Er Doc's Forever Gift. Sue MacKay

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 hard to find a good doctor who didn’t. Impossible. Thoughtlessly he reached across with one hand to touch her arm. So much for hanging on to his bottle as a shield. ‘I totally understand.’ Squeezing lightly, he hurriedly pulled away. But it was too late. Warmth trickled from her skin through his fingers and up his arm.

      Sienna was upright—and uptight. ‘If you can’t turn the music off then at least lower the decibels.’

      Sarah, one of the pilots, appeared on the deck. ‘I think everyone’s ready to head home now.’

      Harry stood up and found his neighbour’s head came up to his chin. Not often that happened. ‘There you go. You should be able to get that kip soon.’

      ‘I appreciate it.’ Sienna turned and stumbled down the path, not so youthful in her movements now.

      He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Somehow she’d woven her way under his skin while being the antithesis of the open, cheery women he usually went for. She hadn’t effused sympathy, nor had she been cold about what had happened, just contained. But then, she was used to other people’s pain. ‘See you,’ he called after her, the temptation to goad her just a little way too hard to ignore. If she could shake him up, then he could return the favour. ‘Maybe we’ll both be at home at the same time one night this week.’ Unlikely since he was rarely here and then mostly only to eat and sleep.

      There was no reply, just a lengthening of the strides taking her away.

      As he was unused to being ignored, his interest was piqued. Had it been entirely her bad day at work putting that exhaustion in her face, her eyes? Or was there more going on in her life causing problems? Harry huffed a bitter breath. Why did he even want to know? He didn’t do getting to know women beyond the obvious, yet within minutes Sienna Burch had got under his skin like a serious itch. Not a good look. Best he didn’t scratch. That was going to take some serious effort, for sure.

      ‘I’ll start ordering taxis, shall I?’ Sarah nudged his arm with her shoulder. ‘For most of this lot anyway.’

      Sarah had been trying to get his attention, as in up close and personal, from the day he’d started at the rescue service, and he’d been putting out the thanks-but-no-thanks signal to no avail. It would do wonders for his tired soul to lose himself in a woman tonight. Which was blatantly on offer, if he was reading Sarah correctly, and he had no reason to think otherwise. But he had a hard and fast rule—no sex with colleagues.

       Sienna isn’t a colleague.

      His gaze tripped sideways to the other drive leading up to the adjacent apartment and the woman stepping onto an identical front step.