Jennifer Taylor - Mr. Right All Along

Her gaze swooped lower, running over the broad shoulders, a well-muscled chest, trim waist. He was wearing running shorts cut high at the sides and they made the most of his long legs, showing off well-developed thigh muscles and firm calves. He looked fit and healthy and so incredibly attractive, even to her jaundiced eyes, that she gulped.

She didn’t need this! She had allowed physical attraction to dictate her actions once before and look how that had ended—with her life in tatters and her spirit shattered. All she wanted now was to pick up the threads and weave them together, attempt to get back what she had lost and by doing so find herself. No matter how attractive Ryan was she wasn’t going to get involved with him. Ever .

She glanced deliberately at her watch and shrugged. ‘Is that the time? I’ll have to go.’

‘Me too.’

He treated her to one of his wonderfully warm smiles and Eve had to force herself not to respond. There was no point encouraging him, after all.

‘See you tomorrow,’ she called, hurrying away.

She rounded a bend in the path and slowed, aware that her heart was racing. The one thing she had never allowed for was that she would be attracted to another man, but there was no point denying it. She was attracted to Ryan and she had to keep well away from him …

She groaned when it struck her how difficult it was going to be. Avoiding Ryan wasn’t possible when they had to work together, but somehow she had to keep a rein on her feelings. The thing she mustn’t do was make another mistake.

Dear Reader

I had wanted to write this story for some time, but I just couldn’t seem to find the right characters who would be able to handle such an emotive tale. Then one day, when I was out walking my dog, Eve and Ryan suddenly appeared in my head and I knew they would be perfect.

They both have major issues to contend with and they have both suffered in the past, making them afraid of what the future holds in store for them. However, when they meet up again and start to fall in love, they realise that they can help one another if they are willing to take a chance.

I really loved writing this book. Eve and Ryan are two brave people who deserve to find happiness. If you would like to know more about the background to this book then do visit my blog: Jennifertaylorauthor.wordpress.com. I would love to hear your comments.

Love

Jennifer

JENNIFER TAYLORlives in the north-west of England, in a small village surrounded by some really beautiful countryside. She has written for several different Mills & Boon ®series in the past, but it wasn’t until she read her first Medical Romance™ that she truly found her niche. She was so captivated by these heartwarming stories that she set out to write them herself! When she’s not writing, or doing research for her latest book, Jennifer’s hobbies include reading, gardening, travel, and chatting to friends both on and off-line. She is always delighted to hear from readers, so do visit her website at www.jennifer-taylor.com

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To my nephews, Neil and Simon Burgess, who undertook the Three Peaks Challenge and not only raised a lot of money for charity but also saved their poor aunt from having to do it in the name of research!

Thanks, boys. You are both stars!

Cover

Excerpt Eve’s eyes widened, her pupils dilating, as she found herself taking fresh stock of the crisp dark brown hair clipped close to his well-shaped head, the dark slash of his eyebrows framing equally dark eyes, the firm strength of his jaw. Her gaze swooped lower, running over the broad shoulders, a well-muscled chest, trim waist. He was wearing running shorts cut high at the sides and they made the most of his long legs, showing off well-developed thigh muscles and firm calves. He looked fit and healthy and so incredibly attractive, even to her jaundiced eyes, that she gulped. She didn’t need this! She had allowed physical attraction to dictate her actions once before and look how that had ended—with her life in tatters and her spirit shattered. All she wanted now was to pick up the threads and weave them together, attempt to get back what she had lost and by doing so find herself. No matter how attractive Ryan was she wasn’t going to get involved with him. Ever . She glanced deliberately at her watch and shrugged. ‘Is that the time? I’ll have to go.’ ‘Me too.’ He treated her to one of his wonderfully warm smiles and Eve had to force herself not to respond. There was no point encouraging him, after all. ‘See you tomorrow,’ she called, hurrying away. She rounded a bend in the path and slowed, aware that her heart was racing. The one thing she had never allowed for was that she would be attracted to another man, but there was no point denying it. She was attracted to Ryan and she had to keep well away from him … She groaned when it struck her how difficult it was going to be. Avoiding Ryan wasn’t possible when they had to work together, but somehow she had to keep a rein on her feelings. The thing she mustn’t do was make another mistake.

About the Author JENNIFER TAYLOR lives in the north-west of England, in a small village surrounded by some really beautiful countryside. She has written for several different Mills & Boon ® series in the past, but it wasn’t until she read her first Medical Romance™ that she truly found her niche. She was so captivated by these heartwarming stories that she set out to write them herself! When she’s not writing, or doing research for her latest book, Jennifer’s hobbies include reading, gardening, travel, and chatting to friends both on and off-line. She is always delighted to hear from readers, so do visit her website at www.jennifer-taylor.com

Title Page Mr Right All Along Jennifer Taylor www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication To my nephews, Neil and Simon Burgess, who undertook the Three Peaks Challenge and not only raised a lot of money for charity but also saved their poor aunt from having to do it in the name of research! Thanks, boys. You are both stars!

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

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‘BAA, BAA, BLACK sheep have you any wool? Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full.’

Ryan Sullivan winced as he passed the door to Dalverston General’s High Dependency Paediatric Unit. Whilst he would never have claimed to possess a wonderful singing voice, at least he could carry a tune—which was more than could be said for whoever was murdering that nursery rhyme! He eased open the door, feeling surprise shoot through him when he saw Eve Pascoe sitting beside the bed. Apart from the fact that it was lunchtime and she should be taking her break, Eve was the last person he would have expected to be giving such a rousing performance.

Ryan frowned as that thought sank in. He had first met Eve during his rotations—they’d been students together in London and had trained at the same hospital. Eve had been bright, witty, funny, warm … everything she wasn’t any more. What had happened to her in the past few years? he wondered, not for the first time. Why had she changed so much? Although she was always polite whenever he spoke to her, she was so distant these days and not just towards him either.

Eve had been at Dalverston General for almost two months now yet she hadn’t made any attempt to join in the usual extramural staff activities. Invitations to curry nights and cinema trips had been politely refused without any reason being given. She had earned herself a reputation for being a bit of a snob, in fact, although Ryan didn’t believe that. Maybe Eve did come from a very wealthy background but he had known her before and there had been nothing snobby about Eve Pascoe then, he recalled, and wondered why the thought disturbed him so much. He might be intrigued to find out what had happened to her, but it was friendly curiosity, that was all. He certainly wasn’t romantically interested in her.

Eve suddenly looked up and Ryan smoothed his face into a noncommittal expression. He didn’t do romance, didn’t do commitment, didn’t do anything that might cause anyone any grief. Love and all its attendant problems weren’t on his agenda now or ever.

‘I heard you singing,’ he said, returning to what had brought him into the room. He grinned when she blushed. ‘It was, well … different , shall I say.’

‘Daisy’s mother said it was her favourite nursery rhyme,’ Eve replied defensively, standing up.

She bent over the bed where five-year-old Daisy Martin was lying curled up into a tight little ball and Ryan got another shock when he saw her smile at the child. She looked so like the old Eve when she smiled like that, happy and warm and caring. It made the change in her all the more marked so that his interest was piqued even more. He realised that he wouldn’t rest until he had found out what had happened to bring about such a massive change in her.

‘I’ll come back to see you later, sweetheart. Close your eyes and have a little sleep now. There’s a good girl.’ She gently smoothed back the child’s thick black curls then headed to the door, pausing when Ryan failed to move out of her way.

‘Sorry.’

He stepped aside, automatically following her along the corridor although he had been heading to the canteen before he’d got sidetracked. Still, lunch could wait. He was more interested in finding out what had happened to Eve in the past few years, although he wasn’t vain enough to think she would simply come out and tell him. Eve preferred to keep her own counsel these days and she would be as unlikely to open her heart to him as to anyone else.

The thought stung just a little and far more than it should have done. Although they’d been friends—good friends too—they’d not had a relationship; Ryan had made sure of that. Oh, there’d been that one occasion after he had kissed her under the mistletoe when he had almost caved in but he had realised in time what a mistake it would be.

Although Eve was extremely pretty with that long red-gold hair and those wonderful grey-green eyes, she was very different from the women he normally dated. He preferred women who were more worldly wise, women, like him, who weren’t looking for commitment, and Eve hadn’t fitted that bill. Even though she had ticked so many other boxes, he had never tried to turn their friendship into something more, especially after that kiss. He had realised that night how easy it would be to get involved with her and it had been the last thing he’d wanted.