The Army Doctor's Wedding by Helen Scott Taylor Page B

rebel forces. I bet you're pleased to be home."
    Alice nodded. "Thank you for
picking us up."
    "No problem." Radley
smacked the back of Cameron's head playfully. "Had to pick up the little
brother anyway."
    Sami chose that moment to wake
and let out a thin wail of hunger. Radley bent over the bag, his expression
softening. "This must be the baby you want Fabian to see." He moved
the cover away from Sami's mouth so he could see his lip. "Any fissure in
the soft palate?"
    "No, just the lip,"
Cameron answered.
    "In that case, Fabian should
be able to operate immediately. Probably the sooner the better."
    Alice's heart skipped a beat. She
gripped Sami's tiny hand, relief mingled with nerves that her baby was to have
an operation.
    Radley must have noticed her
expression because he smiled reassuringly. "Nothing to worry about.
Lieutenant Colonel Fabian is one of the best plastic surgeons in the
world."
    Cameron moved to her side, put an
arm around her, and angled his head close. "It's a routine procedure. All
Sami will have is a tiny scar."
    Alice leaned the side of her head
on his shoulder, instinctively accepting the comfort he offered. She might have
only known him for a few weeks, but it seemed like longer. Being thrown
together in such extreme circumstances had brought them close.
    He had been wonderful,
supportive, and helpful. It would be great to stay with him, to have someone on
her side, someone who would put himself out to help her.
    Radley's amused chuckle drew her
gaze. "Olivia was fretting over the sleeping arrangements, worrying if we
had enough bedrooms what with Mum and Dad coming for the weekend as well. Looks
like you two will be happy to share a room."
    Alice tensed, heat streaking through
her body and bursting in her cheeks. Cameron would have to tell his brother
that they weren't really a couple, yet she had been enjoying the pretense.
    Cameron's arm tightened around
her shoulders. "That's fine," he said. "Of course we'll share. I
guess you'll find out soon enough, so I might as well tell you now—Alice is my
wife."
    ***
    Alice sat in the back of Radley's large black 4x4 beside
Sami, who was strapped in a luxury baby seat that belonged to Radley's baby
daughter.
    Her thoughts churned, her emotions
swinging all over the place. Cameron had told his brother they were married,
but he hadn't explained their temporary arrangement. Now Cameron's family would
believe the marriage was the real thing.
    Why had he lied? Did he worry his
parents wouldn't accept her and Sami if they knew the truth? Was it possible he
really had feelings for her?
    No, that was just wishful
thinking.
    Alice rubbed her temples. Too
many wild thoughts swirled in her head. She didn't know if she was pleased or
upset. Now they would have to maintain the pretense in front of people who knew
Cameron, and could tell when he lied. All she'd wanted was help to bring her
baby boy here. Everything seemed to be getting out of hand.
    Her eyelids fell and she yawned,
suddenly overwhelmed with fatigue after the long day of traveling. In the
front, Cameron and Radley discussed the progress of the conflict in Africa. The
pleasant timbre of their deep masculine voices washed over her and she dozed.
    "Nearly there," Cameron
said after a while.
    She opened her eyes to see him
looking back at her between the seats. "You can have a nap when we get to
Radley's, if you like. I'll look after Sami."
    "I'll see how I feel."
Alice smiled and Cameron reached back and squeezed her knee. He had helped her
with Sami, but it was the first time he had offered to look after him. She was
pleased but uncertain as well. They needed to discuss this fake marriage and
lay the ground rules so she knew what to expect.
    The car glided along a narrow
country road with bushy hedges on either side and colorful wildflowers
scattered among the green grass. Radley turned the car between two stone
pillars and the tires crunched up a gravel drive between borders of shrubs and
flowers before