The Doctor's Society Sweetheart Read Free Page B

afternoon, Dart was more than grateful to have other people around. Emerson-Rose Jofille and her crew had already started filming, taking some footage of Hunklu in the medical hut, and were planning to cause further disruption to his day by insisting on filming the afternoon clinic, which was due to start in less than an hour.
    As the medical team alighted from the cargo trucks, which were their main form of transport, Emerson’s crew were there to make a nuisance of themselves, filming the arrival of the trucks and the way they lugged and unloaded the supplies back to the medical and storage huts.
    ‘Busy morning?’ Gloria, one of the PMA nurses, asked as she nodded to where Emerson and her crew were talking.
    ‘The clinic was hectic but I coped.’
    Gloria gave him a confused look for a moment then laughed. ‘Of course you coped. You’re Dartagnan Freeman. Man who can cope with anything. Silly, I was talking about the big celebrity who’s come here to film us and make us all into superstars. You simply must introduce us.’ The nurse pushed her hair back from her face and struck a pose. ‘How do I look?’
    ‘Sensational,’ Rick, Gloria’s husband, remarked as he walked up to where she and Dart were standing. ‘So that’sher, eh?’ Rick took a good look. ‘Woo-eee, that woman is gorgeous. The TV screen does not do her justice.’
    Dart looked over to where Emerson was standing, the sunlight shining down on her as though she’d been perfectly lit by a Hollywood photographer. Although she wore a hat, the sunlight still picked up the dazzling colours of her long plaited hair, her skin seemed to shimmer like bronze and her eyes, not hidden beneath sunglasses, were bright as she laughed at something her cameraman had said.
    The tinkling sound floated through the air and settled over him like a heartfelt sigh, so warm and comforting. The woman was captivating, more so than he’d expected, and realising that only made the need to keep his distance stronger. Dart immediately shook his head, clearing away the fuzziness.
    ‘She’s way prettier in person, don’t you think, Dart?’ Rick continued, still staring in Emerson’s direction.
    ‘Hey!’ Gloria punched her husband’s arm in mock indignation.
    ‘You’re even more gorgeous,’ Rick quickly amended. ‘And you’re the woman who stole my heart. It’s not for sale.’ Rick kissed his wife and Dart, for one split second, envied them their closeness. He’d felt closeness like that before, before his world had been torn apart. He straightened his shoulders and focused his thoughts. Now was not the time to be dwelling on the past.
    ‘As you’re both so eager to have Ms Jofille make you into superstars, feel free to have her follow you around during afternoon clinic. It’ll be one way to keep her and her crew out of my hair.’
    Rick raised an eyebrow at his friend. ‘You really don’t want them here? They’re doing good work, taking news of the situation here back to Australia.’
    ‘Maybe.’ Dart’s brow puckered in a frown. TV crews had come to Tarparnii before, full of talk about the differencetheir footage would make, but few had succeeded to actually deliver on those promises. ‘So long as they don’t get underfoot.’ Which, in his opinion, Emerson already had. He still couldn’t believe the way she’d ordered him about, or the way he’d simply done her bidding. His frown was still in place as he watched Emerson walk towards them, charmingly introducing herself to Gloria and Rick.
    ‘Welcome to the village. We’re so happy to have you here,’ Gloria gushed. ‘And can I just say that you’re so much prettier in person.’
    ‘ Much prettier,’ Rick agreed with his wife.
    ‘Why thank you. That’s so sweet.’ Emerson smiled at them both then turned to glance at Dart. Her blue eyes were bright and welcoming, such a perfect blue in colour, like the sky on a cloudless day. He could understand why so many people seemed hypnotised by