One Night with Her Italian Doc

by Karin Baine

  The lifts were busy transporting guests to the many decks, so Sophie took the stairs instead. Happy families and couples dressed for the pool or a spot of sunbathing stepped in time beside her and she followed them out onto the top deck.

  She blinked as she emerged into the sunlight, feeling the heat immediately kissing her bare skin. Her senses kicked in all at once, assaulted by the noise of the loud music, the sight of the crowds dancing and the smell of chlorine, sun cream and food. She hadn’t realised there was an all-day buffet provided. It reminded her of a school cafeteria, only with better quality food. Edith preferred to sit in one of the more civilised restaurants downstairs. Sophie’s stomach rumbled, letting her know it wasn’t fussy and she was yet to have lunch.

  Perhaps she’d avail herself of one of the sun loungers lining the deck and enjoy an al fresco snack with everyone else. She might even indulge in one of those delicious-looking frozen cocktails in plentiful supply. It was just the thing to take the edge off the day’s drama and it might even help her forget Deliciano Luciano, who’d managed to get her adrenaline pumping without even trying.

  * * *

  Luciano watched as the door rattled with Miss Blythe still ranting on the other side of it, a smirk playing on his lips. But it was soon followed by a frown. He shouldn’t be amused or find this Sophie person intriguing. For eight months at sea, in his new role as cruise doctor, he’d managed to keep that professional line drawn between him and the passengers and he preferred to keep it that way.

  He turned away, hotfooting it back to his patient and the safety of the treatment rooms.

  ‘Sorry about that, Mrs Fields. Now, we will let the drip do its work and take another look at you later.’

  ‘Yes, Doctor.’

  That was what he liked. A compliant patient. Sometimes they had to deal with people who’d overindulged in the unlimited alcohol, but if they were too raucous, Security got involved. In extreme cases they’d be ejected from the ship, holiday over. He didn’t get a lot of dissension in his own little kingdom here. Certainly, he wasn’t used to fellow medical professionals challenging him or his authority. As a result, he was finding it difficult to shift thoughts of the rebellious Sophie out of his head.

  ‘I’m sure you’re glad to see the back of her. Wowee,’ Patrice, the nurse who’d witnessed most of their exchange, whispered as they left the room.

  ‘She’s clearly very concerned.’ He didn’t want to make excuses for her but neither did he wish to bad-mouth her in her absence. In the past, he too had demanded the right to be included in a loved one’s treatment. Many times, in fact.

  Each time Renata had lost one of their precious babies, and finally when she’d contracted sepsis, he’d been there, taking out his pain on the very people trying to help his wife. He should have known better and had always apologised after the fact but it helped him understand Sophie’s frustrations. What he was struggling to figure out was his reaction to her. Since Renata, he hadn’t so much as looked at another woman, never mind given anyone a second thought. Much to his mother’s despair.

  ‘You’re my handsome boy, Luciano. I know you loved Renata very much. We all did. But you deserve to be happy again,’ she’d said to him before he’d left. What she’d meant was that he deserved to have another chance at having a family. Her desire for more grandchildren was no doubt behind the determination to see him married again.

  He felt the pressure to meet someone new, despite it being only two years since he’d lost his wife, because his parents’ marriage was held up as a template for the rest of the family. They’d been childhood sweethearts, had married young and raised four children—all whilst tending their own vineyard. It was a recipe for a good life that he and his siblings had all wanted to replicate.

  He was the only one to have failed so far. Even his kid brother had got engaged and now the expectation weighing down on Luciano had become suffocating. It was even more painful because his own house had become so lonely and empty without Renata waiting for him there. She’d been stolen away from him too soon, along with the dream of having a family of their own.

  That was why he’d given up his role as a family practitioner and signed on for the life of a cruise doctor—where relationships amongst the crew were frowned on and he was able to hide out in the medical centre. Working and sleeping was how he spent his days and nights, and he’d been content to do so, foregoing the crew social scene and excursions ashore. He was simply trundling along, existing without having to deal with real life outside. He didn’t want anyone else. Not when it meant suffering that same crushing pain when they vanished from existence. He’d barely survived losing the wife and babies who’d been everything to him. There wouldn’t be a second time.

  It suited him to drift along with the tide, not under any pressure to find another significant other. Something he’d done happily for the entirety of his contract so far. So why, after a brief, emotionally charged introduction to one particular guest, could he remember every single detail of it? And her? Her long dark hair, her sparkling blue eyes and the freckles on her bare shoulders where the sun had been lucky enough to touch her skin.

  It was unsettling to be jolted out of this safe space he’d created for himself onboard the ship. Therefore, Mrs Fields and her companion would become his top priority. Then he could discharge them both and let them get back to their holiday whilst he returned to his usual, solitary routine.

  CHAPTER TWO

  IN THE GOOD old days, Sophie wouldn’t have thought twice about lying by the pool, knocking back luminous alcoholic drinks.

  That had been pre-Ryan. Since then she’d realised the importance of responsibility and the consequences of people shirking. It made her think twice about taking off into the great unknown again, unprepared with no back-up plan if things fell through. He’d been a valuable lesson to someone who’d thought she’d achieved what her parents couldn’t by settling down with one person for the rest of her life. Not so useful to a person trying to relax. Thanks to him, she was no longer able to switch off that part of her brain that worried about poor Edith lying in a hospital bed.

  ‘Your drink, ma’am.’ A waiter—Carlo, according to his name badge—appeared by her side and extended a tray towards her.

  ‘Oh, thank you.’ Despite her reticence, Sophie had decided to take Edith’s advice and at least try to enjoy herself. And she was starting by taking advantage of the all-inclusive drinks package.

  ‘You know we have a singles club for passengers travelling on their own. I think they’re hosting a getting-to-know-each-other disco tonight. There’s no need to sit up here on your own. There are plenty of other singletons on board you could meet up with.’ The earnest waiter was being so super-friendly she was trying not to take offence, despite the fact that he was only a few years younger than she was and clearly thought she was some charity case desperately in need of friends.

  ‘That’s okay. I’m not—’

  ‘No need to be ashamed. Everyone’s a bit nervous at first but, believe me, by the end of this cruise you’ll be having the time of your life.’

  What could she do but smile sweetly and sip her drink, hoping it would extinguish the indignant fire burning in her belly. It wasn’t Carlo’s fault he’d touched on an exposed nerve. Even she hadn’t realised the break-up was still affecting her. It wasn’t that she was missing Ryan, but seeing everyone else coupled up and enjoying their holiday was a constant reminder that she was on her own. In her early twenties she’d had the world at her feet. She’d been unafraid to go it alone. She wished she could get that person back.

  ‘Is there anything else I can get for you?’

  An invisibility cloak?

  The attentive Carlo was waiting for further instruction and she wondered how many lonely women propositioned him during their holiday. More to the point, how many he actually obliged.

  ‘No, thank you. I have everythin
g I need.’ She raised her glass, which was full of Irish liqueur, vodka, ice cream and chocolate sauce. It was more dessert than drink but calling it a cocktail apparently lessened its calorific content.

  Once she was on her own again she was able to relax more. There was a fiesta vibe as the DJ cranked up the music and people were strutting their stuff on the open-air dance floor.

  Sophie unfastened her halter-neck top and slid her shorts off to take in the sun’s rays along with everyone else, grateful she had packed a couple of bikinis at the last minute. She popped on her sunglasses, lowered the back on her lounger and stretched out. With her ice-cream cocktail and the plate of food she’d helped herself to from the buffet, she was all set for the afternoon. It wasn’t long before her earlier stress began to ebb away and the encounter with Dr Montavano seemed like a bad dream.

  * * *

  ‘Ahem.’

  Sophie was woken up some time later by someone clearing their throat nearby. It was easy to see how Edith had dozed off in the heat, with the gentle motion of the ship rocking her to sleep like a baby in a crib. Thankfully Sophie had had the foresight to put on sunscreen before getting dressed this morning to avoid suffering as Edith had.

  She stretched her arms out over the top of the sun bed with a yawn. Apparently, she was capable of chilling out after all. Perhaps it was a muscle memory left over from her more selfish, less responsible travelling years.

  ‘Ahem.’

  The throat-clearing sounded closer now as a large shadow settled over her, blocking out the sun. She took off her shades to get a better look at whoever was trying to get her attention. It was possible the ever-attentive Carlo was already trying to matchmake between his sad, lonely customers. She was going to have to be more forceful about not participating in any group activities. She wasn’t on some booze cruise, where being on her own for five minutes was an invitation to any predatory males who happened by.

  ‘I’m sorry but I would really appreciate being left alone. I’ve just got out of a soul-destroying relationship and the only love affair I’m interested in is one with myself.’ It might sound egotistical, or like she was oversharing, to someone she didn’t know very well, but in her experience being polite in these situations didn’t get the point across.

  ‘That’s good to know and I’m sorry to disturb your...self-love but I need to speak to you.’

  She recognised that heavily accented voice and clumsy choice of words.

  Once he stepped directly out of the sun, she could see it was the dishy Italian doctor she’d sparred with earlier.

  ‘Sorry. I didn’t realise it was you, Doctor. I had an attentive waiter trying to make me join the lonely hearts club.’ Every word she’d uttered came back to haunt her. What must he think of her? Whatever it was had clearly amused him as she witnessed his attempt to hide a smirk.

  ‘We did try to reach you in your cabin.’

  ‘Everyone kept telling me to go and relax, so I did.’ As she tried to justify her actions she began to pull on her shorts, aware she was lying here with only a few scraps of canary-yellow fabric to cover her modesty.

  ‘Mrs Fields is experiencing some complications.’ His face was deadly serious now, making Sophie’s heart pound so hard in her ears it was deafening.

  ‘What’s happened? Is Edith okay?’ She tugged her top on over her head, ready to move at a moment’s notice.

  ‘She’s fine but I’d appreciate it if you’d could come with me back to the clinic to discuss her treatment.’ He looked as uncomfortable as she felt fumbling with the straps of her halter-neck.

  ‘Let me.’

  Before she could protest, his warm hands brushed the sensitive skin of her neck to tie the ends of the coral-coloured straps securely.

  ‘Thanks,’ she croaked, her throat suddenly dry and her skin burning where his fingers had briefly made contact.

  ‘It’s not too tight?’

  ‘No. Thank you.’ She couldn’t look at him. At least not until she’d stopped blushing.

  Gathering up her belongings, she kept her back to him until she could trust herself not to make eye contact with the owner of those strong, confident hands.

  Her thoughts were on Edith and what on earth had happened, but there was a small place taken up by reflecting on the effect the doctor was having on her. Perhaps Carlo was right and she’d been on her own too long.

  * * *

  Luciano was feeling the heat and not solely because he was standing in the sun in full uniform. He almost never ventured up on deck, especially not with the passengers. Neither did he usually volunteer to personally locate a family member. They could have made a public announcement over the loudspeaker to find her but, no, he’d insisted on breaking the news himself. Goodness knew why. She wasn’t going to take it well. In fact, she’d probably vent her ire at him when he was the one who’d forced her out of the medical centre.

  He was accepting responsibility for that decision and whatever Ms Sophie had to say on the matter.

  If that was the sole truth he wouldn’t be sweating now at the sight of her teeny-weeny two-piece. Neither would he have jumped at the chance to help cover her up, making skin-to-skin contact in the process.

  He was at a loss to explain why he was acting like a nervous suitor around this particular passenger, who was a burst of sunshine yellow in his otherwise cloudy morning. Not only was he a doctor with considerable experience of dealing with the human body but pretty women of all ages and sizes came through the clinic and he’d barely noticed them beyond their ailments. Sophie had clearly rattled him by not falling into line earlier and this was him battling to regain some sort of control of the situation.

  He watched and waited as she rolled up her towel, popped it into her bag and slipped her feet into her sandals. ‘Okay, let’s go.’

  With a brief nod he took his cue to leave, heading towards the lift with Sophie falling in behind him.

  ‘Buenos días.’

  ‘Bonjour, Capitaine.’

  ‘Hello, there.’

  As they waited for the lift, Luciano was greeted by guests of all nationalities. He offered them all a ‘Buongiorno’ in return.

  ‘Capitaine?’ Sophie mocked with a raised eyebrow.

  He kept his eyes on the electronic display, watching the numbers rise steadily towards their deck. Too slowly for his liking.

  ‘It’s the uniform. Happens all the time.’

  ‘And, of course, you don’t correct them.’

  He jabbed the button again, even though it wasn’t going to make the lift come any faster.

  ‘I did for a while. The uniform confuses people and I don’t like to embarrass them by correcting them when they’re simply saying hello.’ She didn’t need to know about the selfies passengers demanded. They didn’t care. All they wanted was a souvenir snap of a man in uniform and it was part of the reason he tried to avoid coming up here.

  As soon as the lift door opened and the new batch of sun worshippers trooped out, Luciano stepped in. He only waited long enough for Sophie to join him before punching in the number for the clinic deck, hopefully before anyone else jumped in with them and forced small talk.

  ‘What’s happened to Edith? It must’ve been serious for you to come all this way to find me.’ There was nowhere in this steel box to escape Sophie’s scrutiny, or her temper if it got the better of her again.

  It didn’t matter about their personality clash to this point, it was his duty to be professional. He had hoped she’d wait until they got back to the clinic before he the news. At least there he had a sense of authority.

  ‘I wanted to apologise for being so abrupt with you earlier. I understand you have a personal and professional investment in the patient.’

  ‘Edith.’

  ‘Edith. Although we were able to give her fluids and rehydrate her, her blood pressure remains high.’
<
br />   ‘That’s not unusual after being dehydrated, is it?’

  Again, Sophie displayed her medical knowledge of the situation. With cases of dehydration the hormone vasopressin could be secreted into the bloodstream if sodium levels dropped as a result of losing too much fluid. Excess vasopressin could cause the blood vessels to constrict, thereby increasing blood pressure. He’d seen a lot of it over these past months. That was why he’d known something wasn’t quite right here.

  ‘No, but with her age I don’t want to take any chances. We’ll continue to monitor her.’

  ‘But if you can’t get it under control there’s a chance it could lead to something more serious, such as a heart attack or stroke. This is exactly what I was worried about. I knew I should’ve stayed with her but, oh, no, you knew best...’ Unlike every other tourist he encountered, she wasn’t impressed by his uniform or intimidated by his position. She drew herself up to her full height. Tall enough to be a model but still some way from his six-foot-two frame. She made for a worthy opponent, even though they were supposed to be on the same team.

  ‘You can’t do any more for her than we already have.’

  ‘I should’ve stayed with her instead of swanning about the ship like I’m on holiday.’ Beyond the anger as she squared up to him, Luciano could see guilty tears welling in her eyes. It was understandable. He’d experienced that same sense of injustice and frustration when he’d been shut out of Renata’s treatment. It was impossible not to get emotional, even knowing that made you more of a hindrance in the treatment of a loved one.

  ‘I’m sure she’s going to be all right. I just wanted to keep you informed.’ Certain parts of his anatomy might’ve been in danger if he’d kept anything from her and something serious had happened.

  The lift arrived with a ‘ding,’ signalling a timeout as they stopped to let new passengers in. They travelled the remaining floors in silence, though he could feel Sophie’s rage emanating from the other side of the lift.