St Piran's: Italian Surgeon, Forbidden Bride (7 page)

‘Damn it!’

Upset, she rushed down the corridor and back into the busy casualty department, asking a couple of nurses and the clerks at the desk if they had seen Marcia come though, but no one had noticed her. Not even the security guard by the main doors. It brought back Marcia’s own words.she faded into the background and no one saw her.

Cursing the appalling timing of the interruption, Jess went outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of Marcia,
but it was hopeless. The sense of disappointment was huge. She couldn’t bear to think of Marcia alone with her grief, unable and unwilling to seek the comfort of a family who loved her but seldom had time for her.

An image of Marcia and Colin before the tragedy, so happy and in love, fixed itself in her mind. Why did awful things happen? She could make no sense of the cruelty that had befallen two lovely young people. She swallowed, blinking back tears.

‘Jessica, are you all right?’

Gio’s voice behind her had her spinning round in surprise. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I was in A and E and saw you run outside.’ The expression in his blue eyes, so warm and intimate, robbed her of breath and held her captive as he raised a hand and with exquisite gentleness removed a salty bead of moisture suspended from her lashes, his fingers brushing her cheek. His voice turned even huskier. ‘I was worried about you.’

Everything in her screamed at her to lean into his touch, craving what she had denied herself for so long, but reality intruded, the instinct for self-preservation ingrained. She jerked back, feeling the colour staining her cheeks as Gio regarded her in silence, speculation, concern and a frightening resolve in his eyes.

‘Tell me what’s wrong,’ he invited as they headed back to the hospital.

Sighing, Jess gave him a brief summary of what had happened, unable to prevent her emotion from showing. ‘It was just awful.’

‘I’m sorry.’ He shook his head, murmuring what sounded like a curse in Italian. ‘Josh was talking about the accident in the canteen.’

Back in the room where she had spoken with Marcia, Gio remained with her, increasing her sense of awareness. ‘I feel as if I failed her,’ she admitted.

‘Of course you didn’t,’ he chided gently.

‘I don’t know.’ With another sigh, she gathered up her things. ‘I’m even more sure now that Marcia Johns is not her real name.’

‘Definitely not.’

The edge of amusement in Gio’s voice had her head snapping up. There was nothing remotely funny about the situation. But before she could remonstrate with him, he shook his head and pointed to something behind her. She turned round, noticing for the first time the information posters on one wall of the room.

The ‘infomercials’ were sponsored by well-known drug companies and ‘Marcia’ had been clever enough, despite her distress, to cobble together a false name on the spur of the moment, using parts of two words from the company name emblazoned in large letters on one of the posters. Jess cursed herself for having been so thoroughly duped. She was also disappointed that the girl had felt the need to deceive her.

‘She had her reasons, and I’m sure they were personal to her and nothing to do with you.’

Jess knew Gio’s words were offered by way of consolation, but they did little to ease her upset and concern. ‘Marcia’ would remain in her thoughts and she would worry about her unless and until she had any further news of her. She could only hope that at some point the girl would use one of the contact numbers she had given her and get in touch.

‘I know how much you care,’ Gio said now, scarily attuned to her thoughts. ‘You would not be so good at
your job if you didn’t, but you cannot carry the burden of everyone’s problems on your shoulders, Jessica.’ He stood in front of her, tipping her chin up with one finger until her gaze met his. ‘Who is there for you?’

She felt branded by the contact and once more she stepped back to break it, resisting the urge to press her free hand to the spot that still tingled from the soft touch of his fingertip. This was ridiculous! She needed to give herself a stern talking to. Squaring her shoulders, she headed for the door.

‘I’m fine,’ she told him, injecting as much firmness into her voice as possible.

‘You are here at all hours, taking on the burden of everyone else’s problems,’ he continued, refusing to let it go. ‘Who listens to yours?’

Frightened that his perceptiveness and caring were chipping away at the defences that had protected her these last four years, she laughed off his question and repeated the words she used as a mantra to convince others.andherself. ‘I’mfine!’

He took her by surprise?again?politely opening the door for her and following her out. So grateful was she that he had let the subject drop, she was not adequately on her guard.

‘Where are you going now?’ he asked.

‘Hmm…’ Jess frowned, trying to remember what had been on her agenda before the call had come in for her to attend A and E.

‘If you have a few minutes to stop off at my office, I have some things to discuss with you.’

Although she would sooner have parted company there and then so she had time to re-erect her barriers against him, she was relieved he had focused back on
work matters. Cursing her weakness and the voice in her head that tormented her about her vulnerability to this man, Jess found herself assenting to his request.

‘All right.’

‘Thank you.’

His smile of satisfaction made her uneasy. What had she agreed to? And why did she feel he’d set her up and she’d fallen for it—as she feared she had for him—hook, line and sinker?

‘C
OME
this way.’

Jess found herself ushered into Gio’s office, his hand at the small of her back sending a charge of electricity zinging through her. He had a disturbing habit of touching her. As he closed the door, Jess took the opportunity to put some much-needed distance between them. The room was by no means small but, confined in it with Gio, it seemed claustrophobic and she felt an urgent need for the comfort of her own personal space.

‘What I am about to reveal to you is strictly confidential, Ms Carmichael. You do realise that?’ he asked, his expression sombre… but for a tell-tale glimmer of mischief in his tanzanite-blue eyes.

Jess had no idea whether he was serious, or whether he was toying with her. Why did just being in the same room with him make her feel so off kilter and peculiar? She didn’t like it. What she most wanted was to escape.

‘Jessica?’

She jumped, continually unnerved at the way he spoke her name, his husky, accented voice far too intimate and intoxicating. But it was the light touch of one finger on her forearm that brought her inbuilt flight response into
action again as she stepped back, distracted by the way all her nerve-endings were fired into life. Startled, she met the intense blueness of his gaze, seeing the curiosity, knowledge and masculine appreciation that lurked in his eyes. She didn’t want anyone interested in her or asking questions about her, least of all this man who posed a unique and definite danger.

‘What’s confidential?’ she queried, intrigued and yet nervous.

‘Apart from my secretary, no one knows about this. I’m trusting you, Jessica.’

‘Yes, of course.’ She agreed without hesitation. It was asked of her, in one way or another, every working day, either by a patient, relative or colleague. And very little surprised her. ‘What is it?’

Gio moved to his desk and beckoned her closer. She edged forward, watching as he opened the bottom drawer of his desk, pulling it back with frustrating slowness, building her suspense as centimetre by centimetre the contents came into view.

She’d been wrong to believe he couldn’t surprise her. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she found herself staring at a drawer full to the brim with…

‘Chocolate!’

Gio couldn’t help but laugh aloud at Jessica’s stunned reaction. ‘What is your poison? Plain or milk? With or without nuts?’ he asked, taking a selection of bars from the drawer.

‘I don’t eat much chocolate.’

‘But you like it,’ he prompted, hearing the waver in her voice. ‘You must do… given the delicious scent of your hair and your skin.’

His words brought a bloom of colour to her porcelain cheeks. But it was the longing in her eyes that betrayed her sweet tooth. And then her pink tongue-tip peeped out to moisten the sensual curve of her lips, causing his body to react in such an immediate and blatant way that he drew back in shock.

‘Treat yourself,’ he encouraged, thankful that she appeared unaware of his response to her and, as he waited for her to make her selection, struggled to get his mind and body back under control.

‘OK.’ She took a small bar of milk chocolate with a hazelnut praline centre. ‘Thank you.’

‘Good choice,’ he murmured as she moved away.

Taking a bar of dark chocolate with almond for himself, he put the rest away and closed the drawer. Sitting down, he opened his chocolate, his gaze remaining on Jessica as she inspected the expensive high-class packaging, noting the moment realisation dawned.

‘Cioccolato Corezzi?’
She looked up, stunning green eyes wide with interest.
‘You
make this chocolate?’

‘My family do. My paternal grandfather began the company over fifty years ago, and Papá and Mamma have grown it from a small specialist business with one shop in Turin into what it is today—one of Italy’s most famous hand-made chocolate houses.’

‘You’re understandably proud of them.’ She smiled, snapping off a square and popping it into her mouth, nearly killing him as those mesmerising eyes closed and a blissful look transformed her face as she savoured the flavours he knew would be bursting on her tongue. ‘Oh, this is
amazing!’

‘Thank you.’ Her opinion was important to him and her enthusiasm made him feel warm inside.

Snapping off another square, she laughed. ‘No, thank
you!’
she insisted, before popping the chocolate into her mouth to savour the taste as before.

It was the first time he’d heard her laugh. It was a warm, throaty, infectious sound and he wanted to hear it often. Frowning, he acknowledged just how involved he was becoming.

‘Did you never want to follow in your parents’ footsteps?’ she queried after a moment, perching on the edge of his desk, stretching her skirt across the pleasing curve of womanly thighs.

‘No,’ he answered, his voice rough. Clearing his throat, he sat forward. ‘It was never an option, and my parents knew it wouldn’t have suited me. Besides, I would have eaten all the profits!’

Taking a bite of his chocolate, he enjoyed another of her throaty chuckles.

‘You must have lorry loads of it delivered, judging by your drawer!’

Having her relax enough to tease him was an unexpected pleasure, as was listening to the softness of her accent. He wondered how she had come to be in Cornwall, so far from home, but he refrained from asking… for now.

‘Now you know my secret,’ he said, keeping his tone light and teasing. ‘It’s only fair you tell me one of yours, no?’

The change in her was immediate and, while he regretted her withdrawal and the loss of their rapport, he was intrigued by her reaction and eager to find out its cause. Her whole body tensed, as if she was closing in on herself. Sliding off the desk, she turned away, but not before he had seen the hurt and loneliness she worked
hard to hide. Stepping across to the window, her shoulders lifted as she breathed in a slow, deep breath. Finally, she turned round, popping the last piece of chocolate in her mouth and scrunching up the wrapper.

‘I’m not very interesting, and I don’t really have any secrets,’ she told him with a manufactured smile, not meeting his gaze.

Oh, but she most certainly did. He knew it. And he was determined to uncover them and understand what she was anxious to hide. Behind the façade she presented to the world, the real Jessica was far from fine.

‘I ought to be going,’ she announced, picking up the collection of items she had with her all the time in the hospital.

‘What
do
you carry around in there?’ he asked with a mix of interest and amusement.

Her voice sounded strained now, all traces of the fun Jessica reined in and back behind her protective wall. ‘I have my notebook and diary,’ she began, looking down at the pile in her arms.

Gio listened as she told him about the information sheets, details of various diseases and injuries and their treatments, names and contacts for self-help groups and a welter of other things people might need. Her mobile phone, like her pager, was either attached to her waistband or in her pocket, depending on the clothes she was wearing. He suspected Jessica used the things she carried as a barrier, a shield between herself and others. He wanted to know why. The list of questions he had about her continued to grow.

Disappointment speared inside him as Jessica moved towards the door. ‘Thanks for the chocolate.’

‘Any time. I’ll tell my secretary you have free access
to my secret drawer.’ He smiled, drinking in his fill of her while he could. ‘See you later. And try not to worry about your girl.’

‘I’ll try. Bye.’

The door closed softly behind her. At once the room felt different… and he felt lonely without the vibrancy of her presence.
Dio.
A week ago, if anyone had told him he’d be attracted to another woman, he would have believed it impossible. But Jessica had shaken him to his foundations?and out of the darkness that had enveloped his life for the last five years.

‘Megan, are you all right?’

‘Yes.’ It was a lie, but she managed a smile for Jess. ‘I’m sorry, I was miles away.’

Her friend sent her an understanding smile. ‘Josh?’

‘Yes,’ Megan repeated, a deep sigh escaping.

It had been a huge shock to discover that Josh had joined the St Piran’s trauma team back in the spring. Megan had assumed he was still in London. Wished he
was
still in London. Working with him when she was on call to A and E from Paediatrics was difficult and she had found it harder still since little Toby’s funeral.

‘He wants to talk,’ Megan confided, her recent confrontation with Josh in the canteen still fresh in her mind. Why did he want to rake over the past? Did he think she didn’t live with it every day of her life?