Paddington Children's Hospital Complete Collection. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ said, ‘that when they find out they’ll make an awful fuss.’

      ‘I can’t wait for the fuss,’ Victoria said, and she thought of grandparents who would be thrilled at the news, and uncles and aunts and cousins and feuding brothers who had sorted things out. ‘As soon as William is more stable we’ll share the good news.’

      She couldn’t wait to get out there, but was actually quite nervous when they finally did.

      The MacBrides were all in the kitchen. Jamie and Lorna and Dominic’s father were sitting at the table, and his mother, a very small woman, was at the oven.

      ‘Well, hello,’ his mother said when together they walked in, and she looked a bit taken back when she saw that Dominic had company.

      ‘This is Victoria,’ Dominic introduced. ‘She’s been on nights too.’

      ‘You never said that you were seeing anyone!’ his mother scolded, though she smiled to Victoria.

      ‘Well, we haven’t exactly been speaking,’ Dominic reminded her. ‘But Victoria is very much in my life. Victoria, this is my mother, Katie.’

      She met William and Katie, and Jamie and Lorna, who she had, of course, already met, but it was different this time because she was being introduced and integrated into all the main threads of this beautiful man’s life.

      ‘How is William doing now?’ Victoria asked Lorna, and felt very glad that she had been up-front about knowing Dominic when they were at the hotel.

      ‘He’s doing well. Rebecca, the surgeon, doesn’t seem to think surgery is necessary at this stage.’

      As easily as that they chatted and Victoria understood what Dominic had meant about needing to be properly free from baggage, for there were no dark feelings harboured, no grudges and absolutely no jealousy at all.

      ‘He’s getting excellent care,’ Jamie said, and then looked over to his brother. ‘I can see why you want to work there—it’s a fantastic hospital.’

      ‘Is it true that it’s closing?’ Lorna asked.

      ‘Not if we can help it,’ Dominic said, and from the conviction in his voice, Victoria knew that she had him fully on board now in the fight to save Paddington’s.

      And what were the best words in the world to hear when you’ve woken up having been on a stint working nights and just had really good sex?

      Katie MacBride said them as Dominic put an arm around her and kissed the top of her head. ‘Take a seat at the table, you two. You’ll be wanting a proper dinner.’

      And she was entered into his fold.

      Victoria had found her family.

      * * * * *

       Forbidden to the Playboy Surgeon

      Fiona Lowe

      Unbuttoned—and out of bounds!

      Sparks fly from day one between playboy neurosurgeon Alistair North and his talented, sexy trainee surgeon Claire Mitchell. He’s on a mission to help überserious Claire relax, but his cavalier approach is driving her crazy.

      Alistair is completely out of bounds, even if he is completely gorgeous—he’s her boss! But when he confronts Claire after a difficult surgery, desire overcomes reason. With secrets holding them both back, can they find a way to turn their forbidden passion into forever?

      Dear Reader,

      When I was invited to be part of the Paddington Children’s Hospital series I jumped at the chance to spend some virtual time in London. Oh, what fun I had “walking” the streets virtually, online—first in Paddington, and then venturing further afield as I gave my Aussie heroine a London adventure.

      My favourite part of this research was creating the setting for the fundraising ball. I based it around the Savoy Hotel, and the wild and wonderful stories that are now part of the folklore of that gracious establishment.

      I hope you enjoy spending a few hours in London with Claire and Alistair as they work and play and finally find their happy-ever-after.

      Check out my Pinterest page for the book to see some of the London sights that feature. Online, you can find me at fionalowe.com, on Facebook, Twitter and now Instagram—and you can email me at [email protected]. I love to hear from my readers.

      Happy reading!

      Fiona x

      FIONA LOWE is a RITA® and RUBY award-winning author who started writing romances when she was on holiday and ran out of books. Now writing single title contemporary romance for Carina Press and Medical Romances for Mills & Boon, she lives in a seaside town in southern Australia, where she juggles writing, reading, working and raising two gorgeous sons with the support of her own real-life hero! Readers can visit Fiona at her website: fionalowe.com.

      To my fellow Medical Romance author Annie O’Neil,

      who answered all my questions about London

      so enthusiastically and speedily. And for the laughs.

      Thanks! It made writing this book so much fun.

       Praise for Fiona Lowe

      ‘A gripping, emotional and highly compelling tale…Unlocking Her Surgeon’s Heart is a first-class Medical Romance you will devour in a single sitting.’

      —Goodreads

       CHAPTER ONE

      ALTHOUGH CLAIRE MITCHELL had been in London for a few weeks, she still pinched herself every time she stepped out onto the streets of Paddington. For an Aussie country girl, it was all a little bit surreal—like being on the set of Mary Poppins or Upstairs, Downstairs.

      Dazzling white, Victorian, stuccoed terraced houses with pillared porches and decorative balconies were built neatly around tiny central gardens. This morning as she crossed the pocket-handkerchief park, passing between two black wrought-iron gates, the ubiquitous London drizzle was cheerfully absent. Tongues of early-morning light filtered down between the tender, bright green spring foliage of century-old oaks and elms. It was a far cry from the dusty, rock-hard and sun-cracked park where she’d spent her childhood. The only shade to be found at the Gundiwindi playground had been that cast by the people standing next to her.

      Walking briskly, she made her way along what would be a frantically busy road in an hour’s time. СКАЧАТЬ