Praise for Sue MacKay
‘A deeply emotional, heart-rending story that will make you smile and make you cry. I truly recommend it—and don’t miss the second book: the story about Max.’
—HarlequinJunkie on
The Gift of a Child
‘What a great book. I loved it. I did not want it to end. This is one book not to miss.’
—GoodReads on
The Gift of a Child
Ben’s head was inches from hers.
His startling eyes watched her with an intensity that reached deep inside her, and the mouth that could do the most amazing things on her skin looked soft after sleep. His arm was still on her waist, only now she was being pulled closer to his body.
‘I’ve missed you, Tori. I’ve missed us.’
‘We were great together.’ What was she talking about? Their lovemaking? Or everything? Their life, their love—everything.
‘Did we give up too easily?’ he whispered, just before his lips brushed her forehead, then trailed down her cheek to her mouth.
‘Ben …’ she cried softly against his mouth, and her lips opened, pressed against his. Ben. Benji. Her heart.
Their mouths became one, moulded together.
I remember this.
Ben pulled her closer still, so there was only the bedcover between them. All the while they kissed. Her eyes were wide open, watching him, drinking in every line, each eyebrow hair, the eyes that were watching her back. Benji.
This was us.
Kissing Benji had always been her favourite way to start the day. His passion and love had set her up and made her feel good.
As she was beginning to feel now.
With a background of working in medical laboratories, and a love of the romance genre, it is no surprise that SUE MACKAY writes Mills & Boon>® Medical Romance™ stories. An avid reader all her life, she wrote her first story at age eight—about a prince, of course. She lives with her own hero in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, where she indulges her passions for the outdoors, the sea and cycling.
Since I was tiny I’ve dreamed of going to France, after seeing photos of my dad in Paris. I learned French at school, and never stopped dreaming of making it there. But life kept me busy with other things and it wasn’t until 2013 that I got there. What a wonderful trip! I couldn’t get enough of Paris or Nice—the locations I’ve used in this story. And what really topped off my dream trip was finding my books on the shelves in bookshops in Gare du Nord in Paris and the main railway station in Tours.
Ben and Tori once shared a love that never really finished. Life interrupted and gave them too many problems to cope with, breaking their marriage. Now, in France for a cardiology conference, they’re both getting their second chance. But with Tori working in Auckland and Ben in London it’s not going to be easy for them, so they have to make the most of the few days they have together.
I hope you enjoy their journey as they thrash out the problems that divided them seven years earlier. I’d love to hear what you think. Email me at [email protected], or drop by at suemackay.co.nz
Cheers!
Sue
This book is dedicated to three very special people—
my man, Lindsay, and our closest friends, Jill and Kevin Turner, who joined us in Paris to celebrate my big birthday in 2013. Thanks to all of you for making the occasion something to be treasured.
TORI WELLS STOOD just inside the entrance to the massive conference room in Hôtel de Nice and swallowed hard, digging deep for composure as she scanned the sea of faces and listened to the many languages swirling back and forth. It wouldn’t do her reputation any good to go around grinning like a clown.
The excitement that had been gripping her since her plane had taken off from Auckland International two days ago threatened to spill over and have her dancing on the spot in her new and very gorgeous avocado-green high heels. French, of course. As for the price tag, she could’ve fed a very small nation but for once didn’t feel guilty at all about indulging her passion. Not even the littlest bit.
Accepting the invitation to speak in front of all these people had been a no-brainer. Even though she doubted that world-famous experts would be interested in what a cardiologist from New Zealand had to say about heart problems in children who’d suffered from rheumatic fever, she hadn’t been able to say no to the director of the Cardiac Forum. She’d have come if Monsieur Leclare had asked her to talk about racing snails in the sand, the opportunity to visit France being too awesome to miss. He could’ve saved many euros if only he’d known she’d have slept in a tent on the beach if necessary, but he’d promised, and delivered, a suite in a beautiful hotel overlooking the stunning Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea. Her excitement intensified, gripping her.