One Week to Win His Heart

‘Sorry,’ she mumbled, and quickly took a step to the side. She glanced down at the floor, trying desperately to control the mass of tingles that were now raging rampantly throughout her body. Melody kept her head down as she moved a few steps away before raising her head to look at him. One of her curls managed to escape from its bonds and swung down beside her cheek.

To her astonishment, George reached out a hand towards her, as though he intended to tuck her hair behind her ear. Melody held her breath, her gaze darting erratically from his hand to his face and back to his hand again. Then George swallowed and dropped his hand back to his side, shoving it into his pocket. He clenched his jaw and took a step back, then glanced at her briefly before looking away, the moment slipping by.

‘Ah—are you—? I mean—do you—um…?’ She stopped and forced herself to take a steadying breath. ‘How are you getting back to the hotel? Do you need a lift?’

George nodded, a slow smile forming on his lips. ‘That would be great. Thanks.’

‘Car park is this way.’ Without waiting for further communication from him, Melody headed off down the corridor and turned right at the end. She opened a door and started heading down the stairs. She was acutely aware of George following her and it wasn’t until they’d gone down three flights of stairs that she pushed open the door that led to the street.

‘I’m parked over here,’ she told him as they walked side by side.

‘So, the previous head of orthopaedics? You said he was taken ill?’

‘Yes, in February. He was working out this year and had planned to retire at the end of it. Now he’s retired early.’

‘So he’s not coming back?’

‘No. He’s officially resigned from the hospital.’

‘Which leaves you in charge?’

‘They have to advertise the position. I’m only Acting Head until the end of this year,’ she told him as she stopped by her white Jaguar Mark II. She unlocked the door. ‘So when you finish your tour, do you want a job?’ She chuckled, but even the thought of working closely with George day in, day out filled her with a mass of tingles. She pushed the idea aside.

‘This is your car?’ George frowned in disbelief.

‘Yep.’ Melody climbed in and reached over to unlock the passenger door. ‘One thing about old cars, they don’t usually come with the mod-cons like central locking,’ she said as George slid onto the comfortable leather seat.

‘Wow.’

‘I know, right? Such an awesome car. I love it.’ She put her seat belt on. ‘It was a present from my brothers when I passed my final orthopaedic exams. David’s a mechanic,’ she added by way of explanation. ‘Both he and Ethan like restoring old cars.’

‘Are they both mechanics?’

She chuckled as she put the key into the ignition before starting the engine. ‘Ethan likes to think he is but he’s more a mechanic of people—also known as a general surgeon.’

‘Huh. Does he work at St Aloysius as well? I’d like to meet him.’

‘He used to.’ Melody chatted as she began to exit the car park. ‘Ethan used to be Head of General Surgery but earlier this year he had a mild heart attack. He’s OK now,’ she added, then grinned. ‘More than OK, actually, as he recently got married.’ Melody sighed romantically. ‘It was a wonderful wedding in the lovely wine district, just inland of Sydney.’

‘Around Whitecorn?’ he asked, and she was surprised.

‘Yes. Pridham and Whitecorn hospitals. That’s where he now works as a general surgeon.’

‘I have friends there. Donna and Philip Spadina. Donna tutored me through medical school.’

‘What? Ethan and CJ’s wedding was at Donna and Philip’s small vineyard.’

‘Ah… I love being back in Australia,’ he sighed. ‘Everyone knows someone who knows someone else. Nice and close.’

She chuckled. ‘Have you been homesick for Australia?’

‘Just a bit.’

‘Has it been difficult, jet-setting around the world, showing off your brilliance?’ Melody couldn’t resist teasing lightly. Oh, my gosh, she thought. I’m flirting with him! George laughed and the sound washed over her with joy. She’d made him laugh. Evelyn’s words floated in the back of her mind, stating that she thought George was a widower. Was it true?

‘The beginning was difficult, getting into the swing of things, but then it evened out. Now I think this part of the tour is the most…tedious.’ He shifted in his chair, turning to face her slightly. ‘I don’t mean to imply that I don’t like being here at St Aloysius—or any other hospital, for that matter.’