Er Doc's Forever Gift

‘Twice. I think. Maybe three times.’ And about to again if the clouds gathering in her skull were any indication. She’d been trying too hard to say what was needed without slurring or forgetting what she had to tell him and it was taking its toll.

‘Pulse is rapid. I’d say you’re in shock.’ Firm yet gentle fingers touched her neck, her skull, her jawline. If only they could stop the pain.

She guessed she couldn’t have everything.

Please let me be able to walk away from this.

Fog expanded in her head, pressing at her skull.

‘Sienna, can you hear me?’ Was that Harry? Harrison. ‘Yes.’ But there were drums in the background. The humming in her ears also added to the noise.

Firm fingers slid over her skull, pressing lightly, feeling for trauma. ‘From the state of that helmet you hit something with your head. At least the helmet did what it was meant to. There doesn’t appear to be any damage to your skull, though you probably have mild concussion.’ Then he was listening to his radio, and confirmed what she heard loud and clear. ‘The weather’s closing in. The guys above say we have to hurry or we’ll be stuck here until the storm passes.’

‘What storm?’ Come to think of it, she was feeling chilly. But that would be shock. Wouldn’t it?

Come in, Dr Burch. You know your stuff.

‘Am I cold or is the reaction to my crash setting in?’

‘Both,’ answered Harry, slipping a neck brace into position. ‘This’ll keep your head still.’

A male voice came through the radio in his shirt pocket. ‘Sorry, have to back off now, Harry. Hang in there. I’ll return as soon as viable.’

The tree she’d come to a halt against rustled and leaves dropped onto her. ‘Don’t let them go.’ She had to get to hospital and sort out her injuries.

‘Not a lot of choice,’ Harry told her before easing her cycling shoes off. ‘Can you feel me touching your toes?’

‘Yes.’ Relief swarmed through her.

‘Wriggle them.’ There was a reciprocating relief in his dark eyes. ‘Good.’

Neck immobilised, tick. Feeling in feet, double tick. ‘My shoulder?’

But Dr Harry was working his way up her legs, as in how a doctor would, not a lover. As she’d said earlier, this just wasn’t her day. ‘Your ankle’s okay. Lots of bruising would be about as bad as it gets.’

Those fingers... Sienna sighed. Gentle, and warm, and enticing. As if she could succumb to their hidden promise.

Where did that come from?

Had to be the bang on her head. Her brain had been derailed. Whatever, it was good to let these wonderful sensations take over. They relaxed her, made her forget a little of why she was here, and had her thinking one bottle of wine wouldn’t be enough to take across to his apartment.

Dr Deep Voice continued. ‘Unfortunately I didn’t bring my X-ray machine to check your shoulder.’

Typical relax-the-patient talk. ‘Funny...not.’

‘For someone who’s knocked herself out, bashed up her body and got into difficult terrain, you have a lot to say. But I can tell you the shoulder’s not dislocated, and from the normal angle I’d hazard a guess it’s not broken either.’

‘I’ll give that box a half-tick, then.’

Large, oh, so gentle hands prodded her stomach, moved up towards her ribcage. Deep concentration tightened his face.

‘Ow!’ She gasped as sharp pain struck. ‘What—?’

‘Take it easy.’ He pressed her back against the ground with that firm hand she was beginning to recognise for its warmth and strength.

Sienna hadn’t realised she’d moved. ‘Tell me.’

But he’d turned away to talk into the radio that had crackled into life against his expansive chest. ‘Yo... What’s happening up there?’

‘Weather bomb coming in fast. You’re going to have to hang in on your own for a period yet. We’ll be back ASAP.’

She mightn’t know the voice but she sure knew that warning. ASAP meant ‘in a while, even a long while’. ‘Isn’t there another way out of here?’ There was a road just above them.

Harry was shaking his head. ‘Afraid not. You picked about the worst spot on this road to fall off. The slope is all but vertical. Hauling you up it is not an option. We’re going to have to wait it out. The thermal blanket will protect you from the wind and keep you warm.’

The wind had picked up, and now rain slashed at them, driving in sideways. Sienna shivered. Every part of her body hurt, some worse than others. She wanted to cry from it all but instead drew a deep breath and held on—just. Things kept going from bad to worse, and she only had herself to blame. ‘But if there aren’t any broken bones or internal injuries I can give getting to the top a crack. Better than lying here.’

‘You banged your head, remember?’ He was removing nasal prongs from a container. ‘Do you remember what happened?’

‘I—’ lost focus and rode into the middle of the road then executed an abrupt dodging movement when a car came up behind her ‘—made a mistake.’

Thinking about my job. About you.

Really? She’d been thinking about Harry while riding? Yes. She had. Which went to show how easily she could be distracted. ‘Are you giving me oxygen?’ Of course he was.

‘Your breathing’s a little rapid. Best we get that settled.’

‘Got an electric blanket in that pack?’ Shivers were taking over.

‘Sure have.’ He locked that dark gaze on her. ‘Relax. We’ll get you out of here, and in the meantime I’ve got you. Don’t worry about a thing.’

Had she been that transparent? Worry about her injuries despite his optimistic assessment was building like a volcano about to erupt. This could’ve been a disaster, might’ve been the end of everything, and she was afraid of tempting fate by accepting she hadn’t been seriously injured before the hospital gave her the all-clear. With effort she hunted for something to talk about that might keep those concerns a little quieter. ‘You’re Australian.’

‘Well spotted.’

‘Where from?’ Hard to concentrate when her mind was trying to shut down, but the longer she stayed awake the more she might learn about this man. Because despite—or was it because of?—being stuck on the side of a hill going nowhere in a hurry, she wanted to learn more about him, to make up for the weeks they’d been neighbours and strangers.

‘Melbourne.’ He wasn’t making it easy.

‘City or beyond?’

‘City. The swanky part of town. Boys’ college, box seats at the MCG, and all the rest of it.’ A lime would be sweeter than that tone.

‘Why Auckland now?’

Answer fast before I fall asleep.

‘It’s where the next job came up.’

That woke her a little. ‘You move around a lot?’

Like my dad does?

‘Depends on what turns up.’

If she could move she’d shake him, but then she’d already known how irritating he could be. Worse, he was sounding more like her father with everything he said. ‘You ever just talk for the sake of it?’

To keep your patient distracted from her situation?

‘I have been known to.’

She gave up. That darkness was pressing in, relieving her of any control. Don’t think about that. Sienna groaned and slurred out a question that was totally irrelevant to anything. ‘What time is it?’

* * *

‘Five thirty.’

Harry continued tucking the thermal blanket around Sienna, all the while keeping an eye on her. It wasn’t hard. Even injured and stranded out in the middle of a storm she was beautiful, and stirred his blood relentlessly. Once they got out of this mess he was going to have to do something about Dr Frosty, who wasn’t as frosty as he’d first presumed.

She used it to cover real emotions. Emotions he’d noticed flitting across those stunning blue eyes during the time they’d been together on the hill. He’d seen how her decline into sleep had briefly halted when he’d answered her question about moving around a lot in the affirmative. Had someone important kept moving away from her when she needed them? A partner; husband; lover? He could keep guessing or get on with being the emergency doctor he revelled in being. ‘Have you got an underlying condition I should know about?’ he asked without any hope of getting an answer. The shock had caught up and she was that far gone now.

But, ‘N-no-o.’ Sleep slurred her speech.

He could relax on that one. ‘Good. You’re safe at the moment. Our pilot’s one of the best and he’ll return the first instant he can. We’ll get you out of here in one piece, Sienna.’ But only when it was safe to do so. Another helicopter crash was not on the cards.

‘Safe?’

He nodded. As if she saw that. ‘Very safe.’

Her eyes opened, surprise momentarily replacing the other emotions swimming there. ‘Am I really—?’ She swallowed, tried again in that slurred whisper. ‘In one piece? You weren’t feeding me the happy-clappy line to keep me calm until we’re away from here?’

‘I wouldn’t insult you. Nor would I feed you expectations that could be stomped on once you’re in hospital. You have mostly bruises,’ he repeated his earlier diagnosis to shore up her failing confidence. ‘Lots of them. I still don’t think there’s anything to worry about regarding your shoulder except severe bruising. Possibly some rib damage, but I’d say you’ve come off lightly.’ When her eyes widened with hope, he rushed in. ‘Not lightly enough that I’m about to haul you up the bank with a rope around your waist. We’re still at the bottom of a precipice with a summer storm rampaging around our ears.’ Was that hail? It wouldn’t surprise him, given the ferocity of the wind and rain pounding them. Thunder backed him up; no lightning flashes but then the clouds delivering the icy pellets were hiding that. Auckland was known for its short, sharp seasonal storms. In this case, not what the doctor ordered, but then when did anything ever go completely right on a job? It was the nature of the urgent scenarios to throw spanners in the works. Big ones mostly. And often through weather.

Digging into the pack, his fingers closed around a concertinaed umbrella which he pulled out and opened to hold above his patient, shielding her from the worst, angling it so a gust of wind didn’t turn it inside out. It would be best if Sienna slipped into unconsciousness again so she didn’t feel discomfort and had no idea of the time ticking by as they waited for the chopper to return. He could only hope it was today. The weather reports had forecast more storms over the next twelve hours at least.

Beside him Sienna moved. Trying to roll over? Harry placed his free hand on her good shoulder. ‘Easy. Don’t move.’ Their ledge wasn’t as wide as he’d like. Sienna had been extremely lucky that that tree had halted her tumble.

‘Mmm...umm...’

So she was out of it, unaware of where she was, and more importantly getting a break from the pain. Good. He tied the umbrella to the base of the tree so it sheltered her face before taking running checks again. Concussion seemed to be her most worrisome injury, and he could handle that. Relief that she hadn’t fractured any major bones or suffered serious internal injuries spread through him, though from her reaction when he’d touched her ribcage it was possible she’d cracked one or two ribs, or torn cartilage from the bones. But she’d be able to lift a glass of wine when he took that bottle next door. Because he was going to. Without a doubt. It might be tempting a snub, but he’d risk it. Thanks to this accident they were inextricably linked, and he’d use that to his advantage. He wanted time with her that much. And after today she couldn’t deny he existed.

On his haunches, hunched under the edge of the umbrella, Harrison studied the captivating face he’d first admired a week ago. Shock and pain had dimmed her raw beauty, but there was no denying the fine features and that classic facial structure sucking him in. ‘So we’re both doctors.’ Was that attraction stirring his groin? No. Too weird, that idea. This was purely because Doc Not-So-Frosty had a figure that demanded attention from all working parts of a man’s body, and a face to take the edge off anything she might say.

Again Sienna moved. Again he held her still. ‘Shh, easy does it.’ He kept his voice low and soft, sleep her best option for now. When she didn’t relax he sat next to her, stretching his legs the length of her body so they were touching side by side, and began soothing her hand, making light circles with his fingers. Slowly, slowly, the tension fell away from her muscles and she stopped moving her hands and feet. Had she been unconsciously checking again to see that she hadn’t damaged her spine? It had been her biggest fear when he’d arrived, and who could blame her? Cycling accidents were notorious for shoulder injuries, but spinal damage was up there too.

His radio barked into life. ‘Harry, are you receiving? This is Ginger.’

Their pilot. ‘Harry receiving loud and not so clear. What’s up?’

‘You’re stuck there for a while yet, I’d say. What’s the situation with your patient?’

‘GCS four.’ Not bad considering how rapid her descent must’ve been, and the bone-jarring—if not breaking—halt against the tree. But the score could change rapidly, dropping to a dangerous level if Sienna got too cold or there was internal bleeding going on he hadn’t discovered. But all indicators said she was lucky there. He turned his back on her, just in case she wasn’t as out of it as he believed. ‘Don’t let that fool you. I want her out of here ASAP. Her temperature has taken a dive since the hail came across.’

‘Roger. Understood. I’m talking to the weather gods every few minutes but so far they’re ignoring me.’

‘Keep at it.’

‘I’ll get back to you in thirty unless the all-clear comes through. Hang in there and keep her safe, man.’

As if he’d do anything else. Keeping safe came first, especially for his patients. Not so much for himself. He’d always been a bit of a risk-taker, snowboarding off mountain ranges and deep-water diving in shark-infested waters; though with that one there’d been a team of experts at his back. Not that his parents would’ve noticed if things went pear-shaped. His brothers understood his apparent recklessness, though they didn’t condone it, but to their credit they left him to his own decisions, something he appreciated almost more than anything. They weren’t meant to feel guilty for him copping all the blame their mother had dished out for disasters big and small when they were young—and not so young. He was the cause of her disappointment with how life had served her, so his brothers had been spared the vitriol. Because they’d been wanted, planned for. Unlike him.

Harry swallowed the familiar bile. These days, since his mother had taken over control of the multinational company his grandfather had created, the family was more divided than ever. He and his brothers were together in their need to get on and make lives for themselves, while their parents fought endless battles between themselves over who was in charge of the company. His siblings had found love with wonderful women and dived right into their own families, putting distance between themselves and the parents who might’ve wanted them but didn’t show much affection towards them. Finding a woman to love and have a family with was not something Harry planned on doing. His one and only serious relationship years ago had turned out to be as nasty as his parents’ one, and confirmed his belief he did not want that for the rest of his days. Just as he didn’t want to be told to try harder, become greater, aim higher. If someone couldn’t love him for who he was then he wouldn’t bother. He’d learned to be happy with his single status; he just wasn’t always so careful with himself.

He reached for Sienna’s wrist. What was her pulse now? Her wrist was slight and her skin satiny. If anyone around here had a high pulse rate it was him.

‘So you’re a doctor, and a cyclist. What else interests you?’ he asked into the wind-tossed space in an attempt to distract himself from the heat tripping up his arm from where his fingers still touched her skin. Lowering her arm, he pulled back. ‘I know loud music isn’t one of your favourites, Doc Frosty.’

He barked a harsh laugh. Doc Frosty and Dr Frost stuck together on a hillside.

Ever since the night she’d stormed up his drive he’d been aware of her. Or rather, of how often she wasn’t at home. It made sense now he knew her profession. Putting in long hours came with the territory. Which was one reason he loved his work. There was no time for anything else other than light, short relationships with women and easy-going friendships.

Those odd moments of longing for something he couldn’t explain that came in the middle of a night shift when there was nothing happening but waiting in the tedious dark for a call that he always hoped wouldn’t end badly for the victims were to be ignored. The unsettling need for something, someone, had to be banished. He was his own person and, once free of his mother’s blame game and his wife’s endless demands to be someone he wasn’t, he’d vowed he’d never let someone else dictate how he lived, or where, or why.

His brothers lived the lives of their choice, and encouraged him to do the same, though they weren’t always keen when he leapt off mountains with nothing more than a board strapped to his feet for safety. They and their families were his support system, the people he loved most. There wasn’t room for anyone else. He’d tried once. Never again.

His eyes tracked across Sienna’s exhausted face. Yes, she cranked up his libido something wicked. No, she wasn’t going to become important to him other than as a patient at this point in time. Yes, he wanted to learn more about what made her tick. No, he didn’t have any intention of spending time with her.

No longer than it took to share a bottle of wine, at any rate.

CHAPTER FOUR

‘HOW LONG HAVE we been waiting for your lot to return?’ Sienna stared through the semi-dark at Harry. His rugged face was in shadow while the lantern he must’ve had in his pack gave an eerie glow to their surroundings. He was so close it wouldn’t take any effort to touch him. What would his skin feel like under her fingertips? Warm? Exciting?

Then he blinked and sat up straighter before reaching for her wrist, his finger instantly on her pulse. ‘A little over an hour. Not long, considering.’

Definitely warm...and exciting. ‘Hmmm...’

‘What does “hmmm” mean?’

That she liked the spiky sensations going on up her arm from where he held her. ‘Thank goodness you got here before the weather packed in or who knows what shape I’d be in by now? First thing I’m going to do once back on my feet is buy a lottery ticket. Who knows? My luck might still be running.’

His gaze cruised over her in a not-so-doctorish manner when she said ‘shape’. A manner she could get to enjoy very quickly. His chuckle was delicious: more warmth, as well as comforting, and as if he was with her. ‘I’ll drive you to the shop when we’re off the hill and the ED guys have tidied you up.’

Sienna shifted her numb butt and got stabbed with aches throughout her body for her effort. Her head pounded but thankfully her vision was clear. All the better to observe this annoyingly interesting man. Sticking her tongue firmly in her cheek, she asked, ‘You hanging around Auckland for a day or two more, then?’

‘Up until Christmas.’

‘Then where are you going?’

‘I’m starting to doubt you’ve got concussion. Your recall is superb. Remind me never to tell you anything important.’

A smile accompanied his words so she remained relaxed. ‘As we hardly ever speak that’s not likely to happen.’

Harrison grunted. ‘Here’s the thing. We seem to keep getting thrown together so I’m figuring we might as well get to know each other a little. Only as neighbours,’ he added quickly.

‘Sounds like a plan as soon as I’m mobile again.’ Fingers crossed that’d be tomorrow, not months down the track due to serious damage.

‘We can share a bottle of wine on the deck.’

So he was okay with the wine idea. She must’ve talked in her sleep. They couldn’t have been having similar thoughts about getting together for a drink. Could they? How soon could he visit?

Downplay this.

She hadn’t said anything in her sleep about how he made her blood sing, had she? Better concentrate on staying wide awake from now on.

He went quiet, and the haze in Sienna’s head began to rule despite her worry about what she might say next. But the fog didn’t take over as it had earlier. Had she run out of puff? Or was it that she was awake enough that images of her neighbour were rolling in? Leading her into temptation? As if. Stuck out here was so not the place for anything other than waiting to be lifted off.

Harrison sat beside her, his long legs stretched out, his hands relaxed on his thighs. Hard to ignore. He was more than attractive. There was something dependable about him that activated all her buttons when she stopped thinking how exasperating he could be. The pounding started up again in her skull. Not Harrison’s fault. Not even thoughts about him were to blame. She was falling asleep.

Falling. Over and over.

Sienna awoke with a jerk, and groaned.

‘Hey, easy.’ That hand she was getting inordinately fond of touched her good shoulder.

Something niggled from her dream. ‘What if no one had seen me go off the edge of the road?’

‘Let’s not go there. You were seen and here I am.’

She could have broken her back, been left for days till someone found her, or worse.

‘You need to relax, my girl. Spread your wings and fly.’

Sienna’s eyes flew open. Her father was right. She had been missing out on so much. What if she had broken her back? That would finish everything. This had been a wake-up call she needed to heed. ‘Bring that wine over the first time we’re both at home.’ Then she’d return the favour a few days later. If they got on well enough to repeat the date. Date? Not likely. Calling that a date only underlined how sad her life had become. Whether or not they had anything else to do with each other afterwards, spending an hour with Harrison meant she’d be making a start on getting out there to do things she’d only ever thought about. How was this for another? ‘I’m going to sign up for flying lessons.’ Plummeting down a hillside had a lot to answer for. But if that had gone horribly wrong there wouldn’t be any crazy ideas to put into action.

‘You want to become a private pilot?’ Bafflement darkened Harry’s voice. Then he reached for her wrist again. Did he think she was slipping into gaga land because of that knock on her head? He could be right, but she didn’t think so.

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