He felt lust hit him in his gut like a closed-fist punch coming out of nowhere.
He wanted to bend down and cover those lips and feel them soften and swell beneath his. He wanted to taste the silk of her skin, to run his hands over the gentle slope of her breasts to see if they felt as soft and gorgeous as they looked. He wanted to feel her hands on him, their softness exploring his hardness. He wanted her to come down off that high horse of hers and ride him instead.
Whoa, there. He slammed the brakes on his thoughts. He had a whole month to go before he cashed in on the bet with his sister. The shortest month, admittedly, but it could prove to be the longest—especially if Kitty Cargill kept turning up in front of him looking so hot and sexy and combative.
‘I can’t say you’re quite what I was expecting, either,’ he said.
Her brows knitted together over her eyes. ‘What do you mean by that?’
Jake allowed himself a quick study of her mouth before he met her gaze. ‘I had a read-through of your application,’ he said. ‘I was away when the acting director approved your appointment.’
Her slim throat rose and fell, the action like a small creature wriggling under a carpet. ‘And?’ she said.
‘I noted that you’d failed the practical on your ATLs,’ he said.
Her small white teeth nibbled at her bottom lip. ‘Yes … I’m thinking about doing the Australian equivalent while I’m here,’ she said.
‘I expect every member of my team to be on top of their game,’ Jake said. ‘There’s an EMST course I’m directing in a month’s time. There might be a space left if you contact the course co-ordinator, otherwise book in to do the next available one.’
‘I’ll look into it,’ she said.
‘What made you come all the way out to Australia for three months?’ he asked.
Her eyes moved slightly to the left of his. ‘It seemed like a good opportunity to get to know my aunt and uncle and three cousins who live here,’ she said. ‘I hadn’t seen them in a while. Years, actually.’
Jake nodded towards her town house. ‘You bring anyone with you?’ he asked. ‘Boyfriend? Partner?’
A flush came over her cheeks and her eyes moved away from his. ‘No.’
His eyes went to her left hand, where a pretty little ring rested. ‘Is that just for show or is there a fiancé waiting for you back in England?’
She twirled the ring on her finger with her thumb. ‘I’m not engaged,’ she said. ‘This is a—’
‘Let me guess,’ Jake said, flashing her another quick grin. ‘A costume?’
She gave him a gimlet glare. ‘It’s a promise ring,’ she said. ‘I got it when I was sixteen. I can’t get it off.’
‘You could have it cut off,’ Jake said. ‘Or would that be breaking the promise?’
She frowned at him. ‘Is this inquisition really necessary?’
He gave a negligent shrug. ‘Just making conversation,’ he said. ‘You sure you wouldn’t like a drink? I’ll get the gang to turn the music down. I might even be able to find some Vivaldi or something on the playlist on my iPod.’
‘Please don’t put yourself out on my behalf,’ she said, sending him another one of her icy looks. ‘Goodnight, Dr Chandler.’
‘Goodnight, Dr Cargill,’ Jake said, but she had already stalked back across the courtyard.
CHAPTER TWO
‘AND this is the staff tea room,’ Gwen Harold, the unit’s ward clerk, informed Kitty on Monday morning. ‘There’s a larger doctors’ room upstairs, but the lifts are so busy that by the time you get there it’s almost time to get back. Dr Chandler organised this little room for us instead. Have you met him yet?’
‘Um … yes,’ Kitty said, trying not to blush. ‘A couple of times now.’
Gwen smiled. ‘He’s a fabulous director,’ she said. ‘He’s tough, but fair. And he’s got a great sense of humour. I’ve worked with a lot of A&E directors in my time but Jake’s the best by a long shot. The way I see it, we have enough drama coming through the doors without adding to it with rants and raves from the top. Jake’s always cool in a crisis. Never seen him lose his temper—not even with the junior staff.’
‘He sounds like the perfect boss,’ Kitty said with a forced smile.
‘Oh, he’s got his faults,’ Gwen said. ‘He’s quite the playboy. I don’t think he’s ever had a relationship last longer than a couple of months. A heartbreaker, that’s what he is.’ She gave Kitty a little wink. ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’
‘Thanks for the warning, but my heart is quite safe,’ Kitty said in a self-assured tone.
‘Got someone back in England?’ Gwen asked.
‘No,’ Kitty said. ‘Not any more.’
‘Never mind, dear,’ Gwen said, patting Kitty on the arm. ‘Plenty more fish in the sea, as they say. Let’s hope you don’t land yourself a shark while you’re here, hey?’
‘I’m keeping well away from the water,’ Kitty said.
Gwen looked past Kitty and smiled. ‘Ah, speak of the devil,’ she said. ‘Jake, I believe you’ve already met our new doctor—Kitty Cargill from London?’
‘Sure did,’ Jake said with an easy smile. ‘Did she tell you she was dressed like a hooker at the time?’
Kitty threw him a furious little glare before turning to Gwen. ‘I was at a fancy dress party with my cousin,’ she explained. ‘I thought she’d broken her ankle, and since this was the closest emergency department I brought her in here. But I dearly wish I hadn’t, because it’s clear that Dr Chandler thinks it’s highly amusing to embarrass me about it at every available opportunity.’
‘Bad Jake,’ Gwen remonstrated playfully. ‘Leave the poor girl alone.’ The buzzer rang at the front desk. ‘That’s my break over. Hope you settle in well, Dr Cargill. Call me if you need anything. Bye.’
Kitty was still fuming. ‘Is there anyone in the hospital you haven’t told?’ she asked. ‘What about the cleaners and cooks and orderlies? Maybe you could release the CCTV footage. That would be quite hilarious, don’t you think?’
‘Now, why didn’t I think of that?’ Jake said with a gleaming smile.
Kitty reined in her temper with an effort. ‘I’d like to put that embarrassing episode behind me,’ she said.
‘I have to work here in a professional capacity. I don’t want patients and staff giggling behind my back every time I come to work.’
‘You’re very uptight, aren’t you?’
Her brows snapped together. ‘Pardon me for being a little tense, but right at this minute I’m having trouble figuring out if you are the director of this department or the ringmaster at a circus.’
The silence rang like the one left after the sudden cracking of a stock whip.
‘My office,’ he said. ‘Ten minutes.’
Kitty saw the hint of steel in his dark blue eyes before he strode away. Her stomach gave a nervous little flutter. She hadn’t been at work more than an hour. Was she going to be sacked on her very first day?
Jake Chandler’s office was down at the end of the unit, next to the ultrasound room. Kitty straightened her shoulders and gave the door a tentative rap.
‘Come in,’ he commanded.
She