About Critical Condition
Liam O'Connor wants a wife. Problem is, the type of woman he's looking for doesn't exist.
After years working as a paramedic in Sydney and living the bachelor life, Liam has had enough. He's convinced himself, and everyone else, that he's moved home to Birrangulla for a slower pace of life, but what he's really looking for is the woman of his dreams.
From the outside, emergency nurse Poppy McDonald lives a charmed life. Unfortunately, when she moved to the other side of the world to escape her family, all she did was swap one controlling environment for another. After Poppy's father dies, she returns to Australia to face her past. And her mother. But she has no intention of staying, and definitely not in Birrangulla.
When Liam and Poppy meet, there's an instant spark. Liam knows Poppy is the one even though she's carrying more than her share of baggage. But can he gain her trust and get her to look beyond her past? Or will the man Poppy left in the US return and ruin everything?
A sweet medical rural-romance for fans of Fiona McArthur, Melanie Milburne, Candace Calvert.
About Nicki Edwards
Nicki Edwards is a city girl with a country heart. Growing up on a small family acreage, she spent her formative years riding horses and pretending the neighbor’s farm was her own.
Nicki writes medical rural romance and when she isn’t reading, writing or dreaming about rural life and medical emergencies, she can be found working as a Critical Care Nurse in a busy Intensive Care Unit, where many of her stories and characters are imagined.
Nicki lives in Geelong, Victoria, with her husband and their four teenage/young adult children. Life is busy, fun and at times exhausting, but Nicki wouldn’t change it for anything. Visit her at nickiedwards.com.au.
Also by Nicki Edwards
Escape to the Country
Escape to the Country 1: Intensive Care
Escape to the Country 2: Emergency Response
An Escape to the Country Novella: Operation White Christmas
Escape to the Country 3: Life Support
The Peppercorn Project
Coming soon...
An Escape to the Country Novella: Operation Mistletoe Magic
First published by Momentum in 2016
This edition published in 2016 by Momentum
Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
1 Market Street, Sydney 2000
Copyright © Nicki Edwards 2016
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.
A CIP record for this book is available at the National Library of Australia
Critical Condition
EPUB format: 9781760302689
Mobi format: 9781760302696
Print on Demand format: 9781760302702
Cover design by Danielle Hurps
Edited by Julia Knapman
Proofread by Laura Cook
Macmillan Digital Australia: www.macmillandigital.com.au
To report a typographical error, please visit momentumbooks.com.au/contact/
Visit www.momentumbooks.com.au to read more about all our books and to buy books online. You will also find features, author interviews and news of any author events.
Contents
About Critical Condition
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Acknowledgments
About Nicki Edwards
Also by Nicki Edwards
Copyright
For Johanna.
Your friendship means everything to me.
Chapter 1
Liam O’Connor couldn’t wipe the grin from his face. He turned to his sister-in-law, Kate. She was beaming too.
“I cannot believe they kept that a secret from everyone,” he said.
“Unbelievable,” Kate said, brushing tears from her eyes. “She makes a gorgeous bride, doesn’t she?”
“Stunning,” he agreed.
Liam and Kate were in the orchard of Lexton Downs, surrounded by a small group of family and friends. Animated smiles lit every single face and guests were buzzing with excitement as they discussed what they had witnessed.
Everyone had been enjoying an afternoon tea in the gardens celebrating Liam’s younger sister Emma’s engagement to Tom Henderson, when Emma and Tom shocked everyone by morphing their engagement party into a surprise wedding.
Before anyone could figure out what was happening, Sean and Lorraine O’Connor handed them all flowers and asked them to line either side of a row of fruit trees in the orchard to form an impromptu aisle. As Emma walked up the aisle, each guest handed her a flower which she added to her wedding bouquet. Then, under the banner of blue skies and glorious autumn sunshine, they exchanged vows and rings. It was a day filled with love and it wasn’t over yet.
The loved-up couple was now smiling for photos with Tom’s sister, brother-in-law and their children, who had arrived from the UK to be part of the surprise.
As dusk fell, thousands of fairy lights hidden in the fruit trees flickered on, transforming the entire landscape into a wedding wonderland.
Liam looked over at Emma. She glowed. Her cheeks were rosy, her smile huge. He was so happy for her. She deserved to find love again. He was happy for Tom too. His new brother-in-law was a good bloke.
But, if Liam was honest, the green-eyed monster was attacking him.
Until today, he hadn’t considered whether he was the romantic type, but as Tom and Emma professed their love for one another, he found himself day dreaming that one day he might have his own happy-ever-after ending like theirs.
Not that he was ready to admit that to anyone yet, especially not his sister. If Emma got even a tiny whiff of the idea, she’d be in matchmaking heaven and he could bet on her introducing him to every single female in a hundred kilometer radius of Birrangulla. He shuddered at the thought.
“Their vows were so beautiful,” Kate said, shifting her sleeping baby from one arm to the other. “And when Tom gave Emma his mum’s ring I thought I’d start sobbing. I keep telling everyone Tom is the most romantic man in the world.”
Joel nudged Kate with his hip. “And I keep reminding you that I’m the most romantic man in the world.”
Kate leaned over and kissed her husband. “You’ll always be my romantic hero, but you have to admit, that was an absolutely beautiful thing to do.”
Joel chuckled. “Yeah, it was. Did either of you have any idea?”
They shook their heads.
Judging by the conversations of the guests mingling around them, neither did anyone else, except Sean and Lorraine, their parents.
“And these two slept through it all,” Liam said, indicating the babies in Joel’s and Kate’s arms.
“They sure did.” Joel held out the baby to Liam. “Want to hold him?”
“Absolutely.”
Gingerly taking the baby from his brother and being extra careful to cradle the newborn’s little head, Liam peered down at his nephew’s puckered face partially hidden in the blanket. Angus or Oscar? He had no idea. He should suggest Kate put nametags on them.
“So, mate, looks like you’re next. You’re the last one of us to get married,” Joel said, elbowing his twin brother in the ribs.
Liam shook his head. “Nope. Not me. I’ve told you again and again, I’m happy being a bachelor.” The familiar fib tasted strangely bitter and he hurriedly glanced away. If Joel saw his face, he’d know he was lying. “I can be crazy Uncle Liam to the boys when they get older. Besides, I’ll never find the perfect woman,” he added.
“That’s because the perfect woman doesn’t exist. How many times have I told you that?” Joel asked.
Kate put a hand to her hip and coughed once. “Um, hello,” she said. “I’m standing right here.”
Joel drew her into a hug and kissed her. “You’re perfect for me, my love.”
Liam groaned. “Enough of that. You two should get a room.”
Joel chuckled and indicated the baby nestled in the crook of Liam’s arm. “We did that a little over nine months ago and look what happened.”
Liam grimaced. “Too much information. Way too much.”
Kate grinned and deposited the other twin into Liam’s right arm. He pretended to buckle under the combined weight of the twins, even though they weighed less than a bag of potatoes between them.
Kate sidled up to Joel and squeezed his butt. “I’m more than happy to get a room. How ’bout it, hubby? Ready for some action?”
Joel closed his eyes and moaned. “Yes please. If by action you’re referring to sleep, I’m up for it. A room with comfortable pillows, block out curtains and no crying babies. That is the best offer I’ve had in four weeks.” He turned to Liam. “You have no idea what sleep deprivation is like, mate. Thanks for offering to babysit. Means the world. We’ll see you later.”
“Much later,” Kate added.
“Hang on. Wait. What? You can’t leave me here with these two,” he said. “What if they wake up?”
“You’ll be fine,” Joel said.
“But what if they need a feed? Kate’s the only one who can help with that.”
“I just fed them. You’re safe for at least another hour or so if you’re lucky,” Kate replied.
“But I can’t even tell them apart.”
Joel laughed. “Sometimes, neither can I.”
They walked off hand in hand and Liam stared at the babies in his arms. He swallowed hard. What was he supposed to do with them now? His arms were getting heavy. He gently repositioned them, praying they wouldn’t wake.
“Suits you.”
Liam turned to see Mackenzie Kennedy-Jones walking toward him. He smiled. Mackenzie was married to Kate’s older brother Nathan and Liam would bet a million bucks she took her aunty duties seriously. He’d have no trouble palming off at least one of the twins to her.
“Best part about kids is handing them back to their owners,” he said. “Or to their favorite aunt.”
Mackenzie chuckled softly as she pulled back the edges of the blankets to look at their faces. “They’re adorable, aren’t they?”
He nodded.
“Hate to tell you, but I don’t think you’ll be handing them back anytime soon. I heard Kate say she was going to sleep for a month.”
“Not if I have anything to do with it,” he replied. He offered Mackenzie a baby. “Want one? I think this one is Angus.”
“It’s Oscar. And don’t think you’re getting out of babysitting duty that easily. Anyhow,” she said, rubbing her belly, “I’m having one of my own soon. A little girl. I’m due in August.”
He automatically looked down and noticed Mackenzie’s slightly swollen belly. “Hey. That’s awesome news. I’ll bet you guys are stoked. I’d give you a kiss but my hands are full. Seriously, Kenz, congratulations, that’s the best news.”
“It is. It’s taken a long time to get here.”
Liam nodded. Nathan and Mackenzie had made no secret of their infertility struggles. It wasn’t his place to ask, but he guessed they’d gone down the IVF route.
“So when’s it going to be your turn?” Mackenzie asked.
“I’m not having kids anytime soon.”
“I’m not talking about kids. When are you going to find someone and get married?”
A high-pitched squeal stopped him from replying straight away and he turned to see a young boy chasing Tom’s daughter, Ruby, and Kate and Joel’s daughter, Annabel, around a tree. He smiled. Some things never changed. Little boys always liked to chase the little girls.
He might be thirty-something years older than the little boy, but he was no different. The only problem was, he was yet to catch the girl. Or, he corrected himself, yet to catch the right one.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to get married, it was that the only time he’d been close to thinking about it, the woman of his dreams turned out to be the woman of his biggest nightmare. Since Lily, he’d gone out with quite a few women but none of them were what he was looking for and they never lasted longer than a few dates. He would have liked to find someone special, but he’d concluded she simply didn’t exist.
“I’m happy being single,” he replied eventually. “You know that.”
Mackenzie was one of only a few people who knew the details of his disastrous relationship with Lily. Everyone had said she was his perfect match and for nearly four years he’d agreed. But within months of moving to Sydney their life unraveled like a frayed rope. He’d called it quits and walked out. It was one of his few regrets in life. If he’d stayed, would things have ended differently? He would never know.
He pushed Lily from his mind.
“You have to move on,” Mackenzie said quietly as though she could read his mind.
“You sound like Emma.”
“That’s because she’s a smart woman.”
“And doesn’t she make a gorgeous bride,” he said.
Mackenzie laughed. “Yes she does. And as much as that’s a nice change of subject, I’m smarter than that and I’m not letting this go. Seriously, when are you going to stop lying to yourself that you’re happy being Mr. Single and find someone?”
“I did find someone. You know that.”
Mackenzie touched his arm. “I know. And I’m sorry it ended the way it did, but there’s always someone else out there.”
He shrugged. “I’m not so sure about that anymore.”
“Perhaps you’re not looking hard enough.”
Angus screwed up his tiny face and let out a little mewl. Liam jiggled him gently and the baby’s eyes closed again. Crisis averted.
“Trust me, I am looking, but I reckon I already know every single female in this town,” he joked.
“And probably dated all of them too, knowing you,” Mackenzie said.
“Ouch.” He put on a wounded look.
She laughed and play-punched him on the upper arm. “Don’t even try to act offended. I know what you’re like.”
His face flamed as he recalled Kate and Joel’s wedding years earlier when he’d tried to come on to Mackenzie. It hadn’t gone down well, but thankfully he and Mackenzie could laugh about his drunken kiss.
“Have you considered internet dating?” she asked.
“No way!” he spluttered. “Jeez, Kenz, I’m not that desperate.”
“Don’t knock it. You never know, the perfect woman for y
ou might be living in the next town.”
“Knowing my luck my perfect woman is living on the other side of the world.”
“What about going on one of those reality television shows? They’re always looking for guys like you.”
“What? Like The Bachelor or Farmer Wants a Wife? You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
“Women would fall over themselves to go out with you. Tall, handsome, Irish.” She pretended to swoon and fanned her face. “You know every woman loves an Irish accent.”
He laughed. “You’d better not let your husband hear you say that.”
Mackenzie shrugged. “He knows how much I adore him.”
“Well, thanks for the compliment, but last time I checked I might be tall and Irish, but I’m definitely not handsome.”
Mackenzie screwed up her face. “Not with your hair like that. When was the last time you had it cut?”
“Ah, get off my case,” he said with a laugh and flick of his hair. Finding time to get a haircut wasn’t a priority. “You’re worse than Mum. Anyway, there’s one small flaw in your idea.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m a paramedic, not a farmer.”
She flicked her eyes in Tom's direction. “Hang around Tom for a bit and he’ll turn you into a farmer.”
Liam shook his head and stuck out his highly polished leather boot. “I might get mud on my new RM Williams. Couldn’t have that. I’m definitely not a farmer. No way I’d qualify as a country boy.”
Mackenzie smiled. “You live in a country town. Close enough.”
“I live in a modern unit in a suburban street in a regional town. I don’t think that’s what they’re looking for. Besides, I’m looking for a wife, not a wannabe celebrity.”
“What did you say?” Mackenzie’s mouth had dropped open like he’d announced he’d found the cure for cancer.
“You heard me.” No way was he going to repeat himself.
“So you admit it? You are looking for a wife?”
Liam shifted from one foot to the other. He’d done it now. “Let’s just say I’m open to the idea.”
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