When Kate saw Ellingham again he was poring over a patient's file in the little office next to the operating theatres. She almost didn't recognise him when she walked in because it was the first time she'd seen him dressed in anything other than scrubs. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes roamed over his tall figure looking so elegant in a perfectly tailored charcoal grey suit with a light blue shirt and blue striped tie. A cufflink glinted in the cuff of his shirt and his black shoes shone. She thought he looked so distinguished with his grey hair and stern features. He glanced up when she came in and their eyes met and she smiled at him but he just grunted and turned his attention back to the file.

Kate went to her desk and began going through her staff rosters and making sure everything was on track for the full list they had the next day. She was intensely aware of Ellingham standing across the office from her and she turned slightly so she could take another furtive look at him. In doing so she knocked her clipboard and it fell to the floor with a loud clatter. Damn it! Ellingham looked up frowning. Kate's cheeks were pink as she bent over to pick it up and this is how Alan Peterson saw her through the open doorway as he walked by. He didn't see Ellingham at the other desk and came to lean against the door jamb as he looked Kate up and down.

"Hey Kate," he said, "Anybody ever tell you you have a sexy arse?" Before she could tell him to get lost he said, "So when are you going to invite me home? It'll be worth your while."

"Not in a million years Petersen." Her tone was scathing as she turned to look at him.

Kate could almost feel Ellingham's eyes boring into her.

"Why not? We're both single and Jen says you're on your own too much. I can remedy that." He sounded like a lech.

"Cut it out Alan, I'm busy."

"How about later after…"

"I told you – it's not going to happen…ever. Now go away, I have work to do." She was clearly embarrassed, her voice low and tight. She glanced at Ellingham but he appeared to be concentrating on his file, his brow creased in a deep frown.

"Aww come now Kate…don't play hard to get…you'll enjoy it I assure you."

Kate sighed loudly. Alan was treading a fine line and she felt her embarrassment turning to anger but before she could say anything, Ellingham suddenly spun round and walked into Alan's line of vision. His face looked like thunder. "Are you deaf Peterson? Did you not hear what Miss Rushton said?" Alan straightened up; his eyes round as saucers and his mouth agape. Ellingham glared at him, "Now get out and go and find something constructive to do with your time. And don't let me hear you speaking in this vulgar manner again. Am I clear?" He enunciated each word precisely.

"I was only…"

"Am I clear?" His eyes were glacial; his one eyebrow arched.

"Yes Mr Ellingham," he mumbled and left.

There was an awkward silence after he'd gone. Kate's cheeks were pink with embarrassment as she looked up at Ellingham. He stared back at her; his face inscrutable.

"Thanks," she said.

His expression didn't alter but he suddenly lifted his chin and his voice was tight as he said, "You can thank me by telling your boyfriend to reserve his flirtations for when you're off duty." His tone dripped with contempt.

Kate's jaw dropped. "I beg your pardon?"

"Do you also have a problem with your hearing?"

Kate felt her blood begin to boil. How dare he? Her voice was low and tight with anger, "Just to be clear Mister Ellingham, there is nothing wrong with my hearing and Peterson is not my boyfriend…never was, never will be. Not that it's any of your business anyway." Her eyes were spitting fire; her cheeks now flushed with anger. "Your comment was most uncalled for."

"For someone who's not your boyfriend he seems very free with his suggestive remarks." He raised an eyebrow.

"That doesn't mean I gave him permission, does it now? Peterson has no off button. He thinks all women find him irresistible."

"And you don't." his lip curled slightly which just stoked Kate's temper even more. She lifted her chin and looked at him long and hard and her eyes narrowed. "Since you're so interested - no I don't find men like that attractive in the least."

He stared down at her with those penetrating eyes. "Obviously Peterson hasn't quite understood that, Miss Rushton. Perhaps you should send him a clearer message." His expression was haughty as he turned on his heel and left.

Ohhhhh… the man was insufferable! Kate's breast heaved as she struggled to bring her temper under control. What the hell was that all about? How could he even think that she could find a slimeball like Peterson appealing? The fact that Ellingham had witnessed the whole thing was embarrassing enough - he was such a private and dignified man, but that he could think that she hung out with men like Peterson made her cringe.

And then there was Peterson. He was such a prat and so annoying. Unfortunately he was by no means the exception. Kate had come across this type of behaviour more times than she cared to remember. It always riled her that some men really believed it was their God-given right to speak to women in this manner and worse, that they expected women to find it flattering. Usually she could handle them but because she worked in close proximity to Peterson, it made things worse. He was always around, ogling her, trying to touch her, passing suggestive comments…ugh he was so disgusting and so persistent. And she would have no proof if she were to attempt to lay a charge of harassment against him. It was always done when no-one else was around - until today. God knows she had given him no encouragement – from the first time she'd met him at the pub she had made her feelings quite clear. Back off! But no – Peterson's narcissistic ego could not comprehend that a woman might not be interested in him.

Ellingham had stood up for her, conveying his disgust at Peterson's ungentlemanly behaviour but it was clear he thought she was partly to blame. Ohhh that irked her. In fact Ellingham's comments annoyed her even more than Peterson's had. And that gave her pause for thought. Why did it bother her so much? Ellingham's opinion shouldn't matter a jot, should it? Whatever - nothing she could say now would change his perception.

When she compared the two men, they couldn't be further apart on the spectrum. Ellingham might not be the most congenial of men but he had a certain gravitas – she couldn't imagine him treating a woman in such an insulting manner. He would surely show more respect. But she was just speculating - after all she didn't really know him, did she?

One thing she did know though, was that when it came to Martin Ellingham she always seemed to be on the back foot. She couldn't quite read him. Behind that forbidding face she knew there was a depth to the man but he never let anyone through. Why did he put up so many barriers? What had happened in his life that he felt the need to keep people at arm's length? Well mostly at arm's length. He could be intimate - she thought of Lara Perkins - so he wasn't without his needs as a man but she guessed even that would be on his own terms – he would probably not let his defences down even then. Yes Martin Ellingham was an enigma – an infuriating, exasperating enigma and she found him occupying her thoughts way too much. That's not a good idea Kate Rushton, she thought. Not a good idea at all.