Cindy Kirk: One Night with the Doctor

Cindy Kirk’s next installment in RX For Love introduces us to a girl who always plays by the rules—almost. And her one exception is going to change everything…

“Perfect” Poppy Westover has always been a by-the-book kind of girl. But just this once, she ignores her rules and has a sizzling one-night stand with the crushingly handsome Dr. Benedict Campbell. It was a superb night that left Poppy breathless…and pregnant.

Ben Campbell knows the pain of a broken heart—so he is happy to settle for a good time. Still, when his unbelievable night with Poppy means that he will soon be answering to Daddy, he has to put everything on the line—for his child, and his child’s mother. Because if Ben gets his way, he will soon be answering to Husband, as well!

He wants me . She fought a surge of pleasure at the thought, a pleasure that sharply spiked when Ben pulled her to him.

“I’d like—” he paused and a slight smile lifted his lips “—to know if you have plans for the rest of the evening?”

“I—I do,” Poppy finally managed to stammer.

“I wasn’t aware you were seeing anyone.” An emotion she couldn’t identify flickered in the molten silver of his eyes. “Who is he?”

“Rocky.” Her grin came quick and fast, surprising them both. “Rocky Road.”

He chuckled, a low, pleasant rumbling sound, his gaze lingering on her lips. “Have dinner with me. Rocky can wait.”

Dear Reader,

Ever since I started to read, I’ve enjoyed getting to know the people in books on an intimate level. Those in their immediate world might not understand them fully, but as a reader I’m able to get inside their heads.

That’s why I enjoyed writing this story so much. Benedict Campbell is an important doctor in Jackson Hole who expects a lot from himself and those around him. Even though we’ve seen him in other books in the Rx for Love miniseries, we really don’t get a good feel for him.

That also holds true for Poppy Westover. We know she’s a beautiful woman who is a social worker. That’s about all we know. But in this book, their book, we get to know both Ben and Poppy intimately.

I enjoyed watching them interact with their friends. I enjoyed seeing Poppy develop a relationship with Ben’s family. But most of all, I enjoyed watching them fall in love.

I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Cindy

One Night with the Doctor

Cindy Kirk

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CINDY KIRKhas loved to read for as long as she can remember. In first grade she received an award for reading one hundred books. As she grew up, summers were her favorite time of year. Nothing beat going to the library, then coming home and curling up in front of the window air conditioner with a good book. Often the novels she read would spur ideas, and she’d make up her own story (always with a happy ending). When she’d go to bed at night, instead of counting sheep she’d make up more stories in her head. Since selling her first story to Mills & Boon in 1999, Cindy has been forced to juggle her love of reading with her passion for creating stories of her own…but she doesn’t mind. Writing for the Cherish ™series is a dream come true. She only hopes you have as much fun reading her books as she has writing them!

Cindy invites you to visit her website, www.cindykirk.com.

To my three favorite girls: Wendy, Grace and Hannah.

You brighten my world every day.

Contents

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

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Chapter One

Golden beams of light shone through the windows of the two-story house situated in the mountains overlooking Jackson Hole. Although Christmas had been a month earlier, garlands of greenery and wreaths with plaid ribbons still adorned the large wraparound porch.

Poppy Westover added her serviceable Ford to the dozens of cars already parked in the clearing east of the house. Tiny snowflakes danced across the well-scooped path as she began the trek to the front steps of the house she’d passed only moments before. Ducking her head, she forged onward. The brisk north wind slapped her cheeks and ruffled her hair.

Lights might illuminate the walkway, but the dark of the winter evening still closed in around her. By now, the party had been going on for an hour, almost two. She prided herself on being timely, but a last-minute call to secure an emergency foster placement had delayed her leaving the office.

Poppy reached the steps of the beautifully decorated porch just as a sleek black Mercedes drove slowly past. Another late arrival. The thought that she wouldn’t be the last to show up buoyed her spirits even as she grimaced at the familiar lines of the vehicle.

Though this was a newer version and a different color, a similar CL550 coupe had been her ex-husband’s pride and joy. Even with public transportation readily available, he’d insisted on driving the car to social functions. And there had been lots of such events. As a prominent Manhattan neurosurgeon, Bill Stanhope had been on everyone’s must-invite list.

Poppy had grown increasingly weary of socializing with his associates and people he’d wanted to impress. People who lived an extravagant and loose lifestyle; married men and women who took lovers as easily as another glass of champagne.

This evening would be different. Tonight she’d be among people who shared her values. Friends. Former schoolmates.

Dr. Travis Fisher, the host of the party, had graduated from Jackson Hole High with her. Back in the day, they’d even dated briefly. Now he was married, the father of five and one of the top ob-gyns in Jackson Hole.

Poppy rang the bell then jammed gloved hands into her coat pockets and hunched her shoulders against the wind. Thankfully she didn’t have to wait long. The door opened and a flood of warmth and delicious smells spilled out.

Frowning at her chattering teeth, Travis motioned her inside and shut the door firmly against the winter chill. An efficient young woman dressed all in black offered to take Poppy’s coat.

After shrugging off the soft cashmere, Poppy murmured her thanks then held both hands out to Travis. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“We were determined to hound you until you accepted one of our invitations.” He gave her fingers a firm squeeze and coupled the gesture with a warm smile. There was something intrinsically likable about the tall doctor with sandy-colored hair.

“You look lovely this evening,” she heard him add.

Poppy glanced down. She’d dressed in such a hurry that for a second she didn’t recall what she’d pulled from the closet. Though she knew most women used the party as an excuse to wear something new they’d gotten for Christmas, this year her family had sent money rather than gifts.

Unfortunately her new job kept her far too busy for shopping. Because of that, she’d been forced to call into service a red cashmere turtleneck dress from several seasons back and last year’s black-heeled boots.

The dress had been purchased the first year after her divorce. Her ex considered bold colors “gauche.”