Annie Claydon - Daring To Date Her Ex

‘A compelling, emotional and highly poignant read that I couldn’t bear to put down. Rich in pathos, humour and dramatic intensity, it’s a spellbinding tale about healing old wounds, having the courage to listen to your heart and the power of love that kept me enthralled from beginning to end.’

—GoodReads on Once Upon a Christmas Night …

‘A lovely story—I really enjoyed this book, which was well-written by Annie as always.’

— GoodReads on Re-awakening His Shy Nurse

‘Well-written brilliant characters—I have never been disappointed by a book written by Annie Claydon.’

— GoodReads on The Rebel and Miss Jones

I can’t believe that this is my tenth book! Where has all the time gone?

When I think about it, I know exactly where it’s gone. There have been many, many hours at the computer, smiling at something one of my heroes has said, or gnashing my teeth at the situation a heroine has found herself in. I’ve experienced the thrill of receiving an email from someone who’s read one of my books. I’ve met readers, editors and authors—both online and in person. Received boxes of books, new covers, new titles and editions from around the world. And the excitement of it just never seems to pall. If anything, my tenth book is more of a delight than my first—because it’s finally sunk in that this is all real and not a dream.

Thank you for being with me on this journey. It’s had its ups and downs, its hard times and successes. But in the end it’s you, my reader, who makes it such a joy.

Annie x

www.annieclaydon.com

Cursed from an early age with a poor sense of direction and a propensity to read, ANNIE CLAYDONspent much of her childhood lost in books. After completing her degree in English Literature she indulged her love of romantic fiction and spent a long, hot summer writing a book of her own. It was duly rejected and life took over. A series of U-turns led in the unlikely direction of a career in computing and information technology, but the lure of the printed page proved too much to bear and she now has the perfect outlet for the stories which have always run through her head: writing Medical Romance™ for Mills & Boon ®. Living in London—a city where getting lost can be a joy—she has no regrets for having taken her time in working her way back to the place that she started from.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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To all the readers, editors, family and friends

who’ve supported me this far.

Thank you.

HE WASN’T THERE.

Thea Coleman surveyed the sea of heads bobbing in front of her. No reason to panic. There were walkways, coffee shops, seating areas to check out … It had been a nice fantasy, stepping out of a taxi and bumping into Lucas almost straight away. Seeing his face light up when he saw her, holding his hand as they walked together into the airport to embark on the biggest adventure of their lives. But fantasy was a forgiving and flexible thing, and there was another one that would do just as well. Finding him at the last minute, just as he was about to board the plane. Pushing through the crowds to fling herself into his arms, and flying off into the sunset with him.

She checked her luggage in, went through passport control, and scanned the passenger lounge anxiously. It looked as if fantasy number three was going to be the one. She’d find him on the plane. Lucas would have given up all hope that she might change her mind and come with him by then.

She knew that he was on this flight; the tickets had been propped up in front of the mirror in his bedroom for over a month. Every night she’d offered up the silent hope that he might change his mind. That he’d ask her to put her career on hold and go with him. Or that he’d decide that the opportunity of working as a doctor in Bangladesh was a dream he could postpone until she had completed her two years’ foundation training and could apply to work alongside him.

Every morning the tickets had still been there and there was one less day to count before he used them. It would be sensible to wave him goodbye and get on with her life. Only love didn’t listen to sense.

As soon as the seat-belt light dinged off, she squeezed past the man sitting next to her and walked up and down the aisles of the plane. Slipped into business class, in case he’d got an upgrade, and managed to ascertain that he wasn’t there before she was politely asked to leave by one of the flight attendants. When the plane landed in Dhaka, she had no more fantasies left to rely on.

She tried not to cry as she went through passport control and claimed her baggage. Covering her long, fair hair with a scarf, she walked out of the airport alone into the unforgiving heat of an unknown city.

Cover

Praise for Annie Claydon: Praise for Annie Claydon: Praise for Annie Claydon: Dear Reader About the Author Title Page Dedication 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 CHAPTER THIRTEEN CHAPTER FOURTEEN CHAPTER FIFTEEN CHAPTER SIXTEEN CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN CHAPTER TWENTY Copyright ‘A compelling, emotional and highly poignant read that I couldn’t bear to put down. Rich in pathos, humour and dramatic intensity, it’s a spellbinding tale about healing old wounds, having the courage to listen to your heart and the power of love that kept me enthralled from beginning to end.’ —GoodReads on Once Upon a Christmas Night … ‘A lovely story—I really enjoyed this book, which was well-written by Annie as always.’ — GoodReads on Re-awakening His Shy Nurse ‘Well-written brilliant characters—I have never been disappointed by a book written by Annie Claydon.’ — GoodReads on The Rebel and Miss Jones