A Baby for the Flying Doctor Read Online Free

table in front of him.
    ‘Oh, hi.’ Why had her heart-rate picked up the instant she’d seen him? ‘Pardon?’
    ‘The dining carriage. It’s completely filled with people.’
    ‘Oh.’ Euphemia frowned, then shrugged. ‘Oh, well. I guess I’ll have to wait until the rush is over for a warm drink.’
    ‘Not necessarily.’ Gil indicated his Thermos. ‘Would you care to join me?’ When she hesitated for a moment, he continued, ‘After all, I do remember inviting you to join me at some point. That point could be now.’
    Phemie smiled. ‘Yes. Yes it could.’ She remembered Melissa’s encouraging words about taking a step outside her comfort zone. Besides, it wasn’t as though Gil was a complete stranger. She already felt as though she knew him, thanks to his brilliant articles and textbooks, and Dex knew him so that gave her a personal connection of sorts and a reason to trust him a little sooner than she would have trusted the average stranger. Not that she was implying that he was average because, just by looking at him, she could tell he was more than above avera—She stopped her thoughts when she realised he was still waiting for an answer. ‘Uh…well…all right, then, Professor. Let’s do this now.’ Phemie flicked the end of her blonde ponytail down her back and sat down opposite him.
    ‘Excellent.’ Gil opened the lid of his Thermos and poured out a cup. ‘I’m sorry if you take tea with milk or sugar. We could probably rustle some up from somewhere but I’m afraid I drink it black.’
    ‘All the better to infuse your mouth with flavours?’ she asked.
    Gil chuckled and the warmth of the sound washed over her. ‘Something like that.’
    ‘Black is fine.’ Phemie took a sip and tried not to make a face. ‘What sort of tea is this?’ She’d been expecting plain black, not slightly flavoured.
    ‘Earl Grey. Don’t like it?’
    ‘It tastes like dishwater.’
    ‘Is that so? Well, as I am not a connoisseur of dishwater, I can’t cast a vote on your assessment. Do you drink it often? Dishwater, I mean.’
    Phemie laughed. ‘Can’t say that I do, although where I live, running water is considered a luxury so if anything gets into our water tanks, it can taste pretty gross.’
    ‘So you don’t infuse your mouth with the flavours from the washing-up water?’
    She shook her head and laughed again. He was handsome. He was polite and now he was bringing out humour. Lethal combination.
    ‘Tell me, then, Dr Grainger, what sort of tea do you usually drink?’
    ‘Australian, of course. It’s rich, full bodied and there’s plenty of it.’
    The light in Gil’s eyes twinkled as their gazes held. Was she not only describing the essence of Australia but the essence of Euphemia Grainger? ‘I’m intrigued. Sounds like something I should experience whilst I’m in your country.’
    ‘I think you should.’ Why did she get the feeling they were having two completely different conversations? There was a light in his eyes, one that made her heart rate instantly increase.
    ‘It’s settled, then.’
    ‘What is?’ Confusion creased her brow.
    ‘That you’ll meet me in the conference hotel lobby at the end of the first day’s sessions to treat me to a rich, full-bodied Australian experience.’
    Was he still talking about tea? ‘In Sydney?’
    ‘They don’t drink tea in Sydney?’
    ‘Yes. Of course they do. Sorry.’ She was still coming to terms with the fact that Gil was more than happy to spend time with her at the conference…in a personal capacity. ‘I’m not sure I remember where a good tea house is in Sydney. It’s been a while since I was there.’
    The train jolted a little and Gil rocked forward towards her but there he stayed, his face close, his words a little more intimate than before. ‘Then we shall have to explore together.’
    Phemie held her breath, her gaze flicking to his mouth, then back to his eyes, a strange warmth settling over her. The moment grew more intense