Billionaire Doctor (House of Kolovsky) - Carol Marinelli Page 0,36

on himself, but he had to go.’

‘That’s quite all right. I’m aware he stayed behind to help us. I’ve told him how grateful we are to him for his directness and no-nonsense approach, but if you can pass our thanks on to him again when you see him, that would be appreciated.’

‘I will.’

‘Look at me! ’ George called from the mini-theatre as she walked past, washing his hands at the sink and making her laugh. ‘Iosef’s actually gone home and left me Mark to suture.’

‘See!’ Annie said. ‘He does trust you after all.’

‘Nice try at boosting my ego.’ George grinned as he put in the boot. ‘But I think a certain ex-supermodel might have had some small part in his haste to get out of here tonight.’

Strange, Annie reflected later as she lay in the bath, barely making a ripple, her body quite still and her mind curiously quiet. For someone who insisted on straight talking, who seemed utterly unabashed by confrontation, for someone who could so easily discuss other people’s issues, he certainly wasn’t good at talking about himself.

Quickly Annie heaved herself out of the bath. Her mind was starting to race now, the image of the blue screen of his phone flashing before her eyes, that name branded on her brain, but, pulling out the plug, wrapping herself in a towel, Annie refused to go there.

Iosef had told her she had nothing to worry about with Candy. He’d told her that things would be difficult for the next few weeks with his father so ill.

She made herself a cup of soup, climbed into bed with a really good book, set her alarm and determinedly tried not to think about it.

For about ten seconds!

Why didn’t they ever go out locally!

Why did it have to be like some sort of covert operation just to have a private conversation at work?

Draining her cup, Annie turned back to her book and made it to the end of page two.

Just because Candy had rung him this evening, it didn’t mean he was dashing off to see her. And he’d hardly been dashing off—his shift should have ended two hours before he’d left.

Turning off the light, she gave up.

Gave up trying to convince herself she knew the answers and gave up asking herself questions.

It was just so much easier to believe him.

Chapter 10

‘Do you think anyone at work knows?’ Melanie asked, sitting at Annie’s laden dressing-table and dragging ceramic hair straighteners through her hair.

‘Knows what?’ Annie said nervously.

‘About me and George, of course.’

‘I’m not sure,’ Annie lied, buzzing her latest contraption along her shins and biting on her lip as yet another guaranteed pain-free hair removal system failed to deliver. ‘Though you two don’t exactly try to keep it quiet!’

‘Why would we?’ Melanie blinked at Annie in the mirror. ‘I mean, we’re not exactly broadcasting the fact that we’re a couple, but there’s no crime against it. Why on earth would we keep it quiet?’

‘I don’t know.’ Annie shrugged. ‘I guess if you break up, things could get awkward...’

‘Oh, please!’ Melanie rolled her eyes. ‘As if there aren’t half a million exes working side by side at the hospital. I’m sure we could manage to remain civil if we ever broke up!’

‘I guess,’ Annie said casually, but Melanie’s words were biting. Why did Iosef insist on keeping thing so secret? Why couldn’t she be sitting on the bed, gossiping to Melanie about the man who made her heart flip? ‘But some people just like to keep their work and personal lives separate, I suppose.’ Only Melanie wasn’t listening. Bored with doing her hair, now she was trying on lipstick as she rattled on about the fabulous George!

‘He’s so impulsive. We were at the shops the other day, just to grab some supplies, and next thing I know we’re in a travel agent’s. He wants to go to Queensland for a long weekend! I’m going to ask Cheryl if I can swap my days off.’

‘Sounds great!’

‘I know.’ Melanie giggled. ‘You know, he’s fantastic—I mean, I know he’s not spectacular to look at...’

‘He’s lovely!’ Annie wailed.

‘I know he is,’ Melanie countered, ‘but...’ She gave a shrug. ‘I can be me with him. Imagine being that Candy.’

‘Candy?’ Annie tried to sound casual, grateful she could concentrate on the diversion of her legs and didn’t have to meet her friend’s eyes.

‘Iosef’s girlfriend,’ Melanie carried on. ‘Imagine trying to hold onto that!’

‘I don’t think they’re together any more,’ Annie attempted. ‘I mean, I haven’t seen her around lately.’

‘She’s probably