Meredith Webber: Children's Doctor, Meant-To-Be Wife

‘Angus.’

She breathed his name against his lips and felt hers whispered back. Just as they had always made love—silently, nothing but their names confirming their identities, as if in kissing, touching, loving, they might lose themselves and need to know again just who they were.

His arms engulfed her, wrapping her in the security of his body, holding her close so all her doubts and fears and uncertainties were kept at bay. This, too, had always been the way. Safe in Angus’s arms she’d lost the insecurities that had plagued her all her life, living for the moment, living eventually for him, and then for Bobby—

His lips were tracing kisses down her neck, then up again, resting where her pulse beat—wildly and erratically, she was sure. They found her mouth again and claimed it, in a kiss so deep it drew all air from her lungs and left her gasping, clinging, wanting more than kisses.

Meredith Webbersays of herself, ‘Some ten years ago, I read an article which suggested that Mills and Boon were looking for new medical authors. I had one of those “I can do that” moments, and gave it a try. What began as a challenge has become an obsession—though I do temper the “butt on seat” career of writing with dirty but healthy outdoor pursuits, fossicking through the Australian Outback in search of gold or opals. Having had some success in all of these endeavours, I now consider I’ve found the perfect lifestyle.’

Recent titles by the same author:

THE SHEIKH SURGEON’S BABY**

DESERT DOCTOR, SECRET SHEIKH**

A PREGNANT NURSE’S CHRISTMAS WISH

THE NURSE HE’S BEEN WAITING FOR*

** Desert Doctors

* Crocodile Creek

CROCODILE CREEK

A cutting-edge medical centre.Fully equipped for saving lives and loves!

Crocodile Creek’s state-of-the-art Medical Centreand Rescue Response Unit is home to a team ofexpertly trained medical professionals. Thesededicated men and women face the challenges oflife, love and medicine every day!

In September, gorgeous surgeon Nick Devlinwas reunited with Miranda CarlisleA PROPOSAL WORTH WAITING FOR by Lilian Darcy

Then dedicated neurosurgeon Nick Vavunisswept beautiful physiotherapist Susie off her feetMARRYING THE MILLIONAIRE DOCTOR by Alison Roberts

Now sexy Angus Stuart comes face to facewith the wife he thought he’d lostCHILDREN’S DOCTOR, MEANT-TO-BE WIFE by Meredith Webber

And December sees Crocodile CreekMedical Director Charles Wetherby’sfinal bid to make nurse Jill his longed-for brideA BRIDE AND CHILD WORTH WAITING FOR by Marion Lennox

BY

MEREDITH WEBBER

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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CHAPTER ONE

IT WAS, Beth decided as she helped other camp volunteers assemble the children for the night spotlighting tour in the rainforest, the best of all possible jobs. True, she was missing out on the gala evening that followed the official opening of the newly rebuilt and extended Wallaby Island Medical Centre, but to share the joy of a night drive in the rainforest with these kids meant so much more to her than dressing up and dancing.

With the extension of the Wallaby Island Medical Centre and the appointment of a permanent doctor—her very own self—to staff it, Crocodile Creek Kids’ Camp had also been expanded, so now they could take up to twenty children at a time, providing a fun holiday with tons of different experiences for children who couldn’t normally enjoy camp life. This week, the camp was playing host to children with respiratory problems and to a group of children in remission from cancer.

‘No, Sam, I’ll drive today with Ally in the front. You take care of Danny in the back. Remember he’s not feeling very well so don’t tease him.’

She settled the three children she was responsible for this evening into one of the little electric carts that were the only mode of transport on the island, and guided the cart into line behind the slightly larger one that Pat, the ranger, would be driving. He had seven children on board with another volunteer, and he also had the spotlight.

Pat checked his passengers then wandered back to Beth’s cart.

‘You’re a glutton for punishment, aren’t you?’ he said. ‘Someone was telling me you’d just come off duty and you’re volunteering for this job. Should be at the party, shouldn’t you?’

He was just making conversation, Beth knew, but he was a nice guy and deserved an honest answer.

‘I’m far happier out playing with the kids than partying,’ she told him. ‘And remember, this is an adventure for me, too. I haven’t been in the rainforest at night.’

‘Got your light?’

Beth held up the big torch he’d given her earlier.

‘Now, your job is to shine it on the animal, so the kids see all of it. My light will hold the eyes and keep it still.’

‘I think I can manage that,’ Beth told him, although Sam was already asking if he could hold the torch and she knew they’d have a battle of wills about torch-holding before the evening finished. Sam might be slight for his eight years, but he had the fighting qualities of a wild tiger.

Pat returned to his cart and they drove off into the rainforest, taking the track that led to the resort on the other end of the island for about five minutes, before turning off towards the rugged mountain that stood sentinel over the rainforest.

The little carts rolled quietly along, the whirr of their wheels the only sounds, then Pat stopped and doused his headlights, Beth pulling up behind him.

‘Now, remember we have to be very quiet or the animals will run away,’ Beth whispered to her charges as Pat turned on the big light and began to play it among the palms and ferns that crowded the side of the track.

‘There,’ he said quietly, and the children ‘oohed’ as the light picked up wide-open, yellow-green eyes. Beth shone her torch to the side of the eyes and nearly dropped the light. They were looking at a snake. A beautiful snake admittedly but still a snake.

Diamond patterns marked its skin, and though it was coiled around a tree branch, Beth guessed it had to be at least eight feet long.

She wasn’t very good with snakes, so the torch shook in her hands while her feet lifted involuntarily off the floor of the cart. Ally, perhaps feeling the same atavistic fear, slid onto her knee.

Fortunately Pat’s light moved on, finding now, fortunately on the other side of the track, a tiny sugar glider, its huge eyes wide in the light, its furry body still.

There followed a chorus of ‘ Ahh! ’ and ‘ Look! ’

How could children keep quiet at the wonder of it, especially when the little animal suddenly moved its legs so the wing-like membrane between them spread and it glided like a bird from one branch to another?