she said breathlessly, glancing round with a self-conscious smile, relieved when he turned his attention to another of the new SHOs.
‘I bet he’s fantastic in bed,’ Fiona said in an undertone. ‘Look at those shoulders, those muscles, those legs—I feel faint just thinking about it.’
Keely felt faint, too, but for different reasons. This was never going to work. Zach was going to treat her the same way everyone else back in London had. As just another member of the Thompson clan, instead of as an individual. All the usual pressures would be there, the expectations—only with Zach it would be even worse because he was bound to remember her as a scatty teenager.
Was he going to think she wasn’t up to the job?
With a long sigh she stared hard at her pad. Unlike her companion, she didn’t want to look at Zach’s body. She already knew how good it looked and the only way she was going to be able to work with Zach was if she didn’t look at his body.
Suddenly she realised that everyone was standing up and shuffling papers. The lecture was over. It was time to start work. And Zach Jordan was walking towards her…
She stood up and clutched her notepad to her chest, aware that her new colleagues were melting discreetly into the background.
‘Hello, Keely.’ The tone of his deep voice told her immediately that he knew exactly who she was and she felt hideously self-conscious. What on earth should she say? Sorry I wasn’t listening when you asked me a question. Sorry I proposed to you last time I saw you.
‘Hello, Dr Jordan—I mean Mr Jordan.’ She’d suddenly remembered that he was a surgeon and corrected herself hastily.
A smile touched his mouth. ‘Just Zach will do fine,’ he murmured. ‘We’re very informal in A and E.’
‘Right—well, what a surprise to see you.’ She stroked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and smiled brightly, wondering what it was about those blue eyes that made her revert to a stammering teenager. ‘I had no idea that you’d be working here.’
‘And is that a problem?’ He gave a quizzical smile which made her knees feel weak and her heart misbehave.
‘Problem?’ Her voice squeaked slightly and she cleared her throat. ‘No—of course it’s not a problem. Why would it be a problem?’
She could think of a hundred reasons, starting with the physical effect he had on her. Just being in the same room as him brought her close to physiological meltdown.
‘So what are you doing here?’ He tilted his head speculatively. ‘You’re a long way from home, Keely Thompson.’
That had been the general idea when she’d chosen the Lake District.
‘After six years in London I needed a change,’ she said quickly, ‘and I love mountains.’
She flushed under his steady regard, remembering that he’d always been perceptive. Could he read her mind? Did he know the real reason she was here? Had he guessed that she’d needed some space to make her own decisions, away from the influence of her family?
‘Right.’ He continued to watch her thoughtfully. ‘And how are Prof and the twins?’
The inevitable question.
‘Oh, you know,’ Keely pinned a smile on her face, her response automatic. ‘Fine. They’re fine. Doing very well as usual.’
‘I lost touch with Stephen,’ Zach confessed, his blue eyes disconcertingly sharp as he looked at her. ‘Doubtless he’s made it to the top?’
Of course. Where else was there for her family?
‘Professor of Immunology,’ Keely muttered, still managing to maintain the smile. Just.
‘And Eleanor?’
‘Consultant Oncologist in London.’ The smile was slipping but he didn’t seem to notice.
‘And the Prof? Is he retired?’
‘Dad?’ Keely’s cheek muscles were aching and she gave up smiling. ‘Oh, come on, Zach! Dad will never retire. His whole life revolves round being a professor.’
‘I suppose it does.’ Zach’s voice was suddenly soft. ‘And what about you, Keely? What’s your chosen career path?’
Did she tell him the truth? That she didn’t know? That the whole question of her future was driving her mad—
No, of course she couldn’t tell him that! Zach was exactly like the other members of her family—clever, ambitious and totally driven. A born leader who had probably never known a moment of self doubt in his life. He was hardly likely to understand or sympathise with her plight, would he? She could hardly confess that she wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted to do with her career—could hardly confide that she wasn’t totally enchanted at the prospect of a career as a hospital doctor.
‘Well, I’m doing six months of A and E before I commit myself,’ she said finally, trying to sound suitably enthusiastic, ‘but I’m thinking of doing cardiology. It’s always fascinated me and we haven’t got a cardiologist in the family.’
‘I see.’ He spoke quietly, his expression thoughtful, and for a moment she wondered whether he’d guessed that she wasn’t being entirely honest.
‘And do you think you’ll enjoy A and E?’
She swallowed. Did he think she wasn’t up to it? He’d already said he hadn’t got used to the fact that she’d grown up.
‘I know I’ll love it,’ she said firmly.
‘Right.’ Those blue eyes fixed on hers a moment longer. ‘Well, if you have any problems—any worries at all—I want you to come to me.’
Oh, bother, he definitely didn’t think she was up to it.
‘I’ll be just fine,’ she said, a determined expression on her face. ‘I’m really looking forward to A and E. It’s going to be brilliant. I know I’ll love it.’
He seemed amused by her enthusiastic outburst. ‘It’s nice to see you haven’t changed.’
Well! Talk about tactless! Keely gaped at him. Did the man have problems with his eyesight?
‘Of course I’ve changed!’ She hoped that none of her new colleagues were listening to this conversation. How embarrassing! Being told she hadn’t changed since she was sixteen was hardly flattering. ‘Last time you saw me I had a flat chest, long hair and spots.’
He threw his head back and laughed. ‘Actually, I wasn’t talking about your physical appearance, I was talking about your personality. You always were smiley and good-natured.’ His grin faded. ‘I just hope you don’t find A and E too stressful.’
‘Zach, stop treating me like a child!’ Keely was still put out by the fact that he didn’t think she’d changed. She liked to think of herself as a cool cat. He made her sound more like a fluffy kitten. ‘Of course I won’t find it too stressful. I’m a doctor
