We all stand and follow her out into the corridor where we loiter around the reception as we wait. This really is exciting.
“Oh my God, there he is,” Amber whispers.
I turn to look up the corridor and see a male in a navy suit talking to a nurse. His back is to us, and I do have to admit from where I am standing, he does look pretty good. He throws his head back and laughs out loud at something she has said.
Jeez.
“Holy shit,” she whispers as she grabs my hand in excitement.
I bite my bottom lip and drop my head to hide my smirk. This Dr. Barbie chick is kind of funny. I can see us being friends.
I glance back up as he turns and my face drops.
What?
Holy fuck.
No… it can’t be.
That cheeky smile. I would know it anywhere.
Vegas guy.
I frown as the floor moves beneath me. This can’t be.
My breath catches as he turns and walks down the corridor towards us. His hair is dark with a bit of length and messy wave on the top, and his muscular physique is framed in his perfectly fitted suit. That square jaw and those dark eyes…
My gaze drops to his feet. Those perfectly clean tan shoes that I remember so well.
He’s a cardiologist?
What the fuck? It can’t be…
One hand is tucked in his pocket, while the other holds a file. He smiles brightly as he approaches us. “Hello, everyone.”
“Hello,” they all reply eagerly.
Amber elbows me in the ribs. “See… I told you,” she whispers from our place at the back.
I have no words. I never thought I would see him again.
“Please, come into this room for a moment.” His deep velvety voice shows off that sexy Australian accent.
We all follow him into an office. He has this air about him—this powerful, confident air.
I remember it.
I remember him.
We all stand in a group and I stay at the back. I look like shit. I want to go home and change immediately. God, why did I fucking wear this?
“My name is Cameron Stanton. Thank you for applying to intern with me. I’m looking forward to spending the year with you all.”
Cameron.
“Hi, I’m Amber,” Amber announces as she steps forward and shakes his hand. “I can’t wait to get to know you.” She smiles enthusiastically. I see a trace of amusement cross his face before he disguises it immediately.
“I’m Mathew.” They shake hands.
He smiles and nods. “Nice to meet you, Mathew.”
“I’m Zane.”
“Hello.” He smiles.
“I’m Maria.”
He smiles broadly. “Hello, Maria.” They shake hands.
“I’m Steven. It’s an honor to meet you,” he sings proudly.
Cameron smiles broadly. “The pleasure is all mine.”
It’s my turn, and I step out from behind the others. He looks up, but his face falls the moment he sees me. My heart stops. “Hello, I’m Ashley,” I whisper.
He frowns as his eyes hold mine. “Ashley,” he repeats.
I hold out my hand and he takes it in his. I’m jolted with a zap of electricity and I have to stop myself from letting out an audible gasp.
With a subtle shake of his head, he remembers where we are and quickly shakes my hand. “Nice to meet you, Ashley.”
Our eyes are locked when a trace of a smile crosses his lips.
I drop my head in dismay. Holy hell.
What are the chances of meeting him here? Like this? I thought he was from Texas.
Oh no.
I’m the loser he never rang.
“Dr. Stanton, you have a phone call,” a nurse interrupts.
“Give me ten minutes, please.” He smiles to the group before disappearing up the hall.
My heart is hammering. “I’m going to the bathroom,” I lie. I walk in the opposite direction to which he went. Crap, I’m so rattled by seeing him. I find a courtyard and I quickly walk out into the fresh air and ring Jenna.
Ring, ring.
“Hey, how’s the first day going?” she answers chirpily.
“Oh my fucking God. It’s him.”
“Huh?”
“It’s fucking him.”
“What the heck are you talking about?”
“Vegas guy is the doctor I’m interning for.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“I’m serious.”
There’s silence down the line.
“Are you there?” I eventually whisper.
“I can’t believe this. Are you sure it’s him?”
“It’s him!” I snap.
“Jeez.” She laughs. “Wow. I told you to wear the skirt today.”
I glance down at my daggy attire. “Oh God, Jen, this is a disaster. I’m the fuckwit he never called.”
“What are you going to do?”
I close my eyes. “I don’t know.”
“Where are you now?”
“In the courtyard. “I glance around at my surroundings. “He’s taking a call.”
“Well go back in. Who cares? Just do it.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Shall I buy wine?”
“Buy a case.”
“Bye. Love you.” I hear the smile in her voice.
“Yeah, bye.” I hang up.
For the next three hours, the group and I follow Dr. Cameron Stanton around as he sees his patients. He is knowledgeable, caring, gentle, and absolutely orgasmic. He has the whole group as well as his patients under his spell. Everyone is hanging off every word that comes out of his mouth with that beautiful Australian accent.
Amber laughs at everything he says, and the boys are trying to become his best friend. Maria is quiet.
Me… well, I’m just plain horrified—horrified that a man I met five years ago for a period of twelve hours still has the ability to make me feel the way I am feeling at this moment.
This is the opposite of professionalism—this is loserism.
We continue to walk around the ward, and for some reason I begin to feel annoyed with him. Everyone in this hospital idolizes him like he’s a damn rock star. He’s gorgeous, smart, witty… and he didn’t fucking call me. En-route to another ward, he stops to talk to another doctor walking in the opposite direction as they cross paths.
“Ten minute break, guys,” he says to the group. The doctor he is talking to is also young and good looking, and it is obvious they are friends out of work.
I turn my back to them, but stay in the same spot as Amber starts to talk to me. I can’t listen to what she’s saying because I’m too busy eavesdropping on Dr. Panty Dropper and his hunky friend.
“Are you going to the conference in Geneva?” The other doctor asks him.
“If I can swing it, I am,” Cameron replies.
“Yeah, well try and come and we can make a week of it.”
“Okay, I’m on it.”
The visiting hours have started and the corridors have people coming and going. One particular woman is on her own with three small children. The two smallest children are throwing tantrums and the youngest one is screaming the place down and she is dragging her along by the arm.
Dr. Stanton turns and smiles in acknowledgment to her before she disappears up the hallway with her screaming kids, then he turns back to his friend. “This is why condoms were the greatest ever invention,” he casually whispers.