The Doctor's Society Sweetheart by Lucy Clark Read Free Book Online Page A

one that had rocked the foundations of her world.
    She’d had men interested in her before and while all of them had been nice men, none had been her type. Apart from that, she’d learned never to take any man seriously given that usually they were after her wealth rather than her. Yet this man beside her obviously didn’t like her and while she had no real idea why, in a strange way it was almost refreshing.
    But for a moment that had changed. Perhaps the vehemence burning deep within her, the need for justice and compassion, had triggered something in the stranger sitting beside her because after she’d finished speaking, the dark look in his eyes had cleared and when his gaze had dropped—albeit momentarily—to take in the curve of her mouth, the vibe coming from him changing from one of annoyance to one of curious delight, Emmy had found herself becoming quite breathless in anticipation.
    It was ridiculous. They were strangers. They knew nothing about each other and since they’d met but a few short hours ago, he’d treated her with nothing but contempt. Now, after such an intimate moment, he wasn’t even looking at her. Maybe she’d imagined it. Maybe that intense look he’d given her had been just the shadows playing tricks on her mind, and as that was most definitely a more likely scenario, she should forget the way Dart had made her feel all tingly and girly inside and focus on her job.
    ‘Why…?’ She stopped and cleared her throat, surprised to find it a little husky. ‘Why would I lie?’
    ‘You’d be surprised.’ Dart’s words were brisk. ‘This isn’t the first time a TV crew has come into these people’s lives. It isn’t the first time their hospitality has been taken advantageof. It also isn’t the first time they’ve been duped and hurt yet they feel they need to let the crews come in the hope it will help the situation.’
    ‘What happened?’
    He shook his head. ‘It was a long time ago. Over a decade. The laws governing overseas TV crews coming into this country have been changed because of the incident. It’ll never happen again.’
    Emmy reached out and touched his arm, only for a split second but it was enough to heighten the awareness buzzing between them. ‘Tell me, please.’ She clasped her hands in her lap but her tone was imploring.
    Dart exhaled sharply and spoke quickly, now almost desperate to get out of her presence, to put some space between himself and the woman who was slowly starting to drive him to distraction with her close proximity.
    ‘A crew came in, treated the villagers like their own personal slaves, getting them to do their washing, cook for them, anything and everything. They refused to walk anywhere, refused to help, and after three days of complaining about the conditions they physically wrecked five of the huts, caused injury to several of the villagers, packed up their stuff and left. Nothing was ever aired. No money came in for supplies.’ He ground his teeth together. ‘Worst of all, after they left, Meeree and Jalak discovered that two of the young women had been raped.’
    Emmy gasped at that news. ‘That’s…’ She couldn’t talk due to the taste of utter disgust and revulsion in her mouth. She shook her head slowly. ‘No wonder you’re fiercely protective of these good people.’ She took a swallow from the drink in her hand, wanting to wash out the foul taste. ‘No one—I don’t care what their circumstances are in life— no one should be treated that way.’
    Again, the vehemence of her words surprised and pleasedDart. ‘I’m glad to hear you feel that way.’ Hearing her agree with him also helped ease his concern about the work Emerson-Rose and her crew were here to do.
    ‘I’d like to assure you, Dr Freeman, that my crew and I will conduct ourselves with utter respectability. We will help out where needed and make sure Meeree and Jalak understand that we appreciate not only them but the hospitality they’re