Free The Doctor Claims His Bride by Fiona Lowe Page A

a life-affirming energy and it radiated from her eyes, her mouth, the sway of her hips…
    He ran his hand through his hair. He’d been convinced he could shut out his attraction but Mia had moved into his mind, taken up residence in his thoughts and dreams, and despite numerous resolutions to move her out he’d been pathetically unsuccessful. He’d resisted beautiful women before but Mia was different. Strength and vulnerability—he found the combination captivating.
    But it had to stop.
    He’d hated it that he’d flown back to spend the weekend on Kirra because of Mia, completely forgetting about Susie’s daughter’s wedding. Had his mind been more focussed he would have stayed on Barra this weekend, like he’d originally planned.
    It was a lapse like this that really drove home that the time had come for life to go back to normal, to the uncomplicated way it had been before Mia had arrived.
    And it started now with a teaching session. The moment that was over, he’d create a reason to fly to Barra. No way was he going to stay on Kirra for the wedding.
    He beckoned Mia forward with his hand. ‘I want you to examine Alice and tell me what you think she has.’
    Mia’s large blue eyes blinked in puzzlement. ‘Is this a test? Something you’re expecting me not to know?’
    He grimaced. ‘There’s every chance you won’t have seen this down south.’
    ‘Is her mother with her?’
    ‘No. Her uncle brought her in and he’s outside.’
    ‘And he won’t be able to come in.’ Understanding washed across her face and she walked over to a cupboard and pulled out a worn teddy bear in green scrubs. Then she returned to their patient. ‘I’m Mia, Alice, and I’m going to have a look at you. Would you like to hold my doctor bear while I do it?’
    Alice stared and then extended her chubby hand, grabbing the bear and clutching it tightly to her chest.
    As Flynn expected, Mia started by taking the child’s temperature with the ear thermometer.
    ‘It’s high. Thirty nine point four.’ She immediately recorded it on the chart. She then examined Alice’s glands, and checked for eye and nose discharge. Turning to Flynn, she said, ‘There’s some evidence of nosebleeds.’
    Flynn nodded. ‘Every sign builds a diagnosis.’
    Mia returned her attention to her patient. ‘Alice, I need you to say, “Ah.”’
    Alice stared at her.
    Mia glanced at Flynn.
    ‘Alice is from the north of the island and very little English is spoken.’ Flynn pulled out a chair and sat astride it to watch how Mia would handle this.
    Mia tapped Alice on the shoulder and then tapped her own shoulder and said, ‘Ahh.’
    The girl obediently opened her mouth and Mia, using a tongue depressor and a pen torch, examined her tonsils.
    A deep furrow appeared on Mia’s forehead as she dropped the tongue depressor into the bin. She studiedthe girl’s face very carefully. ‘I think she has a twitch or it could just be her being stressed by being here.’
    Flynn nodded, deliberately noncommittal.
    Horizontal lines crinkled across the bridge of her nose and suddenly she screwed up her face and said, ‘Ouch, ooh,’ and patted down her own body.
    Alice nodded and pointed to her ankles, her knees and her elbows and then her stomach.
    Mia laid her down with the teddy and tucked a sheet around her middle, leaving her arms and legs exposed. She started to examine the girl’s limbs. ‘I can feel raised bumps in clusters on her joints which move.’ She flicked on the light and peered carefully. ‘She also has scabies.’
    Flynn smiled. ‘Well spotted.’ He saw Mia’s shoulders relax slightly. He knew she’d feel like this was an exam but it was really important she could diagnose this condition.
    ‘Her joints are all swollen. It could be rheumatoid arthritis.’
    ‘It could be.’ Flynn deliberately gave no hints.
    Mia’s short, abrupt laugh sounded stressed. ‘This is as bad as my final exams.’
    ‘You’re doing fine.’
    ‘But I know