The Midwife's Pregnancy Miracle. Kate Hardy

      

      Their precious Christmas surprise...

      Midwife Ella O’Brien loves babies, but she believes she can’t have her own. Until at a charity ball the chemistry between her and dashing obstetrician Oliver Darrington explodes into a night of passion that proves her wrong!

      Aristocratic Oliver has been here before, but the baby wasn’t his! Now he’s guarding his emotions—even from lovely, innocent Ella. Can the baby they both want so much help them to trust in their love this Christmas...and become the family they really long for?

Dear Reader,

      This book is all about a Christmas miracle.

      Ella struggled against the odds to become a midwife, and then discovered that it was almost impossible for her to have a baby. Oliver was badly hurt by a previous partner who took away something precious. Neither of them is prepared to have a serious relationship, and they bury themselves in work, suppressing how they really feel about each other.

      But one unexpected night leads to an even more unexpected consequence.

      And they discover that miracles really do happen.

      I hope you enjoy their journey!

      With love,

      Kate Hardy

      The Midwife’s Pregnancy Miracle

      Kate Hardy

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      KATE HARDY has always loved books, and could read before she went to school. She discovered Mills & Boon books when she was twelve and decided this was what she wanted to do. When she isn’t writing Kate enjoys reading, cinema, ballroom dancing and the gym. You can contact her via her website: katehardy.com.

      Books by Kate Hardy

      Mills & Boon Medical Romance

      Her Real Family Christmas

      200 Harley Street: The Soldier Prince

      It Started with No Strings...

      A Baby to Heal Their Hearts

      A Promise...to a Proposal?

      Her Playboy’s Proposal

      Capturing the Single Dad’s Heart

      Mills & Boon Cherish

      Falling for Mr December

      Billionaire, Boss...Bridegroom?

      Holiday with the Best Man

      Visit the Author Profile page at millsandboon.co.uk for more titles.

      For Scarlet, Susanne and Tina—

      really enjoyed working with you all on our quartet!

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

Dear Reader

       Title Page

       About the Author

       Dedication

       PROLOGUE

       CHAPTER ONE

       CHAPTER TWO

       CHAPTER THREE

       CHAPTER FOUR

       CHAPTER FIVE

       CHAPTER SIX

       CHAPTER SEVEN

       CHAPTER EIGHT

       CHAPTER NINE

       CHAPTER TEN

       EPILOGUE

       Extract

       Copyright

       PROLOGUE

      Hallowe’en

      ALMOST AS IF someone had called his name, Oliver Darrington found himself turning round and looking at the doorway.

      Ella O’Brien, one of the junior midwives from his department, was standing there. Despite the fact that she was wearing a mask that covered half her face—because tonight was the annual Hallowe’en Masquerade Ball, the glitziest fundraiser in the Royal Cheltenham Hospital’s social calendar—he recognised her instantly.

      Desire shimmered at the bottom of his spine and he dragged in a breath. He really needed to get a grip. Ella was his colleague. His friend. He’d been attracted to her since the very first moment she’d walked into Teddy’s, the centre for birth and babies at the Royal Cheltenham Hospital. Her striking red hair, worn tied back in a scrunchie, had snagged his attention. Then he’d noticed her clear green eyes and the soft curve of her mouth. He’d wanted her immediately, though he’d held himself back. Since the fallout from dating Justine, Oliver didn’t do serious relationships; plus he hadn’t wanted to risk making things awkward on the ward between them, so he’d managed to keep things strictly professional between himself and Ella.

      Though several times when they’d worked together, his hand had brushed against hers and it had felt as if he’d been galvanised. And sometimes he’d caught her eye and wondered, did she ever feel that same secret pull?

      Though he’d dismissed it: Ella O’Brien was one of the most grounded and independent women he’d ever met. He knew she was dedicated to her career and she wasn’t the type to let herself be distracted by a fling—which was all he could offer. Besides, over the last eighteen months, he’d discovered that he liked Ella: she was easy to work with, being both sharply intelligent and yet able to empathise with the mums on the unit. He didn’t want to risk spoiling that.

      But tonight...