About the Author

JENNIFER TAYLOR lives in the north-west of England, in a small village surrounded by some really beautiful countryside. She has written for several different Mills & Boon® series in the past, but it wasn’t until she read her first Medical™ Romance that she truly found her niche. She was so captivated by these heartwarming stories that she set out to write them herself! When she’s not writing, or doing research for her latest book, Jennifer’s hobbies include reading, gardening, travel, and chatting to friends both on and off-line. She is always delighted to hear from readers, so do visit her website at www.jennifer-taylor.com

Recent titles by Jennifer Taylor:

SMALL TOWN MARRIAGE MIRACLE

THE MIDWIFE’S CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

THE DOCTOR’S BABY BOMBSHELL*

THE GP’S MEANT-TO-BE BRIDE*

MARRYING THE RUNAWAY BRIDE*

THE SURGEON’S FATHERHOOD SURPRISE**

*Dalverston Weddings

**Brides of Penhally Bay

Recent titles by Lucy Clark:

THE BOSS SHE CAN’T RESIST

WEDDING ON THE BABY WARD

SPECIAL CARE BABY MIRACLE

DOCTOR DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

THE DOCTOR’S SOCIETY SWEETHEART

THE DOCTOR’S DOUBLE TROUBLE

These books are also available in ebook format

from www.millsandboon.co.uk

Gina’s
Little Secret

Jennifer Taylor

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Pam and Dudley, with love and thanks

for all your help and support.

CHAPTER ONE

4 p.m. 11 December

‘THAT was ED on the phone. Bet you can’t guess what they wanted?’

Sister Georgina Lee groaned as she looked up from the computer. ‘Don’t tell me—they want us to find yet another bed for yet another patient.’

‘Got it in one!’ Rosie James, their young student nurse, grinned. ‘Give yourself a pat on the back.’

‘I would do if I had the time to spare.’ Gina’s expression was wry as she glanced at the computer screen. ‘It’s the third time I’ve tried to fill in this order form. At this rate, we’re going to run out of basic supplies.’

‘It has been busy,’ Rosie agreed. ‘I had no idea that life on the acute assessment unit would be so hectic. I thought it would be a doddle, to be honest. Patients would be sent here for a couple of hours and then they’d either be moved to a ward or sent home.’

‘That’s what most folk believe if they haven’t worked here.’ Gina laughed, her slate-grey eyes filled with amusement. ‘It’s what I thought happened here too when I took this job. I soon discovered how wrong I was!’

‘It must have been a shock,’ Rosie suggested.

Gina shrugged. ‘A bit, but I must admit that I enjoy the variety. If you work on a ward like Women’s Surgical, for instance, then you know that your patients will be either preparing for an operation or recovering from one. In here, you never know what you’re going to have to deal with. It certainly keeps you on your toes.’

‘I suppose so, although I’m not sure I’d be able to cope with the pressure, long term,’ Rosie admitted.

‘It’s not for everyone,’ Gina said firmly, not wanting the younger woman to feel discouraged. She shot another glance at the screen and stood up. ‘We’d better go and see if we can sort out a bed. Mr Walker in the end bay is supposed to be moving to Cardiology, so maybe we can sweet-talk them into taking him sooner than planned.’

Gina led the way, pausing en route to let the rest of the staff know that another admission was on the way. She smiled when her friend, Julie Grey, groaned. ‘I know how you feel, Jules. We’re bursting at the seams as it is. At this rate we’ll soon be having to use the staffroom!’

‘Either that or leave patients on trolleys in the corridor as used to happen in the past,’ Julie said ruefully.

‘Thank heavens those days are gone,’ Gina retorted. ‘The thought of any patient being abandoned like that makes my blood run cold.’

‘We all hated it,’ Julie assured her. ‘This new unit might get crowded but it’s a huge improvement on how things used to be.’

Gina left the staff to get on with their work and went to have a word with Frank Walker. He had been rushed in by ambulance at lunchtime complaining of chest pains. Subsequent tests had shown blockages to three of the main coronary arteries and the decision had been made to perform a bypass. Now Gina smiled as she stopped beside his bed.

‘So how are you feeling now, Mr Walker?’

‘So-so. The pain has eased off thanks to the medication, so that’s a blessing.’ He sighed. ‘I suppose I’ve only got myself to blame. My wife’s been nagging me for years to stop smoking and eat sensibly but I took no notice. I thought she was making a fuss about nothing.’

‘It’s hard to accept advice sometimes,’ Gina said tactfully. ‘Still, once you’ve had the bypass done, you’ll feel a lot better.’

‘Do you think so?’ Frank looked worried. ‘Oh, I know that young chap who came to see me was very dismissive, but you can’t help worrying, can you? I mean, they have to stop your heart and everything.’

‘Yes, they do, but they attach you to a special machine which takes over the jobs your heart and lungs would normally do,’ Gina explained, wishing, not for the first time, that Miles Humphreys had a better bedside manner. An operation such as this might be routine to him but it certainly wasn’t routine for the patient.

‘So you think it’s quite safe, do you, Sister?’ Frank said anxiously. ‘And that I should have it done?’

‘I do. Although it’s a major operation, it’s performed frequently. And I know for a fact that the cardio team here at St Saviour’s are highly skilled.’ She patted Frank’s hand. ‘You’ll be fine, I promise you.’

‘Thank you.’ Frank smiled at her. ‘I feel much happier now. Shame that young doctor didn’t take the time to reassure me like you’ve just done. You should give him a few tips on how to talk to his patients.’

Gina smiled although she didn’t say anything. Talking to Miles was something she was trying to avoid. Ever since he’d asked her out on a date and she’d refused, there’d been an atmosphere when he came into the ward. If only he would accept that there was nothing personal about her refusing his invitation.

She sighed as she went to phone the cardiology unit. The truth was she wasn’t interested in Miles or any other man. She’d had her heart broken once and there was no way that she was going to risk it happening again, especially when it could impact on Lily. Making sure that her two-year-old daughter was safe and happy was all that mattered. There was no room in her life for a relationship.

Frank Walker had just been transferred to the cardiology unit when the porters arrived with their latest admission. Gina was in the office, making yet another attempt to get to grips with the paperwork, but she went out to meet them. Julie had already directed them to the end bay and they were manoeuvring the bed into place when Gina got there.

‘So, who have we got?’ she asked, unclipping the notes from the foot rail. She glanced at the patient’s details. Name: Marco Andretti. Age: thirty-seven. Address: Villa Rosa, Florence, Italy. Just for a moment the full impact of what she was reading didn’t hit her and then all of a sudden her heart began to pound. It had to be a mistake! It couldn’t be her Marco….

Could it?

Gina took a deep breath as she forced herself to look at the man lying on the bed. His eyes were shut and the right side of his head was swathed in a thick white dressing but neither of those things mattered. As her eyes drank in the olive-tanned skin, the elegant nose, the chiselled jaw and sensuous curve of his mouth she felt panic assail her. It was Marco. There was no mistake about that!

‘Gina? Hey, are you OK?’

Gina jumped when Julie tapped her on the arm. She knew there was no point claiming that she was fine because her friend wouldn’t believe her. ‘I … urn … I feel a bit queasy, that’s all. I expect I’m hungry.’

‘Probably because you worked straight through your break.’ Julie made flapping movements with her hands. ‘Go on, scoot! You go and make yourself a cup of coffee. We can manage here, can’t we, Rosie?’

‘Well, if you’re sure.’ Gina turned away when the older woman nodded. Normally, she wouldn’t have dreamt of leaving the staff to settle in a new patient without her being present, but this wasn’t a normal situation, was it? A wave of hysterical laughter welled up inside her and she pressed her hand to her mouth as she made her way to the staffroom. Thankfully, there was nobody in there so she switched on the kettle then sank down on a chair as her legs suddenly gave way.

What twist of fate had brought Marco here to the very hospital where she worked? she wondered dizzily. It would be three years this Christmas since she had seen him last, three whole years since he had told her bluntly that he didn’t envisage them ever having a future together. His expression had been so cold that any protests she might have made had remained unuttered. What would have been the point of trying to convince him that they’d had something special, something worth fighting for, when he obviously hadn’t believed that himself? She couldn’t have made him love her, definitely wouldn’t have begged him to, so she had done what he had wanted and walked away.

Gina’s heart was heavy as she recalled that terrible period in her life. She had wondered in the beginning if once she had gone, he might realise that he missed her more than he had thought; however, as the weeks had passed, and he had made no attempt to contact her, she had accepted how foolish she’d been to hope for that. Marco may have enjoyed making love to her. He may even have enjoyed spending time with her for a short while, but he had never needed her as a permanent part of his life.

It had been hard to face that fact but at least it had made it easier to decide what to do when Lily was born. But now Marco was here and Gina knew that his reappearance in her life would have repercussions. It was bound to. Marco was Lily’s father. He had a daughter he knew nothing about.

CHAPTER TWO

‘RIGHT, everything’s sorted. One of the neuro team will be here shortly … Hello! Earth to Gina—are you receiving me?’

‘What?’ Gina jumped when Julie appeared in front of her. She took a quick breath, forcing the feeling of panic to retreat if not to actually disappear. The situation was way too volatile to hope that would happen.

‘Sorry, I was miles away,’ she said, getting up to spoon instant coffee into a couple of mugs. She added boiling water then reached for the sugar jar, deriving comfort from the familiar routine. Maybe that was the answer, she thought suddenly. Behave normally and Marco wouldn’t suspect anything was wrong. After all, there was no reason to tell him about Lily, was there?

‘Here, let me do that. I know I like my coffee sweet but three spoons of sugar is too much even for me!’ Julie edged her aside, tipping the offending brew down the sink before starting again from scratch. She treated Gina to an old-fashioned look as she handed her a fresh mug of coffee. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say the sight of our dishy new patient has knocked you for six.’

‘Rubbish!’ Gina gave a sharp little laugh, anxious to stamp on that idea before it could take hold. The last thing she needed was people speculating. ‘I’m just hungry, as I said. I didn’t have time to eat anything before I came into work, so it’s my own fault.’

‘I’ve got some sandwiches left. Here you go.’ Julie handed her a plastic container then leant against the work top while she drank her coffee.

‘Thanks.’ Gina forced herself to bite into one of the thick ham sandwiches even though the last thing she felt like doing was eating. Could she pull it off, make sure that Marco remained unaware of Lily’s existence? After all, he would only be in AAU for a short while; he would either be moved to a ward or discharged depending on what treatment he required. There was no reason why she should bring up the subject of their daughter.

Pain speared through her and she hurriedly took another bite of the sandwich. Their daughter, the child they had conceived together. She had truly believed that they had been making love when it must have happened, but that wasn’t how Marco had viewed it. It couldn’t have been. It had just been sex for him, pure and simple, and the fact that it had resulted in a beautiful, healthy little girl was incidental.

‘I’ve not dealt with a case like this before. It’s one of those things you read about but rarely experience.’

Gina looked up when she realised that once again her thoughts had been running off at a tangent. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Amnesia. Hopefully, he’ll recover his memory soon, but it must be really scary, not knowing who you are.’

‘You’re talking about Marco?’ Gina queried, then flushed when Julie looked at her in surprise. ‘That is his name, isn’t it? I think that’s what it said in his notes.’

‘Yes, that’s right. Marco Andretti. Apparently he’s a doctor, a trauma specialist, no less. I don’t know if that makes it better or worse, do you?’

‘I’ve no idea,’ Gina replied, struggling to follow what her friend was saying. ‘Are you telling me that he’s lost his memory?’

‘Hmm. Seems he had no idea who he was or where he was going when he was brought into ED. All the paramedics could tell them was that he was on his way from Heathrow when he was involved in an RTA.’

‘So how did they find out his name?’

‘One of the staff went through his pockets and found his passport—they got the details from that. They also found a letter confirming the time and date of an interview for the post of Head of Trauma care at the Southern Free. He must be pretty high up the ladder if he’s being interviewed for a post like that.’ Julie grimaced. ‘Not that it helps very much at the moment. It must be awful for him, mustn’t it? He’s all on his own in a strange country and he hasn’t got a clue who he is.’

‘So what’s going to happen next?’ Gina asked, her head reeling from what she had learned. Marco had come to London to attend an interview? She had never imagined that he would leave Italy and the news threw her so that it was hard to concentrate when Julie continued.

‘The police are going to try to contact his family. I expect he’s married. I can’t imagine a gorgeous hunk like him being single, can you? Hopefully, his wife will be able to fly over to be with him. One thing’s certain, though—he’s going to need a lot of support until he gets his memory back.’

Gina put the sandwich down after Julie left. Standing up, she went to the door. She could just see the end bay from where she stood although she couldn’t see the man who was lying in the bed there. So Marco had lost his memory? He didn’t remember who he was or anything about his life? She too had read about this kind of thing happening, but had never experienced it. Would he remember her? she wondered suddenly.

Her heart began to race. In one way it would be so much easier if he had forgotten about her, yet in another she couldn’t bear to think that those few weeks they’d spent together might have been expunged from his mind forever. Even though it was crazy to feel like this, she knew she had to find out.

She closed the staffroom door and made her way back to the ward. Everything was starting to settle down now as the patients adjusted to the idea that they were in hospital. There was open visiting in AAU and there were a number of friends and relatives gathered around the beds, but even they seemed calmer. It was always a shock when a loved one was rushed into hospital and people reacted in many different ways to the stress.

Gina had learned to cope with it all, the anger, the fear, the questions. It was rare that anything fazed her but she had to admit that her nerves were jangling as she approached the end bay. Marco still had his eyes closed and didn’t seem aware of her presence as she stood beside the bed, looking down at him. He had always been an extremely handsome man and nothing had changed in that respect. His body looked as lean and fit as ever beneath the thin hospital gown, his skin glowed with good health, his dark hair was lustrous and thick. Only the few strands of grey at his temples proved that time had passed, but even they did little to detract from his appeal.

Gina felt her stomach muscles clench as a wave of awareness rushed through her. Despite everything Marco had said and done three years ago, despite how much he had hurt her, she was still attracted to him!

Marco could feel the blood pounding inside his skull. He knew it was a result of the accident because the ED consultant had explained it to him. When the car he had been travelling in had collided with a lorry that had pulled out in front of them, he had hit his head and suffered a concussion. That accounted for the headache but did it really explain why he couldn’t remember who he was or where he’d been going?

He opened his eyes, gripping hold of the rails at the sides of the bed when the room swam sickeningly. Taking a deep breath, he forced the nausea to subside and focused on his surroundings. White walls, blue curtains, a familiar smell of antiseptic, which all added up to his being in hospital. He knew where he was. He also knew that it was somewhere he was used to being, too.

Marco frowned as he tried to make sense of that idea. Had he been ill recently, so ill that he had needed a prolonged stay in hospital? He didn’t think so. Apart from the headache, he felt quite well, not like someone who was recovering from an illness. So if he hadn’t been a patient, had he worked in a hospital in some capacity?

That idea seemed much more fitting. He closed his eyes again as he let it seep into his consciousness. He worked in a hospital? Yes, that was right. He knew instinctively it was true. And yet there was something odd about being here, something not related to the fact that normally he wouldn’t be lying in bed …

It was the voices, he realised with a start. Or, more accurately, the fact that they were speaking English. Although he understood what was being said, he knew that English wasn’t his first language. What was?

‘Dr Andretti. Can you hear me?’

Marco’s eyes shot open when a quiet voice spoke beside him. Turning his head, he saw a nurse standing beside the bed. She was small and blonde, her hair caught back at the nape of her neck with a dark blue ribbon that matched the blue of her uniform. Marco felt something stir inside him, something that felt almost like recognition. He had the strangest feeling that he had seen her before, but before he could work out where, she spoke again.

‘How do you feel?’

Her voice was soft, husky, and Marco felt a ripple of awareness run through him. The low, sweet tone of her voice was oddly soothing as it flowed along his taut nerves. For the first time since he had regained consciousness in the back of the ambulance he didn’t feel afraid.

‘I am not sure.’ His own voice sounded rough and he paused while he tried to work some moisture into his mouth. The nurse must have realised his dilemma because she reached for the jug and filled a glass with water. Bending, she slid her hand beneath his head and raised it a fraction while she held the glass to his lips.

‘Take a sip of this,’ she instructed, tilting the glass so that a trickle of cool water slid between his lips.

Marco swallowed greedily, frowning when she took the glass away, and she smiled faintly, her grey eyes filled with understanding. ‘You’ll be sick if you drink too much. You can have another sip in a moment.’

She gently removed her hand and he felt a wave of disappointment wash over him that owed nothing to the fact that he’d been deprived of the water. Why should it have felt so good to have her touch him like that? he wondered. And why did he want her to touch him again?

He watched as she placed the glass on the bedside cabinet, studying the gentle curve of her cheek, the sweeping length of her lashes, the upward tilt of her small nose. She was extremely pretty in a very English way with that fine, pale skin and those delicate features. Everything about her was refined, feminine, and he found it very appealing. He realised with a start that he was attracted to her, even though she was very different in appearance from Francesca.

The memory slid into his mind without any warning. He remembered who Francesca was, how she had looked … everything! Pain lanced through him and he closed his eyes, wondering if he could bear to go through the agony all over again. If this was what it felt like to get his memory back, he would rather forget!

Gina frowned as she looked down at Marco. His eyes were tightly shut and his hands were clenched into fists. Bending, she felt for his pulse, concerned in case he had taken a sudden turn for the worse. Head injuries were notoriously difficult to treat and it wasn’t unknown for a patient’s condition to deteriorate in the blink of an eye.

The thought sent a shaft of fear scudding through her. Gina’s fingers tightened around his wrist as she counted the life-giving beats. Julie should have put him on a monitor, she thought as she made a rapid calculation. He needed his blood pressure checked and his oxygen saturation levels monitored. You really couldn’t take any chances with an injury like this.

His eyes suddenly opened and she felt her own blood pressure zoom several notches up the scale when she found herself staring into their golden-brown depths. Was that recognition she could see in his gaze? Had Marco remembered who she was? The thought scared her and she let his hand drop back onto the bed, afraid that her touch would be the catalyst to make him regain his memory. She didn’t want that to happen until she had worked out what she should do about Lily!

‘I’d be happier if you were on a monitor,’ she said hurriedly, ashamed that she could think that way. It must be terrible for Marco to lose his memory and she should be doing everything she could to help him.

Everything except telling him about Lily and how the little girl had been conceived, a small voice whispered inside her head.

‘Just lie there and try to relax while I fetch it,’ she instructed as calmly as she could. She hurried away, afraid that he would realise something was wrong if she lingered. There was a spare monitor outside the office so she went to fetch it then hesitated, unsure if she should go back at that moment. Although she wanted him to recover his memory, maybe it would be better if she steered clear. He would be going up to Neurology soon and once he left AAU that would be the last she needed to see of him. When Rosie appeared, she called her over.

‘Can you set this up in the end bay for Dr Andretti? I want you to keep an eye on him, too. Don’t let him go to sleep. We need to check there’s nothing brewing.’

‘But ED said he was OK,’ Rosie protested. ‘He’s had a CT scan and it was clear.’

‘That may be so, but it isn’t unknown for a bleed to develop later,’ Gina said sharply. ‘That’s why he’s been sent here, so we can monitor what’s happening.’

‘Oh, I see. Sorry. I just assumed he was here because of losing his memory.’ Rosie looked so downcast that Gina instantly regretted being so brusque with her.

‘That’s certainly one of the reasons why he was sent to us, I imagine. Hopefully, someone from the neuro team will be here soon. I’ll give them a call and see what’s happening. But in the meantime, we’ll apply both belt and braces, i.e. put him on a monitor and do fifteen-minute obs.’

‘I understand.’ Rosie perked up a bit. She grinned as she manoeuvred the monitor out of the corner. ‘Not that it’s any hardship to keep an eye on him, mind. He’s definitely fit, despite his age!’

Gina laughed as the young nurse hurried away. Anyone would think that Marco was in his dotage if they heard that, whereas from what she had seen, he was in his prime. Her heart gave a little jolt at the thought and she hurried into the office to phone Neurology. They promised to send someone down within the hour so she had to leave it at that. There were other patients who needed her attention, after all; she couldn’t devote herself solely to Marco’s care even if she wanted to, which she didn’t.

She squared her shoulders. Marco had made his feelings perfectly clear three years ago and even though he may have lost his memory, she doubted if he had changed his mind. She hadn’t figured in his life back then and she wouldn’t figure in it now, with or without Lily.

CHAPTER THREE

BY THE time the neuro registrar arrived, Marco was feeling decidedly out of sorts. It seemed that every time he closed his eyes that young nurse would appear and start talking to him. He was sick and tired of her shrill little voice buzzing in his ears like a demented wasp. Why hadn’t that other nurse come back, he thought impatiently, the one who had spoken to him so gently? He could put up with her disturbing him very easily.

He frowned as once again a memory tried to surface only to disappear the moment he attempted to capture it. He was more convinced than ever that he had met her before, but if that were the case then why hadn’t she said something? His head ached even more as he tried to work it out but it was just too difficult. Hopefully, it would all come back to him in time, all the good memories as well as the bad, like those about Francesca.

Sadness welled up inside him and he closed his eyes, afraid that in his present state he would do something unforgivable like cry. After Francesca had died, he hadn’t cried, hadn’t been able to. He had been too numb at first, too eaten up by grief later to give vent to his emotions. Over the years it had become increasingly important that he shouldn’t break down. He had needed to remain strong if he was to stick to his decision never to allow himself to fall in love again. There had been just that one time he had wavered, when he had realised that he was letting himself feel things he shouldn’t …

‘Dr Andretti? I’m Steven Pierce, the neuro registrar. Sorry about the delay but it’s been like a madhouse today.’

The memory melted away and Marco’s eyes shot open. He stared at the man standing beside the bed then let his gaze move to the woman beside him. So she was back, was she? She had deigned to spare him some time now that her colleague had decided to pay him a visit?

Marco’s irritation levels shot up several notches and he glared at the younger man. ‘About time too. Is it normal practice to leave a patient suffering from a head trauma in a busy ward like this?’ His gaze skimmed around the room, taking stock of the patients and their visitors, and his expression was frosty when he looked at the nurse. ‘The noise level in here is appalling, Sister. If I was in charge of this department then you can be sure that it would be run along very different lines.’

‘But you aren’t in charge, are you, Dr Andretti?’

Her voice was still soft, but there was a coolness about it that stung and Marco’s frown deepened. However, before he could say anything else the younger doctor intervened.

‘Unfortunately, AAU is one of the busiest departments in the hospital. We think we have a tough time on the wards, but I don’t know how the staff here copes with all the comings and goings.’

Marco inclined his head, acknowledging the rebuke and the justification for it. He had been rude and there was no excuse for that. ‘Of course. I apologise if my comments caused offence, Sister. Mi scusi.’

‘There is nothing to apologise for.’

Her tone was still chilly and he felt a prickle of disappointment nibble away at his irritation. For some reason he couldn’t explain, he didn’t want her to be so distant with him. The thought surprised him so that it was a moment before he realised the registrar was speaking again.

‘I noticed that you spoke Italian just now, Dr Andretti. Obviously, some aspects of your life are starting to return.’

‘Si,’ he concurred slowly. ‘I realised earlier that English wasn’t my first language, but it is only now that I know Italian is.’

Steven Pierce nodded. ‘It’s a start. You will probably find that bits and pieces come back to you in no particular order. You’ll recall one event and not recall something else that happened at the same time.’

‘You think it is retrograde amnesia,’ Marco queried.

‘Yes, more than likely. Most people with amnesia suffer a gap in their memory that extends backwards from the onset of the disorder. When you hit your head during the accident that was the start and now you’re finding it difficult to recall what went on before then.’ Steven smiled. ‘However, the fact that you are able to diagnose your own condition is another indication that your memory is starting to return.’

‘Bene. It is not pleasant to not know who you are and what has happened to you,’ Marco admitted. He glanced at the nurse and felt surprise run through him when he saw the alarm on her face. It was obvious that something was troubling her even though she was doing her best to disguise it.

She must have sensed he was looking at her because she glanced round and he saw the colour run up her face before she turned away, busying herself with rearranging the water jug and glass. Marco knew that it was merely an excuse to avoid looking at him and felt more perplexed than ever. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her what was wrong when the younger man continued.

‘I’d like to move you to the neuro unit so we can run some tests, but unfortunately we’re short of beds right now.’ He turned to the nurse. ‘I’m afraid Dr Andretti will have to stay here for tonight, Gina. Sorry about that.’

‘It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.’

She summoned a smile but Marco could tell how strained it was even if the other man didn’t appear to notice. He listened without interrupting while the registrar explained that he would like Marco to be kept under observation. If he was honest, his attention was focused more on Gina than on the plans for his ongoing care.

Marco shivered as he silently repeated the name. Once again there was that flash of recognition, the feeling that he had met her before. He tried to force the fog from his brain but it wouldn’t lift. Was he imagining it? Was his brain trying to compensate for its lack of memories by creating new ones?

As a doctor, he knew it was possible. False memories could be implanted in a person’s mind; it was a proven fact. But why would he want to do such a thing? Surely he wasn’t so desperate to ease his loneliness that he would choose to latch onto a total stranger?

That was another memory, the fact that he was lonely. Marco let it settle in his mind then dismissed it as he did every single time. He wouldn’t allow himself to wish for more than he had. He’d had everything a man could have dreamed of once and lost it. He couldn’t and wouldn’t go through that agony again.

His heart began to pound as he looked at the woman standing beside the bed. Maybe he couldn’t recall where they had met but he knew—he just knew—that they had! In that second he realised how vital it was that he regain his memory as quickly as possible. He had to find out why Gina was pretending not to know him.

The evening wore on, bringing with it the usual mix of the mundane and high drama. Gina had worked on AAU for almost two years and had seen it all before, but that night seemed very different from all the others. She was so conscious of Marco’s presence that her senses seemed acutely heightened. The noise level was extremely high; the number of visitors per bed did need reducing; waiting times were too long—people needed to be seen by a specialist far sooner than was currently happening.

She sent Julie off to clear the ward of excess visitors. Two per bed was the designated limit and she intended to stick to that. While Julie was doing that, she phoned all the departments that were supposed to be sending someone down to see a patient, refusing to accept the usual excuse that they were short of staff. As she politely reminded them, AAU was for acute cases only. It wasn’t an overflow for the various wards. She had just finished when she heard a monitor beeping and Rosie came rushing into the office.

‘The man in bed seven can’t breathe!’ the student gabbled at her.

‘Have you put him on oxygen?’ Gina asked, getting up. She didn’t say anything when Rosie shook her head. She would run through the emergency procedures again with her later, after they had dealt with this crisis. Hurrying into the ward, she picked up the oxygen mask and swiftly fitted it over the patient’s nose and mouth. ‘Just try to breathe normally, Mr Jackson. That’s it, nice and steady now. Good. You’re doing great.’

She checked the monitor, noting that his pulse rate was much faster than it should have been and that his blood pressure was too low. Philip Jackson was forty-four years old and had been admitted via ED after complaining of being short of breath. His symptoms had disappeared since he had been on the unit and Miles Humphreys had concluded that the man had suffered nothing more serious than a panic attack. Miles had overruled her suggestion that Philip should remain there overnight for monitoring and had discharged him. Philip had actually been waiting for his wife to collect him when this had happened.

Gina bit back a sigh as she turned to Rosie. Miles wasn’t going to be happy about being proved wrong. ‘Can you ask the switchboard to page Dr Humphreys, please?’

She picked up the patient’s notes as Rosie hurried away. The best way of dealing with Miles, she had found, was to be totally clued up about every aspect of a case. There was nothing of any significance in the notes that ED had made so she delved further into the file, frowning when she discovered that Philip Jackson had undergone surgery to repair a hernia three months earlier. It hadn’t been included in the patient’s recent history, but could it have a bearing on his present condition?

Miles arrived a few minutes later. Gina’s heart sank when she saw him striding down the ward because she knew he was going to give her a hard time. Why wouldn’t he just accept that she didn’t want to go out with him? You couldn’t make someone want to be with you, as she knew from experience. Unbidden her gaze went to Marco and she felt heat flow through her when she discovered that he was watching her. She hurriedly turned away, forcing herself to concentrate as Miles demanded to know what had happened.

‘Mr Jackson has had difficulty breathing again.’ She kept her gaze on the patient but she could feel Marco’s eyes boring into her back. Had he remembered who she was? she wondered sickly. It was obvious that his memory was starting to return, so it could happen any time. What was she going to say if he asked her about her life? Could she simply ignore Lily’s existence, pretend that she didn’t have a daughter?

‘I asked you a question, Sister. If it isn’t too much to expect then I would like an answer.’

The sarcasm in Miles’s voice cut through her musings and Gina jumped. ‘I’m sorry, what did you say?’

Miles’s expression darkened. ‘I asked if any of the staff were present when the patient started to complain of shortness of breath.’

‘No,’ she replied truthfully. ‘Rosie came to fetch me when the monitor started beeping.’

‘I see. It appears that things are getting rather slack around here. If you’d been keeping a closer eye on your patients, Sister Lee, this might not have happened.’

Gina forbore to say anything. She knew that Miles would love it if she argued with him. The fact that he had discharged Philip Jackson didn’t matter, it seemed. She waited silently while Miles examined him. Although Philip was responding to the oxygen, his blood pressure was still low. He also complained of having a pain in his chest which was worse every time he breathed.

‘Keep him on oxygen for now and we’ll see how he goes,’ Miles instructed after he’d finished. ‘I’m still not convinced it isn’t another panic attack.’

‘According to his notes, Mr Jackson had surgery to repair a hernia almost three months ago,’ Gina pointed out levelly. ‘Could that have any bearing on what’s been happening recently?’

‘Certainly not.’ Miles’s tone was scathing. ‘If there was a problem following surgery, it would have shown up before now. I suggest you stick to nursing the patients, Sister, and leave the diagnoses to those of us who are qualified to make them.’

Gina’s face flamed. It was galling to be spoken to that way. The visitors at the next bed had obviously heard what Miles had said because she could see the sympathy on their faces. However, before she could say anything another voice cut in.

‘Sister has raised a valid point. It is an established fact that a pulmonary embolism can occur up to three months following surgery.’

Gina swung round, her eyes widening when she saw the grim expression on Marco’s face. He wasn’t looking at her, however; he was staring at Miles. His deeply accented tones were icy as he continued.

‘I suggest you send the patient for a scan to rule out that possibility.’

A rush of heat ran up Miles’s neck. ‘I assure you that there is no need for you to get involved, Mr … um …’ Miles stopped, obviously at a disadvantage because he didn’t know Marco’s name.

‘Andretti. Dr Andretti,’ Gina told him, placing just enough emphasis on Marco’s title that Miles couldn’t fail to notice it. ‘Dr Andretti is an expert on trauma care,’ she added sweetly.

‘Oh, I see.’ If anything, Miles went even redder. ‘Thank you, Dr Andretti. Rest assured that I shall bear your advice in mind,’ he blustered.

Marco’s expression didn’t soften. ‘You would be better off sending the patient to Radiology rather than waste time thinking about it. If it is a pulmonary embolism then time is of the essence.’

‘I … ahem … yes, of course.’ Miles hurriedly scribbled an instruction to that effect and thrust it into Gina’s hands. ‘See that Mr Jackson is sent for a scan immediately, Sister.’

‘Of course,’ Gina murmured as Miles hurried away. She told Philip Jackson that she would arrange for a porter to take him and moved away from the bed, pausing as she drew level with Marco. She wasn’t sure why he had stood up for her, but she had to admit that it felt good to know that he had. She forced that foolish thought aside as she smiled politely at him. ‘Thank you, Dr Andretti. I appreciated your help just now.’

‘Prego!’ He shrugged, drawing her attention to the solid width of his shoulders beneath the thin hospital gown. Although there wasn’t an ounce of spare flesh on him, he had a leanly muscular physique that looked impressive in or out of clothes.

The thought was more than she could deal with and she started to move away, only to stop when he caught hold of her hand. Gina could feel the light pressure of his fingers on her skin and a wave of longing suddenly shot through her. It had been three years since she had felt his touch, three years since any man had touched her, because she’d not had another relationship since. Maybe that explained why it felt as though there was fire, not blood, running through her veins.

‘I was happy to help … Gina.’ His gaze held hers fast and she felt her heart rate increase when she saw the question in his eyes. In that second she knew that he had recognised her and panic rose up inside her.

‘Look, Marco, this really isn’t the time or the place to discuss what happened between us,’ she said urgently.

‘No? Then when would be a good time?’

His tone was even so it was impossible to guess what he was thinking. Gina struggled to regain her control. She still hadn’t made up her mind if she intended to tell him about Lily. When she had first found out that she was pregnant, she had decided to contact him. After all, he’d had a right to know that he was to be a father, although she’d planned to make it clear that she didn’t expect anything from him. However, when she had failed to contact him by phone and the letter she had sent to his home had been returned, unopened, she had changed her mind.

Marco had made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t interested in anything she had to tell him. To her mind, he had forfeited any rights he’d had and she wouldn’t contact him again. However, that had been before he had reappeared in her life. Even though she loathed the idea, it made a difference. It was hard to know what to do, although one thing was certain: until she had made up her mind, she needed to stay calm.

‘I don’t know. The last thing I want is people talking, so maybe it would be better if we left things as they are until you’re discharged.’ She gave a sharp little laugh, hearing the strain it held and praying that Marco couldn’t hear it. ‘That’s assuming we have anything to talk about. After all, it’s not as though we parted the best of friends.’

CHAPTER FOUR

1 a.m. 12 December

MARCO couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t just the fact that he wasn’t used to being surrounded by so many people that had kept him awake, but what Gina had said: It’s not as though we parted the best of friends.

It didn’t take a genius to work out that they must have had a relationship, but what sort exactly? The obvious answer was that they’d had an affair, but although there were gaps in his memory, he remembered enough to know that he didn’t normally indulge in affairs. The thought of moving from one woman to the next purely for sexual gratification was anathema to him, but if that were the case, it meant that Gina must have played a very different role in his life.

He closed his eyes, wishing he could recall what had gone on between them. Oh, he could remember all sorts of things now: where he had worked for the past few years—six months in Australia followed by two years in the USA. He also remembered why he had come to England—he had been head-hunted by one of London’s top teaching hospitals. He should have been attending an interview for the post that very day, in fact. He would have to contact them and explain why he wasn’t able to make it, although that didn’t seem nearly as important as this. Why couldn’t he remember what Gina had meant to him? All he knew was what she had told him, that their parting had been less than amicable. Hell!

Marco swore softly as he tossed back the bedclothes. Thankfully, his headache had gone and apart from the swelling above his right ear, there were few physical mementoes of the accident. If he could only fill in these gaps in his memory, he would be fine and definitely well enough to leave here. Quite frankly he’d had enough of being a patient!

His mouth compressed as he made his way down the ward. He knew the two nurses had gone for their break because he had seen them leave. It meant that Gina was on her own, so it would be the ideal time to talk to her. He frowned as he stopped outside the office because he still didn’t understand why she had been so reluctant to admit that she knew him. Obviously something serious must have happened between them in the past and he wouldn’t rest until he found out what it was.

The thought spurred him on. He didn’t bother knocking before he opened the door. Gina was sitting at the desk and he saw the surprise on her face when she glanced up.

‘You were quick,’ she began then trailed off when she saw him.

Marco saw the colour drain from her face and the fact that he had no idea what he had done to cause her to react that way angered him. His tone was harsher than he had intended it to be. ‘I need to know what you meant when you said that we hadn’t parted the best of friends.’

‘And as I also said, this isn’t the time or the place to discuss it.’ She stood up abruptly. ‘Now, if you wouldn’t mind returning to your bed, I have work to do.’

She took a couple of steps towards him, obviously intending to usher him from the room, but he stood his ground. Drawing himself up to his full six feet he stared haughtily down at her. ‘I am not going anywhere until you explain what is going on. It’s obvious from what you said that we have met before, so why did you choose not say anything sooner?’

She turned away, taking her time as she sat down. Marco could tell that she was struggling to gather her composure and was more perplexed than ever. Even if they’d had an affair, this was the twenty-first century and most young women would take it in their stride. So what was she so afraid of?

‘I thought it best if I didn’t say anything.’

Her voice was so low that he wondered if he had misheard her and frowned. ‘Best? How? I don’t understand.’

‘Because … well, because they always say that it’s better if people remember things for themselves.’ She took a quick breath and hurried on. ‘If I’d told you everything I know about you then you’d never be sure if you’d remembered the details yourself or if I’d planted them in your mind, would you?’

It made sense, so much sense that Marco hesitated. It could very well explain why she had been so reluctant to acknowledge him and yet he had a gut feeling that there was more to it than that. A lot more, too.

‘I see. So it was purely a desire to help me that kept you quiet,’ he said smoothly.

‘I … Yes, that’s right.’ A little colour touched her cheeks as she reached for her pen. ‘I’m glad you understand that it was in your best interests that I said nothing, Dr Andretti.’

‘And how about your interests, Gina? Was it in your best interests that you remain silent, I wonder?’

He knew he’d scored a hit when he saw her face pale but, oddly, it didn’t give him any pleasure. To know that something must have happened in the past to make her so afraid of him was very hard to take. His tone was gentler when he continued, less confrontational. ‘Look, Gina, I don’t want to cause trouble. Not for you or for me. I just want to fill in as many of the blanks as possible.’

He shrugged, aware that it wasn’t usual for him to admit to any feelings of weakness. Normally he preferred to keep his emotions under wraps but he needed to draw her out, if he could. ‘I cannot begin to explain how terrifying it is not to be able to recall what has happened in your life. Even though I now remember quite a lot, there are many questions that still need answering.’

‘What sort of questions?’ she asked, and he frowned when he heard the tremor in her voice. It was obvious that she was under a great deal of strain and he hated to think that he was adding to the pressure on her, but he needed to find out all he could about this situation.

‘I don’t know!’ he declared in sudden frustration. ‘When you forget so much about your life, everything becomes a question. What do I enjoy doing when I’m not working, for instance? Where did I go for my last holiday? I can’t answer either of those things!’ He ran his hands through his hair, wishing he could physically force the memories to surface, and winced when his fingers encountered the tender spot above his ear.

‘Sit down.’ Gina was around the desk in a trice. She steered him towards a chair then went to the filing cabinet and switched on the kettle sitting on the top. ‘I’ll make you a cup of coffee. It’s only instant, I’m afraid. Sorry. I know you dislike it but it’s all we have.’

‘That is exactly what I mean.’ Marco sighed when she glanced round. ‘I didn’t know that I dislike instant coffee because I didn’t remember.’

The ghost of a smile touched her mouth. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything then you wouldn’t have been disappointed.’

Marco laughed. ‘Ignorance is bliss—isn’t that a saying you have in this country?’

‘Yes, it is.’ Her smile faded abruptly as she picked up the jar of coffee. ‘Sometimes it’s better to live in ignorance.’

Marco had no idea what to say to that. He knew instinctively that she wasn’t referring to his loss of memory and it puzzled him. What did she know that she didn’t want anyone to find out?

His breath caught as he watched her pour boiling water into the mugs because he realised that he needed to amend that question. What did Gina know that she didn’t want him finding out?

Gina placed the cups on the desk and sat down. She could feel herself trembling and took a deep breath. At some point during the past few minutes she had reached a decision. She wasn’t going to tell Marco about Lily. Maybe she would regret it later but she would worry about it then. Right now, it seemed more important that she keep her daughter’s existence a secret from him.

At the moment Lily was a happy and well-adjusted little girl. Gina had taken great care to ensure that the child enjoyed a stable home life. One of the reasons why she had ruled out having another relationship was because of the effect it could have on Lily. She had seen it happen to friends’ children. New partners arrived on the scene and the family’s dynamics had to alter accordingly. She didn’t want that for Lily, didn’t want her daughter to grow up surrounded by people who came and went in her life. She wanted Lily to have security.

If she told Marco about Lily, there was no knowing what he would do. Maybe he would be indifferent to the fact that he had a daughter but, more worryingly, he might want to play a role in the child’s life, at least for a while. She couldn’t bear to think that Lily might grow attached to him only to be let down at some point in the future. As she knew to her cost Marco could very easily change his mind.

Thoughts rushed through her head until she felt dizzy. She took a sip of her coffee, hoping it would steady her. If she was to stop Marco learning about Lily’s existence then she would need to be extremely careful about what she said.

‘How did we meet?’

She looked up when he spoke, feeling her heart jerk when she saw the way he was watching her so intently. He had always been very astute and she mustn’t make the mistake of underestimating him. Although she hated to talk about the past, she knew it would be better to tell him the truth—as far as she could.

‘I flew over to Florence to collect a patient you’d been treating,’ she answered, pleased to hear that her voice held no trace of the nervousness she felt.

‘I see.’ He frowned. ‘Obviously, you weren’t working here at the time.’

‘I worked for a company that repatriates clients to the UK when they’re taken ill abroad.’ She shrugged. ‘The gentleman I was due to collect had suffered a stroke. It was supposed to be quite straightforward. I’d collect him from the hospital and accompany him back to England. Unfortunately, he suffered a second stroke shortly before I arrived and you decided that he wasn’t fit to fly.’

‘So what happened then? Did you return to England?’

Gina heard the curiosity in his voice and realised there was no point prevaricating. ‘No. The patient’s family asked if I would stay while he was in hospital. He was on his own and they felt it would help if he had someone with him.’ She shrugged. ‘The family offered to pay my salary and the firm I worked for agreed to let me take some leave, so I said yes.’

‘For how long?’ Marco demanded.

‘Six weeks.’

His brows rose. ‘That seems an excessive amount of time to me. Surely your patient was fit to travel before then?’

This was the difficult bit, the part she didn’t want to explain. ‘Sadly, the patient died a week later.’

‘But you didn’t go home?’

She shook her head.

‘Why not?’

‘I’d never visited Florence before and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to see something of the city and surrounding area.’

‘So you stayed to do some sightseeing?’ His tone was flat and she couldn’t blame it for the shiver that passed through her. It took every scrap of composure she could muster to answer.

‘Yes.’ She stood up, making a great show of checking her watch. ‘I’m sorry but I really do need to get on.’

‘Of course.’ He stood up as well, looking so big and male as he towered over that her heart beat all the harder. ‘Will you just answer me one final question, Gina?’

‘If I can.’

‘Did you also stay on in Florence because of me?’

Gina bit her lip. She could lie, of course, but she knew him well enough to guess that he would see through it. Tipping back her head, she looked him in the eyes. ‘Yes, I did. Now, if that’s all …’

She walked around the desk, steeling herself as she passed him. How she ached to touch him, to lay her hand on his arm and tell him the rest, that she had stayed because she had fallen in love with him, had thought he had loved her too, but what was the point? No doubt Marco would remember it all in time, remember those few glorious weeks they’d had before he had realised that he had no longer wanted her, although his memory of what had happened must be very different from hers. Tears pricked her eyes and she turned away. She refused to let him see her cry, refused to let him take away her dignity as well as everything else!

‘I am sorry, Gina, so very sorry that I can’t remember.’

The regret in his voice was almost too much. Somehow she made it out of the door but it was hard to hold onto her composure. When Julie came back from her break, she told her she was going to the canteen and hurriedly departed. And as the lift swept her up to the top floor, the tears that she had held at bay trickled down her cheeks.

She had loved Marco so much! Loved him with her heart, her soul and every scrap of her being, but it hadn’t been enough. Not for him. He had taken her love and tossed it back in her face and there was no way that she would risk that happening again.

Gina took a deep breath as the lift came to a halt. Whatever she and Marco had had was over. What she needed to focus on now was Lily—the one good thing to have come out of the whole terrible experience. So long as Lily was safe and happy, nothing else mattered.

If he had hoped that talking to Gina would set his mind at rest, Marco was disappointed. He spent the night thinking about what he had learned or, more importantly, what he hadn’t. He sensed that Gina was keeping something from him and had no idea how he could find out what it was. Maybe he should wait until his memory returned of its own accord and go from there?

He sighed. He had no idea how long it would be before he could remember everything that had happened and he wasn’t sure if he could wait. It was obvious that Gina wasn’t going to tell him anything else, so if he was to find out what she was keeping from him then he would have to start digging for the information himself. And to do that, he needed to get out of here. When Steven Pierce arrived shortly after eight a.m. Marco could barely contain his impatience.

‘Good morning, Dr Andretti. How are you feeling today?’ Steven enquired as he lifted Marco’s chart off the end of the bed. The night staff had gone off duty by then and there was another nurse with him who introduced herself as Sister Thomas. Marco found himself wishing that it was Gina standing there, Gina with her soothing voice, her gentle manner, her beautiful smile. The world always seemed a much nicer place when Gina was around.

The thought slid into his head and he knew that it had occurred to him before. There was a familiarity about it that resonated deep inside him. Marco took a quick breath, feeling little waves of panic rippling along his veins. Gina had meant something to him in the past, something more than he would have expected if they’d had a casual affair. And the fact that any woman could have had this effect on him after Francesca stunned him.

‘Dr Andretti?’

‘Scusi.’ Marco hurriedly marshalled his thoughts when he realised that Steven was waiting for him to answer. ‘I am feeling a lot better this morning, thank you.’

‘Good. That’s what we like to hear, isn’t it, Sister?’

‘Indeed, Doctor.’

Marco tried not to wince when the woman spoke. She had a particularly irritating voice, rather nasal and high-pitched, completely different from Gina’s low, sweet tones … He stamped down hard on that thought, forcing himself to concentrate as Steven asked him a series of questions aimed, Marco suspected, at checking how much of his memory had returned.

‘That’s excellent,’ the registrar concluded. ‘You obviously recall a lot more today than you did yesterday. Most people suffering from retrograde amnesia find that the gap in their memory continues to shrink over a period of time. I’m hoping that is what will happen with you.’

‘Do you have any idea how long it will be before I remember everything?’ Marco demanded. Maybe he would feel easier if he knew that in a week’s time, say, he would remember all about him and Gina. What was so frustrating was the fact that he had no idea when the details of their relationship would come back to him.

‘Sadly, that’s a question I can’t answer. It could be hours or it could be months.’ Steven’s tone was sombre. ‘To be perfectly frank, Dr Andretti, your memory might never come back completely. It’s one of the hardest things anyone who has suffered from amnesia has to live with, the feeling that there may be something he or she can’t remember. All I can advise you to do is to take it one step at a time and see what happens.’

Marco knew that it was good advice, advice he, himself, would have given a patient. However, it was very different being on the receiving end. ‘Surely there is something you can do to speed up the process!’

‘I’m afraid not.’ Steven looked a little taken aback by his vehemence. ‘Rest and relaxation are what will help most at the moment. That’s why I’ve arranged for you to be transferred to a private room. You should find it more peaceful there.’

‘No.’ Marco shook his head. ‘I have no intention of remaining here. I feel perfectly fine, quite well enough to leave.’

‘Oh, I really don’t think that is a good idea,’ Steven began, but Marco held up his hand.

‘I have made my decision. Physically, I am fit enough to leave, do you agree?’

‘Well, yes,’ Steven conceded.

‘Bene. So the only problem I have is my inability to remember everything that has happened in the past and as you have just told me, Dr Pierce, there is no knowing how long it will be before that issue resolves itself.’ He shrugged. ‘I cannot remain here indefinitely.’

‘I appreciate that, Dr Andretti. However, a couple more days could make a huge difference,’ Steven insisted. ‘With rest and relaxation, maybe some counselling, we could achieve a real breakthrough.’

‘I can rest at my hotel,’ Marco assured him, knowing the younger man had his best interests at heart. That thought reminded him of what Gina had said and he knew that no matter what else happened, he had to get to the bottom of this mystery. If he and Gina had been more than simply lovers, he needed to know!

The thought sent a rush of heat coursing through him and he cleared his throat, stunned by the speed of his response. Although Gina was a beautiful woman, he had met other equally beautiful women over the past few years and had never reacted this strongly. What was it about her that seemed to touch him on so many levels? he wondered. He had no idea but he couldn’t deny that she affected him deeply.

‘I appreciate your concern, Dr Pierce, but I assure you that I know what I’m doing,’ he said, forcing himself to focus on the issue at hand. ‘I shall leave this morning and go to my hotel.’

‘Do you remember where you’re staying?’ Steven put in quickly.

Marco named the hotel and smiled wryly. ‘I stay there whenever I’m in London, as I recall.’

‘I see.’ Steven looked resigned. ‘Obviously, I can’t keep you here against your will, but I do hope you’ll be sensible, Dr Andretti. If you experience any problems, please get in touch with us immediately.’

‘I shall.’ Marco smiled as he held out his hand. ‘Thank you for everything. You have been extremely kind.’

‘Just doing my job,’ Steven assured him, shaking hands.

Marco didn’t waste a single moment after the other man left. He drew the curtains around the bed and got dressed. His clothes looked decidedly worse for wear but as he didn’t have anything else, he put them on. He had no idea what had happened to his luggage. It was probably still in the back of the hire car, but that was the least of his worries. How long would it be before he remembered what had happened between him and Gina? A day? A week? A month? A year?

He shook his head. He couldn’t wait that long. He had to persuade her to tell him the truth, but it wasn’t going to be easy. All he could do was try to gain her trust—if he could. Something warned him that getting Gina to trust him was going to be an uphill struggle.

CHAPTER FIVE

12 December

GINA was dreading going into work that night in case Marco was still there. Although he should have been transferred by now, it depended on whether a bed had been found for him. It was a relief when she discovered that the end bay was occupied by another patient. At least she wouldn’t have to field any more awkward questions that night, although she wasn’t foolish enough to think it would be the end of the matter. Marco obviously suspected something was wrong and she knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t simply give up.

Panic assailed her at the thought of the harm it could cause if he found out about Lily. If only she could predict how he would react, it would be so much easier, but that was something she couldn’t do. She had no idea if he would be thrilled or furious to learn he had a daughter, and no idea at all how he would feel about it in the long term. As she knew from experience, Marco could blow hot one minute and cold the next, and there was no way that Lily was going to be subjected to his mood swings.

Gina’s heart was heavy as she set to work. It wasn’t in her nature to be deceitful, but she had to do what she believed was best for Lily. Rosie was working again that night so they made a start on the obs. Julie was supposed to be on duty as well but there was no sign of her. Gina knew they wouldn’t be able to manage with a member of staff short and went into the office to phone the nursing manager to see if she could provide cover. She had just picked up the phone when Julie came rushing in.

‘Sorry! My car broke down and I had to leave it in the street and walk the rest of the way.’ Julie looked worried as she unravelled her scarf. ‘I hope it won’t cost a fortune to get it fixed. With Christmas just around the corner, money’s really tight.’

‘Fingers crossed it will be something minor,’ Gina said sympathetically. Julie had three teenage children and Gina knew how hard she and her husband worked to pay all the bills.

‘Fingers and toes,’ Julie agreed, grimacing. ‘Right, so what needs doing first? Obs?’

‘Please. It’s not quite as hectic as last night but we’re still pretty full. Go and put your coat away and then we’ll finish the obs. Bearing in mind that it’s Friday, I’m sure business will pick up soon.’

‘Bound to,’ Julie replied cheerfully. ‘By the way, is that dishy Italian doctor still with us? It would be nice to have a stunner like him to look at instead of the usual Friday night drunks.’

Gina dredged up a smile. ‘You’re out of luck, I’m afraid. There’s another patient in the end bay so I assume he’s been moved to Neurology.’

‘Pity. I could have done with a pick-me-up after the evening I’ve had.’

Julie laughed as she hurried away. Gina sighed as she went to check on Rosie. She didn’t want to keep thinking about Marco but it was impossible not to do so. It was the uncertainty that was worst of all, the fact that she had no idea what he would do next. Would he seek her out and try to get more information out of her about their past?

The thought made her stomach churn. Every time she spoke to him, she ran the risk of saying something revealing, and it was worrying to know how easily she could trip up. Quite frankly, it would suit her fine if she never had to see Marco Andretti again!

Marco spent the day resting in his hotel room. Despite his claims, he felt far weaker than he had expected when he had left the hospital. It was a relief when the porter showed him to his room.

He tipped the man and asked him to send up a pot of coffee. Although there were coffee-making facilities in the room, he couldn’t face another cup of instant brew. Gina was right—he did hate it—and the fact that she remembered such a minor detail seemed to highlight this problem he had. They must have been very close if she knew his likes and dislikes, so why couldn’t he remember what had gone on between them?

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