Kate Hardy - The Childrens Doctors Special Proposal (The London Victoria)

Welcome back. Lynne greeted Katrina with a broad smile. So how was Italy?

Fabulous. Italy in late September is just perfect. Its my new favourite place in the world, Katrina said. Pompeii was stunning. And the Blue Grotto. And She laughed. That isnt 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 Im glad you had a good time on holiday.

Hows 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 shes been missing your stories and wants to know when Doc-a-rinas coming back.

Oh, bless. Sadie, a two-year-old with a clicky hip that had been reset by the orthopaedic surgeon, was one of Katrinas 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. Ill 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. Hed started the day after shed gone on holiday, and shed been off duty the day hed come for his interview and a look round the ward, so she hadnt yet met him. Whats 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 hes unavailable because, like you, he was snapped up as a teenager? Katrina teased.

Nobody has a clue, but Id say probably not. Hes excellent with the children, hes 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. Hes refused every single invite to a team night out so farpolitely, 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. Hes 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 lateand if he does leave early, hell either ring in or come back to chase up some results.

A workaholic, then, Katrina thought. Just as long as he didnt expect everyone else to follow his leadit wouldnt be fair on colleagues who happened to have young families. Whats he like to work with? she asked.

Quick, intuitive andwell, youre about to find out for yourself. Hes 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 eyespure Celtic colouring. And with a name like Rhys Morgan, she wouldve 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 didnt date colleagues. Not since Pete. She didnt 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 kettles about to boil and our rounds dont start for another ten minutes. Coffee? Katrina asked.

Thanks. Black, no sugar, please.

She spooned instant coffee into three mugs, adding sugar to Lynnes 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, theyll be gone. She glanced at her watch. And if youll excuse me, I want to pop in and see Sadie before we start, to let her know Im back.

Sadie? The little girl with the clicky hip? he asked.

Katrina nodded. Lynne tells me shes been missing my stories.

He looked slightly disapproving. As a doctor, you need to keep a certain amount of distance. Dont get too emotionally involved with your patients.

I hardly think telling a story to a little girl whos bed-bound is getting emotionally involved. And just who did Rhys Morgan think he was, telling her what to do? He may be the new consultant and, strictly speaking, her senior, but that didnt mean he could tell her how to do her job. In her experience, taking a little extra time with their patients often did wondersit helped them to settle, and she believed that anything that made the hospital a less scary experience for them was a good thing. I enjoy my job, and Im not going to apologise for taking five minutes of my own time to make a childs day that little bit brighter. Excuse me, she said coolly. Ill be back in time for ward rounds.

When Katrina walked into the cubicle, Sadies delighted smile took away that rattled feeling shed had since meeting Rhys Morgan. Doc-a-rina!

Miss me, poppet? Katrina sat on the chair beside her, and ruffled her hair. What a lovely welcome-back smile.

Story? Sadie begged.

Later today. After youve had your lunch and Im on my break, Katrina promised. Hello, Jo, she said, turning to Sadies mother. Ill be doing the ward rounds in a few minutes, but I wanted to pop in and see you first. Hows it going?

Dr Morgan says shes doing really well. Hopefully we can go home at the end of the weeknot that its horrible here, Jo hastened to add.

But theres no place like home, Katrina finished, understanding just what Jo meant.

Good holiday? Jo asked.

Brilliant, thanks. I must be three inches shorter after all that walking, but it was worth it.

Jo laughed. If Id known you wanted to be three inches shorter

Sorry. My cousin Maddie has first dibs on my spare height, Katrina teased back. Ill see you later. And my story for you today, Miss Sadie, she added, smiling at the little girl, is all about a princess. Because when I was away I actually saw a magic cavethe one where a princess met the prince from under the sea.

Mermaid, Sadie said happily.

Something like that, Katrina said. See you soon.

When Katrina joined Rhys for the ward rounds, she discovered that he was exactly as Lynne had described. Pleasant to the children, polite to their parents and patient enough to answer every single question and explain in more detail when it was needed. Professionally, she couldnt fault him. And yet there was a reserve about him. Some kind of invisible wall. Like Lynne, Katrina couldnt quite work out what made him tick.

She put it out of her mind so she could concentrate on her patients in the childrens assessment clinic for the rest of the morning, and then caught up with her cousin over lunch.

Welcome home, hon. Madison hugged her. You look fabulous. Though I still think you were mad, going on a walking tour of the Amalfi coast.

I saw a lot more than I wouldve done if Id been stuck on a beach, Katrina pointed out.