decision. But surely that hadn’t meant they couldn’t acknowledge one another. ‘It was a few years ago. How long has she been working with you?’
‘Two months. Came straight from San Francisco.’
‘Two months?’ Jack all but shouted. If Ruby had kicked him in the guts it couldn’t have hurt any worse. Two months and not a word. Talk about putting him in his place. Sensing Dave’s eagle eye on him, he bit down on the oath hovering on the tip of his tongue and tried for casually unconcerned. ‘I’ve got a lot of catching up to do with her.’ But not on this shift.
‘She certainly has great work experience. Her credentials are superb.’
‘It’s the first time Ruby’s actually stuck at anything long enough to qualify.’ Amazing. And as far as he knew it was also the first time she’d returned anywhere. Had she finally tracked down her father and dealt with the past? That was the only explanation for her spending long enough in one place to put in the required hours to become a paramedic. Did that mean her angst had disappeared? Did a dog suddenly grow wool on its back?
Jack asked, ‘Is Ruby still taking on everyone head first? Like she has to knock them down before they get to her?’ He shouldn’t be asking Dave, but he was speaking boss to boss here, needing to know about a member of his crew.
Believe that and he’d believe anything.
Dave studied him thoughtfully. Was he having doubts about leaving his job in Jack’s hands? ‘Can’t say as I’ve noticed. And working in stressful situations on a daily basis I think I would’ve. Is that the Ruby you used to know?’
Already regretting his question, Jack nodded. He’d hate for Dave to think differently of Ruby because of him. ‘She used to have a few issues that distressed her big time but from what you’re saying maybe she’s sorted them out.’
‘Some relationships don’t stand the test of time, do they?’ Dave was studying him with a glint in his eye suggesting he’d somehow be watching out for Ruby even from afar, making sure his replacement didn’t upset her. Nice to know she had such a good friend. The man hadn’t finished. ‘But others can.’
Shaking his head, Jack muttered, ‘Not this one.’
Dave shrugged. ‘That’s a shame. I get the feeling Ruby’s ready to settle down.’
‘Then you really don’t know her.’ Ruby didn’t do settling down. Ever. Not like him. He’d been happy to stay in this place where he’d lived all his life. Until recently. Now he was so restless he itched. He was on the move, done with being the man everyone relied on to be a permanent fixture for them, of always being around when others found their lives going pear-shaped. It was time for his own adventures, and no one, not even a certain scarlet-haired woman, was going to upset this. Look out, world, Jack Forbes is coming. Yeah, right.
Jack forced a smile as he continued to watch her disappearing inside. She was as sexy as ever. His body had recognised her instantly. That slow burn starting in the pit of his belly when he’d seen her in the helicopter. And now it had spread out, down and up, engulfing every cell of his body. He wanted her. As strongly as he always had. Great to see ya, ruby-red girl.
Enough. Just seeing Red made him reel. Why he’d lifted her into that hug was beyond him, but nothing could’ve stopped him when she’d dropped to the ground right in front of him. To feel her body along the length of his, to touch that spiky hair with his chin, had brought longing charging through him. He flicked his finger against his thumb. Dumb ass.
So much for keeping everything on a boss to crew member basis. Should he hug every member? For a brief moment with Ruby in his arms he’d felt as though they’d never been apart. As if all that pain hadn’t happened, hadn’t torn him into shreds.
Jack turned and deliberately began studying the interior of the aircraft that would become a big part of his life for the next few months. ‘It’s a bit of a squeeze.’
Dave grinned. ‘Takes some getting used to.’
‘And I’m always at the front,’ a man drawled from the other side of the bulkhead. ‘Along with Slats. He’s ducked into the hangar for a minute.’
Dave grinned. ‘Chris, get through here and meet Jack.’ To Jack he said, ‘This guy is one hell of a pilot. You want him with you when the sky’s full of bumps.’
Jack shook hands with the man who didn’t look old enough to have left school let alone know how to fly one of these massive helicopters. ‘Good to meet you. How many hours have you done on this bird?’
Chris laughed. ‘More than you’d ever believe. For the record, I stopped drinking milk thirty years ago.’
The man had to be pulling his leg. The same age as him? Nah, couldn’t be. But Chris looked like he meant it. ‘Bet you have to produce your ID every time you buy a beer.’
‘Damned pain at times,’ Dave muttered. ‘But that innocent face pulls the girls, make no mistake.’
Jack could believe it. What about Ruby? Was she a fan of the pilot? As in had she been out with him, been to bed with him? A cold knot formed in Jack’s belly. There had to be a man in her life. A very attractive, sexy woman always had a man, and Red was both. But it wasn’t his place to comment, despite the chill creeping over his skin. Red was a free agent. Like him. The fact that they were going to work together again didn’t give him any rights over who she went out with. So behave, Jacko.
Jack dragged his hand down his cheek. As her boss, he had to learn about her situation, as he did for all the staff. If anyone’s private life was out of sync over anything at all he’d want to know about it. Happy staff meant a happy work environment, which in turn meant everyone pulled together to give an exceptionally good service to the public.
Just remember her name was Ruby, not Red, and he should be able to keep everything in perspective. Haa!
CHAPTER TWO
JULIE, the part-time office lady, stood in the middle of the hangar, staring over at the helicopter. ‘So who’s the hottie?’
Ruby grinned at her. ‘Jack Forbes.’
‘As in Dave’s replacement? No way. He’s got a body to die for. And that face, that grin …’ Julie spluttered to a halt, her eyes enormous.
Ruby shook her head. ‘Too hot to handle?’
Flapping her hands at her cheeks, Julie replied, ‘Remind me to bring my oven mitts to work tomorrow.’
‘Got two pairs?’ There was no point denying Jack’s good looks. That would only make people question her ability to see.
‘Guess you’ll need them more than me, since you’ll be working alongside him. Wonder what he’s like behind those looks?’
‘Imperturbable,’ she muttered. Gorgeous, funny, trustworthy, lovable Jack.
‘You already know him?’ Julie’s perfectly styled eyebrows rose as she continued to stare in the direction of the helicopter.
‘From the days when I was training to be a nurse.’ She’d spent seven months in Wellington, on her way from Nelson to somewhere else, which,
