Italian Doctor, Dream Proposal

Margaret McDonagh

Shy Ruth Baxter lost interest in relationships long ago ; until a seductive encounter with one dangerously handsome Italian: Dr Rico Linardi, leading specialist and Ruth's potential new boss! Rico knows the connection between them overwhelms Ruth, so he begins to break down her defences. .. gently. Because Rico wants this intelligent beauty as his lover ; and his wife! /

Italian Doctor,

Dream Proposal

Margaret McDonagh

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

Table of Contents

Cover Page (#ua12f60e3-6b06-56c0-a518-ed74ff5230df)

Title Page (#u72a8cc42-938b-558e-86be-0c3e266a963e)

Praise (#ue883421a-2699-5d15-8421-aa678df17f1a)

About the Author (#u71429b36-2b4e-5025-915e-c28827ea0d43)

Dedication (#ue968f7e5-3e3e-548f-9ec0-2b402bfdcdc8)

Chapter One (#u781f76fc-bc8c-5f4e-bcbb-d0c853f03c2a)

Chapter Two (#u24178b91-8a97-55a0-90a5-817da2af8f3e)

Chapter Three (#u950d9190-0b83-5633-8d4a-473675efcf54)

Chapter Four (#u9724ce39-08b5-5108-9ee1-fcc4e72e5fba)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Praise for Medical™ Romance authorMargaret McDonagh:

‘Margaret McDonagh is an exceptional writer of

romantic fiction…she will tug at your heartstrings,

make you cry, and leave you breathless!’—ThePink Heart Society Reviews

‘Romance does not get any better than this!

Margaret McDonagh is a writer readers can always

count on to deliver a story that’s poignant,

emotional and spellbinding!’—CataRomance.com

’

Margaret McDonagh says of herself: ‘I began losing myself in the magical world of books from a very young age, and I always knew that I had to write, pursuing the dream for over twenty years, often with cussed stubbornness in the face of rejection letters! Despite having numerous romance novellas, short stories and serials published, the news that my first “proper book” had been accepted by Harlequin Mills & Boon for their Medical™ Romance line brought indescribable joy! Having a passion for learning makes researching an involving pleasure, and I love developing new characters, getting to know them, setting them challenges to overcome. The hardest part is saying goodbye to them, because they become so real to me. And I always fall in love with my heroes! Writing and reading books, keeping in touch with friends, watching sport and meeting the demands of my four-legged companions keeps me well occupied. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I loved writing it.’

www.margaretmcdonagh.com

margaret.mcdonagh@yahoo.co.uk

Many thanks are due to the following:

Michael & Kate Dann

www.michaeldann.co.uk

John and the

Primary Immunodeficiency Association

www.pia.org.uk

and Dr Nick Edwards

author of “In Stitches”…

for their help with my research for this book

And to:

Mara

for keeping my Italian

on the straight and narrow

Fiona, Lesley, Jennifer, Jackie, Christine and Irene

for their patience, encouragement,

care and support

’

CHAPTER ONE

DR RUTH BAXTER breathed a sigh of relief as she arrived at her destination, even though the only empty space she could find in the car park was the one furthest away from the hotel’s main entrance. Having got up at stupid o’clock—after a scant few hours’ sleep following two patient callouts during her Sunday night as on-duty GP—the journey had taken longer than expected thanks to heavy Monday-morning traffic and a lengthy hold-up after an accident on the M6 motorway. All of which meant she was now late for the two-day medical conference she was here to attend.

Ruth picked up her briefcase and overnight bag, locked her car, and headed towards the hotel. Currently bathed in warm May sunshine, the impressive building stood in its own grounds and overlooked the glittering expanse of Morecambe Bay. The lovely weather was a welcome change from the grey skies she had lef