninvited as his opinion was, it was a valid one.

It was all very well for her alter ego to sit here and argue the merits of scaling walls and jumping off manmade platforms in an eternal search for adrenaline but the real Leah Jacobs was every bit as jaded with the world as the doom-and-gloom merchant sitting beside her.

Every bit as tired of picking up the pieces of other people’s lives.

Leah Jacobs, emergency nurse and Miss Responsible to boot, had burnt out every last piece of emotional reserve after four years in charge of a busy emergency department, had frazzled away every last piece of the cast-iron shield that got emergency nurses through.

This year hadn’t just been a long dreamed-of holiday.

This year had been her saviour.

The rather strained silence that followed was thankfully broken by arrival again of the steward. ‘Something to make your flight a bit more comfortable.’

Leah fell on the little black bag like a child at Christmas. Pulling open the Cellophane in her haste to get to the goodies within, attempts at sophistication dissolved completely as she moaned in pleasure at the little bottles and jars that fell into her lap. ‘Lip balm, moisturiser—oh, and, look, a proper toothbrush, not one of those collapsible ones. Aren’t you going to open yours?’ she asked as Cole tucked his into the seat pouch.

‘I’ve already brushed my teeth, and as for lip balm…’ He gave a vague shrug, then pressed his call bell. Before the light had barely gone on the attentive steward was back. ‘Could I have my eye mask, please?’

‘Certainly, Doctor, but, we’re actually just about to serve dinner.’

Cole shook his head. ‘I’ll have the eye mask now, please.’ And before she even got the words out Cole answered the steward’s question. ‘I don’t want to be woken for meals, thanks.’

And without so much as a goodnight he pushed a button, the chair tilting backwards as he slipped on his mask, not even pulling over himself the fluffy little blanket the steward had returned with, as he effectively dismissed her.

Well, good riddance, Leah thought, casting a ravenous eye over the menu, scarcely able to believe her good luck at being upgraded, though knowing the next leg of her journey home was going to be sheer misery after sampling the delights behind the navy curtain. Still, as annoying as he was, as pompous and opinionated as he had been, she sort of missed Cole as he slept, would have loved to have had someone to sing the praises to about the delicious Australian lamb that was served, the tiny new potatoes and the heavenly chocolate mousse that followed.

Would love to have had someone to sob into her napkin with during the movie as she snuggled into her blanket, his gentle snore not even annoying. Stealing a look, she actually felt sorry for him.

Imagine being so blasé, so used to all this, it didn’t even merit a glance. What was the point in flying Business Class if you didn’t even stay awake for it?

‘We’re here.’

Opening her eyes, Leah attempted to orientate herself, grumbling at the intrusion, snuggling deeper into her warm blanket. If she could have found a snooze button, she’d have hit it. Still, staring into the dark eyes of Cole wasn’t exactly a rude awakening and she smiled sleepily back at him.

‘I fell asleep.’

‘You certainly did,’ Cole agreed.

‘Did I snore?’ Leah checked, and as per usual he didn’t spare her feelings.

‘Like a train.’

‘Welcome to Melbourne,’ the captain broke in, and a long spiel followed about car hire and hotels as Leah blinked a few times, stretching like a cat.

‘Did I miss anything?’ Cole frowned at her question. ‘I mean, did I miss any meals or—?’

‘Just coffee and chocolates.’ Seeing her face slip, obviously enjoying her torture, Cole elaborated in detail as the plane taxied to its designated landing bay. ‘It wasn’t much, just a little mini-box, dark, white and milk chocolate, you know the type.’

‘No, I don’t,’ Leah muttered. ‘And given this is my one and only foray into Business Class, I doubt I ever will.’

‘Here.’ Handing her a box, a smile crept over his impassive face as Leah gave a whoop of joy. ‘I told the steward I’d give it to you when you woke up. I had a feeling you wouldn’t want to miss out.’

The cabin crew were setting up for disembarking now, the seat-belt sign pinging as weary passengers stood up, reaching overhead and pulling out their luggage. As Cole jumped up, Leah suddenly didn’t want the journey to end. There was something about him that enthralled her, something behind that rather arrogant exterior she wanted to explore.

‘Have a safe trip back to England.’ His hand was out again, the gold band flashing its warning light, and Leah purposefully switched off her emotions.

‘Thanks.’ Shaking his hand, she gave him a smile. ‘Sorry about the snoring.’

Have a nice life, she wanted to add as Dr Drop-Dead Gorgeous made his way down the aisle and out of her life, leaving her curiously deflated. Catching sight of his unopened goody bag still sitting in the pouch in front of his seat Leah simply couldn’t help herself. The cleaners would only chuck it out, she assured herself as she reached forward and picked it up. It seemed such a shame to waste it.

‘Forgot my mobile.’

Jumping as if she’d been scalded, Leah thought she’d die of shame as Cole caught her red-handed. ‘Here, I was just picking these up for you. I thought I might see you at customs…’

‘It’s an internal flight,’ Cole pointed out, and she was positive, despite his bland expression, that he was laughing at her. ‘Help yourself.’

So she did!

Still burning with embarrassment, she made her way off the plane along the endless corridor and despite her best intentions she found herself scanning the masses for his dark-suited shoulders. He wasn’t exactly hard to locate as he stood a good head and shoulders above normal mortals, but catching sight of Kathy’s expectant face Leah’s attempt at a temporary diversion faded, the sight of her best friend after all this time overriding the pleasure derived from observing a stranger.

Kathy must have seen her as her hand was waving frantically as she dashed forward, her face shining, every bit the bride-to-be, but Leah realised as Kathy threw herself onto Cole that their brief meeting hadn’t quite ended.

‘Leah,’ Kathy shrieked, discarding Cole and lurching forward. ‘Can you believe you’re here?’

‘Not really.’ Leah laughed, blushing even more as Cole’s questioning eyes turned to her.

‘This is Leah,’ Kathy introduced them, ‘my one and only bridesmaid. This is Cole, the best man, and of course you’ve already met Dale.’

‘The husband-to-be.’ Leah kissed him on the cheek as Cole watched her thoughtfully, her own cheeks scorching with pleasure or embarrassment, she truly couldn’t decide. ‘Are you nervous yet?’

‘Not a bit.’ Dale grinned. ‘So how was the conference, Cole?’

‘Long,’ Cole said with a dry note to his voice.

‘And the flight?’

‘Long,’ he said again, as Leah burned with indignation.

Kathy, oblivious to the tension, shepherded them out of the arrivals lounge and into the late afternoon sun.

‘Isn’t he divine?’ Kathy nudged Leah as the guys walked on ahead, and Leah knew she wasn’t talking about her fiancé!

‘Married,’ Leah pointed out.

‘Widowed.’ Kathy winked, reverting to the type of shorthand best friends did so well, and suddenly Leah’s pulse kicked into overdrive, but even though men, or lack of them, was usually their favourite topic of conversation there was a certain reluctance on Leah’s part to let Kathy know that there was even a hint of attraction.

Kathy’s none-too-subtle attempts at matchmaking could only be embarrassing. And, anyway, Leah reminded herself, she was flying back to England on Sunday and as gorgeous as Cole Richardson might be to look at, he wasn’t exactly a master of smooth talk.

‘Forget it,’ Leah said instead. ‘I sat next to him on the plane and his company wasn’t exactly riveting.’

‘Really?’

‘Really,’ Leah groaned. ‘And, believe me, Kathy. Dr Killjoy doesn’t do a thing for me. If I want to feel like a naughty schoolgirl then I’ll go back to school.’

They were at the car now, but the prospect of a night apart from her beloved Dale had Kathy promptly discarding her manners and she jumped in the front with her fiancé, leaving Cole to lower his six-foot-three frame into the rather cramped back seat as Leah sat rigid, pretending to look out of the window.

‘We seem destined to sit next to each other,’ he said with a thin smile, which Leah returned with an equal lack of enthusiasm, determined not to let him glimpse that he was having any effect on her whatsoever.

‘Did you do any nursing up in Queensland?’ Kathy called from the front seat.

‘No.’

‘Saving yourself for good old London?’

‘You said you were a waitress,’ Cole pointed out as Kathy giggled at something Dale said.

‘I was a waitress in Queensland,’ Leah responded through gritted teeth. ‘I wasn’t aware when you asked what I did for a living that you wanted me to reel off my entire résumé.’

‘I didn’t.’ Cole shrugged, ending the uncomfortable conversation. The rest of the journey was spent rolling their eyes in the back as the happy couple giggled and simpered, and only when they pulled up at a smart town house did Leah and Cole let out long sighs of relief now this embarrassing journey was over.

‘Look after him,’ Kathy said, turning her head for the first time away from her fiancé. ‘No wild parties for his last night of freedom, no shaving off his eyebrows or tying him to the boom gates.’

‘I don’t think Cole would be so irresponsible,’ Leah said with a rather tart edge to her voice. ‘You’ve got nothing to worry about, Kathy.’

Heaven knows why, but the child locks were on in the back and they had to sit through a few uncomfortable minutes as the happy couple said goodbye, and even though they’d be seeing each other the next day, one could have been forgiven for thinking Kathy was waving Dale off to war for all the passion and drama as they bade each other farewell. Mind you, not a lot of talking was going on and Leah and Cole politely stared out of the window for the first half of the performance before finally rolling their eyes at each other.

‘Will it never stop?’ Leah whispered, and Cole’s lips twitched into a smile.

‘Get me out of here,’ Cole mumbled as the windows steamed up.

‘Do you want a chocolate?’ Leah giggled, handing him the box he had salvaged for her.

Finally it was over. Dale opened the rear door and Cole and Leah jumped out as Kathy slid over into the driver’s seat.

‘Enjoy your night in the honeymoon suite.’ Dale grinned.

‘I feel so guilty.’ Leah made a token protest. Kathy and Leah were going to be spending the pre-wedding night glamming themselves up in the honeymoon suite. A two-night deal had been part of the package for booking the reception at the grand hotel, but apart from collecting his cases around eleven p.m. on the night of the wedding Dale wasn’t even going to get his toe though the door. Once the happy couple had been safely waved off, Leah had generously been given the run of the honeymoon suite as well as breakfast in bed. The prospect of such a grand ending to her trip after a year sharing dormitories and rooms in youth hostels was a treat indeed. Any attempt at underplaying it soon ended as she started to laugh. ‘Actually, I don’t feel guilty a bit, just wonderfully spoilt and terribly lucky. Is this your and Kathy’s house?’

‘I wish,’ Dale sighed. ‘Ours still only has half a roof. Hopefully a three-month honeymoon in Europe will give the builders time to finish the renovations. Cole offered me his sofa for my last night of freedom.’ His eyes strayed back to the car, lingering on Kathy for a second too long. Simultaneously Cole and Leah snapped into action, determined that the goodbyes had already been said.

‘Isn’t he gorgeous?’ Kathy said dreamily, staring into the rear-view mirror as the car pulled off. And from the tone of her voice Leah knew that this time the conversation had switched to Dale.

‘Hey, if you want to make it up the aisle in one piece tomorrow, I’d suggest you keep your eyes on the road!’ Leah said quickly, ‘But, yes,’ she added, forcing herself not to turn around for one final glimpse. ‘He is gorgeous.’

Only she wasn’t referring to the groom!

As wonderful as backpacking had been for Leah, as emotionally cleansing and spiritually uplifting as it had been, her time drifting through the red centre and up the east coast of Australia had had its downside.

The mortgage on her tiny yet phenomenally expensive London flat had been taken care of, along with the rates and bills. She’d even paid her little sister to come in and do the occasional dust—preferably after the wild parties she was undoubtedly holding there—but something had had to go and her meticulous budgeting had been to the detriment of her beauty routine.

She wasn’t vain or anything, but waxing, manicuring and a six-weekly trim at the hairdresser’s didn’t really get a look in with the rather frugal budget Leah had set herself.

If ever a major repair job was called for, it was now, but thankfully Kathy had the next twenty-four hours planned down to the last detail in the massive bridal folder she had acquired, which she constantly referred to.

‘Bliss,’ Leah sighed.

Trimmed, plucked, waxed and massaged to within an inch of their lives, they sat wrapped in huge fluffy white robes, their toenails separated by wads of cotton wool, sipping on champagne as the room-service waiter cleared away the remains of a sumptuous dinner.

‘I feel like a muddy old car that’s been through a car wash and come out all vacuumed and sparkling. I just hope that I do that gorgeous dress you’ve chosen for me justice tomorrow!’

‘You honestly like it?’ Kathy checked for the hundredth time.

‘Like it? I love it!’ Leah said firmly, and for the first time in bridesmaid history she wasn’t lying. Even though she’d mentally prepared herself to smile and coo at the undoubtedly horrendous creation, thankfully on this occasion it hadn’t been needed. Leah had long since passed the three-times-a-bridesmaid stage and if she’d learnt anything at all from the experiences it was that no amount of grimacing or subtle suggestions was going to change the outcome. She’d been squeezed into more puffballs than she cared to remember but thankfully at last she was going to walk down the aisle in style. ‘Finally a bride with taste!’ Leah added, as Kathy waddled like a penguin with her damp toenails to the wardrobe and pulled the simple lilac velvet dress down from the wardrobe door again.

‘You’re not just saying that so I won’t get upset.’

‘I promise,’ Leah insisted. ‘How could I not like it? There’s not a sequin or a glimmer of diamanté in sight.’

‘And not a single bow,’ Kath added proudly. ‘Did you manage to find a backless bra?’

‘I did,’ Leah sighed. ‘Though it should come with a user manual. It reminds me of one of those awful sanitary belts from the Dark Ages.’

‘At least you need a bra,’ Kathy moaned, looking down at her rather flat chest.

‘You’re going to look divine.’ Leah grinned. ‘What does your bridal folder say we should be doing now?’

‘Sleeping, though I don’t fancy our chances. I’m so excited I don’t think I’ll get a wink all night.’

‘Come on.’ Pulling back the counterpane, Leah climbed into the massive four-poster. ‘We don’t want to have bags under our eyes tomorrow.’

‘I guess.’ Reluctantly Kathy climbed in. ‘I wonder what Dale’s doing now? You don’t think Cole would have taken him on one last wild night out?’

‘I doubt it,’ Leah muttered. ‘I don’t think Cole would know what a wild night was if it came up and poked him in the eye.’

‘He’s really got to you, hasn’t he?’

‘I just can’t stand those know-it-all types who go around spoiling other people’s fun.’

‘But Cole’s nothing like that,’ Kathy insisted.

‘You didn’t sit next to him on the plane,’ Leah pointed out. ‘You should have heard the lecture he delivered when he found out I’d been bungy-jumping. Talk about kill a conversation dead in two seconds flat.’

‘He’s just a bit straight-laced,’ Kathy relented. ‘Mind you, I can’t say I blame him.’

‘Because he works in Emergency?’ Leah argued. ‘We work in Emergency and we don’t walk around policing everyone, warning them off every tiny risk, every possible side effect.’

‘I didn’t mean that.’ Kathy shook her head. ‘Dale says he’s changed since his wife died. She was killed in some boating accident or something, that’s all I know. Cole never really talks about it. I think it’s just been since then.’

Oh, she’d have loved to have probed, would have loved a bit more insight, but Kathy was yawning now, the day catching up with her, her mind drifting towards her wedding day tomorrow, and Leah knew it was neither the time nor the place.

‘If I don’t get a chance to say it tomorrow, thanks for asking me to be your bridesmaid, for organising the dress and shoes and this wonderful room for me. I feel awful. I’m supposed to be helping you…’

‘You’ll do the same for me when it’s your turn,’ Kathy murmured sleepily, and Leah rolled her eyes into the darkness.

‘You might have to wait a while for me to return the favour.’

‘Are you looking forward to going back? To nursing, I mean.’

There was a long pause, and when Leah finally answered her voice was barely a whisper. ‘No.’ The sharp sting of tears caught Leah unawares and, aghast, she blinked them back. Tonight was about Kathy, not the absolute mess her life was in right now.

‘You’ll be all right,’ Kathy said gently, her voice sleepy. ‘As awful as what happened to you was, it’s not going to happen again. Lightning never strikes twice.’

‘Oh, yes, it does,’ Leah sighed. ‘Remember that guy who came into the department…’ Her voice trailed off, the soft snores coming from Kathy telling Leah she’d lost her audience. Rolling on her side, she stared into the darkness, not even bothering to wipe the salty tears that slid into her hair.

‘Oh, yes, it does,’ she whispered softly.

CHAPTER TWO

‘THE one thing you asked me to do,’ Leah groaned, ‘and I managed to mess it up.’

‘It doesn’t matter.’ Kathy giggled, spinning Leah around and shaking her head. ‘But you really can’t wear that bra. Even with it safety-pinned to your knickers, you can still see the straps.’

You could too. Craning her neck, Leah peered into the full-length mirror. As gorgeous as the strappy dress might be, its plunging back left no room for even the most backless of backless bras.

‘The sales assistant assured me no matter how low the dress, this would be OK.’

‘She lied.’ Kathy giggled again and Leah joined her in a reluctant smile. ‘Don’t worry.’ Pulling at the zipper on one of her suitcases, Kathy pulled out an impressive-looking first-aid box.

‘Are you expecting to open a mobile theatre on your travels?’ Leah asked.

‘There’s nothing wrong with being prepared. Anyway, we’re heading off the beaten track a bit on our honeymoon. Here it is.’ Pulling out a roll of three-inch surgical tape, she registered Leah’s look of horror. ‘Everyone uses it.’

‘Since when?’

‘Come on, Leah,’ Kathy urged, ‘we haven’t got time to mess around.’

They hadn’t, so rather reluctantly, and blushing to the roots of her smooth blonde hair, Leah suffered the indignity of holding up her rather impressive bosom as Kathy set to work with the surgical tape, jacking up her friend’s breasts until an acre of cleavage barely moved an inch.

‘It works!’ Leah grinned. ‘It actually works.’

‘You’re not allergic to tape, are you?’ Kathy checked.

‘I don’t care if I am,’ Leah answered as she slipped back into her dress and pulled up the zipper. ‘It looks great.’

They stood for a couple of moments admiring their reflections in the mirror until the phone rang and they were gently reminded that there was a room full of people and an anxious groom waiting downstairs for them.

‘You look stunning,’ Leah whispered, her eyes filling with tears as she fiddled with Kathy’s veil. ‘You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.’

‘And the best bit is that I get to do it all again when we get to England.’

Walking behind Kathy, Leah blushed as she always did when people looked at her. There wasn’t a single familiar face in the crowd to give her an encouraging smile unless she counted Cole Richardson, but his smile wasn’t exactly encouraging. He gave her a brief glance before turning his attention to the bride and groom, playing the part of the best man to a T as Leah stood beside him, trying to ignore how heavenly he looked in his dark grey suit, trying to remain unmoved by the heady scent of his cologne, which easily overpowered the gorgeous flower arrangements. There was not even one nervous pat of his pocket to check for the rings as he stood supremely confident, dwarfing her with his height as they shared the order of service. Leah’s hands trembled as she tried to read the blur of words in front of her.

She always cried at weddings. Even when she wasn’t particularly attached to the couple, there was something about the grandeur of the event, watching two people pledging their love, embarking on life’s journey together, which made her arms tingle with goose-bumps and tears test her waterproof mascara to its limit.

Unfortunately, as gorgeous as her lilac dress might be, there was absolutely nowhere to hide a tissue and Leah tried to sniff subtly, praying her nose wouldn’t start to run. But God must’ve been concentrating on the ceremony and when dignified sniffs wouldn’t suffice, trying to catch Cole’s eye remained her only option.

‘Have you got a tissue?’ she whispered frantically as Cole stared ahead, frowning at the intrusion.

‘What?’

‘A tissue?’ Leah begged, desperately trying not to sniff too loudly.

‘Oh, God,’ he muttered when finally he turned and faced her, no doubt appalled at the vision that greeted him. ‘You’ll have to use this.’

Cringing at the prospect of Kathy’s wrath, she accepted the gorgeous lilac silk handkerchief that perfectly matched her dress and was supposed to poke out of the top pocket of his suit.

‘Try and keep one corner clean,’ he hissed out of the side of his mouth.

Leah did her best, but it was a rather sad-looking effort that hung out of Cole’s pocket as they lined up for the photographers for the seemingly endless photos. Finally it was over and they sat down to a sumptuous meal before the inevitable speeches, which seemed to go on for ever, finally got under way. Cole’s was easily the best, Leah decided, witty without being embarrassing, endearing without being gushing. Best of all, he kept it short and Leah sipped at her coffee liqueur as she watched him, smiling reluctantly at his jokes, her cheeks curiously flushed as she recalled their four hours alone on the plane. He entranced her for all the wrong reasons. Pompous, condescending he most certainly was, but there was something else that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. It wasn’t just his looks, though undoubtedly they spoke volumes, but something about his strength, his dignity. As his speech neared its end, Leah’s eyes, which were still stinging from her embarrassing tears earlier, filled up again as she glimpsed the pain behind the rather severe mask Cole wore so well.

‘My late wife, Heather, adored Dale, saw him more as a brother than a friend. Despite her sunny nature, where Dale was concerned, none of the girlfriends he dragged to our dinner table for Heather’s opinion were good enough…

‘Until Kathy breezed into our lives a couple of years ago, that is.’

He cleared his throat and stared at the notes he was reading from for a second too long before continuing.

‘After they left we watched them drive off, and when Heather shook her head I waited, waited for Heather to have picked up some fault I’d missed, some glaring glitch in Kathy’s character I’d seemingly ignored. Instead, she let out a long sigh then smiled. “That’s the one,” she said. “That’s the one Dale’s going to marry.” And, though unfortunately she isn’t here to see it, Heather, as always, was right and I know that everyone in this room hopes that you’re as happy in your future together as Heather predicted you would be.’

Given that the sole handkerchief was safely back in his pocket, Leah had to make do with a couple of deep breaths and a quick sip of her drink. Looking up, she realised the whole room was looking at her and it took a second or two to realise that Cole was at the end of his speech and performing the duty toast to the bridesmaids.

Or bridesmaid!

Blushing crimson, she forced a smile as Cole held up his glass. ‘When Dale asked me to be best man, naturally I was thrilled, but never more so than now. The bridesmaid truly looks beautiful.’ A tiny smile softened his face as he worked the room. ‘And unlike the rest of the guys here tonight, at least I know that I’m guaranteed a dance.

‘To the bridesmaid!’

It was a joke, a light-hearted comment to end his speech on, Leah knew that, knew that, but as the speeches ended she sat burning with anticipation. Something in his voice, something in the way his eyes had held hers as he’d spoken told her he had meant it, that this would be more, so much more than a duty dance. As the lights dimmed and Kathy and Dale took to the floor for the first dance, Leah’s heart rate shot up as Cole approached. Shooting a look up from the refuge of her fringe, there was an expression she couldn’t quite read in his eyes and she knew there and then that the attraction she felt was most definitely mutual. As his hot hand closed on hers she could barely catch her breath as she walked alongside him in unfamiliar, impossibly high heels.

They stood shy and awkward for a moment so fleeting it was barely there, then Cole wrapped his hand around her waist and she slid into his embrace. The music carried them around the room and so tall was he, even in heels her cheek only rested on his chest as his deep low voice drifted to her ears.

‘I meant what I said. You really do look beautiful.’

Leah gave a small laugh, pulling her head up slightly so he could hear her. ‘It’s amazing what a posh frock and a few heated rollers can do. I think yesterday was a more accurate version of me.’

‘You looked beautiful then.’

Such was the honesty in his voice, such was its impact, Leah forgot they were supposed to be dancing and stilled for a moment.

Cole’s admission was obviously having the same effect on him and while the dance floor revolved around them, while couples entwined and moved to the music, for a second or two everything stopped.

‘You didn’t make me feel very beautiful,’ Leah responded, amazing herself at her boldness. ‘In fact, you made me feel incredibly irresponsible and rather unworthy.’

He didn’t answer, just stared on as Leah’s mouth started to move at a hundred miles an hour, nerves catching up with her as her senses kicked into overdrive. ‘If I remember rightly, you fell asleep at the first opportunity. After you’d told me off…’

‘That was the safer option.’ His eyes were on her, burning into her, and she stared right back. Never had she felt such an attraction, never, not even once in her life had she felt such a connection with another person. And it hadn’t just happened on the dance floor.

The instant he had appeared at the check-in desk, he had filled her mind. Her token annoyance at him had been just that.

A token, futile defence she had erected.

Even last night, as she had shared in Kathy’s last night of single life, her mind had guiltily wandered to the dashing stranger on the plane, scarcely able to believe her luck at the cards fate had dealt, at the chance to see him again the next day.

She should have left it there. He’d registered his attraction, swelled her ego to unimaginable proportions and made the day extra special. And that was all it could be, Leah reminded herself. Tomorrow she was heading back to England. Tomorrow Australia, Melbourne, this wedding would be just another holiday memory to line up with the rest, to pore over the photos with a wistful smile as her real life resumed.

So why was she taking things further? Leah asked herself.

Why was she tossing her fringe back slightly as she looked up? Running a tongue over her glossed lips as she stared into those gorgeous dark eyes? Lowering her voice as she spoke?

‘Safer than what?’

She felt his shoulders stiffen under her hands as he gazed back at her. The bridal waltz had long since ended, their duty dance over, yet neither had made a motion to move. Instead, they swayed away, dancing to their own tune, the throb of the band a distant beat as they moved together.

‘Safer than getting involved with someone I barely know, someone who’s heading off to the other side of the world tomorrow. Is that a good enough answer?’

‘I guess it was to be expected.’ She registered his frown and gave a small smile. ‘You made it very clear you like to err on the side of caution so, yes, I guess it would be pretty stupid to go and do something crazy.’

‘What do you mean by crazy?’ He was smiling down at her now. She could feel his breath on her cheek, his arms pulling her in tighter as he awaited her answer to his dangerous question.

She felt as if she were back on the bungy-jump platform again. A golden once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, right there for the taking. It would be crazy, she frantically reasoned, crazy and bad and dangerous to go ahead and jump and, despite her adventures abroad, falling hopelessly in lust had been one she’d been only too willing not to succumb to. She’d enough baggage to lug around without a broken heart to boot, and from the break in his voice when he’d mentioned his wife during the speeches Cole had his fair share of baggage too.

Where was her sense of adventure when she really needed it? Leah wondered with a rueful smile. Why couldn’t she just throw caution to the wind and succumb to his charms even if it was for just a night?

But therein lay the problem. Casual sex simply wasn’t her style and with the clock ticking by, with her departure drawing more imminent with each and every step, Leah knew that a one-night stand was all it could ever be, so it was with reluctance pouring from every cell that she dragged her eyes up to him as the music ended.

‘I’d better go and find Kathy.’

Kathy wasn’t exactly much help. As the evening wore on time and again she engineered their meetings, time and again they were left alone at the head table. It should have been awkward but it truly wasn’t. Cole was so easy to talk to, he made her laugh, made her feel so dammed sexy when he looked at her, watched her mouth move as she spoke, and it took a mammoth effort to drag herself up to the hotel room to help Kathy out of her dress and into her farewell outfit.

Drunk on love and half a bottle of champagne, Kathy had a glint in her eye and a determination that everyone should be as happy as her as they fiddled with their make-up in the mirror.

‘It wouldn’t just be a one-night stand,’ she insisted. ‘Cole Richardson is the consummate gentleman. I can’t believe he’s actually making a move on you!’

‘I’m not that bad,’ Leah moaned.

‘I didn’t mean that. It’s just that since Heather died he hasn’t so much as even glanced at another woman, hasn’t shown the remotest interest. He must just adore you, Leah, and I can’t bear the thought of him being rejected. You could kiss him at least, have a drink together…’

‘In the honeymoon suite,’ Leah pointed out, staring at the massive bed, supposedly prepared for the happy couple. Champagne cooling in a bucket, flowers and chocolates on the table—any hope of resistance would be futile. ‘Come on, Kathy, I wouldn’t last five minutes alone with him. I’ve never felt like this and pretending it isn’t going to end up in bed if we pursue things is pointless.’

‘Then go with it,’ Kathy begged. ‘Cole isn’t going to just get up and walk away.’

‘I am, though.’

‘Why couldn’t something come of it? Look at Dale and I…’

‘Kathy, I fly back to England tomorrow, for heaven’s sake.’

‘So cancel,’ Kathy said airily. ‘Tell them you’ve got a raging cough and temperature and they won’t let you set foot on the plane.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Leah admonished. ‘I haven’t got anywhere to stay, I don’t know anyone. Anyway, we probably only feel this way, because I’m going tomorrow. There’s something quite seductive about knowing you’ll never meet again. Can you imagine the poor guy’s face if I turn around and say I’ve decided to stay on?’

‘Remember the first night Dale took me out?’ Kathy asked, her eyes shining. ‘We were sharing a flat and he was the Australian visiting locum about to head back down under? Remember what I said when he knocked at the door?’

Leah nodded, a smile wobbling on her lips. ‘If I’m not in bed by eleven I’ll be home by twelve.’

‘And just look at us now!’

‘Come on, Mrs,’ Leah said slowly. ‘I think your husband’s waiting to whisk you away.’

Leah hated goodbyes and even though she knew she’d see Kathy soon, tears pricked at her eyes as the crowd all gathered around them for one final kiss and hug. Leah stood slightly back, smiling shyly as Cole joined her.

‘You’ll be thinking I’m permanently on the verge of tears,’ Leah said by way of greeting. ‘It’s just weddings that do it to me, especially this one.’

‘You’re really close, aren’t you?’

Leah nodded. ‘We shared a flat and a bit more besides. There’s been a few too many dramas in my life and Kathy’s always been there.’

‘She still will be,’ Cole said gently as Leah sniffed into the lilac handkerchief he produced for the second time.

‘I know. Come on, we’d better wave off the car.’

Unfortunately the entire ballroom had the same idea and as the crowd surged forward, so too did Leah, her high heels not exactly providing the most stable of footing. And though Cole’s hand shot out to save her, the stone banister caught the brunt of her rib cage as Leah toppled sideways.

‘Are you all right?’ he asked, pulling her up as the crowd looked on.

‘I’m fine.’ Screwing her eyes closed, Leah struggled to catch her breath. ‘I’m fine,’ she said again. ‘I’m just embarrassed.’

‘Nobody’s looking,’ Cole said assuredly, his face concerned as he eyed her carefully. ‘They’re all too busy waving. That was quite a knock…’

‘It’s nothing,’ Leah gasped, wrapping her arms around her chest then shaking her head as tiny little silver spots danced in front of her eyes. Her chest hurt, it really hurt, and she waited for the pain to go. But it wasn’t like a stubbed toe, the agony followed by a dizzy relief. If anything, the pain was getting worse, her breath coming out in short painful bursts.

‘I can’t breathe,’ she whispered, only this time embarrassment had nothing to do with the lowering of her voice. A whisper was all she could manage.

‘Let me have a look at you.’

‘Not here,’ she begged, mortified at such an undignified end to such a wonderful evening. Cole swooped her up into his arms in one quick motion and headed up the stairs and across the foyer, nudging the lift button with his elbow and smiling reassuringly down at her as he did so, even managing a tiny joke as she sagged against him.

‘If you wanted to see my room…’ he smiled down at her ‘…you really only had to ask!’

CHAPTER THREE

HE WASN’T joking a few minutes later.

As Cole gently lowered her onto his bed Leah shook her head frantically. Hanging her legs instead over the side, she leant forward, resting her elbows on her knees with her head in her hands in a desperate attempt to fill her lungs with air. The pain in her side was an agony in itself yet it barely registered against the awful feeling of suffocation.

‘I can’t breathe,’ Leah gasped, as Cole knelt on the floor beside her. ‘I really can’t…’

‘It’s OK, Leah, don’t try and talk.’ His voice was calm, his eyes holding hers for a second as he picked up the phone. ‘Get an ambulance up to room 204. Tell them there’s a doctor present and a female patient with a suspected pneumothorax.’ The poor person on the other end couldn’t have realised the might they were dealing with as they obviously asked a question. ‘Just do it!’ Cole roared, making even Leah jump, but, sensing her tension, he turned back to her. ‘She wanted to send for the hotel’s GP,’ he offered by way of explanation. ‘Just sit tight for a second, Leah, I’ll get my bag.’

Thank heavens he was tidy.

Strange, the things you thought when you were struggling to pull air into your lungs, strange how your mind focused on irrelevances rather than face the dire truth. For Leah it was easier to focus on the fact that had her life depended on finding her bag in the next couple of minutes, she might just as well have laid down and died there and then.

Thankfully her dress was backless so there was nothing to remove, and as Cole listened to her air entry she felt the cool steel of his stethoscope as he pressed it against her back.

‘I need to listen to your chest.’

Leah would have loved to have argued, loved to have told him she was fine. And as irrelevant as it was at this moment, the fact that her bust was jacked up with several metres of surgical tape wasn’t exactly the image she had been hoping to portray. Dying with shame or lack of oxygen, Leah couldn’t decide which, she moved forward. His hands located her zip almost instantly, which was no mean feat considering it was concealed in the seam at the side. Cole was obviously a man who knew his way around a woman’s dress, Leah thought, but it was her last stab at humour, her last attempt at self-preservation as the lights seemed to dim, the stars that were flickering in her eyes flashed brighter for a second then dimmed, the counterpane she was gripping so tightly seemed to slip out of her hands as she lurched forward. She struggled to fight it to stay awake, to beg Cole to do something, to tell him that she couldn’t die here—not in a stranger’s bedroom, not half a world away from home, with her breasts wrapped in tape, not when Kathy was just…

‘Leah, you have a pneumothorax.’ Cole’s voice seemed to be coming at her through a fog. ‘That’s why you’re having so much trouble breathing. A rib must have punctured your lung. Now, I can’t wait for the ambulance to get here so I’m going to put a needle in. It’s going to hurt,’ he warned. She could feel his fingers working their way down her rib cage and the coolness of the alcohol as he swabbed her skin. ‘It will only hurt for a second,’ he implored, ‘and after that you’ll feel much more comfortable.’

She would have nodded, told him she understood what he was saying, she’d go through anything just to breathe again, but there was no strength left. A pain so vile, so intense Leah truly thought she would vomit, suddenly ricocheted through her as the needle pierced her chest, broke through into her lung, but just as she thought she would surely die, that surely it was all over, she felt the delicious feeling of air dragging into her lungs, the heady taste of oxygen as it seeped through her body and slowly, slowly her world came back into focus.

‘You’re all right now.’ Cole was strapping the needle into place as he spoke. ‘Just stay very still while I secure it. An ambulance is on its way.’

‘Thank you.’ It seemed such a paltry offering, but it was the only two words she could come up with. Even they were too many for Cole.

‘Don’t try and talk,’ he said crisply. ‘Once the ambulance gets here they’ll give you some oxygen. You must have fractured a rib when you fell.’

‘I feel better now,’ Leah said faintly, but Cole begged to differ.

‘Well, you don’t look it.’ Lifting her legs up onto the bed, he grabbed at pillows, making a massive arch around her, and the bliss as she lay back was indescribable. But the oxygen had obviously reached Leah’s brain now as the indignity of sitting naked from the waist up hit home.

Cole must have read her mind. ‘I’ll just cover you up,’ he said, heading for the wardrobe and grabbing an ugly beige blanket.

‘Can you—?’

‘Get rid of the tape?’ Cole finished for her as a smile so small it was barely there inched over his lips. ‘So that’s why there’s never any when a doctor asks, the nurses are too busy swiping it!’

It was the last of his smiles, the last glimpse of the man she was just starting to know, before the doctor took over as the paramedics roared into the room, smothering her in leads as they strapped an oxygen mask on.

‘Let’s just get her to Melbourne Central,’ Cole said impatiently as the inevitable questions started. ‘I’ve only got a Gelco in her, she needs a proper chest tube and an X-ray.’

Something in his voice told Leah he wasn’t about to be argued with and she was right. In no time at all she was bumping along on the metal stretcher, screwing her eyes closed in embarrassment as they wheeled her out through Reception and into the flashing ambulance.

‘Thank you,’ Leah said again, pulling off the mask and attempting a brave smile.

‘You can thank me later,’ Cole replied, climbing into the ambulance behind her and sitting on the tiny seat. ‘Let’s just get you to the hospital.’

He didn’t have to come, but Leah was so glad he did, so glad there was, if not a familiar face, at least someone who wasn’t a complete stranger sitting beside her as the ambulance sped through the dark streets and the wailing sirens told Leah she wasn’t quite out of the woods yet.

Even though it was the other side of the world there was a strange comfort to be had in the familiarity of the emergency room, the efficient triage nurse listening intently to Cole’s brief handover as they whisked her straight into Resus. Her dress was removed in a second, along with her shoes, and bundled into a bright yellow bag, the monitors bleeping into life as they were turned on and strapped to her.

‘Hi, Cole!’ A rather senior-looking doctor had finished listening to her chest and addressed her escort. ‘I thought you were supposed to be on a night off.’

‘When do I ever get a night off?’ Cole responded dryly.

Only then did it dawn on Leah they were actually at his hospital and, worse still, in his very own department.

‘Leah, my name’s Samuel Donovan, I’m the consultant on tonight. Now, I know you’re still having a lot of trouble breathing so I’m going to get the history from Cole for now if that’s OK and I’ll talk to you when you’re a bit more settled.’

Leah nodded her consent, an in-depth discussion the last thing she needed right now.

‘I just want to check, though, whether or not you’re allergic to anything.’

Shaking her head, Leah gripped the mask tighter.

‘Any drugs, sticky tape, any reactions to anaesthetic?’

‘She’s an emergency nurse, Samuel, I think we can take it as a no!’

‘OK.’ Samuel relented, but only for a moment. ‘Any operations?’

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