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Stopping in front of a door where Gerard’s name was etched in gold letters on a black enamel plate, the receptionist knocked discreetly, opened the door, and motioned Linda inside.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling at the girl.
Linda entered Gerard’s office, heart hammering nervously.
“Come in, Ms. Coriola,” he said, grinning. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
Why so formal? Probably for the benefit of the receptionist. After she left, Gerard’s gaze traveled slowly up Linda’s body, from her red heels to her no-doubt even redder cheeks.
He sat behind his paper-strewn desk, thin-rimmed reading glasses perched on his nose. Linda had never imagined eyeglasses like those could be sexy, but they suited the intellectual Doctor Leon. Combined with the enticing man she’d gotten to know last night, the package was irresistible. Good-looking and scary smart. How lucky could she get?
He stood and walked toward her. As he leaned over to kiss her cheeks, she inhaled the musky, masculine scent of his aftershave, the aroma that had lingered in her home long after he’d gone.
“I didn’t expect to see you so soon. What brings you to HOPE today?”
He motioned to the chairs facing his desk, but she shook her head and walked over to the window, feeling the weight of his gaze on her.
“I’ve got a meeting with Jane Orwell. I want her to explain why the board isn’t helping move your treatment out of the testing stages, when there are many drugs and supplements out there for sale and use that haven’t been fully vetted.”
She turned in time to see the surprise on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but she didn’t let him.
“I’m not doing this for you, Gerard. My family and I are generous benefactors of this clinic. My priority is the children’s health. If something can be done to save them but isn’t, I want to know why. I’ll do whatever I must to fast track your treatment. Together, wewillmake this happen and save lives. I won’t see another child like Lara die needlessly.”
His gaze locked on hers. She noticed the shadows under his eyes and his wrinkled lab coat. Hadn’t he gotten any sleep last night? Even rumpled and unshaven, the man looked formidable. Aside from the physical desire he awakened inside her, his strength of character was one of his most appealing features. The fire in his eyes bespoke his passion for his work, and she admired his dedication to it.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said at last. “I never meant to put you in the middle of this mess, but if you think you can help, go for it. I want nothing more than to be able to heal these children, ease their suffering, and save more lives.”
“I know, but if you want to do that, you should start by getting more sleep. You look exhausted. Is something wrong?”
He exhaled, dragging his fingers through his hair.
“Wrong? I’m not sure that’s the right word. Unfortunately, it seems I have to take some time off next week for unscheduled business, and I’m trying to rearrange things accordingly.”
“Why?” she asked, wishing she could erase the worry lines from his face.
“I have to go to Romania.”
“Romania? Transylvania? Land of vampires and Dracula?” she asked, intrigued. “Whatever for?”
He smiled and pointed to the mountain of papers spread across his desk.
“I have a physician friend there who was a good friend of my father’s. He collaborated successfully with another Romanian doctor in the past, and they’ve created a potential treatment using hellebore, a plant native to the area, which has proven effective in treating certain cancers. The results vary from case to case, and the treatment doesn’t work on every patient, or on all forms of the disease. Like my snake venom serum, the best results are obtained in incipient stage cancer tumors. But every weapon we can get can be valuable.”
“And your friend wants to share his treatment formula with you?” she asked.
“Yes. In exchange for mine. I’ve prepared copies of my research for him.”
Linda approached the desk and examined the scattered papers.
“Chemical formulas, observations, notes, reports… This is all related to the serum you created?”
“It is. Just about everything that could be put down on paper.”
Her eyes narrowed. “And you trust this man?”
“Absolutely.”
She continued examining the notes on the desk, well aware that while she did so, he sat back in his chair, studying her.
