by Lucy Clark
The action had only lasted a fraction of a second and the flight attendant was once more urging her to get on the plane.
‘This time it’s you leaving,’ he murmured as he stepped back. ‘Take care, Dr Fox.’
‘You, too, Dr Williams.’
The sound of Natalie’s ringing cellphone woke her up just before one o’clock. She checked the display—it was the hospital.
‘Alysha’s vomited for the second time and is complaining of stomach cramps,’ the night sister reported.
‘I’ll be right there.’ Glad of the excuse to stop feigning sleep, Natalie quickly dressed and pulled her hair back into a ponytail before heading out to her car.
As she walked onto the ward a little later, she left her mixed thoughts about Richard and Marty at the door and concentrated on Alysha. She checked in with Andrew to let him know she’d taken over Alysha’s care for the rest of the night and went to see her patient.
The child was crying in pain and Natalie’s heart turned over with compassion. ‘White blood cell count, check her electrolyte levels again and call the paediatric surgeon,’ Natalie instructed the nurse as she washed her hands and pulled on a pair of gloves. ‘Hello, darling,’ she soothed. ‘I need to feel your tummy and you tell me where it hurts.’
Alysha’s screams of pain told Natalie exactly where it hurt and she could feel for herself the increase in abdominal distension. A moment later the poor child vomited again and Natalie ordered some pain relief.
‘What about the fish oil?’ Alysha’s mother asked frantically.
‘We were going to start it in the morning but I’m afraid we’re past that for the moment. Alysha will probably need surgery within the next hour as there’s got to be an obstruction in her small intestine,’ Natalie explained. ‘The paediatric surgeon will be here shortly and we’ll explain the operation to you. At the moment we need to keep Alysha as comfortable as possible. She’ll also need a new set of X-rays so once the analgesics have taken effect, we’ll get her down to Radiology.’
Alysha had just returned from Radiology when the paediatric surgeon arrived. He agreed with Natalie’s diagnosis and booked an emergency theatre. ‘Once she’s anaesthetised I’ll do a colonoscopy so we can find the obstruction as well as perform a biopsy. Are the results from the white blood cell count back yet?’
‘Yes. Elevated.’
‘Which confirms the obstruction or possible perforation.’ When everything had been explained to Alysha’s mother and the consent form had been signed, Natalie accompanied the child to Theatre. She stayed through the anaesthetic consultation, giving the information required, and bent to give the little girl a kiss on her forehead before the trolley was wheeled into Theatre.
She returned to the ward and picked up the phone to arrange Alysha’s transfer to ICU once the child was out of Recovery.
‘Sorry, Natalie. No room at the inn,’ the ICU sister reported.
‘Fully booked?’
‘Every bed taken.’
Natalie sighed and closed her eyes. ‘All right. I’ll organise for her to come back here after surgery.’
‘If the situation changes, I’ll let you know.’
‘Thanks.’ Natalie made a few more calls, requesting an extra nurse to provide one-on-one care for Alysha through the rest of the night. Four hours later, Natalie was sitting by Alysha’s beside, watching her patient.
‘I knew I’d find you here.’
Startled because she hadn’t heard anyone come in, Natalie jumped and rose quickly from her chair. ‘Marty!’ She stared at him as though he was simply a figment of her imagination.
‘At least you remember me.’
She frowned. ‘Why wouldn’t I?’ she whispered, confusion filling her fuzzy mind. Something wasn’t quite right.
‘No reason. How’s Alysha?’
‘Holding her own.’
‘That’s good news.’
‘Yes.’ Natalie paused. ‘What are you doing here?’
He shrugged. ‘Couldn’t sleep.’ He edged towards the bed, making the dimly lit room seem smaller than it was.
‘Why not?’
‘Because I kept thinking about you.’ He was close now. Closer than he’d been before. He reached up and touched her cheek. ‘Can’t you feel it, Nat?’
‘Mmm.’ Her eyelids fluttered closed at his sweet caress. Longing and need ripped through her and she wanted, so badly, for him to press his mouth to hers. As though he could read her mind, the next thing she felt was the brush of his lips against hers. She gasped, amazed to discover she’d just been given the most tantalising and precious kiss of her whole life.
CHAPTER THREE
‘NAT?’
The sound of her name on Marty’s lips was heaven and she slowly opened her eyes. His hand fell to her shoulder and gave her a little shake as he smiled down into her face.
‘Hey. Wake up, sleepyhead.’
Natalie stayed where she was for a moment before realisation dawned on her. She was sitting in a chair at the nurses’ station, her head on the desk. She’d fallen asleep. Natalie closed her eyes as embarrassment swarmed over her and she swallowed the lump in her throat, realising she’d been dreaming…dreaming about Marty. She risked a glance at him. He was grinning from ear to ear. Oh, no. Had she spoken out loud?
‘Did I say anything?’
Marty just continued to grin and she realised he was trying to unnerve her. ‘Why? Were you having hot dreams?’
Natalie’s eyes widened for a moment before she realised if she rose to the bait, he’d just continue to tease her. ‘Not particularly,’ she lied, but couldn’t meet his gaze as she spoke.
‘No. You didn’t say anything but my, oh, my, did you look cute.’
‘Cut it out,’ she said.
‘I heard about Alysha. How’s she doing?’
‘Uh…’ Natalie opened her mouth to tell him but a yawn escaped. ‘Excuse me,’ she said, covering her mouth. ‘Uh…let’s go check on her.’ She stood and headed to Alysha’s room. The nurse was sitting beside the little girl and smiled as they both came in. ‘How is she?’
‘Doing much better since you checked a few hours ago,’ the nurse said. ‘Did you manage to get some sleep?’
Natalie nodded as she picked up the chart. The drains were working well and the level of analgesics had decreased since she’d last checked. ‘Has she woken?’
‘A few times, but she settled very quickly.’
‘Good.’ Natalie handed the chart to Marty.
‘Go have some breakfast and then some more sleep,’ the nurse suggested.
‘Sounds like a good idea,’ Marty replied, and returned the chart to the basket at the end of the bed. ‘Let’s go, Dr Nat.’ He linked his arm with hers and led her out of the room just as she smothered another yawn.
‘What are you doing here?’
He shrugged. ‘Wanted to make a good impression, you know, being the new boy and all.’
Natalie unlinked her arm from his when they reached the nurses’ station and wrote in Alysha’s notes while she stood at the desk. If she sat down again, she wasn’t sure she’d get up. Fatigue was setting in.
She closed the file and her eyes, trying to stretch out the uncomfortable pain in her neck, back and shoulders. When she finished, she opened her eyes and was surprised to find Marty staring at her. A warmth spread over her as though he’d just caressed every part of her body. ‘P-problem?’ She wanted to sink into the floor at her stutter. Now he would know just how much his close proximity as well as his visual appraisal were affecting her.
He held her gaze for a moment before shaking his head, although the action was barely noticeable. ‘No.’ The word came out deep and husky and the warmth ignited through her again. He swallowed and she watched the action of his Adam’s apple as it slid up and down, a tingling awareness enveloping them. ‘No. No problem at all.’ He held her gaze for a fraction of a second longer before he glanced away momentarily, his body relaxing. ‘Well,’ he relented, and
cleared his throat, a cheeky grin spreading across his face. ‘Only that your body is far more developed than it ever was in high school.’
‘Marty!’ she whispered, and raised her hands to her cheeks, positive he’d just made her blush. ‘Don’t say things like that.’
‘Why not?’ He shrugged. ‘It’s the truth. You’re a beautiful woman. Why can’t I appreciate that? Besides, you checked me out last night so it was only fair I take advantage of an opportunity to check you out.’
Natalie couldn’t have answered even if she’d wanted to as the ward sister bustled into the room and she quickly looked away from Marty’s hypnotising gaze.
‘Good morning, Doctors,’ Sister Dorset said briskly. She was a no-nonsense woman in her late fifties who was as starched as her uniform. ‘Are you both officially on duty?’
‘Er…’ Natalie began, still trying to get herself under control. Thankfully, Marty came to her rescue.
‘Not for another few hours, Sister.’
‘Off you go, then. Out of my ward.’
Marty opened his mouth to say something but Natalie quickly came back to earth and took his arm, dragging him out the room. ‘Thank you, Sister.’ She collected her bag and walked through the ward to the doors at the end.
‘What’s going—?’
‘Shh,’ was all she said. ‘Keep walking, Williams.’ She tugged at his arm again.
‘All right. I’m coming.’
Once they were out of the ward, Natalie dropped his arm and turned to face him, a wide grin on her face. ‘You can thank me for saving you later.’
‘Who is that?’
Natalie headed towards the stairs, yawning again. ‘That, my dear friend, is Sister Dorset. First name is Agnes and you will not call her that under any circumstances. Not the surgeons, not the director, not even the chief executive officer of the hospital gets away with calling her by her first name.’
Marty followed her as she led him out the hospital. ‘You can explain everything to me over breakfast.’
Natalie turned and stopped and he crashed into her, his arms coming about her waist momentarily to steady not only himself but her as well. She glanced up at him and the earlier awareness returned. It was as though time stood still as her senses all came on alert. The scent of him wound itself around her and the warmth emanating from his touch caused a current to course through her body before exploding. She gasped, realising just how close their mouths were as she continued to stare into his eyes.
Marty seemed to come to his senses first and quickly dropped his hands and stepped away. ‘Stuie’s?’ he asked, but his voice wasn’t so steady. He cleared his throat and shifted his feet before offering a crooked grin.
The moment passed. ‘Sounds good.’ They walked the short block to Stuie’s and Natalie was glad the place was almost devoid of hospital staff. She was tired and hungry and not in the mood to socialise with other people. She had Marty all to herself and she was going to enjoy it.
The instant the thought entered her head, she pushed it away. They were just friends and that’s the way it was going to stay. She had no right to be thinking of him in a romantic way. She was dating Richard and, besides, Marty wasn’t her type. She liked men who were stable, mature and grown-up.
‘What’ll you have?’ he asked as they sat down.
‘Pancakes and maple syrup, coffee and a bowl of fruit.’
‘Sounds good. I’ll have the same.’ The waitress came over and he gave their order. ‘You’ve obviously had breakfast here before.’
‘I like it here in the mornings. Quieter.’
‘I’ll say. Last night was a madhouse. I met Beth, by the way.’
‘Yes. She mentioned it.’
‘Very pretty woman. I’m looking forward to tonight.’
A knot in Natalie’s stomach twisted at the thought of Beth and Marty together. Was she going to be an unwanted third tonight? ‘Blondes your type, eh?’
Marty leaned across the table and once more his delicious fresh aftershave wound its way about her. ‘All women are my type,’ he said softly, his gaze melding with hers. In the next instant he’d leaned back into his chair and gave a nonchalant shrug. ‘Except for women who are already taken, of course.’
‘Of course,’ she murmured, still slightly hypnotised by his gaze. She shook her head and re-focused. ‘Well, I’m glad you and Beth hit it off. She is your type.’
‘And what type is that?’ His smile was broad, one eyebrow raised as though he was extremely interested in her reply.
‘You know. Not serious about relationships. Likes to have fun, not interested in settling down.’
‘Ah. That type. Hmm.’ And that was all he said on the subject, leaving Natalie to mull over exactly what that meant. ‘Now, about Sister Dorset.’
‘Oh, yes. Sister Dorset apparently started nursing in the Dark Ages and still abides by all the codes and ethics of that time. She is an excellent nurse and, although very strict with our little patients, is very good with them. I think, initially, some of the children are a little frightened of her but they soon realise she’s an old softy at heart. She once said to me, after a critical patient had turned the corner, that you really got to know a person when you saw them at their most vulnerable.’
‘So if she’s a softy with the children, why can’t the staff break through?’
Natalie eyed him warily. ‘Taking this as a personal challenge?’
Marty grinned. ‘Why not? I’ve always liked a challenge. Reckon she’ll let me call her Aggie?’
Natalie choked on a laugh of incredulity. ‘Yeah, right, Marty.’
‘What? Don’t think I can do it?’
‘Sister Dorset, as I’ve said, is the name everyone calls her, from the lowly intern to the highest-paid consultant. In turn, she calls the staff either Nurse or Doctor, regardless of their qualifications. It usually bothers those newly qualified consultants but Sister Dorset doesn’t care. A doctor is a doctor. A nurse is a nurse. If she must refer to you by name it will always be Dr Williams or Dr Fox but only if she needs to make the distinction for some reason.’
Marty rubbed his hands together. ‘This is just the challenge I’ve been looking for.’
‘And seducing the female staff isn’t?’
He frowned. ‘Hardly challenging, my darling Nat. Besides, would you care to make a little wager?’
‘That you’ll one day be able to call her Agnes?’ Natalie shook her head. ‘You’re insane.’
‘Thank you. So? Bet?’
‘I can’t lose this one. All right. What are the terms?’
‘By Christmas—that’s four weeks away—I’ll be allowed to call Sister Dorset, Aggie.’
Natalie choked on a laugh. ‘Aggie?’
‘If I succeed, you have to agree to whatever I propose.’
‘And if I win?’
‘I have to agree to whatever you propose.’
The waitress brought their breakfast over and Natalie was thankful for the interruption. Just the word ‘propose’ coming out of Marty’s mouth was frightening enough. She had no problem being in a long-term relationship so long as she called the shots, which was why she chose men she thought of as safe. Marty certainly wasn’t her type at all. Besides, with his dark hair and blue eyes, he reminded her—in physical appearance only—of her father and she didn’t date men who reminded her of her father. Personality-wise, though, Marty and her father were poles apart, thank goodness.
She took a sip of her coffee. ‘What do you mean by “propose”?’
‘If I want to go…paint-balling, for instance, you have to come. If I want to go skydiving, you have to come.’ He grinned at her.
‘And if I win, you have to do what I propose?’
‘Yes.’
‘Leg waxing?’
‘Ouch.’ He grimaced at the thought but nodded.
‘Body piercing? Head shaved?’
‘Are those fetishes of yours?’
Natalie laughed, her earlier tension disappearing
. She sipped at her coffee again but didn’t answer his question. ‘OK. You’ve got yourself a bet, Dr Williams.’
He held out his hand and she confidently slid her fingers into his, ignoring the tingles that shot up her arm. ‘It’s a bet.’ The warmth he radiated as he clasped her hand to his was amazing and once more their gazes met and held.
These little moments between them were starting to become a habit, one she needed to break right now. Natalie quickly pulled back as though burnt. ‘Christmas isn’t that far away, Marty. You’ll need to get started immediately.’
‘I’ve already formulated my plan of action.’ He cut up his pancakes and forked in a mouthful. ‘Mmm. These are delicious. Is this what you were dreaming about when I woke you?’
Natalie had her fork halfway to her mouth but dropped it at his words, the metal cutlery clanging to the plate. The few people around them stopped to look. She quickly collected the fork and put the food in her mouth, once more feeling highly self-conscious. ‘Mmm,’ she echoed, trying to cover up her embarrassment. It was better he thought she’d been dreaming about pancakes, rather than trying to guess exactly where her thoughts had been!
Later that morning, Natalie walked into the ward to see Marty standing on a ladder, hanging tinsel from the ceiling.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked.
‘What does it look like?’
‘Have the decorations been properly aired and dusted?’
‘How should I know?’ he grumbled, glancing down at her. ‘All I know is, this ward needs some decorations.’
‘Agreed, but Sister will have a fit if they haven’t been properly aired and de-dusted.’ Natalie headed over to the nurses’ station.
‘De-dusted?’ Marty quizzed. ‘Is that an actual word, Dr Fox?’
‘Ha. Very funny.’ She picked up a set of case notes, then looked up at him. ‘Then again, if Sister gets cross with you for jumping the gun, I’ll have a better chance of winning the bet.’ She waved a hand at him, dismissing his actions. ‘Go ahead and deck those halls, my friend.’
