Why was the urge to protect her so automatic? What did he know about Layla these days? How on earth could he be so sure that he hadn’t been put at risk despite doing something so irresponsible?
His rebuke had hit home. Callie sounded wary now. ‘You still need to talk to her. Tomorrow. The longer you leave it, the harder it’s going to be, and if you avoid her, you’ll just be setting yourself up for another … um … shall we say, inappropriate means of dealing with the tension?’
A repeat of what had happened in the shower room?
Oh … yeah …
Alex gave himself a firm mental shake. ‘You’re right. I’ll catch her tomorrow and we’ll talk about it. I’m sure she’s as horrified as I am that it happened at all. Between us, we’ll be able to figure out a way of making sure it doesn’t happen again.’
‘And … be careful, Alex.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘I’m not saying that Layla’s not trustworthy or anything. Don’t get me wrong, any woman that’s managed to get under your skin the way she has must have a lot going for her. I’m just saying that maybe there’s some merit in the whole “once bitten, twice shy” approach.’
Meaning he could get hurt. Again. As if he didn’t know that.
‘I get it,’ he said softly. ‘Thanks for caring, Cal.’
‘No worries. Now, you need to get some sleep. What time is it over there?’
‘Three a.m.’ But Alex didn’t want to end the call. Not while Callie was still sounding hurt by his defence of Layla’s reputation. ‘But I want to know how you are, Cal. How’s it going at Gold Coast General?’
‘Well … seeing as you’ve asked, I’m overworked and stressed out. If I don’t get a new prenatal surgeon who’s up to my impossibly high standards very soon, I will go stark raving mad.’
‘Hmm.’ Alex was only too happy to get completely distracted from his personal issues. He was also keen to do something to cheer Callie up. ‘You know what? I might just be able to help you out there.’
‘You’re a neurosurgeon, Alex, not a prenatal surgeon.’
‘True, but I might know one who could be interested.’
‘Who? He’d have to be good.’
‘He is. And I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother.’
‘You mean Cade? I thought he’d only just started at Angel’s.’
‘He has but he’s finding it a bit frustrating. And I have to agree that he’s too good to be second in charge. Funnily enough, he said something just the other day about thinking I had the right idea in going off to start a new life in Australia.’
With the benefit of hindsight, he could tell Cade that running away from some things didn’t work. They could lie in wait for you and the ambush could be unexpected and very disturbing. He might be better to stay here and face his demons head on, if he had any. Except that maybe it was the answer for Cade.
Callie had picked up on his train of thought with her customary level of intuition.
‘What’s he running away from? If it’s just his position on the ladder, there’s nothing stopping him from finding a different hospital in the States.’
‘Maybe he just needs to stretch his wings and see a bit of the world. He’s young. Brilliant. Frustrated.’
‘OK.’ Callie was sounding much happier now. ‘Tell me more, then. Just in case I need to talk to him.’
Finally, a puff of deliciously cool air came through the windows. Alex settled himself on the window sill. This was a conversation he was more than happy to have.
The one he would have to have tomorrow, with Layla?
Not so much. To put it mildly.
‘Layla … Hey, wait up …’
‘Chloe.’
The two women hugged each other in greeting. A paediatric nurse, Chloe Jenkins—no, Chloe Davis now that she’d married Brad—had been the first real friend Layla had made after arriving at Angel’s.
‘What’s up?’ Chloe pulled away to give Layla a questioning glance. ‘You don’t look like you’re feeling great.’
‘I’m just a bit tired.’ Layla forced a smile. ‘It was so hard to sleep last night with that heat. I need to ask my landlord to look at the air-conditioning unit.’ She needed to change the subject quickly in case Chloe guessed she was trying to hide something. ‘What are you doing in here on a Saturday morning when you’re not on? I thought you and Brad were grabbing every chance you could get to go house hunting?’
‘We are, but didn’t you hear? Eleanor Aston had her baby last night.’
‘Oh, wow … isn’t that a bit early?’
‘Yes, but they’re both fine. Little girl. Tyler’s over the moon.’
‘I’ll bet. What have they called her?’
Chloe laughed. ‘I don’t think they’ve decided. Right now, she’s either “Peanut” or “Honey”.’
‘So Tyler’s a daddy …’ Layla shook her head. ‘Astonishing.’
‘Oh, that’s right … You two go way back, don’t you?’
‘Since we were knee high to grasshoppers.’ Layla was grinning now. ‘I’ll have to get him a cigar.’
‘They might have chocolate ones in the gift shop. Come and have a look. That’s why I’m here.’ Chloe steered Layla across the lobby. ‘I need to get a teddy bear or something before I go visiting and I’ve seen some really cute ones in our shop.’
‘I’ve only got a minute. There’s a queue of patients I need to catch up with this morning.’
‘Must be a serious case amongst them.’
‘Why do you say that?’ Layla stopped beside a rack of cards. She could get one and send it to Eleanor and Tyler with Chloe.
‘You look like you’re on the way to give somebody some very bad news.’
‘Oh …’ Layla bit her lip. ‘I guess I have got a conversation coming up that I’m not looking forward to.’
Chloe had reached out to pick up a teddy bear from the shelf but her hand stopped in mid-air. ‘I knew it. What’s going on?’
Layla sighed. She picked up a card and pretended to read the message inside as she stepped closer to Chloe and lowered her voice enough to ensure she wasn’t going to be overheard.
‘You know how awkward it was seeing Brad at work after you two had slept together?’
‘Do I ever. Oh, my God, Layla Woods.’ Chloe’s whisper became a gasp. ‘Who was it?’
Layla was silent. Chloe’s eyes widened.
‘OK, you don’t have to tell me because I can guess. It was Alex, wasn’t it?’
It was Layla’s turn to widen her eyes with shock.
‘Don’t worry.’ Chloe touched her arm. ‘It’s not written all over your face or anything. I can guess because of the way I saw you two looking at each other when we had that girls’ night out a while back.’ She sucked in a deep breath. ‘When did it happen?’
‘Last night.’ Layla felt the warmth of colour touching her cheeks. That was the only information she was about to share. Imagine if anybody heard about the actual circumstances? Oh … Lord …
‘So what’s the big deal?’ Chloe picked up the bear and tested its cuddliness. ‘You’re single. So’s he. He’s gorgeous … and I’ll bet the sex was … um …’ she grinned mischievously ‘… memorable?’
‘Oh, you have no idea,’ Layla murmured. ‘But it was a mistake. A big one.’
‘Why?’
Why indeed?
Because they had to work together again now?
Because both of them were focussed so completely on their careers?
Because they had messed with each other’s lives in the past so much they would never be able to trust each other?
That was more like it.
‘Been there, done that,’ Layla muttered. ‘It wouldn’t work.’
Chloe looked thoughtful. ‘You can’t know that for sure. If there’s something there that’s strong enough to pull you back together after … how many years?’
‘Five.’
‘Hmm. That’s a pretty powerful s
omething, if you ask me. Does Alex think it was a big mistake?’
‘I don’t know. We haven’t talked about it.’
‘Oh …’ Chloe’s grimace was sympathetic. ‘No wonder it’s awkward. Good luck with that.’
‘Thanks. I think I’m going to need it.’
CHAPTER FIVE
IT WAS LATER on that Saturday morning before Alex and Layla saw each other and when they did, it was so much like a stand-off in some old Western movie that Layla almost laughed aloud.
She’d stepped out of the elevator on the eighth floor with the intention of going into the neurology ward and finding Alex. She had expected to see him so she shouldn’t have been so surprised. What she hadn’t expected was to find him striding towards the elevators. That was why her breath caught in her throat and why her heart rate suddenly accelerated. Why her feet seemed to be glued to the floor.
Alex had stopped dead in his tracks with the double doors of the ward entrance still swinging gently behind him.
They were both frozen.
Who’s going to reach for their gun first? Layla wondered. Her lips twitched at the ridiculousness of this and, with a determined inward shove she started moving. So did Alex.
Not exactly towards each other. By a kind of telepathic tacit consent they both moved in a V-shaped track that brought them together close to the big windows. The view over Central Park from this height was spectacular. You could see from the park’s southern border almost as far as the huge reservoir in the northern half of this massive area. Layla stared down at the park rather than directly at Alex.
‘Gorgeous day, isn’t it?’
‘Mmm.’ It felt like Alex was staring at her rather than the view. Layla’s heart skipped a beat. She knew they needed to talk about what had happened last night but she wasn’t ready. Nowhere near ready. She could feel her heart skip a beat and she had to dampen her suddenly dry lips.
‘I love this end of the park,’ she said brightly. ‘It’s got the best bits. I just love the bird sanctuary and the zoo and … and the sheep meadow.’
Oh, good grief … the sheep meadow? It was nothing more than a vast grassy space where people had picnics or threw Frisbees.
Alex cleared his throat. ‘The lake would be a nice spot on a warm day like this.’ His hesitation was almost imperceptible. ‘Got time for a walk?’
‘Um … yeah, I guess.’ Layla risked a quick glance at Alex, wishing her heart rate would settle. It was crazy to be feeling this nervous. ‘I’ve only got a bit of paperwork waiting for me and it’ll still be waiting when I get back.’
‘Same.’ Alex met her glance briefly and Layla realised he was as nervous as she was about having this conversation. Was that why he was suggesting they have it well away from the place they both worked?
Oddly, the fact that Alex was nervous calmed Layla enough to make her smile. ‘I could kill for a hot dog or something,’ she said. ‘I’m starving.’
A wash of surprise, or maybe relief, crossed Alex’s features.
‘Same.’
‘Let’s get out of here, then.’ Layla led the way.
They had to share the elevator with a troupe of candy-stripers heading off to the cafeteria for lunch. If Alex was remotely aware of the increase in the amount of giggling and the eyelashes that got batted in his direction, he gave no indication of it.
The lobby was crowded with people. Weekends were a time when lots of visitors could get to Angel’s and often there were special treats planned for the young patients. Today it looked as if a celebrity basketball player was making an appearance and he was being tailed by a television crew.
Alex and Layla still hadn’t spoken another word to each other by the time they emerged from the front entrance of Angel’s into the welcome fresh air and sunshine. Walking side by side, Layla turned her head as they passed the small statue.
Alex noticed the movement. ‘You know who that is?’ he asked.
‘I got told by the taxi driver who dropped me here when I came for the job interview. It’s Angel Mendez, a little boy who died of polio during the Great Depression. That’s where the hospital got its name.’
‘Did you know that his dad was a paediatrician?’ Alex asked.
‘No. I hadn’t heard that bit. How tragic that he couldn’t save his own son.’
‘His name was Federico Mendez. He wanted to honour Angel’s memory and try and make sure other parents didn’t lose their kids. This was New York’s first free children’s hospital.’
‘It’s a great history.’ Layla couldn’t help reaching out to brush the statue with her fingers as she passed. She was by no means the only person who ever did that. The bronze of this much-loved statue had weathered to a greenish tinge but the hands of the small boy were shiny because they were on a level that could be touched. By adults like her, or by children being lifted up or climbing so that they could make contact with something they could identify with.
‘Mmm.’ Alex was a little ahead of her now. ‘Kind of sums up what we’re all about, doesn’t it?’
The road in front of them was wide and busy. Ambulances were turning into the hospital grounds and yellow cabs were sprinkled thickly amongst the heavy traffic. A police car went by with its lights and siren blaring. Alex led the way as the lights changed. A horse-drawn carriage was turning into the park and open-topped, double-decker tourist buses were offloading passengers.
‘Which way? Right to the bird sanctuary or left to the lake?’
‘The lake,’ Layla said. The draw of water in the middle of a late summer’s day was irresistible.
So was the smell of hot food from the carts as they walked through the crowds in the shade of the big old trees. Layla shook her head at someone trying to sell her a balloon and at someone else who wanted her to buy a walking guide to the park but she couldn’t go past a cart selling Mexican food.
‘Nachos,’ she breathed. ‘My favourite. Even better than a hot dog.’ She smiled winningly up at Alex. ‘Do you mind waiting?’
He didn’t seem to mind. In fact, the corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled back. ‘Go right ahead. I’ll go and grab a burger from that cart we just passed. Meet you back here in five minutes.’
They kept walking after buying their food and drink because it wasn’t far to the lake now. And then they sat and ate under the shady trees, watching people in row-boats and elegant swans floating past. A group of hungry ducks emerged from the water to watch them eat.
‘No way,’ Layla told them. ‘You wouldn’t like corn chips, anyway.’
She scooped another mouthful of savoury beans and cheese into her mouth and closed her eyes from the sheer pleasure of it all. Then she opened them and blinked. She was enjoying this?
The cloud of the conversation she and Alex had to have was still there but, again by some unspoken agreement, they were putting it off until they’d eaten. For the moment this felt remarkably like … well … a date.
Here she was, in a gorgeous setting on a stunning day, having a meal in the company of the most attractive man she’d ever known.
What had Chloe said? He was single. So was she.
There was something between them that was clearly strong enough to pull them together again with the force of an overstretched rubber band being released.
Was it even remotely possible that they could make a fresh start?
Would she want to?
Layla found herself watching Alex as he broke a piece off his hamburger bun and held it out. A brave duck was edging closer, gathering the courage to snatch the morsel from those long, surgeon’s fingers. But Layla’s gaze travelled up his arm to where his shirtsleeve was rolled up far enough to show the bulge of muscle in his upper arm.
The skin was dry now, of course, but Layla could still see it glistening with the drops of water from his shower last night. And she knew exactly what that bunch of muscle would feel like if she gripped it really tightly.
Oh … yes …
She would want to.
The duck who was brave enough to take bread from his fingers probably wasn’t expecting his friends to turn on him the instant he succeeded. The cacophony of quacking and the violent flapping of so many wings broke the peaceful, summer picnic vibe that Alex had been enjoying more than he was prepared to acknowledge.
Late summer suited Layla. The sunlight made her blonde hair glow golden and she still managed to look smart in her light clothing. The skirt that swirled around her bare legs. The soft-looking shirt that had rolled-up sleeves fastened with a little tab and button and was unbuttoned down the front so it was like a jacket over a camisole top that clung to her curves and had an eyecatching bit of beadwork around that hint of cleavage.
Those bare legs were stuck out in front of her as she sat on the grass, licking melted cheese and salsa off her fingers with a totally unselfconscious enjoyment of her food. The skin on her calves looked tanned and smooth but Alex had been successfully resisting the urge to touch them because he knew that, however smooth the bits on show were, they couldn’t compete with the skin hidden beneath the folds of that pretty skirt.
Yeah. It was just as well the duck fight broke the spell and reminded him of the intended purpose of this outing. It wasn’t a date. Somehow they had to clear the air and sort out a way of being able to work together.
Alex sat up from where he’d been lounging on the grass propped up on one elbow. He took a deep breath and turned to look directly at Layla, wondering just how to start this conversation.
She caught his glance and he could see the way she caught her breath. She knew what was coming and she was nervous about it.
Why? Why was he so nervous, for that matter? They had a common goal here. They both wanted the same thing, didn’t they? Maybe Layla simply wasn’t ready to talk yet. Not about the big stuff, anyway.
‘I saw Mike Jenner this morning,’ she told him. ‘Tommy’s dad. He and Gina had brought Tommy in to get the pre-admission tests done. I didn’t realise that Monday’s the big day.’
Alex made a noncommittal sound. Why would she? Tommy Jenner was his patient, not Layla’s.
Except that the little boy’s case had captured the imagination of the entire staff at Angel’s once the story had got round of how close a call it had been for his father to be accused of abuse. And of how serious Tommy’s condition was. Any kid with a brain tumour was enough to tug at the heart strings but this one was definitely special.
NYC Angels: An Explosive Reunion Page 6
