Their precious Christmas surprise...
Midwife Ella OâBrien loves babies, but she believes she canât have her own. Until at a charity ball the chemistry between her and dashing obstetrician Oliver Darrington explodes into a night of passion that proves her wrong!
Aristocratic Oliver has been here before, but the baby wasnât his! Now heâs guarding his emotionsâeven from lovely, innocent Ella. Can the baby they both want so much help them to trust in their love this Christmas...and become the family they really long for?
Dear Reader,
This book is all about a Christmas miracle.
Ella struggled against the odds to become a midwife, and then discovered that it was almost impossible for her to have a baby. Oliver was badly hurt by a previous partner who took away something precious. Neither of them is prepared to have a serious relationship, and they bury themselves in work, suppressing how they really feel about each other.
But one unexpected night leads to an even more unexpected consequence.
And they discover that miracles really do happen.
I hope you enjoy their journey!
With love,
Kate Hardy
KATE HARDY has always loved books, and could read before she went to school. She discovered Mills & Boon books when she was twelve and decided this was what she wanted to do. When she isnât writing Kate enjoys reading, cinema, ballroom dancing and the gym. You can contact her via her website: katehardy.com.
Books by Kate Hardy
Mills & Boon Medical Romance
Her Real Family Christmas
200 Harley Street: The Soldier Prince It Started with No Strings... A Baby to Heal Their Hearts A Promise...to a Proposal? Her Playboyâs Proposal Capturing the Single Dadâs Heart
Mills & Boon Cherish
Falling for Mr December
Billionaire, Boss...Bridegroom? Holiday with the Best Man
Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.
PROLOGUE
Halloweâen
ALMOST AS IF someone had called his name, Oliver Darrington found himself turning round and looking at the doorway.
Ella OâBrien, one of the junior midwives from his department, was standing there. Despite the fact that she was wearing a mask that covered half her faceâbecause tonight was the annual Halloweâen Masquerade Ball, the glitziest fundraiser in the Royal Cheltenham Hospitalâs social calendarâhe recognised her instantly.
Desire shimmered at the bottom of his spine and he dragged in a breath. He really needed to get a grip. Ella was his colleague. His friend. Heâd been attracted to her since the very first moment sheâd walked into Teddyâs, the centre for birth and babies at the Royal Cheltenham Hospital. Her striking red hair, worn tied back in a scrunchie, had snagged his attention. Then heâd noticed her clear green eyes and the soft curve of her mouth. Heâd wanted her immediately, though heâd held himself back. Since the fallout from dating Justine, Oliver didnât do serious relationships; plus he hadnât wanted to risk making things awkward on the ward between them, so heâd managed to keep things strictly professional between himself and Ella.
Though several times when theyâd worked together, his hand had brushed against hers and it had felt as if heâd been galvanised. And sometimes heâd caught her eye and wondered, did she ever feel that same secret pull?
Though heâd dismissed it: Ella OâBrien was one of the most grounded and independent women heâd ever met. He knew she was dedicated to her career and she wasnât the type to let herself be distracted by a flingâwhich was all he could offer. Besides, over the last eighteen months, heâd discovered that he liked Ella: she was easy to work with, being both sharply intelligent and yet able to empathise with the mums on the unit. He didnât want to risk spoiling that.
But tonight...
Tonight was the first time heâd ever seen her all dressed up, and it threw him. At work, Ella wore uniform or scrubs, and on team nights out sheâd always dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt. Oliver couldnât quite square the no-nonsense midwife he was used to with the woman in the navy satin prom dress. Her dress had a sweetheart neckline and was drawn in sharply at the waist to highlight her curves before flaring out again to the knee, and she was wearing high heels which made her legs look incredibly long. She looked utterly gorgeous. Right at that moment, Oliver really wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her until they were both dizzy.
âStop being so shallow, Darrington,â he chided himself.
And then he realised that Ella had hesitated in the doorway; she was clearly scanning the room, trying to work out where the rest of the team was. For just a moment, she looked vulnerableâwhich was odd for someone who was always so confident and cheerful at work. And that look of uncertainty made him go straight to her rescue.