Healed by Their Dolphin Island Baby


 
 
 
 Anya didn’t need him.
 Ben thought of those two wardrobes and he found himself grinning. He knew, deep down, that the reaction that had made her cling to him, that had let him grasp her hand, that had forced her to hold it as if it was there to save her, was an aberration.
 Anya. One strong woman.
 Wardrobes. Two separate beds.
 They were now colleagues. There was a whole new future to think about...
 Um...think about what? She was still in the midst of shock and grief. Back away, he told himself. But even as he did, he was turning back to the bungalow.
 Home? Back to Anya?
 She’d be in the shower. He could imagine her there. Maybe shaking again as the events of the afternoon replayed in her head?
 She was his colleague. He needed to support her.
 Yes, he needed to go home.
 
 
 Dear Reader,
 One of the most glorious sights in the world has to be wild dolphins cruising in the open ocean. I’m lucky enough to live by the sea, and the sight of dolphins always seems a blessing. A couple of times, though, there have been strandings, and then it seems the whole community wants to help.
 The last time this occurred, I thought what a great way it was to bring people together. And then, turning to my writing, I thought what a great way it was to bring Anya and Ben together.
 Strandings take mass effort, with medical care required for not only the dolphins but the volunteers helping to save them. Thus, Drs. Anya and Ben are at the forefront of my rescue, and when the dolphins find their happy ending...well, read and see.
 Enjoy!
 Marion
 
 
 Healed by Their Dolphin Island Baby
 Marion Lennox
 
 
 
 Marion Lennox has written over one hundred romance novels and is published in over one hundred countries and thirty languages. Her international awards include the prestigious RITA® Award (twice!) and the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for “a body of work which makes us laugh and teaches us about love.” Marion adores her family, her kayak, her dog and lying on the beach with a book someone else has written. Heaven!
 Books by Marion Lennox
 Harlequin Medical Romance
 Second Chance with Her Island DocRescued by the Single Dad DocPregnant Midwife on His DoorstepMistletoe Kiss with the Heart DoctorFalling for His Island NurseHealing Her Brooding Island HeroA Rescue Dog to Heal ThemA Family to Save the Doctor’s HeartDr. Finlay’s Courageous Bride
 Harlequin Romance
 English Lord on Her DoorstepCinderella and the Billionaire
 Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
 
 
 This book is dedicated to Lorraine, and to Bill and Mandy and Scott, who were with David and me on our first ever tropical island escapade. We had the most glorious time. Thank you for the most glorious friendship.
 
 
 Praise for Marion Lennox
 “What an entertaining, fast-paced, emotionally charged read Ms. Lennox has delivered in this book.... The way this story started had me hooked immediately.”
 —Harlequin Junkie on The Baby They Longed For
 
 
 Contents
 PROLOGUE
 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
 EXCERPT FROM THE SINGLE MOM HE CAN’T RESIST BY JANICE LYNN
 
 
 PROLOGUE
 ‘BEN, THIS IS my fiancée, Dr Anya Greer.’
 Mathew’s chest puffed up with satisfaction. All was well in his world, and he was pleased to let his colleague from university days know it.
 ‘Anya, this is Dr Ben Duncan, who’s kindly agreed to act as locum for us during our honeymoon.’
 Dr Ben Duncan had had little to do with Dr Mathew Cummins since they’d trained together, but he knew him to be a skilled, if slightly pompous, clinician and he was interested in meeting the woman he was about to marry.
 But why did the realisation that Mathew’s bride was gorgeous surprise him?
 The woman smiling a greeting had, he gathered, just come from performing a minor procedure in Theatre and she was dressed in green hospital scrubs. She was almost a head shorter than him. Her shiny black hair was caught back in a sensible knot but curls were wisping outward. Her skin was warmly honey-coloured, her smile was wide and her eyes twinkled at him as she held out her hand.
 ‘I’m very pleased to meet you.’ Her voice was soft and welcoming. ‘I hope Merriwood doesn’t give you too much trouble while we’re away.’
 And as he took her hand he was caught by the last thing he’d expected. A stab of...jealousy?
 What the...? Where had that come from?
 Mathew could keep marriage, he thought, jerking himself back from unwanted sensations, almost in shock. He wanted nothing to do with relationships. The ache in his back, the weakness in his left leg—surely they were enough to remind him of the disaster emotional connections caused. The tragedy of his marriage had been the result of just such instant attraction. A moment’s impulse. A lifetime of regret.
 Mathew was doing it much better, he told himself. Apparently he’d known Anya since childhood and they’d been friends for ever. This marriage, Mathew had told Ben—and yep, there’d been pomposity in this statement as well—was based on sense and a shared commitment to the good of the town.
 Wow. To marry a woman this gorgeous because of sense and a commitment to the town...
 Um, stupid thought. No doubt there’d be hot sex in there as well, and years of kids and fun and family.
 Meanwhile he’d held Anya’s hand for just a bit too long. He released it and backed away, leaning heavily on his cane.
 ‘Congratulations,’ he said, somewhat inanely. ‘I wish you both joy.’
 ‘Thank you,’ she said, still smiling. But had the twinkle faded a little as she glanced at Mathew? ‘I’m sure we’ll