Page 13 of The Library on Plum Island
Daniella turned and gave him a tight smile as she switched on the light for the board.
“Her ankle isn’t broken,” Daniella told him. “She had fourteen stitches to sew up that gash.”
“Ouch!” Alex said in sympathy for Emily.
Daniella studied the latest X-ray of Alex’s hand and compared it to the one he’d had done earlier. Luckily, no further damage had been done to it.
“Your hand looks the same as it did earlier,” Daniella told him, switching off the light, going to the sink to wash her hands, and putting on clean gloves. “I just need to check the swelling and bruising.”
She ignored the quickening of her heart as she gently touched his warm hand. His scent wafted over her, teasing her senses.
“Is that one of those surgical headlights?” Alex pointed to the contraption on her head that Daniella had forgotten she still wore.
She nodded, examining his hand. “It’s called a surgical loupe.”
“Cool.” Alex nodded.
Daniella could feel his eyes watching her as she carefully felt his hand, feeling him flinch when she hit an extra tender spot. She rested his hand back on the cushion Tanya had rested his arm on.
“Alex,” Daniella said, ignoring his magnetic blue eyes, “you’ll never know how grateful I am that you found my baby. I don’t have the words to express my gratitude.”
“Uh-oh!” Alex lifted an eyebrow. “I can feel a beratement coming.” He held up his hand. “Before you start, may I ask you something?”
“Sure!” Daniella nodded.
“Will you and Emily come to my house tomorrow afternoon for a barbecue?” Alex’s invitation floored her.
She knew that Emily would want to go, but Daniella wasn’t even sure if they’d still be on Plum Island the next day. Nor was she sure spending more time in Alex’s company was a good idea.
“I’m not sure, Alex,” Daniella answered honestly.
“Harriet and Dawn are moving in. They’ve been tasked to look after me while my hand is in as cast,” Alex explained, shaking his head before joking, “I personally think it’s just an excuse for Harriet and Dawn to save money on their hotel bills.”
“Yes, I was there at the impromptu meeting about your well-being,” Daniella told him. “You may as well hear it from me—“ She gave him a teasing smile. “I voted yes for them moving in.”
“You’re my doctor, so I’d not have thought otherwise.” He grinned. “The barbeque is a housewarming welcome for them and a thank you to you for helping me with this.” Alex pointed to his hand.
“That’s sweet,” Daniella acknowledged. “But unnecessary on my part. I’m a doctor, and it’s my job to heal.”
“Regardless,” Alex insisted. “You were on your way out when I ruined your plans, so allow me to say thank you… or I could give you my yacht.”
“Can I take the yacht instead of the barbeque?” Daniella looked at him thoughtfully. “I could do a lot more with it.”
“You’d prefer that over a barbeque with me cooking?” Alex looked at her with mock hurt.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Daniella sighed, playing along. “My sailing skills stop at a forty-five-foot craft, and I’ve never actually sailed a superyacht, so I wouldn’t be able to afford someone to captain it for me.”
“I would be your captain for free,” Alex told her. “And it would be really fun to see the look on my brother’s face when he came to borrow it, and it belonged to you.”
“Ah!” Daniella nodded, updating the tablet Tanya had left in his room. “So offering me your yacht is actually about being spiteful to your brother?”
“No. It’s more like revenge for setting Harriet and Dawn on me.” Alex snorted and shook his head. “Those two together are like a super sergeant major.”
“Well, while heroic, what you did tonight was careless,” Daniella pointed out. “Again, as a mother, you’ll never know what you did for me and Emily tonight. But as your doctor, I have to tell you to cut the heroics until your hand is one hundred percent.” She moved the cart with the materials to put a new cast on Alex’s hand closer to the bed. “If having Harriet and Dawn as your houseguests until your hand heals ensures you don’t try anything stupid again, then I’m glad they’re there.”
Alex hadn’t taken his eyes off her as she’d delivered her speech, and Daniella patted herself on the back for getting through it without faltering. His gaze had a strange effect on her.
“I have to check on Oz and restitch his head,” Daniella told Alex. “So Nurse Beckett will be along shortly to recast your hand, and I’ll check on you once it’s set. So sit tight and relax.” She handed him a remote for the television. “Watch a show.”
