The Doctor Everyone's

Talking About

by Fiona McArthur

Zoe's Diary: I finally got up the nerve to start aconversation with the gorgeous Angus Raynor—talentedsurgeon, the hot topic at the hospital and infamousheartbreaker. I'm not worried about his reputation; afteryears of being treated like a china doll by myoverprotective brothers, I'm about to strike out on my ownon a roundtheworld trip, so I don't want anything serious.But does Angus?

Sun, surf and sanddusted women in droves. AngusRaynor decided the bay at Coogee was a wickedtemptress with striped beach umbrellas enticing him likethe tips of her painted nails. Come closer. See what I'mhiding: women who haunt your dreams and make youwish you were capable of reasonable relationships. Not tomention the beach volleyball. The move to Coogee Beachwas definitely one of his better choices.

A pocketsized dynamo in a polkadotted bikini dived like aballet dancer to flick the volleyball into a far corner of thecourt before she landed in a gloriously disarrayed heap in

court before she landed in a gloriously disarrayed heap infront of him. He grinned. Temptations like this had to beappreciated!

When Angus leaned down to assist, he recognized herfrom the hospital. Her spiky black hair and sexy gurgle ofa laugh had already drawn his attention. Last week.Attraction like an ocean rip that could pull you along nomatter how strong a swimmer you were. It was her.

She took his hand briefly and bounced into a standingposition. Her fingers felt incredibly small in his. "Thanks.Oops. Nearly took you out."

He wished. "Worse things could happen than going downin a tangle of limbs." He kept a straight face. She had tohave a soft and luscious voice to go with it. Damn.

She let go of his hand to brush off the sand then smiled, ajoyous salute brighter than the sun over his head. It wasabout then he realized her mouth had the capacity to haunthis dreams.

"Midwives rule." Her partner approached and Angusdragged his eyes from her face to lift his hand in greetingto the other woman, thankful for the distraction. Time fora cold dip.

a cold dip.

Urgently.

"Great save," he said, then turned toward the surf. Not thebest parting comment, Angus thought. His lips twitched.He hadn't been thinking about the ball, more the sheerluck that kept delightful body parts from escaping the fall.

As he strode away, he heard someone say, "Great dive,Zoe. You guys deserved that one."

The girls' voices faded. So her name was Zoe.

He glanced over his shoulder as teams separated likefireworks taking off in every direction. Guess the game'sover.

He dropped his shirt on the sand and dived into a wave.

When he emerged from the water twenty minutes later theday continued to improve. Zoe was coming his way.

"Hello there." When she spoke, his feet slowed as if longsandcrusted fingers had hold of him along with a pair ofCoogeeblue eyes. Goodness knows what expression wason his face. She was so damn hot.

A swim this morning had been a good plan to get awayfrom the hospital, get away from the feeling that he couldhave done more, get away from the sympathetic looks ofthe staff who, even in the short time he'd been there, knewhow personally he took failure.

Angus picked up his shirt and shook it. Zoe's unfairly cuteface reminded him how good it was to be alive instead ofdisillusioned by the night. If only it were that easy all thetime.

Zoe Silver wondered if maybe her brothers had it rightwhen they said she needed some protection. At leastAngus Raynor had stopped and looked at her. But what alook.

Up close his eyes were like the sea. Fathomless and deep,deep blue like the water under your feet when you're wayout of your depth. She persevered. Something she'dbecome known for. "You work at the hospital don't you?"

He smiled cynically and she decided his eyes weren't blueat all, they were black, and as sexy as a pirate's, combinedwith the loose shirt he pulled on and wicked maraudinggaze.

She smiled back, unintentionally from the heart, and adangerous edge crept into his grin, one that made her ownsmile slip a little. She wondered if it had been a good ideato strike up a conversation.

"Yes, I do. And you?" Angus asked, a mocking lilt shedidn't understand beneath his words. Zoe frowned.

It wasn't the sand under her feet she was feeling. Herwhole body was prickling. His voice was deep and lowlike the sudden heat in her belly. Then his words sank inand she was back to standing in hot sand. He hadn't evennoticed her at work. Bummer.

She quelled the little coil of disappointment. Too used tobeing the center of attention at home, my girl, she thought.Such a leveller when the real world intruded. This waswhy she needed to get away. Stretch her wings. Developa sophisticated skin that would protect her. Cross theocean that beckoned every morning from her bedroomwindow and show them all she didn't need theirprotection.

Zoe had seen him watching her earlier in the game. Bithard to miss when he was the hottest topic at the hospitaland her antennae swiveled every morning to see if he was

and her antennae swiveled every morning to see if he washaving coffee when she was.

Ruby said that even though Angus wasn't a consultant yet,he was the first the other surgeons called when they strucktrouble. "Ruby says you work like a demon in theatres."

"Who's Ruby?"

"My friend from the emergency department." Ruby alsosaid he was the last man to play with. A heartbreaker."She said they call you the registrar with the magicfingers."

"Spare me." He grimaced and looked away. "Last nightthere wasn't any magic."

Ouch. Poor choice to disclose that, then. Seemed shecouldn't do much right today with him, but then again,danger had never stopped her before.

She lifted her chin. "Okay. I'm Zoe. I'm a midwife." Thewords still gave her a glow of fulfillment. "And I love myjob." Her passion. It would lead her to a world ofexperience.

And her brothers had said she was too much the princessto do it.

to do it.

"I'm Angus." He held up his hand in a sardonic littlesalute. "New grad?" He didn't sound impressed.

Her face froze a little. So? Not good enough for him?"Got a problem with that?"

To her surprise he smiled. A warmer one. He shook hishead at her ire. "Youth is grand."

She was so sick of people telling her she was young. Redrag to a bull. "Thanks for that, Grandpa."

"Grandpa?" He blinked and then grinned.

She glanced past his shoulder to the bustling street ofCoogee opposite the beach.

"Anyway, it's the last half of my grad year. Then I'm offto see the world."

He shook his feet free of the sand and moved. "I can seeyou're a determined woman.

Hope the world is ready." Abruptly, he turned and walkedaway. She watched him go.

Angus felt like smacking himself in the forehead. ZoeSilver was like a ray of light. An innocent Joan of Arc.The last type of woman he needed. New grad! Probablyeven younger than he thought.

Angus scooped up the towel he hadn't used and slippedon his sandals to stride up Hill Street toward the hospital.He resisted the urge to look back. A brisk walk up theincline should knock some sense into him.

Curiously, though, in the past few minutes he did feel lessweighted down by his failure last night. But that wouldhave had nothing to do with her. It was the beach, ofcourse it was the beach, the place he'd moved to so hecould ease his burden.

***

"Saturday night. Party at our house."

It was three in the afternoon, shift change on the maternityward, and her volleyball partner and fellow graduatemidwife, Tilly, picked up her bag to head home. "Thinkof something to bring. Or even those gorgeous brothers ofyours?"

Zoe grinned. "Wouldn't miss it. I so envy your freedomfrom family." Tilly, Ruby, Ellie from orthopedics and Jessfrom operating theatres shared a big old house just upfrom the beach and their Hill Street parties were always ahoot. And nobody cramped their style.

Then she remembered. "Won't be early, though. Ipromised Col I'd do his last hour of beach patrol onSaturday." An active member since her eighth birthday,Zoe loved the patrol, although the shift work of the lastyear had played havoc with her ability to be consistentlyavailable.

"You on duty that day, Til?"

"Yep. So I won't be early, either. See you then."

The Hill Street parties didn't start properly 'til after darkanyway. But she wasn't bringing her brothers to supervise.If she so much as looked at a guy they'd be watching.

She'd take the margarita recipe and the makings. Andwear that slinky little number she'd picked up at the thriftshop.

Zoe waved and picked up the notes of the young womanin labor just admitted. "See you then," she said to her

in labor just admitted. "See you then," she said to herfriend but already Zoe was focused on the door of thebirthing suite.

"Hello there."

Tessa, her patient for the shift, looked waxen from holdingback tears. Zoe wanted to hug her. "I'm Zoe and I'mlooking after you." She glanced around at the otherwiseempty room.

"Is there anyone coming in to be with you?"

Tessa sniffed. "My boyfriend's not out 'till Monday." Sheshook her head in frustration. "If I'd only hung on for twomore days he could have been here. I'll just have tomanage."

Out? As in, jail? "Somehow I don't think that's yourfault." Zoe decided women blamed themselves for somestrange things but she admired Tessa's determination tocope anyway. "What about family?"

Tessa shook her head. "Don't have any."

Remorse tugged. And she complained about her familyloving her too much. "That must be tough. But we'll be

loving her too much. "That must be tough. But we'll bethe team," Zoe said it with such absolute confidence Tessaeven risked an unwilling laugh.

"You're my number one priority. To help you let yourbody do what it needs to in your labor. To go with it, notfight it. Okay?"

"Not much else I can do. I just wish Chase was here."

Zoe couldn't do anything about that. But maybe she coulddistract Tessa for a while. "Why don't you tell me abouthim? It might make him seem nearer…."

Almost three hours later, Tessa was deep into labor, andthough she'd started to gasp with the closeness of thecontractions, she was in firm control. Zoe was soimpressed with her.

Tessa had spent the past two hours in the dim bathroom inthe new large bath. Zoe sat beside her on the stool feedingher ice chips and checking mother and baby's progress.

The girls had developed a sync that needed few words.

Tessa seemed to doze between pains as she passedthrough the transition stage of labor and Zoe thought shemust be almost ready to push.

must be almost ready to push.

At a quarter to six Tessa suddenly moaned and clutchedher left side. She stared at Zoe with fear—stark andunexpected—in her eyes as she tried to speak. "It doesn'tfeel right."

Not what women normally say when they're going intosecond stage of labor.

Zoe took one look at the paleness of Tessa's face andpressed the bell for assistance.

Always listen to the mother.

Disastrous scenarios flashed through her brain.

Emergencies from her training books bounced around inher head. Baby's placenta bleeding and separating?Amniotic fluid embolism?

She slid the Doppler against Tessa's stomach and thebaby's heart rate was a good twenty beats above normaland climbing. "I can see it hurts and you're scared, Tessa,but I need to get you back to the bed for the doctor."

Seconds later the midwife in charge arrived, and after theyhad Tessa in bed she flew out to call the obstetrician.

had Tessa in bed she flew out to call the obstetrician.

Within fifteen minutes Zoe was throwing clothes off andjerking theatre scrubs over her head as a room away Tessawas being prepared for an emergency caesarean.

How could it all have gone wrong so quickly?

What sort of condition was Tessa's baby going to be inwhen it was born? Were there warning signs she'dmissed?

Zoe pulled on her over boots and cap and fumbled withher mask, her heart racing the way the baby's had on themonitor. She took a breath and pushed through to thescrub room.

6:10 p.m.

When Angus arrived the operation was a sea of blood.

"Mother's BP's falling." He heard the anesthetist'scomment as he arrived backwards through the swingingdoors of the operating suite. The garbed obstetriciangestured him closer.

"That's not looking good for whatever's bleeding in

there." Angus slid in between the assistant and the scrubsister. He took the handle of a pair of artery forceps. "I'llhold that."

The patient's condition was going down. He didn't evenwant to think about the risk to the baby.

Where was the pediatrician? To the left he saw a midwifewaiting for the infant, and just that brief glance allowedinstant recognition. Which was ridiculous. A few spikes ofblack hair and a porcelain forehead when he had troublerecognizing people he worked with all the time in theatregarb. What had she said they called him? Magic Fingers?He hoped he had some today, they just might be neededhere. If the ped didn't arrive, Zoe would need some, too.

The caesarean went ahead rapidly. The baby was asfloppy as a pale rag doll when Dr.

Fortune handed him onto Zoe's sterile blanket, but in lessthan a minute a weak baby's cry sounded and loosened alittle of the tension in the room.

Baby's okay, Angus thought gratefully. Just a few secondsof good assisted ventilation and cardiac massage. Goodjob, Zoe.Another quick glance and he saw Zoe relax hershoulders.

shoulders.

He didn't blame her.

Judging by the maternal loss of blood, the infant had beenlucky. One good outcome at least, he thought with relief.

The ped arrived just then and crossed to Zoe, allowingAngus to concentrate fully on his work.

"Any other ideas where she's bleeding from?"

"This tear in the lower segment of uterus is obvious butthere must be more. I clamped it but she's still losing a lotof blood," said Dr. Fortune, a hint of panic in his voice.

"Blood pressure seventy on forty, pulse one fifty." Thatfrom the sweating anesthetist hanging replacement fluidsas fast as he could.

Angus felt the adrenaline surge. "Maybe a vessel tear? I'llligate the femoral artery until we have a good look. Giveus time."

A few seconds later it was done and the team seemed tosigh in unison with the reprieve.

The blood stopped pooling and he could see more clearly.

The blood stopped pooling and he could see more clearly."Now lift the uterus out again and I'll find the problem.Hang on, Tessa."

Five minutes after Angus started working on Tessa, therelief in the operating theatre was palpable. Zoe glancedacross at the anesthetist who nodded with satisfaction athis monitor. Dr. Angus Raynor—looking more like ashining officer in charge of the cavalry than a pirate now—had found the tear over two minor arteries and repairedthe damage.

Tessa and her uterus would heal. Zoe glanced down at thelittle boy who'd begun to shift his head around and blinkat the lights. The baby frowned a wrinkled forehead atZoe as he stared, and she realized he was searching for hismother. Zoe blinked away sudden tears.

Relief doused her unexpectedly in a wave of emotion andunobtrusively she sniffed. She didn't feel quite so sick, butthe edge of danger Tessa had balanced on left hermomentarily shaken.

Angus heard the soft shuddering sigh. He flicked his gazeacross to Zoe. Why did he feel so keenly the release thatemanated from a pair of fragile bowed shoulders six feetaway?

away?

She looked up, her eyes huge pools of distress and hecouldn't help the visual embrace he sent her way. It'sokay, he messaged. In case she didn't understand, henodded, as well. Everything will be fine.

Zoe had never felt so reassured in her life. But she hadn'tbeen in many life or death situations, either. Anotherglance at Angus's bent head felt just as comforting. Tessawould be fine. Unexpected kindness to visually reassureher. Not something she'd noticed about him at the beach.

They'd all been so close to disaster, and just like Ruby'dsaid, he'd been able to pull them away from catastrophe tosave the day. Well, she'd been here in that moment andshe'd never forget it.

Trouble was, this swelling in her chest, the soft smileunder her mask and the fact she couldn't take her eyes offhim as he said something to lighten the scrub sister's face,all pointed to a growing infatuation.

That's okay, Zoe reassured herself. She could deal withthat, but as she walked beside the orderly pushing herprecious cargo on the resuscitation trolley back to theward, somehow she felt this was not as simple as an

ward, somehow she felt this was not as simple as aninfatuation.

Apart from a minute's conversation on the beach she didn'tknow Angus at all…and yet she couldn't wipe the hugesmile off her face.

Three hours later, just as soon as her patient was awakeand well enough, Zoe carried Tessa's son up to IntensiveCare to meet her.

Unexpectedly, she found Angus Raynor lounging in achair beside the young girl, talking in a low voice aboutwhat had happened as if they'd known each other foryears.

For Zoe—worried Tessa would be terrified if she awokealone in a strange ward—seeing Angus there was a relief.Maybe there was a flutter in her chest, as well, but reliefwas the big one. Honest.

"Ah, here's Zoe." Angus stood up and her face heated.He'd remembered her name. "And with your son." Hesmiled down at their patient. "Congratulations. He's veryhandsome, Tessa." Then, with a small and slightly satiricalsmile for Zoe, he was gone.

"Gosh, he's gorgeous," breathed Tessa in a postanestheticdaze and Zoe looked down at the baby to hide her pinkcheeks. And so's your baby, she thought.

As Zoe slipped the little boy in against his mother's skinshe was reminded how close this baby and mother hadbeen to tragedy.

Tessa gazed down with awe. "I'm gonna call him Bodie.He's so tiny. You sure he's mine?"

Zoe blinked away silly tears and unraveled the little fist toshow the blue name tag.

Bodie's starfish hand waved at his mother. "Look. See?There's your name. I put those bands on five minutes afterhe was born while we were still in the operating room.He's been waiting to meet you."

As if on cue, Bodie turned his head toward Tessa andopened his eyes wide to circle her face. Then he sniffedher skin and opened his mouth. Tessa leaned forward toshift his position, stopped and held her stomach."Yowww."

"No big movements for a day or two," Zoe advisedapologetically as Tessa winced.

apologetically as Tessa winced.

"I'll try my best," Tessa said with a bitter little twist thatmade Zoe squeeze her hand.

"But who's going to help until Chase gets out?"

Zoe thought how sad it would be with nobody to share theresponsibilities and baby joy with for the next few days.

"We'll all help you." And they would.

By the time Zoe carried Tessa's sleeping baby back to theward it was time to end her shift. After the emotions of thenight, she'd never felt less like sleeping.

In the deserted foyer of the hospital, the security guard—afriend of her brothers' who always seemed to be therewhen she finished at eleven—waved his torch at her."You got a lift?"

Zoe grinned. "Just about to ring." Her brothers wereadamant she shouldn't take the bus, and she wasn'twasting her money on a car with her trip coming. She wasplanning on going on a world tour—if she could get heroverprotective brothers off her back. They insisted on herphoning them for a lift if she didn't share a taxi with one of

phoning them for a lift if she didn't share a taxi with one ofthe four nurses from Hill Street.

She reached for the mobile in her purse as she headed forthe door.

"Zoe?"

She slowed. She knew that voice and her cheeks warmedagain.

"I can drop you home." Angus appeared out of the lift toher left and jingled his keys.

Zoe glanced across at the security guard. He wasfrowning and she bit back a smile. That little bit of gossipwould spread to her house faster than Angus could drivedown the hill, but it wasn't going to influence her decision.

You betcha. She smiled at Angus. "I live not far, downnear the beach. If you're sure?" He didn't seem to mind.The night bubbled with promise.

"You're on my way." Angus had seen Zoe when the liftdoors opened and made a snap decision to ask if sheneeded a ride home. You'd think he'd have learned not toget involved with someone from work but it had seemedwrong not to reassure her Tessa would be fine. Of course

wrong not to reassure her Tessa would be fine. Of coursethat was reasonable.

A few moments later it felt like he'd fallen into the bestpart of his day just to hand her into his convertible.

"It's a warm night. Want the top down?" He leanedforward and pushed the lever he rarely used. "Be a shamenot to on an evening like this."

His car was like a lot of things in his life that he'd thoughtwould make him happy. But for the first time, thanks toZoe's delight in the mechanism of a moving roof, he feltlike he'd had two beers on an empty stomach. Fizzing andfabulous. Maybe a bit of fresh air might not go astray.

"You okay?" The question was probably superfluousbecause she looked relaxed and happy in the seat next tohim with her arm along the door.

"Terrific, thanks."

The car drove off sluggishly and he frowned and glancedat the dash lights. Good grief. She'd looked so damn goodhe'd forgotten to take off the handbrake. Definitelyanother first.

"It was nice of you to go see Tessa. She was so scaredbefore theatre." Coming from the dimness beside him,even her voice made him smile. Until the words sank inand he remembered the edge of disaster. And why he'dsought Zoe out.

"We shared some pretty tense moments today." Andafterward her emotions in theatre had played on his mind."Close shaves like that can shake you." Especially a sweetyoung thing like Zoe. "You sure you're okay now?"

He couldn't help the protective surge. With no family ofhis own he'd always been the one in the orphanage towatch out for the little guys.

"I was starting to get scared for Tessa."

"She lost a lot of blood. Tricky blighters, posterior arteries.Tessa seems a really good kid."

He heard her sigh beside him. It was a big one. Obviouslyrelaxed with him, Zoe leaned back in the seat and closedher eyes with a smile on her face. "I'm so glad you seethat, too. Tessa's lovely."

So are you, he thought, and as if she'd heard him, she satup a little and looked around.

up a little and looked around.

"And I think her boyfriend is more silly than bad. She toldme that he has issues with authority. Didn't pay parkingfines then kept driving his car without a license." Sheglanced across at him. "I hope you have a license?"

"Darn." Angus smacked his forehead. "Meant to do that."When she laughed it made his chest swell with pride. Hewanted to hear the sound again. More than anything.Well, almost more than anything.

"Fancy a gelato? We could park on the headland andwatch the waves while we eat, then I could take youhome." He had a brief responsible thought. "Or do youstart early? I can take you now."

"Ice cream's great." She pulled her phone from her pocket."I'll just text one of my brothers and let them know I don'tneed picking up."

So she had a caring family. He was glad. He knew whatthe other side was like. He wondered what they'd think ofhim snatching their little sister for a night ride. Heshrugged. It was just a spurofthemoment thing. Not likelyto be repeated.

Twenty minutes later, it didn't feel like a spur of themoment thing.

Sitting next to Zoe in the dark made Angus feel happierthan he had for years. With one hand resting on thesteering wheel he looked up at the stars and realized howdelightful peace was.

The sensation was a million light years from the way he'dfelt with every other woman he'd invited out. He'd alwaysfelt distant—as far away as the moon, even—with otherwomen. But as he glanced across at Zoe he felt his handtighten as if to stop itself from reaching out to her. "Youlook amazing in the moonlight."

She smiled. "Thank you, kind sir." The silver glow on herskin made him want to spend the rest of the night justsoaking her in. And a bit more than that. Too badconvertibles were hopeless for making moves in. "Wouldyou like to walk a little?"

"Not tonight. My brothers'll be worried."

Such a little girl. What was he doing? The way he wasfeeling at the moment her brothers should be worried. "Ofcourse." He leaned forward and started the engine.

Zoe grimaced in the dark at her own prudery. Wasn't thiswhat she wanted? Darn right, it was!

Before he could take the handbrake off—and before shecould change her mind—she leaned over and kissed theside of his mouth. A bit of a fumble but worth the rasp ofa day's regrowth that had tantalized her since she'd got inthe car. She sat back primly.

"Thank you for the gelato and the lift."

"Mmm, yes, it was nice," he said, and took his handslowly off the gear stick, though he didn't turn the engineoff—in case he scared her? She felt his glance on her faceand then her folded hands, and then her face again. "Iquite like the aftertaste." His tone was measured with justa hint of a smile. "Hang on a minute—just before weleave…"

He shifted in his seat, leaned across and slid his arm gentlyaround her shoulders. When she didn't resist he pulled hertoward him. "Not the most comfortable place for this,but…

Just one more taste," he said softly and then he kissed herproperly. No peck on the side, this one.

properly. No peck on the side, this one.

This was seduction with a long, slow introduction to thetype of kissing Zoe had never encountered before. She'dkissed boys and a few men, but not with this sense ofhomecoming. Masterful yet teasing, nourishing andundeniably dangerous with little flickers of fire shootingaway from the center of the world that just happened to bewhere their lips met at this moment.

Zoe forgot about the waves, the moonlight, the soft leatherunder her—everything except the need to satisfy astarvation she hadn't realized she'd suffered from. Thelumpy casing of the seatbelt digging into her side was sodim she barely noticed it. Until Angus eased away with afinal, more chaste salute, and she was left unexpectedlybereft.

She was sure she could feel his heated gaze on her moutheven though her eyes were shut. Zoe's head fell backagainst the seat and she slowly opened her eyes. Oh, my.

"And on that note, I'd better move now or I'll neverleave," he said into the night air. They smiled at each otherand he started the car.

Angus dropped her at her home and gunned the engine as

Angus dropped her at her home and gunned the engine assoon as he was around the corner from her house.

What the hell was he doing? Cradle snatching? She wasten years younger than he was and a hundred yearsyounger in life experience. Yet she had an aura of magicthat drew him like a lemming to the cliff edge.

He who ran a mile from strong feelings. There is a reasonfor that, you fool. He knew deep inside he wasn't lovable—four foster families attested to that—and he also knewthat if he became involved with Zoe he'd only constantlydread the moment she would realize it, too.

His mobile phone buzzed in his pocket—the hospital. Hegrimaced as he pulled over to answer it. He might as wellgo back to the hospital. There'd be no sleeping at hishouse for the rest of the night after that little escapade,anyway.

Zoe lay awake and stared at the ceiling. The waves on thebeach sounded like whispers and the moonlight pointedaccusing fingers of light onto her bed. It was the samemoonlight that had looked over them in the car. Shehugged her pillow close and screwed her eyes shut.

How on earth would she look at Angus and not remember

How on earth would she look at Angus and not rememberthe feel of his arms around her or the pressure of hismouth on hers for those incredible few minutes? Sherolled over onto her stomach and dug her toes into thebed. How on earth was she not going to blush when shesaw him at work?

She just wouldn't. That's all. Thank goodness he was aninfrequent visitor to the maternity section.

Except that when she turned up at work the next afternoonit was Angus who stood at the desk writing upmedications. Zoe dropped her gaze to the floor in front ofher to hide her hot cheeks.

Then a horrible thought intruded. She looked up and tiltedher head to read the name on the spine of the folder he'djust sat back on the desk. Tessa's?

Embarrassment forgotten. "Is she okay?"

"Hello, Zoe. Just bringing her back to the ward from ICU.Hasn't had much sleep with all the blood transfusions."

"And she's well enough to be here now? She's stable?"

"She is now." He smiled at Zoe but she must have stilllooked worried because he went on.

looked worried because he went on.

"She's good. Trust me on this."

She did feel reassured. "Of course." On this, anyway. Shesmiled to herself. They'd both made a move last night.Though his had been better. She had a horrible feeling heremotions were written on her face. She opened her mouththen shut it. She'd just end up deeper in trouble. When shelooked up, he had that gleam in his eye that said he wasamused by her.

Fine, it's like that, then. I can be nonchalant, too. Shegrinned at him and moved away.

"I'd better get into handover."

***

Later that night, after her shift, Zoe walked through thefoyer. Angus was waiting. Her friendly security guard'seyebrows almost disappeared under his cap. She waved asif everything was normal but her pulse rate said it darnwell wasn't. The most gorgeous man in the hospital waswaiting for her, again, and she didn't know what to think.

"Lift?"

In the end there wasn't a lot to think about. "Thank you."

Not much was said until he seated her, strode around tohis own side of the car and slid in. Then he glanced acrossthe seat with the devil in his eyes. "I enjoyed last night."

She couldn't help but smile. "Me, too. But not good forsleeping."

He grinned back. "Tell me about it."

"And I'm on the early shift tomorrow."

"Righto." He leaned forward, started the engine andopened the roof. "I can do direct travel." The car glidedout of the car park with the roof still compacting itselfback into the boot. "So how was your shift?"

She could get used to this. How had they gotten socomfortable so quickly? "Great. We had a woman comein and birth within twenty minutes. Gorgeous boy. She'sgreat, going home in the morning. That's the way to do it."

He grimaced. "Not the tough way, like Tessa."

"Poor Tessa. She seems pretty philosophical about

everything that happened."

"We talked about it again."

So he'd gone to see her again. He really did care. "Shemust think it's a miracle to find another person whounderstands. Your support's really helped her, you know."He looked away. "I'm glad. Someone told me she was infoster care."

Foster care… The memories rushed in on dark wings.Unwanted. Oh, how he remembered those miserableyears. And what they'd taught him: never rely on anyone."I know that hell."

Had he just said that? Confessed something that he'dnever told anyone?

Angus hurried on, swearing like crazy in his head, hopingshe hadn't heard. "But I'm not the only one who's stood byher. She's had your support throughout."

His face felt frozen as he stared ahead. Even if she hadheard, hopefully she'd see he didn't want to talk about it.To his relief she changed the subject. Other women hadn'tbeen so understanding. More points for Zoe.

"Are you coming down to the carnival on Sunday? Thelifesaving club's got our annual fete on." When he didn'trespond, still half bogged in the past, she added, "I'm onthe kissing stall."

He glanced across. He played her words again in his head.Had to look at her after that statement. "You're what?"

Zoe laughed. Mischief radiated from her face like a schoolkid and he remembered how young she was. "Joking. Wedon't have a kissing stall." She gave him a much olderlook.

"By that reaction maybe we should?"

Good grief. "How about you don't." He wasn't sure why—or didn't want to think about why—but the thoughtstirred up…very strong feelings. Not that he could revealthem to her…

"Bet your brothers wouldn't like that." Good comeback,he congratulated himself.

She shrugged. "I'm sure they'd provide a bouncer ifanyone came on too strong."

He'd bounce anyone, all right. Angus realized his hand

He'd bounce anyone, all right. Angus realized his handwas deathgripping the steering wheel. Thank goodnessthey were pulling up at her house.

"Thanks for the lift." He wondered if she'd repeatyesterday's goodbye, and to his delight she did leanacross. He wasn't going to miss the opportunity so hekissed her quickly, harder than he intended with a vestigeof the horror that remained from the thought of the kissingbooth. Her eyes widened. He softened his mouth in anapology and inhaled the scent of jasmine. Suddenly theywere wrapped up awkwardly under the streetlight, lost tothe world—

Until someone slapped the bonnet.

"Hello? Squirt?" A large young man was glaring at them.

Angus and Zoe broke apart and his fingers trailed awayfrom her cupped cheek reluctantly.

"Squirt?" he queried with a grin.

She straightened the hair off her face with her eyes stillshut then she opened them slowly with a little sigh. "I'mtheir pet." She glared at her brother. "Angus, this is mybrother, Bruce—almighty."

brother, Bruce—almighty."

Angus nodded at the young man who stood legs spread atthe front of his car. "Bruce,"

Angus said. Bruce's extreme height and width made thenickname fitting. He bit back a smile.

Angus opened his door and moved to the passenger sideto help Zoe alight. The way she smiled at him as hereached down made the whole juvenile episodeworthwhile.

When she stood beside him she glanced at her brother andjerked her head. Bruce sent one warning frown their wayand disappeared into the house. "Thank you for the lift,"she said softly.

"My absolute pleasure."

Angus drove away sedately this time, in a dream, until heremembered how hopeless he'd been at letting peopleclose in the past. So how come Zoe was sliding in? Whatwould happen when she realized how useless he was atrelationships?

He was in trouble. He didn't do fixation on one woman, orsweet nothings or romantic drives without sex at the end.

sweet nothings or romantic drives without sex at the end.

Okay, he was a little oldfashioned in that he liked to payfor meals, open doors for a woman, and if she wantedthem, flowers were always a good idea.

But with Zoe he felt like shielding her from the world oreven just capturing her slender hand in his and neverletting go. He could imagine just lying together at night onthe sand and talking about the stars. Dumb things like that.

Teenage stuff he'd never done and wouldn't have knownabout if one of his foster mothers hadn't dragged him toold Elvis movies and shown him. Actions he'd swornwere not his way at all. Feelings she'd said would find himone day and he'd never believed.

He needed a safety net and he needed it fast.

***

Zoe finished work at threethirty the next day and caughtthe bus back home. Before she left, though, she couldn'thelp glancing around the foyer in case Angus appearedlike a genie.

Still, she was glad she had the rest of the weekend away

Still, she was glad she had the rest of the weekend awayfrom the hospital after one of those rare quiet Saturdayshifts she could have done without. Far too much time tothink about Angus and how her stupid big brother hadembarrassed her. She couldn't wait to get away from theconstrictions of people trying to protect her and run herlife. She just didn't have the mean bone to fight for it athome. Leaving was the only option.

She'd bet that never happened at Tilly and Ruby's house.Those girls managed fine without family around. She wasso looking forward to getting out and going to the partytonight. She wondered if Angus would be there. Lots ofyoung doctors from the hospital turned up. She lovedthose parties.

Zoe almost skipped off the bus outside her house andhurried up to her room to change.

She just had an hour of beach patrol before they packedup for the night.

When Zoe arrived at the beach she could see two ripsdragging foam out to sea. It was rough today, and toomany people were swimming outside the flagged area.She started her patrol, and Col thanked her profuselybefore bolting for his car and an appointment with his

before bolting for his car and an appointment with hisfiancée.

Tilly waved and came over.

"So have you invited Angus to come tonight?"

"Haven't had a chance." She fought back a blush fromTilly's knowing grin. Trouble was she didn't know wherehe lived, or whether he was on call, or if he'd want to seeher again. She smiled. She had gotten the impression thathe did when he'd kissed her and said goodbye last night.

"Sometimes he looks like he could do with lightening up alittle," Tilly said as they both watched the swimmers.

"From what I've seen of him, he's fun." Though she hadan inkling he might lean toward being overprotective, likeher brothers. She hoped not.

Tilly walked down to the edge of the flagged area to pickup a little girl knocked over by the waves, and Zoewatched a couple of young boys on bodyboards whowere happy to ignore the flags that were set up todesignate safe areas to swim.

A largerthanaverage swell snuck up on one of the boysand dumped him in the deeper water. Zoe winced as he

and dumped him in the deeper water. Zoe winced as hetumbled in the undertow. When his board surfacedwithout him she signaled to Tilly. They both grabbedrescue boards and splashed through the shallow water,then paddled swiftly out to check he was okay.

He wasn't.

***

Angus arrived at the beach for his swim and did a doubletake when he saw Zoe with another girl dragging largerescue boards. They were the lifesavers? He shuddered.

Dwarfed by the size of the board, they looked too smallout in the vast ocean to save anybody, and Angus shoveddown the urge to call them back. He glanced at the towerto see what sort of reinforcements they had.

A thickset man in a lifesaver shirt was on his phone,Angus assumed calling in more lifesavers because he wasgesturing out to the ocean as he talked.

Sickness in his gut, Angus glanced back toward thebreaker line and saw that Zoe had reached her quarry, sawthe flash of red singlet as a limp body rolled with theshoredumping waves. He looked at his watch to keep an

shoredumping waves. He looked at his watch to keep aneye on the time it took to get the unconscious victim toshore.

His stomach clenched again as a wave reared over Zoe'shead and threatened to dump her, as well, but shemanaged to cling to her board. Angus jammed his fistsagainst his thighs and strode toward the tower, glancingconstantly over his shoulder as he watched her battleagainst the swell. She should not be out there.

This was crazy stuff for a slip of a girl. Where were all themen? Her partner was having the same difficulty, but in abrief lull the girls cleverly floated the boy's limp body ontoone of the boards and, with Zoe wedged between his legs,they paddled swiftly toward the shore.

About bloody time. Angus glared at the tower. Spinalinjury maybe as well as unconscious? He jogged the lastfew feet toward the lifesaver to see what rescue equipmentthey had so they could meet the girls at the water's edge.The captain had picked up a backpack and a long board.

"I'm a doctor. Anything else to carry?"

"Great. Grab the spine board and oxygen. I've got theneck brace in here. Ambulance on the way."

When Zoe reached the shore he saw she had to be carefulthey didn't get dumped off their boards. When she lookedup he was there with the chief to steady her cargo.

She slid off and they picked up the board and carried theirload carefully up to the dry sand and began to work on theboy. The siren of an approaching ambulance wailed in thedistance as she bent to help.

Fifteen minutes later, Angus stood with Zoe and watchedthe ambulance pull away.

He'd bet her heart rate was only now settling down tonormal. He wondered if she could feel the waves of angerradiating like a force field off his chest.

"That was a crazy risk to take." Angus honestly had triednot to say anything. But he couldn't stop himself. Shecould have died! "If you'd drowned that wouldn't havehelped anyone."

Her hands went to her hips. "I didn't drown and we didhelp someone. In case you didn't notice."

"I noticed." She'd been amazing. They'd been amazing, hereminded himself, but… "Damn it. The situation was too

reminded himself, but… "Damn it. The situation was toorisky."

"And your point is?" Her voice was silky, butunfortunately for Angus he didn't pay attention to thewarning. The image of working on an unconscious Zoewas still too vivid in Angus's head for caution.

He tried not to loom over her but it was hard when shewas so small. "My point is you're five foot nothing and thesea is relentless. Lifesaving's not a job for you."

"Thanks for that." She smiled with her teeth and spunaround to walk away.

"You're angry, too?" He caught up and walked with herback to the tower. It was after five so he supposed they'dpull down the flags now and pack up. Maybe he couldhelp and she'd understand he wasn't trying to order heraround.

"I'd say that's a fair comment." When she looked at himher eyes were cool and dismissive.

Nothing "little girl" about the message she was sendingnow. More of an outright GO

AWAY. "I'm reminding myself I don't need another

AWAY. "I'm reminding myself I don't need anotherprotector when my aim is to lose the ones I have."

"I'm sorry if I've upset you, Zoe. Maybe I did overstep themark. But I can't believe your brothers allow you to riskyour life like this."

"Look, Angus. Thanks for your help. This is what I do onmy days off." She gestured to the beach. "It's what we alldo. And it's my choice. And I'm up to here—" shegestured to her neck "—with people saying I'm too young,too short, too fragile to do what I want. Got it?"

Whoa, there. He really had pressed her buttons. Chestheaving, eyes flashing, hands on hips, she looked ready tospit. Damn shame her temper only made her moreattractive to him.

"I'll go." He tried not to smile at how ferocious she was."I'm sorry. Maybe we can talk when you've cooleddown." He knew as soon as he said it he'd made amistake.

"Don't you dare patronize me. Go before I say somethingI'll regret."

He could feel the chasm between them now and he'd

He could feel the chasm between them now and he'dcaused it. The ironic part was he'd been looking for a wayto stop his growing attraction to her. Looked like he'dfound one.

Try to protect her and she'd drop him like a stone.

Zoe tried not to watch Angus walk away. She'd asked himto leave. Told him to, actually.

Even from behind he made her weak with the urge to callhim back. How inconsiderate was chemistry. She reallydidn't need to be attracted to this guy now. Especially afterhe'd shown his true colors today. He might as well havecalled her Squirt. She didn't want to listen to the littlevoice that suggested she might have overreacted a tad. Somuch for asking him to the party now.

***

Angus turned up at the Hill Street party an hour after Zoearrived. She'd been almost ready to leave.

She'd even brought her brothers for someone to talk to,because she'd known she wasn't going to do anything toupset them that night. Tilly was very pleased with her, butZoe just wasn't in the mood. She couldn't even smile at

Ruby's creative vegetarian dishes, which usually amusedher.

She didn't see Angus at first. He'd arrived with the seniorregistrar from the emergency department, who seemed tobe eyeing Ruby from the bottom of the stairs. Then shefelt someone's attention.

When she did see him, he moved across the room straightto her. He had his pirate shirt on and that pillaging smile.

"Anyone seen a big, tough lifeguard around here?"

Smart Alec. "You looking for one?"

"Can't seem to help myself." He glanced at the smallspace on the lounge beside her. No way was there enoughroom for him unless she sat on his lap. The idea wasn'taltogether unappealing. "May I sit here?"

"Not if you're going to tease me."

"Perish the thought." He squeezed in and the spacemiraculously widened as the rest of the people on thelounge squashed up goodnaturedly.

His arm crept along the lounge behind her and she

His arm crept along the lounge behind her and sheguessed he really didn't have anywhere else he could putit. "So this is what hospital workers do on their time off, isit?"

"Only the sociable ones." She could feel the whole lengthof his hip against hers and the warmth of his arm buildingbetween them. She had to move or she was going to endup leaning across him to steal another one of thosespontaneous kisses he seemed to inspire in her. "Let'sdance."

He stood first—like a cork from a bottle—off the lounge,and the others sighed in relief.

She had to smile. Then he put a hand out to help her up,except that after she stood, neither of them let go. Hesmiled down at her as he drew her into the middle of theroom, where couples danced cheek to cheek in time to aslow ballad.

She slipped into his arms, feeling a bit like a jigsaw piecethat had slid into place. Snug.

Perfect fit. "Your hair smells nice," he murmured.

"So does your chest." She couldn't help burying her nosein it farther. She sighed and leaned into him. No use

in it farther. She sighed and leaned into him. No usepretending this wasn't exactly where she wanted to be.Though there was no use pretending she hadn't forgivenhim, either.

"It's been an interesting fortyeight hours since we met."

Only she'd seen him before that. "I saw you a week ago inthe cafeteria."

"And I saw you," he said into her hair.

"No, you didn't." She remembered the beach. "You askedif I worked at the hospital."

He chuckled. "I was being devious." The dance endedand he pulled her gently out the front door and toward theswing seat on the porch.

"You two seem to know each other very well." Herbrother Bruce appeared beside them as they'd just settledinto the seat.

Angus didn't look at all perturbed. "We were justdiscussing the amazing rescue your sister was involved intoday down at the beach."

"What rescue?" Great diversion, Zoe thought withresignation.

She kept it short. "A boy was dumped unconscious in thesurf."

Bruce frowned. "The sea was rough. I thought you wereworking at the hospital today."

"I did an hour on the beach after work. Col needed to getoff at four." She stared her brother down and after aloaded silent message he walked away.

She glared at the man on the swing next to her. "Thanksfor that, Angus. Usually one of the boys does the sameroster as me if they know I'm lifesaving. I didn't tell themabout this extra hour." She was so over this.

"Sorry. Poor choice to divert him." He stood up. "Howabout I get you a glass of something as penance and whenI come back we can be friends again?" He grinned downat her and she couldn't help smiling back.

How did he do that? One smile and she was a puddle athis feet. And she guessed the subject had sidetrackedBruce away from their cheektocheek dance. "I'll thinkabout it."

about it."

She watched him walk away and couldn't erase the smile.

Ruby wasn't smiling when she appeared beside her andsank down into the swing. "Are you insane?"

"No more than usual. Why?"

Ruby gestured with her head to Angus as he disappeared."What if he breaks your heart?"

"He won't if I don't let him."

"He broke Harmony Gage's heart."

"Who's Harmony Gage?"

"She worked at Sydney Central, the hospital he worked atbefore here. And there was a young resident doctor beforeher. Took them out a few times and then he just up andleft.

He could do the same to you." She seemed to think aboutit for a moment. "Of course you're a whole heap nicerthan Harmony. But…"

"Stop worrying. I'm the one who's leaving. Remember?"

"Stop worrying. I'm the one who's leaving. Remember?"But she couldn't help feeling the cool draft of beingdropped so quickly like that. Even with the few timesthey'd been out together, it could be excruciating.

Ruby just looked at her. "If he asked you to stay inCoogee, would you?"

Zoe had to think about that. She hoped not.

"Sorry. Don't answer that." Ruby touched her arm andstood up. "It's not like my love life is a success. I'mparanoid. I'm sorry. Just…please be careful."

Zoe watched Ruby walk away. Unwelcome advice buttrue. Maybe she had a point. She was becoming a tadobsessed about a guy she knew very little about. And hewas getting all protective on her. She was always spoutingoff about how she could protect herself. But what if shecouldn't save herself from falling for him?

"What's wrong?" He was back, and after a puzzled glanceat her face his smile slipped.

She shook her hair as if she could shake the uneasinessleft over from her friend's warning. "Nothing."

"Something is. You're different from when I left." He

"Something is. You're different from when I left." Hetilted his head and considered her.

"And not in the way I'd hoped."

She looked up at him and saw him hesitate before he satdown.

"Why are you paying attention to me?" she askedabruptly.

Angus put the drinks down on the log beside the chair."Umm. I find you attractive.

Where'd that come from?"

"I just think it's all happening pretty fast."

Whoa, there, Angus thought. "What's happening?" Helooked around. He needed a sign to spell out what hadchanged. "Has anyone seen the girl I left here five minutesago?" He looked at her again. She still looked gorgeous—but very distant.

He hadn't expected this. Though he should have.Whenever things were going well, or he started to care,something happened to take it all away. It had happened

as a kid every time he felt like he'd started to fit into afamily—and it was the biggest reason he knew heshouldn't try for anything but onenight stands in hispersonal life.

Maybe he had been moving in on her. But everythingfinally felt right. Things he hadn't felt before. It was soincredibly easy to be with Zoe—like coming home.

He cut that sappy thought off and plastered anoncommittal smile on his face. He was good at that. Ithad been years since anybody had seen through it. "Noproblem." He picked up his own drink. "Catch you later."

On Sunday Angus didn't come down to the fete. If he had,Zoe thought she might have set up a kissing stall just toannoy him.

But he was waiting for her after work on Monday.

It was broad daylight and a lot of people saw him cut heroff in the foyer so she couldn't escape. But a lot of peoplehad seen him walk away from her at the party, too, andthat hadn't been pleasant. He'd upset her and upset Ruby,who'd been devastated because she'd felt partiallyresponsible.

"Lift? Maybe we could go for a drive?"

"I've got a lift, thanks, Angus."

"Where?"

"That big blue bus out there. A weekly ticket."

"Thought so." He smiled at her and she could feel herselfsoften. Cave in. Pathetic weakling.

Maybe it needed finishing properly. "Okay." Zoe tossedher hair and walked out into the doctors' car park with herhead high until he opened her door and waited for her toget in.

"Truce," he said as the roof went back.

She ran her fingers through her hair. She did love this car."I didn't know there was a war."

"Maybe a skirmish—but all's fair in love and war." Heglanced across and that cynical almostsmile made herwant to lean over and kiss the real laughter back into him.She sighed at her own weakness. Back to square one withthe magnetism of this guy.

Maybe he lusted after her as much as she realized shelusted after him. But no one had said anything about love.

"I think we need to sit down and talk. Because there'reissues in my past that make me behave in a way I'msometimes not proud of."

"Like Saturday night? Dropping me like a hot potato?"

"Hmm," he said and they drove for five minutes in silenceafter that until finally he glanced over his shoulder andpulled onto the side of the road beside the beach. Angusswitched the engine off and they sat there in silence for afew seconds watching the waves.

Then he turned in his seat until he faced her. "I abandonedship pretty quick at the first hint of you wanting out. I'msorry."

"Is that what you thought? Are you that insecure?"

"I'm not insecure at all if I don't care about someone."

Not a bad way to be. She guessed she was the same. Thethought that he cared for her sat warmly inside her. "Ididn't really want out. Just had a little episode of cold feet.

That if we got too serious I might never get to experiencestanding on my own. Or see the world."

"Your trip in six months?" He nodded as understandingdawned. "You'll still see the world." He raised hiseyebrows suggestively as if to gauge her reaction. "I couldvisit."

If he was looking for the right thing to say he'd stumbledon a good one there. That fab idea could be thought aboutlater. But there was more to this than that. "I'm a littletouchy when people try to protect me from doing what Iwant."

"Maybe I could learn to trust your instincts a little more?As long as you ask when you need help?"

This was sounding serious. And reasonable. "I could dothat."

"And it's not like you don't try to protect people yourself.What about Tessa in labor? You weren't oblivious toworry or making sure she was looked after."

He had her there. Funny she'd never thought about it fromthat point of view. "So tell me why you abandoned ship,as you called it."

as you called it."

Angus ruffled his hair, not looking happy with having toexplore the pain in his past, and she wished she could callthe question back.

"I mentioned once I was fostered."

She nodded her head. She remembered. "It was prettyclear you didn't want to talk about it that night."

"You were good to pick that up. Not a lot of womenwould have left it there and I appreciated that."

"So don't talk about it now if you don't want to."

"That would be the easy way out." He shrugged. "Maybeyou make me want to take risks…"

Zoe bit her lip. That must have been tough to say, and sheadmired him for his honesty.

He went on in a matteroffact tone, "Let's just say lots offamilies tried me and I wasn't what they wanted."

She could hear the selfmocking tone in his voice and shewanted to reach out and take his hand. But she was scaredhe'd never finish what he needed to say.

he'd never finish what he needed to say.

"My case worker said it was bad luck, not me, but I grewa protective skin and a skill for keeping people at adistance. Apparently that didn't make me more attractive."

He looked pretty darned attractive to her. "I don't knowabout that."

But now she understood. She felt the answers slide intoplace. Well, that explained last night. One hint of evictionfrom her and up went the walls and he was out of there.

Zoe did take his hand then and it felt powerful and safe inhers. In complete contrast to his description of hischildhood. "A little mix from both of us could be theanswer."

Angus smiled at her and finally there was no selfridicule.The sight warmed her. "That's why I love being with you.It's as if you understand me. And it feels amazing. Bearwith me while I practice believing you for a bit."

She'd never had those sort of worries. The direct opposite,really. She knew her family adored her and only protectedher because they cared. Maybe she should just let theirprotectiveness wash over her.

protectiveness wash over her.

Maybe she needed Angus's help. "So I'll hug you whenyou need it, and you can help me be more independentwithout alienating my family."

"I could do that. Though I'm still not sure I'm lovable."

Now why did she think he was teasing? "That would bemy problem not yours."

He smiled at her, all devil and daring and dark desire. "Sonow will you kiss me?"

"My absolute pleasure." It seemed with Angus she mightnot have to take drastic action in order to live an excitinglife.

Angus walked with Zoe out of the foyer of the hospital onMonday after her shift. He'd dropped into the ward to saygoodbye to Tessa but she'd discharged herself before hegot there.

They found her outside the hospital clutching her babywith tears running down her face.

Zoe hurried over and he followed. "You look miserable.What's happened?"

What's happened?"

Tessa burst into tears. "He's not here. He said at three, butChase isn't here. He said he'd be here fifteen minutesago." Angus wanted to strangle her boyfriend. He knewthis feeling so well.

She hugged Bodie tightly against her. "He doesn't love meor Bodie. Of course he doesn't."

Zoe looked at him and Angus said, "I'll take you andBodie home." Zoe added, "In his fabulous car," but just asthe words were out, a large, mohawked man covered intattoos hurried up to them.

Angus glared at him until he saw the guy looked ready tocry, too. Maybe fairy tales did happen. Angus slid hishand into Zoe's and stepped back as the young man triedto hug Tessa still burdened by a huge blue rabbit and abunch of wilting flowers.

"So sorry, babe. I couldn't make the baby seat fit in thecar."

Tessa sniffed and smiled tremulously as if she couldn'tbelieve he was there.

Zoe leaned forward without letting go of his hand. "You

Zoe leaned forward without letting go of his hand. "Youmust be Chase. Here. Let me hold these for a sec." Shetook the rabbit, which she handed to Angus. Then shetook the flowers.

"Ta." Chase glanced at Zoe briefly but his eyes were allfor Tessa. "Babe. I love you. And our little man."

Angus squeezed Zoe's hand and they both looked away tohide smiles. Tessa's Chase had a marshmallow centre.Especially where his lady and his baby were concerned.

Tessa turned damp eyes to Zoe. "My lift's here, but maybeDr. Angus should take you home in his car?"

Angus put his arm around Zoe and squeezed her gentlyagainst him where she felt so right. "I just might do that."

Zoe raised her brows. "And I might just let you."

***

Ten minutes later, with the roof down, they were parkedunder a tree at their favorite beach. Finally they brokeapart. Angus stroked her face with his finger as he satback, and his soft smile made her glow. "So how do I getto be a lifeguard's boyfriend?"

to be a lifeguard's boyfriend?"

That was easy. "Keep kissing me like that."

"So where do we go from here?"

She grinned. "Anywhere with a more comfortable seat."

He reached forward and started the car. No delay at all."See, I thought you only loved me for my car."

"Maybe I love your car because of you?"

"As long as you love me."

She looked at him. Her gorgeous, slightly insecure,amazing man who so wanted to do everything right forher. "More every day. But you'll have to get used to theboys. I might even have to forgive them because they keptme safe for you."

"They're already my favorite people. Next to you…"

THE END

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