by Lucy Clark
“Alex…I want to be with you.
“I like hearing the sound of your voice. I like watching the way you walk. I like working with you. Intellectually and emotionally we’re a perfect match.”
“I’ll end up hurting you, Jordanne,” he confessed, his tone laced with desire and regret.
“What if you don’t hurt me? What if we fall in love and end up living happily ever after?” she asked gently, hoping she didn’t scare him off.
“You’re deluding yourself,” he said softly as he gazed deeply into her eyes. “Jordanne—” he slowly shook his head “—I’m a selfish man. If I don’t hold you in my arms tonight, if I don’t kiss you the way I’ve been dreaming about for the past month, if I pass up this opportunity…I’ll regret it.”
“Then don’t pass it up.”
“I’m sorry, Jordanne,” he whispered, before his lips claimed hers in an electrifying kiss.
Dear Reader,
When I was fourteen, my parents moved to Canberra, which is the capital of Australia. Within a few years of living there I fell in love with the place. Every year, we still return for a visit, and catch up with family and good friends. If ever you’re visiting Australia, make sure you allow time to experience this magnificent city.
The initial concept for this story came out of a fifteen-second news report we heard in 1996. The idea grew over the years into what has now become The Surgeon’s Secret. Jordanne and Alex hold a very special place in my heart, and I hope they’ll become just as dear to you.
With warmest regards,
Lucy Clark
The Surgeon’s Secret
Lucy Clark
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ONE
‘WE’VE been working together for three weeks,’ Jordanne McElroy complained down the telephone receiver to her good friend Kirsten Doyle. The two women had known each other since med school. ‘Three weeks,’ Jordanne stressed. ‘And still all I get from him are monosyllables.’
Kirsten laughed. ‘Surely it’s not all monosyllables.’
‘Well, except when we’re discussing patients,’ Jordanne acknowledged. ‘Otherwise monosyllables.’
‘Jordanne, you have to settle down. Alex is probably just…overwhelmed by you.’
‘Overwhelmed? Why?’ Jordanne frowned. She drummed her fingers on her desk, waiting impatiently for Kirsten’s answer.
‘Jordanne, the first time you met the man you threw your arms around him and kissed him.’
‘I didn’t kiss him,’ Jordanne corrected immediately. ‘I hugged him, yes, but he’d just saved Joel’s life. Wouldn’t you thank someone who’d saved your brother’s life?’ Jordanne demanded.
‘Of course I would. All I meant was that Alex probably would have preferred a handshake.’
‘I won’t change who I am,’ Jordanne warned, and then sighed, realising she was probably overreacting. ‘I can’t help it if I come across as a little…exuberant sometimes.’ She shrugged even though Kirsten couldn’t see her.
‘Sometimes?’
‘Oh, all right—most of the time. But it’s one of my better qualities. It’s who I am. Alex will just have to learn to accept it.’
‘You both need to find common ground soon otherwise the research project might suffer.’
‘I wouldn’t let it suffer,’ Jordanne stated stubbornly. ‘Alex Page may be head of the orthopaedic department at Canberra General Hospital, and I may be employed as his research fellow for the next twelve months but even if he doesn’t say another word to me for the rest of my contract there’s no way in the world that I would ever let the work suffer. Especially when he’s gone to so much trouble to obtain funding for my position. We’re both professionals.’
‘That’s what I love about you,’ Kirsten stated strongly. ‘Your bold determination never wanes, regardless of what challenges you’re facing.’
‘I just can’t believe how…blunt the man is,’ Jordanne said, not pacified by her friend’s praise. ‘In my family, we were always taught that manners meant everything and cost nothing. Alex Page has the manners of a bad-tempered gorilla. Quite frankly, Kirsten, I’m surprised that he and Jed have remained friends for so long.’
‘Men obviously look for different types of friendships to women.’
‘No. That’s not it. Not in this instance at any rate. Jed is my oldest brother. All of us—all six of us—were raised knowing the importance of good manners.’ Jordanne looked at the Monet print that hung on her office wall opposite her desk. She’d positioned it there to help her relax—it wasn’t working. The only other wall hanging she had was a painting her sister Jasmine had done a few years ago.
‘I’ve not had one please or thank you from him since I started. He may be tall, dark and handsome and have half of the females in this hospital swooning at his feet, but not me. I have little time and no patience with people like him.’ Even as Jordanne said the words out loud, she knew they didn’t ring true. Her thoughts had turned to Alex Page far too often for her liking during the past three weeks and that implied she had a lot of time for ‘people like him’.
‘Who are you trying to kid? You’ve got your knickers in a twist over him.’ Kirsten was silent for a second before saying, ‘He is rather good-looking but, then, we all know I’m a sucker for a tall man with dark brown hair and blue eyes.’
‘I thought you didn’t fancy him?’ Jordanne said, ignoring the hint of irritation she’d experienced at her friend’s words.
‘I don’t, well, at least, he doesn’t do anything for me. I’ve only met him once, remember, and even then Sally and Jed were around. Just a minute,’ Kirsten said, and Jordanne heard someone talking to her friend. ‘I’ve got to go, Jordanne. My first patient has arrived.’
No sooner were the words out of Kirsten’s mouth than Jordanne’s office door burst opened and there stood the man she was talking about, his hand still on the doorhandle.
Alex’s gaze met hers before his eyes dipped to look at her clothes. His gaze settled briefly on the gold fob chain that rested on top of her royal blue silk blouse near the valley of her breasts. Jordanne felt tingles flood throughout her entire body at the caress from his gaze. Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for him to speak.
His gaze finally met hers once more. ‘Clinic.’ The word was gruff before he closed the door behind him.
Jordanne breathed out slowly, amazed at the way he made her feel. ‘Oh, he’s good,’ she told Kirsten who was still on the other end of the phone. ‘He just opened my door, made me feel as though I was on fire with one simple look and then poof, he’s gone like a magician, but not before he delivers his monosyllabic order.’
‘From what you’ve just said, it sounds as though he’s attracted to you,’ Kirsten ventured. ‘Why don’t you try touching him—accidentally on purpose, mind you—in clinic. Just brush your arm up against his and watch his reaction.’
‘Kirsten.’ Jordanne shook her head even though her friend couldn’t see. ‘You’re just jumping to conclusions. I’m nothing more than a lackey to him.’
‘Even so—try it. Call me tonight and let me know how it goes. Right now we both have Monday morning to get through.’
Jordanne said goodbye and ended the call, still feeling irritated with her new boss for making her so confused. Forcing herself to do some deep breathing, she crossed over to her white coat that hung by the door and put it on. Reaching for her stethoscope which she’d left on her desk, she looped it aro
und the back of her neck, making sure her long brown hair was still secure in the bun she’d wound it into that morning, before opening the door.
Jordanne hadn’t wanted to be attracted to Alex Page, but she was. She’d been instantly aware of his magnificent physique that very first time she’d hugged him. The revelation had surprised and delighted her, but ever since she’d started working with him the physical attraction she’d felt had been nudged aside in light of his manners.
Things just didn’t add up. When her brother, Jed, had initially told her about this job, he’d prophesied that she’d like working with his good friend. Sally, Jordanne’s friend since med school and now her sister-in-law-to-be, had also thought Jordanne and Alex would work well together.
Two people—whose opinions she’d not only listened to but trusted—were turning out to be wrong. Very wrong.
‘Something’s not right,’ she mumbled to herself as she walked into the orthopaedic outpatient department that was swarming with patients. Although she might be annoyed and irritated with her new boss, she was also mildly intrigued to know why he was so blunt with her.
‘Hi, Jordanne,’ Sister Trudy Elliot greeted her as she entered the consulting area. ‘How’s that sexy brother of yours progressing?’
Jordanne smiled, glad to have something other than Alex Page to focus on. ‘Which one?’ Jordanne teased. ‘I have four brothers, remember.’
‘Joel, of course.’ Trudy laughed. ‘I definitely wouldn’t mean Jed, otherwise Sally would have my head.’
‘Oh? So you know?’ Jordanne looked puzzled. As far as she knew, neither Sally nor Jed had set foot inside the hospital since their return from Sydney yesterday evening, and she hadn’t said anything. Jed had only proposed to Sally last Friday night—in front of the entire McElroy clan. It had been so romantic and it had been obvious to everyone who’d witnessed the event that they’d only had eyes for each other. Jordanne was so happy for both of them and silently wished that she, too, would find happiness in love—sooner rather than later.
‘Know what?’ Trudy asked, her interest piqued.
‘Uh…’ she stalled, realising her error, instantly mad at Alex Page. It was all his fault. If her mind hadn’t been so preoccupied with him she wouldn’t have made that slip. ‘That Joel’s now in Sydney,’ she said, hopefully covering up her mistake.
‘Yes.’ Trudy frowned at her. ‘I know Alex discharged him home and handed his case over to another orthopod in Sydney. That’s why I’m asking.’
‘Well, he was doing fine when I left my parents’ house yesterday. Mum’s a real nurturer so Joel will receive the best care at home.’
‘It must be nice to come from such a loving family.’ Trudy sighed.
‘Patients,’ a deep male voice boomed, and Jordanne turned from Trudy to see Alex walking towards her, hospital case notes cradled in his arm. He stopped and dished out two files to Jordanne before nodding and walking away.
Jordanne looked to Trudy but the nurse obviously didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong as she checked her watch.
‘Goodness, Alex is right. We’d better get this clinic under way or we’ll all be running late for the rest of the day.’
Jordanne entered her consulting room and ground her teeth together in exasperation. She only had a few minutes to settle in at her desk before Trudy showed the first patient in and the clinic began.
Jordanne saw one patient after the other, and just before midday the phone on her desk shrilled to life.
‘Dr McElroy,’ she answered absent-mindedly as she finished writing up some case notes.
‘Have you got a moment?’ Alex’s deep voice caught her off guard.
‘Uh, yes. Problem?’
‘Just an interesting case I thought you might like to look at.’
‘Which consulting room are you in?’
‘Three.’
‘I’ll be right there,’ Jordanne replied. She finished writing up her notes and stood, placing the completed file on the desk for the clerks to deal with. She walked across the corridor, tapped briefly on the door to consulting room three and walked in. It wasn’t the first time Alex had asked her to take a look at either a patient or X-rays. A lot of the doctors sought each other’s opinions, but still she felt a little flurry of excitement zip through her at Alex asking for her opinion.
‘Take a look at these.’ Alex pointed to some radiographs up on the viewing machine. He was standing beside it, taking another look, as though he didn’t believe what he was seeing. ‘The patient presented at A and E about half an hour ago.’
Jordanne did as he suggested. As she looked at the films, she became aware of Alex’s body very close to hers. The scent of his cologne teased her senses and Jordanne forced herself not to like it. She could also feel the warmth radiating from him at their close proximity and tried to take a step back, only to encounter the edge of the desk. She thought about what Kirsten had suggested and wondered if she was game enough to try it. She moved in again and took another look at the X-rays—really concentrating on them this time.
The patient in question had fractured his tibia on three separate occasions and each time it had fractured in exactly the same place and in exactly the same way.
Jordanne looked at the dates on the X-rays. The dates were the same on each occasion, only the years had changed. ‘Exactly two years apart on the first two and now one year since the last break.’ She shook her head in bemused amazement and looked at Alex. ‘What are the odds?’ she asked rhetorically.
‘I thought he might be an interesting case for the research study.’
‘I take it he’s not a professional athlete,’ Jordanne stated. ‘If he is, he’s in big trouble with such an alarming rate of injury.’
‘No. Once a year, he plays a rugby reunion match with his old college mates. They always play the match on the fourth of September because that’s the date they won their college grand final.’
Jordanne checked her watch and looked at Alex with a frown. ‘But it’s not even lunchtime. What time do they start?’
‘Usually around ten o’clock, and once the game is over they spend the rest of the day at the pub, catching up and enjoying themselves.’ He changed the X-ray to display another view.
‘Sounds like a wild bunch.’ Jordanne shook her head in bemusement. ‘And each year…’ she peered at the name on the X-rays ‘…Mr Dylan Foster sustains a fissured fracture to his tibia.’
‘Yes,’ Alex responded.
‘Amazing! What about the year he didn’t fracture his tibia?’
‘He was sick with shingles.’ Although Alex said the words matter-of-factly, Jordanne turned her head sharply to gaze at him. She watched as the corners of his mouth twitched into a small smile.
‘Oh, the poor man.’ Jordanne laughed, feeling sorry for the patient.
‘What’s so funny?’ Ian Parks, Alex’s senior registrar, asked as he came into the room.
‘Dylan Foster has returned,’ Alex informed him.
‘Of course, it’s the fourth of September.’ Ian walked over to the viewing box. He stood next to Jordanne and peered at the films.
‘I presume he fractured it in the same way?’ Ian asked, looking at Alex. The two men’s gazes met over Jordanne’s head.
‘Exactly,’ Alex replied.
Jordanne frowned, feeling slightly left out. She waved her hand between them. ‘Hello! I’m still here. I may only be five foot, five tall, but, please, don’t talk over my head. My brothers have done it to me for years and let me tell you right now—I don’t particularly like it.’ She smiled to belie the severity of her words.
Ian Parks laughed. ‘You poor thing. What’s the weather like down there?’
‘Stop it,’ she replied with a chuckle. ‘Just because you’re both over six foot there’s no need to rub it in.’
‘I’m exactly six foot,’ Ian told her. ‘Alex is a few inches taller than me. How tall are you, boss? Six-three or six-four?’
Alex looked fr
om Ian to Jordanne, his gaze remaining on her for a fraction longer.
Jordanne allowed her gaze to start at his shoes, working her way up to his dark, immaculately groomed hair. It was a quick perusal but one that left her wishing she could have taken more time. ‘I’d guess you’d be about six foot four—same as Jed,’ Jordanne surmised before he could answer.
He swallowed before nodding. ‘Yes.’ He looked purposely back to the X-rays.
‘Are you going to include Dylan in your study?’ Ian asked Jordanne.
‘My study,’ Alex corrected his registrar.
‘Our study,’ Jordanne said, and reached out to pull one of the radiographs from the viewer. As she did so, her arm brushed against Alex’s firm torso. Her breath caught in her throat and a rush of wildfire spread throughout her body, warming her instantly. Jordanne dropped her hand to her side, the film forgotten.
‘Right,’ he agreed with a nod. Again, their gazes held for a brief moment and Jordanne felt her knees weaken. Alex was a devastatingly attractive man. His blue eyes were as dark as the sea in a storm and they were looking at her with surprise. Had he felt the awareness she’d just experienced? Not possible, she rationalised. Not if his attitude during the past few weeks was any indication.
She thought back to what she and Kirsten had discussed only a few hours ago. She hadn’t meant to brush up against Alex, even though she’d thought about it when she’d walked into the room. She tried to remember his reaction so she and Kirsten could discuss it later.
Jordanne turned her attention to Ian. ‘Probably,’ she finally said, realising Ian’s question still required an answer. ‘Would it be possible to have further scanning and tests done?’
‘The second time he presented, that’s exactly what we did,’ Ian informed her. ‘Are these the case notes, Alex?’ he asked, pointing to an open file on Alex’s consulting desk.
‘Yes.’ Alex handed them to Ian who took a quick look before offering them to Jordanne.
‘Is he still here?’ She accepted the case notes and flicked through them, scanning the previous outpatient notes.
