CHAPTER ONE

Chanel Munro took a moment to surreptitiously swipe her sweat-dampened palms down the sides of her white lab coat. The impressive sixteen-storey, sandstone building that housed the patients of the Sydney Harbour Hospital towered before her. Butterflies churned in her stomach and she breathed deeply, hoping to calm her nerves. It was her first day as a junior medical resident under the esteemed Doctor Leo Baker. She’d die if he were to guess how anxious she was.

It was ridiculous, really. It wasn’t like she was a fresh-faced intern straight out of medical school, who’d barely seen the inside of a hospital. She’d worked in the largest hospital in Brisbane for more than two years. The place had become her second home and she’d loved every minute of it.

But while she loved Brisbane and its laid-back lifestyle, she was more than three hours’ drive away from her parents and only sister and at least a day’s drive away from her brothers. After supporting her oldest brother through a recent health crisis, she’d realized how important it was to be close to her family and surrounded by their love.

Her numerous nieces and nephews were getting older and she’d missed many of their milestones. Her birthday had come and gone a month earlier and the reality she was only three years shy of thirty had come as a bit of a surprise.

Where had the time gone? It seemed like only yesterday that she’d graduated high school and stood outside the hallowed walls of the medical school at Brisbane University, her stomach taut with nerves. And here she was in Sydney, outside the city’s most prestigious hospital, with stomach-churning fear, excitement and anticipation—just as strong and familiar as all those years ago.

She’d applied for the residency position on Doctor Baker’s medical team without any real hope of success and was stunned when an email came through congratulating her on her appointment. While she’d graduated top of her class in Brisbane, it was rumored more than a thousand young doctors had competed for the ten, much-coveted places on Doctor Baker’s team.

The fact that she now lived within a ten-mile radius of three of her older brothers was almost as important as the realization she was finally living her dream. Having scoured the classified advertisements online and in the Sydney newspapers for weeks prior to her move, she’d been fortunate to find a cosy two-bedroom apartment in North Sydney, only minutes from the train station. While the rent was pretty steep, the proximity to her work in the city and the fantastic harbor views more than compensated. Besides, she was optimistic she’d be able to find a roommate to help offset the costs.

She’d already prepared an advertisement to pin on the staff noticeboard at the hospital as soon as she could. But first, she had to find the courage to walk inside.

With another deep breath, she adjusted her backpack on her shoulder and made her way down the cobblestoned path that led to the wide front doors. A little ways past the entryway, stood an information desk manned by a white-haired volunteer. Chanel smiled at the woman behind the counter.

“Hello, I was wondering if you could tell me where I could find Doctor Leo Baker?”

“Good morning, and welcome to the Sydney Harbour Hospital. I take it you’re one of our lovely Doctor Baker’s fresh recruits?” The woman’s twinkling eyes almost disappeared into the folds of soft skin around her eyes.

Chanel nodded.  “Yes. I’m Chanel Munro. This is my first day.”

“Pleased to meet you, Chanel. I’m Marjorie Campbell. You can find me most mornings right here at the information desk. I share it with Dottie Featherdale. Between the two of us, there’s nothing we don’t know about this place.” She winked and Chanel couldn’t help but chuckle.

“That’s good to know, Marjorie. I’m from the country. I’ve only visited Sydney on the odd occasion. It’s a little overwhelming to a newcomer.”

“I could tell you were a country girl the moment I spotted you standing outside the door. There’s something so fresh and wholesome about you.”

Chanel blushed. “Actually, I was born and bred in the country, but I’ve been living in Brisbane the last few years. I attended university there, and afterwards, I worked in the Brisbane Hospital.”

“Oh, I meant no offense. I was born in the country, too. My family came from the north coast, up near Byron Bay. I moved to Sydney when I married my Ron.” She sighed softly. “That was nearly fifty years ago.”

Chanel smiled. “You must have been a child bride.”

Marjorie blushed with pleasure, but waved her compliment away. “Get away with you now.”

Chanel glanced at her watch and noted the time. She bit her lip. It wouldn’t do to be late on her first day. Marjorie noticed her frown.

“I’m sorry, honey. I’ve been rambling on about nothing and you need to find Doctor Baker. Please excuse an old lady her memories. Now, if you go to the end of this corridor, you’ll find a bank of elevators. Take one to Level Three. You’ll find his rooms on the left, right around the corner. He’s one of our finest doctors,” she added, puffing up with pride. “You’ll learn much from him.”

“Yes, so I’ve heard. I can’t wait to begin.”

“He’s also easy on the eye,” she added and gave Chanel a wink. “It always makes for a more interesting day when there’s a little eye candy around.”

Heat rushed into Chanel’s cheeks, but she giggled at the old lady’s insights. From what Chanel knew of Doctor Baker, he was young enough to be Marjorie’s son. The fact that he was old enough to be Chanel’s father also didn’t seem to matter to the woman. Pushing aside that thought, Chanel smiled again.

“It was lovely to meet you, Marjorie, and thank you for making me feel so welcome. I’m going to love working here. I just know it.”

The tight white curls bobbed around the older woman’s head and her face filled with good cheer.

“My pleasure, Chanel Munro. You have a great day.”

* * *

Chanel hefted her backpack over her shoulder and stepped out of the elevator. Rounding the corner, she found Doctor Baker’s rooms as Marjorie had described. His name was engraved on a brass nameplate affixed to the outside of the closed door. She swallowed a fresh wave of nerves and knocked.

“Come in.”

Chanel’s breath caught at the sharp command. It had come from a woman. She scrambled to adjust her thinking and her approach. She’d been worried about offending the doctor, but offending his secretary was probably just as bad. She opened the door and offered a hesitant smile to the woman who gave her a narrow-eyed stare from behind the counter.

The woman’s skin was flawless, though she had to be in her fifties. She wore a designer suit and her hair was thick and luxurious. It hung over her shoulder in a stylish ponytail and was made up of so many shades of blond, it was obvious she employed an expert colorist. Despite the woman’s unfriendly demeanor, Chanel felt a burst of admiration.

“Hi, I’m—”

“Chanel Munro. You’re late.”

Chanel nodded and slid her backpack off her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I was—”

“Doctor Baker has a reputation for excellence. He is held in the highest esteem in medical circles right around Australia. He’s also a very busy man. He doesn’t tolerate excuses, Doctor Munro, no matter what the circumstance. Let this be your one and only warning. Don’t be late again.”

“No, of course not. I promise I—”

“Take a seat. Everyone else is here. Doctor Baker will be out shortly.”

Chanel gathered her backpack and turned away. She glanced at the other people who almost filled the modest waiting room. Apart from a man reading a newspaper who looked like he was in his forties and a woman graying at the temples, engrossed in texting on her phone, they were young, like she was.

Chanel nodded polite acknowledgements to the other members of Doctor Baker’s team and took the only remaining chair. She smiled at the girl seated on her right.

“Hi, I’m Chanel Munro,” she said and offered the girl her hand.

“Tanya Singh,” the girl responded in a voice without a trace of an accent, despite the fact her glossy black hair and midnight eyes appeared to indicate she was of East Indian heritage.

“Nice to meet you, Tanya. Are you part of Doctor Baker’s new team of residents?”

“Yes, we all are.” Tanya lowered her voice to a whisper. “Don’t worry. I only got here a minute or so before you. I think she only growled at you because you’re so young and beautiful. You probably remind the old hag of what she used to look like.”

Chanel swallowed a gasp of surprise, but Tanya only giggled behind her hand.

Chanel’s lips twitched upward in response. “Shh,” she admonished, stifling a grin. “She’ll hear you.”

Tanya shrugged, unconcerned. “She thinks because she’s Doctor Baker’s wife she can lord it over his students. Ha! I’ll show her. She’s nothing but a bully. Wait until—”

“She’s Doctor Baker’s wife? Are you kidding? And she works for him?”

“Yeah, weird, huh? You’d think with all the money he must make she’d be whiling away her time at soirees and society lunches. Perhaps she doesn’t trust him around his young and beautiful medical students?” Tanya winked and Chanel was reminded of Marjorie’s comments about the doctor.

Tanya lowered her head conspiratorially. “I’ve heard rumors that he—”

Her words halted abruptly when an inner door opened and Doctor Baker strode into the room. Chanel had seen images of him on Google, but none of them had done justice to the way he appeared in the flesh. Apart from being above average height and in peak physical condition, he had an air of charm and charisma that no photo could properly capture. His blue eyes twinkled with warmth and humor and his teeth showed white and straight and perfect amidst the fullness of his smile.

The man was gorgeous. If she were the kind of girl who was attracted to older men, she’d be a goner, for sure. Aware that she’d been staring, Chanel dragged her gaze away from him and studied the carpet.

“Good morning to all of you. I hope I haven’t kept you waiting?”

A murmur of ‘No, Doctor’ ran through the group.

“For those of you who are new to Sydney Harbour Hospital, I’d like to welcome you, and in particular, I’d like to congratulate you on making it onto my team. There were many of you who competed for a place. You have a right to feel proud that you made it through.”

Chanel nodded in agreement. She looked up and her gaze tangled with his. He stared at her, his expression intense. Her heart skipped a beat and heat rushed into her cheeks. After what seemed like forever, he looked away and she drew in a shaky breath. She snuck a peek at Tanya, but it seemed the girl hadn’t noticed.

“Anyway, enough of that,” Doctor Baker continued, his tone dismissive. “Why don’t you come through to the boardroom? We can get to know each other a little better and I can fill you in on what I expect.” He swung around and spoke to his wife. “Susan, bring in some coffee. Or perhaps some of you would prefer tea?”

“Coffee’s fine,” Chanel murmured, along with the nine others.

“Coffee it is, then.” With that, he turned on his heel and headed toward a room adjacent to the one he’d come from. He opened the door and then stood back to allow them to enter. Chanel stared straight ahead and followed behind Tanya.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

The doctor’s voice was a low murmur in Chanel’s ear. His warm hand on her bare arm startled her. Her mouth went dry and her tongue refused to work.

“Ch-Chanel Munro,” she stammered and silently cursed the fresh wave of heat that flooded her cheeks.

“Chanel Munro. A beautiful name. Welcome; it’s good to have you on my team. I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”

“Th-thank you, Doctor Baker. I-I’m very grateful to be here.”

His voice dropped to a husky drawl. “We all have much to be grateful for, Chanel Munro.”

Someone behind her cleared their throat and Chanel lowered her head in embarrassment. No doubt he told all of his recruits how pleased he was they’d joined his team. He’d handpicked them, after all. She hurried after the others and took a place beside Tanya in the boardroom.

A large oval table made from some kind of dark, polished wood filled most of the room. High-backed black leather chairs provided seating for at least twenty. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with numerous leather-bound medical journals stood against two walls. A third wall held a large flat-screen television, projector screen and sophisticated-looking audio equipment. Pale morning sunlight filtered in through the windows that were set against the fourth wall. The room was darkly masculine and perfectly suited the charismatic doctor who took the place at the head of the table.

Chanel was a little alarmed to discover she sat directly across from him. She felt off balance, uncertain of how to proceed. She was grateful for the vastness of the table that separated them—even though that distance didn’t seem near enough.

She frowned and did her best to quell her nerves. She’d been around good-looking men before. She’d worked with a lot of doctors who were easy on the eye and she’d even dated one or two. What was it about Doctor Baker that had her so nervous inside? He was nothing more than her boss—albeit an attractive one.

The door to the boardroom swung open and Susan Baker walked in carrying a large tray laden with a silver coffee service and cups to match. Chanel eased out her breath in relief and vowed silently to keep her wayward emotions under control. She was there to learn under the best. A year under the tutelage of Doctor Baker would set her up for life. She’d be guaranteed entry into whatever post-graduate medical career she chose. She refused to allow her nerves to jeopardize everything she’d worked for. With that resolution in mind, she kept her gaze focused on the table before her.

“Thank you, Susan.” He turned his attention to his new team. “People, we have fresh coffee, cream and sugar. Come and help yourselves.”

The others pushed back their chairs and headed toward the tray that had been left on one corner of the table, not far from where the doctor sat. Chanel remained where she was. The aroma of freshly brewed beans wafted toward her, tantalizing her and warring with her need to keep her distance from Doctor Baker.

“Do you want one?” Tanya asked and Chanel swallowed a sigh of relief.

“Yes, thank you. Cream and one sugar would be great.”

A few moments later, Tanya returned with a cup in either hand and set one down before Chanel who offered the girl a grateful smile.

“Thank you. You’re a lifesaver! It’s my first hit of caffeine for the day.”

Tanya smiled. “Really? I can’t get out of bed without at least one cup in my belly. I’m lucky. My dad brings it in to me every morning.”

“You still live with your dad?” Chanel asked in surprise. She’d gauged Tanya’s age to be close to her own.

“Yes. I still live with my dad. I think I’m the only thirty-year-old in Sydney who does so, but there you have it.”

Chanel shrugged. “I guess if there isn’t a reason for you to move out, it’s a sensible thing to do. The rents in Sydney aren’t cheap, particularly close to the city. I bet you save a ton of money.”

“Yes, I’ve managed to save up and buy my first investment property.” Tanya winked. “There are some perks to living with your family at my advanced age, although it plays havoc with your love life.”

“I think I could handle living with one of my brothers, if they had the room,” Chanel replied. “Three of them are scattered around Sydney. Each is married with a handful of kids. Their houses are full to bursting. Too bad, because my love life’s non-existent. I’m twenty-seven years old and can count the number of boyfriends I’ve had on one hand.”

“You look a lot younger. Fresh and beautiful. Your skin’s so clear and your hair—there’s no way you’d get a color like that out of a bottle.”

Chanel touched the single long braid a little self-consciously. People were always commenting on the color of her hair. Her father still referred to her having a ‘head of pure sunshine.’ She preferred to describe it as blond.

“Thanks,” she muttered. “You’re right. The color’s natural. My mother’s fair. Even in her mid-sixties, she still has gorgeous hair.”

“Like the doctor’s wife,” Tanya whispered on a giggle. “But you can bet hers came from a bottle. She’s plastic from head to toe.”

Chanel snuck a peek in Susan’s direction and hid a smile behind her hand. The woman had an enviable figure and looked like she was devoted to her gym. A firm-looking pair of breasts large enough to put Pamela Anderson to shame were shown to full advantage in a tailored blouse with three of the top buttons undone. She leaned across her husband, giving him the opportunity to look his fill, but his gaze remained fixed on Chanel. She blushed and looked away and busied herself by taking a quick gulp of her coffee.

A moment later, the doctor clapped his hands together to capture everyone’s attention. “All right, now that we have a shot of caffeine on board, let’s get started. Thank you, Susan. You can take that away now.” He barely spared his wife a glance.

Her mouth tightened, but she made no reply. Instead, she removed the tray of coffee things, as directed. Chanel watched with interest as she closed the door behind her.

Doctor Baker cleared his throat. “I’ve allocated everyone a pager. Make sure it’s switched on at all times, unless you’re on rostered days off. Speaking of rosters, I’ve prepared one for each of you. You’ll find you’re scheduled for twelve-hour shifts and then you’ll be on call for another twelve. If you’re lucky, you might snatch an hour or two of sleep between emergencies.”

A chorus of groans rippled around the room, but were quickly silenced with a stern look.

“Let me remind you, you were the ones who applied to be considered for my team. I took only the best, but now you’re here, I expect you to earn it. Anyone who can’t keep up will fall by the wayside. Be warned, I won’t be here to pick up the pieces. If you want to work under the best, you have to be the best. Anything less is unacceptable.” He drilled them with hard eyes, his gaze slowly scanning the room. “Are we clear?”

“Yes, Doctor,” Chanel murmured, along with her colleagues.

The doctor stared at her and a little smile curled up his lips. “Good. Now, let’s go have some fun.”