Joanna Neil - Temptation in Paradise

She spooned golden sugar crystals into the coffee and then sipped the hot brew carefully, unable to look him in the eye just then. She needed to gather her thoughts.

He was being polite to her, but that didn’t mean he was prepared to forgive her for walking out on him last night. For all she knew, she could be out of a job by the end of the day. She wasn’t used to being wrong-footed, but where this man was concerned it was beginning to look as though it might be something of a natural hazard.

Annoyed with herself for being so reticent, she put down her mug and sent him a wary glance. ‘Am I going to lose this job because of what happened yesterday? I’d like to know where I stand.’

He studied her over the rim of his cup. ‘Maybe we should start again and try to forget what went on between your brother and me. After all, as I said to you before, my quarrel is with him, not with you.’

She acknowledged his concession with a slight nod. It was way more than she might have expected and she was thankful for the reprieve, but inside she was still smarting over the unfairness of the situation.

‘I was hoping you might have had second thoughts about keeping him on.’

‘Not so far.’ His tone was abrupt, his jaw clenching. ‘Shall we agree to put that subject aside for now?’

She nodded reluctantly. What choice did she have? He was unrelenting in his attitude, and that was upsetting because she’d hoped to break through his tough exterior and appeal to his sensitivities. Perhaps he didn’t have any where Ben was concerned.

At the same time, this job was important to her. It wasn’t full-time but, even so, her salary had to pay for the rent of the apartment she was sharing with Ben—a place he’d had to find quickly after he’d been turned out of their father’s house, and for the time being it would have to cover his expenses, too, until he managed to find some other work. ‘I suppose we’d better,’ she murmured.

‘Good.’ He frowned. ‘What exactly were you expecting to get from working here?’ he asked. ‘Yesterday you mentioned you wanted to gain experience before you decide on a specialty—I can see that—but what else? Why here? Were you just hoping to spend some time with your brother and your father?’

He was quizzing her as though this was an interview, but she didn’t see any point in being less than truthful. ‘I was, of course … it means a lot to me to be close to them … but I also wanted to learn something about tropical medicine.’

‘Yet you’re planning to go back to the UK at some point, I expect?’ He looked at her guardedly, as though her answer was important to him. This was only a three-month contract, but perhaps there was a chance it would be extended.

‘Well, yes … but what I learn here will still be useful. With travel opportunities opening up all over the world, it’s probably more important than ever to be able to diagnose unusual illnesses. And who knows, I might decide that I want to stay in the Caribbean.’

‘That’s true.’ He seemed to relax and smiled properly for the first time that morning. ‘I dare say you found yourself treading water in the deep end this morning,’ he remarked. ‘Did you have any idea what kind of poisoning you and Dr Lombard were treating?’

‘None at all,’ she answered. ‘I’d never heard of the manchineel tree—it sounds as though it’s very dangerous.’

‘Oh, it is. That’s why most of the trees are ringed with notices to warn people nowadays. Even touching the leaves can cause blistering, and if you’re unwise enough to park your car near its branches during a rainstorm, you could find the paint stripped from it.’

She looked at him in astonishment. ‘You’re joking!’

He shook his head. ‘I’m afraid not. In the past, the Caribs put their knowledge of the tree’s features to good use. They found a way of dealing with their enemies by poisoning their water supply with leaves from the trees … and they used the sap from the branches to poison their arrows so that their victims would suffer a lingering death.’

Jessie shuddered. ‘I’m glad we’ve managed to become a bit more civilised by now.’

He nodded. ‘So am I. But it wasn’t all bad. If any of the captives managed to escape they might survive if their tribe could treat them soon enough. They used to apply an arrowroot poultice to the wounds to draw out the poison.’

She made a face. ‘I can see how the fruit earned its nickname—but thankfully it looks as though it’s not always fatal. Tyrell will be all right, won’t he?’

‘Yes. He might have some discomfort for up to a couple of weeks, but I’m sure he’ll be fine.’

José put down his cup and became businesslike once more. ‘If you’ve finished your coffee, perhaps I should show you around the unit? It’ll make things easier for you if you get acquainted with the layout of the place from the beginning.’

He laid a hand on her elbow, stirring up all kinds of warring sensations inside her as he gently steered her towards the door. She was all too conscious of his nearness, of his guiding fingers heating her skin. A tingling sensation ran in waves along the length of her arm, leaving her flustered and unsettled. There was no knowing why this man had such a potent effect on her, but after her experience back home, she had to steel herself against him. She couldn’t risk letting herself be ensnared all over again. Besides, the man had sacked her brother. What on earth was wrong with her?

‘You’ve already met Amanda and Robert,’ José murmured, as they walked back into the treatment area. ‘One or other of them will always be around if you need help with anything. I’m usually here, too, unless it’s one of the days, like today, when I leave early to go and help out at the coral reef.’

She frowned. ‘I had it all wrong from the beginning. When Ben mentioned his connection with you and the reef I thought that’s what you did for a living—that you were a marine biologist or some such.’

He smiled. ‘No, nothing like that. I see to the health of the divers and make sure everyone involved in the conservation work is okay. It’s on a part-time basis, but I provide cover whenever I can. We actually need more people to fill in on occasion.’

‘Oh, I see. Ben talks about the conservation sometimes. I know he enjoys helping out at the reef in his spare time.’

He nodded. ‘He’s a good diver and he’s thorough in his research. It’s just a pity he lets things slide in other ways.’

She frowned. ‘He’ll still be able to work with the group, won’t he?’

‘Yes, of course. I’m not in charge of the project.’ His glance moved over her fleetingly. ‘If you were interested, I could show some of the work we do. It would be good to have you come along with me.’

She wasn’t sure how to react to his invitation. Would it be wise to get involved with him outside the hospital? Then again, maybe she could help sort things out for Ben by going along with him? ‘Possibly.’ She made a noncommittal shrug.

José didn’t seem too concerned by her response. Perhaps he felt sure enough of her to bide his time.

By now they had reached the main A and E unit, and he showed her where equipment was stored and where she would find all the necessary forms. Theatre scrubs were kept in the locker rooms, but for the most part the doctors wore their own clothes when treating the children. ‘It’s less frightening for them,’ he said.

Robert joined them a few minutes later as José was telling her about the daily routine in the department and their procedures for admitting patients.

‘Hi.’ He acknowledged José and gave Jessie a quick smile. He seemed preoccupied but said, ‘I have to go and deal with an adult trauma emergency, so I thought you might like to look in on one of my younger patients—she’s a three-year-old and has one of those tropical diseases we have to deal with out here every now and again. I don’t know if you’ve heard of the chikungunya virus?’