The Mills & Boon Sparkling Christmas Collection. Kate Hardy

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СКАЧАТЬ signs of infection. What are you worried about now?’

      ‘Delivery, definitely,’ Nita said. ‘Speaking to you as a doctor rather than a mum—without enough fluid, the baby’s likely to end up in the breech position. And I’d be really worried about cord compression.’

      ‘So would I,’ Iris said feelingly.

      ‘So what would you do?’ Theo asked.

      ‘It depends on how little fluid there was,’ Sanjay said. ‘Ideally we’d go for conservative management, keeping a close eye on things and checking the baby’s heart rate to make sure he’s not distressed, and regular ultrasounds to check the baby’s development.’

      ‘But if the fluid’s really low and the scan shows the baby’s growth is affected,’ Nita said, ‘we’d have to deliver early. So we’d give steroids to mature the baby’s lungs and do a section.’

      ‘What would you notice about the baby after delivery?’ Iris asked.

      Sanjay and Nita looked at each other. ‘Um—lots of vernix because it’s early?’ Nita suggested.

      ‘Actually, the baby’s skin is more likely to be dry and leathery because of the lack of fluid,’ Iris explained. ‘And the face might look a bit squashed.’

      ‘And because the baby’s been compressed in the womb, you also need to check for club foot,’ Theo added. ‘Good work, team. Same again on Monday morning?’

      ‘Yes, please,’ Sanjay said, smiling.

      ‘Definitely,’ Nita added. ‘Working with you like this—well, it’s made me realise that this is what I want to do when I qualify, Theo.’

      ‘You don’t have to make up your mind just yet. You’ll have other placements in other departments,’ Theo said gently. ‘It’s lovely to see you both so enthusiastic, but don’t close yourself off to other opportunities just yet.’

      ‘I was wondering,’ Nita said, shifting from foot to foot, ‘if I could ask your advice about my next placement.’

      ‘Sure. We could have lunch today, if you like. Maddie, you’re free as well, aren’t you?’

      ‘Emergencies permitting, yes.’

      Theo smiled. ‘That goes for me, too, so you might end up with just Maddie or neither of us. But we’ll fit something in.’

      ‘Thanks.’

      ‘Now, I have clinic—and you two are with the gynae team today, aren’t you?’ Theo asked.

      Sanjay glanced at his watch. ‘Yes, and we’d better be on time. Thanks for today, Mr Petrakis.’

      Iris and the students disappeared; Madison was about to go to her own clinic, but Theo caught her hand. ‘Promise me something,’ he said.

      ‘What?’

      ‘If you can’t make lunch today, page me early so I can make an excuse.’

      She frowned. ‘Why?’

      ‘Because I don’t think it would be a good idea to have lunch on my own with Nita,’ he said softly.

      She knew exactly where he was coming from. She’d seen the way the student looked at him, too. ‘You’re the consultant. All you have to do is tell her you’re not allowed to date students.’

      ‘So I meet her for lunch and tell her I’m not interested in a date.’ He raked a hand through his hair. ‘Which makes me sound like an arrogant bastard who thinks anyone female will be desperate to go out with me.’

      She laughed. ‘Theo, all the single women in the hospital want to go out with you. Do you have any idea how many of them have asked me to lunch and grilled me about you?’

      He looked surprised. ‘Why would they grill you?’

      ‘They want information so they can work out how to seduce you.’

      Surprise turned to worry. ‘Oh, lord. I hope you’ve told everyone I don’t mix business and pleasure.’

      ‘I did consider telling them you were gay,’ she teased.

      The concern in his eyes vanished, replaced with laughter. ‘And you think people would believe that?’

      ‘Look at the facts. You’re easy on the eye—and don’t you dare give me any false modesty here, Theo Petrakis, you know you are—you’re thirty-five years old and you’re single. Which means either you have a major personality defect—and anyone who spends two minutes with you will know that that’s not the case—or you’re not interested in women.’ She spread her hands. ‘But if I start that rumour, then all the single gay men in the hospital will be calling me with lunch invitations so they can grill me about you.’

      He rolled his eyes. ‘I suppose at least they wouldn’t want to marry me.’

      ‘Don’t bet on it.’ She gave him a wicked smile. ‘You can have a civil partnership nowadays, you know.’

      He groaned. ‘Madison Gregory, you’ve got an answer for everything.’

      ‘Nearly.’

      ‘Civil partnership.’ He shook his head. ‘You are going to have to make that up to me later, matia mou.’

      ‘Yeah, yeah.’ She waved a dismissive hand.

      ‘Good coffee. Seriously good coffee. And one of these brownies you were raving about. And…’

      It was probably her imagination, she told herself, but all the same the look in his eyes made her heart miss a couple of beats. She shook herself. ‘Yeah, yeah. Make a list.’ She smiled. ‘See you at lunch.’

      In the end, Theo didn’t make lunch. He was called in to try external cephalic version to turn a breech baby round for a vaginal delivery, and Madison ended up talking to Sanjay and Nita about different foetal presentations in labour and how to avoid intervention as much as possible. They were both busy in clinic during the afternoon, but later that evening Theo called her. ‘Are you busy on Saturday?’

      ‘I’m on an early shift.’

      ‘But you’re free when you’ve finished?’

      Say no, the sensible side of her urged. But her mouth wasn’t listening. ‘Yes.’

      ‘You know we were talking about all the places you hadn’t explored in London? I wondered if you’d like to come with me to the Natural History Museum to see the dinosaurs.’

      Part of her wanted to go. Part of her knew that the more time she spent with Theo, the more she was falling for him—and, considering he didn’t want the same things that she did out of life, that would be crazy. On the other hand, maybe spending time with him would convince her heart that being friends was the best way to go. ‘We won’t get a huge amount of time there,’ she warned, ‘but sure. I’d like that. I’ll meet you on the steps by the main entrance at four?’

      ‘Fine. СКАЧАТЬ