Alex shrugged. ‘It was an emergency and, yes, to answer your question, I had done one before. Several, in fact.’

She looked at him curiously. ‘You did obstetrics?’

‘For a year. Why?’

‘Because you just don’t seem like the type of guy who’d enjoy it. All that emotion and children and you don’t even like—’ She broke off and he let out a long breath.

‘I like children, Jenny,’ he said quietly. ‘I just don’t want any of my own because I know I’d make a lousy father. And in a way you’re right. Obstetrics didn’t suit me. I did it because for a while I considered doing a GP rotation, but then I discovered that I missed A and E so I went back to that. But obviously I learned some skills along the way.’

‘Like how to do the fastest section on record.’

Alex shrugged. ‘Well, speed isn’t always the most important factor, of course. For a routine section it’s better to take more time, but in Jilly’s case it was literally a matter of life or death so you take your chances and go with speed.’

‘A sort of Ferrari version of a Caesarean section.’ Jenny laughed and he smiled back, his eyes glittering dangerously.

‘And just what do you know about Ferraris, Little Red Riding Hood?’

‘Only that they’re fast.’ Her smile faded. ‘Do you think they’ll both be all right?’

Alex shrugged and pushed his plate away. ‘Who knows? We did our best. Now we have to wait and see. The baby’s still small but he should be OK.’

Jenny stared at him, blushing slightly. ‘You were amazing.’

He lifted an eyebrow mockingly. ‘I thought I was a rich playboy with wicked habits?’

Her blush deepened. ‘You do have wicked habits but you were still amazing. You’re a good doctor. And I don’t think you’d make a lousy father at all. I think you’d be a very good father.’

He leaned back in his chair, his face inscrutable. ‘That’s not true.’

‘Who has made you think otherwise?’ It was almost an exact replica of the conversation they’d had about her appearance and his wry smile told her that he was aware of it.

‘Trying to get smart, Red Riding Hood?’

‘I just think the problem is in your head,’ she said daringly, reminding him of his words to her, and he leaned forward, his gaze locked on hers.

‘The problem,’ he said slowly, ‘is that I like my selfish, bachelor existence.’

‘But you’d still make a good father.’

And with that she stood up quickly and picked up the plates, hurrying out of the room before he could reply.

CHAPTER SIX

TWENTY-FOUR hours after giving birth Jilly was well enough to be transferred to the maternity ward and everyone was hailing her recovery as a miracle.

‘Which is a load of nonsense,’ Tina said briskly as they prepared for another busy day. ‘The only miracle around here was Alex Westerling.’

Jenny had to agree. ‘I’ll never forget how quickly he delivered that baby. I didn’t even know he knew about babies.’