And she would thank him. The very first chance she got.
Mrs Wust, her last patient before lunch, sat at the desk and Madeline was pleased she’d soon be able to take a break. Her concentration had been completely shot and more than one patient had commented on how tired she looked.
‘Jet lag?’ Mrs Wust enquired after the usual pleasantries.
‘Er, yes, must be,’ Madeline said. An image of Marcus living up to his apartment number came to mind and heat suffused her cheeks. ‘Now, let’s look at your ultrasound results, shall we?’
Maddeline found the report on her computer. It identified a gall bladder full of stones which were clearly seen on the accompanying images.
‘Well, it is as I suspected, Gail. Your epigastric pain is due to gallstones. I’m afraid you’re going to need an operation.’ Madeline opened her drawer and retrieved her stationery. ‘I’ll give you a referral to a surgeon and he can discuss your options.’
Gail’s face fell. ‘Oh, no. Isn’t there another way?’
‘Well, it’s done laparoscopically so the scarring and recovery time are minimised. It’s really only day surgery nowadays.’
‘No, I mean naturally. A friend of mine was telling me that her brother’s wife’s sister-in-law used an old-fashioned oil and lemon juice recipe to cure hers.’
Madeline looked at Gail, her pen poised. She was the typical cholecystitis patient — fair, overweight and in her forties. Not that long ago Madeline wouldn’t have even entertained a natural remedy but a lot had changed in a week.
She tore off the page she had been writing. ‘I’ll refer you to Dr Hunt. He’s a GP who specialises in natural therapies who’s just moved in next door. I’m sure he’ll be able to guide you.’
She was surprised at how calm her voice sounded, given how much her hands were trembling as she wrote her neat, precise referral. She put it in an envelope and passed it over to her patient.
Gail reached for it and Madeline pulled it back just in time, a plan forming in her mind. A plan that was making her squirm in her seat just thinking about it. ‘Actually, Gail, I might just drop it next door for you now and discuss your case with Dr Hunt. I’ll get him to give you a ring to arrange an appointment in his next available slot. OK?’
After Gail had gone, Madeline rose and visited the bathroom, quickly pulling off her knickers and stuffing them into her skirt pocket.
‘I’ll just be next door for lunch,’ she said to Veronica with as much serenity as she could muster, given she was naked under her skirt.
‘OK,’ said a surprised Veronica, who was used to Madeline only ever having a quick sandwich and a cuppa at her desk.
Madeline blushed as people in the waiting room nodded and smiled at her — did they know she wasn’t wearing any knickers, or were they just being polite and acknowledging her presence? She felt completely naked, the glide of the skirt lining over her bare bottom bordering on erotic.
She was grateful to escape the office — Veronica had a nose for scandal and she looked well and truly on the scent - and get out into the sunshine.
This was crazy! What was she doing?
This really wasn’t something she ever did and Madeline wondered for a moment if she had the gumption to carry it out. But she remembered his kisses from the previous night and knew she couldn’t live another minute without feeling his lips on hers again.
As she slid back his door, Madeline had a moment of panic that last night had been a one-off. She felt out of her depth, unsure of the etiquette and faltered.
‘Come on through. I’m in my office.’
Marcus’s sexy voice was the clincher and Madeline walked towards it like a moth drawn to flame. She reached his doorway and leaned on the jamb, appreciating the view. He glanced up and smiled a sexy, dimpled smile and a hand clenched her insides.
‘Well, hello there,’ Marcus said, admiring the view. Maddy had tied her hair back and he remembered how it had been spread across his chest that morning when he’d woken up, and he itched to pull it out.
‘Hi.’ She smiled back, drinking him in.
Neither of them spoke or moved for a while, images of last night’s nocturnal activities rendering them incapable of anything other than breathing. And even that was strained as each remembered the intimate details.
Marcus recovered first, smiling at their stupor. ‘To what do I owe the pleasure?’ he asked, and then grinned at the way her body almost swayed at his choice of words.
‘I brought you this,’ Madeline said huskily, walking closer on shaky legs, tossing the referral onto his desk.
He picked it up, inspected it for a second and glanced back up at her. ‘Is that it?’
His voice was hoarse and Madeline’s nipples peaked at the gravely quality in anticipation. ‘No.’ She dipped her hand into her pocket. ‘These as well.’
Taking a deep breath, she lobbed her red knickers onto his desk.
The jolt in Marcus’s groin was instantaneous. He looked at them. Then at her. Picking them up, he unscrunched them so he could appreciate their prettiness. They were soft and silky with lace in the right places and two little bows each side holding the back and front together.
‘Are these spares you keep for emergencies?’ He grinned at her.
She grinned back. ‘No, I took them off five minutes ago.’
His grin faded and hell if it didn’t swell her head to see his pupils dilate with desire and hear his sharp intake of breath. Walking back to the door, she shut and locked it then ambled over to
