"Thanks Diane. I have everything I need. I won't keep you any longer. Night." Russ turned to his computer and started working, ignoring the girl at the doorway. Eventually he heard a huff of breath and glanced up to see her sashay down the hallway, her displeasure at being brushed off obvious.
Thank goodness for that. Russ had so far in the first week, had every eligible nurse hit on him, ask him to dinner, make suggestive moves or blatantly touch him when they were alone.
He didn't want a sleazy affair in the broom closet with someone too young or immature, or someone only out for what they thought he could give them. That romance had been and gone, and he didn't want to repeat it.
Russ thought of the only woman who had even touched the block of ice in his chest called a heart. Elizabeth Stanley was the one person who hadn't made a move to get to know him better, and he pondered on asking her out on a date. Deciding against it for now, he concentrated on getting his notes done before turning off his computer. He took his jacket off the coat hanger in the closet, shrugging it over his shoulders. Taking a final glance around the office, Russ took his keys and flicked off the light switch before walking out.
He passed through the emergency ward on his way to the front door, casting his eye over the staff as he went. "Nurse Stanley, I thought you’d already left."
She looked up, a tinge of pink flushing her sculptured cheek bones. "I…um… had a couple of things to do. Almost finished now."
"I'll wait and walk you out. It's dark now, can't have you getting into trouble outside alone." He leaned on the counter, waiting while she shuffled paperwork into the correct files.
"That's not necessary, Doctor."
"It is to me. Take your time, I'm not in any hurry."
She frowned and Russ noticed the quick words between the nightshift as they threw glances her way. "Fine then."
He raised his eyebrow at the gossiping staff, and they hurried to continue their work. By the time Nurse Stanley was ready, Russ had looked over every inch of her face, arguing with himself about the wisdom of dating a nurse he worked with.
He walked alongside her out of the building, noticing the tension in the way she held herself. When they reached the staff car park, she turned on him.
"That wasn't necessary, waiting for me. It just gave the staff something else to talk about." She opened her car and threw her jacket and handbag on the back seat.
"I was brought up to use my manners when it comes to a lady. You shouldn't worry about what other people say about you, Elizabeth. If they’re going to talk, there is nothing you can do to stop them."
"I don't wish to be any one’s subject matter." She crossed her arms and gazed up at him in the waning light of the evening. "My life is my own and none of their business."
"I understand that, but you shouldn't let it worry you." He thought quickly. "I wonder if you would like to go out for a meal with me one night?"
"And give them something else to talk about?"
Russ smiled. "No, give you and me something to talk about. Just dinner between two friends."
She chewed on her bottom lip and Russ wanted to take that mouth in his and smooth out the tightness tugging at the corners of her lips.
"I don't know if that’s a good idea. We don't really have anything in common."
"I bet we do, and it's a perfectly good time to find out for ourselves. Saturday we are both off shift. I can pick you up and take you somewhere nice and quiet so we can talk."
Russ watched the turmoil in her eyes as she weighed up the decision.
"Fine, okay then."
He smiled, reached out to touch her, thought better of it and pulled his hand back. Russ noticed how the colour raced up her cheeks when he'd reached for her, happy there was at least some sort of reaction. "You can give me your address tomorrow. Drive carefully." Russ stood back while she scrambled to get into her car. When she stalled the engine, he smiled to himself. It looked as though Nurse Stanley wasn't as immune to him as she tried to make out.
When she drove away, he turned to walk to his own car, clicking the remote lock before he reached for the door handle. The drive home was peaceful and quiet. It gave him a chance to go over the day’s cases and unwind—something he didn't really get to do in the city hospitals. It was always too busy.
By the time Russ turned into the driveway and past the lagoon, it was dark. The lights twinkled inside the house and he relaxed, the day’s tension gone at the front gate. He’d made the right decision to move. His stress levels were down and he slept better at night.
He parked his car next to his brother’s yellow machine and walked up toward the house. The lights were on in Kate's house and he wondered how long it would be before his brother woke up to the fact she was still head over heels in love with him. Probably never. He’s too wrapped up in himself to see what’s in front of him.
Essie bustled around in the kitchen when he pushed open the door. "What are you doing working at this time of night?" He leaned down to kiss the lined cheek offered to him.
"Getting things ready for Rooney tomorrow. She’s having a working bee at that place she bought. I'm going over to help her after I get my work done here." She pushed him to sit at the counter. "I've got your dinner keeping warm."
Russ watched her go to the oven and take out
