studiesâbasically, looking at the conduction of your heart.â
Ellen frowned. âAnd then?â
âIf they think youâre an appropriate candidate, then they may do something called radiofrequency ablationâto put it simply, they destroy the extra electrical pathway by sending an electric current through it.â
âSounds scary.â
âActually, itâs a very successful procedure. It takes a few hours and requires an overnight stay in hospital, but no more than that.â
Ellen gave a wan smile. âIâm not allowed time off in my job. Even sleeping is banned.â
âSounds familiar,â Lara murmured, watching as Christian scribbled on the notes. Over the past two months, sheâd developed enormous respect for him. No matter what the situation, he never lost his cool. He was focused and skilled and didnât let emotion cloud his judgement.
Lara studied him for a moment, wondering whether he was even aware of Ellenâs advances.
As if to test the theory, the woman gave him a smile that was pure invitation. âIf Iâm in hospital, will you visit me? I never get to meet anyone except boring lawyers in my job. I bet you only ever meet boring nurses.â
âThatâs me,â Lara said lightly, slipping the tourniquet back into her pocket. âBoring nurse.â
Ellen turned her head and looked at her, as if only now noticing that there was someone else in the room with Christian. Her eyes widened as she stared at Lara. âBoring maybe, but beautiful,â shemuttered with a faint smile. âHow do you manage to look so good in that shapeless blue thing? I dress in designer wear from head to foot and I donât manage to look as good as you. Who does your hair? Itâs fabulous.â
âMy hair?â Taken aback by the question, it took Lara a moment to answer. âNo one. Most of the time I donât even do it. I mean, I wake up with it looking like this. Thatâs when my job allows me the luxury of sleep, which isnât often.â
Ellen gave a wry smile. âYour job sounds a lot like mine. Except that I donât look a fraction as beautiful as you even after eleven undisturbed hours of sleep. Someone must do your colour. Those blonde streaks are gorgeous. So natural.â
âThatâs because they are natural,â Lara muttered, wondering why she was discussing her hair with a patient. In the circumstances it seemed utterly bizarre. Any moment now theyâd be talking about shoes. Bracing herself for a sharp comment from Christian about her lack of professionalism, her eyes slid in his direction and she found him studying her with a curiously intent look in his eyes.
As if it was the first time heâd seen her.
Awareness shimmered between them, as powerful as it was unexpected, and then he turned back to his patient, leaving Lara to cope with a frantically pumping heart and shaky knees.
It would have been hard to guess who, out of the two of them, was more shocked.
She didnât gaze at married men.
And even if he wasnât married, she still wouldnât be interested. She had no interest in a relationship at this point in her life.
Ellen was concentrating her attention on Christian again. âSo is that it, then? I see a cardiologist now?â
âThatâs right.â His voice suddenly clipped, Christian picked up her chart and started to move away from the trolley, but she caught his arm.
âLet me give you my number. If youâre at a loose end over Christmas, you can call me. I hate the festive season.You and I could console each other.â
Give the man a bodyguard , Lara thought wearily as Christian carefully extricated himself from Ellenâs grip.
âI have your number on the notes in the event thatthe hospital needs to contact you about something,â he said smoothly, and Ellenâs laugh was resigned.
âYouâre giving me the brush-off,