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She turned slowly into his embrace, her breath catching in her throat when he dipped his head towards her.
Her eyes fluttered shut as he pressed his lips to hers, their gentle pressure soon building to the passionate exchange she’d been waiting for. He cupped the curve of her backside and pulled her closer, fitting their bodies perfectly together. Lola heard herself moan and felt her hand slide from the door handle, all thoughts of leaving this corridor vanishing by the second. Pinned in place by his hands and lips, she’d never felt so wanted…so safe. Lola all but slid to the floor when he let go of her. ‘For the record, when we’re both ready to take the next step you will have my full attention.’ His husky-voiced promise sent goosebumps over Lola’s skin once more. If this was Henri when he was distracted, Lola wasn’t sure she would survive him at full strength. Although she’d be happy to die trying. On that thought, Henri took her hand and kissed it like a true gentleman. Only the wink as he left her gave away that devilish side she knew lurked within. Lola sighed as she let herself into the bedroom, thoroughly dazed now, and with absolutely no chance of a peaceful night’s sleep. I can’t believe my dream of becoming a Mills and Boon® author has finally come true! Thank you for buying my debut novel and being part of it. French Fling to Forever sprang to life from one small item—a pink stethoscope. I wanted my heroine to be a real girlie girl, but one so emotionally scarred she can’t see her own beauty. Bullying has become such a serious issue I thought it was important to highlight the long-term damage it can cause. Although I was lucky enough never to endure the cruelty Lola endured as a teenager, I definitely share some of her insecurities. This is the story of her strength, and the fight back against her childhood tormentors. Of course a hot Medical Romance™ wouldn’t be complete without a sexy doctor, and a brooding French registrar is the perfect man to help Lola move on from the past. I hope you’ll love Henri as much as I do…*swoon*! If you would like to get in touch you can reach me on Twitter, @karinbaine1, or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KarinBaineAuthor Enjoy! Karin xx KARIN BAINE lives in Northern Ireland with her husband, two sons, and her out-of-control notebook collection. Her mother and grandmother’s vast collection of books inspired her love of reading and her dream of becoming a Mills & Boon® author. It wasn’t until she joined her critical group, UCW, that she started to believe she could actually write—and only her husband’s support has enabled her to pursue it. At least now she can tell people she has a proper job!
French Fling to Forever is Karin Baine’s debut title for Mills & Boon® Medical Romance™!
French Fling to Forever Karin Baine For Mum and Granny Meta. I miss you both every day. xx This book would never have happened without the love and support of my husband George and our boys. A mention also to the rest of the family, who have put up with my writer/hermit craziness for years! I would need another book to list all those who helped me on this journey, but know I appreciate each and every one of you. Especially Michelle Handyside, who has answered my endless medical questions, and Julia Broadbooks, who has talked me down from the ledge on many, many occasions. Table of Contents Dear Reader CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
EPILOGUE
LOLA TOOK A sip of sweet tea and did her best to blank out the anxieties vying for space in her head. Am I up to the job? Can I cope with making life-or-death decisions? Where are the toilets? Over the rim of her cup she watched a sea of blue scrubs fill up the hospital canteen. The laughter and general chatter of her new colleagues did little to comfort her. They were so at ease, confident in their surroundings. She was sure she was the only first-year doctor here with knots in her stomach. Despite her promise to herself that her placement here in the Belfast Community Hospital would be another step towards independence, she was tempted to run. Until recently she’d always had her brothers close by, to reassure her and take her by the hand when she needed it. It had been her idea to leave home once she’d graduated from medical school, although she wasn’t sure if moving across the city to flat-share with her best friend counted as a particularly bold move. Right now she needed one of those warm bear hugs only big brothers could give. This sense of isolation wasn’t alien to her, but it was still as daunting as it had been at fifteen, when her whole world had fallen apart. Even now, almost ten years later, Lola couldn’t shake off the paranoia that everyone was watching her and judging her and that at some point she’d be made to pay for being different. She jumped as the first dramatic chords of her mobile phone’s ringtone blared from her pocket and jolted her back from her nightmarish thoughts. It wouldn’t do for her to get lost in those dark thoughts of pain and humiliation when she was due for her induction into the emergency department in fifteen minutes. She was sure every pair of eyes in the room swivelled towards her as her clammy hands fumbled to retrieve the phone. ‘Hello,
