The Visiting Surgeon

by Lucy Clark

  ‘Work,’ she said, and stood, pushing thoughts of Jackson Myers out of her mind. She headed for Recovery to check on Blade, and when she was satisfied with his stable condition, she left the nurses to drool over their movie-star patient.

  At home, she took a leisurely shower and dressed with extra care. She’d seen the slightly veiled looks of desire in Jackson’s eyes the previous evening and tonight she wanted it again. He made her feel feminine, delicate and sexy—all at the same time. They were sensations she’d never felt before and she’d discovered, much to her chagrin, that she liked it!

  Ever since she’d met Jackson yesterday morning, he’d been her constant companion—well, at least in her mind. Had it only been that long? Yet she couldn’t stop thinking about him. In some respects, she felt as though she’d known him for years.

  Susie smoothed her hand down the long burgundy silk dress she’d bought two weeks before. She’d bought it specifically for this occasion, as she’d done with all the dresses she’d wear this week. Prior to this, she hadn’t given herself permission to spoil herself.

  Tonight, instead of piling her curls on top of her head, she let them fall loose, adding a rhinestone clip to each side at the front to keep it out of her eyes. Vanilla essence was next, and she dabbed some on her wrists and behind her ears. Usually she wore perfume but tonight she wanted to…what? Leave a lasting impression on Jackson? Have him find her too good to resist?

  ‘Just enjoy it,’ she told her reflection. ‘Nothing is going to happen and at least you’ll have some nice memories to combat the awful ones.’ With a firm nod, she collected her bag and keys before heading out the door.

  Susie arrived just an hour late, but it was worth the wait. During the entrée, Jackson had found himself glancing at the door more often than not. The main course had been served and he’d asked a waiter to hold a meal for Dr Monahan, knowing she’d be hungry after such a long afternoon in clinic and then Theatre.

  She finally arrived and the same reaction he’d experienced the night before hit him again. She was a vision of loveliness, dressed in a rich burgundy fabric that shimmered when she walked. Her hair was loose, except for two sparkling clips on either side. He had a sudden urge to thread his fingers through her glorious mane which shone reddish-gold beneath the artificial lights. He was amazed at how strongly she affected him, and although he’d done his best to fight it, he’d found he was losing the battle.

  ‘Hey. Here’s Susie,’ Kyle announced, breaking into Jackson’s intimate thoughts. He watched her look over as Kyle called her name and waved. She waved back and said something to the people who had waylaid her before heading over. She walked with such grace and poise, holding her shoulders back. She was one elegant lady.

  Jackson waited impatiently for their gazes to meet, and when they did he found it hard to disguise the desire he felt. He smiled quickly, hoping she hadn’t seen, but he doubted it. Even though he’d known her for less than two days, Jackson knew she was a very perceptive woman.

  He stood and held the back of the vacant chair next to him. ‘Here, have a seat. You must be exhausted.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘How did the operation go?’ Kyle asked from across the round table.

  ‘Routine,’ Susie replied.

  ‘Jackson said you’d been called to Theatre. So it was nothing interesting?’

  ‘Not really. Dislocated shoulder, fractured ulna, radius and Colles’.’

  ‘Sports injury?’ Kyle teased.

  ‘No,’ she replied with a laugh. ‘Actually, the patient sustained a fall.’

  ‘Do you have something against sports injuries?’ Jackson asked with professional curiosity.

  ‘Yes. A good percentage of the injuries I treat have been sustained when people have been playing sport.’ She noticed a few nods around the table. ‘I’m not denying that playing sport is a fun and healthy way to keep fit, but most people are often careless whilst they’re doing it. A bit of forethought, in a lot of instances, would go a long way to preventing many of the injuries I see.’

  ‘I completely agree,’ another woman said. She was a physiotherapist and added her thoughts to the conversation. Jackson motioned to the waiter who nodded in understanding and soon brought out a meal for Susie.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said with surprise. Jackson’s thoughtfulness touched her deeply. How was she supposed to resist him when he did such nice things? ‘I thought I might have missed out.’

  ‘I knew you’d be hungry,’ he told her softly, delighted that he’d impressed her. He felt himself preen like a peacock and couldn’t stop it. ‘After all, you’ve been going non-stop since lunchtime.’

  ‘I’m famished,’ she agreed, and tucked right in. He was pleased to see she had a healthy appetite and didn’t appear concerned about her figure. Alison had been the same. In fact, Susie had many of the same qualities as Alison and in a strange way it comforted him. Perhaps that was the reason he’d been drawn to Susie in the first place.

  As far as looks went, they were like chalk and cheese. Alison had been a bit shorter than Susie, who he guessed to be about five feet, eight inches. Where Susie had long auburn hair, Alison’s had been blonde and short. Susie had blue eyes, Alison’s had been brown.

  Yet a lot of their mannerisms were very similar. The way they walked. The intelligence that was reflected in their eyes and the way they could both make him laugh. It was uncanny and nerve-racking at the same time. He enjoyed the intellectual stimulation but he wasn’t the type of man to have casual relationships, and as he was only here until the end of the week, it would be unfair to both of them.

  However, it stood to reason that he’d be attracted to a woman with similar qualities, but where his feelings for Alison had grown over time, his immediate awareness of Susie had caught him completely off guard.

  Alison had remained working as his secretary after they’d married and had supported him wholeheartedly in his career, but he hadn’t been able to discuss his patients with her. Or get her opinion on an operating technique. Or—he glanced at Susie—stand across an operating table and work methodically with her as though they’d worked together their entire lives.

  He had family and friends in Melbourne, waiting for him to finish this tour. He had a house, a car…a life. A life without Alison. The memories of Alison, which had overpowered him before he’d left, made Jackson frown. There was still so much he had to work through.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Susie’s soft words cut into his thoughts and he quickly turned to look at her, the frown disappearing.

  ‘Yes.’

  Susie smiled at him. ‘You were concentrating so hard on your empty plate that I thought you might be performing a secret male bonding ritual with it.’

  Jackson chuckled, feeling instantly better. ‘Close, but no cigar.’

  ‘My dad used to get far-off looks in his eyes sometimes after dinner. Once, when I was seventeen, I asked him what he was thinking about. He said he was reflecting on life.’

  ‘Good answer.’

  ‘He said with ten children he hardly ever had a moment to himself, and when he finally did get a moment, he’d remember the good things that had happened. Like when he and my mother got married. The birth of each of his children. Stuff like that.’

  ‘He sounds like a nice man.’

  Susie nodded. ‘Yeah, he is.’

  ‘Do they live far from you?’

  ‘No. About an hour’s drive north from Brisbane.’

  ‘On the Sunshine Coast?’

  ‘That’s right. Oh, no. I forgot,’ Susie gasped and bit her lower lip.

  ‘Problem?’

  ‘I forgot to ask you. Do you know of a general surgeon called Nicholas Sterling?’

  ‘The name’s familiar.’ Jackson thought. ‘Didn’t he do a visiting professorship quite a few years ago?’

  ‘About nine years ago, yes. Well, he and his wife live on the Sunshine Coast and were hoping to get to Brisbane to hear you speak. Unfortunately, t
hey’re completely swamped and are unable to come down, so they wondered if you’d like to come up and visit them? With you mentioning the Sunshine Coast, it jogged my memory.’

  ‘I’d be delighted to catch up with them but the only time I have free is Thursday evening and Saturday.’

  ‘I know. I told Mallory that Saturday would probably be the best. You could hire a car and drive up, meet them and get back in time for your flight out.’

  ‘Why don’t you come, too?’ He watched the way her eyes widened at his suggestion. ‘That way, you can catch up with your friends and I won’t have to worry about getting lost or taking the wrong turn.’

  ‘Uh…well, I hadn’t planned on going.’

  ‘Neither had I,’ he replied. ‘You’re not on call, are you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘There we go, then. It’s all settled. I’ll pay all petrol and travelling costs if you provide the car.’

  Susie found herself nodding, wondering how on earth that had happened so quickly. One minute she was telling him about it and the next she was the chauffeur.

  ‘Now all I have to do is break the news to Richard.’

  Susie couldn’t help but smile at his wry grin. She knew he was only joking and that Richard would do whatever Jackson said. She’d observed him to be fair and understanding when he dealt with his staff but at the end of the day it was his word and his alone that they all followed. If he really didn’t want to do something, he didn’t do it.

  Susie managed to get through the rest of dinner, her head still reeling with the fact that she’d be alone with Jackson in her car. What would they talk about? They’d be sitting so close. It would be a very intimate situation and the thought thrilled and scared her at the same time.

  That was Saturday. A lot of things could happen before then. Perhaps Nick and Mallory might have simultaneous cancellations and be able to get down to Brisbane after all. Perhaps Richard might insist on accompanying them. Perhaps she might be called away to an emergency. There was no point dwelling on it so Susie forced herself to put it right out of her mind, knowing she’d be thinking about it again before the evening was out.

  Susie’s mobile phone rang, bringing her back to reality. She quickly answered it, frowning as she listened to the information. ‘I’ll be right there,’ she replied.

  ‘You don’t seem to be able to get through a complete dinner. It’s either the beginning or the end,’ Jackson jested.

  ‘Anything wrong, Susie?’ Kyle asked.

  ‘Not really. They want to transfer a patient out of the hospital.’

  ‘Now?’ Kyle glanced at his watch. ‘It’s almost midnight.’

  ‘Makes sense,’ Jackson replied with a nod. ‘So they want you to check he’s all right to be moved.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Who’s the patient?’ Kyle asked, completely baffled.

  ‘Blade Fargo,’ Susie replied as she stood and collected her bag.

  ‘Blade Fargo! You operated on Blade Fargo and you didn’t tell me!’ Kyle asked incredulously.

  ‘Oh, not you, too.’ Susie laughed. ‘Perhaps it’s just as well you weren’t in Theatre, Kyle. We had enough trouble with the theatre nurses drooling over him. I’d better get going. Goodnight,’ she said, her gaze encompassing the table in general.

  ‘I’ll walk you out,’ Jackson offered.

  ‘It’s all right, Jackson,’ Kyle said quickly gulping his coffee and standing. ‘I’ll go with her. I’m not going to miss the opportunity of meeting one of my favourite movie stars.’

  Susie met Jackson’s gaze, a small smile on her lips. He returned it. ‘See you tomorrow, then.’

  ‘Sure. Will you be there for ward round? I’m just asking,’ she hurried on, a teasing glint in her eyes, ‘so I know not to start without you.’

  Jackson laughed. ‘Oh, you’re funny. I don’t think we’re scheduled for ward round but if there’s a change, we’ll let you know.’

  ‘Just so long as you do it before eight-thirty, otherwise you’ll have to join in whenever you get there.’

  A few of the other people at their table laughed, knowing what had happened that morning.

  ‘We’ll do our best,’ Jackson remarked, and held out his hand to Susie. Deprived of spending a few minutes alone with her, he felt the need to touch her at least. Susie slowly slid her hand into his and held it firmly. Her skin was soft and smooth and Jackson couldn’t resist stroking it gently with his thumb.

  His gaze met hers and held for a split second. He saw a flash of longing enter her blue depths and felt a stirring deep within. Conscious of the people around them, he reluctantly let go of her hand. ‘I hope you won’t be held up too long at the hospital.’

  ‘You and me both,’ she replied, and he delighted that her tone was a little unsteady.

  ‘Ready, Susie?’ Kyle asked, eager to leave.

  Susie turned from Jackson, cleared her throat and nodded at her registrar. As they walked out, Kyle mumbled, ‘I still can’t believe you didn’t call me to assist you. Blade Fargo!’

  ‘Jackson was there.’

  ‘Jackson assisted you?’

  ‘Yes. Problem?’

  ‘No.’ Kyle frowned as they waited for the lift. ‘It’s just that he’s so…well…qualified and there he was, assisting you.’

  ‘Oh, so I’m not qualified?’

  ‘Come on, Susie. You know what I mean.’

  ‘I do, Kyle. Jackson wanted to assist. Think about it. The last time he would have helped out in an emergency situation would have been before he started the VOP.’

  ‘I guess so. A bit of variety is good for the soul.’

  Susie chuckled. ‘Something like that.’ As they rode the lift down to the ground floor and waited for the valet to retrieve her car, Susie wondered whether Jackson felt like that in his private life. Perhaps, since his wife’s death, he preferred variety. Perhaps he was the type of man to have a woman in every port—or, rather, hospital he visited.

  Even as the thought presented itself, she rejected it. He didn’t seem the type. Then again, she’d seriously misjudged both Walter and Greg. Could she really trust her instincts as far as Jackson was concerned?

  When they arrived at the hospital, it was to find Blade’s manager, Margo, in a complete tizz. ‘Finally! You’re here. We need to move him now,’ she stormed. ‘The fans have all gone home and if we don’t do it soon, they’ll be back and annoying him again.’

  ‘Isn’t that the price of fame?’ Susie commented as she started her examination. Kyle, who she’d thought might turn into a groupie, was the consummate professional.

  ‘You’re showing no signs of any complications,’ she told Blade. ‘But it’s still too early to tell. Where did you say you’d be going?’

  ‘To a hotel,’ Margo answered for him. ‘He’ll have a private doctor and private nurses to take care of him. So, please, save us all some time and sign him over or he’ll just discharge himself.’

  Susie clenched her teeth but forced a smile. ‘I’ll need to talk to the doctor who’ll be taking over his treatment,’ she said. ‘And the nursing staff.’

  ‘Well, we haven’t actually employed anyone yet. We just need to get him moved!’ Margo huffed, before flipping open her bag and taking out a cigarette. Susie watched her in disbelief.

  ‘Margo,’ Blade said tiredly, ‘put that away. This is a hospital.’

  ‘What? Oh.’ Margo looked at the cigarette in her hand as though she had no idea where it had come from. ‘Sorry,’ she replied, and Susie realised the other woman simply ran on nerves.

  ‘Listen, why don’t we sit down and discuss the best course of action for Blade? He needs to be monitored for the next twenty-four hours at least. I think I might be able to help out in recommending a nurse to help you. As far as a doctor goes, how about either Kyle here or I do house calls twice a day? It would only be for the next few days and after that you’ll be fine with weekly or fortnightly check-ups.’

  Blade nodded. ‘Sounds fair. What
do you think, Margo?’

  ‘As long as it means we can move you now, I don’t care.’

  ‘Which hotel will you be staying at?’ Susie asked, and wasn’t surprised when he named the hotel where Jackson was staying. After all, it was Brisbane’s finest.

  ‘Hey,’ Kyle remarked. ‘We’ve just come from there. We had dinner there this evening. Food was fantastic.’

  ‘Good to hear.’ Blade sighed and closed his eyes. Susie realised he was exhausted—and rightly so.

  ‘Do you have transport organised?’

  ‘It’s all ready to go,’ Margo replied, her impatience returning. ‘So, can we move him now?’

  ‘Let me arrange the nurse first,’ Susie replied, and headed to the nurses’ station to use the phone. She motioned for Kyle to follow her. ‘I’d like you to monitor him tonight. Is that all right with you?’

  ‘Sure. Wow! I get to be orthopaedic doctor to Blade Fargo.’

  Susie smiled. ‘Quite a feather in your cap, eh?’

  ‘I’ll just head over to the residence where I keep a change of clothes and meet you back here,’ he said, already starting out the door.

  Susie sat down and called Switchboard. After obtaining Patti’s home number, she gave her a call.

  ‘Hi, Patti. Sorry to wake you,’ Susie said.

  ‘I’m not on call,’ Patti told her with a yawn. ‘I don’t even work there now. Remember?’

  ‘I know, which is why I called. I have an…unusual request to make of you.’

  ‘Hmm?’

  ‘Blade Fargo. How would you like to nurse him privately for the next few days?’ There was silence on the end of the phone. ‘Patti?’

  ‘Did I hear you right? No. I must still be asleep and this is a dream.’

  Susie laughed. ‘You heard me right, Patti. His manager wants him out of the hospital—it’s a security risk.’ Susie gave Patti the details of where he was staying. ‘We’ll be moving him there within the hour. Kyle will be there as well—just for tonight.’

  ‘Is he showing any sign of complications?’

  ‘Not yet but I only operated on him about five hours ago.’