Free Return of Dr Maguire (Mills & Boon Medical) by Judy Campbell Page A

well, you seem to be irretrievably bound up with the Maguire family, always working with them. Couldn’t you get someone else...someone who has nothing to do with them?’
    Christa looked taken aback. ‘But surely you liked Isobel, Mum?’
    Pat’s lips compressed slightly and she said briefly, ‘She offered you a job near me when I was very ill, and I was grateful for that—although perhaps I didn’t find her as...congenial as you did.’
    ‘I never knew you thought that,’ said Christa in some surprise.
    Pat picked up the mugs and stacked them in the dishwasher, then shrugged. ‘It’s of no consequence—one can’t like everybody,’ she said offhandedly. ‘Tell me, is Lachlan’s family going to join him soon?’
    ‘Oh, he’s no wife or children...and he can start straight away, thank goodness. Frankly, I’m finding it pretty hard going at the moment and I can’t wait for him to start properly next Monday.’
    Pat turned round, leaning against the machine, her eyes studying Christa intently. ‘You will be careful, won’t you, darling, working closely with another single man...?’
    Christa laughed. ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, Mum. Just because I fell for that rat Colin when he was working at the practice, it doesn’t mean that every single man I work with is going to break my heart! I’ll be extremely careful who I fall for another time. I’ve learned my lesson. He may be reasonably good looking and have a bit of charm, but it’s mixed with a short fuse. No—it’ll be strictly business from now on, I can assure you.’
    She met her mother’s searching look almost defiantly, because she meant every word, thought Christa fiercely. She’d made it clear to Lachlan the other day when the car had broken down that there was no way she would allow relationships to get in the way of work. Yes, she admitted he was one sexy guy and that kiss had set every erogenous zone in her body buzzing and kept coming back to haunt her. But liaisons of any sort with him were quite definitely not on the cards. Once bitten, twice shy.
    ‘Well, if you’re happy to be working with Lachlan and he’s a good doctor, I guess that’s fine.’ There was a terse note in Pat’s voice and she softened it by smiling down at Christa lovingly. ‘I...I just don’t want you hurt again, darling, that’s all.’ She paused and sighed. ‘What I really want is for you to meet a nice reliable man who won’t let you down.’
    Christa got up and gave her mother a hug, grinning. ‘God, you sound as if you want me to marry Mr Dull-as-Ditchwater... Anyway, you’re looking very glam today—I like that tweed jacket. Are you off somewhere exciting?’
    Pat laughed, suddenly looking very like her daughter, although her hair was white now.
    ‘If you call going out with Bertie to the pub outside the village for a meal exciting!’
    ‘Good for you!’ Christa looked teasingly at her mother. ‘You know, I don’t know why you and Bertie Smith don’t move in together—he only lives in the next flat. You might as well be married!’
    ‘Oh, no, I value my independence too much. Besides...’ Her mother’s voice was brisk, devoid of self-pity. ‘The thing is, I’m very fond of Bertie, but I made one lot of vows once, and I’m not inclined to make the same ones again.’ She glanced at the kitchen clock on the wall. ‘Aren’t you going to be late? It’s nearly two o’clock.’
    ‘Oh, God, you’re right...I’ll have to fly!’ Christa blew a kiss to her mother as she dashed out. ‘See you soon—enjoy your meal... Come on, Titan, back to work!’
    * * *
    Friday night and a chance to wind down in the local little gym after a gruelling week. The surgery seemed to have been crammed with patients needing urgent referrals, and more than the usual amount of visits, and however ambivalent Christa was about Lachlan joining the practice, she couldn’t wait for him to start work on Monday and take some of the load from her.
    She really