A FAMILY FOR THE CHILDREN'S DOCTOR
Available at www.eharlequin.com in March, 2008

Two and two make one very special family...

For renowned plastic surgeon and single mother Caprice Bonaventura, her volunteer work with children is a lifeline. Spending all her free time with her young patients and daughter means she has no chance to admit she might be missing out on other areas of life...

Then she meets the handsome and caring Dr. Adrian McCallan, with whom she shares the experience of being a single parent. Adrian sets her senses alight in a way no man has before. Though breaking down his emotional barriers means putting her heart on the line, Caprice knows it will be worth the risk!

Excerpt:

"I don't suppose you'd like to tell me what this unfinished business is, would you? I have numerous contacts back in the states, and maybe I can find someone to take care of your problems so you won't have to leave." Nice try, but from the dead hard set on his face, she knew she'd failed. He wasn't about to tell her any more than he already had.

"Nothing you can help with," he said gruffly. "And I'm sorry it worked out this way. I really intended to fulfill my part of the obligation. Unfortunately, it's simply not meant to be this time."

"Not meant to be?" she exploded, unable to keep it in any longer. "You're pushing this off like it's a casual trip to the grocery store. Can't go this time but maybe next time. I resent that, Doctor, since so many people are depending on you as part of the surgical team." Caprice glanced at Isabella, who'd stopped eating and was staring up wide-eyed at her, then she took a deep breath to steady herself. "We had an agreement, Doctor McCallan," she said stiffly, aware that there was no way, legal or otherwise, she could keep him here if he chose to leave. "I counted on you keeping your word."

"So did I, Doctor Bonaventura, but like I said, something came up."

"So, what am I supposed to do? Tell my patients that they'll have to go away because something came up? Try to schedule them for another time, even though my next three trips down here are already booked solid with former patients? Tell them tough luck, that a hemangioma doesn't matter, or that Goldenhar Syndrome can be fixed by heavy cosmetics, low-brimmed hats and lots of scarves? Because that's not good enough. These people expect that when I promise them a procedure I'll deliver it, and part of that delivery is you, Doctor McCallan. Some of these children have waited for years and it's not fair to tell them I'll have to put them back on the list, that they might have to wait another few months, or years." She slapped her napkin down on the table, scooted her chair back across the floor so hard it hit the empty chair behind her, and stood. "That's not good enough. And it's not fair."

"I'll find a replacement," he offered. "As soon as I return I'll make some calls."

"And have someone here when? By tomorrow morning? Because that's when we open clinic, and start evaluating patients, looking at new cases coming in, and there will be dozens of them, and doing physicals for the children already scheduled for surgery. Will you have me that replacement by then, Doctor?"

"Who's next on the list?" he asked. "I'll call them right now, and I'll assume the financially responsibility to get them here. I mean, it's really not my intention to cause you any problems here. So, I'll be glad to..."

"You're next on the list, Doctor," Caprice interrupted. "My other replacement wasn't available, and the one after that is out with another of the Operation Smiling Face units right now. Meaning, you were last on the list."

"Last on the list?" he sputtered.

"Last. Very last. People are good to send money, but finding time to volunteer is another thing."