Tempted by Dr. Daisy by Catherine Anderson

she paged for assistance.
    Daisy found her in a delivery room, with a labouring woman lying on the bed and her partner rubbing her back with a worried expression on his face.
    â€˜What’s up?’ she asked softly.
    â€˜The baby’s back-to-back, and I can’t shift it. Mum’s knackered, the baby’s big, she’s been in labour for hours and I think we might need a more experienced hand. Talk about easing back gently into the job!’
    Daisy nodded. She’d used the Ventouse before, but never forceps, and if the baby was very stuck or very high, it might need more than suction to help to shift the head.
    â€˜You just want to meet Ben,’ she murmured out of ear-shot, and Amy chuckled.
    â€˜Oh, yes. But seriously, we might need him.’
    â€˜I’ll page him.’
    He couldn’t have been far away, because he walked in a moment later and winked at her. ‘Morning, ladies. What can I do for you?’ he asked, and Amy spun round, gave a horrified gasp, stripped off her gloves and fled, leaving Daisy standing there staring after her in astonishment.
    â€˜Amy?’
    â€˜Amy?’
    She turned at the sound of Ben’s voice, seeing a much milder version of Amy’s shock on his face, and her heart sank. No. This couldn’t be the guy who’d broken Amy’s heart. Could it?
    â€˜Back in a minute,’ Ben said to the patient, and they went out into the corridor and stared after her.
    â€˜Do you know her?’ she asked, dreading the answer, but it wasn’t in any way the one she’d expected.
    â€˜Yes. She had a relationship with my brother.’
    â€˜Your brother ? So—why did she look at you like that?’
    â€˜Because we’re identical twins,’ he said softly. ‘I need to talk to her. Where will she have gone?’
    â€˜The emergency stairwell, I’d guess. It’s our usual retreat for a crisis.’
    â€˜Right. Lead the way—and come with me, if you know her well enough.’
    â€˜I do. She’s my best friend. And for what it’s worth, she’s never got over him.’
    He said something very quiet and very rude. She’d heard it before, when his ceiling came down—which would indicate the seriousness of this situation and the extent to which he was ruffled.
    Not as ruffled as Amy. She was crouched on the bottom step of the stairs, waiting for Daisy, and she sucked in her breath as Ben followed her into the quiet space.
    â€˜Amy, it’s me, not Matt,’ he said softly, and crouching down, he took her hands. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shock you like that. I had no idea you were here or I would have warned you.’
    She studied him for a second, and the tension drained out of her, leaving her limp and shaken. ‘It’s OK, Ben, it’s not your fault. It just—I didn’t—at first glance I…’ She broke off, shook her head. ‘It took me by surprise, that’s all. I’m OK, really.’
    â€˜Are you?’ he murmured, and then to Daisy’s horror Amy started to cry. Ben swore again and sat down beside her, slinging a solid arm round her and hugging her hard against his side. She burrowed into his chest, and Daisy, helpless, unable to do anything, sat down on the other side of her and waited until Amy’s tears stumbled to a halt.
    â€˜Sorry,’ she mumbled, groping for a tissue in her pocket. Daisy handed her one.
    â€˜OK, my love?’ she asked softly when Amy had blown her nose and shaken her head as if she was trying to clear it.
    She nodded. ‘He’s—’
    â€˜I know. He said.’
    She sucked in a shaky breath. ‘We ought to get back,’ she said. ‘My delivery…’
    â€˜Don’t worry, take your time,’ Ben soothed. ‘Go and have a cup of tea. We’ll find another midwife to help us.’
    â€˜No. It’s OK, I’ll do it. I’d rather. I