After a ten-hour night shift, I thought I’d be exhausted, especially when the ER was crowded with tourists. Two surgeries had had to be postponed because the surgeon had an unexpected death in the family, no one was paying attention to the sign above the photocopier that clearly stated no card could be used, and I had to diffuse a professional disagreement and soothe the egos of two department heads over who had booked operation room nine. But despite all that, I was smiling, still riding high from the three exquisite orgasms I had received from the hottest masseur alive yesterday.
“Buongiorno, Aria,” Nita greeted as she walked into the staff lounge and dumped her handbag in her locker. She was the daytime hospital administrator, arriving fifteen minutes early for her shift so we could do our handover in person and on my time, which only made me love her more. “On a scale of one to ten, how homicidal are you feeling so I can prepare myself?”
I huffed, shoving my handbag onto my shoulder and fluffing my flat hair. “Solid seven. Would have been a six, but then I just had to find beds for three backpackers who decided that shots of limoncello counted as hydration.”
My hospital radio came to life. “Amministratrice Caruso, we’ve got a situation in Orthopaedics. A patient is refusing discharge.”
I rolled my eyes as Nita giggled, shaking her head and putting on her badge.
“Tell him he can refuse all he wants, but the bed has already been promised to someone else who needs it, so he’ll be sleeping in the corridor.”
“It’s alright,” Nita said. “I’ll deal with it. Is there anything else I need to know?”
“I’ve rearranged the doctors’ schedules for this week to cover absences and signed reports, but two more are expected in the next hour. If I were you, I’d remove any card within a mile of the printer, or you’ll end up tearing your hair out.”
“Got it,” she chuckled. “Are you going to the fundraiser tonight?”
“Si,I’ll be there.”
She left, and I followed her out. I kept my head low and my attention on myphone so I wouldn’t get roped into any more chaos before I made it to the exit of the hospital. I opened my messages to reread the texts I’d sent Allegra in a panic during my midnight break. I couldn’t believe I’d left my mother’s necklace behind at the spa. What an idiot. Hopefully, she could collect it before she checked out this morning. It was already eight a.m.
“Pronto,” her drowsy voice groaned down the phone. I smiled.
“Sorry, did I wake you from your heavenly sleep in your self-rocking bed at your luxury hotel?”
“Si.And I hate you for it.”
“I’m assuming you haven’t seen any of my messages then?”
“Not one. What’s wrong?”
“I left my necklace at the spa yesterday. I hope Cesare handed it in at reception. Can you check? You know how much that necklace means to me.”
“Of course, don’t worry. I’ll go downstairs and ask before I check out. Oh, that means I might get to see, in your words, the sexiest man who has ever walked the Earth, because I don’t believe you. I need to see him myself. I might book a Cesare Special based on your recommendation.”
My smile dropped as I tried to ignore the tiny spark of irrational jealousy that stirred at the thought of him doing what he did to me to my best friend. Or to any woman, actually. God, that was pathetic.
“I stand by what I said. Whoever designed that man clearly had no mercy for us women.”
“That should be in your online review.”
I laughed as the orange glow of the morning sun warmed my face. I headed through the car park to walk home, loving the crisp autumn freshness.
“I’m not writing a review, can you imagine? I didn’t stay at this hotel, so I can’t comment on the rocking beds or balcony bathtubs, but I did test out the spa’s gigolo, Cesare’s, sexual skills, and all I can say is a five-star massage and infinite stars for the mind-blowing orgasms. His tongue should win a Nobel Prize for the amount of peace it brings women—”
“Aria!”
I spun around as the black window rolled down at the back of the armoured electric Maserati limousine, and my father’s face appeared. I froze, muttering under my breath and praying he didn’t hear all of that. How did I not notice the massive statement car pulling up beside me?
“Papi!”
“What?” Ally questioned, still on the other end of the phone.
“Um, I’ve got to go, Ally. Let me know how you get on with the necklace, please.Ciao.” I ended the call, giving my father a bright smile I hoped hid the mortification I felt inside. One of his drivers stepped around and opened the backdoor for me. Clearly, I was getting a ride home.
“Luce mia,” he greeted, kissing me on both cheeks and holding out a flask. “Decent coffee? I thought you might need it.”
“Grazie,” I moaned, taking a sip and sighing with bliss. “Although I’m now fuelled solely by caffeine at this point.”
