Jacqueline Diamond - The Doctor's Accidental Family

SINGLE DAD DILEMMA

After a disastrous relationship, Nurse Zady Moore just wants a family of her own and a guy with no baggage. With a young, vulnerable son, Dr. Nick Davis is exactly the kind of guy she should avoid. But his offer is too good—free rent in exchange for occasional babysitting. And it comes at the right time, just as Zady’s young goddaughter comes to stay with her. It’s only for six months—surely she can resist Nick’s charms.

Nick likes Zady, and he enjoys the camaraderie of chasing after two little kids with her. But she works for his hated cousin, and with a battle brewing between departments at Safe Harbor Medical, can Nick trust that Zady’s loyalties lie with him?

How could a house cast a spell over her?

Zady had dreamed of living in a place like this.

Aware that she’d never be able to afford one on her income, she associated having a house with finding Mr. Right, followed by Baby Right. Now Nick dangled the lure of living in this minipalace rent-free.

Nevertheless, the psychic price was too high. No sane woman would agree to a second job as nanny to Mr. So-Wrong-She-Couldn’t-Imagine-Anyone-Wronger-Unless-It-Was-Dwayne. Yet here Zady stood in the cold air of an early February night feeling utterly enchanted by the scent of jasmine and the twitter of night birds.

She kept picturing her goddaughter, Linda, toddling happily about with Nick’s son, Caleb, in the cheerful kitchen, clouting each other over the head with blocks, screaming and then cuddling with her while muffins in the oven perfumed the air. Exactly who would be baking those muffins, she had no idea.

She must be delirious. Or under a spell.

Standing close enough to shelter her against the chill breeze, Nick radiated persuasion.

“I’m only asking you for six months,” he said. “Will you agree to move in for that long?”

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 Extract Copyright ,

Nurse Zady Moore is struggling to move past a failed relationship and some spectacular misjudgments. The last thing she needs is an entanglement with Safe Harbor Medical’s newest obstetrician, Nick Davis.

Nick’s trying to sort out the best way to care for his three-year-old son, Caleb, born out of wedlock and living with maternal grandparents since his mother’s death six months earlier. Not only has Nick made mistakes, he has a look-alike cousin, the doctor who recently hired Zady as his nurse. She knows where her loyalty lies—with Marshall, not reputed playboy Nick. But fate, and love, have other plans.

I introduced Zady in The Baby Bonanza as the estranged twin of ultrasound technician Zora. Since the sisters reconciled and Zady moved to Safe Harbor, I decided to explore how she overcomes her muddled past and finds love. In the process, I discovered a complex relationship between cousins Nick and Marshall, who demanded that I write their stories, too.

There’s a complete listing of the series along with recipes from earlier books on my website, jacquelinediamond.com. Welcome to Safe Harbor!

Best,

Jacqueline Diamond

The Doctor’s

Accidental

Family

Jacqueline Diamond

www.millsandboon.co.uk

The daughter of a doctor and an artist, JACQUELINE DIAMOND has been drawn to medical themes for many of her more than ninety-five published novels, including her Safe Harbor Medical miniseries for Harlequin American Romance. She developed an interest in fertility issues after successfully undergoing treatment to have her two sons, now in their twenties. A former Associated Press reporter and columnist, Jackie lives with her husband of thirty-five years in Orange County, California, where she’s active in Romance Writers of America. You can learn more about her books at jacquelinediamond.com/booksand say hello to Jackie on her Facebook page, JacquelineDiamondAuthor.

To Ari and Claire

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text SINGLE DAD DILEMMA After a disastrous relationship, Nurse Zady Moore just wants a family of her own and a guy with no baggage. With a young, vulnerable son, Dr. Nick Davis is exactly the kind of guy she should avoid. But his offer is too good—free rent in exchange for occasional babysitting. And it comes at the right time, just as Zady’s young goddaughter comes to stay with her. It’s only for six months—surely she can resist Nick’s charms. Nick likes Zady, and he enjoys the camaraderie of chasing after two little kids with her. But she works for his hated cousin, and with a battle brewing between departments at Safe Harbor Medical, can Nick trust that Zady’s loyalties lie with him?

Introduction How could a house cast a spell over her? Zady had dreamed of living in a place like this. Aware that she’d never be able to afford one on her income, she associated having a house with finding Mr. Right, followed by Baby Right. Now Nick dangled the lure of living in this minipalace rent-free. Nevertheless, the psychic price was too high. No sane woman would agree to a second job as nanny to Mr. So-Wrong-She-Couldn’t-Imagine-Anyone-Wronger-Unless-It-Was-Dwayne. Yet here Zady stood in the cold air of an early February night feeling utterly enchanted by the scent of jasmine and the twitter of night birds. She kept picturing her goddaughter, Linda, toddling happily about with Nick’s son, Caleb, in the cheerful kitchen, clouting each other over the head with blocks, screaming and then cuddling with her while muffins in the oven perfumed the air. Exactly who would be baking those muffins, she had no idea. She must be delirious. Or under a spell. Standing close enough to shelter her against the chill breeze, Nick radiated persuasion. “I’m only asking you for six months,” he said. “Will you agree to move in for that long?”

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 Extract Copyright , Nurse Zady Moore is struggling to move past a failed relationship and some spectacular misjudgments. The last thing she needs is an entanglement with Safe Harbor Medical’s newest obstetrician, Nick Davis. Nick’s trying to sort out the best way to care for his three-year-old son, Caleb, born out of wedlock and living with maternal grandparents since his mother’s death six months earlier. Not only has Nick made mistakes, he has a look-alike cousin, the doctor who recently hired Zady as his nurse. She knows where her loyalty lies—with Marshall, not reputed playboy Nick. But fate, and love, have other plans. I introduced Zady in The Baby Bonanza as the estranged twin of ultrasound technician Zora. Since the sisters reconciled and Zady moved to Safe Harbor, I decided to explore how she overcomes her muddled past and finds love. In the process, I discovered a complex relationship between cousins Nick and Marshall, who demanded that I write their stories, too. There’s a complete listing of the series along with recipes from earlier books on my website, jacquelinediamond.com . Welcome to Safe Harbor! Best, Jacqueline Diamond

Title Page The Doctor’s Accidental Family Jacqueline Diamond www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author The daughter of a doctor and an artist, JACQUELINE DIAMOND has been drawn to medical themes for many of her more than ninety-five published novels, including her Safe Harbor Medical miniseries for Harlequin American Romance. She developed an interest in fertility issues after successfully undergoing treatment to have her two sons, now in their twenties. A former Associated Press reporter and columnist, Jackie lives with her husband of thirty-five years in Orange County, California, where she’s active in Romance Writers of America. You can learn more about her books at jacquelinediamond.com/books and say hello to Jackie on her Facebook page, JacquelineDiamondAuthor .