The Man with the Locked Away Heart by MELANIE MILBURNE

Author:MELANIE MILBURNE
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Gemma didn’t get a chance to draw a breath before lunchtime. The clinic had been busy that morning with a rush of patients keen to get their flu vaccinations as well as one or two more seriously ill patients who needed some extra time with her to discuss their treatment options. But finally the last patient left and she was able to close the front door. She took a deep breath and walked to the small kitchen area where tea-and coffee-making facilities were set up, along with a microwave and toaster oven.

Narelle looked up as she came in. ‘Poor Ellice is going downhill rapidly, isn’t she?’

‘Yes, she certainly is,’ Gemma said, thinking of how devoted Ellice Peterson’s family were to support her the way they did through her long battle with leukaemia. She had a particularly aggressive form that had resisted all forms of treatment. Ellice had decided to come home from her long stints in a Brisbane hospital to die in peace surrounded by the family she loved.

‘You have something else on your mind,’ Narelle said, regarding her with a musing look. ‘I can always tell. What’s up? Is the sexy sergeant getting too hot to handle? Don’t tell me he’s kissed you. Oh, my God, he has, hasn’t he?’

Gemma felt that familiar rush of heat go through her body whenever Marc’s name was mentioned. ‘No, of course not,’ she said. ‘Anyway, we made a bet.’

‘A bet?’ Narelle’s eyes bugged. ‘On what?’

‘On not kissing each other,’ Gemma said, flushing.

‘I can’t believe I’m hearing this.’ Narelle gave the side of her head a couple of taps. ‘You mean to tell me you made some sort of bet with Sergeant Marc Di Angelo over not kissing him? Are you out of your mind?’

Gemma set her mouth into a flat line. ‘I had to put some sort of boundary up. He’s living at Huntingdon with me for an unspecified time. It would be too easy to fall into a relationship just for the heck of it.’

‘So?’ Narelle said. ‘Come on, Gemma, you haven’t had a relationship since that jerk two-timed you back in Melbourne. Isn’t it time to put that behind you and enjoy life a little bit?’

‘Why is everyone so determined to run my life for me?’ Gemma asked, reaching for a cup. It seemed there wasn’t a person in the district who didn’t think Marc Di Angelo was a perfect match for her. She’d had to field comments and ignore speculative looks all morning as each patient had wanted to know how she was getting on with the handsome city sergeant. She had enough trouble keeping him out of her head, without others reminding her constantly of how gorgeous he was and what an excellent husband he would make for her. She felt embarrassed that she was perceived as such a lonely heart. She hadn’t realised she had been showing any outward signs of the deep inner yearnings she felt at times.

‘Because we care about you, Gemma,’ Narelle said. ‘You do so much for this community but no one expects you to give up everything.

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