If only he had something to do to fill in the hours before this lot were ready to head home in the taxis he’d order, and pay for. Being the new boy on the block, he hadn’t known Gavin Bradley well, but the guy was a legend in the emergency air service—his reputation for spot-on retrieval in difficult conditions ran the length of the country. He would be missed very much.
A shadow crossed the end of the drive, turned in his direction. The shadow became human, walking with confidence and yet at the same time almost with caution, like a young girl with little care to burden her. Then she came into the light, making her way up towards him, an opposing grim expression on what might be a beautiful face if she wasn’t carrying the weight of the world on her back. Apparently this was the girl next door. Only he could see now her girl days were long gone, morphed into someone who stole the breath away from him and tightened his groin without any input from his brain.
Harry slowly drew another mouthful of beer—it really was foul—and put the bottle down on the deck beside him. ‘Hello. So we finally get to meet.’
That delicious mouth flattened further. ‘This is not a social call.’ Her voice was husky—and laden with barely contained anger.
‘That’s a shame.’ In more ways than he cared to admit, even to himself. Close up, she was even better looking than he’d first thought. Her flawless skin covered perfect facial bone structure. ‘I’m Harry, by the way.’
That startled her. ‘Sienna Burch,’ she snapped. Hadn’t she expected to be introducing herself?
‘So what can I do for you, Sienna?’ Though he kind of had an idea what was getting her knickers in a twist. It was late on a working night, and the guys inside were a little loud.
‘Could you please turn the music down? Or preferably off? I need to get some sleep.’ Her expression wasn’t softening, but that didn’t quieten his pulse. A bit of a challenge in the making?
Over the past weeks he’d been vaguely aware of her coming and going at all hours, but hadn’t got around to introducing himself. Nothing unusual in that when he was on a short stint in a town he was unlikely to return to. His breath caught. He had to be slipping—because behind whatever was tightening her face this particular woman was a stunner, and he was partial to stunners. Fess up, he liked women, full stop. Especially hot, shapely, downright beautiful ones. If that made him shallow then he could live with that. It suited his mantra: keep moving on.
‘Excuse me. The music?’
‘I’ll give it a go, certainly.’ Now he could hear one of the girls crying behind him. That’d been a while coming. Apart from initial tears everyone had been stoic, but he’d known it was only a matter of time before they showed their grief in the teary form. And he was supposed to charge in and turn the music off and make like everyone should go home?
‘I’d prefer that you actually did it, not make a half-hearted attempt. I’ve had a long, difficult day and I need to sleep.’
Bet your day was a breeze compared to the one these guys are dealing with.
‘I’m sorry about that. I will do my best, but I have to warn you my colleagues are suffering an enormous shock and this is their way of letting off steam.’ It wasn’t as though he had the sound turned up to full volume every night of the week. This was a one-off.
That tight mouth wasn’t giving an inch. ‘I see.’
No, she didn’t. ‘Have you seen the news today?’
‘As if.’ Finally that mouth softened a fraction, and Sienna lifted her chin slightly. Definitely beautiful in a classic way. ‘What did I miss?’
‘One of the rescue helicopters went down this morning.’
She gasped. Now that tightness was taking a backward step. ‘With serious consequences I take it.’
‘The pilot died and the other pilot on board is in a serious condition in the ICU at Auckland Hospital. Fortunately they didn’t have medical crew or a patient on board or there’d be more casualties.’
Another gasp, and Sienna moved closer. ‘I’m sorry. That’s terrible. I didn’t hear about that.’
What did she do for a living? Take gym classes in a cave? That tee shirt and those fitted leggings highlighted a well-formed body with muscles in the right places and soft curves to add a sensuality that teased him. Like he needed this right now. But it seemed certain parts of his body were out of sync with the sadness roiling in his mind. They wanted action. They weren’t getting any.
Then Sienna added, ‘I’m sorry to hear that. Really sorry.’ Another step and she was beside the deck.
‘It’s been a huge shock for everyone. You understand I’m filling in at the helicopter rescue service?’
‘Yes.’ She leaned her tidy butt against the handrail post. ‘I haven’t been very neighbourly, but I’m hardly ever at home.’
‘Don’t worry about it. I’ll be gone in a month.’
Sienna straightened again. ‘Anyway, I do need to get some shut-eye. My day wasn’t a lot better.’
Her frostiness did nothing to detract from her looks, but however much she needed some quiet his loyalties lay with those inside his apartment. ‘Maybe, but I’m giving these people the chance to de-stress before making sure they get home safely. You could join us and wind down from whatever upset you with a wine and some music.’
‘It would take a lot more than that.’
He had to ask. ‘What happened?’ Damn it, why couldn’t he just mind his own business? Now he’d have to listen to some story that barely registered compared to the crash, as well as be sympathetic.
‘I lost a patient. A six-year-old boy.’ Her bottom lip trembled.
Damned if he didn’t want to haul her into his arms and hold her until the trembling stopped. His fingers gripped the beer bottle as if his life depended on it. ‘That’s terrible. You’re a doctor?’ Not a gym instructor, then.
‘A paediatrician. The best, and the worst, job out there.’ Her voice was low and slow.
She’s a doctor?
That explained the hours she was away from home. Who’d have thought it? But then, why not?
We don’t all come with labels on our foreheads proclaiming our medical knowledge. And why can’t doctors be beautiful, and have stunning figures?
Just because he’d never met one quite as attractive as Sienna Burch, didn’t mean they didn’t exist.
Then she yawned.
Which got to him, made him want to soothe her to sleep. ‘The kids are the worst cases. They always get to me, even if only for a greenstick fracture.’
‘And the parents. They’re hurting as bad. They want to take the pain into themselves so their babies don’t have to suffer, and it’s torture when they can’t.’ Sienna lifted her head and stared at him, her own pain obvious.
She took her job seriously, but it was
