‘It’s also equipped with microphones and miniature cameras. There are two television monitors in the viewing gallery and, as would be expected, we’ll be recording the procedures for further study of your techniques.’
‘An impressive facility,’ George murmured.
‘I’m delighted to hear that. I’ll pass your comments onto the CEO,’ she responded, before they continued with their tour. They headed down yet another long corridor and it was only when George spoke that she realised how close he was to her.
‘This is the one characteristic all big hospitals have—long corridors.’ His soft, deep tones washed over her and Melody smiled, pleased to find he had a sense of humour.
‘And this one has lovely paintings to glance at as people stride by in a rush,’ she pointed out.
‘True.’ There was a wistful note in his tone. ‘It’s the same in every hospital we’ve visited. Busy people, rushing here and there and never really stopping to...gaze at the art.’ He pointed to a painting of native Australian animals, his pace slowing marginally as he spoke.
‘I presume life has been very hectic on your tour?’
‘Yes. On the go, non-stop, busy, busy, busy.’
‘Have you had any time off during the tour?’ she asked as they walked along together.
‘We had a month off in June. It was needed by then because we’d all been living in each other’s pockets for the past five months. Plus, we get every Saturday off—if we’re not flying somewhere, that is. Carmel’s very organised.’ There was the slightest hint of sadness in his tone and she wondered why. Was he sad that the tour was almost at an end? Would he miss jet-setting around the world, being adored and praised for his innovative surgical techniques?
‘How do you cope with the jet-lag?’
‘Stay hydrated and sleep on the plane.’ George recited the phrase as though he’d said it over and over. ‘Actually, the jet-lag hasn’t been too bad because we’ve done small hops between countries, but when we arrived back in Australia three weeks ago we took a week off to acclimatise ourselves to the Aussie weather, especially as we landed in Darwin.’
‘Wise decision, and October is still nice and mild compared to summer.’
‘I’ve missed it, though.’
‘The Australian summer?’ She looked at him as though he was crazy, given that summer temperatures were usually exceedingly hot.
He laughed. ‘Yes. The heat, the people, the accent. You have no idea how great it was to hear that Aussie twang at the airport.’
Melody smiled as she pressed the button for the lift. When he laughed like that, when his smile was full, she was astonished to discover her knees weakening at the sound. He really was handsome. When she’d been planning for the visiting orthopaedic surgeon’s tour, she hadn’t given a lot of thought to what type of man he might be. She’d just expected him to be a surgeon who was intent on explaining his operating techniques and research projects, before moving onto the next hospital to do the same thing. She hadn’t expected him to have a sense of humour that matched her own. She also hadn’t expected to be so instantly attracted to a married man—something she normally avoided.
Ian had been married. Of course, he hadn’t told her that until they’d been dating for three months. She frowned as she thought about the first man to break her heart but when George looked her way, Melody quickly pushed all thoughts of the past from her mind and concentrated on the present.
Professor Wilmont had a lecture to give in twenty minutes and she needed to get him to the venue without mishap. The lift bell dinged and a moment later the doors opened. ‘All right, can everyone fit in?’ Melody asked as she held the doors open. ‘Everyone in?’ When she received affirmative murmurs, she allowed the doors to close and pressed the button for the fifth floor. She refused to focus on the way George was standing right behind her, nice and close, the natural warmth from his body causing a wave of tingles to spread over her. She also refused to allow the fresh spicy scent he wore to wind its way about her senses. Why weren’t these lifts bigger?
She cleared her throat and forced her mind back into gear. ‘The hospital’s main lecture facility, which is where you’ll be giving most of your lectures, had a complete upgrade last year,’ she informed them. ‘I’ve been assured that all the gadgets are in working order but if you find we don’t have everything you require, please let me know.’
‘Thank you.’ George replied, his tone as polite and professional as Melody’s, yet she could have sworn she saw a slight smirk touch the corners of his lips. Was she entertaining him? Or had he simply heard similar spiels at different hospitals around the globe? When the lift doors opened, they all exited, again George waiting until Melody had preceded him. She nodded politely before leading the way to the lecture room.
When she pushed open the large double doors, George’s team instantly fanned out to check the facilities. One of his assistants headed to the audiovisual desk to connect his computer to the system, another did a sound check. They scuttled back and forth, checking things with each other and ensuring the slides and short snippets of operating techniques were ready to go.
George walked over to the podium, where Carmel gave him several instructions as well as handing him a folder with notes inside. He familiarised himself with where his water glass would be, where to find the laser pointer and how to adjust the lapel microphone.
Melody wandered over to a seat in the front row and sat down, mesmerised by the confidence he exuded—and he wasn’t even giving a speech. Lecturing wasn’t one of her strong suits so she was always willing to learn. Just by watching
