A Change Of Heart. Alison Roberts

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СКАЧАТЬ the general attitude of the whole cardiology department then the obstacle to gaining respect might be a much bigger hurdle than simply exorcising any rumours about his past.

      Thank goodness for a friendly face. It was late that afternoon that David encountered a welcome he’d been waiting for. It came at the end of what now seemed like a very long day.

      ‘Mike! Where the hell have you been hiding?’

      ‘Cath lab all morning. Then we had an emergency angioplasty this afternoon. Some of us have to earn a living, mate.’

      David shook his head, confident that Lisa Kennedy’s opinion of surgeons was not being reinforced from this quarter. ‘It’s good to see you, mate. You’ve been the world’s worst correspondent.’

      Michael Foster grasped the outstretched hand and then slapped David on the shoulder. ‘Look who’s talking! We must have about five years to catch up on. God, it’s good to see you, Dave.’

      ‘Likewise. Got time for a coffee?’

      ‘I’ll make time. What’s the point in being a consultant if you can’t manage that?’

      ‘I thought you’d be head of the cardiology department by now.’

      ‘Give me time. I’ve had a rough couple of years.’

      ‘Oh?’ David’s face was concerned as he followed his friend into the small staffroom. ‘What’s happened, Mike?’

      ‘Anne and I split up six months ago. Things were pretty difficult for a long time before that.’ Mike spooned coffee into the mugs but glanced up to catch David’s expression. He laughed ruefully. ‘You were right all along, mate. Marriage is the quickest way to ruin a good relationship.’ He handed David a steaming mug. ‘I should have listened to that lecture you gave me. I just wish you hadn’t waited until my stag night.’

      David smiled but was disturbed by the shadows in Mike’s eyes. He tried to lighten the atmosphere. ‘You should have listened,’ he said sternly. ‘Like I always said, ‘‘Why buy a book when you’ve got a whole library to choose from?’’’

      The incredulous snort from behind David made his head turn sharply. In his concern for Mike he had managed to walk right past the figure curled into the armchair beside the door. Mike followed his glance.

      ‘Have you met my registrar, Dave? This is Lisa Kennedy.’

      ‘We’ve met.’ David winked at Lisa. ‘In fact, I’ve already broken her heart.’

      Mike laughed. ‘That was quick even for you, mate. But I don’t believe a word of it. Lisa’s the one that leaves the trail of broken hearts around here. The job description for that vacancy is a bit hard to measure up to, isn’t it, Lisa?’

      ‘Oh, please!’ Lisa uncurled her long legs from the depths of the armchair and reached for her shoes. ‘I’m sure David James isn’t remotely interested in my love life, Mike.’

      ‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that,’ David murmured. He watched appreciatively as Lisa eased on her narrow, heeled black shoes. Very elegant footwear, he concluded. And a perfect match for the rest of her outfit.

      ‘Well, I’m not remotely interested in sharing it.’ Lisa stood up gracefully. With her heeled shoes she was only an inch or two shorter than David’s height of six feet.

      Mike laughed. ‘That’s the problem, isn’t it? You’d better watch out, though. You’ll probably be well up on David’s required reading list.’

      Lisa deposited her mug into the sink, turned and met David’s eyes with a direct stare.

      ‘My collection doesn’t include paperbacks, sorry. Or over-popular fiction. I prefer something with a bit more quality…and durability.’

      Mike’s exaggerated indrawn breath feigned fear at Lisa’s attack beautifully. Much to David’s relief, it was enough to break the hold that Lisa’s eye contact was having. Her short chuckle was dismissive. ‘See you later, Mike. Some of us have work to do.’

      David wasn’t included in the farewell. Something flicked off at the dismissal and David was acutely aware of an emotional U-turn. OK, he’d been attracted but now he’d come to his senses. He’d been wrong in his assumption that the woman was attached and now he could see why. With blinding clarity. She was rude, snooty and totally unapproachable. And as for her attitude towards surgeons! Well, David James knew where he wasn’t welcome and he certainly wasn’t going to waste any more time trying. Lisa Kennedy wasn’t going to be on any list as far as he was concerned.

      Mike hadn’t failed to notice the line of David’s intense stare.

      ‘Gorgeous, isn’t she?’

      ‘Mmm.’ David’s tone was carefully noncommittal. ‘Shame about the personality.’

      CHAPTER TWO

      PERHAPS it wasn’t so great to be back after all.

      Feeling out of sorts was such an infrequent experience that David was seriously disturbed. Lack of sleep hadn’t helped. Had it been a medical emergency that had kept him awake most of the night he wouldn’t have thought twice about it. In fact, the adrenaline would still be running and he’d be in top form for at least another twelve hours. It was his accommodation that was problematic. The temporary arrangement for the room in the staff quarters had seemed perfect, but the walls were thin and the young medic next door had clearly scored in a big way with a woman who seemed to find the whole business excruciatingly funny. A pneumatic drill would have been much less disruptive than her giggles. Even when he’d finally managed to fall asleep the experience had been less than restful.

      ‘It was a nightmare,’ he related solemnly to Mike Foster. ‘Crushing chest pain, electrodes plastered all over me and Lisa Kennedy standing at the end of the bed…Smiling.’ He punctuated his tale with a woeful groan.

      Mike grinned. ‘Lisa’s OK. Don’t judge her on the basis of one bad day.’ He pointed to a fire-stop door coming up on their right. ‘Let’s take a short cut.’ Mike led the way up the stairs. ‘If anybody’s kept me sane over the last year it’s been Lisa.’ He shot his companion a quizzical glance. ‘In fact, she’s a lot like you.’

      ‘What a ghastly thought!’

      ‘She works bloody hard, plays just as hard, great sense of humour…’ Mike was sounding breathless. ‘And a body to die for.’

      ‘I plan to keep living,’ David muttered.

      ‘You’d be perfect for each other.’

      ‘I doubt it. She thinks I’m a glorified plumber. A knife-wielding technician with a God complex. Surgeons suck.’

      ‘Ah! Well, there’s a bit of a history there.’

      ‘Oh, yeah?’ Despite himself David felt curious. By tacit agreement the two men paused at the top of the stairs, screened from the corridor by another set of fire-stop doors. ‘Perhaps you’d better fill me in.’

      ‘Have you met Lewis Tanner yet?’

      David СКАЧАТЬ