Their Christmas Vows Read Online Free PDF Page A

invitation. It hadn't taken him long to find up another date for the evening with one of his many women, had it? How foolish of her to ever think he had been sincere, genuine. Collecting her things, thankful to avoid seeing him again, she made her escape, fretting all her way home to the small house she had rented town.
    She'd baited Frazer on purpose, and even though she was annoyed at the way he had reacted, turning swiftly to one of his women, she now felt bad about her own actions. Mostly because her reasoning was so skewed. She'd been scared of weakening, so she had deliberately created more of a barrier between them-just as she had used her wedding ring as an emotional shield, slipping it back on her finger in front of Frazer as a statement. It certainly wasn't because she wanted any reminder of feckless, uncaring Ed, the man who had done a runner after a few months of marriage, rejecting her the moment things had become remotely tough. A cynical smile twisted her lips as she thought of the vows they had made at the register office. For better or worse, in sickness and in health. Yeah, right. Bastard.
    Once home, she tell the tension of the day drain out of her. She was exhausted-they had been maniacally busy-and yet the exhilaration of the job was everything she had
    imagined it would be. The buzz, the adrenalin rush, never knowing what was going to happen next. If only it was ail like that, with none of the difficult moments with Frazer in between, or Craig and the others asking questions about her that she didn't want to answer.
    Eyes watched her as she flopped down on the sofa.
    `You want to know about my day?' she asked of her silent audience, thankful to have someone with whom she could let off steam. `I made an idiot of myself. The work part was good, though. More than good. I loved it. But meeting Frazer Mclnnes was an experience 1'll never forget.'
    Frazer. Just thinking about him brought a mix of unsettling sensations. She could still remember the feel of his hands on her for those brief moments, the awareness that had rippled through her, the needy response of her body. It had shocked her. The last thing she had expected was to be attracted to him. And however much she wished to deny it-and she would never admit it to another living soul-Frazer was the most deliciously sexy man she had ever met. No wonder he had women falling over themselves to catch his attention. That brought a return of her scowl as she wondered who he was with that night, who had filled the gap after she had turned down a drink with him. Not that she was interested.
    On the professional side, Frazer was an amazing doctor-not just skilled, but cairn and empathetic with patients, too. She admired that. She didn't want to, didn't want to like anything about him, but he'd slipped under her skin in just one day. In future she should have to be careful to make sure she maintained her distance, because she very much feared she could be as foolish as the next woman and lose her head if she allowed that stealthy charm and blatant sexuality to affect her.
    `Thank you. I could use a cuddle right about now.' She smiled as her audience of two rescue cats sidled Closer and vied for prime position in her lap, purring with contentment as she stroked their soft fur. `And he has a dog.' The purring briefly ceased, and she could almost see both cats narrow their green eyes at the mention of the `d' word. `Exactly. You wouldn't like Hamish, would you? Shows just how polar opposite Frazer and I are. We're as different as...well, cats and dogs. Anyway, nothing could ever come of any unlikely attraction.' Not if Frazer-or any manfound out the truth about her, she added silently, her jaw stiffening with stubborn pride as she fought back any hint of self pity. `Much the best thing to focus on work and work only. Who needs a man, anyway?'
    Paws gently kneaded her thigh and Callie sighed. disgruntled with her thoughts, turning her attention back to her companions.