The Best Of The Year - Medical Romance. Carol Marinelli

lovely to meet you,’ he said, and then watched Gina’s features tighten as a man made his way over.

      ‘This is Anton,’ Hugh said, and Steele shook Anton’s hand as Hugh introduced them. ‘Anton’s an obstetrician.’

      ‘Well,’ Steele said, ‘that would explain why we haven’t met. We don’t have much call for obstetricians on the geriatric unit.’

      ‘I’m also a reproductive specialist,’ Anton said. ‘Though I guess you don’t have much call up there for them either.’ He turned to Hugh. ‘Are you going up to Admin for drinks?’

      ‘No.’ Hugh shook his head. ‘I’ve got to get back to Theatre. Anyway, I’ve done my duty and put in an appearance but, frankly, he was an arrogant piece of work and I had more arguments with him than anyone else at the Royal.’

      Anton watched as Steele gave a wry smile.

      ‘Well, I certainly don’t need to be around booze,’ Gina said. ‘I’m heading for home. I might see you around.’ She smiled at Steele. ‘I’ve got an interview next week.’

      ‘Good luck,’ Steele said.

      Anton, he noticed, made no comment.

      Gina walked off and there was an uncomfortable silence for a moment.

      ‘How is she?’ Hugh asked Rory.

      ‘How would I know?’ Rory said. ‘We’re not really talking any more.’

      The two men walked off, leaving just Steele and Anton.

      ‘Undercurrents?’ Steele checked, because around Gina things had seemed incredibly tense.

      ‘Hell, yes,’ Anton said, but didn’t elaborate. ‘I think I might give the drinks in Admin a miss too, although I could use a drink. Do you want to go over to Imelda’s?’ he offered. Imelda’s was a bar across from the hospital and Steele nodded.

      ‘Sure.’

      ‘Have you worked here long?’ Steele asked as they gave their orders a few minutes later.

      ‘Just over a year,’ Anton said. ‘You?’

      ‘I’m only here for a few more weeks. I move to Kent the week after next.’

      ‘My first intention was to be here for a couple of years and then return to Milan, but my wife works here and she’s pregnant. I can’t see me leaving here any time soon.’

      ‘You said that you worked in fertility?’

      ‘That’s right.’

      ‘Is it hard to do both?’ Steele asked.

      ‘I set firm boundaries,’ Anton explained. ‘I first did obstetrics then moved into fertility. I missed it, though, and so when I moved to England I changed back to obstetrics. I still keep my hand in when I can. I would love somehow to do both but they are both very consuming.’

      ‘There are a lot of changes, I guess?’ Steele could not believe he was pushing this conversation.

      Anton could. ‘There are constant changes.’

      ‘What about for men?’ Steele asked. ‘I mean, you hear all the advancements for women …’ He could not believe he was discussing this. He actually wanted to stop because if there wasn’t hope then perhaps it would be better not to know.

      ‘Things are different for men also. There is a procedure called ICSE now. Basically, if you can get one healthy sperm an egg can be fertilised. Even if the sperm count comes back as negative, you can go into the vas deferens …’

      Steele pulled a face at the thought of a needle in his balls.

      ‘Under local.’ Anton smiled.

      He’d do it.

      And there was the difference, Steele realised. He’d had a lot of loves in his life but never till now ‘the one’.

      One that meant two hours after taking his first sip of a very welcome Scotch and a whole lot of talking with Anton, he was standing in a room, pants around his ankles, filling a specimen jar.

      ‘That was quick,’ Anton teased as Steele came into his office and he took the jar. ‘You might want to work on that.’ Then he was serious as he prepared the sample. ‘You know that if I find nothing in the specimen I can still go into the vas deferens. I might want to do that sober, though.’

      ‘Just tell me.’