The Rebel and the Baby Doctor by Joanna Neil Read Free Book Online Page A

surprise to you, should it? After all, you were the one who called me Missy Play Safe. Perhaps you ought to familiarise yourself with my other title, Missy All Planned Out. That way, you’ll always know what to expect, won’t you?’
    His mouth took on a rueful expression as he watched her over his coffee-cup, and Phoebe smiled as she tasted her fruit tart. Was he finally getting the message?
    Somehow, it was a bitter-sweet victory.

CHAPTER FOUR
    ‘S O, IS your car running smoothly now?’ Phoebe met up with Alex as they both headed for the doctors’ lounge. ‘Has the garage mechanic managed to sort everything out for you?’
    ‘Yes, he has, and it’s good,’ he said, nodding and pushing open the door for her. ‘Not that it will ever match up to Connor’s speed fiend.’ His eyes narrowed and he looked thoroughly put out. ‘I didn’t think I’d ever be green with envy, but if you were to colour me all over in grass, spinach and lime jelly with emerald sprinkles, then you have it. I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again.’
    She laughed. ‘Poor Alex. What are we going to do with you? Nothing ever goes quite the way it should, does it?’ She went over to the worktop at the side of the room and lifted up the coffee-pot. ‘Tell me you’re getting on better in Orthopaedics, at least.’
    ‘It isn’t too bad, I suppose.’ He came to stand beside her and pulled two mugs down from a shelf. ‘I’ve been putting in extra hours on the job to cover for people on sick leave, and that seems to have gone down fairly well with my boss. I’m just a bit worried because I’vebeen pulled out of the training day seminars on a couple of occasions to attend emergencies, and that’s not going to bode well for my monthly review meeting.’
    Connor must have come into the room while they were pouring coffee, because he appeared alongside them and said, ‘Training days are supposed to be protected. You should talk to your consultant about that.’
    ‘Oh, sure, and he’s going to have me down as a complainer, isn’t he? Where will that leave me when the references are being written?’
    Connor shrugged and helped himself to coffee. ‘Sometimes you have to make a stand, and stick up for what’s right.’
    ‘Yeah, right. Coming from someone who can always fall back on Daddy’s money to keep him going if the worst comes to the worst, I’d say that was rich—if you’ll forgive the pun.’
    ‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,’ Connor murmured. ‘I don’t rely on my father for anything, least of all his money. What I have is mine through my own endeavours.’
    ‘Did I get it all wrong?’ Disgruntled, Alex took his coffee over to the window and gazed out briefly at the landscaped gardens, before turning around once more. ‘Sorry…but you seem to have done pretty well for yourself, all the same. And you always land on your feet, don’t you?’ Alex’s eyes took on a mischievous glint. ‘I couldn’t help noticing that the new senior house officer in children’s A and E—Lisa, is it?—was bowled over with your flash car. I heard you had taken her out in it.’
    ‘She needed a lift home.’ Connor’s gaze was thoughtful. ‘Is that a problem for you?’
    Alex’s mouth turned down at the corners. ‘Take no notice of me. It’s pure sour grapes. I’m just jealous because I don’t have a sleek roadster for myself. It’s my own fault. I should have worked harder…or invested in oil when the price was right.’
    He drank his coffee and threw Connor a mischievous glance. ‘Things worked out all right for you with Lisa, though, didn’t they? I heard you and she were all cosied up in her new house last night. Nice one.’
    ‘You don’t miss much, do you?’ Connor fixed him with a steady gaze. ‘Or is this the hospital grapevine working at full speed?’
    Alex chuckled. ‘You know how it is. The nurses work with the senior house officers, and there’s a bit of gossip here and a long chat