Page 28 of Prognosis Temporary

To the expanse of flesh above her cleavage.

To her cleavage.

As at the restaurant that first fateful night, people turned and looked at the sound of her laughter and Sebastian could see more than casual interest in several appreciative male glances.

A sharp nudge to his ribs bought Sebastian back to his surroundings. Brent Cartwright, an emergency physician at the Royal Melbourne and one of his oldest friends, handed him a beer.

‘She’s a bit of all right.’

Sebastian frowned at Brent, who went through women as though the Apocalypse was upon them, and thought, over my dead body. ‘She’s not your type.’

Brent hooted and clapped him on the back. ‘Oh, and what is my type?’

‘Younger, blonder. More party, less...’

Brent raised an eyebrow. ‘Less?’

Sebastian looked his friend straight in the eye. ‘Substance.’

Clearly impervious to insult, Brent laughed. ‘I don’t know, Seb, old man, that dress has party girl stamped all over it.’

Sebastian frowned at the naked appreciation in Brent’s eyes. That dress has his stamped all over it.

‘Callie is not the party type.’

Brent eyed him speculatively. ‘Callie, huh?’

Sebastian shrugged. ‘She’s the colleague of mine I was telling you about this afternoon.’

‘Ah.’ Brent nodded slowly like things were clicking into place. ‘Curious you never mentioned how gorgeous she was.’ He drained the dregs of his beer. ‘Come on, introduce me.’

Sebastian resisted Brent’s urging. ‘I thought some hot babe gave you her room number this afternoon?’

Brent winked. ‘You know I never pass up an opportunity to meet a beautiful woman. Unless...’ Brent raised an eyebrow ‘I’m trespassing?’

Sebastian thought how furious Callie would be to be talked about like she was some chattel to be traded. ‘For God’s sake, Brent, she’s not a piece of land,’ he said, more sharply than he’d planned.

‘All righty, then.’ Brent grinned. ‘I’ll take that as a yes. Now I definitely want to meet her.’

Sebastian followed him reluctantly, snagging another beer from a passing waiter — he was going to need something to get through watching Brent unleash his considerable charm on Callie. He hadn’t met one woman yet who’d been able to resist the whole tall, dark and handsome thing Brent had going on.

‘Excuse me, Callie,’ Sebastian said as he approached and attention turned their way. ‘I’d like you to meet an old friend of mine, Brent Cartwright.’

She smiled brilliantly at Brent driving a hot spike of jealousy between Sebastian’s ribs.

‘Pleased to meet you, Brent,’ she said, sticking out her hand.

‘My pleasure,’ he murmured, shaking the proffered hand. ‘Seb tells me you work together.’

‘That’s right,’ she confirmed, her expression neutral.

Sebastian kept his expression just as neutral as Brent entertained Callie in that charming witty way of his, aware that despite the dresses and the tuxedos, they were still surrounded by colleagues and this was a professional gathering. She was delivering a paper tomorrow. Looking at her with frank, hungry eyes was inappropriate.

But occasionally, when the conversation involved him, her gaze strayed in his direction, flicking over the jacket of his tuxedo and lingering on his shoulders and his throat. And that’s when things got really heated, when he felt the hunger in him reflected in her and his facade slipped again for a beat or two.

It was a relief to be called to dinner especially given they’d been seated at different tables. Hopefully he could relax and enjoy the evening now. The company was fun and the surroundings were sumptuous with the ballroom transformed into a teeming jungle complete with greenery and live, lush tropical blooms.

Myriad fairy lights amidst the foliage gave it a other-world feel as did the candles and frilly orchids arranged into masterful centrepieces on all the tables. They reminded Sebastian of the hem on Callie’s dress and their wild heady aroma reminded him of rain dripping off leaves, damp earth and hot, sweaty sex.

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