‘WE’VE been working together for three weeks,’ Jordanne McElroy complained down the telephone receiver to her good friend Kirsten Doyle. The two women had known each other since med school. ‘Three weeks,’ Jordanne stressed. ‘And still all I get from him are monosyllables.’
Kirsten laughed. ‘Surely it’s not all monosyllables.’
‘Well, except when we’re discussing patients,’ Jordanne acknowledged. ‘Otherwise monosyllables.’
‘Jordanne, you have to settle down. Alex is probably just…overwhelmed by you.’
‘Overwhelmed? Why?’ Jordanne frowned. She drummed her fingers on her desk, waiting impatiently for Kirsten’s answer.
‘Jordanne, the first time you met the man you threw your arms around him and kissed him.’
‘I didn’t kiss him,’ Jordanne corrected immediately. ‘I hugged him, yes, but he’d just saved Joel’s life. Wouldn’t you thank someone who’d saved your brother’s life?’ Jordanne demanded.
‘Of course I would. All I meant was that Alex probably would have preferred a handshake.’
‘I won’t change who I am,’ Jordanne warned, and then sighed, realising she was probably overreacting. ‘I can’t help it if I come across as a little…exuberant sometimes.’ She shrugged even though Kirsten couldn’t see her.
‘Sometimes?’
‘Oh, all right—most of the time. But it’s one of my better qualities. It’s who I am. Alex will just have to learn to accept it.’
‘You both need to find common ground soon otherwise the research project might suffer.’
‘I wouldn’t let it suffer,’ Jordanne stated stubbornly. ‘Alex Page may be head of the orthopaedic department at Canberra General Hospital, and I may be employed as his research fellow for the next twelve months but even if he doesn’t say another word to me for the rest of my contract there’s no way in the world that I would ever let the work suffer. Especially when he’s gone to so much trouble to obtain funding for my position. We’re both professionals.’
‘That’s what I love about you,’ Kirsten stated strongly. ‘Your bold determination never wanes, regardless of what challenges you’re facing.’
‘I just can’t believe how…blunt the man is,’ Jordanne said, not pacified by her friend’s praise. ‘In my family, we were always taught that manners meant everything and cost nothing. Alex Page has the manners of a bad-tempered gorilla. Quite frankly, Kirsten, I’m surprised that he and Jed have remained friends for so long.’
‘Men obviously look for different types of friendships to women.’
‘No. That’s not it. Not in this instance at any rate. Jed is my oldest brother. All of us—all six of us—were raised knowing the importance of good manners.’ Jordanne looked at the Monet print that hung on her office wall opposite her desk. She’d positioned it there to help her relax—it wasn’t working. The only other wall hanging she had was a painting her sister Jasmine had done a few years ago.
‘I’ve not had one please or thank you from him since I started. He may be tall, dark and handsome and have half of the females in this hospital swooning at his feet, but not me. I have little time and no patience with people like him.’ Even as Jordanne said the words out loud, she knew they didn’t ring true. Her thoughts had turned to Alex Page far too often for her liking during the past three weeks and that implied she had a lot of time for ‘people like him’.
‘Who are you trying to kid? You’ve got your knickers in a twist over him.’ Kirsten was silent for a second before saying, ‘He is rather good-looking but, then, we all know I’m a sucker for a tall man with dark brown hair and blue eyes.’
‘I thought you didn’t fancy him?’ Jordanne said, ignoring the hint of irritation she’d experienced at her friend’s words.
‘I don’t, well, at least, he doesn’t do anything for me. I’ve only met him once, remember, and even then Sally and Jed were around. Just a minute,’ Kirsten said, and Jordanne heard someone talking to her friend. ‘I’ve got to go, Jordanne. My first patient has arrived.’
No sooner were the words out of Kirsten’s mouth than Jordanne’s office door burst opened and there stood the man she was talking about, his hand still on the doorhandle.
Alex’s gaze met hers before his eyes dipped to look at her clothes. His gaze settled briefly on the gold fob chain that rested on top of her royal blue silk blouse near the valley of her breasts. Jordanne felt tingles flood throughout her entire body at the caress from his gaze. Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for him to speak.
His gaze finally met hers once more. ‘Clinic.’ The word was gruff before he closed the door behind him.
Jordanne breathed out slowly, amazed at the way he made her feel. ‘Oh, he’s good,’ she told Kirsten who was still on the other end of the phone. ‘He just opened my door, made me feel as though I was on fire with one simple look and then poof, he’s gone like a magician, but not before he delivers his monosyllabic order.’
‘From what you’ve just said, it sounds as though he’s attracted to you,’ Kirsten ventured. ‘Why don’t you try touching him—accidentally on purpose, mind you—in clinic. Just brush your arm up against his and watch his reaction.’
‘Kirsten.’ Jordanne shook her head even though her friend couldn’t see. ‘You’re just jumping to conclusions. I’m nothing more than a lackey to him.’
‘Even so—try it. Call me tonight and let me know how it goes. Right now we both have Monday morning to get through.’
Jordanne said goodbye and ended the call, still feeling irritated with her new boss for making her so confused. Forcing herself to do some deep breathing, she crossed over to her white coat that hung by the door and put it on. Reaching for her stethoscope which she’d left on her desk, she looped it around the back of her neck, making sure her long brown hair was still secure in the bun she’d wound it into that morning, before opening the door.
Jordanne hadn’t wanted to be attracted to Alex Page, but she was. She’d been instantly aware of his magnificent physique that very first time she’d hugged him. The revelation had surprised and delighted her, but ever since she’d started working with him the physical attraction she’d felt had been nudged aside in light of his manners.
Things just didn’t add up. When her brother, Jed, had initially told her about this job, he’d prophesied that she’d like working with his good friend. Sally, Jordanne’s friend since med school and now her sister-in-law-to-be, had also thought Jordanne and Alex would work well together.
Two people—whose opinions she’d not only listened to but trusted—were turning out to be wrong. Very wrong.
‘Something’s not right,’ she mumbled to herself as she walked into the orthopaedic outpatient department that was swarming with patients. Although she might be annoyed and irritated with her new boss, she was also mildly intrigued to know why he was so blunt with her.
‘Hi, Jordanne,’ Sister Trudy Elliot greeted her as she entered the consulting area. ‘How’s that sexy brother of yours progressing?’
Jordanne smiled, glad to have something other than Alex Page to focus on. ‘Which one?’ Jordanne teased. ‘I have four brothers, remember.’
‘Joel, of course.’ Trudy laughed. ‘I definitely wouldn’t mean Jed, otherwise Sally would have my head.’
‘Oh? So you know?’ Jordanne looked puzzled. As far as she knew, neither Sally nor Jed had set foot inside the hospital since their return from Sydney yesterday evening, and she hadn’t said anything. Jed had only proposed to Sally last Friday night—in front of the entire McElroy clan. It had been so romantic and it had been obvious to everyone who’d witnessed the event that they’d only had eyes for each other. Jordanne was so happy for both of them and silently wished that she, too, would find happiness in love—sooner rather than later.
‘Know what?’ Trudy asked, her interest piqued.
‘Uh…’ she stalled, realising her error, instantly mad at Alex Page. It was all his fault. If her mind hadn’t been so preoccupied with him she wouldn’t have made that slip. ‘That Joel’s now in Sydney,’ she said, hopefully covering up her mistake.
‘Yes.’ Trudy frowned at her. ‘I know Alex discharged him home and handed his case over to another orthopod in Sydney. That’s why I’m asking.’
‘Well, he was doing fine when I left my parents’ house yesterday. Mum’s a real nurturer so Joel will receive the best care at home.’
‘It must be nice to come from such a loving family.’ Trudy sighed.
‘Patients,’ a deep male voice boomed, and Jordanne turned from Trudy to see Alex walking towards her, hospital case notes cradled in his arm. He stopped and dished out two files to Jordanne before nodding and walking away.
Jordanne looked to Trudy but the nurse obviously didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong as she checked her watch.
‘Goodness, Alex is right. We’d better get this clinic under way or we’ll all be running late for the rest of the day.’
Jordanne entered her consulting room and ground her teeth together in exasperation. She only had a few minutes to settle in at her desk before Trudy showed the first patient in and the clinic began.
Jordanne saw one patient after the other, and just before midday the phone on her desk shrilled to life.
‘Dr McElroy,’ she answered absent-mindedly as she finished writing up some case notes.
‘Have you got a moment?’ Alex’s deep voice caught her off guard.
‘Uh, yes. Problem?’
‘Just an interesting case I thought you might like to look at.’
‘Which consulting room are you in?’
‘Three.’
‘I’ll be right there,’ Jordanne replied. She finished writing up her notes and stood, placing the completed file on the desk for the clerks to deal with. She walked across the corridor, tapped briefly on the door to consulting room three and walked in. It wasn’t the first time Alex had asked her to take a look at either a patient or X-rays. A lot of the doctors sought each other’s opinions, but still she felt a little flurry of excitement zip through her at Alex asking for her opinion.
‘Take a look at these.’ Alex pointed to some radiographs up on the viewing machine. He was standing beside it, taking another look, as though he didn’t believe what he was seeing. ‘The patient presented at A and E about half an hour ago.’
Jordanne did as he suggested. As she looked at the films, she became aware of Alex’s body very close to hers. The scent of his cologne teased her senses and Jordanne forced herself not to like it. She could also feel the warmth radiating from him at their close proximity and tried to take a step back, only to encounter the edge of the desk. She thought about what Kirsten had suggested and wondered if she was game enough to try it. She moved in again and took another look at the X-rays—really concentrating on them this time.
The patient in question had fractured his tibia on three separate occasions and each time it had fractured in exactly the same place and in exactly the same way.
Jordanne looked at the dates on the X-rays. The dates were the same on each occasion, only the years had changed. ‘Exactly two years apart on the first two and now one year since the last break.’ She shook her head in bemused amazement and looked at Alex. ‘What are the odds?’ she asked rhetorically.
‘I thought he might be an interesting case for the research study.’
‘I take it he’s not a professional athlete,’ Jordanne stated. ‘If he is, he’s in big trouble with such an alarming rate of injury.’
‘No. Once a year, he plays a rugby reunion match with his old college mates. They always play the match on the fourth of September because that’s the date they won their college grand final.’
Jordanne checked her watch and looked at Alex with a frown. ‘But it’s not even lunchtime. What time do they start?’
‘Usually around ten o’clock, and once the game is over they spend the rest of the day at the pub, catching up and enjoying themselves.’ He changed the X-ray to display another view.
‘Sounds like a wild bunch.’ Jordanne shook her head in bemusement. ‘And each year…’ she peered at the name on the X-rays ‘…Mr Dylan Foster sustains a fissured fracture to his tibia.’
‘Yes,’ Alex responded.
‘Amazing! What about the year he didn’t fracture his tibia?’
‘He was sick with shingles.’ Although Alex said the words matter-of-factly, Jordanne turned her head sharply to gaze at him. She watched as the corners of his mouth twitched into a small smile.
‘Oh, the poor man.’ Jordanne laughed, feeling sorry for the patient.
‘What’s so funny?’ Ian Parks, Alex’s senior registrar, asked as he came into the room.
‘Dylan Foster has returned,’ Alex informed him.
‘Of course, it’s the fourth of September.’ Ian walked over to the viewing box. He stood next to Jordanne and peered at the films.
‘I presume he fractured it in the same way?’ Ian asked, looking at Alex. The two men’s gazes met over Jordanne’s head.
‘Exactly,’ Alex replied.
Jordanne frowned, feeling slightly left out. She waved her hand between them. ‘Hello! I’m still here. I may only be five foot, five tall, but, please, don’t talk over my head. My brothers have done it to me for years and let me tell you right now—I don’t particularly like it.’ She smiled to belie the severity of her words.
Ian Parks laughed. ‘You poor thing. What’s the weather like down there?’
‘Stop it,’ she replied with a chuckle. ‘Just because you’re both over six foot there’s no need to rub it in.’
‘I’m exactly six foot,’ Ian told her. ‘Alex is a few inches taller than me. How tall are you, boss? Six-three or six-four?’
Alex looked from Ian to Jordanne, his gaze remaining on her for a fraction longer.
Jordanne allowed her gaze to start at his shoes, working her way up to his dark, immaculately groomed hair. It was a quick perusal but one that left her wishing she could have taken more time. ‘I’d guess you’d be about six foot four—same as Jed,’ Jordanne surmised before he could answer.
He swallowed before nodding. ‘Yes.’ He looked purposely back to the X-rays.
‘Are you going to include Dylan in your study?’ Ian asked Jordanne.
‘My study,’ Alex corrected his registrar.
‘Our study,’ Jordanne said, and reached out to pull one of the radiographs from the viewer. As she did so, her arm brushed against Alex’s firm torso. Her breath caught in her throat and a rush of wildfire spread throughout her body, warming her instantly. Jordanne dropped her hand to her side, the film forgotten.
‘Right,’ he agreed with a nod. Again, their gazes held for a brief moment and Jordanne felt her knees weaken. Alex was a devastatingly attractive man. His blue eyes were as dark as the sea in a storm and they were looking at her with surprise. Had he felt the awareness she’d just experienced? Not possible, she rationalised. Not if his attitude during the past few weeks was any indication.
She thought back to what she and Kirsten had discussed only a few hours ago. She hadn’t meant to brush up against Alex, even though she’d thought about it when she’d walked into the room. She tried to remember his reaction so she and Kirsten could discuss it later.
Jordanne turned her attention to Ian. ‘Probably,’ she finally said, realising Ian’s question still required an answer. ‘Would it be possible to have further scanning and tests done?’
‘The second time he presented, that’s exactly what we did,’ Ian informed her. ‘Are these the case notes, Alex?’ he asked, pointing to an open file on Alex’s consulting desk.
‘Yes.’ Alex handed them to Ian who took a quick look before offering them to Jordanne.
‘Is he still here?’ She accepted the case notes and flicked through them, scanning the previous outpatient notes.
‘He’s in the plaster room, getting a cast on his leg. I want him in overnight for observation,’ Alex said.
‘That will mean all his drunk rugby buddies will be around to see him later today,’ Ian added. ‘I’d better notify the ward sister or she won’t be too happy.’
‘Good idea.’ Alex nodded.
Jordanne gave Dylan Foster’s case notes to Ian so he could make the necessary arrangements.
‘I’ll get onto it right away.’ Ian walked out of the room, leaving Jordanne and Alex alone.
‘A very…unique case,’ Jordanne remarked after a moment’s silence. ‘Mr Foster will fit nicely into the amateur athlete section of the study.’
‘Agreed.’ Alex leaned back against the desk, his arms folded across his chest. Still he didn’t venture to say anything.
Back to monosyllables, she thought. ‘I presume a case study has already been done on Mr Foster?’ Jordanne asked, trying not to be intimidated by his stance.
‘Yes.’
She clenched her jaw tightly together as Alex began to annoy her once more. ‘Do you think I could do an updated presentation for the grand round next week?’
‘No.’
‘Why not?’ Jordanne was now having trouble controlling her rising temper. ‘He’s an incredible case. I’ve never seen anything like it before and there are quite a few new staff members who won’t be familiar with the previous findings. Isn’t that what the grand round is for? I mean, everybody who’s anybody is at that meeting for the purpose of learning about new and interesting cases.’ There, she thought. Try and answer that with a monosyllable.
He gave her a thoughtful look before nodding. ‘You’ll be too busy. I’ll get Ian to do it. He did the last one.’
Jordanne grinned exuberantly. She’d managed to get him to say more than one word in that answer.
‘Something funny?’ Alex asked, frowning—a look she was positive he’d been born with, he did it so often to her.
Jordanne instantly wiped the smile from her face. ‘No.’ The one-word reply was her crowning glory. Her lips might not be smiling but her eyes were twinkling with delight. When her stomach grumbled its protest at the lack of food, the humour died altogether. She glanced up at Alex, not sure whether or not he’d heard. His raised eyebrow indicated he had.
For a brief second the world appeared to stand still. There was silent communication going on between them—a communication that both were trying hard to ignore. His gaze displayed an emotion Jordanne hadn’t witnessed before and briefly—so quickly, she thought she’d imagined it—his gaze dipped to her lips.
Her stomach fluttered in anticipation and her breathing increased. Her lips parted to let the air out and the tip of her tongue slipped between them, moistening their suddenly dry state.
Alex cleared his throat. ‘So, do you want to see him?’
‘Who?’ Jordanne’s mind was a complete blank. ‘Oh, Dylan Foster. You said he was in the plaster room, didn’t you?’
‘Yes.’ Alex turned on his heel and walked out of the consulting room. Jordanne followed behind. The plaster room was only two doors down. Alex knocked before entering and held the door for Jordanne.
‘Thank you,’ she said, a little surprised he’d actually waited.
‘Mr Foster.’ Alex addressed the man lying on the examination couch. The plaster orderly was almost finished. ‘This is Dr McElroy, my associate.’
‘Well, hello, there.’ Dylan Foster leered at Jordanne. ‘Where have you been hiding all my life?’
Jordanne forced a smile and ignored his question. ‘Mr Foster—’ she began.
‘My friends call me Dylan,’ he corrected in what she could only presume was his attempt at a sexy voice. ‘You can, too.’
‘Thank you so much,’ Jordanne answered. ‘Dr Page has brought your unique case to my attention. I’m currently involved in a study of lower limb fractures and a new medication which helps repair fractures more quickly. It’s a non-steroidal, non-performance-enhancing medication. In the study, we’re mainly focusing on professionally trained athletes, but we’ll also be including case studies of amateur and non-athletes. As you periodically play rugby and have sustained injuries from it, you’re perfect—’ Jordanne smiled sweetly as she said the word ‘—for our study.’
‘Am I, now?’ He raised one eyebrow at her suggestively.
‘If you’re interested, I’d be more than happy to supply you with further information. It’s important that the participants of the study understand exactly what’s involved.’
‘Well, how about you and me get together tonight and discuss things in more detail?’
‘I have some meetings this afternoon but I can certainly come to the ward to discuss the study.’
‘It’s a date,’ he said, and as he lowered his eyelids in what Jordanne could only surmise was supposed to be his ‘sexy’ look, she was hard-pressed to keep from laughing out loud.
‘I’ll see you then.’ With that, she turned and walked out, fearing she wouldn’t be able to control her mirth for much longer.
Alex was hard on her heels. He gently placed his hand beneath her elbow and propelled her into his consulting room. He closed the door behind them. Jordanne tried hard to ignore the tingling throughout her body which his touch had evoked and instead glared down at his hand on her arm, indicating she wasn’t too impressed with his urging. He removed his hand instantly.
‘What on earth were you playing at in there?’ he demanded briskly.
‘Sorry?’ Jordanne frowned. ‘I don’t follow.’
‘You were flirting with a patient.’
‘What? Have you lost your mind? I was not flirting with a patient,’ she denied instantly. ‘He was flirting with me. There’s a big difference.’
‘Oh, please. You did everything to encourage him. He’s not that important to the study. We can find another patient to participate.’
‘He’s not a threat, Alex. I’ve handled worse than him before. Women learn these survival skills to protect themselves from leering males in high school. It’s the quiet, shy men that are a lot more dangerous than the likes of Mr Dylan Foster.’ She looked at him pointedly, indicating she meant men like him. ‘Dylan’s all bluster. Trust me, Alex. Growing up with four brothers has taught me a thing or two about men.’
‘You have no idea what you’re talking about.’
Jordanne saw red. ‘How can you say that? You hardly know me.’ She took a deep breath, knowing that she had to cool it.
Alex shoved his hands into his trouser pockets and frowned.
‘Look,’ Jordanne began again, more calmly. ‘I’ll be talking to him in the ward. There’ll be plenty of staff around. It’s not as though we’re going to have a candlelit dinner in the privacy of his home. It will still be daylight outside.’
‘Let me know when you’re going to see him,’ Alex insisted.
‘Fine.’ Her tone was clipped. ‘Come along if that’s what makes you happy but, remember, you did employ me to do this research study. If you’re going to be looking over my shoulder every five minutes, second-guessing what’s going on, I might as well go back to Sydney right now. My job was to lighten your load and get this project up and running. Now, you either trust me to do it or I leave. It’s as simple as that.’ Jordanne turned to walk out of his room and Alex quickly closed the distance between them. He placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her around to face him, dropping his hand almost the instant he’d made contact.
‘I’m very protective of my staff.’ Alex focused on her lips for an instant before meeting her gaze again. ‘If Mr Foster continues with his present attitude, it could be bordering on sexual harassment and I don’t want any staff in my department to have to endure it. Not from other staff members and not from patients. I won’t stand for it and neither will the hospital. Besides, Jed would have my head if he thought I’d let anything happen to you.’
Jordanne looked up at him, knowing she could quite easily drown in those gorgeous blue eyes. ‘I appreciate your concern, Alex, but I’m a big girl,’ she told him, amazed at how gooey inside his words had made her feel. He cared—he really cared. ‘I know the hospital’s policy regarding sexual harassment. If I have any problems with Dylan Foster—groping hands, that sort of thing—I’ll report it immediately and you can take over his involvement in the study. But to tell you the truth, I think Mr Foster is all talk and no action. What’s the bet he’s married with a couple of kids but just has to look heroic in front of any other man?’ she suggested, hoping to lighten the atmosphere a bit.
In the past fifteen minutes she’d seen more of the real Alex Page than she had during the entire time she’d been working with him.
Alex considered what she’d said. ‘All right,’ he conceded. ‘Go and see him by yourself but if—’
‘I promise, Alex,’ she told him seriously. Her stomach growled again and Jordanne rolled her eyes, glad that something had broken the sombre mood. ‘I think I’d better go finish up with my patients before my stomach protests any louder.’
This time when she went to open the door he didn’t stop her. Jordanne returned to her own consulting room, even more puzzled than when she’d first begun the clinic. Alex had shown such genuine concern for her that perhaps, just perhaps, during their time of working together he’d been covering up other feelings he hadn’t wanted Jordanne to know about.
She considered herself quite experienced at reading the signals a man could send a woman he liked. Now she was certain that that was exactly what Alex Page had been doing.
‘Wait until I tell Kirsten,’ she whispered to herself before a knock on the door brought her back to reality. Her next patient was shown in but nothing could shift Jordanne’s good mood.
She and Kirsten discussed Alex—his every word and action—at length and in detail for the rest of the week. He had still remained a little standoffish with her and had asked for a complete report on her meeting with Dylan Foster. Jordanne had been pleased to tell him that Mr Foster was indeed married and his wife had been present when she’d spoken with him.
‘It sounds as though Alex wants to keep his distance from you,’ Kirsten said thoughtfully as Jordanne poured her another cup of coffee.
‘Oh, and there’s another thing,’ Jordanne added. ‘I was talking to Sally yesterday and she asked me about my dinner with Alex. I told her I hadn’t been out to dinner with him.’
‘Of course.’ Kirsten raised her free hand to her head. ‘Why didn’t I remember that sooner? Alex’s dinner.’
‘You know about this?’ Jordanne asked with surprise.
‘That he takes all his new surgical staff out to dinner? Yes. You know I went out with Alex, Sally and Jed—that was supposed to be Sally’s business dinner with Alex.
‘Oh?’ Jordanne frowned. ‘I didn’t know that.’
‘Sally had wanted me to see that Jed felt nothing for her. Huh! Sometimes the tension between the two of them was so taut you could have cut it with a knife.’ Kirsten smiled in remembrance.
Jordanne smiled, too. ‘And now they’re happily engaged.’ She sipped her coffee. ‘Well, this is the first I’ve heard of these dinners.’
‘You have been rather busy during the past few weeks. Maybe he just hasn’t had the time to arrange it with you.’
‘Perhaps,’ Jordanne agreed, but somehow she doubted it. There was definitely something going on and Jordanne was going to find out what.