by Lucy Clark
‘Much better.’ After drinking her coffee, she checked the clock—almost six in the morning. She didn’t start work until eight so with some time to kill she changed into a pair of running shorts and top, slapped on some sunscreen, sunglasses, shoes and a hat and checked she had her keys before heading out for a run.
The streetlights were still on even though the sun was only starting to peek over the horizon. Not much traffic was on the roads and the breeze was already quite warm. Then again, the beginning of January was usually pretty hot. Annie jogged along the running track, focusing on calming down her thoughts.
At the moment they were so mixed up she doubted she remembered her name. Ever since meeting him last Friday, Hayden had been constantly on her mind and the major cause of her sleep deprivation. The ‘almost kiss’ they’d shared, the flirting at the pool hall—everything—just played over and over in her mind like a stuck record.
She shook her head, trying to clear the image of desire she’d seen in his eyes. Was it real? Was he interested in just fooling around or interested in a serious commitment? Relationship? He’d already been divorced once—had that put him off marriage completely?
As her feet continued to eat up the footpath, her thoughts continued, trying to get a firm grip on her present reality. She was almost forty and knew for a fact that her biological clock was definitely ticking. If her knight in shining armour didn’t come along soon, she…she didn’t want to think about it. He had to come. He just had to.
Annie turned around and headed back towards her apartment, a scowl fixed on her face as she concentrated on the ground in front of her.
‘Oof.’ She ran straight into someone else, knocking them both off balance, her sunglasses and hat coming off in the process. ‘Ugh.’ She landed on the ground with a thud, her right knee and elbow stinging instantly. ‘Ow.’ She was sprawled over some man and when she lifted her head she felt a bubble of hysterical laughter rise up within her. ‘Hayden!’
‘Annie!’ He was equally astounded. ‘We have got to stop running into each other.’
‘Literally,’ she added on a laugh as she quickly disentangled herself from him, working hard to stop herself from committing every contour of his body to memory. They both picked themselves up. ‘Are you all right?’
She looked down at her knee, seeing blood oozing slightly. ‘Fine. It’s just a graze. Sorry about that. I wasn’t watching where I was going.’
‘Same here. I…It’s usually empty along here at this time of the morning.’ He looked at her more closely. ‘Have you already been to the end?’
‘Yes.’ She shrugged and, needing something to do, bent to pick up her sunglasses and hat. ‘I…er…couldn’t sleep.’
‘Nervous?’
‘About?’
‘Working with me.’
Annie lifted her chin defiantly, her eyes sparking with challenge. ‘What if I am?’
Man, he liked it when she looked at him like that. She was so…alive. He swallowed over the emotion and leaned a little closer. ‘You needn’t be. I’m a good surgeon and I know how to run a department.’
‘But you were having trouble running along a path.’
He laughed. ‘That’s different and you know it.’
Why did he have to laugh? It wasn’t fair. Her heart pounded out an erratic rhythm which had nothing to do with her early morning exercise. ‘I’m sure you’re good at your job…’
‘But?’
‘But…’ she shrugged ‘…change is always hard to accept.’
‘Meaning?’
She looked away, down at the ground, the silence stretching. ‘I have to go.’ She gestured to her knee. ‘I don’t want to spoil your run.’
‘It’s OK. I’ll walk back with you.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ She waved his concern away. He looked so incredibly handsome right now and it was all she could do not to throw herself into his arms.
‘I’m ready to head back anyway.’
She raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re probably right. An old man like you couldn’t make it to the end and back.’
He surprised her by laughing. ‘Why didn’t I think to bring my wheelchair?’
Annie smiled and inclined her head in the direction they’d be walking. ‘Let’s go, then.’ She winced slightly as they started, her knee stinging.
‘You sure you’re OK?’
‘I did worse in the school yard growing up.’
He chuckled. ‘I sense there’s a story behind your slightly crooked nose.’
‘You sense correctly.’ Annie touched her nose a little self-consciously, the light-hearted moment evaporating.
‘What happened?’
‘Ah…it’s a long, boring story. Not of interest.’
‘OK.’
‘I take it you like the beach,’ she commented. Hayden frowned at her, slightly puzzled. ‘I’m just trying to find a nice, safe, neutral topic of conversation.’
‘Ah. Yes, I like the beach. It…relaxes me.’
‘Me, too.’ She winced again, starting to feel a few more aches and pains throughout her body where they had collided. ‘Do you surf?’
‘Yes, when I get the time for it.’
‘I’ve never tried it.’
‘So what do you like to do to relax?’ The instant he’d said the words, he realised how they could be misconstrued.
Annie glanced up at him, a small smile forming on her lips. His voice had been husky as he’d asked the question and her smile increased when he quickly cleared his throat. The urge to tease him was great but, due to her stinging knee and bruised elbow, she decided to let him off the hook…just this once. ‘I like to snorkel, swim. Running is a good way to unwind—well, it is when I don’t crash into people.’
Hayden laughed. ‘Agreed. Snorkelling’s good. Have you been to the Great Barrier Reef?’
‘Many times, and still I’m always in awe of its beauty.’
They’d reached the apartment block. ‘Think you can manage the stairs or do you want to take the lift?’
‘Stairs are fine.’ He held the door open to the stairwell and frowned a little as Annie winced when she started climbing the stairs. When they reached their floor, he surprised himself by asking her in for coffee.
‘Uh…’ Annie wasn’t too sure.
‘Come on. It’s just coffee—real coffee, by the way. And besides, you haven’t told me about the department yet.’ He unlocked his door and opened it, indicating she should go inside.
‘I couldn’t do that. It would be like giving information to the enemy.’ She peered through the open door, unsure what might be on the other side.
‘Is that how you see me?’
‘Kind of,’ she replied a little absent-mindedly as she walked past him, making sure their bodies didn’t touch. The layout of the apartment was identical to hers but was sparsely decorated. A large desk was set up in one corner with a computer on it. Two luxurious chairs were in the centre of the room with a coffee-table between them, and a bookcase filled to the brim was in the corner.
‘Have a seat,’ he offered. She sat in the proffered chair which completely enveloped her, her feet unable to touch the ground. ‘Coffee should be ready soon.’ He headed to the kitchen and she struggled to sit forward, feeling like a little girl with her legs dangling. She’d just finished composing herself when he returned…and surprised her again by kneeling at her feet.
‘What are you doing?’ she demanded.
He opened a small medicine kit. ‘House call.’
‘But this isn’t my house.’
‘Annie.’
‘It’s fine, Hayden.’
‘I don’t want blood all over my carpet.’
‘Then you shouldn’t have asked me in.’
‘Tell me about the department. Why would you see me as an enemy?’
‘Not an enemy as such.’
‘Go on.’ He ripped open an antiseptic towel and started to clean her knee. She winced slightly but that was all. ‘Good girl.
If you’re really brave, you can have two cups of coffee.’
‘Gee, thanks.’
‘The department,’ he prompted.
‘Brian Newton, your predecessor, was in charge of the orthopaedic department since its initial inception fifteen years ago. Before that it had been attached to the surgical department.’
‘People are used to his ways and his only,’ Hayden stated.
‘Yes. He’s a nice man, Brian, and we’d all do anything for him.’
‘Can’t ask for better than that with staff.’
‘I’m not saying that you’ll do—ow—things wrong, it’s just that—Ow, Hayden.’ He was spraying something on her knee. ‘That stuff stings.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘For a doctor, you’re mighty vocal when it comes to being a patient.’
‘Have you ever thought it might be your bedside manner?’ Annie had made the remark in all innocence yet in that instant she realised he might take it another way.
‘I see. Am I not being gentle enough with you? I’m simply trying to be thorough and make sure you don’t have any bits of dirt or gravel left where they can fester and rot.’
‘Charming. Do I still get my second cup of coffee?’
‘It’s debatable.’ Hayden looked briefly at her elbow, which only had a slight graze. He sprayed some stinging stuff on it before finishing off her knee. He stuck a sticking plaster over the graze and then, to her surprise, bent his head and kissed it. ‘All better,’ he pronounced, and before she could say another word he’d gathered up his medical supplies and walked from the room.
Annie covered her face with her hands and leaned back into the chair, practising some deep, calming breaths. At this rate, she’d need another run to calm herself down. She stood up, a little too quickly, and grimaced in pain. This was not a good start to the day. She intended to do something to improve it by leaving Hayden’s apartment—immediately. She limped towards the door.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ He used his best doctor voice.
Annie turned around and pointed to the wall. ‘Home.’
‘But we haven’t had coffee yet.’
‘Uh…I know. I think I’ll take a rain-check, Hayden.’
‘Sit down, Annie. At least give your knee a few more minutes of rest. After all, you are going to be on it all day.’
He had a point. Without waiting for her answer, he disappeared again and she could hear him taking cups out of the cupboard. Moments later he carried through a tray with two cups of coffee and some sweet rolls. She’d perched herself on the edge of the chair, not wanting to get lost in it again.
‘You look as though you were expecting company this morning,’ she stated, wondering if he’d set her up. He could have seen her leave her apartment and decided he’d lure her back here to…to do what? All he’d done had been to ask her about the department. So far…
‘Not at all. My sister brought them around yesterday when she came to visit.’ He helped himself to a roll and took a bite. She waited while he chewed and swallowed. ‘They’re cinnamon rolls and I’ve just put them in the microwave for a few seconds to heat them up—as per Katrina’s instructions.’
‘Oh.’ Annie took a cup off the tray, taking a sip of the strong black coffee. ‘Nice.’
He followed suit and then stopped. ‘Did you want any milk or sugar? I drink mine black so I just made yours the same. Sorry, I should have asked.’
She smiled. ‘It’s fine.’ She took another sip as though to prove it.
They both fell silent.
Annie searched wildly for something to say. What had they been talking about before? Blank. Her mind was blank. All she was conscious of was the way Hayden looked sitting opposite her, his body relaxed in the chair, his long, tanned legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles and his feet most definitely touching the floor. He’d obviously had these chairs made to suit his over six-foot stature. Needing something to do, she took a plate and helped herself to one of the cinnamon rolls.
‘You look uncomfortable. Sit back. These chairs are glorious to relax in.’
She smiled. ‘I’m sure they are.’ She broke off a piece of the roll and popped it in her mouth. All she could focus on was his lean body, firm and taut and on view just for her. She glanced up to meet his gaze and realised he was aware of her scrutiny. He raised a quizzical eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Instead, he took another bite of his roll and swallow of his coffee.
The atmosphere was growing more tense with each passing second. Why couldn’t she think of anything to say? Why did his close presence have such an effect on her? Why had she picked up the roll in the first place? Although it was delicious, she now had to eat it and she was the type of person to drop crumbs on her clothes—something she didn’t want to do in front of Hayden.
He swallowed his mouthful and put his plate and cup on the table. ‘Eat up. They’re delicious, aren’t they?’ he stated.
‘Yes. Your sister’s a good cook.’ Good grief! Could her conversation get any more stilted?
‘I think today will be very interesting. Naturally, it’ll take me a while to settle in. I’m quite prepared for that and, of course, I’ll want to put my own stamp on the department. If that puts people’s noses out of joint then so be it. The way I see it, they’re stuck with me until they finish their rotation, or if they’re secretarial staff, they can transfer.’ Hayden laced his hands behind his head and leaned back in the chair. He shouldn’t have done that because it made his biceps flex beneath his T-shirt. Annie choked on the mouthful she was eating and started to cough. ‘You OK?’
Annie smiled placatingly, waving away his concern as she swallowed, coughed and reached for her coffee. Taking a sip, she looked up at him, knowing her face would almost be the colour of beetroot. ‘I’m fine,’ she whispered, her voice a little hoarse. She cleared her throat and tried again. ‘I’m fine.’
She placed her plate and cup on the table and stood. ‘I really think I should go. Time’s ticking and I have a few more things to do before I head to the hospital.’ She thought for a moment he was going to try and waylay her again but he merely nodded and walked her to the door. ‘Thanks for the coffee—oh, and the roll. Please, tell your sister I thought they were delicious.’
He nodded. ‘Hope your knee’s better and I’ll see you at the hospital.’
‘Yes.’ She walked past him, holding her breath so she didn’t breathe in the clean, earthy scent that surrounded him.
‘Do you walk?’
She frowned at him. ‘Yes.’ Couldn’t he see she was walking?
‘To the hospital,’ he clarified with a smile.
‘Usually.’
Hayden nodded again, and when he didn’t say anything else she forced a smile and quickly hobbled to her own apartment. Thankfully, he didn’t wait for her to open her own door and once his was shut, she started to relax a little. Fumbling with her keys, she finally put the correct one in the lock and stumbled through the door.
Leaning against it, Annie closed her eyes, trying to figure out who she was and where the coherent, professional woman she used to be had gone.
CHAPTER THREE
WHEN Annie walked through the hospital doors at seven-thirty, it was to find Hayden standing in the main A and E corridor, shaking hands with Brenton.
‘Hey, Annie.’ Brenton beckoned her over and put an arm about her shoulders, smiling down at her.
‘Annie will be a big help to you, I’m sure. One smart woman.’
She glanced up at her friend. ‘Stop it, Monty, you’re making me blush.’
‘That’s what I’m here for.’
‘Monty?’ Hayden queried.
‘Nickname,’ Brenton answered. ‘We’ve known each other since high school.’
‘Really?’
‘Well, I have some casenotes awaiting my attention before ward round so I’d better get to work.’
Brenton laughed. ‘Yes. Don’t want to get on the wrong side of the boss on his first day here.’
Annie’s gaze flicked to meet Hayden’s before she quickly looked away. ‘See you on the ward.’
‘I’ll go with you.’ He held out his hand to Brenton. ‘Nice to meet you. Thanks for the welcome.’
‘No problem.’
Annie knew she had to wait for Hayden. It would be bad manners not to and several staff were watching them closely. She strode through A and E, heading towards the orthopaedic ward and her cubby-hole, which hospital administration called an office. She stopped at the top of the ward. ‘This is the orthopaedic ward and your office is down there.’ She pointed to the right.
‘I’ve already had a tour.’
‘Then, if you’ll excuse me, Professor, I need to get to work.’ Without waiting for him to answer, she headed off. It wasn’t until she’d unlocked her office and opened the door that she realised he’d followed her. He urged her inside and came in after her.
Her office wasn’t big, by any stretch of the imagination. Room for a desk, chair and a filing cabinet. With Hayden standing, towering over her, she stepped back as far as she could, only to find herself up against the wall.
‘Problem?’
‘No. I was just wondering if Brenton was another previous boyfriend.’
‘Pardon?’
‘Well, so far we’ve had Adam and Trevor, and you’ve known Brenton since high school so I thought—’
‘So you thought he was another of my discard pile?’
‘I wouldn’t put it like that exactly. We all have a past.’
‘Yes.’
‘Look, Annie, I’ll be honest. I just want to know if there’s a Mr Right in your life at the moment.’
She was stunned and couldn’t speak.
He glanced at his watch. ‘Annie? Not that I’m trying to pressure you or anything, but we have ward round soon and the rest of the day is going to be hectic so I wanted to get this sorted out now.’
‘What sorted?’
‘Are you seeing anyone?’
‘No.’
The smile he turned on her was the sexiest she’d seen on him yet. ‘Good.’ It was the same look he’d given her in the pool hall on Saturday night—the one that had her jumping for joy on the inside. ‘See you on the ward.’
