Summer Kisses

‘Sensitive? Perhaps I should just leave right now.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. We need a plan. You can deliver the baby, I’ll reassure Evanna and Logan—’

‘No way.’ Conner lifted his hands and stopped her in mid flow. ‘I don’t deliver babies. The only thing I know about babies is how not to produce them.’

Flora stared at him. ‘Are you telling me you’ve never delivered a baby before? You’re a doctor.’

His gaze was sardonic. ‘There isn’t a great deal of need for obstetrics in the army. Of course I’ve delivered a few babies but let’s just say that my experience in that area is limited.’

‘Mine, too. But we mustn’t let them know that.’ Flora bit her lip and thought fast. ‘It doesn’t matter. I can deliver the baby as long as it’s straightforward. If there’s a problem, you’ll have to help. It will be fine. What they really need is reassurance. We just need to be confident. Really confident. Babies come by themselves…’ she glanced at him doubtfully ‘…usually.’

‘I can do confident,’ Conner said, a trace of humour in his eyes, ‘but I can tell you now that Logan isn’t going to let me touch his wife.’

‘Logan is traumatised. He’ll do what we tell him.’ She pushed him through the door and he lifted an eyebrow.

‘I didn’t know you were capable of being so dominating. Don’t ever expect me to believe you’re shy after this performance.’

Flora shrugged. ‘You don’t know me at all, do you?’

‘Evidently not.’

They found Evanna in the breakfast room, a huge sunny room at the back of the house that adjoined the kitchen and looked over the garden.

‘You can’t possibly want to push,’ Logan was saying in a hoarse voice, his arm round Evanna’s shoulders. ‘This is your first baby. First babies take ages. Days sometimes.’

Evanna’s face was pale and streaked with sweat. ‘Not all first babies take ages.’ She broke off and Flora could see that she was struggling with pain.

Agitated, Logan stood up. ‘I’m calling the air ambulance.’

‘The wind’s too strong,’ Conner said in an even tone. ‘They can’t fly. I’ve already rung them.’

Evanna lifted a hand and touched Logan’s face. ‘You have to calm down,’ she urged softly. ‘You’re panicking and I need you.’

‘I’m not panicking,’ Logan said tightly. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be sorry. I understand—and I love you.’

‘All right—enough.’ Conner pulled a face. ‘You’re making me feel ill. Flora, did I hear you asking Janet for a delivery pack? I presume such a thing exists on this godforsaken island?’

‘We have everything,’ Logan growled, his hair roughened from the number of times he’d run his fingers through it. ‘I made sure. I’ve got the equipment to do a Caesarean section if it’s necessary.’

‘It’s not going to be necessary,’ Conner said calmly, washing his hands. ‘Evanna, I’m going to take a look and see what’s happening. Logan, go and check on Kirsty.’

Logan’s jaw tightened. ‘I’m not leaving her.’

Conner inhaled deeply and let the water stream off his hands into the sink. ‘Leave the room, Logan. All this drama is giving me a headache.’

‘No.’

Conner dried his hands and then pulled on the gloves Flora handed him. ‘I can’t concentrate with you hovering, ready to shout abuse at me.’

‘What do you know about delivering babies?’

‘I’m full of surprises.’ Conner turned away from Logan and concentrated on Evanna, his smile gentle. ‘The problem is that no one on this island trusts me.’

She gave a wan smile. ‘I trust you, Conner.’

‘It’s all going to be fine, you know that, don’t you?’