Everything he wanted?
‘We found him,’ he said grimly. ‘He has AIDS.’
Felicity frowned. ‘Was the suicide successful?’
‘No. Close, but we found him in time. We resuscitated him.’
‘Ryan!’ Suddenly he had all Felicity’s attention. She stared up at him, appalled. ‘Ryan, I hope you took precautions.’
‘We used a mask.’
‘And gloves? Ryan, for heaven’s sake, resuscitating AIDS patients is not your job. If that’s what Abbey wants to do, fine, but to haul you in… She has no right.’
No. She didn’t Abbey had no right to ask anything of him at all.
And the thought of her not having that right made Ryan sick at heart.
Abbey was his friend.
With a huge mental shake Ryan managed to shove the thought of Abbey aside-the thought of Abbey in his arms-yielding her slim body to his. Clinging to him. Welcoming his kiss as if it was right.
She was lovely, but Abbey wasn’t his future. She couldn’t be. Abbey was a widow and a mother and she had obligations up to her neck. Someone like Abbey would fit into his New York life like a fish out of water.
He shrugged-and turned to phone New York.
Turned to get on with his life.
CHAPTER NINE
AT EIGHT the next morning there were three doctors in Sapphire Cove hospital, and Sister Eileen Roderick was enjoying herself.
‘I’m sorry, Doctors, but I don’t have enough nursing staff to accompany each of you on ward rounds,’ she said primly. ‘I can offer one of you Ted. but otherwise you’ll have to share.’
‘How about if Dr Wittner goes back on honeymoon where she’s supposed to be?’ Ryan said darkly, glowering at Abbey. Abbey was dressed in a soft blue dress that exactly matched her eyes, her curls were bouncing and shining and she looked altogether too pretty for words.
‘How about if Dr Henry goes back to New York?’ Abbey retorted, flushing. Ryan Henry looked too darned handsome for his own good. Or for her peace of mind. And how on earth could she concentrate on anything other than the memory of that kiss?
‘Well, I’m not going back to Cairns,’ Steve interjected. ’This place is too much fun.’
Both Abbey and Ryan turned to stare at Steve.
‘Excuse me?’ Ryan said. ‘I practically had to blackmail you to get you here.’
Then it was Steve’s turn to flush.
‘Yeah, well, I’m enjoying myself,’ he admitted sheepishly. ‘Medicine’s a bit dry when it’s only books. I think I might be about to make another career change.’
‘Well, how about a spot of nursing?’ Eileen suggested. ‘We’re short a few, and doctors seem to be thick on the ground around here. Let’s divvy up our patients, shall we? How will we work it? Draw straws?’
In the end they didn’t need to. Abbey agreed she really only needed to visit Ian Miller and Janet to keep herself happy-then she’d go back to Jack and her cows. Ryan’s father was due to be ambulanced back to Sapphire Cove within the next hour and Ryan wanted to be at the hospital when his father arrived. He volunteered for morning ward round. That left Steve free to read the morning newspapers and then take morning surgery.
Abbey went to see Janet, shaking her head in bewilderment. To have too many doctors…
Steve Pryor was thinking the same thing.
‘You don’t want to pay me off and have me leave, do you?’ Steve asked Ryan as Abbey disappeared down the corridor. Steve’s voice was a trifle anxious. ‘I mean… you wanted me here for four weeks, right?’
‘Yeah, well… ’ Ryan was watching Abbey walk away, and he hardly heard.
‘Ryan, Abbey’s coming back to work on Monday,’ Steve went on slowly, following Ryan’s gaze. ‘I thought… Wasn’t the idea that I’d help her out for a couple more weeks but we wouldn’t see you here after Monday? You’ll be off, getting married and looking after your dad.’
‘That’s right.’ Ryan was still gazing at the now empty corridor.
Steve wasn’t stupid. He was putting one and two together. Or one and one. And one and one makes two…
There was only one thing to do here. If you want to know something badly enough then ask. Steve squared his shoulders. And asked.
‘Ryan, am I imagining things here, or do you fancy working with Abbey yourself?’
‘What?’ Ryan turned reluctantly to stare at Steve. ‘No.’
‘So…’ Steve put his head on one side, considering. ‘You just like the work-is that it?’ The corners of his mouth twitched into a smile. ‘Well, if that’s the case, you won’t mind if I ask Abbey out to dinner over the weekend.’
Ryan stared. ‘You and Abbey…’
‘Me and Abbey…’
‘Hell!’
And then silence.
The corners of Steve’s mouth curved all the way into laughter. He now knew all he needed to know.
‘Gotcha,’ he said lightly, and grinned. ‘Don’t worry, Ryan. In fact, there’s a rather special nurse who works nights who’s agreed to go out with me already. The date with Abbey line was a ruse. I just was getting vibes about you and Abbey, and thought I might put my vibes to the test.’ His grin deepened to unholy enjoyment. ‘And I was right.’
‘Steve, there’s nothing…’ Ryan was fighting to gain control again. Steve Pryor was too intelligent for his own good. He saw too darned much. ‘There’s nothing between me and Abbey. Hell, Steve, I can’t object to whoever you want to date. I’m engaged to Felicity. Remember?’
‘Yeah, I remember,’ Steve said dryly. ‘If I were you I’d do something about that. It’s likely to cause all manner of complications.’
Ian Miller looked grey.
Tucked into a side ward by himself, Ian had spent the night recovering from the effects of the gas. Ryan paused at the door and checked him over. It was no wonder he’d taken a chance and guessed AIDS. Ian might still be simply HIV positive and not have full-blown AIDS, but the man looked haggard.
Maybe he wasn’t really ill, though, Ryan thought as he did a fast visual examination. Ian was thin but not to the point of emaciation. Underneath his fear there could well be a reasonably healthy male.
Ryan knocked lightly on the door and Ian hardly stirred. ‘Hi, Ian. Finished breakfast?’ Ryan checked Ian’s barely touched tray and frowned. ‘You want to talk?’
Ian looked up wearily from his pillows and shrugged.
‘I’m here on ward round,’ Ryan told him, hauling up a chair and lowering his long frame. ‘As a good doctor, I should examine you-but I won’t if you don’t want. Any after-effects of the gas?’
‘No.’
‘Then just tell me where you’re up to with your AIDS. I assume you have a definite diagnosis? We’re not dealing with guesswork here? Full-blown AIDS or just HIV positive? ’
‘No guesswork.’ Drearily Ian outlined his history. He’d heard a friend had died of AIDS so he’d had himself tested.
The HIV positive diagnosis had been confirmed a month ago.
‘Just HIV? Not full-blown AIDS?’
‘No.’
‘Well, that’s a bonus. Have you had any counselling?’
Ian shook his head. ‘Hell, Ryan, I’m a lawyer,’ he said bleakly. ‘I don’t need counselling. I’ve watched friends die in the past.’
‘Hmm.’ Ryan nodded. ‘So… you tried suicide because you think you’re going to die horribly and die soon.’
‘Yeah, well, I would have died last night-’
‘If we hadn’t messed you around.’ Ryan smiled as Abbey appeared at the door. ‘Hey, Abbey, we’re just being accused of interfering with this man’s life. Or death. And he’s a lawyer, for heaven’s sake. Do you think he’ll sue?’
‘You’d better not,’ Abbey said warmly. She crossed to Ian’s bed, stooped and hugged Ian hard. ‘If you do I’ll tell your mother on you, Ian Miller, and she’s a force to be reckoned with. Your mum’s been worried sick, Ian. She guessed something was wrong way before this. I think you should have told her.’