Lovers Unmasked: The Complete Series

by Nicole Flockton

  She was just reaching into the drawer to extract her handbag when the door flung open.

  “Sophie, I need you in resus now.” Alex shouted the words at her. It was unlike him. He was always so calm. She had no time to ask what the emergency was. He was out the door just as quickly as he’d entered.

  She thrust her chair back and raced out toward the room. Raised voices and the sound of trays of instruments crashing to the ground reverberated through the department.

  “Call security,” she yelled as she raced past the nurse’s station.

  “Already on their way,” a voice called back to her.

  She nodded to show she had heard them, and skidded to a halt as she reached resus. She ducked quickly to avoid the flying shoe.

  “What the hell?” she asked.

  Alex and another senior resident had a man by the arms while two paramedics struggled to contain his legs. A young first year nurse cowered in the corner. Sophie looked into the patient’s eyes — they were wide and manic and darting all across the room.

  He was high.

  Sophie spared the young nurse a quick look. “Move, now!” The girl didn’t needed to be told twice and was out the room in a flash.

  “What’s he taken?” Sophie continued, as she moved another trolley of instruments out of the way of a flailing leg.

  “Ice,” one of the paramedics answered. “We don’t know how much, though.”

  She could also see he was bleeding profusely from his hands and chest.

  “How serious are those wounds? How were you able to transport him if he was this violent?” She was sure Alex or the other resident had asked the same questions but she wanted to know everything so she could attempt to gain back some control of the situation.

  “He wasn’t like this when we treated him at the scene. But when we got him here he went ballistic,” the other paramedic answered. “Like the smell of the hospital set a reaction off.”

  “Leave me alone,” the patient yelled, twisting and turning against the attempts to settle him so he could be treated.

  To Sophie, they all seemed to be working against each other instead of with each other.

  Alex’s words were said through gritted teeth as he struggled to keep a grip on the patient. “If we could get him on the bed and restrained we might be able find out exactly what damage he’s done to himself.”

  She appraised the situation. “If you stopped fighting against each other, it might be possible,” she suggested.

  Surprisingly, her words had them all pausing for a moment. She used the small pause to her advantage.

  “Right, on my count, all lift at once. One, two, three, lift.” Her tone had been enough to keep the patient still and enable them to lift him onto the bed. Once he was lying flat, the restraints that were always present on the sides of the bed were strapped around his hands and ankles, making an examination possible. He pulled and twisted against them but after a few moments, he gave up the fight.

  She walked over to where he lay. His eyes were still wide, but they zeroed in on her. What she saw there almost had her stepping back, until she remembered he was off his tree. His eyes held malice and a viciousness she’d never seen before. He started pulling against his restraints again.

  “You bitch, I’ll come back and get you. No one ties me down.” He screamed the words at Sophie. She’d been abused by drunk patients before and never thought anything of it. But this time, this patient’s tone suggested he would keep his word.

  She shivered at the prospect and coldness swept over her, leeching into her bones.

  “Try that and you’ll have the whole department on you like a flash,” Alex said sardonically. “You think you’re so tough, so invincible when you’re stuffed full of drugs.”

  “I’ll get you, too, doc, mess up that pretty face of yours so no woman will look twice at you,” the patient sneered.

  Sophie watched as Alex looked down his aquiline nose and spoke so coldly and quietly that Sophie hoped she’d never be on the receiving end of that tone. “Your threats don’t worry me. Now I suggest you keep it down so we can examine you.”

  Sophie had to admire the way Alex had dealt with him. While he was parrying words with the patient, the other staff had managed to get an IV in and start to clean up his cuts.

  “Does he have a name?” she asked. Maybe if they personalized things a bit he might calm down.

  “Phil Walker, of no fixed address, or so he says,” advised one of the paramedics.

  “Okay, Phil, let’s try to get you sorted. Alex, you need bloods, x-ray, stitching kit, what else?” Sophie needed — no, wanted — to stay in the room. With a patient as volatile as this one experienced staff was needed. Even if he had threatened her, she wasn’t going to let Phil see he’d unnerved her.

  Alex lifted his head from where he was examining the cuts on the Phil’s arms. “I think you’ve got everything covered, just let x-ray know that we can’t sedate him until we know exactly what he’s got in his system.”

  “I’m not unconscious, you know, I’m right here,” Phil snarled and Sophie rolled her eyes.

  “Well, perhaps you can tell us what you’ve taken, apart from the ice. Then we can treat you properly.”

  As she expected, words seemed impossible for Phil to form.

  “Hmm, I thought so.” She reached for the phone. “I’ll notify the lab we need a rush on these blood tests and the tox screen.”

  She caught Alex’s nod as he proceeded to fill a few vials with Phil’s blood.

  When he’d finished, he handed them over to her. “I think it will be quicker if you take them up. Also cancel x-ray, doesn’t look like any broken bones. Just a few deep cuts and a sprained ankle.”

  Sophie eyed Phil on the gurney, he was lying still at the moment, but that could change in the blink of an eye. “Do you think that’s wise? He’s been pretty erratic.”

  “I’ve got the situation under control,” Alex glanced at the vials of blood in her hand. “We need those results pretty quickly — the lab will pay more attention to you bringing them up than a junior nurse.”

  She could see what Alex was getting at with his request. “Okay, I’ll be as quick as I can.”

  As Sophie made her way up to the lab, she wondered what the fascination with drugs was. Some would call her prudish, but she didn’t understand the need to totally lose oneself in drugs and alcohol.

  She handed over the bloods and argued with the lab technicians with trying to get the results pushed through quicker. She had a minor victory and then headed back to the ER. She popped her head into resus. “Lab says results should be back in an hour. They’re swamped so that’s the quickest they can get it done. How’s he doing?”

  She noticed that he appeared to be sleeping or had he finally given up fighting and was letting Alex fix him up.

  “Sleeping, but his pulse is still erratic, so we need to have thirty minutes obs.”

  “Okay, I’ll arrange for Phoebe to do that. She won’t be fazed if he wakes up and gives her some lip.”

  Alex’s chuckle rumbled down her spine. “Fine.” He ripped off his gloves and put them in the hazardous waste bin. “I’m heading up to admin for a meeting. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  A meeting with admin? That was news to Sophie. Why wasn’t she told?

  She followed Alex out and down the hall to the elevator.

  “What’s the meeting about?”

  Alex pressed the button, and then ran his fingers through his hair. She noticed he seemed to do that when things were troubling him or his mind was on other matters. Her fingers twitched to soothe the tired lines marring his forehead. She stilled her fingers, hoping Alex hadn’t noticed their movement.

  “Sophia, you have no idea how much I’d like you to do that.” His accent deepened
on the softly spoken words. The use of the endearment had a flush breaking out over her skin, her nerve endings tingling. “But now is not the time or the place.”

  She stood mute as the doors opened and he walked in, holding her gaze until the doors whispered shut on a sigh, whisking him away.

  How was it he always seemed to know what she was thinking?

  “It helps if you press the button.”

  Sophie had no idea who spoke the words to her and she had no idea how long she’d been staring at the metal doors of the lift. All she knew was she was in danger of letting every single staff member know she found Alex attractive.

  She made her way back to her office, still having no idea what the meeting was about. Maybe she could see Alex after work?

  No, bad idea. Why did she keep doing that to herself? Keep putting herself within his presence. She was setting herself up for a big fall.

  She would wait until tomorrow. Alex would be sure to tell her what the meeting was all about. It was probably budget stuff anyway, things that didn’t involve her.

  She tidied her desk and as she was finishing Phoebe popped her head in.

  “Phil’s awake and seems a bit calmer.” She stepped further into the room. “I’m about to take off. Who do you want to take over from me?”

  Sophie sighed. “Check with Dawn. Just let her know exactly how he can act. But he’s probably fine now he’s slept it off. All he’ll need is a check over and a script for some antibiotics so the cuts don’t get infected.”

  Phoebe laughed. “Fat chance he’ll actually take them. They won’t give him a high.”

  She nodded her head in agreement — hopefully if he did get an infection he’d go to another hospital. Her skin crawled as she remembered his threatening words toward her. They could’ve been spoken in a drug-induced haze, but at that time, his eyes had had a rare clarity about them. As if he’d known exactly what he was saying.

  “You’re probably right, Phoebs. But let Dawn know anyway.”

  “Will do.” With a rush of air, she was all alone in her office.

  Sophie stood and stretched. The prospect of going home to an empty apartment didn’t thrill her. She craved some company. Maybe she should get a cat? Or maybe she should just ask Phoebe if she wanted to come back for some dinner.

  She headed out of her office and saw that Phoebe was still in discussion with Dawn. As she wandered past the row of beds, she looked in on Phil. He looked up at that exact moment and their eyes met. If her skin had crawled before, now it was as if a thousand spiders were migrating along her arms and back. His eyes were clouded and filled with hatred toward her.

  She stepped back involuntarily. She had no idea why he was throwing so much animosity her way. She’d done nothing to him.

  “What you looking at, bitch?” he sneered at her.

  She said nothing and kept walking. What could she say? Anything she said would be twisted in his mind. Again she hoped he’d never reappear in their hospital emergency department again.

  “Are you okay?” Phoebe’s voice sounded behind her.

  She whirled as her heart jumped up her throat. “Yeah, I’m fine. You want to come over for dinner?”

  Phoebe linked her arm through one of hers. “Sounds great, we need to talk.”

  Sophie knew if she was hoping for a relaxing evening, she wasn’t going to get one. Phoebe was on a fishing expedition and Sophie was the main catch.

  “What have I let myself in for?” she muttered as they made their way to the car park. “I’ll see you in twenty, Phoebs.”

  “Okay, I’ll stop and get some wine,” Phoebe hollered as she reached her own car.

  The drive home was uneventful and Sophie had enough time to have a quick shower before Phoebe arrived.

  She was pulling on some fresh clothes when her cell rang. She dived for her handbag, fumbling around until she finally pulled out the phone. Just as it stopped.

  “Damn,” she muttered and looked at the screen to see who the caller was. Phoebe. She threw the phone on the bed and continued to get dressed, waiting for the tone to signify a message had been left.

  She’d just finished buttoning her blouse when the message came through. She picked up her cell and dialed the message bank number.

  “Hi, Soph, sorry can’t make it for dinner — something came up. You understand, don’t you? Talk to you tomorrow. Love you.”

  Sophie knew exactly what had “come up” — she’d received a better invitation from John. She could hear him in the background of the message.

  All of a sudden, she resented her friend dumping her for a guy. She’d never once done that to Phoebe when she was seeing Neil.

  She switched the phone off and threw it on the bed. Looked like she was preparing for an evening alone after all.

  She wandered about her place aimlessly, fluffing pillows that didn’t need fluffing, straightening already straight pictures.

  Eventually she walked out onto her balcony. A strong westerly breeze was blowing and the tangy salt scent from the river floated all around her.

  She was in a melancholy mood and couldn’t shake it free.

  “Stop moping,” she told herself sternly.

  She needed to get out and be surrounded by people. The bar downstairs served the best tapas in the city. So what if she was sitting by herself, it was better than sitting up here by herself, wallowing in self-pity because her friend wanted to spend time with her boyfriend. No, she wasn’t jealous of Phoebe and John’s relationship, she just wished Phoebe hadn’t brushed her off so quickly. She needed to stop acting like a selfish teenager and more like the independent woman she was.

  With that resolve strumming through her, Sophie collected her bag from her room and headed downstairs. The place was busy for a Wednesday night and she welcomed the sound and hustle and bustle of people around her. She waved at a couple of other residents from the building.

  She made her way to the bar and ordered a glass of white wine and a plate of tapas. She took the number the barman handed her and made her way to a table that had just been vacated.

  She sipped her wine, the liquid leaving a fruity aftertaste on her palate. As she gazed around the room, her heart skipped a beat and her pulse wavered momentarily. A dark haired man with broad shoulders stood at the bar — Alex.

  She shook her head and laughed softly at the fanciful thought. She was so desperate for company she was conjuring up Alex in every man she saw.

  She took another sip and just about choked on her wine as the man turned. It was Alex. He spied her and looked just as surprised to see her as she was to see him.

  • • •

  They looked at each other for a few moments before Alex started to walk in her direction. He reached her table and sat down in the vacant chair, not asking if she wanted him to join her, just knowing that she did.

  It took every ounce of control he had not to lean over the table and capture Sophie’s moist ruby red lips with his. He wondered if she realized desire was burning in her eyes. He wondered if she realized an answering desire burned through his veins every time he got within three feet of her. He wondered what she’d do if he leaned over and kissed her.

  In that split second he watched as her desire turned to indignation. He always knew what she was thinking, her feelings always were displayed across her face.

  “I don’t recall inviting you to join me,” she said haughtily.

  He couldn’t help it. Laughter bubbled up and rumbled out of him. “Ahh, Sophie, you know you want me to sit here. I can see it in your eyes. They sparkle and glow and I am completely entranced by them.”

  He could see he’d shocked her with the words. They had shocked him, too. But they were the truth. Her eyes were so expressive and he found himself searching them out every day to see what secrets they would te
ll him.

  He could see the moment she composed herself. Her shoulders straightened and she gave a small toss of her head. “Thank you, I think.”

  The waiter arrived with two plates of tapas and placed them on the table. Alex pulled a plate toward him and pushed the other toward Sophie.

  They ate for a few moments, with Sophie avoiding looking at him.

  “So why are you here by yourself? I thought you were having dinner with Phoebe?” he asked, breaking the silence that had descended over their table.

  “How did you know I was having dinner with Phoebe?”

  “Because I wanted to see you after I arrived back from my meeting and Dawn happily relayed the information to me.”

  He also didn’t want to let on that Dawn had told him about the brief interaction Sophie had shared with their hostile patient, Phil.

  “Oh.” She sounded surprised at his knowledge. “Well, Phoebe got a better offer.”

  He could hear the bitterness in her voice and he knew the better offer was a man. “Well, her loss is my gain,” he said as he concentrated on his food again.

  The sound of the scraping chair had him looking up. Sophie had pushed her plate toward him. “I’m not that hungry now. I think I’ll head back home. Goodnight, Alex.”

  She was on her feet and out of the restaurant so fast Alex had to wonder if the last half an hour had been an apparition. But the lingering scent of her perfume told him otherwise.

  He finished his mouthful and dumped his napkin on the table. He strode out the door. He wasn’t going to let Sophie get away from him tonight. Seeing her at the restaurant had cemented it in his mind, once and for all — he planned to pursue a relationship with Sophie. He wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

  • • •

  Sophie couldn’t take a trick. Everything seemed to be conspiring against her. First Phoebe dumps her. Then Alex turns up and sits down at her table. Her desire for him was so strong. She knew she couldn’t stay at the table any longer. So she’d run. Now the lift was so slow in coming she knew it wouldn’t whisk her away before Alex arrived.