"Kate, aren't youeating?" Russ asked before he cut a wedge of syrup-drenched pancakes andjammed them in his mouth. He closed his eyes in bliss and groaned as he chewed.
"I'm all good,thanks. Had mine already." She stood and walked to the sink, dropping hermug into the hot bubbly water. "Back for lunch, Essie. You have a goodday, Russ. I expect you will knock them all dead in there. It's about time thehospital had a handsome young doctor instead of the old fogies they’ve beenhiring. Place could do with a shake up."
Kate grabbed her hatfrom the hook on the back door and jammed it on her red, wavy hair. With awiggle of her fingers she walked out the door, shutting it behind her.
"True, Russ. Itwill be good to have someone a little bit younger than Dr Rivers. He was so setin his ways, and that was a shame. I hope you enjoy getting into a smallcommunity hospital and don't get bored with how quiet it will be compared to abig Sydney hospital."
"Not a chance. Itwasn't so bad where I was, just too big and impersonal. I prefer knowing who Iwork with. Blame it on being brought up as a small town country boy." Heate contentedly until his plate was clean, resisting the temptation to lick theplate. When he looked up, Essie watched him with a knowing expression borne offamiliarity on her face.
"I can justimagine what's going through your mind. Put that in the sink and be off withyou. I have cleaning to catch up on and dinner to prepare for tonight."She wiped her hands on her apron and took a cooler box from the big industrialfridge. Essie held it out to him. "You enjoy your day."
Russ was taken back.His wife had never made his lunch, even when he was struggling with late hoursand little sleep. He took the offering and wrapped his arms around hershoulders before dropping a kiss on her grey hair. "Thank you, Essie. Ican always count on you to look after me."
"I'm glad you camehome, Russ. Now we just have to hope the others follow suit and stay."
Russ picked up his keysand phone and waved her goodbye as he walked out the door.
By the time he got tothe hospital, the streets were busier than he remembered with early morningtraffic. Perhaps it’s market day at the cattle yards. He drove throughthe car park looking for a space to park his BMW. When he got to reception, itwas five minutes past nine. "Dr Russ Williams to see Nurse ElizabethStanley."
"Take a seat, Doctor.I'll page her for you."
Russ walked over to thewindow and looked out. The trees were just bursting to life with new foliageerupting from tight buds and birds flitted in and out of the branches. Hesmiled. He would enjoy working where there was space for trees and grass.That’s what he’d missed most about living and working in the city—no nature,just concrete and steel.
"DrWilliams?"
He turned and faced thewoman who spoke. Russ guessed she was in her early thirties. Tall and slim, shestood straight-backed and stiff with her hands clasped together. Russ let hisgaze rest on her face as he stepped forward. Her dark hair was twisted up intoa bun on the back of her head and her dark eyes watched him angrily, whitelines around her mouth. "Yes. Nurse Stanley?" He held out his hand.
"You are late,Doctor. Follow me please." She turned on her heel and walked away, herblack shoes squeaking on the polished floor of the hallway. He watched her fora second before his brain told his feet to move, more intent on looking at theway her navy skirt moulded around her hips and fell to just above her shapelyknees.
Russ followed, thefeeling in his gut reminding him of his first day at university when he waschewed out by a lecturer for being late because he couldn't find his way. Thelast thing he wanted was to get off side with Nurse Stanley. She was the headof the Nursing Unit and they would have to work closely together for theduration of his contract. Nurses were often awarded more respect than doctors,especially when the doctor was new to town, so he would have to bide his timeand earn her respect.
She walked through amaze of corridors and stopped to glance over her shoulder at him before walkinginto an office. Nurse Stanley held the door, waiting for him to follow her in.Indicating a chair in front of the desk, she pushed the door shut beforewalking around and pulling out her chair.
Russ swallowed and tooka seat, his stomach rolling as though he was back in front of his schoolteacher. The penalty in a small town hospital for being late couldn't be toobad, could it?
***
"Right then."Lizzie sat and looked at the doctor opposite her. Her heart did a small flipthat left her breathless. Doctor Russ Williams was stunning, and he was in herhospital. He watched her with deep blue eyes and a small smile lifting thecorners of his mouth. A mouth so kissable, the mere sight of his lips joltedright down to the pit of her stomach. Desire long hidden surged up her throat,threatening to steal away her composure. She took a deep breath and looked atsome paperwork on her desk to give her time to prepare herself.
He wore a dark bluesuit and white shirt that showed off his lightly tanned skin to perfection. Anavy and white striped tie finished the outfit, making him look like he'd juststepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. Doctor Williams would set thetongues wagging, of that Lizzie had no doubt.
"So,Doctor..."
"Please, call meRuss." He smiled, his perfect white teeth vivid against his skin."We’re going to be working closely together so we may as well cut theformalities."
"I'm not sure thatis a good thing. This is a hospital after all, and I have to keep a certainamount of control over the staff." Lizzie licked her lips before continuing,"I do hope you aren't going to be one of those doctors who don't followprotocol,
