Free A Baby to Care for (Mills & Boon Medical) by Lucy Clark

the room. ‘Here to do a quick ward round?’
    Iris scanned the ten beds. Three had patients in them. ‘A very short round by the looks of it.’
    Bub waved away her words. ‘Oh, we may be small in numbers but we’re big on the need to chat.’ The experienced nursing sister leaned closer and said in a stage whisper, ‘Just don’t let Mr Bloffwith get started on his new irrigation system. He’ll have you there for hours.’
    ‘Right. Good. Thanks for the tip.’ Iris looked around, feeling a little bereft. She was used to conducting ward rounds with at least twenty other people. Surgeons, registrars, interns, medical students, nursing staff, dieticians, physiotherapists. She was also used to having far more than three patients to contend with. Still, as Bub conducted her to each bed, it was done in a highly professional manner. Things may be more relaxed out here but they were certainly efficient.
    Once the ward round was completed—and Mr Bloffwith’s new irrigation system chatter neatly diverted—Iris thanked Bub before making her way to the clinic. As it was her first weekend on call, Joss had come over to open everything up and to make sure she knew what was going on.
    ‘Areva, our incredible receptionist, doesn’t work Saturdays. So it’s just you and the patients. We work the weekends on a first come, first served basis so you’ll find that some people will get here as early as possible and sometimes they’re evenwaiting outside the doors when you open them.’ He indicated the empty waiting room. ‘Thankfully, today that isn’t the case.’
    Iris nodded. ‘I’m sure I’ll be fine, Joss.’
    ‘I’m sure you will, too. Lis speaks very highly of you and I have to say that during the past week, I’ve been incredibly impressed.’
    ‘Thank you.’ Iris was pleased to hear such a glowing report from her new boss. ‘Now, why don’t you go and find your fiancée and spend some time with her?’
    Joss grinned widely and Iris could see just why Melissa had been attracted to the handsome general surgeon. ‘What a brilliant idea. I think I’ll go and do exactly what the doctor’s ordered.’ He took a few steps away before turning back. ‘Oh, and if you need any help, if emergencies come in, contact Bub and she’ll get one of us here to help assist you.’
    ‘Right. Will do. Now go. Have fun.’
    Joss grinned widely and nodded before almost sprinting from the clinic. Iris was left alone within seconds and she walked to the front door of the clinic, checking outside to ensure there really wasn’t anyone waiting.
    With no patients to see, she decided to switch the kettle on and then make sure her consulting room was set up and ready to go. She did this. Still no patients. She made herself a cup of tea and drank it—slowly. Still no patients. Was it usually like this? What was the point in having a weekend clinic if no one was going to come?
    She sat in the waiting room…and waited, scanning a few of the magazines, flipping through others and not reading a word. She checked outside the door again, looking up and down the street. A few people waved but no one came in. Iris returned to her consulting room, unable to believe that for the first time in…well, she couldn’t remember when, she was actually bored.
    Sighing, she allowed her thoughts to wander and oddlyenough they turned immediately to her handsome single colleague. She wondered what Dex was really doing today. What did most of the townsfolk do on a weekend when there was no Australia Day fair, when there were no fundraisers to attend? Surely they’d have sports out here. They’d have to or else the lot of them would go completely barmy.
    Did Dex play Australian Rules football? Or did he prefer cricket? Maybe soccer was his game. He obviously did something athletic because when she’d been held tightly in his arms the previous evening, she’d noted the firmness of those muscles as he’d held her close. His chest had also been nice and