I’ll phone her to come in early.’
‘Thanks, Kay. I’ll talk to Mrs Jenkins when she gets in. In the meantime I’d like to be brought up to date on everyone else on the ward.’ Her eyes clashed with Forelli’s pewter-coloured gaze. ‘That includes you.’
He shrugged eloquently. ‘No problem.’
‘We’ll talk after I’ve spoken to whoever’s in charge of Tommy’s case.’
Those eyes twinkled at her. ‘That would be me. I’ve been taking care of this young man since he was admitted for the first time a month ago.’ Before she knew what was happening Forelli put out his right hand to engulf hers in a warm, firm grip. ‘We haven’t had a chance to meet properly. Mario Forelli. Your new paediatrician.’ He shook her hand, but didn’t immediately let her go, holding her hand in an almost caress.
‘Excuse me?’ She tugged free, trying to ignore the spear of warmth zooming up her arm. ‘Do you mind telling me how you fit in here?’ Talk about being on the back foot in her own department.
‘Certainly. Shall we each grab a coffee and go to your office, maybe after I’ve talked to Carla Jenkins?’
Her eyes locked on to Mario Forelli. Another charmer. The world seemed full of them. And yet his return gaze showed understanding and commiseration at her situation. Which rattled her further, cranking her stress levels dangerously high. Breathe deep, one, two, three. ‘Thank you. I’d appreciate it.’
She headed for the nurses’ station. Mr Forelli strode alongside her, towering above her, making her feel even shorter than usual. Strangely, that didn’t bother her the way it usually did. Who was this guy? How did he so easily get under her skin? She spun around to get a better look at him and tripped over her own feet. She would’ve fallen flat on her face if he hadn’t caught her elbow.
‘Careful.’
‘Thanks.’ Again. Alex glared up at this disturbing man, and stretched onto the toes of her new Italian shoes from Los Angeles. Still way too short for level eye contact. For that she’d need a small ladder. Grr.
‘Mario, can I get your signature on this letter?’ Averill, Alex’s secretary, stood in front of them, a dazzling smile on her face as she peered up at Mario.
‘Sure.’ He reached for the pad and pen being held out to him.
‘Ah, hum. Excuse me.’ Alex looked from Averill to Mario.
Her secretary finally dragged her eyes sideways and recognised Alex. ‘Hi, Alex, you’re back.’
‘Yes, I’m back.’ Since when did Averill come in so early? The starstruck look on the older woman’s face held the answer. Since Mr Forelli had started working here. Alex continued watching the pair of them but had to admit the new doctor wasn’t encouraging Averill in any way whatsoever.
Mario handed the pen and memo back, his signature scrawled across the bottom. ‘There you go.’
As her secretary scuttled away Alex damped down the sudden fear brought on by her own stupid insecurities and rounded on Mr Forelli to demand some answers. The words dried on her tongue when her eyes clashed with his.
‘Averill wasn’t going over your head to get me to sign that. It was a letter from me to the board about my tenure.’ When she again tried to speak he held his hand up. ‘We’ll talk as soon as we get our patients sorted. Okay?’
‘Oh, fine, thanks.’ What was she thanking him for? Flustered she looked away. If she went home and started her day again would it get any better? Another glance in his direction didn’t clear anything up. Instead his open face and friendly eyes beguiled her. And his practical approach undermined her concerns, told her she had nothing to worry about.
‘One hour.’ He waved at her as he headed down the ward. ‘Hopefully.’
Did she mention how he stole her breath away?
Kay stopped on her way past and joined her in watching Forelli’s progress down the ward. ‘Delectable, don’t you think?’
‘No, I don’t.’ He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever met. Just standing in front of him makes me feel tiny and delicate.
‘You’re the only woman on the ward to think so. He’s charmed every female within miles.’ Kay chuckled. ‘He’s got the staff falling over one another to help him out.’
Why am I not surprised? Those smiles alone would get him anything he wanted. But not from her. No, she was here to work, not play. Disappointment flared. Playing with Mr Forelli after hours might be fun, exciting even. ‘How long’s he been working here?’
When her head nurse didn’t answer Alex turned around to see Kay quickly disappearing behind the nurses’ station, her gaze intent on the file in her hand. Right. Alex followed, wondering how she could wait a whole hour to learn more about Mr Forelli.
Suddenly it dawned on her she was letting everything get out of control. She still hadn’t caught up on the patients. Mr Forelli’s presence had knocked her sideways. Since when did she let these things faze her? Come on. You worry too much. There were bound to be some changes made during your absence. Hospitals don’t stand still.
Little more than one hour back on the ward and she was shattered. And she’d thought touring was hard work.
‘Welcome home, Alex,’ she muttered. Would anyone notice if she walked away, grabbed a flight to anywhere and buried her head in the clouds for another day? Probably not if what she’d seen of Mr Forelli was anything to go by. He was definitely in charge—of her department.
CHAPTER TWO
‘SO THAT’S THE wonderful Miss Prendergast.’ Mario’s hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. Imperious despite being as confused as all be it. Did she honestly think the whole ward had been waiting, going nowhere, achieving nothing, until she returned to the helm?
She hadn’t exactly rushed him with her enthusiasm at his presence. What she had done was disturb him deep inside where he hid his emotions. Right now that pool of feelings was swirling, putting him on high alert. If she could do this to him in such a short time she was dangerous to his equilibrium. Very dangerous. He needed to exercise caution. But how when just being near all that loveliness tied up in a mouth-watering package made him feel drunk. She was a neat package that reminded him of what he’d been missing out on for nearly a year, and what he did not have the time for now—a sex life.
His teeth ground hard as he cursed under his breath. He really enjoyed this job, but today it was shaping up to be a pain in the butt. Or a tickle in his hormone department.
Worse, like an ungainly teen, he’d struggled to stop ogling at her exquisite features: high cheekbones, pert nose, flawless skin. Not to mention that gleaming auburn hair locked up in a knot so tight not one strand could escape. ‘She’s so tiny. Yet her reputation is huge.’ A powerhouse on heels.
As he continued to study her it dawned on him that he’d been expecting an Amazon woman to match the stories he’d heard about her—a demanding, punishing doctor who expected unsurpassed devotion towards the patients from each and every member of her staff, who accepted nothing but the finest care and treatment for every child entering this ward, and would do whatever
