One Week to Win His Heart

This will not do! Melody returned her gaze to her own arms and hands, intent on focusing her thoughts on the upcoming operation. Thankfully, by the time the operation began she was back in control of her emotions. George was merely another surgeon assisting her.

They worked well together, relocating the shoulder and performing open reduction and internal fixation on the fractured radius and ulna. The K-wires that needed to be inserted into the wrist were another matter yet together they worked it through with both of them quite satisfied with the result.

‘A job well done,’ George remarked as he pulled off his mask and theatre cap. Melody looked up at him and he smiled. It was that gorgeous thousand-watt smile that sent her body into meltdown. A flood of tingles swamped her, and her knees turned to jelly.

She turned away from him, desperate to get herself under control. She had to find some way of saving her sanity, at least for the next few days, but the more time she spent with George, the more she was coming to care for him and that in itself was incredibly dangerous.

CHAPTER EIGHT

‘MELODY? ARE YOU feeling all right?’

‘Yes.’ She dared a quick glance up at him while she disposed of her theatre garb. ‘I’d better write up the notes,’ she mumbled, and quickly headed back to the tea room, thankful George wasn’t following her.

She was glad of the momentary reprieve as it gave her a moment to get her racing heart rate under control. She wrote up the notes but discovered she’d made two mistakes. It irked her when her mind wandered into George-land. Why did it irk her so much? Was it the fact that she was attracted to George? Or the fact that she felt out of control whenever he was around? And what was wrong with feeling a little out of control once in a while?

She knew there could never be anything between them so why shouldn’t she enjoy the way he made her pulse race? Or the way her stomach churned in excitement? It was definitely bolstering her bruised ego. George found her desirable. After what Emir had done to her, why shouldn’t she be delighted with George’s attentions? It could be something she could hold close to her heart, especially when she became all anxious about never finding anyone to truly love and accept her.

‘Thought I’d find you here.’ George’s voice washed over her and Melody momentarily closed her eyes, savouring the sound and the way it made her feel, before opening her eyes and turning to look at him. He was dressed in his suit again, looking more handsome than before, if that was possible. ‘I’d better get going.’ He stayed in the doorway, not venturing any further.

Melody automatically looked at the clock, gasping as she saw the time. Ten minutes to eight. ‘I’d completely forgotten about the dinner.’

He smiled. ‘I thought as much. You are still coming?’

‘Yes, but it appears I’m going to be a little late. As the dinner is at your hotel, it won’t take you anytime at all to change and get to the venue.’

‘Whereas you need to go home, shower and change and then drive to the hotel,’ he finished for her.

‘Yes.’

‘I’ll save you a seat.’

Melody chuckled. ‘That’s pretty decent of you—especially as the seating has already been assigned.’

He returned her smile and she melted. ‘See you there,’ he said, then walked away. Melody sighed, the silly smile still on her face. You’re not having much luck, she rationalised. Even though she knew George still carried a torch for his wife, she couldn’t blame him. To have loved and then lost would mean that Veronique would be in his heart for ever. The problem was that it only endeared him to her even more. He wasn’t about to let his past fade away but would carry those memories with him for ever. But was he looking to move forward? To try new relationships? He said it had been only eighteen months since his wife had died, so was he ready, and did it really have anything to do with her?

‘Work,’ she said, and stood, pushing thoughts of George Wilmont out of her mind. She headed for Recovery to check on Rudy and when she was satisfied with his 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 George’s eyes yesterday evening, and tonight she wanted to see 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.

Melody smoothed her hand down the long burgundy silk dress she’d bought two weeks ago specifically for this occasion. Tonight, instead of piling her curls on top of her head, she let them fall loose. 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 George? Have him find her too good to resist?