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!
‘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