by Lucy Clark
Annie watched as Wesley scowled at being called ‘Wes’. No one called him that and if she wasn’t so annoyed with Hayden, who was deliberately being pertinacious, she’d have been hard-pressed not to smile.
‘I thought you were going to assist me, Professor Robinson,’ Wesley interjected.
‘I’ve changed my mind.’
It seemed there was nothing she could do about it so she shrugged her shoulders. ‘Fair enough.’ She joined him at the scrub sink. ‘But I thought it was a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.’
‘Are you suggesting there’s something feminine about me, Dr Beresford?’ Hayden raised a quizzical eyebrow in a silent dare.
Annie felt her heart rate increase, her throat dry up as her gaze roved over him quickly. ‘Uh…’ She cleared her throat. ‘No.’
‘I’m very pleased to hear it. Right. Let’s get this next patient done.’
Annie was relieved when Hayden and Wesley left the scrub sink because the embarrassment which flamed her entire body would have been enough to light up the hospital for a week! How could she have teased him like that—and in front of Wesley? She closed her eyes as she continued to scrub.
It was all Hayden’s fault. Until he’d appeared in her life, everything had been rolling along smoothly. Well, if you could call having a broken engagement and your place burn down smooth, but still, at least her heart rate had remained at a more normal level. Now…now she wasn’t sure what was happening, but it had started the moment she’d laid eyes on Hayden Robinson.
By the time she entered Theatre, Wesley was ready to begin. With great force she mentally pushed all thoughts of the man who was standing just to the side of her out of her head, which wasn’t at all easy. The operation was completed without complications and she smiled behind her mask as Wesley visibly relaxed once he’d finished.
‘Well done,’ was all Hayden said. The rest of the list continued, with Hayden performing the remaining surgery, Wesley assisting him with the foot operation and Annie doing the tibia, which was the more complex out of the two.
‘Thank you, everyone,’ Hayden said both to Annie, Wesley and the rest of the theatre staff. ‘If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my office for the rest of the day. That is, if I can find my way back there.’ He smiled good-naturedly. Everyone laughed.
‘I’d be more than happy to show you, Professor Robinson,’ Wesley said eagerly.
‘Thank you, Wes.’ He turned and looked at Annie. ‘But I believe it’s Dr Beresford’s duty to show me around today. You’ve already covered for her once. You can’t go making it a habit.’
Wesley seemed a little put out but heeded Hayden’s words. ‘Quite true.’
Both men looked at Annie and she rolled her eyes. ‘Well, Hayden, what are you waiting for, then? Go and get changed and I’ll meet you at the front of Theatres.’
He smiled. ‘What a wonderful bedside manner you have, Doctor.’
The urge to poke her tongue out at him was extremely difficult to fight—but fight it she did. Instead, she smiled sweetly as both men walked out of Theatre.
‘He seems quite taken with you, Annie,’ the theatre sister remarked. ‘I thought before it might have been because he was being polite but, no, I think he fancies you.’
Annie had no idea what to say so did the only thing that came to mind—she laughed. ‘That’s a good one.’
‘I wish he’d fancy me,’ the nurse grumbled.
‘He wants you to show him around,’ the theatre sister continued.
‘It’s protocol,’ Annie argued, but laughed again. The only way she’d found to combat gossip was to treat it as though it were a joke. In this instance, the theatre sister wouldn’t even begin to guess that Hayden had been purposely teasing her.
‘Either way, dear, you’d better get going. Don’t want Wesley covering for you again.’
‘Right you are, Sister.’ Annie didn’t bother changing out of her theatre greens and was waiting at the entrance to Theatres for Hayden. Wesley came out first, which surprised her.
‘You seem to have bowled the new professor over with your supposed charm and girlish wit, but he respects me as a fellow doctor and colleague, rather than some bit of fluff on the side.’ Wesley said his little spiel before stalking off, leaving Annie rather stunned at his words. She stared after her fellow registrar in surprise.
When she turned back around, it was to find Hayden standing in front of her.
‘Wake up, Australia.’
‘I’m awake. Let’s go.’ She walked him out of Theatres and down towards the ward. At the top of the ward she took the corridor to the right, which led to the surgical administration offices. ‘You didn’t need any help finding your way,’ she noted as he walked smoothly alongside her.
‘Correct.’
‘So why?’
‘I wanted to see how Wes would react.’
Annie smiled. ‘You’re such a tease, Hayden. And besides, he loathes being called Wes.’
‘I thought as much but he doesn’t have the guts to tell me. Have I just made matters worse for you?’
‘No. I can handle him.’
‘Good.’ They’d reached Hayden’s office and he beckoned her in, closing the door behind her. ‘Honestly, the man is so attentive, I thought he was going to offer to shine my shoes.’
Annie laughed. ‘That’s Wesley.’
‘I heard what he said to you.’ Hayden said, all teasing gone.
‘Hayden, I have six months left until I qualify. I don’t have the luxury of worrying about other registrars and their personal gripes. So long as his work is up to standard, I don’t care.’
‘That’s what I wanted to hear.’
‘Another test passed?’
A slow smile spread across his lips. ‘Yes.’
‘Any more tests for today?’
‘Who knows?’ His grin increased.
‘I’ll take that as a no.’ She stood, wanting to get out of there as fast as she could. Hayden, in this playful mood, only made her more nervous than usual. ‘If there’s nothing else, I’ll get going.’ When he didn’t say anything, she turned on her heel and walked to the door.
‘Annie.’
Her back was to him, her hand on the handle. ‘Hmm?’ She glanced over her shoulder.
‘Want to have dinner and then shoot a few games of pool tonight?’
‘I’d like to but I really have to study.’
‘OK, then we won’t make it a late night.’
Annie tilted her head to the side, wondering if he was teasing her or being sincere.
‘Honest. Home by…nine? That gives you some time to study.’
She wanted to go. She wanted to spend time with him and she knew she’d get more study done after seeing him than if she declined his offer. She nodded firmly. ‘Sure, but nine o’clock and not a minute later.’
‘Chinese OK?’
‘Great.’
‘Meet me back here when you’re through for the day.’
‘It’s a date.’ The smile on her face was broad. Her eyes sparkled with delight and her entire body was zinging with the promise of time alone with Hayden. ‘This is good,’ she whispered excitedly. ‘This is very good.’
CHAPTER FOUR
AFTER changing her clothes and doing a ward round, Annie stopped by Brenton’s office and instead of Brenton found Natasha there.
‘How are the kids?’ she asked immediately.
‘Hopefully, over the worst.’
‘Glad to hear it.’ She eyed her friend closely. ‘How about you?’
‘I’m OK.’
‘Natasha.’ Annie walked over and placed her hand on her friend’s forehead. ‘You’re burning up.’ She reached for the phone.
‘Who are you calling?’
‘Your husband.’
‘I’m OK,’ Natasha persisted.
‘No, you’re not, and you’re not going to do anyone any good by being here.’
‘Problem?’ Hayden knocked on the open office door
and walked in. ‘I was just finishing up in A and E. What’s wrong?’
‘I have stubborn friends.’
Hayden felt Natasha’s forehead. ‘You must be Natasha, Brenton’s wife.’
‘Yes.’ Natasha started to retch and Hayden quickly reached for the bin.
Annie spoke with Brenton and they arranged to get Natasha home. After she’d been sick, her temperature started to decrease. Annie quickly took care of the bin and returned to Brenton’s office.
‘A memorable first meeting,’ Hayden mumbled as they shifted Natasha to the couch in the corner.
‘Hey, she almost passed out the day I met her.’ Annie’s gaze met Hayden’s and she smiled.
‘How long until Brenton arrives?’
‘Not long. They don’t live far from the hospital. Brenton wanted me to arrange a replacement doctor.’ Annie picked up the phone again and called the hospital switchboard, asking them to page another A and E doctor. When that was sorted, she returned to Natasha’s side.
‘Looks as though the worst is over. Her kids have all had this bug and Monty said it was a twenty-four-hour thing.’ Annie shook her head. ‘He shouldn’t have let you come to work.’ They stayed with Natasha until Brenton walked in.
‘Tash!’ He rushed to his wife’s side, holding her close.
‘Monty, give her some air.’ Annie looked down at Natasha who was too lethargic to move.
‘Tash? You OK, honey?’
‘BJ,’ Natasha muttered.
‘She’s too weak to move, Monty.’
‘I’ll get a wheelchair,’ Hayden suggested.
‘Thanks.’ Brenton soothed his wife’s forehead as Hayden left the room. As Natasha sat upright, she moaned.
‘Are you going to be sick again?’
‘She was sick?’ Brenton was horrified.
‘Yes. Uh…and you’ll need to requisition a new bin,’ Annie added with a nonchalant shrug.
‘Here we go.’ Hayden pushed a wheelchair in and Brenton assisted his wife into it.
‘I’ll take it from here. Annie, can you…?’ He gestured to his office and started pushing the wheelchair out.
‘Sure. I’ll call you in the morning. Just go take care of her and the rest of your family.’
‘Thanks, mate.’ He disappeared, leaving Annie alone with Hayden again.
‘Well, that was a bit of excitement,’ she said with a sigh as she turned off the lights and headed for the door, making sure it was locked.
‘You ready to leave?’
‘Yes. I just need to get my bag.’
‘Good. I’ll lock my office and meet you back here in five.’
‘Great.’ She rushed off to her poky office and quickly packed her briefcase and bag before heading to the toilets. She quickly combed her riotous curls and applied some lip gloss. The black linen shorts and red cotton shirt she’d worn to work were fine to play pool in. ‘Ready as I’ll ever be.’ She took a deep breath and headed towards Brenton’s office.
He was there waiting and smiled when he saw her coming.
‘Are we walking?’ she asked as they headed out together.
‘Yes. That’s not a problem, is it?’
‘The walking’s not, the being seen leaving the hospital together, might be.’ Annie tucked a curl behind her ear and glanced back at the hospital. There were plenty of people leaving at the moment and several had already seen her walk this far with him.
‘People will gossip regardless.’
‘Been there, done that?’ she asked.
‘Yes. You?’
‘In spades.’
‘Care to elaborate?’
She shrugged. ‘I’ve had bad luck in relationships. When they end, they get gossiped about.’ She glanced up at him. ‘Probably shouldn’t say anything more about it.’
‘Why not?’
She laughed nervously. ‘Because…’ She took a deep breath and looked at him again. ‘I like you and I don’t want to scare you off.’
‘We all have a past, Annie.’
‘So you’ve been gossiped about, then?’
He was silent and for a moment she didn’t think he’d answer. ‘My divorce was a hot topic of conjecture for a while.’
‘Did your wife work at the hospital?’
‘Ex-wife and, no, she didn’t but a few of her lovers did.’
‘Ah.’
‘I know how destroying the gossip can be. The way people suddenly stop talking when you walk into the room, the whispering as soon as you’ve gone down the corridor. But one thing I’ve learned is that I can’t let hospital gossip rule my life.’
‘I know but with regards to you and I, it’s started already, Hayden, and you’ve only been at the hospital for one day. Theatre Sister is convinced you fancy me.’ Hayden laughed and Annie wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or upset. ‘Is that funny?’ They stopped at the pedestrian lights and she pushed the button with more force than was necessary.
He smiled down at her. ‘I’m not laughing at you, Annie. I’m laughing in amazement and the fact that it’s gone that far, that quickly.’ He put his arm about her shoulders, his smile starting to fade and a serious light entering his eyes. ‘I must say, though, that Theatre Sister is a very perceptive woman.’
It took a whole three seconds for his words to penetrate the fog surrounding Annie’s brain. ‘Oh!’ The pedestrian light turned green and, taking her elbow, he ushered her across the street. Two doors down was the Chinese restaurant where he’d made reservations for their early dinner.
They enjoyed their dinner, talking quietly as they ate. Hayden didn’t say anything more about their topic of conversation before they’d arrived at the restaurant and Annie didn’t have the courage to broach it herself.
After eating, they headed to the pool hall. The instant she entered, she felt all anxiety and stress fall from her shoulders.
‘Well, well, well,’ Trevor said from behind the bar. ‘Look who’s walking in together! Is there a doctor in the house?’
‘You crack me up.’ Annie pretended to wipe tears from her eyes while Trevor laughed at his own joke. ‘Got a table free?’
‘Number two is just waiting for you. Well, both of you, that is.’
‘Great.’
‘Drinks?’
‘Usual for me, Trev.’
‘I’ll have what she’s having,’ Hayden replied, and headed to the back of the room towards table two. Annie followed and once they’d rid themselves of their bags and chosen their cues, Hayden leaned over and whispered, ‘What’s the usual?’
Annie grinned. ‘Rocket Fuel cocktail.’
‘What?’
She laughed. ‘Lemonade. Your turn to break.’ They played a game, Annie doing better than she had the other day.
‘You really like it here, don’t you?’
‘Yes. I feel, free, alive and I can take all my frustrations out on sinking the balls and beating my opponent.’
‘Really?’ He sounded as though he didn’t believe her. ‘So you’re going to beat me tonight?’
Annie lined up another shot, bent from the waist and leaning forward over the table. ‘You’ve got that straight, mate. No more Ms Nice Guy. I’m going to wipe the floor wi—’ A scream escaped her lips and she almost punctured the green felt with her cue as she felt something cool and smooth sliding up the inside of her leg.
She spun to glare at him as he quickly brought his cue back up beside him. ‘Cheater.’
He looked around innocently. ‘Who, me?’
Annie slowly advanced towards him. ‘Yes…you.’
He skirted around the table but Annie continued to advance, trying to keep the annoyed look on her face when she really wanted to laugh.
‘What did I do?’
‘You know perfectly well. You ran the cue up my leg.’
She was close now. Too close! He’d stopped moving and they stood toe to toe.
‘Lucky cue,’ he breathed, before lowering his head. His lips briefly brushed hers.
Annie’s eyelids fluttered closed. ‘Mmm,’ she moaned as she breathed in. The mild scent of his aftershave mixed with the warmth of his body was a heady combination. She lifted one hand and placed it tentatively on his arm. The feel of his firm biceps beneath her fingers only increased the excitement which was now coursing through her entire being.
Hayden pressed his lips to hers again before pulling back slightly to look down at her. She opened her eyes to gaze into his. He made no move to break the embrace and no move to increase it. The atmosphere between them thickened with every passing second, neither of them moving. It was as though they were trapped in some sort of time bubble, where there was only the two of them. Their minds, their souls and their hearts, all intertwined together. It was the most encompassing feeling Annie had ever experienced.
The sound of someone clearing their throat brought Annie back to earth with a thud.
She shifted backwards and was relieved when Hayden dropped his arms in a rather unhurried sort of manner. She couldn’t believe she’d kissed Hayden. He was irresistible and with the taste of him still on her lips, it only made matters worse. She gave herself a little shake, bringing her head out of the clouds and back to reality.
‘Sorry to interrupt,’ Trevor said, a wide grin splitting his face.
‘No problem,’ Hayden remarked. ‘We can always pick up where we left off.’
Trevor handed over the drinks and beat a hasty retreat. Annie took a sip of her drink and placed it on the table reserved for drinks which was against the wall. She couldn’t believe she’d kissed Hayden, in the middle of the pool hall, for anyone to see. Thank goodness none of the hospital staff came here. She glanced at Hayden to find him watching her. She smiled shyly and licked her lips, tasting not only the sweetness of the lemonade but the desire she felt for her boss.
They gazed at each other for a few more moments before Annie whispered, ‘Say something.’
His lips twitched into a slow smile. ‘It’s still your turn.’
To do what? To have another drink? To kiss him again? Her heart rate, which had just started to settle down a little, picked up pace at the thought. ‘Hmm?’
‘It’s your turn.’ He pointed to the table.
‘Oh. Yeah. Right.’ She forced her legs to work and headed back to the table. If she didn’t clear her head, he would most definitely win. So, he wanted to mess with her concentration, eh? Well, two could play at that game. She leaned over the table in a provocative way, her shirt edging open to reveal a tantalising hint of cleavage.
