He knew it all made sense. But he couldn’t help but say something else. He’d seen how much she’d thrived in this environment today. ‘What about paediatrics? We don’t have any specialists like you. We don’t have anyone who specialises in paediatric haematology.’ Enthusiasm was brimming over in him.
She tilted her head to the side. ‘No. But you can include something like that in plans for the future. Tackle maternity services. Then, in a few years, think about children’s services.’
He lowered his voice. ‘But if I started with paediatrics instead, I could offer you a job. I could get you to stay.’
She blinked. Shock written all over her face. It was clear he had blindsided her.
It was selfish. It was entirely selfish. It was ridiculous. But he couldn’t shake the horrible dark cloud at the back of his head that kept whispering to him that soon she would be gone.
But Arissa stepped right up to him, looking him straight in the face with those big brown eyes. It was almost as if she could read his mind sometimes.
‘Philippe,’ she said quietly, with the hint of a smile on her lips. ‘I love that you’re thinking about me—in amongst the world of things you already have to do.’
She shook her head. ‘But we both know how important it is that you get this right. You need to take a bit of time to consider everything. Probably write up a business plan. Discuss it with the other members of your committee and decide what is actually feasible.’ She licked her lips and gave him a soft smile. ‘And not let yourself be influenced by a girl who kissed you in a dark maze at night.’
Darn it. He wanted to kiss her again. She was right—and she was sensible enough to know that, even though he’d said the words out loud, it had only been a flash of an idea. Not anything tangible. At least not right now.
He hated that part.
She held up her hands. ‘Maybe, in a few years—’ she winked ‘—we can talk again. You could consider children’s services in Corinez.’
She wasn’t saying no. His heart gave a leap in his chest.
He slid his hand into hers as pieces in his brain slotted into place. She gave the briefest start of surprise, looking down at their joined hands. Maybe she hadn’t expected him to show his affection in public. Before, they’d really been at arm’s length while outside the palace. But he couldn’t pretend that he wanted to be at arm’s length from Arissa.
He could also see the way that everyone who’d come into contact with them had reacted to her.
After a few minutes in her company and listening to her intelligent conversation, the staff and directors of the hospital had looked at her with interest and respect. She seemed to be able to bring out the best in people. She knew how to engage. She knew how to act. And she knew how to listen—one of the biggest skills of a doctor.
Her manner was calm but enthusiastic. She was certainly at home within a hospital environment; it was almost like watching her bloom and grow. Whoever the hospital was in London that had let her slip through their fingers—they were clearly fools.
By the time they’d made their way back to the main entrance of the hospital the sky was beginning to grow dark and they’d stayed there more than three hours longer than originally had been planned.
Philippe gave a grateful smile to the staff that had accompanied them. Not one of them had complained. His own personal secretary had only made a few occasional glances at his watch and disappeared at one point to make a call to obviously reschedule something or another. It was as if everyone was as enthusiastic as he was. Most were full of some sort of ideas—even if they didn’t really know where to start.
It seemed that most of the people who worked within the healthcare system in Corinez were ready for change. More than that—they were embracing it. If he could capture what was in the air right now and bottle it things might actually change. And Arissa was a big part of this. She made him stop to consider ways to make it bite-sized and manageable. That was what he needed right now. It was as if she knew him better than he knew himself.
As they slid into the car that had pulled up outside for them he turned to face her.