The Doctor's Lost-and-Found Bride by Kate Hardy Read Free Book Online Page B

asked hopefully.
    Marina took the chance to escape before her mother could grill her any more, but she knew that the reckoning was only being delayed.
    And, just as she’d expected, her mother phoned later that evening. ‘So, what’s the real story about Max?’ Louise asked.
    ‘There isn’t one. He joined the team last week, so we’re working together. We’re both professional enough to put our patients first, so it isn’t a problem.’
    ‘Hmm.’ Louise sounded as suspicious as Rosie had. ‘Are you sure you’re OK about this?’
    ‘Really, Mum, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s fine.’
    Louise sighed. ‘All right. I won’t nag. Your sister can do enough of that for both of us. But if it gets tough you know where I am.’
    ‘I know, and I appreciate it,’ Marina said, meaning every word. ‘I love you, Mum.’
     
    ‘Max, we’re one short for Friday night,’ Eve told him. ‘Are you busy?’
    ‘One short for what?’ he asked.
    ‘Ten-pin bowling.’
    He smiled. ‘Thanks for asking, Eve, but I haven’t done that for years. I’d just let the side down.’
    ‘Of course you wouldn’t. Now’s your chance to brush up your skills. And it’s a good way of getting to know people outside work.’
    Max had already worked out that Eve was the sort of person who took new members of the team under her wing and made sure that they felt welcome. And he knew that Marina was off duty on Friday, so it was highly likely that she wouldn’t be there—she was bound to be doing something with her family. So Max judged that it was pretty safe to agree. ‘Sure. Just let me know where and what time you want me to turn up.’
    ‘Brilliant.’ She gave him a broad smile. ‘You won’t regret it.’
     
    Though he did regret it, the moment that he walked into the bowling alley and saw the group of people there.
    Seeing Marina in a white coat was one thing. Seeing herin figure-hugging jeans and a loose, long-sleeved T-shirt with her hair down was quite another. At work, she was professional and detached; here, she looked like the girl next door. Just like she’d looked when she’d been his wife.
    Five years ago, he would have strode over to her, swept her off her feet, spun her round and kissed her lingeringly, not caring who was watching. Five years ago, she’d have been sitting on his lap, laughing with him and stealing kisses while they were waiting for their respective turns at the bowling alley.
    But this was now.
    And, with the emotional distance between them, she might just as well have been standing on the moon.
    He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, just in case he was tempted to reach out and smooth his palm over the curve of her bottom. For pity’s sake. He’d told himself this enough times; he knew he didn’t have the right to touch her any more. The fact that he wanted to yank her into his arms and kiss her until they were both breathless and had forgotten the rest of the world…
    They really needed to have that talk.
    And it looked as if it had better be sooner rather than later.
    ‘Sorry. I didn’t realise you’d be here tonight, or I would’ve made some excuse and not come,’ he said quietly as he joined the group.
    She lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. ‘Nothing to apologise for—you’re part of the team. You have as much right as I do to be here.’
    She sounded all cool, calm and neutral—though he could see the tension in her face, in her mouth, and knew that she too was wishing herself thousands of miles away. This was as much of an ordeal for her as it was for him.
    As luck would have it, they ended up on the same team of four. Max’s turn to bowl was right after Marina’s; short of standing with his back to her when she was bowling—which would’ve made it look way too obvious that he was trying to avoid her—there was nothing he could do but stand and watch her. The sight of the curve of her bottom, encased in soft, soft denim, sent his blood pressure up a