Sheena laughed. ‘That’s our Nessa. And you like her.’
Miles breathed in deeply, the scent of the flowers reminding him of the sweet scent that surrounded Janessa, before slowly exhaling. ‘I’m … interested,’ he admitted.
Sheena clapped her hands and Miles couldn’t help but smile as he looked at his friend. ‘I knew it. The twinkle is unmistakable. So?’
‘So … what?’
‘So what are you going to do about it?’ ‘Nothing.’
‘Nothing? Miles, how many women have you been interested in since Wendy died?’
He thought for a moment and then shrugged. ‘A few, but nothing serious.’
‘And I’ll bet that none of them have captured your attention so completely and as quickly as Janessa, am I right?’
‘Uh …’ He shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling awkward. ‘We don’t need to discuss this, Sheena.’
‘Hey. I’m the human incubator, who lies here day in, day out providing the best care a mother can for her babies, feeling as though I’m trapped in this room while the world keeps spinning without me. Throw me some crumbs, eh?’
Miles smiled at her words. ‘All right, all right. I haven’t pursued anyone since Wendy’s death.’
‘And now you’re
interested
in Janessa?’
He exhaled harshly, his words tinged with a slight impatience. ‘Do I like what I’ve seen of her? Yes. Am I intrigued to know more? Yes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to do anything about it.’
‘What? Why not?’
‘Because the life I lead is not suited to people like Janessa.’
‘How do you know that? You hardly know her.’
‘She has her world here. That’s clear. She cares for her staff, her friends and most definitely for you, and my world is anywhere and everywhere. The fact that she’s caught my attention is neither here nor there. I don’t have the head space for any sort of romantic relationships.’
‘Well, you at least be nice to her.’
‘I will.’
‘And take her out to dinner. She needs food. She’s too skinny. But then again, maybe because I’m so fat and stuck in here all day like a beached whale, my perceptions are a little skewed.’
Miles laughed at her words but crossed to her side instantly, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. ‘You’re not fat.’ His words were heartfelt. ‘You’re pregnant.’
‘An incubator,’ Sheena grumbled, but smiled back at him. Sighing, she looked at Miles. ‘Janessa’s special.’
‘I’m beginning to realise that.’
It took the walk down the single flight of stairs to the NICU for Janessa’s heart rate to return to a normal level as she tried not to replay every little minute detail of when she’d been dangerously close to Miles Trevellion.
He was turning out to be quite the chameleon. First he’d been brisk and arrogant, then supportive towards Sheena and then … And then what? Hot and heavy with her? No. The man had taken her hand in his purely as a form of greeting, and when her idiotic knees hadn’t been able to cope with being so near to him, he’d placed a supportive hand at her waist in order to stop her from falling. He’d been caring and polite.
And what about the long and intense gaze they’d shared?
She closed her eyes for a brief moment, her heart rate once more picking up as she remembered the way he’d looked at her. Surprise, shock and sensuality. Until that moment, she hadn’t thought it possible to get all three together but Miles Trevellion had pulled it off … with a bang.
Janessa shook her head, pushing the thoughts away completely. Work. Babies. Sheena. Sleep. Those were the important things in her life at the moment, not thoughts of Miles Trevellion, and with a deep breath she set off to do her job. After confirming that both Joey and Taneesha were doing just fine, and that the rest of the patients and staff were under control, Helena, who was on the night shift, shooed her away.
‘You look completely worn out,’ Helena said as she pointed to the NICU door. ‘Food, shower and sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.’
There was nothing else for Janessa to do than to head out of the NICU. She walked through the long corridors, the hospital catering team out in force as they collected all of the dinner trays from the various wards. Smelling the food reminded her she hadn’t had much opportunity to eat today and as she headed outside beneath the sheltered walkway that led to the residential wing, her stomach grumbled. All she wanted was to get to her room, have some raisin toast and go to bed.
‘Wow. I heard that. You must be really hungry,’ a deep voice said from just behind her. Janessa didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. She may have only known Miles Trevellion for less than a day but his voice was instantly recognisable. ‘That’s one growly stomach you have there, Janessa.’
It was strange to hear her first name coming from his lips, the deep rich tones somehow making her name sound sexy and sensual. He fell into step beside her. ‘I guess it is.’ ‘Busy day?’
‘How can you ask that? You saw first-hand what the NICU was like at lunchtime.’
‘Yes, I did, and from what I can recall you handled everything beautifully. Especially impatient and demanding visiting consultants.’
She stopped walking and he stopped right beside her. Janessa looked up at him, wondering if this was another one of his tests or if he was being serious. She searched his eyes, looking for a clue to help gauge his mood, and then immediately wished she hadn’t.
His eyes were so blue, so bright, so clear, like the sky on a cloudless day, and even though the light outside was starting to fade, looking into Miles’s eyes made her feel the same way she felt when she was up in her plane, soaring above the ground, without a care in the world. It was odd. No man had ever made her feel that way before. She sighed slowly and then closed her eyes, not wanting to be affected by him and cross with herself because it was clear that she was. He was her colleague and she had to remember that, to treat him with the same level of polite indifference she treated the other surgeons who slipped in and out of her unit.
When she opened her eyes, she made sure she didn’t look at him directly in case she lost her train of thought again. ‘What do you want, Miles? I’m off duty, I’m tired—’
‘And you’re hungry. I was thinking … dinner? I’m new in town and have no clue which restaurants are the good ones.’
She shrugged. ‘You can get a list from Reception at the residential wing.’ She started walking again, wanting to get back to the privacy of her own room so she could relax and unwind and forget all about Miles Trevellion and the way he seemed to fill her entire body with tingles every time he looked at her.
‘Actually, that was my attempt at asking you to join me. Sorry. Should have made that clear.’
Janessa stopped short and stared at him. ‘You want to have dinner with me?’
‘Yes. You’re hungry. I’m hungry. I thought we could eat together. Clear the air a little.’
‘If you’re referring to the way you bawled out an agency nurse earlier to the effect that she’s now requested never to return to the NICU again, consider the air cleared.’
‘Good.’ He shoved his hands in his pockets. ‘Good. Well, now that the air is clear, I guess we can just have dinner and get to know each other better.’
‘Why? You’re a colleague and I—’ She stopped arguing when her stomach growled again.
Miles decided enough was enough and gently put his hand beneath her elbow and directed them towards the taxi rank at the front of the hospital where he’d arrived that morning. ‘It’s just food, Janessa. I would like to sit across a table and eat food. I’d like to have some company while I do it and I also have some questions about the conjoined twins I’d like to ask you.’
‘Oh. A business dinner.’ She shrugged, easing away from his gentle touch, hoping the warmth currently spreading through her body would cease when she wasn’t so close to him. She should turn him down, return to her room, eat her toast and sleep. That was what she needed to do and it would definitely put a bit of distance between them. However, she hadn’t left the hospital grounds in over a week and the thought of having Giuseppe, the owner of her favourite Italian restaurant, cook her a huge plate of
fettuccini
made her mouth water. ‘Do you like Italian food?’ A taxi was driving by the road closest to the residential wing and she put her fingers in her mouth and gave a loud whistle. ‘Taxi!’ she yelled, and the car instantly drove up to the kerb.
Miles was stunned and pleasantly surprised at this turn of events. Who was this woman? She was well liked and respected by her peers, she was exceptional at her job, she was a caring friend to Sheena and now she was whistling loudly for a cab. Smiling, he opened the taxi door for her and as she slid inside he shook his head, even more delighted and intrigued by this amazing woman.
T
HE
short taxi ride to her favourite Italian restaurant was completed with Janessa pointing out some of the immediate sights of Adelaide, which looked beautiful at dusk, just in case Miles asked her anything personal. She needed to keep reminding herself that this wasn’t a date, it was just dinner with a colleague, and yet she was completely aware of him sitting so close beside her in the back seat of the taxi.
At the restaurant, they were warmly welcomed by Giuseppe and seated at a small table for two, their waiter lighting the candle in the centre of the table, giving the whole setting a more romantic atmosphere.
They read the menus, ordered and then sat looking at each other. Janessa tried not to fidget with the cutlery, telling herself again that this was not a date, just a dinner between colleagues to discuss Sheena’s twins. At least if they were discussing work, there wouldn’t be any of those long and awkward silences that often accompanied two people who didn’t know each other on a personal level. Awkward silences … like … the one she was experiencing now.
‘So …’ Janessa cleared her throat, eager to get this meeting off on the right foot. ‘Uh … regarding the girls, I know we’ll be doing a lot of scans once they’ve been delivered. However, what would happen if it’s discovered they share a femoral artery?’
Miles leaned back in his chair and considered her for a moment. It was clear Janessa wanted to ensure this
was
a business meeting and while he was still highly intrigued by her, wanting to ask her more personal questions, he’d play along for now.
‘Well, my professional opinion is that we should cross that bridge if we come to it.’
Janessa blinked, hiding a smile before trying again. ‘But what if there is a vein that’s hidden, that isn’t picked up on the scans, and it gets severed during the separation?’
‘Then I suture it closed.’ Miles leaned forward onto the table, his gaze intent, his words earnest. ‘Janessa, I know you’re concerned about the upcoming surgeries for the girls, I understand how much they mean to you, but nothing is going to go wrong.’ He shrugged. ‘I’m here.’
She tried again. ‘But what if—?’
‘Janessa, there are too many variables to discuss right now, right here, at dinner, especially with your stomach grumbling and growling. We’ll cover all eventualities and discuss every scenario in the coming weeks before the scheduled delivery of the twins. Right now, though, I’m hungry. You’re hungry. Let’s enjoy this meal.’ He picked up his wineglass and took a sip. ‘So … have you lived in Adelaide long?’
She blinked slowly at his obvious arrogance and the abrupt change of subject. ‘But what if the girls—?’
‘How long? One year? Ten years? Or have you always lived in Adelaide? It’s not a difficult question, especially for someone as intelligent as you are.’
Janessa huffed and crossed her arms. ‘Born and bred.’
‘Travelled much?’
‘We’re here to discuss the twins, not talk about me.’
‘I beg to differ. If you’re going to be part of my team, I need to know a bit more about you.’
‘And so discovering where I’ve lived helps you do that?’
‘It gives me a sense of who you are and what’s important to you. So … have you travelled much?’
‘A bit.’ She noticed that he seemed completely relaxed and at ease but, then again, a man as good looking and as intelligent as Miles would be quite used to meals like this. It was she who felt so odd, so naked and exposed.
‘Would you like to do more travel?’
‘Not at the moment. Especially with Sheena needing me.’
‘Of course. It’s clear that the two of you are very close.’
‘Yes.’
He put his wineglass down and leaned forward, a bright smile on his face. ‘Am I making you nervous?’
‘A little.’ The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them and she immediately closed her eyes in confusion as embarrassment washed over her. He was so smooth, so relaxed and charming. How was she supposed to keep herself under control when every time he looked at her he made her feel as though she was the only person in the world who mattered to him. She knew it was his
magnetism
that was drawing her closer with every word he spoke.
‘You don’t date much?’
The feeling of embarrassment instantly left her and her eyes snapped open. ‘This isn’t a date, Miles. It’s a business dinner.’
‘True. So, tell me about Sheena. How has she really been feeling? Sleeping much? What’s her emotional status? As her friend, I’m sure you can give me a much clearer picture than what her chart and notes tell me.’
‘True.’ Relaxing a little, Janessa sipped her wine. ‘She’s … hanging in there. I guess that’s the best way to describe it. Naturally, her emotions are like a roller-coaster ride, but that’s to be expected. She’s also scared, nervous, worried—again, just like any other mother-to-be. But I think she’s also concerned about the publicity the babies will garner once they’re born. I mean, I know and you know that conjoined twins happen more frequently than people realise—’
‘One in every two hundred identical twin pregnancies is conjoined.’
‘Exactly, and each one of them has their fair share of publicity, although thankfully nowadays the publicity is more centred on the health of the babies and the subsequent operations to separate them rather than the “freakish” angle. Still, Sheena’s worried about that.’
Miles nodded. ‘It’s a natural concern and one I’ve dealt with in different ways depending on the different services of the hospital where the babies are born. I think, in this instance, with the way your NICU is set up, we’ll be able to secure the girls in a private bay, with screens and curtains so they can still receive the specialist treatment they deserve. Once they’re stabilised, we can move them to a private paediatric ward, but that may not be for some months. It all depends on how healthy they are when they’re born.’
‘What about photographers and paparazzi? What about the other mothers in the NICU? What if one of them takes a photo of the babies and sells it to the newspapers? I’m not saying that any of them would, but I’m—’
‘You’re just trying to be prepared,’ he finished for her, nodding. ‘I completely understand. My suggestion is to take photographs of the girls within the first twenty-four hours, have your hospital PR people release them with an update on the girls’ health and that should at least stop the temptation for people on the ward taking photographs and selling them.’
‘Excellent idea. So clear, so straightforward, so simple. Brilliant.’
The waiter arrived with their entrées, the minestrone soup sending her gastronomic juices into overdrive. She grinned at Miles as she sipped the hot, tasty liquid, glad to finally be able to eat.
‘When was the last time you ate today?’
‘Um …’ She swallowed her mouthful and broke off a piece of fresh, crusty bread which had also been brought to the table. ‘Some time early this morning? I’m not sure. I know I’ve had several cups of tea and coffee.’
‘Some days are busier than others.’
‘Some days I eat more than others.’
He nodded, knowing exactly what she was talking about. ‘It all pans out in the end.’ Miles lifted his wineglass, holding it out. Janessa picked hers up and chinked it with his. ‘To finding time to have a meal,’ he toasted, and she smiled, relaxing a little more.
As they ate, the conversation turned to different topics ranging from politics to health-care funding, to recent breakthroughs in medical science and back to Sheena and the twins. By the time they said goodnight to Giuseppe, thanking him for a splendid meal, and had caught a taxi back to the residential wing, Janessa’s stomach was full and her guard had dropped.
She’d discovered tonight that the brilliant man who had written all the journal articles she liked was also interesting, charming and very funny. Quite a few times he’d made her laugh as he’d recounted antics from some of the experiences he’d had.
‘As with all new parents, it’s customary to name your children at birth,’ he’d recounted. ‘But with the second set of conjoined twins I was fortunate enough to assist with, the parents, who were from Tarparnii, called their boys Ticanegia and Tocneshla. Then they shortened the names to Tic and Toc.’ His smile had been bright, his eyes had twinkled with humour and Janessa had found herself just enjoying being with him as they’d laughed together.
He’d been a perfect gentleman, holding doors for her, insisting on paying for the meal and transportation, and now as they exited the taxi and headed for the residential wing, he walked close, his hand hovering in the small of her back as a means of protection and stability.
She swallowed as they walked into the reception area of the residential wing, feeling as though every eye in the place was on them.
‘Evening, Janessa,’ Arthur, the night-time receptionist-cum-security-guard, called, waving to her. ‘And Dr Trevellion. Good to see you again.’
Miles guided Janessa over to the elderly but still fit man who had worked at this hospital far longer than either of them had been alive. Miles shook hands with the man, treating him with polite respect.
‘Good to see you again, and please call me Miles.’
Arthur nodded, then asked, ‘Did you manage to find somewhere good to eat?’
‘Actually, I did. Janessa here was good enough to share her favourite restaurant with me.’
‘Giuseppe’s,’ Janessa offered as she noticed Arthur’s bushy eyebrows rise in surprise. She could see that he was intrigued by the two of them being out together.
‘It’s good to see you getting out and about, young lady.’ He turned his attention to Miles. ‘She works too hard, this one.’ He looked back at Janessa. ‘You should get away from the hospital more often. Go for a drive in your fancy car.’
Miles’s eyebrows rose at this information. ‘You have a fancy car?’
Janessa shook her head, not wanting to talk about her car or the fact that it had belonged to her father. That car was part of her personal life and therefore had nothing to do with Miles Trevellion. ‘It’s just a car.’
‘I like cars. A lot,’ he offered.
She looked at him for a moment, tilting her head to the side in a considering manner. ‘I’ll bet you like to drive them fast, too.’
Miles’s smile increased and he winked at her. ‘You’d better believe it. Helps to keep the heart pumping. Makes me feel alive.’
Janessa was sure she should have said something, come up with a retort that he, as a member of the medical profession, should know all about the dangers involved in such daredevil behaviour, but her thought processes had turned to mush the instant he’d winked at her.
‘Surely,’ Miles continued when she didn’t make any reply, ‘you have ways of dealing with your stress? Tell me you escape from this place every once in a while and remember how to live life like a normal person, rather than a medical professional tied to their work?’ When she still made no reply, he exhaled slowly. ‘Life’s too short, Janessa.’
‘I keep telling her that,’ Arthur agreed, and Janessa snapped out of her stupor, having forgotten for a moment exactly where she was. She straightened her shoulders as Arthur continued. ‘I keep telling her to ease up a little.’ He tut-tutted, his words spoken in a caring and familiar way.
‘And I
will
ease up, once Sheena’s babies are all healthy and well on their way to living normal lives.’
At the mention of Sheena, Arthur demanded an update and she was more than pleased to give it, especially as it meant she could stop fixating on how one simple wink from Miles had turned her into a dim-minded twit. ‘These aren’t just Sheena’s babies,’ he said to Miles. ‘They belong to the whole hospital. Sheena’s one of our own and here at Adelaide Mercy we take care of our own.’
Miles smiled. ‘So I’m beginning to realise. It’s great to work at a hospital that has such a close-knit community.’ He looked at Janessa, remembering how she’d been firm and direct with him earlier on that day, protective of her staff, her NICU and her friends. He noticed that her eyelids were growing heavier and when she tried to stifle a yawn, rather unsuccessfully, he shook hands again with Arthur and led a tired Janessa towards the old lift.
‘Which floor are you on?’ Miles asked as he pressed the button to call the lift down.
‘Three. Ordinarily I’d take the stairs but …’ She yawned, then shook her head. ‘This always happens. Now that I’m out of the hospital, it’s as though my brain switches off and my body gives in to exhaustion.’
Miles nodded. ‘Happens to me, too.’ The lift arrived and he held the door for her, waiting politely while she went inside. He pressed the button for the third floor and they both waited while the old lift creaked its way upwards. ‘Perhaps the stairs would have been safer,’ Miles remarked cautiously as he looked around the old lift.
‘Probably.’ Fatigue was really starting to hit. She needed to get out of this lift, escape Miles Trevellion’s enigmatic presence and settle down to a hopefully uninterrupted night. Even standing here with him, just the two of them, there was a strange awareness, being alone together in such a confined space, that seemed to surround them.
When the lift finally stopped, Miles once more held the door for her and Janessa thankfully stepped out into the hallway. She was about to turn and say goodbye when she realised he, too, had stepped from the lift.
‘Are you staying on this floor as well?’ she asked.
‘Yes.’ He dug into his pocket and pulled out a key. ‘Apparently, the residential wing used to be the old nurses’ home many moons ago.’
‘Correct,’ Janessa said as she made her way down the corridor.
‘The third floor was where they converted some of the rooms into small apartments with a kitchenette and their own bathrooms, although I was told that the plumbing hasn’t been all that crash hot lately.’
‘True. I can ask for you to be moved to the first floor where they actually have a lovely two-bedroom apartment, complete with a proper sitting room and dining room. Much bigger. Nicer for you and the plumbing on that level is fine.’ She wasn’t sure she could deal with working
and
living so close to him. The fact that she’d been looking forward to his arrival and the realisation that the impatient doctor she’d met earlier in the morning was that of a man exhausted from international travel was now clearly evident. Since they’d headed out to dinner, he’d been nothing but kind, cordial and caring towards her. Still … living and working in such close proximity to him would make her far more aware of him than she already was.