He was looking at her intensely. His gaze zeroed in on her mouth.
Her pulse stuttered to a halt for a brief second, before resuming triple-time. Their time on the balcony seemed an age ago now, but when he looked at her like that it was as if it had been yesterday.
She took his empty beer bottle, pleased to be doing something, breaking the eye contact. She headed into the kitchen, desperate for space, and almost jumped when she realized heâd followed her.
Callum stood in the doorway, suddenly clear about why heâd come tonight. He wanted her. He had since the Ball, and he didnât want to pretend he didnât any more. âI want to make love to you.â
Amy Andrews has always loved writing, and still canât quite believe that she gets to do it for a living. Creating wonderful heroines and gorgeous heroes and telling their stories is an amazing way to pass the day. Sometimes they donât always act as sheâd like them toâbut then neither do her kids, so sheâs kind of used to it. Amy lives in the very beautiful Samford Valley, with her husband and aforementioned children, along with six brown chooks and two black dogs. She loves to hear from her readers. Drop her a line at www.amyandrews.com.au
Recent titles by the same author:
DR ROMANOâS CHRISTMAS BABY*
TOP-NOTCH SURGEON, PREGNANT NURSE* THE OUTBACK DOCTORâS SURPRISE BRIDE FOUND: A FATHER FOR HER CHILD THE ITALIAN COUNTâS BABY
*Brisbane General Hospital
Dear Reader
Welcome to the very last in my Brisbane General trilogy! Set in my home town of Brisbane, this trilogy explores the lives and loves of three nurses, the Winters sistersâBeth, Rilla and Hailey. And three very special doctorsâGabe, Luca and Callum.
Iâve always wanted to write a linked series, and was thrilled when my editor suggested it. I love catching up with previous characters and being familiar with a particular setting. And Brisbane General is a beauty. Being a nurse, I can tell you thereâs no place quite like a hospital to bring out real emotions and make people realise what is truly important in life.
In THE SINGLE DADâS NEW-YEAR BRIDE, Hailey and Callum throw their hearts into the ring. The new Head of Paediatrics, Callum Craig, is a widower with a six-year-old son, Tom, who is recovering from leukaemia. Hailey is damaged from a relationship with another man and his child. Neither wants to complicate their already complicated lives. But sometimes fate has other things in store, and life throws curve balls. And it all begins with a kiss at the hospitalâs New Yearâs Eve Ball!
I hope you enjoy their story, and their eventual realisation that life is for living and love canât be denied.
Iâve loved the whole experience of creating this hospital and these wonderful characters. I wish all my readers health, happiness, and above all love.
Amy Andrews
To Joyce Russell, who has read all my books.
Thanks, Joycie. Your support means so much.
CHAPTER ONE
HAILEY WINTERS had never felt so isolated in her life. Which was no mean feat considering that the ballroom held about four hundred people. Music from an eighties retro band blared out from the stage and party-goers danced amidst the strobe lighting while others milled around, conversing in small groups. Her table companion chatted away, unaware of her total distraction.
She sighed. Sheâd been keeping herself together so well these last few months. Moving on. But surrounded by couples while single on New Yearâs Eve was not her idea of fun. Her sisters, Beth and Rilla, had insisted she attend the hospital ball, insisted it was time she got out, insisted she stopped telling them she was fine and demonstrate it. So she had agreedâreluctantlyâbecause she wanted to prove to them she was fine and, of course, sheâd also never been able to say no to them.
And they meant well, but she just wasnât the party type. Any more. She watched Beth and her husband Gabe across the table. He was saying something to her, his mouth pressed against her ear, and her sister laughed, looking adoringly up at him. Gabeâs lips moved again and Beth opened her mouth, giving him, a faux scandalised look.
Oh, please, get a room!
She turned her attention to Rilla and Luca. Her Italian brother-in-law and her middle sister with matching olive complexions looked like two peas in a pod. She saw Rillaâs eyes widen as Lucaâs hand suspiciously disappeared from view and Hailey rolled her eyes. Make it two rooms. If anything, newly reconciled and expecting their first baby, they were even more lovey-dovey than Beth and Gabe.
New Yearâs Eve was for lovers and unfortunately she just didnât fit the bill. Not that she wanted to. Not that she was looking. Sheâd moved on. And being alone for the rest of her life was infinitely more appealing than having her heart stomped all over again. Yet, still, she feltâ¦restless tonight. Out of place.
Hailey realised Ronald Archer, an acquaintance of her fatherâs, had stopped droning on and was looking at her expectantly for a reply. She brought her wandering thoughts back into order and re-entered the conversation.