St Piran's: Italian Surgeon, Forbidden Bride (2 page)

Megan chuckled. ‘This consultant does. He’s pretty amazing, Jess, and very hands on.’

The news that Mr Corezzi remained on the ward was disturbing enough, but knowing Megan was so taken with their new consultant neurosurgeon left Jess feeling more unsettled. A sense of premonition refused to be banished. On edge, she opened her notebook and balanced it on top of the other items she carried, jotting down a few pointers as her friend gave a brief summation of Cody’s case.

‘Mr Corezzi… Gio… will give you more detail,’ Megan added, the prospect making Jess feel more nervous.

‘And Cody is three,’ she mused, considering how best to help. ‘I’ll get Charlie.’

‘Who is Charlie?’

The question came from behind her and the deep, throaty voice with its distinctive Italian accent not only
identified its owner but set every nerve-ending tingling. Jess knew it was his first day there, and within moments of his arrival the overactive grapevine had been buzzing about the gorgeous new consultant. Female staff the length and breadth of the hospital had been preening themselves, eager to meet him and make an impression on him.

She had not been one of them.

Jess tensed, her knuckles whitening as her fingers tightened their grip on her files. Clutching them like a protective shield, and feeling suddenly scared in a way she didn’t understand, she turned around and saw Giovanni Corezzi for the first time.

Oh, my!

For once the rumourmill had been right. The new Italian surgeon
was
something special to look at and even she, who had sworn off men a long time ago, could appreciate the view. A bit like window-shopping, she thought, smothering an inappropriate smile. You could admire the goods even though you had no intention of buying. But her inner humour vanished in the face of her body’s impossible-to-ignore reaction.

She hated the breathless feeling that made it difficult to fill her lungs, the ache that knotted her stomach, the too-fast beat of her heart, and jelly-like knees that felt unable to support her. The instinctive responses were unnerving and unwanted. She had not been attracted to any man for a long time—had not expected or wished to be. Not since her life had taken an abrupt change of direction four years ago, turning her world upside down and having an irrevocable impact on her future, forcing her not only to abandon her hopes and dreams but to reinvent herself to survive. The Jess Carmichael of today
was a very different person from the one then… one who could no longer indulge in many things, including uncharacteristic flights of fancy over a good-looking man, even if he did stir her blood in ways it had never been stirred before.

Trying to shrug off the disturbing feelings, she allowed herself a quick inspection of the imposing man who stood before her looking relaxed and at ease. His dark hair was short, thick and well groomed. In his early thirties, and topping six feet, he had an olive-toned complexion and the kind of chiselled jawline that would make him sought after in Hollywood or gracing the pages of fashion magazines. Not that he was fashionable at the moment, dressed as he was in hospital scrubs, suggesting he had come to the ward from the operating theatre.

The shapeless trousers and short-sleeved tunic should have been unflattering but they failed to mask the strength and lean athleticism of his body, while their colour emphasised the intense blueness of his eyes. Under straight, dark brows and fringed by long, dusky lashes, they were the shade of the rarest tanzanite. They regarded her with a wariness she shared, a suspicion that had her shifting uncomfortably, and the kind of masculine interest and sensual awareness that frightened her witless.

Aware that Megan was making the introductions, Jess struggled to pull herself together.

‘Ms Carmichael.’

The throaty rumble of his voice made her pulse race and ruined her attempt at sang-froid. ‘Hello, Mr Corezzi.’

Jess dragged her gaze free and focused on the leanly
muscled forearms crossed over his broad chest. As he moved, she juggled the files and assorted items she carried around the hospital, anxious to avoid shaking hands. Instead, she fished out one of her cards, careful to ensure she didn’t touch him. His fingers closed around the card and she couldn’t help but notice that he had nice hands. Surgeon’s hands… capable, cared for and with short, well-manicured nails. There was no wedding ring and no tell-tale sign to suggest he had recently worn one. His only accessory was the watch on his left wrist with its mesh strap and midnight-blue dial.

The sound of Megan’s pager made Jess jump but the distraction helped cut the growing tension.

‘I’m needed in A and E,’ Megan told them with evident reluctance, her cheeks pale and lines of strain around her mouth.

‘Are you OK?’ Jess asked, knowing her friend’s reluctance stemmed from some unexplained issues she had with Josh O’Hara, the charismatic consultant who had joined St Piran’s trauma team in the spring.

‘I’ll be fine.’

The words lacked conviction and Jess was concerned. Tall and slender, Megan appeared delicate, but although she possessed an inner strength, she had seemed more fragile than usual these last few weeks. Instinct made Jess want to give her friend a hug, but she hung back, keeping the physical distance she had maintained between herself and everyone else these last four years.

‘I’m here if you need me,’ she offered instead, conscious of the disturbing nearness of Giovanni Corezzi, whose presence prevented her saying more.

‘Thanks.’ Megan squared her shoulders, determination mixing with anxiety and inner hurt that shadowed
her green eyes. ‘I’ll see you later. Good luck with the Rowlands. And Cody’s surgery.’

Alone with Giovanni Corezzi, Jess felt a return of the tension and awareness that surged between them. Determined to focus on work, and needing to put distance between herself and the disturbing new surgeon, Jess murmured an apology and escaped to the ward office to track down Charlie.

Gio released a shaky breath as the surprising Jessica Carmichael walked away. He had no idea who Charlie was, or how he was relevant to the current problem, but he had greater things to worry about. Namely Jessica and his unaccountably disturbing reaction to her.

As the staff went about their work on the busy ward, he leaned against the wall and pressed one hand to his stomach. The moment he’d seen Jessica, it had felt as if he’d been sat on by an elephant. She was younger than he’d expected, perhaps in her late twenties. Below average height, she looked smart but casual, dressed for the August heat in a multi-coloured crinkle-cotton skirt that fell to her knees and a short-sleeved green shirt, her hospital ID clipped, like his own, to the top pocket.

Her eyes were a captivating and unusual olive green, while her hair—a gift from mother nature—was a vibrant auburn, with shades from burnished chestnut, like a conker fresh from its casing, to rich copper red. The luxuriant waves were confined in a thick plait which bobbed between her shoulder blades. He longed to see it unrestrained and to run his fingers through its glory.

When Jessica emerged from the ward office, the disturbing heaviness pressed on him once more. He straightened, shocked by the slam of attraction that shot
through him. The cut of her shirt highlighted firm, full breasts, while the sway of her skirt hinted at curvy hips and thighs. He found her rounded, feminine figure so much more appealing than the reed-thin bodies many women aspired to.

Gio took an involuntary step back, disturbed by the surge of desire that threatened to overwhelm him with its unexpected intensity. This was the first time he had even
noticed
a woman for a long time. He couldn’t believe it had been five years—No! He slammed his brain shut on
those
thoughts. This was neither the time nor the place. But he’d allowed a crack in the internal armour encasing the memories, the pain and his heart, and panic swelled within him. He didn’t want to be attracted to anyone, yet he could not deny the strength of his reaction to Jessica or the way his body was reawakening and making new desires and needs known.

Disconcerted, he met her gaze and saw her eyes widen in shock at the unmasked emotions she read in his. She kept a safe gap between them, but she was close enough for him to see her shock turn to confusion, followed by answering knowledge and then alarm. Silence stretched and the air crackled with electricity. It was clear Jessica didn’t want the attraction any more than he did, but that didn’t make it go away. And, perversely, her reluctance intrigued him and made him want to learn more about her.

She stepped aside to allow a nurse pushing a wheelchair to pass, her smile transforming her pretty face and trapping the air in his lungs. Cross with himself, he was about to return to the business of Cody Rowland when she shifted the things she was carrying and he noticed the teddy-bear puppet she wore on one hand.

‘Meet Charlie,’ she invited, holding up the plush toy, which had marbled brown fur and a friendly, mischievous face, its mouth open as if laughing. ‘He helps break the ice and explain things to young children, calming their fears.’

The husky but melodic burr of her soft Scottish accent was sensual and set his heart thudding. Feeling as flustered as a teenager with his first crush, he struggled to ignore his unwanted reaction and focus on the matter at hand.

‘Very clever.’ Her innovative method impressed him. He reached out and gently shook the teddy bear by the paw. ‘It’s nice to meet you, Charlie.’

Jessica’s flustered reaction confirmed his suspicion that giving him her card had been a ruse to avoid shaking hands. Was it him, or did she dislike touching other people, too? That he was immediately attuned to her unsettled him further.

‘What are the priorities with Cody?’ Jessica asked, moving them onto ground which, he felt sure, made her feel more comfortable. ‘Have his parents signed the consent form?’

‘Not yet.’ Gio ran the fingers of one hand through his hair in frustration. ‘The injury occurred over two weeks ago,’ he explained, unsure how much Megan had told her. ‘The parents are too upset to understand that while Cody may have appeared fine at first, the situation has changed.’

‘And you don’t want to waste more time.’

Grateful that Jessica was on his wavelength, Gio smiled. ‘Exactly so.’

‘He’s deteriorating more quickly?’ she asked, glancing at the notes.

‘What was a slow bleed building a chronic subdural haematoma could be worsening,’ he outlined, sharing his concerns. ‘Or something more serious could be underlying it.’

Jessica nodded, making her beautiful hair gleam. ‘And the longer you wait, the more chance there is of permanent brain damage.’

‘I’m afraid so.’

‘His parents must be very confused.’ Her expression softened with understanding. ‘They may feel guilty for not realising that what seemed an innocuous incident has become something so serious.’

‘There is no question of blame, although such feelings are common,’ he agreed, impressed by Jessica.

Her smile was rueful. ‘I come across this in a wide variety of circumstances. We need to explain things to the Rowlands without frightening them further.’

‘Yes… and Megan says you’re the best person to help.’

A wash of colour warmed her flawless alabaster cheeks. ‘I’ll do what I can, of course.’

‘Thank you, Jessica.’

Again her name felt right, unsettling him and curbing his amusement at her flustered reaction. Ignoring the hum of attraction between them by concentrating on work might not be effective long term, but hopefully it would get them through this encounter.

‘Do you have suggestions about the Rowlands?’

Her relief was evident and she nodded again, loosening some strands of fiery hair, which tumbled around her face. As she raised her free hand, he saw that her fingers were ring free, and that she wore a narrow silver-toned watch around her wrist. She tucked the errant
curls behind her ear, drawing his attention to the attractive stud earrings she wore. Set in white metal, the olive green stones matched her eyes and he made a mental note to discover the identity of the gem that so suited her.

‘We need their consent so Cody can go to Theatre without delay. Then I can spend time with them and run through everything in more detail.’ Even, white teeth nibbled the sensual swell of her rosy lower lip, nearly giving him heart failure. ‘Do you have a rough guestimate on how long the operation might take?’ she queried, snapping his attention back to business. ‘The Rowlands will ask—and I need to reorganise my schedule to support them.’

Gio was encouraged by Jessica’s common-sense approach, knowledge and apparent dedication to her patients. With real hope of a resolution, he gave her all the information he could.

‘Can you talk with the father while I try the mother?’ she asked next, walking briskly towards Cody’s room.

He would happily do anything to speed things along. ‘No problem.’

Following her, he admired her gently rounded, mouthwatering curves. As she stepped into Cody’s room, sunlight spilling through the window made the natural red, copper and chestnut tones of her hair glow like living flames, captivating him. And, for the briefest instant, as he stood close behind her before she shifted to give him more room, he could have sworn he caught a faint, tantalising aroma of chocolate.

Fanciful notions vanished as he observed that Cody appeared more listless than when he had checked him several minutes ago. His frightened young mother sat
close to him, clinging to his hand, tears spilling down her cheeks. The father, scarcely more than a boy himself, stood to one side, pale and withdrawn, at a loss to know what to do.

Jessica glanced over her shoulder and he met her gaze. The connection between them felt electric and intense, and it took a huge effort to look away. Clearing his throat, he introduced her to the Rowlands.

As Jessica began the delicate process of winning the trust of the troubled young family, Gio released another shaky breath. He was in big trouble. He had sensed Jessica would be more than he’d bargained for. Professionally. What he could never have foreseen was the impact she would have on him personally. It was unexpected, unwanted and scary. But bubbling within, as yet unacknowledged and unexplored, was growing excitement.