LITMIR.BIZ

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know each other at all, did we?’ he shot back.

      The words hung in the air between them. He sounded bitter. And he was. But even he was surprised by how quickly the words had come out. They’d never had this conversation before. She’d just told him she was leaving and hotfooted it out of the hospital as if she were being chased by a bunch of killer zombies.

      Five years of missions for Doctors Without Borders had loosened his tongue. He’d dealt with armed conflict, natural disasters and epidemics. He was less willing to placate and tolerate. Life was too short—he knew that now. He and his brother had lost their parents to an accident eight years ago, and he’d lost too many patients all over the world.

      She flopped down into the chair next to him, letting her floral scent drift under his nose. That was new. Rachel didn’t smell like that before. She’d always worn something lighter. This was stronger, more sultry, more like something a woman eight years on would wear. Why would he expect anything to stay the same?

      ‘Actually, you’re right,’ she muttered, going back to the original conversation and completely ignoring his barb. ‘Darius is probably the most well-known of them all. Five of them I don’t recognise and three I’ve never even heard of.’

      It was almost a relief that finally they could agree on something.

      ‘How do you want to do this?’ She pointed to the pile of notes. ‘Do you want to go over each patient individually or do you just want to split them up?’

      Splitting the pile would be easier and quicker. But Nathan wasn’t about to let her off so easy. He needed to have another doctor he could rely on. Rachel had been a good doctor eight years ago—but he’d no idea how she was now. ‘Let’s do them together. That way, if either of us is on call we’re familiar with all the patients. There’s only nine—this won’t take too long.’

      He picked up the nearest set of notes and started flicking. ‘Diamond Dazzle—real name Mandy Brooks. She’s had liposuction, two breast enlargements, one skin biopsy, one irregular smear test and lots of Botox. She apparently had her lips done a week ago—so we’ll need to keep an eye on her for any signs of infection.’

      Rachel shook her head. ‘Why would an already beautiful twenty-two-year-old think she needs all this?’

      Nathan put the file back on the desk. ‘Beats me.’ He folded his arms across his chest. ‘Do you think this makes her ineligible for the challenge? Having spiders or rats crawl over her body—and probably face too—will make her more vulnerable to infection.’

      ‘I think just being in the jungle alone makes her at higher risk. Who would do that? Know that they’re coming somewhere like this and go for a procedure less than a week before?’

      Nathan smiled. He knew exactly where she was coming from but he also knew the answer. ‘Someone who wants to be on TV.’

      Rachel shook her head. Some of her hair was coming loose and the curls were starting to stray around her face. It was odd. She hadn’t aged as much as he had. There were a few tiny lines around her eyes and her body had filled out a little. But nothing else. She was every bit as beautiful as he remembered.

      His face and skin had been weathered by five years of on and off postings in countries around the world. The last had been the worst. The sand felt as if it would never wash off and the darkening of his skin—coupled with lots of lines—made him more weathered. It didn’t help that he felt about a hundred years older.

      ‘Shall we call her in?’ He had to focus on work. That was what they were here to do. Lewis hadn’t lied about everything. On the surface, this could be three weeks of paid vacation time. Supervising the challenges would only take a couple of hours each night. He could live with that.

      Rachel stood up and walked to the door. ‘I’ll get her. They’re down on the beach with the director. Apparently they’re going to make it look like they had to row part way here.’

      Nathan just rolled his eyes.

      It didn’t take long to chat to each celebrity and review their medical files. A few were taking medications that they’d still require in the camp. A few others had intermittent usage of medications for angina, migraines or asthma that Rachel and Nathan agreed they could still take into camp. None of that stuff would be shown on camera.

      Eventually it was time to speak to Darius. As soon as the guy walked into the room Nathan bristled. He just didn’t like him—would never like him. For some reason, the pictures of Darius and Rachel together were imprinted on his brain.

      Rachel smiled nervously. ‘Darius, this is Nathan, the other doctor on duty. We are having a chat with everyone about their medical file and requirements in the camp.’

      Darius had that soap actor look. Clean tanned skin and straight white teeth. He looked as if on occasion he might work out at the gym and he also looked as if he needed to gain a little weight.

      Nathan held up his file as Rachel shifted from foot to foot. ‘There’s not much in here, Darius. If I’m going to be the doctor looking after you I need to know a little more about your medical history.’

      Darius’s eyes shifted over to Rachel. He was a confident guy who was obviously used to things going his way. ‘There’s no need. Rachel knows my medical history. That’s why she’s here.’

      Nathan leaned across the desk. ‘But Rachel might not always be available. She’s not on call twenty-four hours a day for the next three weeks, you know. And she’ll have other patients to treat too. The rest of your campmates and the crew need doctor services too.’

      Darius gave a fake smile as he glanced at Rachel. ‘I’m sure she’ll cope.’

      Nathan’s hand balled into a fist as he kept his voice deadly calm. ‘Any allergies I should know about? Are you in good health right now? Do you require any medications or special diet requirements?’

      Darius took a few seconds to reply, almost as if he was rehearsing his answer. ‘No allergies. I’m in perfect health and I’m not taking any medication right now.’

      Measured. That was the word that Nathan would use. Rachel, in comparison, looked like a cat on a hot tin roof. What on earth had happened between these two?

      There was something in the air. But it wasn’t like the spark Nathan had felt between him and her when Rachel had first walked in here. It was something different. Something easier—at least it seemed easier to Darius. He seemed cool and confident around Rachel. Assured.

      Darius stood up and put a hand on Rachel’s shoulder. ‘Thanks for being here, Rach.’ He glanced at Nathan. ‘I hope it doesn’t cause you too many problems.’

      He disappeared out of the door to where the director was assembling the production crew.

      Nathan folded his arms. ‘Well, that was informative. What does he have on you, Rach?’

      Her expression of relief changed quickly. It was amazing how quickly he could put her back up. ‘What do you mean? Nothing. He has nothing on me. Why would you even think that? I’ve already told you I’ll be looking after Darius. There’s nothing you need to know.’ She was getting angrier by the second and he knew he was right.

      He moved around the desk, leaning back against it, only inches away from where she stood. Her perfume filled the air around him. ‘Really? So what did he mean by “I’m not taking any medication right now”? When was he taking meds and what for?’

      He could see the conflict flitting across her eyes. The rational part of her brain knew exactly why he was asking. His suspicion hadn’t been misplaced. There was something to tell; that was the whole reason Rachel was here. But what was it? Three weeks of this would drive him crazy.

      She stared him straight in the eye. ‘This is ridiculous. I don’t want to be here. You don’t want to be here. Why doesn’t one of us just leave?’

      She was cutting straight to the chase but he hadn’t missed

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