officer, and we can pick up your keys before I show you where to eat.’
‘Food!’ exclaimed Avery. ‘It’s been so long I don’t even remember what it tastes like.’
He was walking right alongside her, so close their arms were almost brushing together. She bumped him with her hip and laughed as he lost his balance. ‘Cut it out, drama king. I’ll give you ten minutes to shower and get back into your dress uniform. If you’re not outside in ten I’m leaving you behind.’
He gave her a wink as he backed into the changing room. ‘Not a chance. I’m all yours.’
She gulped. The new guy was too smart for his own good. Too sassy. And a whole lot too sexy.
One of her colleagues gave her a nudge. ‘Hmm... Dr Flynn? Is he single? Because if he is, I’ll fight you for him.’
* * *
Ten minutes later she emerged from the changing room and walked straight into the chest of Avery Flynn.
‘Oof!’
He grinned. ‘I got you back. And at least I didn’t leave you sprawling on the floor.’
She straightened her blue jacket. She’d spent longer than she usually did getting changed. For some strange reason she’d felt the urge to check her make-up and spray on some perfume.
‘Maybe next time you won’t get in the way.’
If he’d looked good in the scrubs he looked even better in the dress uniform. The pale blue shirt and dark jacket fitted his frame perfectly. His eyes swept up and down her quickly, taking in the regulation skirt, her legs no longer hidden in scrubs. She resisted the temptation to clear her throat.
He waved his arm in front of him. ‘Lead on, then, First Lieutenant. I’d hate to get in the way.’
She rolled her eyes and started walking. ‘Are you always going to be this annoying?’
His backpack was slung over his shoulder and his darned fedora was in his other hand. At least he wasn’t trying to wear it while he was in uniform. He fell into step alongside her. ‘Believe me, I’ve got annoying down to a fine art.’
He pushed open the door and held it for her. She swept through in front of him. ‘I bet you have.’
She pointed in one direction. ‘Let’s go this way. We’ll pick up your keys from the housing officer. I gave him a call and he told me where he’d leave things for you.’
Avery frowned and looked at his watch. ‘Is that the time? I’d no idea it was so late.’ He nudged her with his elbow. ‘Just as well I’m with you. The housing office would be closed at ten o’clock at night.’
She started crossing the road. ‘It might surprise you but we have lots of night-time deployment flights. The housing officer has a page. He wouldn’t have minded if you’d called him out.’
He gave her a curious glance. ‘Lived here long?’
‘Almost all my life.’
His footsteps faltered a little but she didn’t halt. She knew exactly what would happen next. He lengthened his stride and walked a little in front of her, turning around to catch sight of her face. ‘I didn’t think that was possible.’
‘It’s not.’
He wasn’t going to be put off with her short answers. By this point, he was almost walking backwards, keeping his gaze on her the whole time.
‘So how have you managed it?’
He was so busy watching her face that he wasn’t paying attention to the road. She reached out and grabbed him just as his foot hit a small rut.
His reaction was automatic. As his balance tipped he grabbed her hand that was clutching the front of his jacket. The warm skin of the palm of his hand wrapped firmly around her wrist. It was like slow motion. A flood of electricity shot up her arm towards her chest. If she could have snatched her hand back she would have.
But he hadn’t let go. His pale green eyes fixed on hers. Nothing was said. Neither of them moved again. Her breath caught some way in her throat and all of a sudden she felt the desperate urge to find something to drink. Preferably alcohol.
‘Can’t have you falling for me twice in one day.’
It was meant to come out as a quip—a joke. But the intensity of his gaze made her normally firm voice turn into a whisper.
He responded instantly. ‘Oh, I think we can.’ There was an edge to his voice, a raspiness she hadn’t noticed before, that sent a shiver straight down her spine.
Her fingers slowly let go of his jacket. Avery stared at his hand for a few seconds before finally letting go of her wrist.
There was a tiny shake of his head, as if he was trying to process what had just happened.
‘Over here.’ She spoke quickly, pointing to an office block. ‘That’s where we’ll get your keys.’ She strode ahead. It was crazy. But this guy was unsettling her. Touching her. Giving her glimpses of a whole other world out there.
She buzzed them into the block and picked up his keys and a map of the base from the reception desk. She glanced at the key fob and circled a place on the map with a pen.
‘Look, we’re here. And we’ll probably go and eat in this street here. Your house is over here. It’s about ten minutes from where we’ll eat.’
She was conscious of him leaning over the map beside her. Even though they’d been close up earlier in the ER she hadn’t noticed the woody smell of his aftershave. Maybe he’d just put some on? Just like she had...
And that darned bit of hair at the front fell over his forehead. Her fingers itched to push it back.
He picked up the map and turned towards her, their noses almost touching. As it was night-time the reception area wasn’t brightly lit. There was no one else around. It was almost...intimate.
She stepped back and sucked in a breath. His head tilted to the side a little, as if he was surprised by her sudden movement. What was he used to? Women falling at his feet?
‘There’s a courtyard five minutes away.’ She moved over towards the door again. ‘What is that you want to eat?’
As if on cue his stomach gave a loud growl and he put his hand over his belly and laughed. ‘Something that no doctor would approve of.’
She pushed open the door. ‘Like what? You’ve just arrived in Japan. Don’t you want to try some local cuisine?’
He shook his head. ‘Not tonight. Tonight I’m ravenous. If I’m sampling genuine Japanese food I want to savour every mouthful. Think of me as a horse.’
She turned to face him. ‘Are you crazy?’
‘Yes, I am. It’s called low blood sugar. I just want to stick my head in a bucket and eat and eat until I’m ready to collapse in a corner. I want calorie-laden carbs. Can you find me
