Page 23 of You Are Cordially Invited

“But whatever,” Michael continued. “Keep your damn secrets. But I’ll do you a favour and take the ambulance headed our way from that motor vehicle accident in Westhaven. Multiple fractures and a head injury.”

“That’s... good of you,” I admitted. “I’ll put Alison in with you.”

“Excellent. And you could always bring me a coffee, if you’re not busy.” He waggled his eyebrows.

“In your dreams, hotshot. It took me an hour to get my don’t-fuck-with-me eyeliner straight this morning, and I’m not wasting it running around after you.” I nodded toward the nurses desk. “I have a cardiologist to skin.”

He followed my gaze and chuckled. “Ah, the charming Dr Long. Go get ’em, tiger.”

I stabbed a finger at his chest. “Be in my office at one for a wedding war party. Sandy, Miller, and Georgie are coming. Don’t be late.”

“But the accident won’t be done—”

I fired him a glare.

He scowled and studied me for a long second. “All right. I’ll make it happen, somehow.”

“Do that.” I turned a steely eye on the nurses desk. “Dr Long.” I made my way over, Michael’s chuckle at my back. “Unless you want billing for half of Sarah’s daily wage, I suggest you let her get on with her work. I doubt she has any idea what those cheesy seventies pick-up lines mean.”

Dr Long rolled his eyes and flipped me off but turned and headed out of the department, nonetheless.

Sarah gave a full-body shudder before sending me a grateful look. Long was a great cardiologist but an even greater sleaze, and I kept a close eye on him whenever he was in my ER.

No one fucked with my nurses.

Two hours and half a billion cups of coffee later, I’d just finished the next month’s roster when Sandy breezed into my office in a dapper green tartan skirt, black tights, black ankle boots, and a tightly fitted royal blue button-down. And with his blond locks slicked back, peaches and cream complexion, killer cheekbones, green eyeliner, and pink lips, he looked fucking fabulous.

“Hey, gorgeous.” I pushed up from my seat and leaned across the desk to exchange cheek kisses. “Mmm. You smell good today. I’m not sure how you made it out of the house unmolested in that get-up.”

He winked. “Who says I did? And hey there yourself. It’s Sandalwood. Miller should be here any min—oh, here he is.” Sandy held open the door for Miller to wheel his chair inside and the two exchanged a lingering kiss.

“Ah, young love,” I teased. “How long has it been?”

“Nearly four months.” Sandy took Miller’s hand and eyed me up and down. “Are we still on for the final fitting this afternoon?”

I nodded. “See you at four. But the, um...” I glanced at Miller who simply smiled smugly. “The thingy hasn’t arrived yet.”

Sandy frowned. “The thingy?”

“You know, thethingy.”

Sandy’s eyes widened. “Oh right. Thethingy.”

Miller chuckled and got an elbow from Sandy.

“Don’t worry, it’ll get here,” Sandy soothed, but I wasn’t so sure. “You ordered it months ago.”

“I know, but there’s only twelve days left and it’s still not here.” I chewed at my nails. “And now I’m second-guessing the whole outfit. Maybe it’s a sign. Maybe it’s too much. Maybe I should change it.”

Sandy’s eyes popped and veins bulged in his neck. “Oh, fuck no. Don’t do that. It’ll be fine—no, great. I mean it’ll be great. It’s an amazing outfit. Just pleeeease don’t change your mind. It’s too late.”

Miller laughed, which earned him another elbow from Sandy who said, “I’m not sure that assistant will ever let us back in the shop.”

I frowned. “Oh, come on, she loves me. I gave her two freebie tickets to the last Bledisloe Cup game. She was practically worshipping at my feet.”

Sandy glanced at Miller. “I think that might be overstating it.”

He was right. Her delight had, in fact, grown in direct proportion to the realisation that I’d finally made a decision and she wouldn’t have to see me again, bar the final try-on.”

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