Page 46 of Prognosis Baby Daddy

She leaned against him briefly. ‘I’m fine,’ she mumbled, pushing away from him and walking on shaky legs to the desk. Carmella offered Katya the chair she’d been sitting in and Katya felt too weak to refuse.

‘I was stationed not far from Mulgahti a few years ago,’ she said, locating it easily on the map that had been spread on the table. ‘MedSurg spent six months there, treating victims of the local civil war.’

Carmella glanced at Ben. ‘Do you have any contacts there still?’ she asked Katya.

Katya thought for a moment. It was a difficult area, controlled by local warlords, one of whom they’d patched up after he’d taken a bullet to the shoulder. ‘Maybe,’ she said. ‘Gill would be the best contact. I can make a few phone calls.’ She looked first at Carmella then at Ben.

Carmella looked at Ben then back at Katya. ‘Any help you can give would be welcome,’ Carmella said.

Ben saw the smile that Katya gave his field officer and the spark of interest in Katya’s eyes, and an idea started to form in his head. ‘Why don’t you two stay here in my office and see what progress you can make?’ he suggested. ‘Carmella can help you with any information you might need,’ he said to Katya.

Katya nodded, feeling a tremor of excitement course through her, knowing she might be able to help get a child in need of medical attention to the Lucia Clinic. ‘It’s the middle of the night in Australia — Gill’s not going to be happy.’

She grinned at Ben and he grinned back. ‘He’ll be fine when he realises why you’re ringing.’

‘Da.’ Katya nodded and picked up the phone.

‘I’m going to get you some food?’ he said, his voice brooking no argument and he certainly wouldn’t get any from her. ‘Anything in particular?’

Katya shook her head. ‘As long as it’s fast. I’m starving.’

Ben returned fifteen minutes later with a plate laden with bruschetta. Carmella was sitting in his seat, talking into her mobile in Italian and Katya was sitting where he’d left her, speaking in Russian. He plonked the plate on the table between them and they both automatically reached for a piece while they continued their conversations.

He placed his hands on Katya’s shoulders and lowered his head to whisper in her ear. ‘I’m sorry its not Taddeo’s.’

Katya turned her head and smiled at him, still talking in rapid Russian. He stood and massaged her neck for a few moments, smiling as she relaxed back against him. He could see the rise of her burgeoning belly from this vantage point and he just wanted to let his hands slide down her front and link them together under her bump.

Katya dropped her head to one side and he concentrated on the exposed muscles of her neck. He realised suddenly that he could also see down her scrub top to her lace-covered, full, ripe breasts, and he wished Carmella was somewhere else.

A knock interrupted before that thought became fully fledged. ‘Here you are. Benedetto. We’re waiting for you,’ Gabriella reprimanded in Italian.

Ben looked at his watch. He’d lost track of the time completely. ‘Sorry. I’ll be right there.’

He dropped a kiss on Katya’s shoulder, where the scrub top gaped and exposed the creamy skin. ‘Later,’ he murmured.

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They were sitting ontheir terrace that evening, enjoying a candle-lit dinner, Ben listening as Katya excitedly relayed how she and Carmella had successfully managed to organise safe passage for the Mulgahti patient. The baby girl would be at the Lucia Clinic in two days.

‘Carmella is very busy. She’s been complaining for a while that she needs another staff member,’ he said, keeping his voice very matter-of-fact.

Katya stopped mid-chew. ‘Ben...’ she said, a slight warning in her voice.

‘Katya, it’s perfect.’

‘I don’t want to give up work,’ she said.

‘You won’t be. You’ll still be working. But you’ll get to sit instead of standing on your feet for hours. You’ll be able to eat regularly and take regular breaks.’

Katya looked at him, the candlelight throwing warm shadows on his dark features. He made the offer very attractive. Being on her feet all day was more tiring then she’d ever admit to him or even herself. Plus she’d be out of Ben’s company, too, which would be an easier transition for her when she had to leave in another couple of months.

It was time she started withdrawing a little. But...what if she missed being a surgical nurse?

Ben could see her wavering. ‘Look, just think about it for a few days, OK?’ He reached out placing his hand over hers.

She nodded slowly. ‘OK, I will.’

He grinned triumphantly and she shook her head at him and rolled her eyes and returned her concentration to the food on her plate. Now that she had told Ben all about her day, her thoughts returned to something that Carmella had said at one stage. It stewed away in her brain as she ate some of Taddeo’s gnocchi.

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