Partners by Contract by Kim Lawrence Page A

work that morning. Her head throbbed, her joints ached and her throat felt raw.
    If she’d known how things were going to work out she would definitely have stayed in bed, she decided, staring at her patient and listening with growing unease to the flow of fulsome compliments which nothing she said seemed able to stem. Damn Con for being right!
    ‘I was wondering if we could go out for a drink some time?’ Rob’s gaze dropped self-consciously from hers, but not before she’d seen his expression.
    Oh, heavens!
    Phoebe gulped, her mind racing. How could she get out of this and leave the man his dignity? ‘I’ll check with the others, but I’m sure they’d all love to have a drink with you some time. We usually go to the King’s Head...’
    ‘We...?’ Rob looked bewildered.
    ‘Alan, Will, Trish and the girls.’
    Their eyes met and Phoebe gave a tiny apologetic grimace. The animation died from Rob’s face and he cleared his throat.
    ‘I see.’ His smile was bitter. ‘You don’t want to go out with me, do you?’
    ‘The thing is, Rob, patients often feel a closeness withtheir doctors or nurses, and that closeness can make them feel, quite falsely...’
    ‘Of course. Silly of me to think...’ He shook his head and got to his feet.
    Phoebe’s heart ached for him. Why, oh, why didn’t I see the signs? Because all you can think about is Connor came the shameful answer.
    ‘We shouldn’t wait too long for that drink, Rob. I’ll be leaving soon, you know.’ Which would obviously be the best thing all round.
    ‘Yes, well, I just wanted to say thank you for everything, Doctor.’
    After he’d gone Phoebe buried her head in her hands on the desk and sighed. Could I have handled that worse...?
    A tap on the door heralded Sally’s entrance. ‘That was your last patient, Phoebe.’
    Phoebe couldn’t summon up the energy or enthusiasm to lift her head. ‘Good!’ she muttered, disconsolately flicking the corner of her blotter with her thumb.
    ‘Actually Connor was just wondering if you’d give him a lift home.’
    Connor...Connor...Connor. He was constantly there. She couldn’t even escape him when she was asleep!
    ‘You can tell Connor to do his dirty work himself—no, on second thoughts, tell him I’m not a taxi service!’ She pushed her hair from her eyes and pulled herself upright. ‘He’s nothing but a liability,’ she added, warming to her theme.
    It was at this point that she registered the fact that Sally was no longer alone. There he was again, going where he wasn’t invited—places he wasn’t wanted. The hell of it was that just looking at him made her weak with lust!
    ‘Thanks, I’ll take it from here.’ Connor smiled at theembarrassed-looking receptionist and ushered her out of the room before knocking it closed with his crutch. ‘That’s a very politically incorrect thing for a person in the caring profession to say about a man on crutches. I think you’ve shocked Sally.’
    Phoebe regarded him with deep dislike, which only served to deepen the gleam of sardonic amusement in his eyes.
    ‘I thought you were more enlightened, Phoebe.’
    ‘Very funny, I’m sure,’ she cut in, not appreciating his levity. ‘And don’t look at me like that—you are a liability.’ Phoebe was dismayed to hear the note of petulant defiance in her own voice ‘I’ve tripped over the pile of get-well gifts in the hallway twice so far this morning.’
    ‘Can I help it if I’m universally loved?’
    No more than I can help loving you. ‘You should be home in bed!’ she choked.
    ‘No, I shouldn’t. I should be mobilising gently, which is what I’m doing. I think maybe you’re the one who should be home in bed,’ he observed, casting a critical eye over her flushed cheeks and overbright eyes. ‘You’ve got the flu.’
    ‘I have not got the flu,’ she contradicted belligerently. ‘I’ve got a simple head cold.’ She sniffed loudly to illustrate this point. ‘It’s my day off tomorrow.