‘YOUR cousin!’
Hayden watched as the colour drained from Annie’s face. ‘Here.’ He took her arm and guided her to a chair, gently pushing her down. ‘Sit down before you fall down.’ He caught a glimpse of her smooth legs as she sat, her khaki shorts hitching themselves higher. Very nice. Taking one last look at the photograph, he set it on her new bookshelf. ‘Adam is my cousin. I’m just curious why you have his picture in a pretty love-heart frame.’
Hayden kept his tone neutral while his brain searched for a rational explanation. He hadn’t seen Adam in years, but now that he’d moved back to the eastern coast of Australia he was planning to catch up with him soon—like this evening, if he could!
He looked down at Annie, wanting to sort this out—but as soon as he looked at her, he knew it was a mistake. She was at a disadvantage sitting down but it made him realise just how much of her skin was on show. Her white summer top revealed an expanse of lightly tanned skin around her neck and shoulders—skin that would no doubt be soft to touch. He shoved his hands into his pockets and sat down opposite her.
She pushed a trembling hand through her curls and he realised he’d unnerved her. ‘How do you know Adam?’
‘If you’re his cousin, I’d expect you to know.’
Her tone was calm and he realised she was doing a great job of hiding her emotions. He nodded slowly. ‘That’s true but I haven’t seen him in a while.’
‘Then why don’t you get him to tell you what happened?’ She forced her legs to work and stood. Now that she’d got over the initial shock of discovering Hayden was Adam’s cousin, anger started to set in. How dared he question her? ‘It’s really none of your business.’ She picked up the frame and stalked into the kitchen. She heard Hayden move and realised he’d followed her.
She turned to look at him and tossed the frame into the bin. ‘End of discussion.’
‘So you’re just going to throw it out?’ He leaned against the doorjamb, his gaze focused on her. ‘Seems like your answer for anything that bothers you.’
‘How dare you? You know nothing about me.’
‘I know. That’s what I’m trying to find out.’ He stood up straight and advanced slowly into the kitchen. ‘What was the deal…’ he took a step closer ‘…with you…’ another step ‘…and Adam?’
Annie swallowed, her gaze flicking between his lips and his mouth. ‘It’s none of your business.’
She was right. It wasn’t, and his burning need to know the details of her relationship with his cousin surprised him. Why did it bother him so much? He was naturally distrustful of women, especially after his own ugly divorce, but why did he really care if she’d broken Adam’s heart?
Because if she had, she was capable of breaking someone else’s. He couldn’t deny he’d been instantly attracted to Annie but he couldn’t discount this information. She broke free of his gaze and started pacing up and down her kitchen, her arms crossed defensively over her chest before stopping next to the bin.
She was agitated and upset and he felt a stirring of guilt. ‘Look, Hayden, this is my apartment and I’d appreciate it if you would leave. I don’t have to explain anything to you, I don’t have to stand here and answer your questions. Thank you for your help with my furniture but would you, please, leave?’ When he didn’t move, she tried again. ‘At work you’ll be my boss and that’s a different issue, but right now I’d like you to leave.’
Without a word he took a small step towards her. Annie automatically backed away, coming up hard against the bench, her heart rate accelerating with awareness. Her eyes were wide with surprise and her breath caught in her throat. Hayden continued to advance. When he stood before her, almost toe to toe, he reached down and pulled the frame out of the bin, thankful there was nothing but paper in there. Without glancing at it, he reached forward, his arm brushing hers as he placed the item on the bench behind her.
He was close. So close she could feel his breath on her cheek, smell the scent of him and feel the warmth emanating from his entire body. He exhaled slowly as he straightened. His gaze scanned her face, stopping for way too long on her lips before returning to her eyes. There was one surefire way to find out how deeply she felt towards his cousin and the idea was certainly an intriguing possibility.
Annie felt as though she were about to burst an artery. The magnitude of her situation settled over her. She was close…very close to Hayden. If he edged just a little closer, their bodies would be touching—which wasn’t such an unappealing thought.
A rush of pent-up air escaped between her lips, making them dry. Unconsciously, her tongue slipped out to wet them, Hayden watching the action closely. She kept her gaze fixed on his and was amazed to see the dark blue depths clouding with…desire. Desire? The knowledge set off an explosion of fireworks deep within her belly, their heat warming her right the way through.
Surely she was mistaken. Men like Hayden Robinson didn’t find little mousy-brown women like herself desirable, yet when his hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb tenderly caressing her skin, she could take it no longer. Her eyelids fluttered closed and she gave in to the sensations he evoked. Her head felt light and fuzzy, incapable of any coherent thought except wanting Hayden’s lips on her own as soon as possible. What was it about this man? No man had ever made her feel faint before.
A low, guttural sound came from him and a fraction of a second later she felt him move away. Her eyelids snapped open and she could see the desire dying.
Common sense had won out.
Annie couldn’t move.
‘You’re right.’ His tone was deep, the repressed emotion still evident. ‘It is none of my business—you and Adam.’
She needed space. She needed time to think and process the emotions she was feeling. She edged past him, ignored the small spark of need which shot through her, and stalked to the door. Wrenching it open, she indicated he should go.
Hayden nodded and walked to the door. She started to relax, thinking she was home and dry, but he stopped opposite her and her heart rate increased instantly. Slowly, a smile formed on his lips, one that was designed to melt even the hardest of hearts—and much to her disgust it was working.
‘Don’t be mad, Annie.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because we have to work together.’
‘I’ve worked with many people I don’t like and never had a problem.’
‘But I’ll bet they weren’t your boss.’
She hated him for being right. Her pager started beeping and she groaned.
‘One of those days?’ he asked knowingly.
She nodded and checked her pager. ‘I’m needed in A and E.’ She patted her shorts pocket to check her keys were still there before looking up at him. ‘Well, if you won’t leave my apartment, I guess I will.’ With that, she turned and walked towards the stairwell, determined not to look back but conscious of the fact that he watched her the entire way.
Hayden shook his head as the stairwell door closed. What on earth had he been thinking? He’d almost kissed her! He closed Annie’s apartment door firmly behind him before stalking back to his own place. He paced around his living room, unsure why he felt so out of control.
He would be working with her, for heaven’s sake. Not only that, but it appeared she was or had been involved with his cousin. He remembered her saying yesterday something about a bad break-up. Was Adam the person she’d recently broken up with?
‘Adam.’ He stalked to the phone and looked up his cousin’s mobile number. Punching in the number with determination, he waited impatiently for his cousin to pick up the phone. When the voice mail clicked in, Hayden was stumped. What on earth was he supposed to say? Hi, Adam, do you know an Annie Beresford and what is your relationship with her? Why does my neighbour have your picture in a frame surrounded by love hearts? Is it serious? Do you love her?
Instead he growled, ‘It’s Hayden. Call me back.’ He recited his number before hanging up. Adam had always had a way with the ladies. In fact, he clearly remembered back when they’d been hormone-ridden teenagers, Adam had usually had two or three girls on the go at one time. Was Annie another of his cousin’s discarded pile? Was that why she’d reacted so defensively when questioned?
Hayden was a man who liked to have things straight—sorted out into nice, neat piles—and this was far from sorted. Annie would just say it was none of his business but, due to his unwanted attraction to her, it had become his business. Adam was his cousin. Annie was his registrar—and his neighbour.
He raked a hand through his hair as he realised his thoughts had come back to square one. He’d learnt long ago to keep his private life private—separate from the hospital. Now that Annie was living next door, how was he going to do that—especially when he was very much attracted to the petite dynamo?
Annie stopped by her favourite hang-out after her shift on Saturday—the pool hall. She loved it because it wasn’t connected with the hospital or its staff. She greeted Trevor, the owner, with a warm hug. He was in his early forties, tall with long brown hair that curled around his shoulders and laughing brown eyes.
‘G’ day, handsome. How’s business tonight?’
Trevor hugged her back. ‘Not bad. A few new people in but, being Saturday night, it’ll heat up soon. Drink?’
‘Sure. A lemonade will be fine.’
‘You got it. There’s a new guy on table two. Looks like your type so why don’t you go over and introduce yourself? You know, be friendly.’
‘What do you mean, my type?’
‘Annie—I used to be your type.’
Annie laughed. ‘That was years ago, Trev.’
‘Go and say hi at any rate. I want my customers to come back, not be ignored.’
‘What if he wants to be ignored?’ Annie peered over towards table two at the back of the large room and could see a man with his back to her, bent over as he lined up a shot.
‘Will you just go?’
‘All right.’ She headed slowly towards table two, admiring the man’s butt as he leaned over the table. Her gaze travelled up his body, over his firm back to his flexed triceps. She didn’t want to disturb him while he took the shot so waited just off to the side. When he’d finished, Annie felt her jaw drop to the ground as he turned slightly to chalk his cue.
‘Hayden!’
He spun around. ‘Annie!’
‘What are you doing here?’ they said in unison and then laughed.
‘Sorry.’ She smiled at him. ‘I see you’ve already found the best place to unwind in town.’
‘Yes.’ They stood staring at each other for a moment before he reached for the triangle and started racking the balls up. ‘Care for a game?’
‘Sure.’
‘Do you come here often?’
‘Yes, as a matter of fact.’
Trevor came over with her drink. ‘Annie’s been a regular here for about eight years now.’
Hayden raised his eyebrows in surprise. ‘Interesting.’
‘She’s an interesting woman. Says coming here helps her unwind from her work. She’s a doctor, you know.’
‘Trevor,’ Annie muttered, slightly embarrassed at the way her friend was all but pushing her on Hayden.
Hayden merely laughed. ‘I know. Come Monday, we’ll be working together.’
‘You two know each other?’
‘We’re neighbours,’ Annie supplied.
‘Small world.’ Trevor nodded and offered Hayden another drink.
‘No, thanks.’ With that, they were left to themselves again. ‘How was the hospital today?’
Annie walked over to the wall which was lined with a row of chairs. ‘Busy.’ She put her briefcase and bag on the chair before heading to the cue rack. ‘We have a new boss starting on Monday…’ she chose a cue ‘…so we’re trying to get everything shipshape and in order.’ She leaned closer and said in a conspiratorial whisper, ‘I hear he’s a tyrant.’
Hayden nodded and matched her whisper. ‘It’s true.’
Annie laughed and looked into his eyes, wondering why she found him so intriguing. He was…different somehow from men she’d dated. Definitely different from Adam at any rate, even though they were cousins. Slowly the smile faded but their gazes remained locked.
‘Hey, Annie,’ someone called, and she quickly took a guilty step back and turned to look at who was addressing her.
‘Hi, Angelo.’ She waved back and waited while Angelo walked over. She introduced him to Hayden and after the two men had shaken hands, Angelo reminded her of a game she’d promised him.
‘She’s a doctor, you see,’ he explained to Hayden, who merely nodded. ‘And right when I’m on a winning streak, she gets beeped with an emergency and has to go to the hospital. Right in the middle of a game!’
‘Disgusting,’ Hayden remarked. ‘Doctors. They never play fair.’
‘Hey, you said it, man.’ Angelo held up his hand for a high five. ‘So, what do you do, man?’
‘I’m a doctor.’
Both Annie and Hayden laughed as Angelo lowered his hand at the news in obvious disgust. ‘Then I ain’t playing a game against you.’
‘It’s only when we’re on call, Angelo. The rest of the time, it’s not that bad.’
‘Don’t you believe her,’ Trevor said as he walked over with Angelo’s drink. ‘Even though Annie was still nursing when I dated her, she was always running off to that place at the most inconvenient times.’
‘You dated Annie?’ Hayden was surprised.
‘Yeah.’ Trevor slung an arm around her shoulders. ‘She’s a great girl, our Annie, but as far as she and I were concerned, we made better friends than anything else. We’ve been friends since.’
‘True. So, you ready to play, boss, or you going to bond with the guys some more?’
‘Play.’
A few more people walked in and Angelo and Trevor went to greet them, leaving Annie and Hayden alone yet again.
‘You can break,’ he said, and when her cue was lined up to take the shot, he murmured, ‘You and Trevor, eh?’
Annie wondered if he was trying to break her concentration but ignored him. ‘Yup. Problem?’
‘No. No. Not at all. He just doesn’t seem…your type.’
Did everyone here know what her type was? ‘It was a long time ago. Besides…’ She rested her cue on the ground and shifted her weight. ‘Who is my type? Adam?’
‘No. I wouldn’t say Adam was your type.’
‘Because he’s not.’
Hayden looked at her before bending down to take his turn. A ball shot into a pocket. ‘You’re not together any more?’
‘No.’
He lined up another shot and then glanced across the table at her. ‘Good.’ He hit the ball without breaking his gaze from hers, neither of them moving until they heard the click as that ball joined the previous one he’d sunk.
On the inside Annie jumped for joy and squealed with delight at the top of her lungs. Outwardly she gave him a promising smile, her eyes lighting with glee. He was interested in her. She had no idea why but nevertheless he was interested. She watched as he prowled around the table, sizing up which ball would be his next victim.
Hayden potted one after another, never missing a trick, but Annie didn’t care. She was on cloud nine. This gorgeous man was interested in her.
While they played a few games, they talked about life within the hospital, but Annie didn’t tell him anything specific about the department. ‘I like to keep this place separate from my hospital life.’
‘Understood.’ He sank the last ball and the game was over.
‘Three games out of three. Congratulations.’
‘I think you were letting me win. Either that or your mind wasn’t on the game.’
‘Probably the latter.’ Annie put her cue away and picked up her bags. ‘I’ll definitely wipe the floor with you next time.’
‘I have no doubt about that.’ He checked his watch. ‘Nine-thirty? I had no idea it was so late.’ He glanced around at the rest of the tables which had slowly but surely started to fill up with patrons playing and watching.
Annie chuckled. ‘You sound old, Hayden. This place is only just starting to jump.’
‘I have a phone call to make. Are you walking home?’
‘Trevor usually makes me take a taxi if I’m here after dark.’
‘Wise man.’
‘But it’s really nice and warm outside so I thought I might walk…if I could find a willing escort.’ She looked pointedly at him.
‘You’re in luck. I happen to be free at the moment.’
‘Good.’ They headed out, waving to Trevor as they went. After the cool air-conditioning in the hall, the heat hit them slap bang in the face.
‘Did you say it was nice out here?’ Hayden remarked with a smile.
‘Quit complaining and start walking. It’s only a few blocks.’
‘Would you like me to take your briefcase?’
‘I’ve got it. It’s not that heavy tonight.’
‘Just you wait until Monday.’
Annie smiled, delighted with the way they were teasing and flirting with each other. She talked about Geelong, pointing the direction to a lot of its landmarks. ‘The old wool shed is down there but now it’s part of the university.’
‘I know.’
‘You do? I thought you were from Perth?’
‘I’ve come here from Perth but I’m not as unfamiliar with the eastern side of Australia as you would think.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. I was raised a Sydney boy and one of my sisters actually lives in Melbourne—well, Williamstown.’
‘But this is your first time living in Victoria?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good. Then you can continue to play tourist and keep quiet.’
Hayden laughed. They were nearing their apartments and Annie felt the mood change from one of camaraderie to one of intense awareness. She smiled politely as he held the stairwell door for her, while her insides were churning with mounting anticipation.
They climbed the stairs in silence and walked out onto their floor. Annie stopped by her apartment door and turned to face him. ‘Thanks for walking me home, Hayden.’
He shrugged. ‘I was going your way.’ The phone inside his apartment started ringing and he quickly unlocked his door. ‘That’ll be my sister, wondering why I haven’t called her yet.’
Annie smiled as he rolled his eyes. ‘Go answer it.’
‘See you.’ He disappeared into his apartment and once more Annie found herself standing out in the corridor, staring at his door.
‘Shake it off,’ she mumbled as she unlocked her own door and went inside. Once there, she dumped her bag and briefcase and allowed her excitement out. Doing a little dance, she took a deep breath and collapsed onto the lounge. Hayden Robinson was a gorgeous man who not only understood her profession but was involved in it, too.
Still, she needed to be cautious. She’d dated colleagues from the hospital before and when it hadn’t worked out, she’d had to live with the gossip. If anything was going to happen between herself and Hayden, would they be able to keep it secret from the hospital grapevine?
Steady on, girl. You hardly know him and come Monday you may change your mind if he really is a tyrant to work for. Sobering her thoughts once more, she went to the kitchen to make something to eat, only then realising just how hungry she was…and not just for food.
Monday morning dawned bright and early and Annie was sick and tired of wrestling with sleep. Her stomach was in knots and her head was pounding with excitement. Today was the day. Today Hayden became her boss. She’d only met him three days ago but it felt like…for ever.
She walked into the kitchen and switched the kettle on. Hopefully, a cup of coffee might help the dull ache she felt at the back of her head. She glanced to where Adam’s picture still stood on the bench where Hayden had put it on Saturday.
She’d thought about that ‘almost kiss’ a lot more during the past forty-eight hours. When she’d been finishing off her paperwork on Sunday, when she’d gone out for a run, when she’d scrubbed her apartment from top to bottom and when she’d gone shopping to buy more glasses.
She’d thought about him more than she cared to admit. What was it about the man which drew her so completely she forgot all rational thought?
She grabbed the photo frame, undid the back and took out Adam’s picture. Looking down at his smiling face, she tried to figure out what she’d ever seen in him. It was then she realised she was also looking for a family resemblance to Hayden. Were they really cousins?
‘It doesn’t matter.’ She tossed the picture into the bin and made herself a cup of instant coffee. The chapter in her life devoted to Adam was well and truly finished. With an importance she couldn’t rationalise, she stalked into the living room and began sorting through some boxes. Finally, she found what she’d been looking for. Another photograph. One of the Worthington family. It was the right size and with great relish she put it into the frame before setting it on top of her bookshelf.
‘Much better.’ After drinking her coffee, she checked the clock—almost six in the morning. She didn’t start work until eight so with some time to kill she changed into a pair of running shorts and top, slapped on some sunscreen, sunglasses, shoes and a hat and checked she had her keys before heading out for a run.
The streetlights were still on even though the sun was only starting to peek over the horizon. Not much traffic was on the roads and the breeze was already quite warm. Then again, the beginning of January was usually pretty hot. Annie jogged along the running track, focusing on calming down her thoughts.
At the moment they were so mixed up she doubted she remembered her name. Ever since meeting him last Friday, Hayden had been constantly on her mind and the major cause of her sleep deprivation. The ‘almost kiss’ they’d shared, the flirting at the pool hall—everything—just played over and over in her mind like a stuck record.
She shook her head, trying to clear the image of desire she’d seen in his eyes. Was it real? Was he interested in just fooling around or interested in a serious commitment? Relationship? He’d already been divorced once—had that put him off marriage completely?
As her feet continued to eat up the footpath, her thoughts continued, trying to get a firm grip on her present reality. She was almost forty and knew for a fact that her biological clock was definitely ticking. If her knight in shining armour didn’t come along soon, she…she didn’t want to think about it. He had to come. He just had to.
Annie turned around and headed back towards her apartment, a scowl fixed on her face as she concentrated on the ground in front of her.
‘Oof.’ She ran straight into someone else, knocking them both off balance, her sunglasses and hat coming off in the process. ‘Ugh.’ She landed on the ground with a thud, her right knee and elbow stinging instantly. ‘Ow.’ She was sprawled over some man and when she lifted her head she felt a bubble of hysterical laughter rise up within her. ‘Hayden!’
‘Annie!’ He was equally astounded. ‘We have got to stop running into each other.’
‘Literally,’ she added on a laugh as she quickly disentangled herself from him, working hard to stop herself from committing every contour of his body to memory. They both picked themselves up. ‘Are you all right?’
She looked down at her knee, seeing blood oozing slightly. ‘Fine. It’s just a graze. Sorry about that. I wasn’t watching where I was going.’
‘Same here. I…It’s usually empty along here at this time of the morning.’ He looked at her more closely. ‘Have you already been to the end?’
‘Yes.’ She shrugged and, needing something to do, bent to pick up her sunglasses and hat. ‘I…er…couldn’t sleep.’
‘Nervous?’
‘About?’
‘Working with me.’
Annie lifted her chin defiantly, her eyes sparking with challenge. ‘What if I am?’
Man, he liked it when she looked at him like that. She was so…alive. He swallowed over the emotion and leaned a little closer. ‘You needn’t be. I’m a good surgeon and I know how to run a department.’
‘But you were having trouble running along a path.’
He laughed. ‘That’s different and you know it.’
Why did he have to laugh? It wasn’t fair. Her heart pounded out an erratic rhythm which had nothing to do with her early morning exercise. ‘I’m sure you’re good at your job…’
‘But?’
‘But…’ she shrugged ‘…change is always hard to accept.’
‘Meaning?’
She looked away, down at the ground, the silence stretching. ‘I have to go.’ She gestured to her knee. ‘I don’t want to spoil your run.’
‘It’s OK. I’ll walk back with you.’
‘I’ll be fine.’ She waved his concern away. He looked so incredibly handsome right now and it was all she could do not to throw herself into his arms.
‘I’m ready to head back anyway.’
She raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re probably right. An old man like you couldn’t make it to the end and back.’
He surprised her by laughing. ‘Why didn’t I think to bring my wheelchair?’
Annie smiled and inclined her head in the direction they’d be walking. ‘Let’s go, then.’ She winced slightly as they started, her knee stinging.
‘You sure you’re OK?’
‘I did worse in the school yard growing up.’
He chuckled. ‘I sense there’s a story behind your slightly crooked nose.’
‘You sense correctly.’ Annie touched her nose a little self-consciously, the light-hearted moment evaporating.
‘What happened?’
‘Ah…it’s a long, boring story. Not of interest.’
‘OK.’
‘I take it you like the beach,’ she commented. Hayden frowned at her, slightly puzzled. ‘I’m just trying to find a nice, safe, neutral topic of conversation.’
‘Ah. Yes, I like the beach. It…relaxes me.’
‘Me, too.’ She winced again, starting to feel a few more aches and pains throughout her body where they had collided. ‘Do you surf?’
‘Yes, when I get the time for it.’
‘I’ve never tried it.’
‘So what do you like to do to relax?’ The instant he’d said the words, he realised how they could be misconstrued.
Annie glanced up at him, a small smile forming on her lips. His voice had been husky as he’d asked the question and her smile increased when he quickly cleared his throat. The urge to tease him was great but, due to her stinging knee and bruised elbow, she decided to let him off the hook…just this once. ‘I like to snorkel, swim. Running is a good way to unwind—well, it is when I don’t crash into people.’
Hayden laughed. ‘Agreed. Snorkelling’s good. Have you been to the Great Barrier Reef?’
‘Many times, and still I’m always in awe of its beauty.’
They’d reached the apartment block. ‘Think you can manage the stairs or do you want to take the lift?’
‘Stairs are fine.’ He held the door open to the stairwell and frowned a little as Annie winced when she started climbing the stairs. When they reached their floor, he surprised himself by asking her in for coffee.
‘Uh…’ Annie wasn’t too sure.
‘Come on. It’s just coffee—real coffee, by the way. And besides, you haven’t told me about the department yet.’ He unlocked his door and opened it, indicating she should go inside.
‘I couldn’t do that. It would be like giving information to the enemy.’ She peered through the open door, unsure what might be on the other side.
‘Is that how you see me?’
‘Kind of,’ she replied a little absent-mindedly as she walked past him, making sure their bodies didn’t touch. The layout of the apartment was identical to hers but was sparsely decorated. A large desk was set up in one corner with a computer on it. Two luxurious chairs were in the centre of the room with a coffee-table between them, and a bookcase filled to the brim was in the corner.
‘Have a seat,’ he offered. She sat in the proffered chair which completely enveloped her, her feet unable to touch the ground. ‘Coffee should be ready soon.’ He headed to the kitchen and she struggled to sit forward, feeling like a little girl with her legs dangling. She’d just finished composing herself when he returned…and surprised her again by kneeling at her feet.
‘What are you doing?’ she demanded.
He opened a small medicine kit. ‘House call.’
‘But this isn’t my house.’
‘Annie.’
‘It’s fine, Hayden.’
‘I don’t want blood all over my carpet.’
‘Then you shouldn’t have asked me in.’
‘Tell me about the department. Why would you see me as an enemy?’
‘Not an enemy as such.’
‘Go on.’ He ripped open an antiseptic towel and started to clean her knee. She winced slightly but that was all. ‘Good girl. If you’re really brave, you can have two cups of coffee.’
‘Gee, thanks.’
‘The department,’ he prompted.
‘Brian Newton, your predecessor, was in charge of the orthopaedic department since its initial inception fifteen years ago. Before that it had been attached to the surgical department.’
‘People are used to his ways and his only,’ Hayden stated.
‘Yes. He’s a nice man, Brian, and we’d all do anything for him.’
‘Can’t ask for better than that with staff.’
‘I’m not saying that you’ll do—ow—things wrong, it’s just that—Ow, Hayden.’ He was spraying something on her knee. ‘That stuff stings.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘For a doctor, you’re mighty vocal when it comes to being a patient.’
‘Have you ever thought it might be your bedside manner?’ Annie had made the remark in all innocence yet in that instant she realised he might take it another way.
‘I see. Am I not being gentle enough with you? I’m simply trying to be thorough and make sure you don’t have any bits of dirt or gravel left where they can fester and rot.’
‘Charming. Do I still get my second cup of coffee?’
‘It’s debatable.’ Hayden looked briefly at her elbow, which only had a slight graze. He sprayed some stinging stuff on it before finishing off her knee. He stuck a sticking plaster over the graze and then, to her surprise, bent his head and kissed it. ‘All better,’ he pronounced, and before she could say another word he’d gathered up his medical supplies and walked from the room.
Annie covered her face with her hands and leaned back into the chair, practising some deep, calming breaths. At this rate, she’d need another run to calm herself down. She stood up, a little too quickly, and grimaced in pain. This was not a good start to the day. She intended to do something to improve it by leaving Hayden’s apartment—immediately. She limped towards the door.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ He used his best doctor voice.
Annie turned around and pointed to the wall. ‘Home.’
‘But we haven’t had coffee yet.’
‘Uh…I know. I think I’ll take a rain-check, Hayden.’
‘Sit down, Annie. At least give your knee a few more minutes of rest. After all, you are going to be on it all day.’
He had a point. Without waiting for her answer, he disappeared again and she could hear him taking cups out of the cupboard. Moments later he carried through a tray with two cups of coffee and some sweet rolls. She’d perched herself on the edge of the chair, not wanting to get lost in it again.
‘You look as though you were expecting company this morning,’ she stated, wondering if he’d set her up. He could have seen her leave her apartment and decided he’d lure her back here to…to do what? All he’d done had been to ask her about the department. So far…
‘Not at all. My sister brought them around yesterday when she came to visit.’ He helped himself to a roll and took a bite. She waited while he chewed and swallowed. ‘They’re cinnamon rolls and I’ve just put them in the microwave for a few seconds to heat them up—as per Katrina’s instructions.’
‘Oh.’ Annie took a cup off the tray, taking a sip of the strong black coffee. ‘Nice.’
He followed suit and then stopped. ‘Did you want any milk or sugar? I drink mine black so I just made yours the same. Sorry, I should have asked.’
She smiled. ‘It’s fine.’ She took another sip as though to prove it.
They both fell silent.
Annie searched wildly for something to say. What had they been talking about before? Blank. Her mind was blank. All she was conscious of was the way Hayden looked sitting opposite her, his body relaxed in the chair, his long, tanned legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles and his feet most definitely touching the floor. He’d obviously had these chairs made to suit his over six-foot stature. Needing something to do, she took a plate and helped herself to one of the cinnamon rolls.
‘You look uncomfortable. Sit back. These chairs are glorious to relax in.’
She smiled. ‘I’m sure they are.’ She broke off a piece of the roll and popped it in her mouth. All she could focus on was his lean body, firm and taut and on view just for her. She glanced up to meet his gaze and realised he was aware of her scrutiny. He raised a quizzical eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Instead, he took another bite of his roll and swallow of his coffee.
The atmosphere was growing more tense with each passing second. Why couldn’t she think of anything to say? Why did his close presence have such an effect on her? Why had she picked up the roll in the first place? Although it was delicious, she now had to eat it and she was the type of person to drop crumbs on her clothes—something she didn’t want to do in front of Hayden.
He swallowed his mouthful and put his plate and cup on the table. ‘Eat up. They’re delicious, aren’t they?’ he stated.
‘Yes. Your sister’s a good cook.’ Good grief! Could her conversation get any more stilted?
‘I think today will be very interesting. Naturally, it’ll take me a while to settle in. I’m quite prepared for that and, of course, I’ll want to put my own stamp on the department. If that puts people’s noses out of joint then so be it. The way I see it, they’re stuck with me until they finish their rotation, or if they’re secretarial staff, they can transfer.’ Hayden laced his hands behind his head and leaned back in the chair. He shouldn’t have done that because it made his biceps flex beneath his T-shirt. Annie choked on the mouthful she was eating and started to cough. ‘You OK?’
Annie smiled placatingly, waving away his concern as she swallowed, coughed and reached for her coffee. Taking a sip, she looked up at him, knowing her face would almost be the colour of beetroot. ‘I’m fine,’ she whispered, her voice a little hoarse. She cleared her throat and tried again. ‘I’m fine.’
She placed her plate and cup on the table and stood. ‘I really think I should go. Time’s ticking and I have a few more things to do before I head to the hospital.’ She thought for a moment he was going to try and waylay her again but he merely nodded and walked her to the door. ‘Thanks for the coffee—oh, and the roll. Please, tell your sister I thought they were delicious.’
He nodded. ‘Hope your knee’s better and I’ll see you at the hospital.’
‘Yes.’ She walked past him, holding her breath so she didn’t breathe in the clean, earthy scent that surrounded him.
‘Do you walk?’
She frowned at him. ‘Yes.’ Couldn’t he see she was walking?
‘To the hospital,’ he clarified with a smile.
‘Usually.’
Hayden nodded again, and when he didn’t say anything else she forced a smile and quickly hobbled to her own apartment. Thankfully, he didn’t wait for her to open her own door and once his was shut, she started to relax a little. Fumbling with her keys, she finally put the correct one in the lock and stumbled through the door.
Leaning against it, Annie closed her eyes, trying to figure out who she was and where the coherent, professional woman she used to be had gone.