‘Oh, now I see why you’re so keen to do it. Real-life casualties for your programme.’ She twirled noodles around her fork. ‘A bit of blood and gore will lift your image no end. Dr Handsome doesn’t just know about ingrowing toenails—he can even save lives.’
He lounged back in his chair, his expression mocking. ‘Never knew you thought me handsome, Riggs.’
She took a mouthful and shrugged carelessly. ‘Well, fortunately for both of us, I’m not as shallow as the women you date. You look all right on the outside but it’s what’s on the inside that interests me and you just don’t grab my attention, McKenna. Never have done. Never will do.’
He leaned forward, his gaze suddenly intent on her face. ‘Is that a challenge?’
She looked at him, appalled. ‘Of course it wasn’t a challenge. Just the thought of you and I together is completely ludicrous.’
‘That’s right.’ His fingers played with the glass. ‘It is.’
‘Exactly.’ Something in his blue gaze was making her feel horribly uncomfortable. It was probably just the topic of conversation. ‘All right, we’ll do an emergency surgery from next week.’
‘You’re saying I’m right.’
‘I’m saying we’ll try it. Glenda can do a poster on the computer. We’ll see how you get on.’
‘Testing me?’
‘Just looking out for my patients.’
He drained his glass. ‘And when I prove to you that I’m perfectly competent, do I get an apology?’
‘No, you get to see patients without me looking over your shoulder.’
‘You certainly know how to deliver an incentive.’ He put the empty glass down on the table. ‘It’s going to be a joy to work with you, Riggs.’
‘Follow the rules, McKenna, and we just might survive.’
CHAPTER FOUR
THE first thing Sam saw when he walked into the surgery the next morning was a sensational pair of legs. Slim, brown and long enough to make a man forget what was in his head.
For a moment he just looked, and then he reminded himself of the price attached to admiring those particular legs.
Anna was leaning over the reception desk to grab a pen and the movement revealed enough of her to heat his blood.
‘Good morning, Riggs. Nice skirt.’
He told himself that he could admire her legs without having to admire her as a person.
‘You’re late,’ she snapped, straightening up so fast she almost lost her balance. It gave him some satisfaction to see that he’d flustered her.
‘Not late.’ He dragged his gaze away from those legs and glanced at the clock. ‘On time. Punctual. And there’s a queue at your door.’
‘There’s always a queue,’ Anna said wearily, nodding at Glenda. ‘OK, let’s unlock the doors and get started.’
Sam took a good look at Glenda. Her hair wasn’t combed and she hadn’t bothered with lipstick. As long as he’d known her, Glenda had always worn lipstick. Something was definitely wrong. ‘Polly, my producer, wants to come and look round and discuss some ideas over our lunch-break. Are you free, Riggs?’
Anna balanced a pile of papers under one arm and reached for her coffee with the other. Her black hair hung down her back, as glossy and shiny as silk. With her slanting brown eyes, she reminded him of a sleek cat. ‘I don’t have time for a lunch-break. And neither will you if you’re intending to pull your weight.’
He ground his teeth and decided that even legs as good as those couldn’t make up for the sharp tongue and the bossy nature. ‘Not eating just shows poor time management.’
‘I didn’t say I didn’t eat. Just that I don’t take a lunch-break. That’s a luxury we can’t afford in the summer. If you want lunch-breaks, hang around until winter when the tourists leave.’
‘I’m meeting Polly and we’re starting filming this afternoon,’ he said calmly, wondering whether the urge to strangle her had always been this powerful or whether it had just got a great deal worse. ‘If you want to have some input, you might like to be there.’
She turned to face him, her head slightly tilted. ‘This is why it is never going to work. Before you arrived I was struggling to cope with the workload and now, thanks to your perpetual need to have your ego stoked, I also have to cope with advising you on where to put your camera.’