The Australian's Bride. Alison Roberts

stay in touch. ‘But right now he’s here and Stella thinks he’s wonderful and…life has suddenly become rather different for her. Better.’

      ‘Yes…’ The words were almost a sigh. ‘For me, too.’

      And me, Susie thought. Big time. She couldn’t say it out loud, though, could she? She barely knew Alex. If she confessed she thought she was in love with him, she probably wouldn’t see him for dust.

      On top of that, she needed a little time to get her head around the fact that he’d married his childhood sweetheart. To push aside the ridiculous jealousy she felt towards someone who had captured his heart so completely.

      Stella had told her she couldn’t remember her mother, who had died when she’d been a baby, but Alex obviously remembered. Was some of the poignancy she could hear in his voice now because Stella was maturing virtually before his eyes? Did she look like her mother had at the same age? When Alex had fallen in love with her? Was he thinking about finding—and losing—the love of his life?

      Changing the subject seemed like a very good idea.

      ‘How’s Danny?’

      ‘Still very drowsy, but that’s hardly unexpected.’ Alex clearly had the ability to put aside anything personal and focus immediately on a professional matter. ‘He’s post-ictal after the seizure and he’s had a sedative. I’ll go and check him in an hour or so and will try a more comprehensive neurological examination then.’

      ‘Has he got flu?’

      ‘Seems likely. He’s running a temperature of just over forty degrees centigrade, which is quite high enough to explain a febrile seizure.’ Alex paused, and then continued as though thinking out loud. ‘I’m not that happy about him.’

      ‘How come?’

      ‘It’s very rare for a six-year-old to have a febrile seizure and there are other, worrying possibilities.’

      ‘Like his history of cancer? Could he have secondary involvement of his brain?’

      ‘It’s possible. Meningitis or encephalitis is also on the list. I don’t want to do a lumbar puncture on him until I’m satisfied his ICP isn’t raised.’

      ‘ICP?’

      ‘Intracranial pressure. It goes up if there’s swelling of the brain or extra fluid or something happening inside the skull. It’s like a box and there’s no room for too much of anything like that. A rise in pressure could be another explanation for the seizure.’

      ‘Why can’t you do a lumbar puncture?’

      ‘If the pressure’s high enough, removing spinal fluid can precipitate movement of the brain. Coning.’

      ‘Oh…’ Susie knew that wasn’t good.

      ‘Mmm.’ Alex echoed her tone. ‘It could be catastrophic. It’s why I don’t feel happy being this far away from the kind of diagnostic and monitoring facilities I’m used to. Like CT or MRI scanning. The nearest paediatric ICU is in Brisbane and Charles says we can’t transfer him unless he’s critical.’

      ‘You disagree?’

      ‘No, I wouldn’t say that. Charles is quite right. Danny could well be exhibiting the symptoms of the viral infection that is the precise reason this island had been put under quarantine. We could be endangering a lot more people than young Danny if we evacuate him.’

      ‘Do you think this flu is really dangerous?’

      ‘Influenza should never be taken lightly. Especially in people who have other health problems. Or with the very old or young.’

      Susie shivered, despite the warmth of the sun. ‘Not what you expected when you came for a weekend at a tropical resort, is it?’

      ‘No.’ Alex seemed fascinated by the goose bumps that had appeared on Susie’s arms. He reached out and touched her lightly. The frisson of fear vanished—the chill suddenly replaced by burning heat. Susie’s gaze was locked on Alex as he raised his eyes. ‘I’ve found a lot of things I didn’t expect here,’ he said softly.

      His hand moved. A slow stroke that drifted down her arm until it reached her knees. Knees that were bent to provide shelter for breasts that hadn’t received the cover of that T-shirt. Susie could feel her nipples tighten so dramatically it was painful. Alex leaned closer and her lips parted in expectation of his kiss.

      ‘Dad!’

      The voice was a distant shout but it was close enough to be audible. Susie could see the way Alex’s intent drained from his eyes. She could almost imagine a degree of the same disappointment she was feeling. His hand lingered in the space between her knee and her breast for just a second longer. And Alex smiled. A smile that was just for Susie. A promise that whatever had been ignited was still glowing. It could be fanned into life later. And then he turned, moving smoothly so that he was simply sitting beside Susie. Facing his daughter. That moment of connection and desire had been screened, Susie realised. Stella didn’t need to know there was anything between her therapist and her father.

      Did Alex not want her to know?

      Why not? Was it too soon or did he protect her from any relationship he might have so that it didn’t impact on her life when it was over?

      Susie fought the stab of disappointment. This was crazy. She was expecting too much. Hoping for too much. She drew a deep, steadying breath as Stella and Jamie got closer.

      She was in way over her head here.

      ‘Jamie’s cool, isn’t he, Dad?’

      ‘He seems like a very nice boy.’ Alex was actually watching Susie as she left the beach. Her T-shirt was covering her top but those endless legs moved under a very neat bottom with an action that was mesmerising. The boy just happened to be walking beside Susie.

      ‘Wait till he comes back with his surfboard. You should see him surf, Dad. Not that there’s real surf here. Jamie say it’s a millpond, whatever that is, but he can still stand up for ages. He’s awesome.’

      ‘I’ve got a cart up on the track. Didn’t you want to go for a ride up into the rainforest?’

      ‘Not now!’ The prospect was clearly not a contender when the opportunity of feasting her eyes on the sight of the boy riding baby waves was on offer, but Alex just smiled as Stella turned to face him.

      He’d never seen her looking this happy.

      He could feel almost envious of that pure joy. The kind of trust and devotion that you could only experience once in your life because, when it was broken, you knew that being hurt again was always a possibility.

      ‘OK if I hang out here with you for a while, then? I don’t have to go back to check on Danny for an hour or so.’

      ‘Sure.’

      They both lounged on the sand, watching the surf and a group of children playing well down the beach. The silence was companionable and Alex didn’t try to engage his daughter in conversation. The secret smile he caught pulling at the corners of Stella’s mouth on more than one occasion was evidence of what she preferred to be thinking about.

      Susie was right. Trying to interfere would only push Stella away, and that was the last thing Alex wanted. Especially now, with this new—wonderful—adult-type closeness growing between them.

      It was only for a day or two. Let her enjoy the thrill of her first experience of being a couple. If he didn’t push her away, he could be there for her when she was separated from the boy by circumstances. He could be understanding. Sympathetic. Deepen this new bond even further.

      ‘You’re not getting sunburnt, are you?’ he asked eventually.

      ‘No. Jamie gave me some of his sunscreen.’

      Had