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CHAPTER ONE
‘Welcome back.’ Lynne greeted Katrina with a broad smile. ‘So how was Italy?’
‘Fabulous. Italy in late September is just perfect. It’s my new favourite place in the world,’ Katrina said. ‘Pompeii was stunning. And the Blue Grotto. And…’ She laughed. ‘That isn’t what you really want to know, is it? Yes, I brought Italian biscuits back for the ward. Seriously nice ones.’ She dangled a carrier bag in front of the charge nurse. ‘A big tin of them.’
‘Good girl.’ Lynne patted her on the back. ‘Just what we all wanted to hear. Though I’m glad you had a good time on holiday.’
‘How’s Sadie doing?’ Katrina asked, walking with Lynne to the kitchen and placing the biscuit tin on the worktop along with a note saying, Help yourself, with love from Kat.
‘Fine. Though she’s been missing your stories and wants to know when Doc-a-rina’s coming back.’
‘Oh, bless.’ Sadie, a two-year-old with a clicky hip that had been reset by the orthopaedic surgeon, was one of Katrina’s favourites; even though lying on a cot in traction must have been uncomfortable for the little girl, she never once complained and always had a huge smile for the medical staff. ‘I’ll go and see her in a minute before I start the ward rounds.’ Katrina switched on the kettle, then she slapped a hand to her forehead. ‘I almost forgot. The new consultant.’ He’d started the day after she’d gone on holiday, and she’d been off duty the day he’d come for his interview and a look round the ward, so she hadn’t yet met him. ‘What’s he like?’
Lynne nodded with obvious approval. ‘Gorgeous. And as soon as you hear that voice you just want it to start whispering sweet nothings to you.’
‘Except he’s unavailable because, like you, he was snapped up as a teenager?’ Katrina teased.
‘Nobody has a clue, but I’d say probably not. He’s excellent with the children, he’s polite and pleasant to the parents and the staff, but as for what makes him tick…’ Lynne shook her head ruefully. ‘Your guess is as good as mine. He’s refused every single invite to a team night out so far—politely, but very definitely.’
Katrina frowned. Most new consultants would accept every invitation going in the first couple of weeks, to help them get to know the team outside work and bond with them. ‘He’s not one of those who spend the bare minimum of time here and as much as possible in private practice, is he?’ she asked.
Lynne shook her head. ‘Far from it. He puts in the hours. He stays late—and if he does leave early, he’ll either ring in or come back to chase up some results.’
A workaholic, then, Katrina thought. Just as long as he didn’t expect everyone else to follow his lead—it wouldn’t be fair on colleagues who happened to have young families. ‘What’s he like to work with?’ she asked.
‘Quick, intuitive and—well, you’re about to find out for yourself. He’s just walked in.’ Lynne glanced towards the door. ‘Morning, Dr Morgan.’
‘Rhys,’ the doctor corrected with a smile.
And what a smile.
Lynne was right, Katrina thought. Rhys Morgan was absolutely gorgeous. Tall, with dark hair and fair skin and blue, blue eyes—pure Celtic colouring. And with a name like Rhys Morgan, she would’ve been very surprised had his voice not had that faint Welsh lilt.
That incredibly sexy Welsh lilt.
And an incredibly sensual mouth.
She pushed the thought away. Rhys Morgan was her new colleague, and she didn’t date colleagues. Not since Pete. She didn’t make the same mistake twice.
‘Good morning, Lynne,’ he said.
‘Rhys, this is Katrina Gregory, our senior house officer.’ Lynne introduced them swiftly. ‘Kat, this is Rhys Morgan, our new consultant.’
‘Hello, Rhys. Good to meet you,’ Katrina said, and stretched out her hand.
When he took it, she was surprised by the jolt of awareness that shot through her. One that was clearly mutual and just as surprising for him, judging by the way his eyes widened very slightly. But then he seemed to regain his control and gave her a polite smile, releasing her hand. ‘Hello, Katrina.’
‘The kettle’s about to boil and our rounds don’t start for another ten minutes. Coffee?’ Katrina asked.
‘Thanks. Black, no sugar, please.’
She spooned instant coffee into three mugs, adding sugar to Lynne’s and milk to her own before pouring on boiling water and handing the first mug to Rhys. ‘Help yourself to biscuits while you still get a chance. As soon as Lynne spreads the word, they’ll be gone.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘And if you’ll excuse me, I want to pop in and see Sadie before we start, to let her know I’m back.’
