Doc looked at Tom’s hand on my elbow, and then between Tom and I, and started smiling like a lunatic. ‘Yes, yes, of course. Just trot on up to Brecon ward when you’re done, Frankie.’ As they turned and bustled down the corridor I wrenched my arm out of his grip. Rosie was looking at me with wide, disbelieving eyes, and Ash was smiling his standard smug smile. Tom gestured for me to precede him, and I flashed Ash a killing glare as I reluctantly shuffled towards Tom’s office.
Once inside I looked around in search of any paperwork. This would have been an impossible task anyway considering the state of his office, but I thought it was worth a go in the interests of moving things along. I turned back to Tom and raised my eyebrows. He was leaning against the door grinning, looking like he had all the time in the world to wind me up.
‘So?’ I asked, seeking patience.
‘So,’ he said, not moving from the door.
I sighed, ‘So, was it one of my DOPS?’ (DOPS stands for direct observed procedures sign-off).
His grin faltered and confusion flashed across his beautiful face. ‘What?’
‘The paperwork,’ I said tightly and with what I considered to be extreme patience. His expression cleared and he continued grinning.
‘Right, well, I …’ he looked around the office for a moment, frowning, then snatched up a piece of paper, thrusting it into my hands triumphantly.
‘There.’
I looked down at the crumpled paper and saw that it was one of my old lists. It had an elaborate sketch of a tree-house cake in the margin, which was one I had done for a christening when I was working for him.
‘I thought you might need it for something.’ He was back to grinning again, totally unrepentant about wasting my time. I rolled my eyes and clenched my teeth.
‘You’re ridiculous.’
‘Go out with me.’
‘No.’ He moved towards me and I took a small step back, but then came up against his desk.
‘Why not?’ he asked, his eyes scanning my face.
‘Because I don’t want to,’ I spat out, in full panic mode now that he was close. I itched to touch his hair again. I literally had to force my arms to stay straight down at my sides, my hands balled into tights fists. ‘Why don’t you just … just … jog on!’ He was pressing his lips together, giving the impression that he was attempting to contain his amusement.
‘Jog on?’ he asked.
‘Yes. Just bloody jog on.’
‘Jog on?’ he said, his voice shaking slightly with silent laughter. ‘I’m guessing that’s about as strong as it gets with you.’ I narrowed my eyes at him.
‘What’s that suppose to mean?’
He ignored my question. ‘Go out with me, just one night.’
‘Ugh! You’re impossible.’ I threw up my hands.
‘I know you’re into me,’ he declared with supreme arrogance. I sucked in a horrified breath and stared at him.
‘I am not into you.’ I shook my head fervently. ‘I amnot.’ Shame washed over me. When had I given that away? When had he noticed my obsession? Panicking now, I pushed against his hard, warm chest. Embarrassingly, he didn’t even sway, despite my grunt of effort. Thankfully the loud piercing sound of my bleep cut through the atmosphere, and I sighed with relief. Glancing up at the clock on the wall, I saw it was past five and that my evening on call had started. I looked around and all I could see were piles of papers.
‘Where’s your phone?’ I asked him. Tom was looking at my bleep and I had the distinct impression that he wanted to smash it to pieces. He scratched his head and looked around the desk. Giving me a sheepish grin, he reached into his pocket and got out his mobile.
‘This is usually quicker,’ he explained as his desk started ringing. After removing a mountain of paperwork, underneath a dirty plate with what looked suspiciously like the remnants of my shortbread spread over it, I finally managed to extract the landline. I punched in the extension and raised my eyebrows at Tom whilst I waited for them to pick up.
He shrugged. ‘It’s like a carefully balanced ecosystem,’ he explained. ‘A kind of natural selection: only the most important letters survive.’ It was on the tip of my tongue to offer to sort the whole office out. It was actually causing me physical pain; but I held myself back.
‘Ciao, chica.’ Lizzy’s voice came through the extension.
‘Ciao – what have you got?’
‘Really sorry and I promise to give you all my red fruit pastilles ...’
