Winning the Surgeon's Heart

‘Good idea.’

He pulled the desk back, grouping the four chairs in front of it. Hannah nodded her approval.

‘That’s better. Nothing to separate us from our patients.’

‘Right. Are we all set?’

‘Just about.’ Hannah pulled the phone over to the other side of the desk, so that it was in reach, and picked up the thick pad of paper. ‘You talk and I’ll write?’

She was deferring to his status as a senior doctor. Matt didn’t have a lot of time for that, Hannah’s experience was different but no less valuable. ‘We’ll take turns.’

The challenge started in earnest, and their patients came thick and fast. In the few moments he could spare to think about anything other than the problem before him, Matt was impressed with the way that their obviously healthy patients had been schooled in exactly what symptoms they should be showing, and made up to give all of the appearance of having various complaints. There were a few very minor injuries, one of which concealed a greater problem. Hannah had a way of quickly spotting the difference between a teenager who just required a plaster on his finger and a

woman whose black eye was as a result of difficulties with her balance.

Matt found a case of unregulated diabetes, and called for emergency support. When a man appeared with a well-designed glove over his hand and arm, made of practice suture skin, which had been slashed to imitate a deep cut, Hannah smilingly moved to one side while he stitched it. As the man left, a bell rang and the judge, who had been sitting silently in the corner, told them that they had a thirty-minute break.

‘Good thing we have a surgeon on the team. I learned something.’ Hannah was making for the exit of the marquee and Matt followed her.

‘Where are we going?’

‘Canteen. That’s my area of expertise, I know where the canteen and the washrooms are in every hospital in the district. Sophie and I sometimes end up here with patients for the specialist burns unit.’

‘I think I must be getting soft...’ It was a long time since he’d seen so many different people in just three hours, and it looked as if there would be more this afternoon.

Hannah’s assessing glance almost made him blush. Matt hadn’t realised he’d retained that ability. Today was turning into a walk down memory lane, in more ways than one.

‘No. You’re not getting soft.’

* * *

Coffee, protein and calories. Matt hadn’t lost the knack of pacing himself, and eating for staying power. He added two bottles of water and a couple of energy bars to his tray, and they took them with them when they hurried back to the marquee.

He was a delight to watch. Confident and yet always on the lookout to make sure there was nothing he’d missed. Hannah had learned a few things from him during the course of the morning, and yet he was always happy to stand back and let her work when her own knowledge and skills were most useful to them.

They were a dream team. Very different but able to work together. If they didn’t win today, it wouldn’t be for want of trying, and certainly not through any lack of expertise. Matt’s specialty might be surgery, but he had an encyclopaedic knowledge of many other aspects of medicine.

Whatever happened, they could hold their heads high in the knowledge that they’d given this their best shot. They could go back to their jobs on Monday...

Hannah tried to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She loved her job, but it didn’t bring her into contact with Matt on a daily basis. Losing him seemed suddenly worse than losing their chance at the prize for their hospital.

They worked until they were both exhausted. Another three hours, and then a half-hour break before a final three hours. When the judge told them that they were finished, she flopped into her chair, puffing out a sigh.

‘Whatever happens...’ Matt sat down, catching her gaze. Those blue eyes were always like a sensual tide, washing over her.

‘Whatever happens, we gave it our best shot. Thank you so much, Matt.’

‘It’s been a privilege.’

The feeling of wanting to reach for him was tearing her apart and he seemed to understand that. He glanced up at the cameras mounted around the edges of the compartment, quirking his lips down. The touch of his long fingers, moving slightly on the arm of his seat, seemed designed only for her.

That was all there was. Something unspoken. The heat of his gaze and the sudden and certain knowledge that he felt something too. Something that neither of them could act upon.

‘How long do you think it’ll be?’ Two minutes of this was delicious. Any more and the longing for what she couldn’t have would turn to torture.

‘She said half an hour. And I know just how to spend it...’

Here? In front of the cameras? Hannah dragged her imagination away from the only thing that she could think of right now, the caress of his lips on hers. He couldn’t possibly mean that...