Page 19 of Medical Malpractice

Right then, Leo placed three fresh coffees on the table and took the seat closest to me. “Looked like you both needed a top-up. I asked the barista to repeat your previous orders,” he said, all nonchalant, as if his sweet words weren’t causing Daisy’s eyes to bug out.

“This isn’t fair.” She groaned.

“Oh, do you want me to take it back?” Leo asked.

“No. But if Gabriella here doesn’t take it, I’m gonna spank her myself.”

Leo laughed, grey eyes dancing with mirth. “I’d love to see that.”

Daisy raised the rim to her lips before whispering so low only I caught the words, “I’m sure you would.”

Chapter 10

GABRIELLA

I would be lying if I said Daisy’s words didn’t affect me. The problem was, they did— very much.

Over the next couple of weeks, living alongside Leo had become straight torture. It was the thoughtful gestures. The way he would leave little notes around the house, or how he always stocked up my favourite kombucha, despite hating the drink himself, which endeared him to me to the point of him becoming irresistible. However, I wasn’t the only one affected by his charm.

I had managed to gain employment at the same hospital as Leonardo, slotting into my respective field of paediatrics with relative ease. Although my new position wasn’t a form of contention, all the thirsty single women were.

I was surrounded by a workforce that was caught in a constant state of infatuation with the smart, handsome, empathetic stroke specialist.

He never said anything to me, but the whispers and flirty remarks from the female personnel were hard to miss. Leonardo was the renowned bachelor everyone wanted a piece of, and being in close proximity to that made jealousy spear through my chest—as proven by Exhibit A.

I stood at the nursing station, signing off my documentation when I heard the head nurse whisper to her colleague, “How can any man be so perfect? Good-looking, rich and great with kids. Sign me up.” My gut dropped as the duo combusted into hushed giggles.

My gaze traced down the ward corridor, knowing who I’d find. Leonardo was crouched down, having an animated discussion with a four-year-old patient. The boy was showing off his dinosaur toy, and Leo followed on, enthusiastically encouraging him, his face open and beaming. He’d be a great father… So why didn’t he ever settle down and have children?

He then rose upright, his hand ruffling the boy’s hair before his eyes gravitated to mine. Everything seemed to disappear into the background until all that remained was us. At that moment, I desperately wanted to be alone with him.

“Ready for home, Ella?” he asked, approaching the station, ignoring everyone else.

Yes.

Dinner and post-cleanup were complete. After my evening shower, I impulsively slipped on a thin, short nightgown. I told myself it was in direct retaliation to those low-hung grey sweatpants Leo lived in. They should have been illegal.

We sat on the couch to watch a documentary on the retired professional running back, Ethan Harris. His vulnerability on national television was inspiring, and had my mind reeling about how to approach what was eating me up inside.

“Everything okay, Ella? You’ve been quiet since we left work,” Leo said, placing a light hand on mine.

My flesh sparked at the faint contact, causing goose bumps to scatter up my arm. Naturally, I panicked.

“Why’d you never have kids? Did you not want any?” My breath caught, wanting the universe to swallow me whole. I avoided his gaze to try to salvage some form of dignity.

“Where’s this coming from?” Leonardo asked, voice hesitant. “I don’t think you’re ready for that answer.”

My head whipped towards him, which I immediately regretted as his face hovered before me, his grey orbs bleeding with sincerity and something else.

“I thought we were going to be honest with one another?” I asked, reminding him of his previous promise, my insecurities aggressively taking over.

“And I meant that, Ella. Whatever you ask, I’ll answer truthfully. I just don’t want to scare you—” He cleared his throat, running a frustrated hand through his dark hair.

“Please, Leo.”

He huffed. “Because... I didn’t want to have a baby with someone I wasn’t devoted to. That wouldn’t be fair on the mother or the child. My entire life, I’ve only loved one, only wanted to share that miracle with one. If I couldn’t have a child with you, I wasn’t going to settle for anyone else. Now, I’m sorry if that offends—”

I cut him off by swiftly pressing my lips to his. The action wasn’t planned or well thought out, simply an automatic response to his beautiful words.