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Dr Constantine's Bride
Jennifer Taylor








MEDITERRANEAN DOCTORS


Let these exotic doctors sweep you off your feet….

Be tantalized by their smoldering good looks,

romanced by their fiery passion

and warmed by the emotional power

of these strong and caring men.

MEDITERRANEAN DOCTORS

Passionate about life, love and medicine


Dear Reader,

My husband and I love to travel, so when I came up with the idea of writing two books about twin sisters it seemed the perfect opportunity to use two of our very favorite places as settings for the stories. Bill and I spent our honeymoon in Sardinia, so that had to be one of the places I chose. Then last year we went to Cyprus for our wedding anniversary and had a wonderful time there, so I chose that as the second location. We’ve had great fun looking through all the photographs together.

Katie and Kelly Carlyon have a lot in common along with being twins. They both work in the world of medicine and have both fallen in love with men who live on the Mediterranean islands. While Katie flies to Cyprus to be with the man she loves, Kelly moves to Sardinia to forget about the man who has broken her heart. However, as they soon discover, life doesn’t always work out the way you hope it will!

I really enjoyed writing the two books in this miniseries, and I hope you’ll enjoy them, too. You can read Katie’s story in Dr. Constantine’s Bride. Kelly’s story will be published later this year, so do look out for it.

Love,

Jennifer

www.jennifer-taylor.com


Dr. Constantine’s Bride

Jennifer Taylor






www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)




CONTENTS


PROLOGUE (#udde6916d-e16f-5047-b43b-66cfad11139b)

CHAPTER ONE (#u937b479d-4472-5491-9d5c-ba9560442b12)

CHAPTER TWO (#u450a3acf-cb7c-524b-aca9-cd8cdc17531b)

CHAPTER THREE (#ud0e64f7e-e5d0-53bb-bff4-22f644fae620)

CHAPTER FOUR (#u2fb6f9c9-b1f5-5656-80f9-ebcebb5a4c30)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)




PROLOGUE


‘I AM REALLY going to miss you!’

Katie Carlyon hugged her twin sister Kelly. Now that the time had come for them to part, she was feeling extremely emotional. They had never been separated for any length of time before and it was going to take some getting used to.

‘I’m going to miss you too, but it’s all in a good cause.’ Kelly hugged her back, her green eyes sparkling with laughter. ‘Admit it, Katie, you’re dying to see Petros again, aren’t you?’

‘Yes, I am.’

Katie laughed, hoping her sister couldn’t tell how uneasy she felt. She still hadn’t heard from Petros. He hadn’t phoned her or replied to the numerous text messages she’d sent him in the past few days. They hadn’t spoken, in fact, since she’d told him what time her flight was due to land. She understood how busy he must be in work, but surely he could have found the time for a brief phone call?

‘Ah, love’s young dream.’ Kelly chuckled. ‘It makes you feel all warm and tingly inside.’

‘Just you wait, Kelly Carlyon,’ Katie threatened. She certainly didn’t intend to worry her sister when they were both on the verge of starting a new life. Petros had told her that he loved her many times and there was no reason to doubt him. ‘I’ll get my own back when you fall head over heels in love!’

‘You’ll have a long wait because it’s never going to happen. I’ve had my fill of romance, thank you very much.’

Katie was about to protest but at that moment her flight was called. She hugged her sister again then picked up her bag. ‘I’ll text you as soon as I get there. Take care.’

Katie hurried to the security desk and showed her boarding pass then made her way to the departure gate. It was the beginning of May and there were a lot of people going away on holiday. Cyprus was a popular destination and the flight was full; she had to wait until her row was called before she could board the plane.

Twenty minutes later the plane took off and she watched as England disappeared under a veil of clouds. In four hours’ time she would begin a new life with the man she loved. It was a big step, but she was sure it was what she wanted to do. She wanted to be with Petros for ever more.




CHAPTER ONE


WHERE was he?

Katie could feel her heart thumping as she keyed in the phone number of the hospital. There’d been no sign of Petros at the airport when her plane had landed. She had been waiting for over an hour now and he still hadn’t turned up. She had tried his mobile phone several times but it was switched off. The only thing she could think of was to phone him at work.

‘Poseidonos International Hospital. Kalimera.’

‘I wish to speak to Dr Constantine, please,’ Katie explained as calmly as she could. She waited while her call was put through, praying that Petros would be there. Although he had told her about the villa he owned in the coastal town of Paphos, she had no real idea of its location and wouldn’t attempt to make her own way there. If she couldn’t get in contact with him then she didn’t know what she was going to do…

‘Dr Constantine.’

The man’s voice cut through her mounting panic and she heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Petros, it’s me—Katie. Oh, I am so glad to hear your voice!’

‘I’m sorry, but there has been a mistake. My name is Christos Constantine.’

‘Oh, excuse me,’ Katie said hastily. ‘I didn’t realise there were two doctors by the name of Constantine on the staff. It’s Petros I want to speak to. Would you be kind enough to have my call transferred? My name is Carlyon—Katie Carlyon.’

‘And why do you wish to speak to him, Miss Carlyon?’

‘I think that’s my business, don’t you?’ Katie bridled at the arrogant note in the man’s voice. Now that some of her initial panic had subsided, she could hear the difference. This man’s voice was much deeper than Petros’s voice. It also didn’t hold that hint of amusement which she always found so attractive.

‘No, I don’t. It is very much my business, in fact. Petros warned me that you might show up. However, if you imagine that I am going to let you ruin his wedding day, young lady, you can think again.’

‘Wedding day,’ Katie repeated numbly. ‘I don’t understand. Are you saying that Petros…that he’s getting married?’

‘Of course. Don’t pretend that you didn’t know. Petros assured me that he had told you about Eleni in the hope that it would put an end to all this nonsense. He has been distraught about the number of messages and phone calls you have made to him recently.’

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about! I’ve never even heard of Eleni. Petros certainly never mentioned her to me. The last thing he said to me was that he loved me.’

Katie bit her lip when she felt tears well in her eyes. She had no idea why this man was saying such things. Petros loved her—he did! But if that was the case, why was he planning on marrying someone else?

She took a deep breath, fighting down the feeling of dread that filled her. ‘I need to speak to Petros so we can sort this out. Please have my call transferred to his office.’

‘I have no intention of allowing you to hound my cousin, Miss Carlyon.’

‘Hound Petros? If anything, it was the other way round. It was Petros who bombarded me with invitations to go out with him!’

It appeared that her claim must have held the ring of truth because there was a brief pause before the man said curtly, ‘Where exactly are you calling from?’

‘The airport. My flight landed just over an hour ago and I’ve been waiting here for Petros ever since.’ Her voice caught when it struck her it was unlikely that Petros was on his way to meet her if what this man had said was true. Just for a moment the enormity of what was happening engulfed her. She had given up her job and her home to start a new life with the man she loved but it appeared that he no longer wanted her. It took a huge amount of effort to focus as the man continued speaking.

‘Stay there. I’ll come and find you. It will take me about twenty minutes to get there, maybe a little longer if I get held up in traffic.’

‘How will I recognise you?’ she said quickly, but he’d already hung up.

Katie took a deep breath as the line went dead. It was all very well for him to tell her to wait until he arrived, but she couldn’t stand here and do nothing. Maybe she should telephone the hospital again, only make sure that she asked for Petros Constantine this time. It had to be some sort of mistake, of course. She really couldn’t believe that Petros had said those awful things about her. She only had to remember the number of times he had told her that he’d loved her to prove that.

After all, it wasn’t as though she had rushed into an affair with him. She had always been extremely cautious when it came to relationships. Watching their parents go through an acrimonious divorce while she and Kelly had been growing up had left its mark, and Katie knew it was the reason why she had been so wary about getting involved in the past. Although she had been out with several men, she had always refused to be rushed into a relationship. She hadn’t wanted to find herself in the same position as her parents had been in.

Her mother and father had met and married within a few months. They hadn’t taken the time to get to know one another and cracks had soon appeared in their marriage when they’d discovered that they’d had very little in common. When their daughters had arrived the following year it had put an added strain on the relationship. Katie had been ten when they had divorced and she had prayed that it would put an end to all the arguments, but it hadn’t happened.

There had been more fights, over custody this time. Then, once it had been decided that she and Kelly should live with their mother, there had been rows every time their father had wanted to see them. Life hadn’t settled down until she and Kelly had been old enough to leave home, and by that time the damage had been done.

Katie had made up her mind that she would wait until she was sure before she committed herself. She knew that she had gained a reputation in the hospital where she’d worked as a staff nurse for being very choosy when it came to men, but it hadn’t worried her. She didn’t intend to take any chances.

When she’d first met Petros, she hadn’t been overly impressed. He’d been working on the exchange programme and he’d seemed rather too keen on enjoying himself to take him seriously. When he had asked her out, she had refused, but he had asked her again and had kept on asking her until in the end she had agreed.

She had always been rather quiet, but Petros had drawn her out of herself and made her laugh. He had been so handsome and so charming, so different to the other men she had known that she had found herself falling in love with him. Even then she had held back, but when he’d told her that he had loved her, too, she had been completely won over.

When Kelly had announced that she was taking up a new job in Sardinia, Katie had realised it was time that she made some changes to her life, too. Petros had just returned to Cyprus and she was missing him dreadfully. The thought of being left behind in England without him or her sister had been more than she could bear so she had decided that she would go to Cyprus to be with him. After all, he loved her and she loved him, so what was the point of them being apart when they could build a future together?

That had been her plan right up until the time her plane had landed. It was still what she wanted, in fact, so was she really going to give up her dream of finding happiness on the strength of what some stranger had told her?

She started to key in the phone number of the hospital again then hesitated. Maybe she had believed Petros when he’d told her that he’d loved her, but what if it hadn’t been true? What if it had been merely a ploy to get her into his bed? It wouldn’t be the first time a woman had been taken in by claims of undying devotion so how could she be sure that it hadn’t happened to her?

All of a sudden doubts started crowding into her head and she was no longer certain of anything any more. She cancelled the call and put her phone in her bag. It might be better if she waited to hear what Dr Christos Constantine had to say before she did anything.

Christos swore softly as he hurried out of his office. This was the last thing he needed! It was difficult enough to pretend that he was genuinely delighted that his cousin was marrying Eleni without having to deal with this kind of complication as well. Just for a second he wondered if he should phone Petros and tell him to sort out his own mess, but then he thought about Eleni, and how much it would upset her if she found out about this woman, and realised he couldn’t do it. He cared too much about Eleni to risk her getting hurt.

‘I have to go out for a while so I’ll need you to take charge of the department, Yanni.’

Christos stopped by the desk to speak to his senior registrar, Yanni Papadopoulous. The emergency department had been unusually quiet that day and he had been intending to use the time for some in-house training. The team had been together for only six months and it was important that their skills were constantly assessed. There were a couple of new nurses who had started that week and he was particularly keen to put them through their paces, although there was no sign of them, he realised.

‘Where are the new nurses?’ he demanded.

‘Tina had to go home because her little boy was sick, and Rachel didn’t turn up this morning,’ Yanni explained. ‘We phoned her apartment and someone there told us that she’d gone back to England.’

Christos sighed. It wasn’t the first time they’d had problems with staff from abroad. The idea of working in another country might be appealing, but the reality often proved to be vastly different. Although the weather in Cyprus was a huge improvement on that in the UK, it didn’t make much difference when you were working gruelling twelve-hour shifts.

‘I’ll get onto the agency when I come back and see if they can find a replacement. I shouldn’t be long—an hour at the most. If anything urgent crops up, page me.’

He left the hospital and got into his car. It was just gone noon and the roads were fairly quiet for once. Although Cyprus attracted large numbers of tourists all the year round, the real rush wouldn’t start for another couple of weeks. That was when his department would really come under pressure.

As head of trauma care at Poseidonos International Hospital, Christos had seen at first hand the effects too much sunshine and wine could have on people and there was very little that surprised him nowadays. He dealt with every case with the same degree of professionalism. He had worked hard to reach his present position, adhering strictly to the path he had laid out for himself after his parents had died. They had both been doctors, too, and it had seemed only right that he should honour their memory by following them into the profession.

It had been a long and arduous journey because he had been determined to reach the very top, but he could confidently say that he had achieved everything he had set out to do—in his professional life, at least. It was his private life which was such a mess, and there was little he could do about that.

The thought sent a pang coursing through him as he drew up in front of the airport, but he couldn’t afford to worry about his problems right now. He had no idea what he was going to do about Katie Carlyon, but he wouldn’t allow her to ruin Eleni’s wedding day. Even though at one point he had hoped that Eleni would marry him, he had accepted a long time ago that it would never happen. Eleni deserved a husband who would be there for her, someone who would put her needs before everything else.

He had been far too focussed on his career since his parents had died. Even when they had been teenagers, and Eleni had used to beg him to go swimming with her, more often than not he had refused. It had been Petros who had accompanied her to the beach; he’d been too engrossed in his studies.

The situation had continued throughout his time at university. It hadn’t been until he had been in his first job that he had admitted to himself how he felt about her. Maybe he could have dealt with his feelings if Eleni hadn’t made it clear that she was attracted to him, too.

They had started going out together and it had been wonderful at first, but gradually it had become apparent that the relationship wasn’t working. He’d been working excruciatingly long hours at the hospital and they’d hardly seen one another. Whole weeks would pass when he had been too busy even to phone her. When Eleni had told him that she’d decided they should split up it had been unbearably painful, but he had known in his heart it was the right thing to do. Eleni had deserved more than he could give her.

It had been ten years now since they had gone their separate ways and time had helped to heal the pain. However, it had still come as a shock when he had found out that Eleni was dating his cousin. And it had been an even bigger one when she and Petros had announced their engagement shortly after his cousin had returned from working on the exchange programme.

Was Petros really the right man for her? Christos wondered not for the first time. His cousin had always enjoyed playing the field and it was hard to believe that he would remain faithful to her for the rest of his life. Christos had had serious misgivings from the beginning but he had kept them to himself for Eleni’s sake. After all, Petros claimed that he was madly in love with her so who was he to disagree? Although after what Katie Carlyon had told him earlier, he had his doubts. If Miss Carlyon had been telling the truth, then his cousin’s idea of love was vastly different to his own!

Christos sighed as he got out of the car. There was no point worrying about it right now. Maybe he did have his doubts but he would do everything in his power to ensure this wedding went ahead as planned. And if that meant sending Katie Carlyon back to England, that’s what he was going to do.

Katie scanned the faces of the people coming into the terminal, although she had no idea how she was going to recognise Dr Constantine when he arrived. Would he look like Petros? she wondered. He’d said that Petros was his cousin so there might be a family resemblance.

Her eyes skimmed over a tall, dark-haired man who had just entered the building and she felt a frisson run through her. Although he didn’t really look like Petros, there was something familiar about those chiselled features. She followed his progress as he made his way across the concourse. In contrast to the tourists in their colourful holiday clothes, he was soberly dressed in a lightweight grey suit with a white shirt and a discreet blue tie. He looked big and commanding as he stopped and stared around, and Katie suddenly felt afraid.

Did she really want to suffer the embarrassment of having him harangue her again? Maybe he’d felt those comments he’d made had been justified, but he hadn’t even asked to hear her side of the story. He had no idea what had really gone on, how Petros had pursued her with single-minded determination. He had judged her and obviously found her lacking so what was the point of giving him the chance to do it again? It would be far more sensible if she avoided another confrontation and went to the hospital and asked Petros what was going on.

Katie snatched up her case and headed for the door at the far end of the terminal. She knew from watching the other visitors that she should be able to get a taxi there to take her to the hospital. In her heart, she still didn’t believe that Petros had said all those horrible things about her. For all she knew, that man could have made them up for reasons of his own, and the thought added wings to her feet. She needed to see Petros and find out the truth!

She had almost reached the exit when a woman suddenly screamed. Glancing round, Katie could see an elderly man lying on the ground, clutching his chest. She hesitated, torn between a desire to see Petros and the need to help, but in the end her conscience wouldn’t allow her to walk away. Hurrying over to the couple, she put down her case and knelt beside the old man.

‘What happened?’ she asked, her hands moving automatically as she loosened the collar of his shirt.

‘I don’t know.’ Tears were streaming down the elderly woman’s face. ‘Frank said that he had a pain in his chest and the next thing I knew, he collapsed.’

Katie nodded as she pressed her fingers against the carotid artery in the old man’s neck. She sighed when she failed to detect a pulse. His heart had stopped and if he was to have any chance at all then she needed to start CPR immediately.

‘I’m a nurse,’ she explained, rolling him over onto his back. ‘Your husband’s heart has stopped so I’m going to give him CPR. Can you phone for an ambulance and tell the paramedics that it’s a cardiac arrest?’

The woman went to pieces when she heard that and started sobbing. Fortunately, someone in the crowd had heard Katie’s request and offered to make the call. Katie left them to get on with it; she was more concerned about maintaining the patient until help arrived. Permanent brain damage occurred when the brain was starved of oxygen for longer than four minutes.

She checked the man’s airway was clear then tipped back his head and gave four sharp inflations then checked his pulse once more, but there was still no sign of his heart beating.

‘I’ll do the compressions. You continue with the breathing.’

All of a sudden the man whom she’d seen entering the terminal a few moments earlier was kneeling beside her. He didn’t look at her as he deftly performed five chest compressions then paused. Katie breathed into the old man’s mouth again, forcing herself to concentrate on what she was doing. She couldn’t afford to be distracted when a man’s life depended on her actions.

They carried on for what seemed like ages—she breathed into the man’s mouth while the stranger performed the chest compressions. An eerie silence had fallen over the terminal as more people gathered around them to watch what was happening. Everyone was willing them to save his life and Katie knew that it wouldn’t be for lack of effort if they didn’t succeed.

‘Pulse check.’

The stranger rapped out the instruction and Katie immediately obeyed as her training kicked in. Placing her fingers on the carotid artery, she felt for a pulse and smiled when she detected the faintest movement beneath her fingertips.

‘We’ve got a pulse,’ she said, unable to hide her delight.

‘Good.’

Something crossed the stranger’s face, a flicker of some emotion that looked almost like surprise, before he returned his attention to their patient. Once they were sure the old man was stable, they rolled him onto his side and placed him in the recovery position. They had just finished when the ambulance crew arrived.

Katie quickly told the paramedics her name and explained what had happened then moved out of the way. They fitted the old man with an oxygen mask then set up a drip and lifted him onto a trolley. The crowd was starting to disperse now that the excitement was over so she picked up her case and edged away. With a bit of luck, she might be able to disappear…

‘I’ll take that.’

A large hand suddenly lifted the suitcase out of her grasp. Katie didn’t have time to object as the stranger put his other hand under her elbow and hurried her after the trolley. The ambulance was parked right outside the main doors and he paused only long enough to give the crew some instructions before he led her to his car.

‘I’m sorry but I’m not going anywhere with you,’ she said firmly, wrenching her arm out of his grasp. She took a step back and pointed to her case. ‘Please, give me my suitcase.’

‘Later, after we’ve had a chat.’ He stowed her case in the boot then opened the passenger door. ‘I am Petros’s cousin, Christos Constantine. We spoke earlier on the phone. I don’t have time to deal with you at the moment so please get into the car.’

‘No.’ Katie shook her head. ‘I just told you that I’m not going anywhere with you. You might claim to be Petros’s cousin but why should I believe you? You could be anyone for all I know.’

He slid his hand inside his jacket and pulled out his wallet. ‘Here is my hospital security pass. As you can see, my name is Christos Constantine and I am the head of trauma care at Poseidonos International Hospital. Unfortunately, I don’t have any more identification on me at the moment, but I shall be happy to provide you with further proof once we reach the hospital.’

‘You’re taking me to the hospital!’ she exclaimed.

‘Yes.’ He opened the door wider. ‘The choice is yours, Miss Carlyon. However, I don’t have time to stand here arguing with you. There is a man on his way to hospital who needs my help, so please make up your mind what you intend to do.’




CHAPTER TWO


CHRISTOS was glad that Katie Carlyon didn’t seem inclined to talk as they drove to the hospital. He wasn’t sure if he would have been able to carry on a conversation with her. He had gone to the airport, sure in his own mind about what he would find. After all, he’d seen any number of Petros’s girlfriends over the years and they’d been of the same ilk—pretty, empty-headed women whose only interest in life was their own comfort.

His gaze skimmed sideways and he frowned as he took stock of the delicate purity of Katie Carlyon’s profile. There was an innate sweetness about her expression which surprised him. He’d also been impressed by the way she had gone to that man’s aid so promptly. She definitely didn’t fit the usual mould of one of Petros’s girlfriends, although he couldn’t allow that fact to influence him. Although he had long since recognised that his cousin wasn’t a saint, he had believed Petros’s claim that Miss Carlyon had been making his life hell. It seemed that actions as well as looks could be deceiving and it was a salutary lesson when he remembered the way he had responded to her. There’d appeared to have been such delight in her eyes when they had managed to stabilise the old man, but he mustn’t make the mistake of thinking it had been genuine. Katie Carlyon may look like an angel, but the image was only skin deep.

‘Which department is Petros working in now?’

The question caught him unawares. Christos answered it without pausing to consider the wisdom of what he was doing. ‘He has returned to the surgical unit.’

‘Oh, good! That’s what he was hoping to do.’

Katie Carlyon’s voice was filled with warmth and he frowned when he felt a tremor run through him again. He had no idea why he should respond to her this way, but he didn’t appreciate being made to feel so vulnerable. His own tone was deliberately brusque when he replied.

‘Petros was extremely lucky to be given a second chance. Not many heads of department would have taken him back after what happened.’

‘What do you mean?’ Katie stared at him in surprise, and Christos laughed.

‘Ah, I see my cousin didn’t tell you that he’d been suspended. Perhaps you two weren’t as close as you thought you were?’

He saw her flush but she returned his gaze and he had to give her credit for that. ‘No, Petros didn’t tell me. He probably didn’t want to worry me. I wouldn’t read anything into it if I were you.’

‘No?’ He smiled thinly, his deep brown eyes reflecting his scepticism. ‘So the fact that Petros didn’t choose to tell you the truth doesn’t upset you, Miss Carlyon?’

‘Not at all,’ she said rather too quickly. ‘Anyway, whatever the reason was for his suspension, it can’t have been anything really serious or he would never have been chosen to go on the exchange programme.’

Christos didn’t say anything. He still wasn’t comfortable with the part he’d played in that decision. He had pulled a lot of strings to get his cousin the job overseas and had met with a lot of opposition too.

It wasn’t that Petros couldn’t do the job. If he’d set his mind to it, he could have been a first-rate surgeon. However, Petros preferred to spend his time enjoying himself rather than working, and it was that lack of commitment that had caused the problem.

Petros had left the hospital before a patient had regained consciousness following surgery. He had been unavailable when a problem had arisen and the lapse could have cost the man his life and had almost cost Petros his job. It was only because Christos had pleaded his case that he had been allowed to return to the surgical department, but it was time his cousin knuckled down and paid more attention to his career now he was about to get married.

‘You met my cousin while he was working in Manchester, I assume?’ Christos deliberately changed the subject. It certainly wouldn’t help to dwell on the thought that it was his own over-developed work ethos that had ruined his chances of winning Eleni’s heart all those years ago.

‘That’s right. I was working in A and E and members of the surgical team were always popping into the department. Petros was always so charming whenever we had to call him in, unlike a lot of the other registrars who made it appear as though they were doing us a favour.’

She laughed softly and Christos felt a jolt run through him when he heard the amusement in her voice. For some reason it lifted his own spirits and it took him a moment to recover his composure.

‘So it was my cousin’s charm you fell for?’

‘Amongst other things—yes.’ She turned to look at him. ‘As I told you on the phone, Dr Constantine, it was Petros who pursued me.’

‘Indeed you did. You prefer to play hard to get, do you, Miss Carlyon?’

‘No. I prefer not rush into a situation without considering the pros and cons first. It was a while before I agreed to go out with Petros, in fact.’

‘Ah, I see. Now I understand.’

‘Understand what exactly?’

‘The pros of accepting an invitation to go out with Petros, of course. What was the biggest incentive? Was it the fact that his family is extremely wealthy that helped you make up your mind?’

‘No! I knew nothing about Petros’s family when I agreed to go out with him.’

‘Of course not,’ he agreed gravely, his tone making a mockery of the claim. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her open her mouth to say something else until she thought better of it. As he turned in through the gates of the hospital, he found himself wondering what she’d been going to say. Had it been another protestation of her innocence, perhaps?

In a way he wished that she had argued with him because then it would have been so much easier to shoot her down. He could have dealt with her anger far better than he could deal with the unhappiness he could see on her face. Maybe Katie Carlyon deserved her comeuppance after the way she had behaved, but he couldn’t derive any pleasure from her discomfort. All he felt was a deep sadness that a woman as beautiful as this should use her beauty to such ugly ends. With her soft blonde hair curling around her face and her green eyes dulled with pain, she really did look like an angel—one who had fallen from grace.

Katie could feel tears welling in her eyes and quickly blinked them away. She wouldn’t give Dr Constantine the satisfaction of knowing that he had hurt her. Oh, she knew that he had done it deliberately but even that didn’t take the sting out of those horrible words. She wasn’t interested in Petros’s money! It was Petros she loved, not what he could give her.

She had barely managed to get her emotions under control when the car stopped. Christos switched off the engine and turned to her. ‘I need to check with my registrar to see how our patient is doing. I suggest you wait in my office and we can talk after I’ve finished.’

‘I really can’t see what we have to talk about,’ Katie said bluntly as she opened the car door. ‘This problem has nothing to do with you, as I told you on the phone.’

‘And as I told you, that’s where you’re wrong.’ He turned to look at her and she shivered when she saw the chill in his eyes. ‘Petros enlisted my help and I have every intention of doing what I promised him I would do.’

‘And what exactly did you promise him?’ she said sharply, her heart aching at the thought of Petros asking him to intervene, if, indeed, that was what had happened. She only had Christos’s word for it and there was no reason why she should believe him.

‘I promised him that I would make sure you didn’t cause any trouble. He and Eleni are looking forward to their wedding and I won’t allow you to ruin the occasion for them.’ He got out of the car and waited until she got out as well. ‘I’ll take you straight to my office and I expect you to stay there. If you are harbouring any hopes of trying to find Petros while you’re here, you can forget them. He’s on leave until after his honeymoon is over.’

Katie didn’t know what to say. Was it really true, then? Was Petros really getting married? She didn’t want to believe it yet she couldn’t imagine why Christos would have made up such an elaborate story.

In silence she followed him into the building. The hospital was obviously brand-new; everywhere was gleaming with fresh paint. Wide corridors fanned out from the main foyer like the spokes of an enormous wheel, the huge tinted-glass windows that ran along them giving glimpses of the grounds. It was a world away from the grimness of the inner-city hospital where she’d worked so that it was hard to take it all in. However, it was when they reached the trauma unit that the real differences immediately became apparent.

Katie stopped and stared around in genuine wonder. ‘I’ve never seen such marvellous facilities. Is that for the radiography equipment?’ she asked, pointing to the tracks running along the ceiling.

‘Yes.’ Christos stopped as well. ‘We have a dedicated radiography unit attached to the department, along with our own theatre suite plus a haematology lab.’ He shrugged when she gasped. ‘It means we’re virtually self-sufficient.’

‘It must be wonderful not to have to go begging to other departments for help.’ She sighed. ‘The number of times I’ve had to go, cap in hand, to the surgical department doesn’t bear thinking about. Just getting a slot in Theatre is a minor miracle some days.’

He smiled faintly. ‘I’ve done my share of begging, too. That’s why I insisted on us having our own theatre when the plans were drawn up. It’s made a huge difference, not only for the patients but for the staff as well. Morale is higher than it’s ever been.’

‘I can imagine,’ she agreed wistfully as they carried on. They came to the nursing station and she waited while he spoke to the nurse on duty. She could see a row of cubicles on her left and swing doors leading to the resuscitation area on her right. There were other doors leading off from the reception area and she could only assume that they must lead to the various departments he’d mentioned.

She had to admit that she was impressed by what she’d seen. In fact, if circumstances had been different, she would have had no hesitation in applying for a position here. However, she doubted if Dr Constantine would be keen to have her on his team. From what he had said, he seemed to have a very low opinion of her.

The thought was deeply upsetting. Normally, she got on well with people and it was a strange feeling to know that this man disliked her so much. It was difficult to hide how hurtful she found it to be on the receiving end of his animosity when he turned to her.

‘There’s been a problem with the patient we resuscitated at the airport. He’s had a second MI and my registrar is having trouble stabilising him. I don’t have time to take you to my office right now so can you wait here?’

‘Of course,’ Katie agreed, because she could tell he was anxious to attend to the old man. She looked around after he left, wondering where would be the best place to wait. She could see a sign pointing to the waiting room but before she could head towards it the nurse intervened.

‘The relatives’ room is through there,’ she explained, pointing to a door opposite the desk. ‘You’ll be more comfortable in there than in the waiting room, plus there’s tea and coffee in there so help yourself.’

‘Thank you.’

Katie quickly moved away from the desk when she saw the curiosity on the other woman’s face. The nurse was obviously wondering who she was and she doubted if Christos would appreciate it if she told her. She had a feeling that the less people who knew what she was doing there, the better he would like it.

Despair welled up inside her again. She had no idea what she was going to do if it turned out that he had been telling her the truth. When she had left England that morning, she had left behind everything to do with her old life. Once she and Kelly had decided to move abroad they had given up the lease on their flat and sold all their furniture. There was nothing left in England to go back for now, not even her sister.

Katie felt a lump come to her throat as she checked her watch. Kelly’s flight had been due to leave after hers but she would be on her way to Sardinia by now. Kelly had been through a lot in the past two years and a new job was what she needed to put her life back on track. But if she went back to England then Kelly might feel that she had to go back too. Was that really what she wanted? Did she want to spoil Kelly’s chance of finding happiness because her own plans hadn’t worked out the way she’d hoped they would?

Katie took a deep breath then pushed open the waiting-room door. No matter what happened, she wasn’t going back to England. And if that didn’t please Dr Christos Constantine, it was hard luck.

‘Sinus rhythm,’ the nurse announced.

Christos nodded. ‘Good. I didn’t think we were going to get him back at one point.’ He turned to Yanni. ‘He’s going to need bypass surgery urgently. There are at least three separate sites where the arteries are almost completely blocked. I’d like Alexis to assess him so can you give him a call, please?’

‘You’re recommending that he has the surgery here rather than at home in England?’ Yanni asked.

‘Yes. I don’t think he would survive the flight home and I am not prepared to take the risk.’ He shrugged. ‘His insurance should cover the costs, but if there’s a problem then we shall do it as an emergency procedure. I’ll speak to his wife while you sort things out with the surgical team.’

‘Of course.’

Stripping off his gloves, Christos left Resus. Once he had spoken to the patient’s wife, he would be able to get on with the business of sorting out this other mess. The only viable solution he could see was to send Katie Carlyon back to England. If she stayed in Paphos there was always the chance of her running into Petros. Although his cousin had claimed that Katie had been hounding him, Christos didn’t doubt that he had been happy to spend time with her in the beginning. Katie Carlyon was a very beautiful woman and few men would be able to resist her allure.

Christos wasn’t sure why it bothered him to think about all the men who must have passed through Katie Carlyon’s life. He tried to put it out of his mind as he made his way to the nursing station to collect her. There was no sign of her when he got there and he frowned.

‘If you’re looking for the young woman who came in with you, she’s in the relatives’ room,’ Maria, the nurse, informed him. She smiled archly at him. ‘Is there something you want to tell me, Christos?’

‘No, thank you.’ Christos knew what Maria was really asking. She wanted to know if he was romantically involved with Miss Carlyon. It never failed to amaze him how interested in his affairs—or rather the lack of them—his staff appeared to be.

He sighed as he made his way to the relatives’ room. The fact that he had taken time off work then reappeared with a beautiful young woman in tow was bound to excite a lot of speculation. It was his own fault, of course, for not giving his staff anything better to talk about, but he couldn’t help it if he rarely dated. He’d been too busy with his work to worry about his private life. He’d also learned his lesson after what had happened between him and Eleni. If he hadn’t been able to make a go of it with Eleni, what hope did he have of sustaining a relationship with anyone else?

It was easier if he accepted that he would remain single. Maybe once upon a time he had dreamed of having a family of his own, but the likelihood of that happening now was virtually nil. He would need to invest a lot of time and a lot of effort into a marriage and he wasn’t sure if he could do it if it meant his career would suffer. It was far more sensible to settle for what he had.

Pushing open the door, he stepped into the room then stopped dead when he spotted Katie sitting next to his patient’s wife. As he watched, she put her arm around the old lady’s shoulders and hugged her. Christos frowned. There was such compassion in the gesture that it made all his preconceived ideas about her seem ludicrous. He simply couldn’t equate this kind and caring woman with the manipulative harridan whom Petros had described at such length.

Which was the real Katie Carlyon? All of a sudden, he realised that he needed to find out the answer to that question even though he wasn’t sure why it mattered so much.




CHAPTER THREE


‘I’M SURE there will be some news soon. Try not to worry.’

Katie hugged the old lady again, wishing there was something more she could say to reassure her. She glanced round when she heard the door slam and flushed when she saw Christos coming towards them. He stopped in front of them and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the look he gave her. Why did she have the strangest feeling that he was studying her?

‘Mrs Briggs? I’m Dr Constantine, the head of the trauma unit.’

He pulled up a chair and sat down, his expression softening when he saw the fear on the old lady’s face. ‘Your husband is alive, Mrs Briggs. He had a second heart attack but we managed to stabilise him. You’ll be able to see him very soon.’

‘Oh, thank heavens!’ Marjorie Briggs clutched Katie’s hand. ‘I thought you were going to tell me that Frank was dead. I couldn’t have stood that, really, I couldn’t.’

She broke into a storm of weeping again. Katie patted her hand as she waited for her to calm down. Dealing with distraught relatives had been part of her job for so long that it was second nature to her now. Reaching into her bag, she plucked out a tissue and handed it to her.

‘I know it’s been a terrible shock for you, Marjorie, but the fact that Frank has rallied for a second time is a really positive sign, isn’t it, Dr Constantine?’ She glanced at Christos and once again was struck by the feeling that he was assessing her every word and action.

‘Indeed it is. Your husband is doing extremely well in the circumstances. However, the next few hours will be critical, you understand.’

‘You mean that Frank could have another heart attack?’ Marjorie said, her voice quavering.

‘Sadly, yes.’

He leant forward and Katie was surprised when she saw real compassion in his eyes. From her experiences that day, she wouldn’t have put him down as someone who empathised with other people, but it seemed that she might have misjudged him.

‘We’ve carried out various tests on your husband and established that the cardiac arteries are almost completely blocked in three separate places. I feel it would be safer if he underwent immediate bypass surgery.’

‘You mean you want to operate on Frank here?’ Marjorie exclaimed in dismay.

‘Yes. In my opinion it would be far too dangerous to allow him to fly home to England for the operation. We have the facilities to do it here and your travel insurance should cover the cost of the operation plus the aftercare. If it doesn’t, then we do have funding available in special cases. All I need is for you to sign a consent form so the operation can go ahead.’

‘Oh, I don’t know what to do! Frank’s never had a day’s illness in his life so are you absolutely sure this is necessary?’ Marjorie pleaded.

It was obvious the poor woman was overwhelmed by thought of having to make the decision all by herself so Katie gently intervened. ‘Dr Constantine wouldn’t have suggested it if it weren’t in your husband’s best interests, Marjorie.’

‘Do you really think so?’ Marjorie said desperately, turning to her.

‘Of course I do,’ Katie assured her. ‘And if you’re worried about Frank having the operation here rather than at home, don’t be. I’ve only seen a small part of the hospital so far, but I have to say that I’m very impressed. The facilities here are excellent.’

‘Well, if you think it’s the right thing to do, dear.’ Marjorie was obviously wavering.

‘I do.’ Katie smiled encouragingly at her. ‘Having the surgery here will give your husband the best possible chance of making a full recovery.’

‘Then that’s what we’ll do.’ Marjorie took a deep breath and stood up. ‘I’ll sign whatever forms you need, Doctor. Then I’d like to see my husband, please.’

‘Of course.’ Christos stood up as well. Putting his hand under the old lady’s elbow, he guided her to the door then paused. ‘I shall only be a few minutes if you wouldn’t mind waiting here for me.’

‘Of course.’

Katie stood up after they left and went to the window. It was a beautiful day, the sun beating down from a cloudless blue sky. She could see right across the bay and the reflection of the sun glittering off the aquamarine water would have been breathtaking at any other time. However, she found it impossible to derive any pleasure from the view right then. She might have helped to solve Marjorie’s problem but she still hadn’t solved her own. What on earth was she going to do if it turned out that Petros really was getting married? Should she stay in Cyprus when the plans she’d made for the future would never amount to anything, or should she leave the island? And if she left, where should she go?

She could go to Sardinia and join Kelly, but that might put a damper on her sister’s plans. Knowing Kelly, she would throw herself into her new job and soon make lots of friends. Having her twin around might hold her back, though, and that was the last thing Katie wanted to do, yet the thought of moving to another country on her own was a daunting one.

She didn’t have Kelly’s confidence and couldn’t imagine making a life for herself in a place where she knew nobody so she might be forced to return to England after all. However, the prospect of going back to Manchester wasn’t one she relished. All her friends and workmates knew why she had left and the thought of having to tell them about Petros was more than she could bear. She certainly didn’t want to become an object of pity!

She was still trying to work out what she should do for the best when the door opened and her heart sank when she realised that Christos had returned. She knew that he would want her to leave as soon as possible, but was she prepared to go without seeing Petros first? Maybe Christos had told her the truth, but she needed to hear it from Petros himself rather than from a go-between. No matter where she ended up, she knew that she would never be able to settle until she had resolved this issue.

Christos could tell as soon as he went back into the room that he was going to have a fight on his hands if he hoped to persuade Katie to leave. There was a glint in her eyes that didn’t bode well for any plans he might harbour. He decided to opt for the gentle approach and smiled at her.

‘Shall we go up to my office? It will be quieter there and there will be less chance of us being interrupted.’

He opened the door but she ignored his invitation. Walking over to the chairs, she picked up her bag. ‘I don’t think so. The only place I’m going is into the town to find myself a room for the night.’

‘Why? What point is there in staying here?’ He shrugged, trying to stave off a sudden feeling of disappointment. Maybe he did want to learn more about her but he couldn’t afford to satisfy his curiosity at the expense of Eleni’s happiness. The longer Katie remained on the island, the greater the risk of Eleni finding out about her and that was the last thing he wanted. ‘The best thing you can do now is to return to England and put this whole unfortunate episode behind you.’

‘Whether I return to England or not is my decision. I don’t need you to tell me what to do.’ She marched to the door, one slender brow arching when he barred her way. ‘Excuse me.’

‘You aren’t going anywhere until I know what you intend to do.’

‘Really?’ She stared up at him, her pretty face set. ‘Holding me here against my will is a crime, Dr Constantine. Are you prepared for the publicity that will follow if I report you to the police?’

‘The police would never believe you,’ he scoffed, hoping he was right.

‘Maybe not, but they would have to investigate my allegations.’ She smiled tightly. ‘These things have a nasty habit of leaking out. I wonder how Petros’s fiancée will feel if she sees the story plastered across the front of the local paper.’

Christos knew that she was calling his bluff but there was little he could do about it. She was right, too, because the papers would have a field day if the story got out. Both Petros’s and Eleni’s families were well known on the island and anything that involved them was big news. He couldn’t bear to imagine how devastated Eleni would be if the papers printed the whole sorry tale.

He stepped aside, knowing that he couldn’t take that risk. He would have to find another way to ensure Katie’s cooperation, although it wasn’t going to be easy. She was a very determined young woman, it seemed.

He followed her from the room, wondering how he should handle the situation from here on. Maria was still working behind the desk; she looked up when he and Katie passed.

‘You haven’t introduced me to your friend yet, Christos,’ she chided him.

‘I’m sorry.’ Christos stopped, knowing it would create more speculation if he ignored her. ‘This is Katie Carlyon, Maria. She was at the airport when Mr Briggs collapsed and she helped to resuscitate him.’

‘Kalimera, Katie.’ Maria smiled warmly. ‘You were very brave to lend a hand. It can be quite scary when you have to resuscitate someone like that.’

‘It certainly can.’ Katie returned her smile. ‘Fortunately, I’m an emergency department nurse so I’ve done my share of CPR over the years.’

‘It was lucky you were there!’ Maria exclaimed. ‘So what brings you to our beautiful island? Are you here on holiday?’

‘Not really. I was supposed to be moving here to live, but my plans might have to change. I’m not sure what I’m going to do now, to be honest.’

Christos could tell that Maria was dying to know what had happened to change Katie’s plans and hurriedly intervened. There was no way that he wanted Katie to discuss the situation with a member of his staff. Gossip was rife in the hospital and it wouldn’t take long for the story to circulate throughout the building and beyond.

‘I don’t want to rush you, Katie, but if you’re hoping to find somewhere to stay tonight, you’d better not leave it too late. The hotels soon get booked up as more flights arrive.’ He grasped her arm and steered her towards the corridor, waiting until they were out of Maria’s sight before he released her.

‘Do you mind?’ She glared at him as she rubbed her arm. ‘I would prefer it if you didn’t manhandle me.’

‘And I would prefer it if you saw sense and got on a plane back to England.’ He returned her stare, knowing that he had to convince her it was a waste of time remaining on the island. ‘I don’t know what you hope to achieve by staying here. I’ve already explained the situation to you, but in case you’re in any doubt, Petros isn’t interested in you. Is that clear?’

‘Yes, thank you—perfectly clear.’ Tears sparkled in her eyes but she blinked them away. ‘However, until Petros tells me that himself then I am not leaving. For all I know you could be making it up.’

He swore softly in Greek, glad that she couldn’t understand the ugly words. It was rare that he lost his temper but she had pushed him to the limit that day. ‘Why would I make it up? What possible reason could I have for doing so? I’m telling you the truth, Katie, so do yourself a favour and accept it.’

‘I can’t.’ Her voice was so low that he had to strain to hear what she was saying. ‘I wish I could walk away but I can’t until I hear Petros say that he doesn’t love me.’

Her voice broke as tears began to stream down her face. Christos wasn’t sure if it was the sight of those tears that affected him, but there wasn’t a doubt in his mind at that moment that she was suffering and he responded instinctively. Gathering her into his arms, he rocked her gently to and fro. He understood how devastated she must feel because it was how he had felt when he’d lost Eleni. The worst kind of pain was that which came from knowing that you could never have the person you loved most of all.

In that moment his feelings towards Katie suddenly shifted. He could no longer think of her simply as a problem to be solved as speedily as possible. She was suffering, too, and knowing that forged a bond between them he had never anticipated. He realised with a sinking heart that it was going to be harder than he’d imagined to fulfil his promise to his cousin and send her away.

Katie could feel the warm strength of the arms that were holding her and for the first time in ages she felt safe. She hadn’t realised until then how stressful the past few weeks had been. Leaving England and everything she knew had been a huge step. Even though she’d been sure it was what she’d wanted to do, it had been a major decision for her. If she’d had any idea this would happen then she would never have got on the plane that morning, but it was too late for regrets now. She had to deal with the situation as best she could, and learn from it.

‘Here.’

A large tanned hand suddenly appeared in front of her, holding a crisp white handkerchief. Katie took it with a murmur of thanks and dried her eyes. When Christos let her go, she forced herself to smile at him even though there was very little to smile about. ‘Thank you.’

‘Feeling better now?’ he asked quietly.

‘Yes. I’m sorry. I don’t usually go to pieces like that.’

‘There’s no need to apologise. You’re upset and I understand why.’ He sighed. ‘That’s why I think it would be best if you went home.’

‘I’m not sure what I want to do,’ she admitted. ‘This has been a huge shock and I need time to think before I make any decisions.’

‘Surely it would be easier to do that in England with your family and friends around you.’

‘The only family I have is my sister Kelly and she’s in Sardinia. She flew out there this morning to take up a new job and I certainly don’t want to upset her plans by telling her that things haven’t worked out for me.’

‘I see. But what about your friends? There must be people who you are close to?’

‘Yes.’

She shrugged. ‘I have some really good friends back in Manchester but they have their own problems. It isn’t fair to expect them to help me.’

‘So what you’re saying is that you don’t want to return to England?’

‘I don’t know! My head’s in such a spin that I don’t know what I want to do. That’s why I need time to think things through. I certainly don’t want to go rushing into another decision I’ll regret.’

She brushed past him because there was no point debating the issue any more. Anyway, he didn’t really care where she went so long as it was away from the island, and far away from Petros.

A sob rose to her throat but she forced it down. They had reached the foyer and she paused. ‘I’ll find a taxi to take me into town. If you could fetch my case out of your car, I’ll be out of your way in no time.’

‘And what about Petros? Do you still intend to contact him?’

‘Of course. However, I shall decide when and how I intend to do so. It has nothing to do with you or anyone else.’

‘That isn’t good enough, I’m afraid. You have to understand the damage you could cause.’

‘What about the damage that has been done to me?’ she countered, angrily. ‘Doesn’t that count for anything?’

‘Of course it does, which is why I want you to be sensible and forget about my cousin. He isn’t right for you, Katie. Can’t you see that?’

‘At the moment I’m too confused to know what I think any more,’ she said wearily.

‘I understand, but promise me that you won’t do anything rash.’

He captured her hands and held them fast, and once again she was struck by a feeling of security. It was very strange because nothing he had said to her that day should have made her feel like this, yet it didn’t alter the fact that she felt safer with him then she’d felt with anyone, even Petros.

The thought shocked her so much that she snatched her hands away. ‘I won’t make promises I might not be able to keep.’

He shook his head in despair. ‘I don’t know what else I can say to convince you.’

‘There’s nothing you can say. I need to make up my own mind.’

‘And what will you do in the meantime? Are you going to treat this as a holiday?’

‘I’m not sure.’ Katie sighed because that was something else she needed to think about. The money she had left after paying for her flight wouldn’t last long if she had to stay in a hotel. She might be able to find somewhere cheaper—a guest house or maybe a room—but even then it wouldn’t be long before her money ran out. She hadn’t given any thought to her financial position before she’d left England. She had assumed that Petros would ask her to live with him but that wasn’t going to happen now.

Pain lanced through her again. She had trusted Petros and he had let her down. Although it wouldn’t change what had happened, she needed to know why he had treated her this way. And to do that she would have to find a way to support herself so she could remain on the island.

‘I could manage a week’s holiday, but I’ll need to find a job after that. I can’t afford to stay on here if I’m not earning any money.’

‘It might not be that easy to find work.’ He shrugged when she looked at him in surprise. ‘It’s still quite early in the season and a lot of the restaurants and bars aren’t taking on extra staff yet.’

‘I’m sure I’ll find something,’ she said, wondering if this was another ploy to put her off the idea of staying on the island.

He sighed. ‘I am not making it up, Katie. I’m merely explaining the problems you could encounter.’

‘Thank you for your concern, but I’m sure I’ll find myself some sort of a job,’ she said shortly.

‘You said that you were a nurse in the emergency department—is that right?’

‘Yes. I was a senior staff nurse in Accident and Emergency. Why? Do you have a vacancy on your team?’

The question was asked very much with her tongue in her cheek. She didn’t seriously think that he would consider hiring her, even if there was a vacancy, so it was impossible to hide her surprise when he said quietly, ‘We do have a vacancy, as it happens. If your references check out then I can see no reason why I shouldn’t offer you the job.’ He smiled thinly when she gasped. ‘Please, don’t misunderstand why I’m doing this, though. I haven’t changed my mind about you staying on here. I still believe that you should go home. But we are in desperate need of staff, and if you are intent on staying here, you may as well help us out.’




CHAPTER FOUR


‘THIS is Yanni, one of our senior registrars. And Tina and Ariadne, who are both nurses. Oh, and that’s Takis over there—he’s the radiographer. OK, everyone, this is Katie Carlyon.’

‘Kalimera, Katie!’

‘Kalimera! ’ Katie responded as everyone chorused a greeting. It was her first day at work in the trauma unit and she was still finding it hard to believe that she was actually there. However, as Christos had predicted, there had been very little other work available. She had soon realised that if she wanted to remain on the island, she would have to accept his offer. She’d felt incredibly nervous when she’d arrived, but Maria had quickly put her at her ease by introducing her to the rest of the staff. Fortunately everyone wore a name badge so that should help her to avoid any embarrassing lapses of memory.

‘That is enough for now. You can meet the others later.’ Maria linked her arm through Katie’s and briskly led her to the staffroom. ‘We shall have a cup of coffee while you tell me all about your relationship with Christos.’

‘My relationship with Christos?’ Katie echoed in bemusement.

‘Ne.’ Maria laughed. ‘Oh, I am not asking you to be indiscreet but it was obvious the other day that you and Christos were…friends.’

Katie blushed. The tone of Maria’s voice had put a whole new spin on the word. ‘Oh, no, you’ve got it wrong,’ she said quickly. ‘Christos and I only met the other day at the airport. There’s nothing going on between us, I assure you.’

‘Óhi?’ Maria looked sceptical. ‘But it was Christos who arranged for you to have this job, wasn’t it?’

‘Yes, but only because I happened to mention that I’d worked in an emergency department in the UK.’ She shrugged, doing her best to deflect Maria’s suspicions. It certainly wouldn’t improve Christos’s opinion of her if she was the cause of any unsavoury gossip.

She wasn’t sure why it should matter what he thought of her, and hurried on. ‘I expect it was easier to offer me the job than go through all the rigmarole of finding someone else.’

‘I see.’ Maria didn’t appear wholly convinced but before she could question her further, the wail of a siren warned them that there was an ambulance on its way.

Katie hurriedly followed her to the doors that led to the ambulance bay and waited while the crew unloaded the stretcher. She grabbed hold of the saline drip as the convoy swept towards Resus. Fortunately, English was widely used in the hospital and she had no difficulty following what was said as the paramedics explained that the young man had been injured while he’d been parasailing at a resort further along the coast. By the time they finished detailing the patient’s obs and the treatment he’d received, she was fully up to speed.

‘So, what do we have?’ Christos arrived just as they were about to transfer the patient onto a bed. He glanced at Katie, obviously expecting her to answer. Maybe it was meant to be a test of her skills but she didn’t waste time worrying about it.

‘Simon Bradshaw, aged nineteen, injured when his parachute collapsed while he was parasailing.’ She grasped a corner of the spinal board, keeping up a flow of information about the young man’s pulse, BP and sats levels as they moved him across to the bed. ‘Possible spinal injuries, plus injuries to his left leg and foot.’

‘Was he conscious when the crew got to him?’ Christos demanded.

‘Yes. The pilot of the speedboat told the paramedics that he was conscious and breathing when they pulled him out of the water.’

‘Good.’ He bent over the young man. ‘My name is Christos Constantine and I’m the head of the trauma unit. I need to assess the extent of your injuries, especially any damage that has been done to your spine, so I’m going to have to leave you on this board for a while longer. OK?’

‘Yes.’ The young man groaned. ‘My left leg is killing me. And my right arm doesn’t feel too clever either.’

‘Good. The fact that you can feel pain in those areas means there’s a strong chance you haven’t damaged your spinal cord,’ Christos said calmly. ‘I’ll give you something for the pain after I’ve finished examining you.’

Katie moved aside as he bent over and shone a light into the patient’s eyes. He was blocking her path so she stayed where she was until he finished. He was so close to her that she could see that there wasn’t a trace of silver in his thick black hair, and frowned.

How old was he? she wondered suddenly. He exuded such an air of authority that she’d assumed he must be a lot older than Petros, but from what she could tell he could be only in his late thirties. Petros was thirty-two so there wasn’t that big of an age gap between them. However, Petros definitely didn’t inspire the same degree of confidence that his cousin did.

It felt strange to find herself comparing the two men, and stranger still to realise that Petros had come off worst. As Christos moved away, she felt a little pang run through her. It was understandable that her feelings towards Petros should have changed after what had happened, but if she’d loved him as much as she’d thought she’d done then surely she should have remained true to him? Real love was supposed to last for ever; it wasn’t supposed to fade as soon as it encountered an obstacle. However, she couldn’t put her hand on her heart and swear that she loved him as much as she’d done when they’d been in England. It made her wonder if there could be any guarantees where love was concerned.

‘There’s some swelling over the cervical spine. I’d like another X-ray of the area, please.’

Christos glanced over his shoulder to check the Takis had heard him and frowned when he saw the expression on Katie’s face. He had no idea what was going through her mind at that moment but he didn’t think he’d seen anyone who looked so lost before. He cleared his throat, not wanting her to suspect how much it had unsettled him.

‘I need another litre of saline, Katie. And a second line put in, please.’

He turned away as she hurried off to carry out his instructions. Fortunately, the beds in Resus were multi-functional; there was no need to move the patient to get the shots he wanted. He reviewed his findings while Takis organised the X-rays.

The first set of films had confirmed that Simon Bradshaw had a fractured left tibia as well as a serious fracture of the left calcaneus, or heel bone. There was compression of the bone which could cause permanent damage to the joints involved in turning the foot in and out, and create problems walking. Christos made a note to ask his colleagues in Orthopaedics to review the X-rays before the patient left Resus, but at the moment he was more concerned about the possibility of spinal damage. Fortunately, the radiography equipment was linked to a sophisticated computer system and it took only minutes before the images were ready to be displayed on the screen.

‘It looks as though one of the discs in the cervical spine has ruptured.’ He pointed to the area in question as Yanni came to join him. ‘See how the prolapsed disc is protruding into the spinal cord. It’s compressing the root of the nerve leading to the arm.’

‘Do you think it will it need surgery to repair it?’ Yanni asked.




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