Daredevil, Doctor...Husband?

‘You don’t get dizzy spells, do you, Frances?’ Zac asked. ‘You weren’t feeling sick before the accident?’

‘I don’t think so. I really can’t remember…’

‘What medications are you on?’

‘I don’t take anything, dear. Apart from my calcium tablets. I’m as healthy as a horse. Haven’t needed to see a doctor for years.’

‘Might be a good thing that you’re going to get a proper check-up in hospital then. Bit of a warrant of fitness.’

‘I don’t like bothering a doctor when I don’t need to.’

‘I know. My gran Ivy is exactly the same.’

‘How old is she?’

‘Ninety-two.’

Summer found herself sliding a quizzical glance in his direction as she gathered dressings and bandages to dress some of the superficial wounds more thoroughly. It wouldn’t occur to her to think about, let alone tell others, anything about her own family. What was it with him and his grandmother? Nobody could miss the pride in his voice and it just didn’t fit with the whole cheeky, bad boy vibe. And it certainly didn’t fit with his reputation.

‘She still swims every day,’ Zac added. ‘Has done her whole life. Reckons she’s half-mermaid. Does it hurt if I press here?’

‘Ooh…yes…’

‘Can you wiggle your fingers?’

‘That hurts, too…Have I broken something?’

‘It’s possible. We’ll put a splint on it and keep it nice and still till you get an X-ray. We might give you something for the pain, too. You don’t have to be brave and put up with it, you know. Sometimes, it’s nice to just let someone else take care of you.’

Frances got a bit weepy at that point but the transfer to the helicopter and their take-off a short time later was enough of a distraction.

It didn’t quite distract Summer. Was Frances stoic and uncomplaining because there was no point in being anything else? Was there really nobody who needed to know she’d had a bad accident other than her neighbour?

The thought was sad.

Maybe more so because it resonated. As the chopper lifted and swung inland to head back to Auckland, Summer watched the people on the ground get smaller and a cluster of houses in the small township of Coromandel where Frances lived become visible. They vanished just as quickly and Summer turned, wondering if the elderly woman was aware and distressed by how far from her home they were taking her.

‘Morphine’s doing its job.’ Zac’s voice sounded loud in her helmet. ‘She’s having a wee nap.’ His eyes were on the cardiac monitor. ‘She’s stable. Enjoy the view.’

But Summer still felt oddly flat. What if she’d been the one to have an accident in such an isolated location? Who would she call if she was about to be flown to an emergency department a long way from her home?

It was moments like this that she noticed the absence of a partner in her life with a sharpness that felt increasingly like failure since she’d entered her thirties and everyone her age seemed to be getting married and starting families. There was nobody to call her ‘sweetheart’ and really mean it. No one to make her feel cherished and safe. It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried to find someone—relationships just never seemed to work out.

If she was really honest, though, she hadn’t tried that hard. She’d told herself that there was plenty of time and her career had to take priority but it went deeper than that, didn’t it? Moments like this always made the loss of her mother seem like yesterday instead of more than fifteen years ago and what she’d been taught about not trusting men was as much a part of those memories as anything else.

Would she put her father down as next of kin? Not likely. She hadn’t seen him since her mother’s funeral and there was still anger there that he’d had the nerve to turn up for it.

She’d probably do what Frances had done and opt to put a call in to a neighbour to make sure her pet was cared for.

No. Her life wasn’t that sad. She had a lot of good friends. The guys she worked with, for starters. And her oldest friend, Kate, would do anything to help. It was just a shame she lived in Hamilton—a good hour’s drive away. Not that that was any excuse for the fact they hadn’t seen each other for so long. Or even talked, come to that.

And, boy…they had something to talk about now, didn’t they?

With Zac monitoring Frances during the flight and clearly happy that the condition of their patient was still stable, there was no reason why Summer shouldn’t get her mobile phone from her pocket and flick off a text message.

Hey, Kate. How’s things? U home tonite?

The response came back swiftly.

Late finish but home by 10. Call me. Be good 2 talk.

It would. Her friend might need some prior warning, though.

You’ll never guess who’s back in town!

CHAPTER TWO

‘ZAC…WHEN DID you get back into town?’ The nurse wheeling an IV trolley through the emergency department was overdoing the delighted astonishment just a tad when she caught sight of the helicopter crew coming out of Resus.

‘Only last week. Didn’t see you around, Mandy.’

‘I was on holiday. Giving my new bikini a test run on a beach in Rarotonga.’

‘Nice.’

‘It was. Is. Pink—with little purple flowers. Might have to give it another outing at Takapuna on my next day off.’

It was no surprise that Mandy chose to assume he was referring to the bikini rather than the Pacific island. Confident and popular, she had flirting down to a fine art. There were rumours that it went further than flirting but Summer preferred to trust her own instincts and Mandy had always been willing to help when their paths crossed at work and good company at social events. The smile was as friendly as ever right now, but somehow it struck a discordant note. Maybe it had been the tone in Zac’s voice. Or the warm glance that had flashed between them.

No surprise there, so why was it so annoying?

Because her instincts had been trying to convince her that Zac wasn’t the monster she’d heard about? That someone who could treat a frightened elderly patient as if she was his own beloved granny couldn’t possibly be that bad? They’d just finished handing Frances over to the team in Resus and Zac had promised to come and visit to see how she was as soon as he was back in the department again. There had been tears on her wrinkled cheeks as she’d told Rob, the ED consultant taking over, that this ‘dear boy’ had saved her life.

‘That’s our Zac.’ Rob had grinned. ‘We’re lucky to have him back but we’re letting him out to play on the helicopters every so often.’

It was a reminder that she was on Zac’s turf now because his primary job was as another one of the department’s consultants. After three years 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 this kid could swim. She’d been able to at least keep herself afloat by the time she was four but Monty was right—she had sea water in her veins and life had been all about the sun and sand and surf back then. Happy days.

They were circling above the cliffs and rocks surrounding one of the many bays on Auckland’s north shore now and she could see the knot of people anxiously staring at the sea. Others were climbing the rocks, staring down into the pools where a small body could wash up with the incoming tide. In the distance, as they circled again, she could see a coastguard boat leaving a foamy wake behind it as it sped out from the inner harbour.

Her heart was sinking. It was too hard to keep feeling optimistic that this search would have a happy ending.

And one glance at how pale Zac was looking, with that fierce frown of deep concern on his face, and it was too hard to keep believing that he was some kind of monster.

Round and round they went. Monty focused on keeping them low and moving slowly over a small area, his crew peering down, trying to spot the smallest sign of anything in the soft blue swells of water or the whiteness as they broke over rocks.

Emergency vehicles were gathering at a nearby park above the beach. A police car and then a fire engine. An ambulance…

‘What was that?’

‘Where?’

‘I think I caught a flash of something red.’

‘Where?’ Summer narrowed her eyes, willing something to show up on the water below. The coastguard boat was there now. And a civilian dinghy. Even someone on a paddleboard.

‘Not in the water. Up the cliff. Take us round again, Monty.’

Another slow circuit but Summer couldn’t see anything.

‘I swear I saw it. About halfway up, where that pohutukawa tree is coming out sideways.’

Monty stopped their circling and hovered. Took them in a bit closer. A bit lower.

‘There…’ Excitement made Zac’s voice reverberate in her helmet. ‘Two o’clock. There’s a bit of an overhang behind the trunk. There’s something there. Something red…’

They hovered where they were as the information was relayed to emergency crews on the ground. A fire truck got shifted and parked at the top of the cliff, facing backwards. Abseiling gear and a rope appeared and then someone was on their way down to check out the possible sighting. For an agonisingly long moment, the fire officer disappeared after climbing over the trunk and crawling beneath the overhang.

Summer held her breath.

He reappeared, backing out slowly so it took another couple of seconds to see that he held something in his arms. A small child, wearing a red T-shirt and shorts. And then he held up his hand and, despite the heavy gloves he was wearing, it was clear that he was giving a ‘thumbs-up’ signal that all was well.

The boy was not injured.

The relief was surprisingly overwhelming. It was instinctive to share that relief with someone, as if sharing would somehow confirm that what she was seeing was real. Maybe Zac felt the same way because their eyes met at precisely the same instant.

And, yes…her own relief was reflected there. Zac had probably dealt with the same kind of heart-breaking jobs she had in the past, where a child’s life had been lost. The kind of jobs you would choose never to repeat if it was within your power—something they both knew was too much to hope for. But this time they’d won. The boy’s family had won. Tragedy had been averted and it felt like a major triumph.

The momentary connection was impossible to dismiss. She and Zac felt exactly the same way and the depth of a bond that came from the kind of trauma that was part of what they did was not something everybody could share. Even amongst colleagues, the ability to distance yourself from feeling so strongly was very different. Summer still couldn’t breathe past the huge lump in her throat and she suspected that Zac was just the same.

But he wasn’t supposed to have an emotional connection to others like this, given what Summer knew about him. It was confusing. Not to be trusted.

The radio message telling the rescue crew to stand down broke the atmosphere. Monty’s delighted whoop as he turned away and swept them back towards base added a third person to the mix and suddenly it became purely professional again and not at all confusing.

‘How lucky was that?’ They could hear the grin in Monty’s voice. ‘The kid decided to go climbing instead of getting washed out to sea.’

‘Small boys can climb like spiders.’

‘Only going up, though. It’s when it’s time to go down that they realise they’re stuck.’

‘He must have been scared stiff,’ Summer put in. ‘Good thing there was the overhang to climb under.’

‘He probably knew he’d be in trouble. No wonder he decided it was safer to hide for a while.’

‘He won’t be in trouble.’ Zac’s voice was quiet. ‘Or not for long, anyway. I’d love to have seen his mum’s face when she gets to give him a hug.’

This time, Summer deliberately didn’t look at Zac but kept her gaze on the forest of masts in the yacht marina below. She didn’t want to see the recognition of what it was like to know you’d lost someone precious and what a miracle it would be to have them returned to you. Zac must have dreamed of such a miracle when he was the same age as that little boy in the red tee shirt. How long had it taken to understand that it was never going to happen?

She’d known instantly. Did that make it easier?

If she’d met his gaze, it might be a question that was impossible not to ask silently and maybe she didn’t want to know the answer because that might extend that connection she’d felt.

A connection that felt wrong.

Almost like a betrayal of some kind?

Life didn’t get much better than this.

A quiet, late summer evening on Takapuna beach, with a sun-kissed Rangitoto island as a backdrop to a calm blue sea. The long swim had been invigorating and it was still warm enough to sit and be amongst so many people enjoying themselves. There weren’t many people swimming now but there were lots of small boats coming in to the ramp at the end of the beach, paddle-boarders beyond where the gentle waves were breaking and people walking their dogs. A group of young men were having a game of football and family groups were picnicking on the nearby grassed area.

It was the kind of scene that was so much a part of home for Zac he’d missed it with an ache during his years in London. This beach had been his playground for as long as he could remember. He loved it in all its moods—as calm as an oversized swimming pool some days, wild and stormy and leaving a mountain of seaweed on the beach at other times. Little room to walk at high tide but endless sand and rocks to clamber over at low tide. Kite surfers loved it on the windy days and paddleboards reigned on days like this.

Funny that he’d never tried that particular water sport. Maybe because it looked a bit tame. For heaven’s sake—it was so tame, there was somebody out there with a dog sitting behind the person who was standing, paddling the board.

A big dog. A small person. They were attracting attention from some of the walkers and Zac could see the pleasure they were getting from the sight by the way they were pointing and smiling. More than one person was capturing the image with a camera. He took another look himself. The dog was shaggy and black. The paddler was a girl in a bikini and even from this distance she was clearly attractively curvy.

He’d finished rubbing himself down with his towel so there was no reason not to head back to the house for a hot shower but there was still enough warmth in the setting sun to make it pleasant to stand here and that pleasure certainly wasn’t dimmed by watching the girl on the paddleboard for a few more moments as she headed in to shore. How would the dog cope with the challenge of staying on board as they negotiated even small waves?

It didn’t. As soon as the board began to ride the swell, it jumped clear and swam beside its owner, who stayed upright and rode in until the board beached itself on the sand. It was only then that Zac realised who he’d been watching.

What had Monty called her?

Oh, yeah…the queen of the paddleboard.

Who knew that that flight suit had been covering curves that were all the sweeter when there wasn’t an ounce of extra flesh anywhere else on her body? The muscles in her arms and legs had the kind of definition that only peak fitness could maintain and she had a six-pack that put his to shame.

Zac found himself sucking in his stomach just a little as he moved towards where she was dragging the huge board out of the final wash of the waves. He couldn’t pretend he hadn’t seen her and maybe this was a great opportunity to get past that weird hostility he’d been so aware of today. There’d been a moment when he’d thought it was behind them—when they’d shared that moment of triumph that they no longer needed to try and spot a small body floating in the sea—but it hadn’t lasted. Summer had been immersed in paperwork when he’d signed off for his first shift and she’d barely acknowledged his departure.

He summoned a friendly smile. ‘Need a hand?’

‘Zac…’

He was possibly the last person Summer might have expected to meet here on the beach. The last person she would have wanted to meet? She was having to share yet another patch of her turf. First the base where she worked. Then the emergency department that was also part of her working life. Now this—not exactly her home but a huge part of when she spent her downtime and a place that was very special to her. And he was…he was almost naked.

Oh…my… The board shorts were perfectly respectable attire for the beach but the last time she’d seen him as he left the base that afternoon he’d been wearing real clothes. Clothes that covered up that rather overwhelming expanse of well tanned, smooth, astonishingly male skin. He’d obviously towelled himself off recently but droplets of water were still clinging in places. Caught in the sparse hair, for example, between the dark copper discs of his nipples.

‘I’ve been swimming.’

Oh, help… He’d noticed her looking, hadn’t he? Hastily, Summer dragged her gaze upwards again. His hair was wet and spiky and his expression suggested that he was as disconcerted as she was by their lack of clothing. Suddenly, it struck her as funny and she had to smile.

‘No…really?’

‘I’d offer you my towel but it’s a bit damp.’

‘I’ve been standing up. I’m not actually that wet.’

Just as she spoke, her dog emerged from his frolic in the waves, bounded towards them, stopped and then shook himself vigorously. It was like a short, sharp and rather cold shower.