The Doctor's One Night to Remember by Charlotte Hawkes

Author:Charlotte Hawkes [Hawkes, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-11-06T14:57:21+00:00

* * *

‘What happened to you?’ Gerd demanded as he walked into the medical centre a few hours later to see Jordanna on the couch with an ice pack on her eye.

‘She got belted by an ungrateful patient.’

‘Ah—’ the senior nurse nodded ‘—I heard about that.’

‘Already?’ Jordanna lifted the pack up and winced.

‘You know how news travels fast,’ Isla noted, carefully taking her colleague’s hand and placing the pack back down over the eye. ‘And that kind of news travels even faster.’

‘Yeah, well, he’ll be escorted off the ship as soon as we get into port, and he’ll never work for Port-Star again.’ Gerd blew out with satisfaction. ‘The security staff will be here any minute to take a statement.’

‘Ah, speak of the devil,’ Jordanna added, as they heard voices heading up the corridor.

All too familiar voices, Isla realised, as Nikhil’s rich tones infiltrated the room. She froze, part of her wanting to flee, the other part knowing she would need to give her report.

She didn’t dare look at either Jordanna or Gerd; nonetheless she waited, her heart jumping in her chest, but neither of them said anything more. Apparently, the grapevine hadn’t included anything about Nikhil having been in her cabin, and for that she was eternally grateful.

And then Nikhil and the security guard were heading through the surgery doors, and she just about had time to plaster a cheery smile on her face.

‘How’s the eye, Nurse?’ Nikhil asked at once, and Isla couldn’t help smiling as Jordanna practically glowed at the concern.

‘I’ll survive.’

‘Glad to hear it. Are you up to giving your statement?’

‘Sure.’ The ravishing American flashed a killer smile despite the black eye, but Nikhil had already turned away, leaving her with the equally tall, equally dark, but not quite as handsome security guy.

Jordanna’s smile faded for a second and Isla almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

But then Nikhil’s razor gaze turned on her, and she had to concentrate on radiating a nonchalance she simply didn’t feel.

‘Doctor—’ his tone was courteous, strictly business, and still it sent goosebumps through her ‘—I appreciate surgery has overrun, but I just need a brief word, please.’

‘Of course.’ Dipping her head slightly, Isla stood.

‘Is your consultation room free?’

Nodding, Isla paced across the reception and into her space, closing the door as Nikhil followed her.

‘How many of them were taking it?’ he demanded without preamble.

‘I don’t know.’

‘No other medical incidents?’

‘Only that one crewman,’ Isla confirmed. ‘Though I assumed you’d be running a random drugs test.’

‘The security team are doing it as we speak, though I’d be grateful for any further information you can provide.’

‘I can’t,’ she apologised. ‘I don’t know who the other crewmen were; I’ve never seen them before. In any case, I was too focused on trying to keep my patient alive.’

‘I appreciate that.’

‘Do you?’ she challenged quietly. ‘Only it sounds to me as though you’re hacked off that I can’t give you names.’

For a moment he watched her.

‘Where drugs are concerned, we operate a zero-tolerance policy on board our ships.

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