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He was painfully aware it had been a year.
He knew, because it was burned into his brain as freshly as the day it had happened.
“I don’t really want to think about that now.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. How about you buy me a drink before you leave?”
“You don’t drink.”
George snorted. “I feel like taking it up.”
“Well, then, you’re in luck. I think there are plenty of people who want to buy you a drink tonight!”
As George stepped into the hall he was met by a round of applause from paramedics, police and firefighters.
It was overwhelming. He hadn’t done anything all that spectacular. All he’d done had been to save a life.
Like all of them were taught to do.
George grinned, but it was forced and he hoped no one noticed as he shook countless hands. He didn’t like all the attention.
CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_f46fadb8-a604-56c6-9c1b-eeee91bac4f3)
I SHOULDN’T BE HERE.
That was what Samantha kept telling herself, but somehow she got finagled into going to O’Shea’s Pub after George was released from the hospital.
Some of the other paramedics were buying him drinks as was that physician, George’s brother-in-law or something, and they were monopolizing his time.
Really, George should be at home getting rest.
You’re not his mother.
So she tagged along with the rest of the team to the pub, where George had everyone’s attention.
I should go home.
Although Adam was still with her in-laws and wasn’t due home for three more hours.
I should go home. Only it was lonely at home and even after ten years on her own the nights were long and unending.
Sleep didn’t come to her easily.
She ordered another whiskey sour and stared up at the television mounted on the wall, watching a replay of what had happened that day.
She hadn’t been aware that there had been press there but, then, she’d been focused on getting the injured to the hospital.
“I’ll have another iced tea.”
Samantha glanced to the side and saw George had come up beside her. “Iced tea?”
George shrugged. “I don’t drink and even if I did I shouldn’t be anyway, not after my burn.”
She was impressed. “Where is your physician brother-in-law?”
“Quinn? He went back to his hotel. He has an early flight back to Iqaluit.” George thanked the bartender and tried to slip him a five-dollar bill.
“Nah, man. It’s on the house,” the barkeeper said.
“Thanks, bro.” George took the seat next to Samantha. “Are you still angry enough to kick me out of the program?”
“No.” She chuckled.
George grinned and took a sip of his drink. “Are you telling me you wouldn’t have done the same thing?”
He was right. If George hadn’t been around and she’d seen that little girl running to the tanker she would’ve run headlong into the fray and that thought made her feel extremely guilty, because of Adam.
He was already down a father; she couldn’t take risks like George or other people.
Adam was her main priority.
And she was kind of jealous of George’s freedom.
“I would’ve.” Samantha took another sip of her whiskey sour. “I’m sorry, you deserve the accolades and I’m sorry that I was so hard on you.”
George snorted and then frowned. “I don’t deserve the accolades. It’s part of the job. I’m no hero. Far from it.”
Samantha cocked an eyebrow and studied George. There was a change. He tensed. She could sense he was haunted, conflicted and she couldn’t help but wonder about the reason he was so dead set against flying. What was he hiding under that exterior?
Tread carefully, Samantha.
She didn’t have time to date or pursue anyone. Not only was she a single mother with a demanding job but she was about to leave town for good. She couldn’t let herself get interested in George. He was off limits and, besides, she didn’t want to risk her heart. Loving and losing was something she never wanted to experience again.
“How do you like London so far?” she asked, changing the subject.
“It’s big.”
Samantha smiled. “I guess compared to Iqaluit it would be.”
“Things are cheaper.”
“What a strange thing to say.”
George laughed; she liked the sound of it when he did. “So what’s cheaper?”
“Toilet paper,” he said. “That stuff is like gold when it’s shipped up to Iqaluit, but here you can walk into a store and it won’t cost you your firstborn.”
Samantha laughed. “Are you really having a conversation with me about toilet paper?”
The twinkle appeared back in his dark eyes. “I guess I am.”
Samantha smiled and fiddled with the swizzle stick in her drink. “I’ve never had a guy approach me in a bar to talk about the price of toilet paper.”
“There’s a first for everything.”
“I guess there is.” Her pulse quickened.
Don’t flirt. Don’t flirt.
What was it about guys like George that made her hot under the collar? Cameron had been a bit of a rogue too.
Guys like George threw her plan completely out of whack. It drove her crazy, but she also saw the challenge and that was exciting.
“So, should we talk about coupon-clipping next?” George waggled his eyebrows in a suggestive manner and she laughed uncontrollably.
A belly laugh that made her sides hurt. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed like this.
George was dangerous. So very dangerous.
“You have a really nice smile when you genuinely smile,” George said, and then he cleared his throat, his smile fading. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that.”
The simple compliment made the butterflies in her stomach flutter and a bit of heat flare in her cheeks. “It’s okay and thanks.”
She was attracted to him.
This is going to end badly.
The last thing she needed to be doing was checking out a man. Especially when that particular man was off limits.
She was his mentor.
I don’t have time to date, she reminded herself again. She was leaving for Thunder Bay. Any relationship would be temporary and with a son she couldn’t have a temporary romance. She wouldn’t subject Adam to that.
And it wasn’t just Adam. She didn’t want a temporary romance. It was too risky for her heart.
She really needed to get out of there.
“Is something wrong?” George asked.
“No, why would you ask that?”
“The expression on your face.”
“Yeah, it was one heck of a day.”
George stopped smiling as he took a sip of his iced tea.
I’ve got to get out of here.
“Well, I’d better head home.” She downed the rest of her whiskey sour and stood up.
“How are you getting home?”
“Bus,” Samantha said. “I live in the south end.”
“Let me walk you out.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I want to,” he said, and he said it in a way that brooked no argument.
As they headed to the door someone called out, “You leaving already, Atavik?”
George turned. “No, just walking Doxtator out and then I’ll be back!”
Samantha groaned inwardly. Now they were the center of attention. She should just tell George to stay, but she doubted he would listen to her. Since he’d been assigned to her, he hadn’t listened to her.
He was determined and his hand rested gently against the small of her back as he walked her up the stairs to street level.
It was May and the sun was starting to sink in the west and the lights were glowing as twilight crept across the city.
There was a warm breeze, but it wasn’t hot; it was refreshing.
“It’s hot out here,” said George. “I don’t think I’ll get used to the heat.”
Samantha grinned. “Just like I don’t think many of us would get used to your cold.”
George smiled, but, as ever, it faded quickly. “Are you sure you don’t want to stick around for a bit longer?”
“No, thank you. I need to get home.”
“Why?”
“Adam will be home soon.”
Then she saw the expression that passed across most men’s face when she mentioned Adam’s name. He was trying to process it and there was a flare of jealousy mixed with disappointment before he caught the range of emotions and hid them.
Who was Adam? was his first thought and his second was, Why should he care?
It wasn’t any of his business. A woman as beautiful as Samantha would, of course, have a husband or boyfriend. Besides, she was off limits—a fact he needed to keep reminding himself of.
He wasn’t interested. He wasn’t going to get involved with anyone again, it was too risky. Still, the green-eyed monster couldn’t help but rear its ugly little head. Samantha was beautiful, intriguing and he wished she wasn’t his mentor. He wished she was single, in a bar and he was just meeting her. Trying to pick her up.
But who was he kidding? Cheryl had killed that side of him. He had vowed never to love again, to never put his heart at risk. He’d promised himself that in the hospital. He was trying to keep from flirting with Samantha, but he couldn’t help himself.
“It’s okay to date again, George. You need to move on. You have a right to.”
