‘Big of him,’ Mike said scathingly. ‘He was a charming bastard, I’ll grant you that.’ He snorted. ‘Cardiologist, my eye. They’re supposed to fix hearts, aren’t they? Not go around breaking them.’
A sound somewhere between a laugh and sob escaped Emily. It was so comforting to have someone on her side like this. Someone who would defend her worth and assume anyone that left her would be the one missing out.
Maybe karma did exist after all, and this was payback time. Helping Mike pick up the pieces after failed relationships had been what had cemented their friendship over the last eighteen months. Emily decided she’d better make the most of this. It wouldn’t be long before she would feel compelled to return the favour…again.
‘I can’t believe I got it so wrong,’ she sighed. ‘I’m angry as much as anything right now. I should have seen it coming and I didn’t. OK, things haven’t been that great for a while, but whenever I tried to talk about it Simon said he was just a bit stressed by work. And I believed him.’
‘You loved him. Why wouldn’t you believe him?’
‘When I look back at the last few weeks, I just cringe. I made it so easy. I helped him.’
‘You’re a nice person, Em. The nicest person I know.’ The words were like balm to the raw patch on Emily’s heart and she was happy to let Mike’s squeeze pull her a little closer. Close enough to rest her head comfortably on his shoulder. ‘You can’t help helping people. I heard about all the hours you spent with young Lucky when you were officially off duty. You can’t tell me it was just because you didn’t want to be around to see Simon bloody Kent pack his bags and move out. You were determined that baby was going to survive, weren’t you?’
‘It was helping me survive as well,’ Emily admitted. ‘I think any patients of mine would have got a fair bit of extra attention in the last few days.’
Like they had all those years ago, when throwing herself into her career had seemed the only way forward.
‘It’s not just patients that you help, though, is it?’ The deep notes in Mike’s voice rumbled against Emily’s cheek. ‘Look at all the times you’ve let me cry on your shoulder and tried to help.’ He was silent for a few seconds and then sounded thoughtful. ‘Wasn’t it you that set me up with Kirsty? To take my mind off Trudi leaving?’
‘Sorry.’ Emily’s tone was rueful. ‘It seemed like a good idea at the time.’
Actually, it hadn’t seemed like that great an idea. It had just seemed…inevitable. As ordained by fate as the fact that her relationship with Simon had just morphed into an unexciting engagement. The wild desire Emily had had of suggesting herself as a replacement for Trudi was still ridiculous enough to make her blush. And still just as easy to dismiss.
Mike grunted as though in agreement. ‘Getting dumped doesn’t do wonders for your ego, does it?’
‘Trudi didn’t dump you. She cried buckets when her visa ran out.’
‘She didn’t try applying for a new one.’
‘She was going to.’
‘Yeah. Until she met that guy in Switzerland and got married a few days later.’
‘Maybe marriage was what she was looking for.’
‘Obviously.’
‘You were a bit slow off the mark, then.’
‘What?’ Emily could feel Mike stiffen. ‘I didn’t want to marry Trudi.’
‘What about Kirsty?’ Emily sat up and eyed Mike cautiously. ‘Did you want to marry her?’
‘Of course not.’ Mike grinned disarmingly. ‘She did have great legs, though.’
Emily rolled her eyes. Of course she did. So had Trudi. And Marcella. Great legs were just another item on a list that put her on a different planet from the women Mike Poulos chose.
‘So you’re not exactly devastated, then.’
‘I guess not.’ But Mike’s grin had gone. For just a fraction of a second Emily had another glimpse into eyes that weren’t shuttered by humour and realised she was seeing a part of Mike she had never been privy to before.
Maybe something good was going to come out of this whole mess. A bond of comfort in their friendship that was going both ways for the first time.
‘I am upset,’ Mike said slowly. ‘And I’m starting to wonder what the hell’s so wrong with me.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with you,’ Emily assured him. ‘You’re a great guy, Mike. Kirsty’s an idiot.’
‘Yeah.’ A familiar glint reappeared in those dark eyes. ‘She is, isn’t she? She and Simon bloody Kent should be a perfect match.’
‘How did we not see it happening right under our noses?’
‘Because it didn’t. They took off to Brisbane when they found they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.’
‘Did you know what was going on?’
‘I had my suspicions.’
‘When?’
‘The weekend before last. When you told me you were covering a night shift for Simon because he had to rush off to Brisbane.’
‘When his mother mixed up her insulin dose and put herself into a coma. What was so suspicious about that?’
‘Just that Kirsty had rung me ten minutes earlier to say she couldn’t make it back to Crocodile Creek for a day or two because her father was having some sort of crisis with his insulin dosage.’
Emily huffed at the absurdity of it. ‘Why on earth didn’t they have the imagination to come up with different stories?’
‘Because they’re both idiots,’ Mike reminded her promptly.
Her smile came much more easily this time. It wasn’t even forced. Mike smiled back at her delightedly, clearly taking the credit for having cheered her up, at least a little, but Emily looked away quickly. She couldn’t reveal just how much she was enjoying his company.
Neither could she put any real significance on some new connection she and Mike could be forging here. They were in the same boat right now, having had their respective partners run off with each other no less, but it was a very temporary thing. Michael Poulos never stayed lonely for long. It would be foolish to imagine that this almost intimate companionship would become a regular occurrence.
And right on cue, the radio on the desk opposite the couch crackled into life.
‘Cooper’s Crossing to Crocodile Creek Air Medical Service. Come in, please.’
Mike’s attention was caught instantly and completely. He jumped to his feet. ‘Where the hell is our radio operator?’
‘Someone’s got the hand-held,’ Emily pointed out, following Mike’s example and standing up.
‘Yes. I have.’
‘Oh!’ Emily whirled so fast she almost fell over. ‘Charles! I wish you wouldn’t sneak up on people like that!’
‘It’s an advantage I have no intention of losing.’ Charles Wetherby, medical director of Crocodile Creek Base Hospital, rolled his wheelchair towards the desk. ‘The battery’s low on the hand-held,’ he said. ‘That’s why I was on my way back.’
‘Cooper’s Crossing station to AMS. Are you receiving me, over?’
Charles reached for the microphone on the desk. ‘Crocodile Creek Base Hospital, receiving you loud and clear. Is that you, Jim?’
‘Yes.’ The voice sounded hesitant. ‘Charles?’
‘Speaking,’ Charles confirmed. ‘What’s the problem, Jim?’
‘It’s my daughter, Megan. She’s…she’s not well.’
Emily knew that other people listening in could make it uncomfortable to give personal details, but Jim Cooper sounded more than hesitant now. He sounded desperate.
‘What’s happened, Jim?’
‘She hasn’t been well for a few days. She got out of bed and she’s collapsed…I can’t get any sense out of her.’ A few words were broken by static. ‘Fence down…Her mother’s trying to round up the cattle…No way I can get her back into bed.’
‘How old is Megan, Jim?’
‘Nineteen.’
‘And she’s been sick for a few days?’
‘I dunno what’s going on. Flu, maybe. S
tomach pains. She’s just lying on the floor now…Her breathing sounds funny…I dunno what to do…’
Emily exchanged a horrified glance with Mike. This man was panicking. He sounded close to tears.
‘Don’t worry, Jim. We’ll get some help out to you. Don’t go too far from the radio. As soon as I’ve got things moving I’ll talk to you again.’
Charles turned to Mike. ‘Do you know if they’ve fixed that problem with the sticky needle on the fixed wing’s altimeter?’
‘They’re working on it now.’
‘It’ll have to be the chopper, then.’
‘How far is it?’
‘Cooper’s Crossing station is Wetherby Downs’ closest neighbour.’ Charles tipped his chair back and then swivelled to face the series of maps covering the wall. They were marked with a series of black, expanding circles that represented units of ten nautical miles. ‘West. Here.’
Mike whistled silently. ‘That’s a long haul for the chopper, boss. We’d have to refuel.’
‘Not a problem. We have a long-standing arrangement with Wetherby Downs to provide fuel for any AMS emergency if it’s needed. I’ll arrange it with the station manager. They’ll be waiting for you.’
‘What’s the latest info from the weather bureau?’
Emily peered at the map as the two men engaged in a rapid-fire discussion about weather forecasts, GPS co-ordinates for navigation and flight times. Wetherby Downs station was where Charles had grown up. His brother Philip ran the vast station now. Why would Charles make it sound like ringing the station manager and not his brother to arrange a fuelling stop for the helicopter was the only option?
She cast a rather speculative glance at their medical director. How fair was it that he knew so much about all of them but managed to keep so much of his own life so private? Disconcertingly, Emily found herself receiving a stare from both men that spoke of an even more avid curiosity.
‘So, how ’bout it, Em?’
‘Sorry, I wasn’t listening.’
‘Christina’s on emergency flight call but she’s having a good time at the party.’ Mike grinned at Emily. ‘Charles and I thought you might like to cover for her.’
‘Oh, no!’ Emily took a step backwards. ‘Sorry, but I don’t do helicopters.’
‘Why not?’ Charles raised an eyebrow. ‘You’ve been in the fixed-wing aircraft often enough.’
‘That’s different.’
‘Why?’ Mike sounded genuinely puzzled.
‘A plane’s safer.’
‘Why?’ Mike was sounding amused now.
‘Because it’s got wings,’ Emily muttered. She could feel her cheeks heating but continued doggedly when confronted by silence. ‘If its engine conks out it can at least glide down. It’s not going to drop like a stone.’
Mike and Charles exchanged a glance. They both grinned at Emily. She pressed her lips together stubbornly and glared back. She didn’t like being laughed at.
Then, for the second time that evening, Emily felt the comforting weight of Mike’s arm around her shoulders.
‘I wouldn’t let you drop like a stone, Em. Honest.’
The promise was as comforting as the physical touch. It offered protection. Never mind that Mike wouldn’t want to plummet to the ground himself, he made it sound as though it would be Emily he’d be taking care of.
Right now she felt too bruised to remind herself that she was quite capable of looking after herself. Having someone else doing that, even temporarily, was attractive. It made her feel special. Safe.
Safe enough to actually consider confronting her fear of flying in something that didn’t have wings?
‘But it’s dark.’
‘Not a problem.’ Mike squeezed her shoulder. ‘There’s a lovely bright moon out there and I’ll turn the lights on when we need to land. I’ll keep an eye out for the mountains, I promise.’ The pressure he exerted on Emily’s shoulder was enough to force her to turn and look at him. ‘Hey,’ he said softly. ‘Neither of us really wants to go to that party right now. An escape is just what we need. Both of us.’
‘Hmm.’ Charles was looking at both Emily and Mike so thoughtfully she could almost hear wheels turning. ‘I agree. What’s more, you’ll be an even more valuable member of staff around here if you can get past your helicopter phobia, Dr Morgan.’
Emily gulped. ‘Are you ordering me to go, Charles?’
Mike’s head tipped sideways as he chased eye contact with Emily. ‘Ple-e-ease?’
It was the lopsided smile that did it. Made her think that Mike wanted her company rather than Christina’s. Made her feel that she would be safe doing anything as long as she was doing it with Michael Poulos.
‘Oh…all right.’ The grudging agreement came out as almost a snap but Mike didn’t seem to mind.
Neither did Charles. He was smiling benevolently as he waved them off. Then he reached for the microphone again.
‘Crocodile Creek Base Hospital to Cooper’s Crossing. You receiving me, Jim?’
By the time Emily was kitted out in the dark blue overalls, heavy black boots and the white helmet that contained the earphones and microphone for radio communication, Mike had done all his pre-flight checks and was waiting to help Emily into the cockpit of the bright red and yellow helicopter.
‘Charles has been talking to the girl’s father again. She’s conscious and has got herself back to bed. Sounds like less of an emergency but he’s decided she should still be evacuated.’ Emily nodded but knew she probably looked less than enthusiastic. Up close, this was even more daunting than she had feared. The machine was huge. Far too big for spinning strips of metal as flimsy-looking as those rotors to hold up. If her hand wasn’t being firmly held by Mike at that point, Emily might have turned and fled.
‘Step onto the skid here and then up into the front seat.’
‘What? Isn’t that where the crewman sits?’
‘We’re not taking anyone else. This should be a simple retrieval and I can help you with any stabilisation of the patient that needs to be done before we head back. Come on—in you get.’
Emily felt pale. She hesitated.
‘It’s as safe as houses,’ Mike assured her. ‘Statistically, you’re safer doing this than crossing the road.’
‘I know. It’s just…’
‘Look, I’ll give you some extra protection. Watch.’
‘Mike!’ Emily was horrified. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Spitting,’ he said unnecessarily.
‘That’s disgusting!’
‘It’s a Greek thing.’ Mike didn’t look at all perturbed by Emily’s criticism. ‘It’s for luck. It wards off the evil eye.’
‘Oh…for luck, huh?’
‘Yep. Come on, it’s time we took off.’
‘Hang on.’ Emily resisted the tug on her hand. ‘Can I spit, too? For luck?’
Mike’s face lit up as he grinned. ‘Sure.’
Emily gave it her best shot. Luck was good. And spitting on the helicopter was so bizarre it was funny. She actually felt like laughing aloud and she hadn’t felt like that for days and days. Expecting Mike to approve, Emily was surprised to find him shaking his head.
‘You’ve got to do it three times,’ he told her.
‘But I don’t have that much spit!’
‘Well, actually…’ Mike let go of Emily’s hand, pulled the sleeves of his overalls down over his wrist and wiped the blob of saliva off the helicopter’s paintwork. ‘You don’t have to make it wet.’ His tone was injured. ‘It’s more of a token spit.’ The glance was very stern. ‘Especially when it’s my helicopter you’re spitting on.’
Emily was still grinning as she fastened her seat belt and watched the rotors lifting as their speed increased. She couldn’t remember when she had last felt this alive.
Setting off for a medical evacuation always got the adrenaline going because you never knew quite what you were going to find at the other end. Meeting a personal challenge like facing a fear of hel
icopters at the same time made this experience well out of any comfort zone.
Emily would never have agreed to this if it wasn’t Mike at the controls. Because it was him, and because she was doing this for the first time in her life and they were doing this with just the two of them, gave this mission an edge that could only boost Emily’s adrenaline rush.
Every cell in her body was pumping. Fear kicked in far more feebly than she would have expected when the skids left the tarmac and the helicopter rose swiftly. They were still gaining height rapidly as Mike turned over the cove to head inland, and Emily welcomed the distraction of seeing the people gathered around the bonfire on the beach. A small person waved.
‘There’s CJ!’ Emily shouted. ‘Look—I can even see that weird-looking puppy beside him.’
‘You don’t need to shout, babe. We’ve got an internal intercom system and the earphones and mikes are inside our helmets.’
‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t be. You weren’t to know.’ Mike looked down at the beach and then turned his head towards Emily. ‘Who needs a party? This is much more fun, isn’t it?’
And Emily had to nod.
Astonishingly, this suddenly promised to become the most enjoyable experience of her life.
CHAPTER TWO
HE WAS nothing short of a genius.
If he’d spent a week planning some way of bringing a smile back to Emily Morgan’s face, Mike couldn’t have done better than scooping her up and flying her off in his helicopter. And he hadn’t had to plan it at all. It had just fallen into his lap.
OK, he’d had to do a bit of fast talking to cut the crew numbers for this rescue mission but he could be very persuasive when he wanted to be. He’d taken the line that he and Emily could manage perfectly well. He had advanced paramedic training to go with his considerable experience as a pilot, so they were a perfect team. Why pull anyone else away from the beach party when they deserved the time out after the wringer they’d all been through in the last few days, thanks to the shortage of medical staff and a surplus of major cases?
Charles had known what Mike was up to, of course. He could see that he wanted some time alone with Emily to try and cheer her up. Maybe he even knew some things that Mike had been confident he’d kept very well hidden. There wasn’t much that went on in or around Crocodile Creek base hospital that Charles didn’t know about.
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