Doctor's Delight(72)

“Once upon a time, Doctor, we never had lawsuits.” Oh shit, did I really say that?

“Are you saying I did something that could have resulted in a lawsuit?”

Hiding her trembling hands in her skirts, Cherry lifted her chin and met the prestigious paediatrician’s unwavering gaze. “Ma’am, you can tie me up in knots with words. We can argue here all night. What happened was simple – you did something that I would never discuss outside of the hospital due to confidentiality clauses, and I questioned you as is my duty as an advocate of the patient, and as a nurse watching my own back. That won’t change.” She was going to add an apology, but knew there was no reason for it.

Inwardly she cringed, suddenly aware of the silence from the man beside her, and the two elegant people standing before her. That silence seemed to stretch for an eternity, although it could only have been seconds.

Rick’s hand slipped down to her hip, squeezing gently, and he stepped in behind her, sharing his body warmth and at the same time showing his unwavering support. She nearly sagged with relief, aware now of how much value she placed on his opinion of her.

Unexpectedly, Dr Clarke smiled. Coldly, admittedly, but a smile nonetheless. “I admire your tenacity, Ms Williams, and your honesty. Do enjoy your evening. Rick.” She nodded dismissingly at them.

The man beside her smiled, introduced himself as Martin Shaw, and shook both Rick’s hand and Cherry’s before he turned back to Dr Clarke to greet the couple approaching through the doors.

Worried that she’d embarrassed him, Cherry glanced up at Rick as he guided her through into the main room. He drew her to the side and swung around to face her, his shoulders blocking the room from view. With relief, she saw the warmness in his eyes.

“Before you say anything,” he said quietly, “You didn’t embarrass me, and I’m so proud of you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. So you can stop wringing the heck out of your gown.” He laughed when she abruptly released her skirts.

“Dr Clarke’s your friend.” She watched his face closely. “I don’t want to make things bad for you.”

“Dr Clarke is my friend’s mother, and my work colleague. You, love, are wholly mine. Big difference.”

Her cheeks pinkened, pleasure sweeping through her, and she smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

“Plus I have dirty sex with you. Huge difference.”

“Oh my God.”

“That’s what you say.” He leered. “Only louder.”

“I think my friends are a bad influence on you.” Laughing and blushing at the same time, she slapped him lightly on the arm. “Now stop it before we’re overheard and both kicked out. And trust me, I will get the blame for it.”

“Very well.” Grinning, he turned and surveyed the room while tucking her hand into the crook of his elbow. “Shall we stroll around and introduce ourselves?”

Personally, Cherry would rather stay in the corner with him, but she saw it as her duty to be the agreeable dinner companion, so she smiled and nodded and walked beside him.

As they did the rounds of the huge room, she admired the elegant decorations. Waiters appeared with glasses of champagne and she took one when Rick handed it to her. Taking a sip, she wrinkled her nose, not really liking it, and took the first opportunity she could to place it back on a waiter’s tray when Rick’s attention was elsewhere.

He stopped and spoke to people she didn’t know, introducing her and drawing her into the conversations, but mostly she stood beside him and smiled politely, murmuring appropriate words of agreement, for being amongst so many strangers was something she personally wasn’t comfortable with, nor accustomed.

Some of the surgeons and doctors greeted her by name, and surprisingly, these people she was able to talk to on a more even level, though again she didn’t really feel comfortable. A couple of the surgeons raised their brows at the fact that she was accompanying Rick and they studied her, making her feel conspicuous in her beautiful gown. If she’d been facing them in her nurses’ uniform, she’d have felt much more comfortable. But again, for Rick, she wore a façade of polite pleasantness.

The wives and girlfriends of the men wore their beautiful gowns and jewelry with ease, and she wondered if she looked like a fish out of water, for she certainly felt it. It was small comfort to note that she wasn’t the largest lady in the room, but there were far more slim women whose gowns looked so much more elegant for their figures.

But Rick loves me the way I am. He’s not embarrassed by me. If he’s okay with me, I’m okay with me. After all, think about it, if any of these beautiful people were in hospital and required a suppository, I’d be giving it to them. That’d certainly level the playing field. The unexpected thought made her give a muffled giggle, which she suppressed as quickly as it started. When Rick looked down at her inquiringly, she met his gaze with an innocent face.