The Taming of Dr. Alex Draycott Read Online Free PDF

with the right answers, the whole emergency unit is at risk—so it’s not just my job on the line, but those of everyone who works here.’ She studied him. ‘You do understand that, don’t you?’
    He lifted his shoulders. ‘Of course I do…it’s just that I don’t see why you can’t hold fire for a while. The trust has been overspending for years—a few weeks isn’t going to make much difference to the grand scheme of things, is it?’
    She shook her head, causing her chestnut curls to swirl and shimmer under the overhead lights. ‘That’s where you’re wrong, I’m afraid. I have to report back to the board at the end of each month. They aren’t going to look kindly on me or the department if I show them an empty file.’
    He watched the cloud of burnished hair drift and settle. ‘You realise, don’t you,’ he countered, ‘that the board will do what it wants, no matter what facts and figures you manage to produce? If they’re set on closing the department, then ultimately that’s what they’ll do. They just need you to give them the firepower.’
    She regarded him steadily. ‘Well, I don’t think that way about it at all. I believe that I can make a difference. I believe we can make savings in lots of ways. In fact, going on my experience with a young patient this morning, I’ve decided I want to start a separate audit into the treatment of children with urinary infections…let’s see if we can’t cut down on the number of ultrasound scans, and choose our drugs more wisely, so that we’re not prescribing expensive ones where generic drugs will do better.’
    She warmed to her theme. ‘It’s just a question of devising the forms for people to fill in whenever they treat a child—and at the end we’ll collate all the information and see what savings we can come up with.’
    He looked at her, aghast. ‘Good grief, woman…don’t you have enough to do without getting started on audits that aren’t even part of your remit?’
    ‘But it all comes down to the same thing in the end, don’t you see? Savings are at the heart of everything.’
    He relaxed, beginning to smile at her. ‘I can see why you got the job…and I have to admire your persistence. You’re so full of energy and enthusiasm—but there’s more to life than work, you know. Where do you find time in all that for a social life—that thing called ‘fun’—boyfriends, and so on?’
    His glance drifted over her. ‘You’re a very attractive woman, and I’d have thought men would be queuing up to ask you out. Yet from what I’ve heard you don’t have a significant other, you don’t join the staff at the local pub—or even share lunch breaks with them. Isn’t there something missing from your life?’ His gaze became thoughtful. ‘Or perhaps you’ve been hurt…’ he said softly. ‘Maybe someone let you down?’
    She stared at him blankly for a moment or two. So he thought she was attractive? He’d said it before, but even so, it gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling, hearing him say it again. But as to the rest, when did she have time to socialise? Any spare time she had at work was spent on visiting her brother and his wife, and after work she needed to take care of the children.
    ‘I see the hospital grapevine has been busy,’ she murmured. ‘Is nobody’s life private around here?’ She frowned. ‘Though I could say the same for you. Snatches of gossip I’ve heard tell me you don’t ever settle to a relationship—fear of commitment is how they put it, I think.’
    He laughed. ‘I don’t see fear coming into it. Life’s too short, and I’m having a good time just as I am—being footloose and fancy-free. Why would I want to change things?’
    ‘Why indeed?’ She smiled wryly. ‘And much the same goes for me. I’m far too busy to even contemplate getting involved with anyone right now. Let the gossipmongers make of it what they will.’
    ‘And they will, believe me.’ He studied her. ‘Why don’t we