www.millsandboon.co.uk

      This one’s for my friend, Anne Roper,

      who is always so cheerful and fun to be with.

      Thanks to her lovely daughter-in-law, Michelle,

      for her help on YOU, ME AND A FAMILY.

      And for Leslie, number one fan.

      Also a big thank you

       to Melanie Milburne and Fiona Lowe

       for way back in the beginning.

       This might be late but you’ve never been forgotten.

      CHAPTER ONE

      JODI HAWKE SWUNG the budget rental car against the kerb and hauled the handbrake on hard. Her heart was in her mouth as she peered through the grease-smeared windscreen towards the small, neat semi-attached town house she’d finally found after an hour of driving around, through and over Parnell. Auckland was not her usual playground. But that was about to change—for a time at least. No matter what the outcome of this meeting.

      A chill lifted goosebumps on her skin. ‘I can’t do this.’

      Brushing her too-long fringe out of her eyes, she turned to glare at her guilt-ridden reflection in the rear-vision mirror, and snapped, ‘You have to.’

      Think what’s at stake. ‘Jamie’s life depends on you doing this. And doing it right. This day has always been hovering in the background, waiting for show time.’

      Before she could overthink the situation for the trillionth time Jodi elbowed the door open and slid out onto the road. The unassuming brick town house sat back from the road, a path zeroing in on the front door with the precision of a ruled line. The lawn had been mown to within a millimetre of its life, and the gardens were bare of anything other than some white flowering ground cover.

      ‘So Mitch’s still too busy working to put time or effort into anything else.’ It followed that he’d still not be taking care of any relationships either.

      ‘Some things never change.’ Which was unfortunate because, like it or not, big changes were on Mitch’s horizon. She was about to tip his world upside down, inside out. For ever.

      Whatever his reaction he would never be able to forget what she was about to tell him. Mitchell Maitland, the man who’d stolen her heart more than three years ago, was about to get the shock of his life. The man she’d walked away from in a moment of pure desperation when it had finally hit home that he was never, ever going to change. Not for anyone, and especially not for her.

      Unfortunately she’d needed his total commitment, not just the few hours he’d given her in a week. Growing up, she’d learned that when people were busy getting ahead they didn’t have time for others, not to mention handing out love and affection. Except, silly woman that she’d been, she’d thought, hoped, Mitch might’ve been different despite all the warning signs to the contrary. She’d believed her love for him would overcome anything.

      Lately she’d learned the hard way that there was more to a relationship than love and affection. There was responsibility, honesty and integrity. Things she’d overlooked in Mitch. Because of that, Mitch wouldn’t forgive her in a hurry—if at all. And now it was payback time for what she’d omitted to tell him in the weeks and years since she’d told him to go.

      Stepping up the path, she ignored the butterflies flapping in her belly, and went for bravado. ‘Hello, Mitchell. Remember me? I’m the one who got away still mostly intact. Left you when it became apparent you had no more time for me than it took to have a good bonk.’

      At the very moment her palm pressed hard on the doorbell she noted the open windows, the curtains moving in the light breeze, heard music inside somewhere. Not Mitchell’s preferred heavy rock but a country tune.

      She closed her eyes and hauled a lungful. What if he’s got a wife now? Or a live-in partner? But the answers to the few questions she’d felt safe asking of a colleague from Otago Hospital, Mitch’s old stomping ground, had reassured her he was still single and playing the field as hard as ever. But what if the information was incorrect? Maybe she should ask around some more before dropping her bombshell. Maybe she should go and hide from the truth—again. That would help heaps. Not.

      In truth, she didn’t want to hurt Mitchell—at all. Too late. You already have. He just doesn’t know it. Yet. But if there had been another way around the problem she’d have found it.

      ‘I need to do this,’ she said under her breath. ‘It’s life or death. Jamie’s life—or death.’ Bracing her shoulders, she pressed the bell again. And gaped at the waif-like woman who tugged the door wide.

      An open face with a beautiful smile, long black hair falling down her back, big brown eyes filled with friendliness. ‘Hello?’

      Jodi’s fingers combed her own straggly tufts that looked as though she’d taken the wool clippers to them. No time or money to spend on caring for inessentials such as hair. A twist of envy wound through her as she studied this woman. She’d been fooling herself. Mitch wouldn’t be alone. Good-looking, highly sexed, streetwise men like him never were. ‘Hello, I’m Dr Jodi Hawke. Is Mitchell at home?’

      The woman smiled easily, apparently not at all concerned with a strange female’s sudden appearance on the doorstep. ‘Sorry, but he’s at work, even though it is Saturday. I’d say come back later but who knows what time he’ll get home. He puts in long hours, always doing extra