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All she really knew was that she didn’t want him to leave. But the private hospitals of Mirinez would never keep the attention of a surgeon like Sullivan. There would need to be something else. Need to be something more.
Her heart squeezed in her chest. She’d like it if that could be her.
But what were the chances of that?
* * *
As soon as they set foot in the hospital Gabrielle started to relax a little more. She instantly moved into doctor mode. Someone asked her to check an X-ray regarding a potential case of TB and she looked so enthused he could have cheered.
His patients were doing well. He scheduled surgery for the next day for one of the burns victims, then spent a considerable amount of time talking to the miner from China and his family to assure them that he was being taken care of.
Gabrielle was at ease here. He watched her talk enthusiastically to patients, offering comfort as she reviewed their conditions and making plans for the future. Just like in Nambura, patients seemed drawn to her. Gabrielle wasn’t a princess here. She balanced being the ultimate professional while showing care and attention to her patients.
Every now and then their eyes met and she gave him the kind of smile that had multiple effects, some on his body and some on his mind.
One of the nurses gave him a knowing look as she noticed him watching. ‘I hadn’t met Princess Gabrielle before now.’ She gave a little nod of her head. ‘She’s great. I wish she’d stay around as a doctor. Philippe, our director, has had a total personality transplant in the last few days.’
Sullivan looked at her in surprise. ‘What do you mean?’
The nurse met his gaze. ‘I’ve been here five years. I came from France. Private hospitals here are all about money. For as long as I’ve known him, Philippe has been so uptight, so focused on profit and being the first place to offer the next big surgery.’
‘And now?’ Sullivan didn’t know whether to feel irritated or intrigued. What had caused the change in the hospital director?
She sighed. ‘He’s better. I think because Gabrielle told him that the government and mining company would cover the medical costs he can relax a little. I think Philippe usually spends half his life chasing down accounts that haven’t been paid.’ She held out her hand, gesturing. ‘Sixty per cent of our beds are currently filled with patients from the mining accident.’
Sullivan had never really worked in private practice. He’d gone from training to serving in the military—to working for Doctors Without Borders.
It gave him a bit of perspective about the pressures others were under—including Gabrielle. ‘Money makes the world go round. I hope the mining company comes through on its promises.’
The nurse waved her hand as she moved away. ‘If they don’t, Gabrielle has promised the government will pick up the entire tab.’ She smiled and started walking backwards as she made her way down the corridor. ‘If you can, try and persuade her to keep working here sometimes.’ She winked at Sullivan. ‘You too, if you like. The surgeons have been talking. They’re impressed.’
Sullivan couldn’t help the smile that appeared on his face. Getting praise from a patient was always the best thing, but getting praise from colleagues in a competitive business like this? That was pretty good too. ‘Thanks. But, hey, who says I have any influence over Gabrielle?’
The nurse tapped the side of her nose as she disappeared around the corner. ‘I can see it...’ she interlinked her fingers ‘...the connection. You two light up the place like a Christmas tree.’ She winked again. ‘And you could cook sausages with the sizzle in the air between you.’
She disappeared around the corner, leaving Sullivan smiling and shaking his head.
* * *
Ten hours later Gabrielle had never felt better. This felt normal. This felt real. She’d reviewed ten patients at length, changing prescriptions, altering care plans and discussing their care with them and their nurses. That was just at the first hospital. She’d then left St George’s and headed to Princess Elizabeth’s to review another three patients there.
Franz had caught up with her at one point. There were more legal documents to be signed, a briefing from one of the European lawyers about a contract dispute, but he didn’t mention the missing money again. He looked gaunt and she was aware he knew exactly where she’d been all day. She put her hand over his. ‘Let’s talk about other matters tomorrow,’ she’d said quietly.
‘Of course,’ he’d agreed. He’d pursed his lips then added, ‘Are you sure about this statement?’
She’d written it by email while in St George’s, given it ten minutes of her time and no more. She had patients to attend to and wasn’t here to court the reporter’s interest. She gave a quick nod of her head. ‘Send it as it is.’ She would deal with any queries tomorrow.
She wanted to do something else this evening. Something else entirely. By the time the idea had fully formed in her mind she was practically running down the corridor. She threw off one set of clothes and grabbed another. Five minutes later she knocked on Sullivan’s door.
* * *
‘Come in.’ He was trying to decide how to persuade Gabrielle she should find a way to keep working as a doctor.
The door swung open and Gabrielle stood there, leaning against the doorjamb. She was wearing the tight jeans that drove him crazy, a grey hooded zip-up top and had a red baseball cap pulled low over her face. ‘Ready?’ she asked.
He spun around from the desk. ‘Ready for what?’
She sauntered across the room towards him. ‘To play hookey with me, of course.’
He stood up and walked over to meet her. ‘You want to play hookey?’
She laid her hands on his chest. ‘What I want is to go to the movies, watch the best action film on the planet and eat my body weight in popcorn.’
Now he understood the clothes. He ran his eyes up and down her body then wagged his finger. ‘Oh, no. You can’t do that. It’s a dead giveaway.’
‘What?’ She looked down and then from side to side. ‘What am I doing?’
He folded his arms and nodded his head. ‘You’re not doing it now. That’s better.’
He walked over to the closet and pulled out jeans and a T-shirt. ‘Got a spare baseball hat? I didn’t think it would be required clothing in Mirinez.’
She wrinkled her nose. ‘What was I doing? What’ll get me recognised
?’
He fastened his jeans and slid his feet into a kicked-in pair of baseball boots. He rummaged through his backpack and pulled out a navy blue hoodie.
‘Smiling.’ He winked at her. ‘Put that smile away. It’s recognisable anywhere.’
Her cheeks flushed a little, but the sparkle in her eyes made him pull her closer. He breathed in, filling his senses with her light floral scent as he pushed her hat back and dropped a kiss on her lips. She wrapped her hands around his neck and whispered in her ear, ‘Don’t distract me, or we won’t get anywhere.’
‘Hmm...would that be so bad?’
She touched the side of his shadowed jaw, her nail scraping along the stubble he now wished he had shaved. ‘Haven’t you heard? You’re the delinquent doc. You’re supposed to be leading me astray.’
‘Oh, I can do that, no problem.’
She pulled her hat back on. ‘Then get me out of here. Let’s go and watch a film.’
He rolled his eyes as he slid his hand into hers. ‘This is crazy. I want you to know, you’re the only girl on the planet I’d do this for.’ He opened the door and glanced down the corridor. It was surprisingly empty. ‘I’m assuming you know a back way out of here?’
She gave him an innocent expression. ‘I might. Let’s just say I didn’t waste all my teenage years in the palace.’
‘I thought you were a good girl. The study queen.’
She put her hand on his arm. ‘That’s what I wanted to the world to know. The rest?’ She held up her hand and gave him a wicked look.
He shook his head. He liked it that Gabrielle had a rebellious side. He also liked it that she’d obviously learned a number of years ago how to manipulate the press. Maybe it was time to refresh those skills.
They crept down the corridor, looking both ways as they went. Some of the palace and security staff were talking at the top of the one of the staircases. He put his finger to his lips. Gabrielle gestured with her head to the right. ‘This way,’ she whispered as they ducked down another corridor. She took them into the library, checked over her shoulder and pushed against one of the panels on the wall. After long seconds, the wooden panel slid to the side.
