The Single Dad's Marriage Wish (Bachelor Dads) Read Free Page B

about work, or his son, or any of the other things that usually crowded his mind. Instead, and rather disconcertingly, it was a woman who filled his thoughts.
    A woman who wasn’t Emma.
    Charlotte Porter was the most contrary, confusing person he had ever met, dizzy and happy, yet shrewd and incredibly wise.
    Andy was right…
    As Helen placed a mug in front of him he snapped to attention, speaking with the cardiologist, then scribbling furiously on the page in front of him, evenchatting as Helen bemoaned the bed state and the new computer system. But no matter how he quashed it, no matter how much he attempted to ignore the thought, like a blow—fly it buzzed around him until he acknowledged it and even elaborated…
    Charlotte Porter was seriously beautiful.
    ‘Hey!’ Many cups of tea and a whole lot of work later, Hamish looked up as his sister knocked and came into his office. ‘You’re looking very smart.’
    ‘Thanks.’
    ‘No Bailey?’ Hamish frowned, peering behind her as if he expected his son to come running towards him, his frown deepening as he realised his sister’s usual sunny smile was markedly absent. ‘Is he—?’
    ‘Bailey’s fine,’ Belinda quickly reassured him. ‘He’s still in crèche—I just wanted to have a quick chat before I head home and think about dinner.’
    ‘No wonder I’m hungry,’ Hamish said, glancing up at the clock and grimacing. ‘I haven’t even had lunch. Bel, can this wait? You can imagine how behind I am—I’ve been off for two weeks—’
    ‘It can’t wait.’ Taking a seat at his desk, she sat silent for the longest time, opening her mouth a couple of times to speak then stopping—almost waiting perhaps for Hamish to jump in, to smooth the way, to make this easier.
    Only he didn’t want to.
    It wasn’t the mountain of paperwork that had piled up during his absence that made him evasive to her request for a chat—it was the chat itself. Hamish hadknown this conversation was coming—for the past few days, weeks even, deep down he’d know that this moment would arrive and, like it or not, he had to face it. Staring over at his sister, seeing her anguished expression, his features softened—she’d done so, so much for him this past eighteen months, the very least he could do was help her a little bit here.
    Even if he didn’t want to.
    ‘Am I right in assuming that the suit you’re wearing isn’t just because you fancied a change from jeans?’
    Biting down on her lip, Belinda nodded.
    ‘And would I be right again if I said that that folder on your lap contained a résumé and some references?’
    Staring at his sister, so smart, so efficient-looking, her face made up, her hair beautifully styled, she looked a world away from the jeans-clad and T-shirted housewife and mum he’d been so reliant on recently.
    ‘You’re going back to work?’
    ‘I didn’t want to say anything till I was sure. I know I should have…’
    ‘You don’t have to run your career by me, Belinda—you’re a doctor just as much as I am. Of course, once Alicia started back at school you’d be looking to go back.’
    ‘Only part time,’ Belinda said quickly. ‘I’ll be working in Outpatients mainly and doing a few A and E day shifts, a sort of fill-in really…I’ll still be able to help loads with Bailey, just…’
    ‘Not as much,’ Hamish finished for her. ‘It’s fine—I’ll manage.’
    ‘How?’ Belinda’s question mirrored exactly whatHamish was thinking—now was not the time to tell her that Elsie, his faithful but completely past it, live-in housekeeper, thanks to Hamish’s pull with the theatre waiting lists, had had her knee construction brought forward to this week. But Belinda, as usual, was two steps ahead of him.
    ‘Elsie’s having her knee operation in a couple of days,’ Belinda said helplessly. ‘And you’re always being called in to work at night…’
    ‘I’ll sort something out.’
    ‘They want me to start immediately.