‘I wouldn’t worry about it.’ Her tone was offhand. ‘I can assure you my heart’s quite indestructible.’
This time the message was clear. David’s smile finally wilted under what could only be described as a chilly stare.
‘I have a ward round I should have started ten minutes ago,’ she informed him crisply. ‘Just put anything else in that empty box and I’ll come back for it later.’
David found himself staring at the chunks of moulded plastic in his hands after Lisa swept past with her carton. She was right, of course. The solid model clipped together with a series of small brass hooks and eyes. Even its stand was unscathed. Had she intended the inuendo that the genuine article was equally impervious to damage? Quite possibly, David conceded. Lisa Kennedy obviously liked to project an image that advertised strength and competence. If the packaging hadn’t been quite so attractive she might even come across as intimidating. Certainly not the type of woman David James gravitated towards.
He had to admit that her indifference to their introduction rankled. Rejection was not an experience David was accustomed to, especially from women. Taking over her office might not have been the best start but was an obstacle that could easily be overcome. Even rumours concerning any past relationships—and he had to admit there had been a few—could be laid to rest. Unfortunately, it was more likely that Lisa Kennedy was firmly attached elsewhere even if she wasn’t married and would therefore be immune to any amount of charm he could turn on. That was a far more likely explanation. Who could look like that and not have been snapped up long ago?
With a resigned sigh, David deposited his briefcase onto the desk top and flipped open the catches. Never mind, it was still great to be back. As his indrawn breath caught the lingering trace of perfume in the office David found himself smiling. She might come across as being tough but there had to be a sensual side to a woman who wore Chanel to work. The decisive head shake as he unpacked and connected his laptop computer should have been enough to clear the distracting images of the woman from his mind, but David James was vaguely delighted to find that it failed so noticeably.
He was actually grinning as he sent himself an e-mail to test his new connection. Unexpectedly, it reminded him of his fourth-form science class when that new student teacher had taken over. Miss Drummond. Blonde hair down to her waist and legs up to her armpits. Memories of words in the science textbook blurring into total irrelevance and an entire classroom of adolescent boys squirming uncomfortably at their desks widened David’s grin even further. Even he had been in danger of dropping his position at the top of the class until he’d realised that the most effective way to get Miss Drummond’s attention was to excel.
It had been a valuable lesson that had served David well over the years but until now had been simply a distant memory. Had Lisa Kennedy had that much effect on his circulating levels of testosterone? Yes. He had to admit that it seemed the only explanation for the uncharacteristic sprint down memory lane.
With a determined effort David turned his thoughts back to his surroundings and left the office. He had worked too hard to get here to have his concentration undermined the instant he walked through the door. He poked his head through an adjacent doorway.
‘Hello again, Sue.’
His secretary looked up from her typing. Her smile was welcoming. Very welcoming. ‘Is there something I can do for you, Mr James?’
‘You can call me David, for a start.’ He watched the faint flush of colour stain the girl’s neck as she nodded. ‘I’m just off to chase up a white coat and collect my pager. Perhaps you could give me a beep in half an hour so I can test it.’
‘I’ll get them for you if you like,’ Sue offered eagerly.
‘No. Thanks anyway, Sue, but I’m rather looking forward to exploring my old stamping ground. I’ll expect a beep from you, though.’
The call came precisely thirty minutes later and David smiled as he put down the phone. A reliable and helpful secretary was a definite bonus. Like a lot of the nursing staff, Sue had probably still been at high school the last time David had worked here.
The familiar faces were all amongst the senior staff and David was thoroughly enjoying their surprised and delighted reactions as he came across them. Like Jane Maddon, who had had changed her surname but looked just the same and who was now the nurse manager of the twin cardiology wards that flanked the intensive coronary care unit.
‘I knew you’d come back eventually,’ she informed David, having given him a hug. ‘You were so determined.’
‘I love Christchurch.’ David nodded. ‘And a few years out of the country makes you appreciate what we’ve got even more.’
‘I kept up with the occasional bit of news. Last I heard you were in Washington, D.C.’
‘That was over two years ago. I had eighteen months in Europe after that and then had some time with a transplant unit in London. I think that experience might have been what swung the decision for this consultancy in my favour.’
‘There were a lot of applicants,’ Jane confirmed. ‘Some were a lot older than you, too. Well done, David.’
‘Thanks.’ David smiled modestly.
‘The parties were never as good after you left,’ Jane added with a wistful grin. Then she frowned. ‘You haven’t gone and got married or anything, have you?’
‘No chance. I was hoping you’d wait for me.’
‘Oh, sure!’ Jane’s expression was knowing. ‘I’m delighted to say you’re too late.’ Then she laughed. ‘I’d forgotten just how cute you were, mind you. All those curls and those wonderful dark blue eyes. They’re going to be queuing up around here. You haven’t changed a bit, have you, David?’
‘I’m older and wiser.’ David’s smile was relaxed but he felt disturbed. Just how much of a reputation had he left behind? OK, so he’d played hard. But not that often and only as a counterbalance to the effort he put into his work. At thirty-three, David knew he was exceptionally young to have gained this surgical consultancy. He also knew that he deserved it, and he was looking forward to proving his abilities and commitment, as well as undoing this idea that he was a good-time Charlie, which might be an obstacle to professional acceptance.
‘I’m just on my way to check out the surgical ward,’ he told Jane. ‘I don’t start officially until tomorrow.’
‘You should be impressed. It’s a great set-up.’ Jane Maddon switched from old friend to professional colleague without blinking. ‘Post-Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care is attached to the main ICU and the ward is right beside that. Come and have a look at CCU on your way. We’ve just upgraded the whole monitoring system. State-of-the-art technology.’
Jane was right. The technology was impressive and David was particularly interested by the screens which gave closed-circuit-television coverage of the most acutely ill patients. The group of staff standing by the bedside of number eight was headed by an unmistakable figure. He couldn’t hear what Lisa Kennedy was saying but the examination seemed to be complete. The staff were moving away, Lisa pausing to have a final word with the patient, who was still smiling as he watched his doctor leave. David’s glance flicked down to the other monitors attached to bed eight.
‘You’ve certainly got all the bases covered.’ He indicated a small button. ‘I suppose this gives a printout of the ECG?’
Jane nodded. ‘It does it automatically when it recognises an arrhythmia.’
‘His blood pressure’s low.’ David was staring at the screen. His eyes narrowed slightly. ‘In fact, it’s still dropping.’
‘Is it?’
David’s eyes were back on the television screen. The curtains had been