Kate Hardy - Once a Playboy…

Praise for Kate Hardy

‘When you pick up a romance novel by Kate Hardy, you know that you’re going to be reading a spellbinding novel which you will want to devour in a single sitting and A CHRISTMAS KNIGHT is certainly no exception.’

—cataromance.com

‘NEUROSURGEON … AND MUM! is a spellbinding tearjerker readers will want to read again and again. Written with plenty of sensitivity, understanding and heart, NEUROSURGEON … AND MUM! is the latest winner by this outstanding storyteller!’

—cataromance.com

‘A wonderfully poignant tale of second chances. Readers follow the two characters in their quest for family and everlasting love. This excellent romance will touch your heart and have you shedding tears.’

—RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

on ITALIAN DOCTOR, NO STRINGS ATTACHED

‘SURRENDER TO THE PLAYBOY SHEIKH: I spent a lovely morning with this book, and I’d advise you to do likewise. Get it. You’ll love it. An unrestrained Grade A.’

— goodbadandunread.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KATE HARDYlives in Norwich, in the east of England, with her husband, two young children, one bouncy spaniel, and too many books to count! When she’s not busy writing romance or researching local history she helps out at her children’s schools. She also loves cooking—spot the recipes sneaked into her books! (They’re also on her website, along with extracts and stories behind the books.) Writing for Mills & Boon has been a dream come true for Kate—something she wanted to do ever since she was twelve. She’s been writing Medical Romances™ for Mills & Boon for over ten years now. She says it’s the best of both worlds, because she gets to learn lots of new things when she’s researching the background to a book: add a touch of passion, drama and danger, a new gorgeous hero every time, and it’s the perfect job!

Kate’s always delighted to hear from readers, so do drop in to her website at www.katehardy.com

JANICE LYNNhas a Masters in Nursing from Vanderbilt University, and works as a nurse practitioner in a family practice. She lives in the southern United States with her husband, their four children, their Jack Russell—appropriately named Trouble—and a lot of unnamed dust bunnies that have moved in since she started her writing career.

To find out more about Janice and her writing visit www.janicelynn.com

Once a Playboy … is the follow up to Dr Cinderella’s Midnight Fling and the second book featuring Kate Hardy’s gorgeous Somers brothers.

Also by Kate Hardy in Mills & Boon ®Medical Romance™:

DR CINDERELLA’S MIDNIGHT FLING

ITALIAN DOCTOR, NO STRINGS ATTACHED

ST PIRAN’S: THE FIREMAN

AND NURSE LOVEDAY (St Piran ’ s Hospital) A CHRISTMAS KNIGHT

And in Mills & Boon ®Modern™:

THE HIDDEN HEART OF RICO ROSSI

THE EX WHO HIRED HER

A MOMENT ON THE LIPS

These books are also available in eBook format from www.millsandboon.co.uk

Once A Playboy…

Kate Hardy

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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For Sheila, my wonderful editor—who puts up with a lot (and always takes out the reindeer!)

CHAPTER ONE

‘SO you’re doing static cycling on a flat surface, and swimming?’ Serena asked.

‘Yes,’ George said.

‘Does it hurt?’

‘No.’ And it wasn’t a complete fib. George could do the swimming and static cycling bits of his exercise programme without any problems. But he’d pushed himself a bit too far this week, thinking that he could start the last phase of his treatment a little bit sooner than his body was really ready for it.

She raised her eyebrow. ‘How about the truth?’

‘It is the truth.’

Serena folded her arms. ‘George, I know it’s driving you crazy not being able to do everything you could do before the accident, and you want to get your life back yesterday, but it’s going to take time until you’re completely fit again. You did a fair bit of damage to your thigh and your wrists—and, remember, it takes up to six months for a broken femur to heal, plus there’s all the soft tissue damage surrounding it.’

And that wasn’t the only damage he’d done to his body, George knew. Though he wasn’t thinking about that particular issue right now. He sighed. ‘OK. If you must know, I tried running, a couple of days ago. Through chest-deep water, so it wasn’t weight-bearing.’

She raised her eyebrows. ‘And?’

‘It was absolutely fine.’

‘If I had my way,’ Serena said, ‘my patients would be banned from looking up anything on the internet.’

He coughed. ‘How did you know that’s where I read about it?’

‘Because you didn’t get that advice from me or from Bruno. Your last lot of X-rays were fine—your bones are stable and they’re healing nicely—but you really can’t run before you can walk. Literally.’

‘I realise that now.’ Much as he hated to admit it.

She sighed. ‘What else did you do, George?’

‘Tried it on land. Not very far,’ he added swiftly.

‘But it hurt.’ It wasn’t a question.

‘A bit,’ he admitted.

‘I’d say it’s your quads, by the way you walked in.’ She shook her head. ‘What am I going to do with you, George?’

‘I used to hear that a lot. At school as well as at home,’ he said.

‘Why does that not surprise me?’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Do you mind if I take a closer look and check that you haven’t done any real damage?’

‘Sure.’ He paused. ‘Does this mean taking off my clothes?’

‘Well, it’s a bit tricky to judge muscles through a layer of material.’ She gave him an amused smile. ‘Let me know when you’re ready.’

He still felt slightly self-conscious about stripping in front of her. Which was totally ridiculous. Apart from the fact that Serena James was his physiotherapist and this wasn’t his first session with her, George had stripped in enough bedrooms—and other places—not to feel in the slightest bit awkward at taking his clothes off in front of a woman. Especially as this wasn’t even a full strip; he’d still be wearing underpants and a T-shirt.

But he appreciated the fact that Serena had turned her back while he removed the hated tracksuit bottoms, leaving him a little bit of dignity. He’d already put up with more than enough during his recuperation. He’d hated feeling so dependent. And he was so, so ready to have his life back again.

If that meant he had to take this last phase just a little bit more slowly, then he’d have to learn to be patient. Even though taking things slowly felt as if it was killing him. He really loathed living life at a snail’s pace. For him, it wasn’t living, it was existing. And there was a huge difference between the two.

‘Ready now,’ he said, and she turned to face him.

Her hands were gentle as she probed his leg and felt the muscles. And although Serena’s movements were completely asexual, a physiotherapist’s touch rather than a lover’s, as she moved her head George caught the scent of her shampoo. Like sun-warmed, ripened strawberries. And all the blood in his head rushed south.