of working in Auckland, both on the road and in the rescue service, Summer felt as much at home in this environment as she did on station or at the base but something subtle had just shifted in unspoken ratings. Zac was the person Frances considered to be her lifesaver. He was also a doctor and clearly not only respected for his skills but well liked. Probably more popular than Mandy, even?
Did none of them know what she knew about him?
She’d been close to doubting the truth herself but seeing the way he and Mandy had looked at each other was a wake-up call. She’d been in danger of being sucked in by that charm. Like countless other women, including Mandy. And Kate’s sister, Shelley. Had she really been prepared to dismiss how Shelley’s life had been wrecked?
‘Hey, Summer.’ Mandy was still smiling. ‘Have you guys stolen Zac away from us?’
‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’ She kept her tone light enough for her words to pass as a joke. ‘I’m sure he’ll get sick of us soon enough and he’ll be all yours again.’
Mandy’s sigh was theatrical. ‘Dreams are free,’ she murmured.
A curtain twitched open nearby. ‘We need that trolley, Mandy. When you’re ready?’
‘Oops.’ Mandy rolled her eyes, blew a kiss in Zac’s direction and disappeared with her trolley.
It was only then that Summer felt the stare she was receiving. A level stare. Cool enough to be a completely different season from a few seconds ago when Mandy had been present.
Had he guessed that she hadn’t been joking? That she’d been wishful thinking out loud? Did she care?
No.
Then why was she suddenly feeling like a complete bitch? Helicopter crews were notoriously tight teams. They had to be. This was Zac’s first day on the job and, under any other circumstances, he would be a welcome addition to the team. Perfect, in fact. She’d never gone out of her way to make a newcomer feel unwelcome. Ever.
She got a glimpse of how she must be coming across to Zac and she didn’t like what she saw.
And that was even more annoying than feeling as if she had a running battle between her head and heart about what sort of person he really was. Or watching him confirm his ‘bad boy’ reputation by encouraging Mandy.
Summer was being someone she didn’t even recognise.
‘We’d better take this stretcher back upstairs. Monty’ll be wondering where we’ve got to.’ She couldn’t meet his gaze any longer. Was this unfamiliar, unpleasant sensation what it felt like to be ashamed of yourself? She needed to find some way to rectify the situation. But how?
She manoeuvred the stretcher into the lift. They would be airborne again within minutes, either on their way back to base or onto another job. They had to work together so, at the very least, she had to be professional and to stop letting anything personal get in the way of that.
She broke the awkward silence in the lift just before the doors opened at roof level. ‘Great job, by the way…with Frances.’
Talk about being damned by faint praise.
And she’d all but announced to Mandy that she’d be delighted if he decided he’d rather stay within the four walls of the hospital’s emergency department from now on. How long would it take for that message to get dispersed amongst his colleagues?
He’d been looking forward to this. Coming into the department as a uniformed HEMS member to hand over his first patient. Showing everybody that this was where his passion lay and that he was good at it. This was supposed to be the start of the life he’d dreamed of. A job that used every ounce of skill he possessed and challenged him to keep learning more. A balance of the controlled safety of a state-of-the-art emergency department with the adrenaline rush of coping with the unexpected in sometimes impossible environments. The chance to do exactly the job he wanted in the place he’d always wanted to do it in—close to the only family he had, in a city big enough to offer everything, a great climate and, best of all, the sea within easy reach. Beaches and boats. The perfect playground to unwind in after giving your all at work.
But the blue sky of that promise of fulfilment had a big cloud in it. A dark cloud that threatened rain. Possibly even hail and thunder.
How ironic was it that her name was Summer?
‘Yes?’
Oh, Lord…had he said something out loud? The microphone on his helmet was so close to his mouth, it could easily pick something up, even with the increasing roar of the rotors picking up speed to take off. Like the ironic tone of her name. He had to think fast.
‘Cute name,’ he offered. ‘Can’t say I’ve ever met a Summer before.’
‘My parents were hippies. Apparently I got conceived on a beach. After a surfing competition.’
Monty’s laugh reminded him that this conversation wasn’t private. ‘I never knew that. No wonder you’ve got sea water in your veins.’
It was the first piece of personal information Summer had offered. Monty’s amusement added to a lighter atmosphere and Zac wanted more.
‘A summer memory to keep, then?’
‘Yeah…’
‘Not many people know where they were conceived. I wouldn’t have a clue.’
‘Maybe you should ask your mother.’
‘My mother died in a car accident when I was seven and I never knew my dad. I got brought up by my gran.’
‘Oh…’ She caught his gaze for a moment, horrified that she’d been so insensitive. ‘Sorry…’
‘No worries. It’s ancient history.’ Zac was happy to keep the conversation going. ‘You got any siblings? Spring, maybe? Or Autumn?’
‘Nope.’
The word was a snap. She could offer personal information but he wasn’t welcome to ask for it.
Zac suppressed a sigh. Maybe he should have a word to the base manager about being assigned to a different shift on the rescue service.
The call coming in meant that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.
‘Missing child,’ Comms relayed. ‘Six-year-old boy. Red tee shirt, blue shorts, bare feet. They think he’s been swept off rocks at St Leonard’s beach. Coastguard’s sending a boat and the police chopper’s on its way but you’re closest.’
A six-year-old boy.
How long would he last in the water? How frightened would he be?
He was close to the same age Zac had been when he’d lost his mother. Summer could only imagine how frightened he would have been. He would have had the same soft dark curls by then. And big brown eyes.
Heart-wrenching.
She didn’t want to feel sorry for Zac, any more than she wanted his charm to get under her skin.
Maybe
