Billionaire Doctor (House of Kolovsky) - Carol Marinelli Page 0,10

Resus to pay their respects. Ivan Kolovsky was propped up on pillows, sipping lukewarm tea through a straw and cursing in Russian as Annie did his final set of obs before he headed off to the private hospital.

‘What’s he saying?’

‘You don’t want to know.’ Iosef gave a dry smile.

‘Tell me.’ Annie grinned. ‘I won’t be shocked.’

‘Oh, you would... ’ His eyes actually held hers, beautiful, beautiful grey eyes that had a tiny swirl of navy around the outer rim of his iris, and she was grateful for what came next, grateful that what he said could allow for the pink flush that came to her cheeks as she held his gaze. ‘No one can insult like a Russian.’

‘I’d already worked that one out!’ Annie retorted, and for the first time they actually shared a smile.

Even though the department was busy, it felt empty when Ivan went—or rather when Iosef went with him. Even though every bed in Resus was full, for Annie it felt...

Empty.

As if she’d walked into the lounge and watched five minutes of the most amazing film only for the power to cut, leaving her feeling like she was missing the most vital piece of the picture. So, when her shift was over, she was unusually reluctant to leave, standing idly flicking through a magazine and chatting to Jackie.

‘It must be hard on him.’ Turning the pages, Annie paused and stared at a very grainy exclusive photo of Levander Kolovsky’s new baby which had clearly been taken through a very long lens. ‘I mean, imagine having your father so sick and having to worry about the press getting hold of it.’

‘We’ve already had a load of enquiries from the press.’ Jackie yawned, stretching and moaning in a chair at the nurses’ station and, annoyingly for Annie, again changing the subject back to her wedding.

‘I’ve had the worst day! I told you about my cousins, didn’t I?’

‘You did,’ Annie sighed.

‘How they could have left it till now to book a flight, I simply don’t know...’ Annie felt her heart skip a beat as Iosef returned, swishing through the swing doors and looking so cranky and exhausted and gorgeous she had to stop herself from jumping up and greeting him, her mind flitting in and out of the conversation as Jackie droned on and on about her blessed wedding preparations! ‘I mean, they’ve known for months when the wedding is. Well, if they think I’m going to sit on the computer tonight, trying to find the cheapest one left, they can jolly well think again—I’ve got enough on my plate. The florist is— Oh, hi, Iosef, how is he doing?’

‘Cantankerous!’ He gave a tight smile. ‘But yet again he surprises us all. He wants to be discharged, they’re trying to persuade him to stay till the morning. How are things here?’

‘All yours! I’ll be back at midnight.’ Jackie rolled her eyes and handed him a stack of pagers. ‘Can you make sure you’re here at eight sharp tomorrow morning? I’ve got to get to the caterers.’

‘Of course.’ Iosef nodded.

‘Did you try that wine?’

‘Sorry?’

Annie caught his frown, watched, annoyed at Jackie, as Iosef clearly had to drag his mind back to her strange train of thought.

‘The one I told you about,’ Jackie said. ‘You know I think it might just be a touch too sweet. I mean, when I tasted it I thought it was fabulous, but now I’m starting to worry that it might be a bit overpowering.’

‘It’s great!’ For the second time that day he caught Annie’s eyes, even gave a thin smile as she winced in apology for her colleague. ‘You’ve made an excellent choice.’

‘Really?’ Jackie asked earnestly, but didn’t wait for an answer, and Annie let out a long breath as she hurried off. They stood in awkward silence for a very long minute, until finally, bravely, Annie broke it.

‘She’s really not like that normally.’

‘It’s fine.’

‘No, it’s not,’ Annie contradicted him. ‘That was horribly insensitive.’

And at that point she expected him to turn his back— terminate the conversation as he always did, be the Iosef he always was with her. But maybe he was tired, or maybe he just needed to talk. She couldn’t really identify it, couldn’t really, no matter how she replayed it later that night, define the moment, define how it felt, when, for the first time, he not only prolonged a conversation with her but actually let her glimpse a little piece of him. Actually, called her by her name.

‘I grew up with