Dr. Wilson walked into his line of sight. "You remember something?"
Leo studied him and nodded. This seemed like good news to the doctor. So he decided to play along with it. "Yes. I recognize her."
Dr. Wilson turned. "Marianna?" he asked. "You know this man?"
She nodded and stepped into the room.
"What are you doing down here, Mari?" the second doctor, who had been conversing with Dr. Wilson asked.
For a moment, Leo thought he detected a hint of anger flash across her face. "I helped this man get in here. I actually worry about those people in my care. I wanted to make sure he was doing well."
The red-haired woman who was standing next to her, smiled. "And we wanted to meet the prince."
Marianna shushed her and then looked apologetically over at Leo. "Don't mind, Donna. She wanted to tag along." Then her expression turned serious. "How are you? Are you feeling okay?"
He smiled at her and nodded. She was sweet. Something that was seriously lacking in the women in his life right now. "I am. Thanks for your help earlier."
She nodded. "Of course. Anything I can do to help a prince."
"This is interesting," Dr. Wilson said, clicking his pen and scribbling a few things on the chart in front of him.
Marianna turned to him. "Interesting. What are you talking about?"
"Leo has selective amnesia, yet he can remember you. Isn't that strange?" he asked, glancing at her from over his readers.
"Selective amnesia? Who can't he remember?"
Gisella sobbed from the corner. She covered her mouth with her hand when everyone turned to look at her. "Me," she wailed, wiping the (most likely) forced tears from her cheeks. "The woman he loves."
Marianna's eyes widened as she turned her attention to Leo. "That's too bad."
He studied her, enjoying how he felt in her presence. She seemed practical and calm. Perhaps just what he needed to get him out of the jam that he was in. "Where do you work?" he asked.
She furrowed her brow. "Here?" She paused. "Do you know where you are?"
Great. Now everyone was going to question everything he said, like he was slowly slipping into insanity. He nodded. "I'm at New York General. It's just that you seemed to know your way around the ER. Did you used to work here?"
She coughed, her skin turning red. Her gaze flicked over to the younger doctor and then back. "I needed a change of pace. I work up in oncology right not."
Huh. Not ideal, but he could make that work. "I want you to be my nurse."
"I"—she cleared her throat—"your what?"
"I want you to be my nurse. You are better than the one they assigned me."
A satisfied look passed over her face, but then she shook her head. "I don't think that is really a good idea. I don't work here anymore."
He shook his head. "No. I insist." He glanced over at Filippo, who nodded. He walked over to Dr. Wilson and pulled him aside. They started talking in hushed tones.
Marianna's cheeks flushed as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "You must have hit your head really hard. I'm not your nurse. I shouldn't have even been down here."
He wanted to protest, to state that only someone who was selfless would do what she did for him earlier today. But before he could say anything, Dr. Wilson stepped up to Marianna and whispered something under his breath. Her gaze flicked over to him and she nodded.
"We'll be right back," Dr. Wilson said, escorting Marianna from the room.
When the door shut behind them, Gisella whipped her gaze over to him. "What are you trying to pull?" she asked. She pointed her finger in his direction.
Leo took in her menacing stare. A tactic she'd used against him one too many times in the past. All it did was make him angry. She wasn't going to manipulate him anymore.