in a black inky mess. ‘Absolutely, no future for us. No need to call me ever again, forget you ever knew me. Goodbye.’
She put down the phone with a satisfied smirk. Any man who called her a career-minded bitch deserved to be dumped. Simon’s attitude reminded her of her ex. David had been furious when she refused to use her contacts to advance his medical career at the expense of her own. Of course, he’d paid her back when he divorced her, but after three years, she was finally able to see his treachery as a good thing.
Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the number before she picked it up, just in case Mr Dempsey had decided to call back and say all the clever things he’d meant to say during their first go-around. But it was only Nancy, the head nurse at the outpatients’ clinic.
‘Dr Kinsale, just thought you should know the Sundance Kid is here.’
Helen groaned. When would Nancy get tired of that old joke?
‘Thanks, Nancy. I’ll be there in a moment.’
Just her luck. Her last patient of the day was one of the most irritating male specimens she had ever operated on: Jay Turner, Robert Redford lookalike and soon to be ex-rodeo star. She’d managed to fix his shattered knee but, despite months of intense rehabilitation and therapy, he’d never be able to compete professionally again.
Today was the day she had to break that particular piece of news to him. She knew he wasn’t going to be happy. Successful sportsmen tended to have alpha personalities and egos to match. Jay Turner was no exception.
With a sigh, she got up and buttoned herself into a clean white coat. She located his chart on her desk and tucked it under her arm. Might as well get it over with.
Jay Turner looked completely out of his element in the prim confines of the blue and pink wallpapered examination room. He sat on the side of the examining table, arms folded across his broad chest, bare legs crossed at the ankles. Even though he wore one of the unappealing paper hospital gowns, her stomach gave its usual odd leap at the sight of his long muscled legs and handsome face. Like most cowboys, he looked incomplete without his hat. To conceal her instinctive feminine approval, she always tried extra hard to keep him at a distance.
‘Mr Turner. It’s good to see you again.’
He didn’t get up and she didn’t offer her hand. He slowly inclined his head an inch. Up close, she could see the new lines pain had engraved on his face. His chart said he’d lost weight.
‘Could you lie back for me?’
He stretched out, arms by his sides, fists clenched. Helen carefully examined his right knee. Like most bull riders, his skin was studded with the reminders of previous injuries. The new surgical scars would fade over time but the damage within would always be there. She touched his skin, felt his tremor of response as she probed his reconstructed patella.
‘We’ll get another X-ray, just to be sure, but I think overall, it’s healed up nicely.’
She turned to write something on his chart. He sat up and slowly lowered his legs to the ground. ‘Are you going to do the X-ray now or can I go?’
She glanced up and found him standing too close to her. His aftershave held the scent of lemons. ‘You can get the X-ray done anytime in the next week but I would still like to talk to you after you get dressed.’
He frowned and glanced at his watch. ‘OK, I’ll wait.’
Helen bristled at his grudging tone. She was the doctor with the demanding schedule. What else did he have to do today?
‘Oh wow, I didn’t realize you were so busy, thanks for making time for me.’
As soon as she said it she regretted her sarcasm. What was it about Jay Turner that made her want to behave like a shrew? He was too pretty, too arrogant and too . . . too much for her to deal with in such a small space.
‘You’re welcome.’
His slow grin was meant to irritate her. Did he think she’d fall to her knees and beg his pardon just because he had a
She put down the phone with a satisfied smirk. Any man who called her a career-minded bitch deserved to be dumped. Simon’s attitude reminded her of her ex. David had been furious when she refused to use her contacts to advance his medical career at the expense of her own. Of course, he’d paid her back when he divorced her, but after three years, she was finally able to see his treachery as a good thing.
Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the number before she picked it up, just in case Mr Dempsey had decided to call back and say all the clever things he’d meant to say during their first go-around. But it was only Nancy, the head nurse at the outpatients’ clinic.
‘Dr Kinsale, just thought you should know the Sundance Kid is here.’
Helen groaned. When would Nancy get tired of that old joke?
‘Thanks, Nancy. I’ll be there in a moment.’
Just her luck. Her last patient of the day was one of the most irritating male specimens she had ever operated on: Jay Turner, Robert Redford lookalike and soon to be ex-rodeo star. She’d managed to fix his shattered knee but, despite months of intense rehabilitation and therapy, he’d never be able to compete professionally again.
Today was the day she had to break that particular piece of news to him. She knew he wasn’t going to be happy. Successful sportsmen tended to have alpha personalities and egos to match. Jay Turner was no exception.
With a sigh, she got up and buttoned herself into a clean white coat. She located his chart on her desk and tucked it under her arm. Might as well get it over with.
Jay Turner looked completely out of his element in the prim confines of the blue and pink wallpapered examination room. He sat on the side of the examining table, arms folded across his broad chest, bare legs crossed at the ankles. Even though he wore one of the unappealing paper hospital gowns, her stomach gave its usual odd leap at the sight of his long muscled legs and handsome face. Like most cowboys, he looked incomplete without his hat. To conceal her instinctive feminine approval, she always tried extra hard to keep him at a distance.
‘Mr Turner. It’s good to see you again.’
He didn’t get up and she didn’t offer her hand. He slowly inclined his head an inch. Up close, she could see the new lines pain had engraved on his face. His chart said he’d lost weight.
‘Could you lie back for me?’
He stretched out, arms by his sides, fists clenched. Helen carefully examined his right knee. Like most bull riders, his skin was studded with the reminders of previous injuries. The new surgical scars would fade over time but the damage within would always be there. She touched his skin, felt his tremor of response as she probed his reconstructed patella.
‘We’ll get another X-ray, just to be sure, but I think overall, it’s healed up nicely.’
She turned to write something on his chart. He sat up and slowly lowered his legs to the ground. ‘Are you going to do the X-ray now or can I go?’
She glanced up and found him standing too close to her. His aftershave held the scent of lemons. ‘You can get the X-ray done anytime in the next week but I would still like to talk to you after you get dressed.’
He frowned and glanced at his watch. ‘OK, I’ll wait.’
Helen bristled at his grudging tone. She was the doctor with the demanding schedule. What else did he have to do today?
‘Oh wow, I didn’t realize you were so busy, thanks for making time for me.’
As soon as she said it she regretted her sarcasm. What was it about Jay Turner that made her want to behave like a shrew? He was too pretty, too arrogant and too . . . too much for her to deal with in such a small space.
‘You’re welcome.’
His slow grin was meant to irritate her. Did he think she’d fall to her knees and beg his pardon just because he had a
Similar Books
Buffalo Bill Wanted!
Alex Simmons
The Pen Friend
Ciaran Carson
Dear Miffy
John Marsden
The Remedy
Suzanne Young
Red Iron Nights
Glen Cook
Saving Dallas 2 Making the Cut
Kim Jones
Moving in Reverse
Katy Atlas
