Their First Family Christmas

Her Christmas past becomes her Christmas present!

When Dr. Emma Matthews was entrusted with the guardianship of her best friend’s daughter, she promised that every Christmas would be special... But this Christmas Eve, Jack Reynolds—her old flame and Lily’s uncle—has walked back into their lives.

Both Emma and Jack still bear the scars of this time last year. But now Jack wants to start again—being there for his adorable niece, picking up where he and Emma left off, and giving them all the family Christmas they deserve!

Christmas Eve Magic

Reunited on the night before Christmas!

The hospitals are bustling, the snow is falling and Christmas is fast approaching. Dr Emma Matthews and Dr Katie McGann have just one more nightshift to go, and for both the magic of Christmas is all around, because happy-ever-afters are about to land under their Christmas trees.

Let authors Annie O’Neil and Alison Roberts sweep you away on an unforgettable festive ride you won’t forget in:

Their First Family Christmas

by Alison Roberts

and

The Nightshift Before Christmas

by Annie O’Neil

Available now!

Their First Family Christmas

Alison Roberts

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ALISON ROBERTS is a New Zealander, currently lucky enough to live near a beautiful beach in Auckland. She is also lucky enough to write for both the Mills & Boon Cherish and Medical Romance lines. A primary school teacher in a former life, she is also a qualified paramedic. She loves to travel and dance, drink champagne and spend time with her daughter and her friends.

Books by Alison Roberts

Mills & Boon Medical Romance

Wildfire Island Docs

The Nurse Who Stole His Heart

The Fling That Changed Everything

From Venice with Love

200 Harley Street: The Proud Italian A Little Christmas Magic Always the Midwife Daredevil, Doctor...Husband?

Mills & Boon Cherish

The Wedding Planner and the CEO

The Baby Who Saved Christmas The Forbidden Prince

Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

Praise for Alison Roberts

‘...the author gave me wonderful enjoyable moments of conflict and truth-revealing moments of joy and sorrow... I highly recommend this book for all lovers of romance with medical drama as a backdrop and second-chance love.’

—Contemporary Romance Reviews on NYC Angels: An Explosive Reunion

‘This is a deeply emotional book, dealing with difficult life and death issues and situations in the medical community. But it is also a powerful story of love, forgiveness and learning to be intimate... There’s a lot packed into this novella. I’m impressed.’

—Goodreads on 200 Harley Street: The Proud Italian

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Christmas Eve Magic

Title Page

About the Author

Praise

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

‘ALMOST HOME TIME, EMMA.’

‘I know.’ Emma Matthews beamed at the triage nurse behind the central desk of Glasgow’s Eastern Infirmary. ‘I’m so excited. What is it about Christmas Eve that can make you feel so much like a kid again?’

She hadn’t felt like this in so long. In all honesty, she hadn’t ever expected to be able to feel like this again, let alone today of all days. These moments of joy that had surprised her in the odd quiet moments of this long shift were something to be treasured—rare jewels in a landscape that, by rights, should have been the bleakest ever.

‘Presents,’ Caroline offered. ‘And being able to go out for drinks knowing that you’ve got a day off to recover. Are you coming to the pub with us after work?’

‘No.’ Emma shook her head. ‘I’ve got a date.’

‘No way...’ A registrar paused as he reached for a set of case notes on the desk. ‘Did I hear you say you had a date?’

‘With my daughter, Alistair,’ Emma said. ‘Don’t you go spreading ridiculous rumours.’

As if she had time to go on any other kind of date.

Or the inclination, for that matter.

‘It’s a date to decorate the tree and hang up our stockings,’ she added. ‘And put carrots out for the reindeer. And some of the shortbread Mum will have been baking has to go out for Santa. You know...the really exciting stuff...’

Alistair rolled his eyes, tucked the notes under his arm as he glanced up at the board and then headed for one of the curtained cubicles that lined the side walls of this area.

Caroline was far more impressed with the date Emma had lined up. ‘Aww...cute,’ she sighed. ‘Lily’s, what...eighteen months old now? Old enough to get excited.’

‘She calls it Kissmas.’ Emma smiled. ‘And yeah...it’s the cutest thing ever.’ A new family tradition had been born—kisses for Kissmas—and Lily was only too happy to oblige. She couldn’t wait to get home and have those small arms wound around her neck as Lily plastered her face with more of the festive affection.

She reached up to erase the name in the space for Curtain Seven. ‘Guess what three-year-old Colin had jammed up his nose?’