Summer of Love by Marie Ferrarella (easy to read books for adults list .TXT) 📕

he was still interested in taking on a partner. There was certainly sufficient work for a second doctor; in fact, he couldn’t imagine how Jim was going to cope on his own when he returned to work. However, he also knew how Emma would feel about the idea. He would be the last person she would want working here.

It was a dispiriting thought. Knowing how Emma felt about him hurt, even though he refused to examine the reasons why it was so painful. He knew that she would take care to ensure their paths never crossed in the future and it was hard to accept that once she left, he would never see her again. Even though he knew it was for the best, he was going to miss her.

Emma found it difficult to put what had happened between her and Daniel behind her. The fact that he never once alluded to it should have helped but it didn’t. She found it deeply hurtful that he’d been able to dismiss the fact that they had slept together.

In an effort to make the remainder of her stay in Avondale bearable, she made a point of keeping out of his way outside working hours. It wasn’t difficult. Daniel had taken to going for a walk after evening surgery finished, which meant he was rarely at home. She did wonder if he was avoiding her too but decided she was being fanciful. Daniel had demonstrated very clearly that he had very few feelings for her, so why would he feel that he needed to keep out of her way?

Another week passed and the surgery was busier than ever. There was a steady influx of tourists arriving in the area and they added to the number of people wanting to be seen. Emma couldn’t help wondering how her uncle was going to cope when he returned to work. Although he was making excellent progress, according to her aunt, running a busy practice with all that it entailed was very different from convalescing. She couldn’t bear to think that Uncle Jim might put his health at risk out of a sense of duty and decided to speak to Daniel about it. She managed to catch him on his way out to some house calls on Friday lunchtime.

‘Have you got a minute?’

‘Yes, of course. What’s up? Problems?’

He put his case on the desk and turned to face her. Emma felt her heart give a little jolt and swallowed. The weather had been exceptionally warm that day and he’d shed his jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves. The pale blue cotton set off his olive-toned skin and provided the perfect foil for his dark brown hair. He looked big and vital and so gloriously male that she was suddenly aware of her own femininity in a way she hadn’t been since the night they had made love.

The thought wasn’t the least bit welcome. She hurriedly drove it from her mind and concentrated on what she’d come to say. ‘I’ve been thinking about what’s going to happen when Uncle Jim comes back to work.’

‘You mean how he’s going to manage on his own?’ Daniel said immediately, and she looked at him in surprise.

‘Yes. How did you know that’s what I meant?’

‘Because I’ve been thinking about it too.’ He gave her a tight smile. ‘It doesn’t take a genius to see that he’s going to be pushed to keep up with the workload here. Quite frankly, it’s way too much for one person.’

‘It is. He needs someone to help him, ideally another partner, but I can’t see that happening, can you?’

‘It could take time to find the right person,’ Daniel said slowly. ‘And it isn’t something we can organise without your uncle’s consent.’

‘No, it isn’t. And if Uncle Jim is as choosy this time round as he was the last time he advertised, it could take for ever.’ She sighed. ‘It’s hard to know what to do, isn’t it?’

‘How about a locum?’ Daniel suggested.

‘Do you think we’d find anyone willing to work here, though?’

‘I can’t see why not. Oh, I know Avondale isn’t exactly a mecca for bright lights and a wild social life, but neither is it the back of beyond. And at this time of the year—when the weather is fine—it might be an attractive proposition for someone.’

‘It’s worth a try,’ she said slowly. ‘I don’t suppose you know any reliable agencies who provide locum cover? It’s not something I’ve had to deal with.’

‘I’ll get onto our practice manager and ask her for some phone numbers,’ Daniel assured her. ‘We often need locum cover so she keeps a list of agencies.’

‘That would be great. Thank you. Should we tell Uncle Jim what we’re planning when he phones?’

‘Oh, yes, I think so, don’t you?’ He shrugged. ‘If I were in his shoes, I’d expect to be kept up to date with what was going on here.’

‘I only hope he doesn’t object,’ Emma said anxiously. ‘You know how touchy he can be about his patients, wants to be sure they receive first-class care, et cetera.’

‘Leave it to me. I’m sure I can convince him it will be in everyone’s best interests if he has help, if only during the summer months.’

‘That’s probably the best way to sell the idea to him,’ Emma agreed. ‘Even Uncle Jim will have to admit that it’s hard to cope when there are so many visitors in the area.’

‘And once he’s admitted that, it should be easier to make him see that he needs help at other times of the year as well.’

‘Take it one step at a time, you mean?’ she said, frowning as she considered the idea and realised that it had a lot of merit.

‘Yes.’ Daniel sighed. ‘Trying to push your uncle into admitting that he isn’t up to running the practice on his own any longer will only make him dig in his heels, so we’ll take things slowly, let him discover for himself that he needs help.’

‘It makes sense.