The Consultant's Accidental Bride

Blood pressure is high and pulses are racing in these fast-paced, dramatic stories from Mills & Boon® Medical Romance™.

They’ll move a mountain to save a life in an emergency, be they E.R. doctors, nurses or paramedics. There are lots of critical engagements amongst the high tensions and emotional passions in these exciting stories of lives and loves at risk!

Dear Reader,

I love a good wedding—romance in the air, dressed in your best and looking as close to a million dollars as you’re ever likely to get. The perfect place to meet the man of you dreams, really.

But what happens when the shine wears off along with the lip gloss? What happens when one night of heavy flirting ties you to someone in ways you could never have anticipated? How do you cope when the man of your dreams suddenly becomes your landlord and boss to boot?

That was the setting I created for my gorgeous heroine Leah and my sexy hero Cole. Between them they created a lot of laughs and a lot of tears, and hopefully a love story you’ll enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!

Happy reading,

Carol Marinelli

The Consultant’s Accidental Bride

Carol Marinelli

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CONTENTS

Cover

Dear Reader

Title Page

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

EPILOGUE

Copyright

PROLOGUE

‘I HAVE to get this flight!’ Struggling to keep the note of desperation out of her voice, Leah took a deep breath, knowing that losing her temper wasn’t going to get her anywhere. ‘I know how stupid I must look—I mean I’ve seen those airline shows, where people argue at the desk, when everyone knows that they haven’t got a leg to stand on—but it really is imperative that I get that flight.’

‘Then you should have confirmed your seat, Miss Jacobs,’ came the unimpressed response.

‘It’s Leah,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘I thought we’d at least be on first-name terms by now, Glynn.’

Glynn flashed her a very false smile. ‘Then you should have confirmed, Leah.’

It was like a broken record. They’d been arguing the point for half an hour now. Leah could see on the overhead screen that the final calls were being made and though she knew that her tears were wasted here, that feminine wiles weren’t going to win over this guy in particular, the sparkle of tears in her eyes as she again pleaded her case were far from staged.

‘As I’ve said, economy’s full…’

‘Then upgrade me?’ she pleaded hopefully.

‘I’m sorry I just don’t have that kind of authority. Anyway, Business Class is practically full with a load of doctors returning to Melbourne from a medical conference we’ve had here in Cairns.’

‘So there are some seats?’ The hope that flared in her voice died even before she’d completed her sentence as Glynn’s eyes dragged over her, and Leah could feel him snootily taking in the scraggy blonde curls tied back in a scrunchy, the faded denim shorts and scanty T-shirt that had definitely seen better days, all topped off with a rather sad-looking backpack. No doubt, Leah thought, cringing with mortification under his scrutiny, he was probably realising why he’d chosen to pursue his own type in the first place.

‘My best friend gets married tomorrow,’ Leah begged. ‘I’m the bridesmaid.’

‘So you said,’ Glynn replied tightly. ‘And, as I’ve pointed out, with your type of ticket, seventy-two hours’ confirmation prior to flying is obligatory.’ His botoxed forehead almost creased in exasperation as Leah attempted to break in, but Glynn got there first. ‘I know you’re flying to the UK on Sunday,’ he said through gritted teeth, holding up a very manicured hand to silence her as he did so. ‘And I know that there isn’t anywhere you can possibly stay tonight, given that all your friends are either back in England or have moved on to Brisbane. I know that because you’ve already told me—several times,’ he added. ‘But, as I’ve explained, the best I can offer is a flight to Melbourne at ten a.m. tomorrow. Now, if you’ll take a seat I’ll see if I can arrange some meal vouchers for you.’

‘I don’t want—’

‘Sorry I didn’t confirm.’ A voice that didn’t sound remotely sorry came rather loudly from the next checkin desk and both Leah and Glynn turned, a temporary standoff ensuing as for a moment or two their attention was diverted as they gaped in admiration at the gentleman at the next desk.

Drop-dead gorgeous just about summed him up. Very black hair, coiled over a white shirt, and heavily lidded navy eyes flashed a winning smile as he rummaged through his suit pocket for his ticket. ‘I thought the hotel had taken care of all that.’

‘No problem, Dr Richardson,’ the pretty ground staff assistant gushed. ‘They’re boarding now at Gate Four. I’ll just ring through and let them know that you’re on your way.’

At least Glynn had the grace to blush.

‘Look.’ Glynn’s smile even bordered on sympathetic as he turned his attention back to Leah. ‘Given that it was a genuine misunderstanding, I’ll see if the airline can arrange some accommodation. I can’t make any promises, I’ll have to talk to my supervisor first. I’m sorry, Leah, it’s the best I can do.’

His hand was outstretched, as it had been for the best part of the entire conversation, holding out her tickets in the hope she would just give in and take them, and this time she did.

It was pointless getting angry with Glynn, Leah reasoned, he was just doing his job.

Sitting on one of the endless empty seats, Leah cast her eyes around the deserted airport. She’d always assumed that airports were constantly buzzing, a perpetual flow of people forever milling through. After all, it had been packed when she’d first arrived, just like a mini-Heathrow really with monitors reeling off arrivals and departures and frazzled parents attempting to control even more frazzled toddlers. But, unlike the twenty-four seven circus of Heathrow, the day was obviously over here. The car hire place had pulled down its shutters, the café was in darkness. Only the piped music broke the silence, and Leah stared blankly at a massive array of greenery lining the windows, which was so lush it was hard to tell where the indoor plants ended and the outside began. A couple of cleaners were half-heartedly running their dust mops along the highly polished floors and for a tiny moment it reminded Leah of her own emergency room back in England at four a.m. But there was no nostalgia as her mind wandered back to her workplace, no fond memories trickling or eagerness to get back to where she belonged. Instead, a bubble of panic welled inside…

Oh, it was all very well to blame Glynn, all very well to point the finger and insist she truly hadn’t known it was necessary to confirm her flight, but what would be the point?

Burying her head in her hands, Leah let out a low moan. Never in a million years would she deliberately have hurt Kathy. Never in a million years would she have wanted to miss her best friend’s wedding, but when they had arranged it, when Kathy had first told her of her plans, a year had seemed such a long way off.

The wedding of the century, Kathy marrying her delicious Australian and heading back to London for a prolonged honeymoon, with Leah just a day behind.

The perfect end to the perfect year.

And what a year, Leah thought with a fond smile. She’d climbed Ayer’s Rock, snorkelled her way along the Barrier Reef, swum with dolphins and packed so many memories into twelve months it was almost impossible to fathom. But all good things must come to an end, Leah thought sadly. This time next week she’d be back in Emergency, this time next week she’d be pulling on her uniform and picking up where she’d left off, and the thought truly terrified her.

She didn’t want to go back.

Maybe missing the flight had been some sort of unintentional Freudian slip, maybe it hadn’t been entirely an accident.

‘Miss Jacobs?’

Looking up, Leah hastily wiped a stray tear, determined to apologise for giving Glynn such a hard time. A hotel and free meal sounded just about the order of the day.

‘I’ve spoken to my supervisor and, given the fact you’ve only got hand luggage…’ Holding out his hand, he gave her what looked suspiciously like a boarding card, imparting his first genuine smile as Leah stared at him blankly ‘If you run you should just make it. The plane’s departing from Gate Four.’

‘I was just getting used to the idea that I’d missed it,’ Leah admitted. ‘Would it be terribly bad if I told you I’d changed my mind?’

Glynn laughed, actually laughed. ‘I knew there was a reason I swore off women.’ This time his smile really was sympathetic. ‘Having second thoughts about going home, huh?’

Leah nodded. ‘And third and fourth.’

‘Would it help if I told you you’re flying business class?’

Blinking at the boarding card, a smile inched over her face.

‘And that that gorgeous specimen of a man that checked in a few minutes ago will be sitting in the next seat?’

‘Possibly.’ Leah grinned, picking up her backpack and slinging it over her shoulders, and even though it was probably way down on Glynn’s list of must haves he got it anyway.

Leaning over, she kissed his smooth tanned cheek.

‘Thanks, Glynn.’

‘Send me a postcard!’

Running along the empty corridor, dodging the occasional buggy loaded with domestics, she just made it. Pushing her boarding card through the machine, Leah ran down the carpeted aisle, ignoring the pursed lips of the cabin crew as she handed over her card.

‘To the left, third row from the front.’

Finally!

Finally she’d see what went on behind those smart navy curtains that were pulled as the plane taxied along the runway, finally she’d find out if the chairs really did go all the way back and if the drinks really were free!

Biting on her lip as an air steward relieved her of her backpack, Leah took a deep breath and slipped into her seat.

OK, it was only the first leg of the journey, but finally she was on her way home.

CHAPTER ONE

‘YOU made it, then?’

Slipping into her seat, Leah let out a long, exaggerated sigh before turning to her travelling companion. Glynn hadn’t been exaggerating. He really was heavenly. Superbly cut straight black hair, smoothed back from his tanned face, those stunning navy eyes, smiling as he looked over. To say he was well groomed would be an overwhelming understatement. He’d discarded his jacket, but his cotton shirt was still crisp, and his tie, though loosened, certainly hadn’t been thrown on and Leah felt like a charity advertisement in comparison.

‘I thought I’d missed it,’ Leah admitted. ‘I really thought the plane was leaving without me. I can’t believe they actually let me on.’

‘It must be because you travel light.’

Leah laughed. ‘That’s a first! Normally I need a tow truck for my backpack, but I sent a massive parcel home by sea mail yesterday, otherwise I’d undoubtedly have been on the next flight and paying excess baggage to boot.’

‘Cole Richardson.’ Even his hand was immaculate, Leah thought, beautifully manicured, the glint of a heavy gold watch under a crisp white cuff. But extremely disappointingly, Leah realised as she held out her rather scrawny nail-bitten offering, was the heavy gold band on his ring finger.

‘Leah Jacobs.’ She smiled, mentally scolding herself. As if a guy as effortlessly divine as Cole wouldn’t be taken. Not that she was on the lookout for romance, it was just the mental checklist every half-respectable single girl did when they met a halfway decent man for the first time. Despite her internal sigh, the fact he was wearing a wedding ring actually helped. There was nothing worse than, a few hours in, finding out that the man you’d actually started to like had a wife and nine children at home or even an LSG, as Kathy and she had abbreviated longstanding girlfriend to.

Or in Glynn’s case, a significant other.

No, far better to know from the outset that this was one tree it definitely wasn’t worth barking up.

‘From your accent, I take it you’re from England.’ When she nodded he carried on, ‘So how long have you been in Australia?’

‘A year,’ Leah answered. ‘I’m heading back on Sunday. How about you? Are you on your way home?’

Cole nodded. ‘I’ve been at a medical conference in Cairns.’

‘Ah, yes.’ Leah grinned. ‘Dr Richardson. And from what I remember, you didn’t confirm your flight either.’

She was sure they would have carried on talking but the plane, which had been gently taxiing along the runway, suddenly sprang into life, the lights dimming as the engines started to roar.

‘I hate this bit,’ Leah admitted. ‘I mean, I know it’s the safest form of transport, I know I’ve got more chance of being killed crossing the road and all that.’ She was gabbling now, words spilling out of her mouth as she tried not to think about what was going on. ‘I’m fine once it’s up, it’s just the take-off and landing that sends me into a spin.’

He nodded, turning those lovely eyes to hers, and she waited for a few soothing words to calm her, some tranquil platitude about how he flew all the time, how there was nothing to it, that if the stewards weren’t worried then neither was he…

‘Take-offs and landings are the most dangerous part.’

She blinked back at him, momentarily taken aback by the callous insensitivity of his statement.

‘It’s the truth.’ Cole shrugged, his eyes idly drifting to the window as Leah shrank back in her seat, screwing her eyes closed as the plane lifted into the late afternoon sky.

‘Remind me not to get sick when you’re around,’ Leah muttered, but he must have had ears on elastic because he turned sharply.

‘Excuse me?’

‘We’ll, you’re not exactly sensitive. I bet you’re one of those doctors who reel off every last possible complication before you allow a patient to sign a consent form. I bet you list off all the possible side effects before you hand over a script and are only too happy to remind people about the errors of their ways.’

‘It’s my job.’ Cole shrugged again, then gave a rather tight smile. ‘Why shouldn’t people be informed? Mind you, being an emergency consultant, most of the damage has usually been inflicted long before a patient comes into my care. Still, there’s normally a chance for a bit of patient education.’

Suddenly the wedding ring didn’t matter a jot. Divine he may be to look at, but his wife was welcome to him, the poor woman!

‘We’re up.’ Those navy eyes were smiling now.

‘Oh.’

She’d been so angry she’d forgotten to be frightened, and as the steward wheeled past with the bar Leah thought she’d died and gone to heaven when she was handed a glass with ice and lemon, let alone the hefty gin and tonic that followed a few seconds later. ‘Beats Economy.’ Leah grinned, taking a sip. ‘You have to buzz three times for a glass of water.’

‘Cheers.’ He lifted up his whisky and soda and after his little lecture, Leah was tempted to play him at his own game, to remind him about the perils of drinking, how that one tiny whisky was killing off brain cells as they spoke, but not sure he’d understand her rather offbeat humour, instead she raised her glass and touched it to his.

‘So what do you do?’ Cole asked. ‘It’s only fair you tell me, given I’ve already told you.’

‘I, well, I…’ Leah started, toying with whether or not to tell him. The fact he was an emergency consultant and she was an emergency nurse could only lead to one thing—four hours spent discussing work, which was the very thing she was hoping to forget right now. ‘A bit of this and a bit of that,’ she finished lamely, as Cole looked at her quizzically. ‘I’ve been doing some waitressing, a bit of bar work here and there—enough to save a bit and move on.’ She watched a slight frown begin on his forehead and it irritated the hell out of her. Was he such a snob he didn’t think she merited a seat next to him? ‘I’ve had a ball in Australia, white-water rafting, bungyjumping. There wasn’t exactly time to hold down a responsible job as well.’

‘I’ve just been to a conference,’ Cole responded, and his smile was most definitely derisive. ‘You see, I do hold down a responsible job. So responsible, in fact, that we spent the best part of a week discussing your type and the best way to deal with them.’

‘My type.’ Leah’s jaw clanged downwards. Just who did this man think he was? ‘And what’s my type exactly, Dr Richardson? Are you going to complain to the airline that you were forced to sit next to a lowly waitress and a backpacker to boot?’

‘I don’t give a damn what sort of work you do,’ Cole responded crisply. ‘I was talking about tourists that come here and decided to throw all caution to the wind and engage in the types of activity that no normal person would even consider. The type of person that thinks that just because they’re on holiday no harm will come to them.’

‘And no harm did come to me,’ Leah pointed out, taking a grateful sip of her gin as she recalled her one and only bungy-jump and the utter fear that had flooded her as she’d peered over the edge of the raised platform into the tiny river below, remembering how her legs had shaken convulsively as they’d tied the elastic rope around them, how she’d sworn if she only lived to tell the tale she’d never do something so stupid again.

‘Obviously.’ He gave an on-off smile. ‘But if it had, no doubt it would have been my type left to pick up and somehow try to put back together the pieces.’

A smart reply was on her lips, a really crushing one, just there for the taking, but even as she thought it, her fury died.

Cole Richardson had a point and, as uninvited as his opinion was, it was a valid one.

It was all very well for her alter ego to sit here and argue the merits of scaling walls and jumping off manmade platforms in an eternal search for adrenaline but the real Leah Jacobs was every bit as jaded with the world as the doom-and-gloom merchant sitting beside her.

Every bit as tired of picking up the pieces of other people’s lives.

Leah Jacobs, emergency nurse and Miss Responsible to boot, had burnt out every last piece of emotional reserve after four years in charge of a busy emergency department, had frazzled away every last piece of the cast-iron shield that got emergency nurses through.

This year hadn’t just been a long dreamed-of holiday.

This year had been her saviour.

The rather strained silence that followed was thankfully broken by arrival again of the steward. ‘Something to make your flight a bit more comfortable.’

Leah fell on the little black bag like a child at Christmas. Pulling open the Cellophane in her haste to get to the goodies within, attempts at sophistication dissolved completely as she moaned in pleasure at the little bottles and jars that fell into her lap. ‘Lip balm, moisturiser—oh, and, look, a proper toothbrush, not one of those collapsible ones. Aren’t you going to open yours?’ she asked as Cole tucked his into the seat pouch.

‘I’ve already brushed my teeth, and as for lip balm…’ He gave a vague shrug, then pressed his call bell. Before the light had barely gone on the attentive steward was back. ‘Could I have my eye mask, please?’

‘Certainly, Doctor, but, we’re actually just about to serve dinner.’

Cole shook his head. ‘I’ll have the eye mask now, please.’ And before she even got the words out Cole answered the steward’s question. ‘I don’t want to be woken for meals, thanks.’

And without so much as a goodnight he pushed a button, the chair tilting backwards as he slipped on his mask, not even pulling over himself the fluffy little blanket the steward had returned with, as he effectively dismissed her.

Well, good riddance, Leah thought, casting a ravenous eye over the menu, scarcely able to believe her good luck at being upgraded, though knowing the next leg of her journey home was going to be sheer misery after sampling the delights behind the navy curtain. Still, as annoying as he was, as pompous and opinionated as he had been, she sort of missed Cole as he slept, would have loved to have had someone to sing the praises to about the delicious Australian lamb that was served, the tiny new potatoes and the heavenly chocolate mousse that followed.

Would love to have had someone to sob into her napkin with during the movie as she snuggled into her blanket, his gentle snore not even annoying. Stealing a look, she actually felt sorry for him.

Imagine being so blasé, so used to all this, it didn’t even merit a glance. What was the point in flying Business Class if you didn’t even stay awake for it?

‘We’re here.’

Opening her eyes, Leah attempted to orientate herself, grumbling at the intrusion, snuggling deeper into her warm blanket. If she could have found a snooze button, she’d have hit it. Still, staring into the dark eyes of Cole wasn’t exactly a rude awakening and she smiled sleepily back at him.

‘I fell asleep.’

‘You certainly did,’ Cole agreed.

‘Did I snore?’ Leah checked, and as per usual he didn’t spare her feelings.

‘Like a train.’

‘Welcome to Melbourne,’ the captain broke in, and a long spiel followed about car hire and hotels as Leah blinked a few times, stretching like a cat.

‘Did I miss anything?’ Cole frowned at her question. ‘I mean, did I miss any meals or—?’

‘Just coffee and chocolates.’ Seeing her face slip, obviously enjoying her torture, Cole elaborated in detail as the plane taxied to its designated landing bay. ‘It wasn’t much, just a little mini-box, dark, white and milk chocolate, you know the type.’

‘No, I don’t,’ Leah muttered. ‘And given this is my one and only foray into Business Class, I doubt I ever will.’

‘Here.’ Handing her a box, a smile crept over his impassive face as Leah gave a whoop of joy. ‘I told the steward I’d give it to you when you woke up. I had a feeling you wouldn’t want to miss out.’

The cabin crew were setting up for disembarking now, the seat-belt sign pinging as weary passengers stood up, reaching overhead and pulling out their luggage. As Cole jumped up, Leah suddenly didn’t want the journey to end. There was something about him that enthralled her, something behind that rather arrogant exterior she wanted to explore.

‘Have a safe trip back to England.’ His hand was out again, the gold band flashing its warning light, and Leah purposefully switched off her emotions.

‘Thanks.’ Shaking his hand, she gave him a smile. ‘Sorry about the snoring.’

Have a nice life, she wanted to add as Dr Drop-Dead Gorgeous made his way down the aisle and out of her life, leaving her curiously deflated. Catching sight of his unopened goody bag still sitting in the pouch in front of his seat Leah simply couldn’t help herself. The cleaners would only chuck it out, she assured herself as she reached forward and picked it up. It seemed such a shame to waste it.

‘Forgot my mobile.’

Jumping as if she’d been scalded, Leah thought she’d die of shame as Cole caught her red-handed. ‘Here, I was just picking these up for you. I thought I might see you at customs…’

‘It’s an internal flight,’ Cole pointed out, and she was positive, despite his bland expression, that he was laughing at her. ‘Help yourself.’