The Greek Children's Doctor

Her mother was still in Theatre and her father was being treated for smoke inhalation.

‘The neighbour thinks that there’s an aunt living nearby,’ Bev told her, ‘but no one has any idea how to contact her. We’ll just have to wait for one of the parents to tell us. In the meantime, we’ll keep the baby overnight. Andreas seems keen to keep an eye on her anyway, given the seriousness of the fall.’

‘I can’t believe she survived it,’ Libby murmured softly, careful not to wake Jenny, who was dozing quietly.

‘Well, the mother obviously took the brunt of the impact.’ Bev looked at the little girl lying on the bed. ‘She seems more peaceful. Has she had more morphine?’

Libby nodded. ‘It will be good when she can see one of her parents. She needs the reassurance.’

Bev nodded. ‘Well, hopefully we’ll manage something tomorrow. We can always carry her up to them if necessary.’ Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Libby. ‘You look exhausted. You should have requested the day off today. How late did you get to bed?’

Not that late, Libby reflected. But she’d been awake for most of the night thinking about Andreas. Dreaming about fairy-tales and happy endings.

‘I’m fine.’

‘What you need is some proper time off. You’ve got a few days’ leave due. I want you to take them.’

Libby looked at her. ‘Bev, we’re far too busy for me to take leave.’

Bev shrugged. ‘You’re knackered, Lib. You’re no use to me like this. You’ve been working double shifts for as long as I can remember and you need a rest. I’ll ring the agency and see if I can get someone for the week after next.’

Libby frowned. ‘Holiday leave…’

‘Yes, holiday leave,’ Bev said firmly. ‘You’ve got five days. For goodness’ sake, go away somewhere.’

Libby looked at her blankly. She didn’t really want to go anywhere. She didn’t have the energy. If she wasn’t going to work, all she really wanted to do was go to bed and sleep for ever.

‘I’ll see how things are,’ she said vaguely, thinking that it might actually be nice to have a few days at home, doing nothing. She could lie in bed in the mornings and meet Katy for lunch. ‘If you’re sure, that is.’

‘I’m sure,’ Bev said firmly, breaking off as Andreas strolled into the room.

Libby felt her stomach turn over. He was so good-looking he took her breath away and she was starting to have really, really foolish thoughts.

Thoughts about being pregnant and him insisting on marrying her.

Ridiculous!

She closed her eyes briefly, horrified by the way her mind was working.

What was the matter with her? She was thinking like someone who wasn’t thoroughly disillusioned with men.

A holiday was definitely a good idea. It would mean putting space between her and Andreas. And she needed that space.

Her mind seemed to have a will of its own and she was starting to believe that Andreas might be different from all the other men she’d ever met.

She definitely needed a holiday.

Libby picked up her bag and left the ward, thinking longingly of her bed.

She just hoped that tonight she’d sleep.

Last night she hadn’t managed to do anything except think of Andreas. She’d lain in the darkness, reliving every incredible second of their encounter by the lake. The memory had been so vivid that she’d almost been able to smell the damp grass and feel the cool night air on her skin. Her body had tingled with the memory of his touch and she could still hear the rough, masculine timbre of his voice as he’d spoken to her in Greek. She hadn’t been able to understand a word that he’d said but it had been an unbelievably erotic experience and she couldn’t get it out of her mind.

Damn.

Running a hand over her flushed face, she tried to pull herself together. It had just been sex, for crying out loud. Just sex, and she’d done it before.

But it had never been like that.

With Andreas it had been a totally different experience and if she was ever going to survive, she had to avoid him. And what better way to avoid him than by taking a holiday?

She could spend the time reminding herself that all men were rats.

Andreas stared at the notes in front of him without seeing them. For the third day running Libby had been in Jenny’s room for almost the entire shift, not even coming out for lunch. The little girl was very clingy and she’d obviously bonded with Libby, but all the same it was obvious to him that she was anxious to avoid any further conversation with him and he knew why.

The chemistry between them was so overwhelming that he found it quite unnerving himself. He’d never felt this way about a woman before and he knew that she was experiencing the same emotions.