Cori did as he asked with trembling fingers. It was nothing. She’d shown her shoulders in public before without a second thought. But even though Tom had his back turned and was scribbling something on her notes, she was suddenly embarrassed. In the moment before she’d let go of his coat, she’d felt hard muscle flexing beneath her hand.
He was cool, and professional, his gloved fingers gently probing her shoulders and back. That just made things worse. If he’d cracked a joke, at least she could have come back with a smart reply to take the edge off the tension. Cori squeezed her eyes closed, dropping her head forward.
‘Okay. That’s good.’ He didn’t seem aware of the fact that her forehead was resting against his shoulder, and that they were in an awkward replica of an embrace. When he stepped away again, she wanted to pull him back.
‘You can get dressed now.’ His cool professionalism told Cori that the closeness was all in her head. She was just another patient in a never-ending line of them, and he’d been nice to her because he was probably nice to everyone.
‘Thanks. I appreciate everything you’ve done.’ She waited for him to lower the level of the bed so she could slip off it easily.
‘All part of the service. I’ll write a prescription for some painkillers, and see if I can find a leaflet for you to take away.’ A hint of humour shone in his eyes. ‘Apparently we have a leaflet for pretty much everything.’
He turned his back and then he was gone, leaving Cori to pull her T-shirt and sweater back on as quickly as her shaking, painful limbs would allow.
When she’d let out that choking gasp of pain, and reached for him, Tom had almost forgotten what he was supposed to be doing and given her a hug to comfort her. Then he’d reminded himself where he was, and had drawn back. He gave her more than enough time to get changed, and headed back to the cubicle, finding her dressed and ready to go.
He handed her the leaflet and she took it, scanning the page. ‘This tells you what you can do to make yourself more comfortable. You should take it easy for a few days. You have some deep bruising and it’ll hurt in the morning.’
She twisted her mouth downwards in an expression of dismay. ‘I start a new job tomorrow. Here, actually.’
‘You’d be better off staying at home.’ Then the words sank in. ‘Here?’
‘Yes, I’m an art therapist. I’m here for eight weeks, starting tomorrow …’
Cori? Corrine Evans? Suddenly Tom’s mouth went dry. This was the woman that he’d tried to keep out of his department?
‘It’s going to be quite a challenge and I can’t take time off …’ She looked at him earnestly.
He was the challenge she was talking about. And the determined look on her face told him exactly what she meant to do with that challenge.
‘I’m sure …’
What was he sure of? That he happened to know that Dr Thomas Riley, Acting Head of Paediatrics, would be more than happy to give her the next two days off? That he’d actually be more than happy to give her the whole of the next eight weeks off?
Before he could come to a decision on how to break the news, she stood up. ‘I won’t take up any more of your time. Thank you. I really appreciate all you’ve done.’ She shot him a bright smile, thanked him and then she was gone.
Corrine Evans. Even her name seemed to have gained an allure now that he had met her. He’d expected that he would be able to largely ignore the new art therapist, sideline her by giving her a few things to do that couldn’t cause any trouble, and get on with his own job of running the department. In eight weeks’ time she’d be gone and out of his hair.
Something deep in the pit of his stomach told him that it wasn’t going to be that easy.
CORI WOKE FEELING as if she’d been run over by a steamroller in the night. Perhaps she’d feel better once she’d had a shower and got moving.
There wasn’t much choice in the matter. Her supervisor had told her that Dr Shah, Head of Paediatrics, had taken extended medical leave, and that the acting head had expressed concern about her being allowed to work in the unit. She wasn’t going to give him any excuses to dismiss her before she’d even had a chance to show what she could do. Not turning up on the first day would be like presenting him with her head on a plate.
She’d packed everything she’d thought she might need for the day in a large canvas bag, which sat in the hall. Taking the heaviest and least essential items back out, she pulled the strap across her shoulder, decided she could manage, and called a taxi.
The two miles to the hospital was easy, but by the time she’d found her way through the maze of corridors to the paediatric unit her shoulder was on fire and she needed to sit down. The entrance doors to the unit were locked, and pressing the bell didn’t elicit an immediate response.
‘I thought I told you to stay home for a couple of days.’ The voice behind her was unmistakable. Dammit. What was he doing here? A and E was on the other side of the building.
It was just as well that Cori could only turn slowly as it gave her time to think. ‘Actually, you told me to take it easy for a couple of days.’
He didn’t look best pleased. ‘So I did. And I can see that you’re following my instructions to the letter.’ He reached past her and punched a code into the pad by the door, then held it open for her. Dressed in a suit, instead of the dark blue chinos he’d been wearing yesterday, he seemed a lot less approachable, if no less handsome.
‘Thanks. I’m looking for the admin office …’ Hopefully Tom wasn’t going to be staying around long enough to mention that she’d turned up to work against doctor’s orders. That wasn’t the start she’d been hoping to make.
‘I’m Tom Riley.’ He pulled the door closed behind them. ‘Acting Head of Paediatrics.’
Suddenly Cori’s shoulder stopped hurting, in response to an instinctive urge to either fight or fly. The effort of doing neither left her staring at him in dumb horror.
A flicker of remorse showed in his eyes. ‘I didn’t realise who you were yesterday, until you’d gone.’
At least he had some idea of the position he’d put her in. And if this wasn’t quite an apology, at least it wasn’t a declaration of out-and-out war.
‘I didn’t catch your surname.’ She flushed, remembering that Adrian had kicked him before he’d had a chance to say it.
‘Let me help you with the bag.’ He was suddenly closer than she’d like. ‘I know you’ve got to be hurting.’
Cori thought about telling him she could manage, but it was much too late for that. He’d already seen the bruises. She’d already betrayed far more about herself than he needed to know, and then she’d allowed herself to fantasise about those innocent-as-sin blue eyes. The detached professionalism which she’d intended to hit Dr Riley with this morning wasn’t going to work.
‘Thanks.’ She grabbed at the strap of her bag, trying awkwardly to lift it over her head, and he came closer still to help, grimacing when he felt its weight.
‘How did you get here?’ It was probably just concern on his part, but Cori couldn’t help but feel there was an edge of criticism to the question. She took a breath, lacing her answer with a smile.
‘By taxi. If I’m going to be reckless, I’d prefer to do it the easy way.’
Taking the gamble of joking with him didn’t come off well. He seemed about to smile and then reconsidered, turning abruptly to lead the way past the reception desk. Cori followed him along a snaking corridor, her eyes fixed on his back,