Flying Doctors

by Fiona Lowe

Brenda pulled two turbans out of her bag. ‘I have one for both of you. The big one is for Kate and the smaller one is for you, Sasha. I thought it might be a good symbol for remembering your mum and looking to the future.’

  The young girl’s eyes widened in delight. ‘Thanks heaps, Mrs Cincotta.’ She immediately turned to Kate. ‘Can you help me put it on?’

  ‘Sure.’ Kate took off her gloves and wound the material around her own head and then placed the smaller one on Sasha’s chestnut hair. ‘You look gorgeous.’

  ‘You’re just saying that.’ Sasha glanced down at her feet.

  ‘No, Kate’s absolutely right. You do look gorgeous.’

  Baden had wandered over from the barbecue to see what was happening. Fatherly love glowed in his sky-blue eyes.

  The familiar lump in her throat formed when Kate caught sight of that look. Father and daughter, a strong bond.

  Then his gaze met hers over the top of Sasha’s head. ‘In fact you both look gorgeous.’ Fatherly love suddenly vanished, replaced by a simmering of something stronger. Something she knew was for herself alone.

  Her body tingled from the tip of her head down to her toes and then settled deep inside her.

  ‘Don’t listen to him, Kate. He’s clueless,’ Sasha’s no-nonsense voice chimed in. ‘I can be covered in paint after art and he tells me I’m gorgeous. And no offence but you have sauce on your nose.’

  Kate laughed as she wiped away the sauce. But Sasha’s comment suddenly brought back Baden’s words in a powerful surge. You’d be beautiful covered in grease.

  Her head spun. If he told his daughter she was gorgeous no matter what, completely unconditionally—did this mean something more? Did he love her? Her heart tripped over itself in happiness at the thought there might be a chance for the three of them as a family.

  ‘So, how many hamburgers, Mr Cincotta?’ Sasha focussed back on the important things.

  ‘I reckon twenty-five should do it.’ Des handed over a large green note.

  Sasha looked stunned as she held the hundred-dollar bill. She carefully put it in the cashbox. ‘Hey, Dad, stop slacking, we’ve got a huge order of twenty-five hamburgers. Come on, Kate, you need to set out the buns.’

  ‘I think we’ve just been organised.’ Baden winked at Kate, and saluted his daughter. ‘Coming right up, Miss Tremont.’

  Baden walked toward the drinks area, having been released from his cooking duties by Kate as long as he brought back coffee. Although he wasn’t sure that a double mocha frappuccino with extra cream really counted as coffee, but he wasn’t going to argue with a woman who’d been working flat out since five a.m.

  She needed a break; she’d been like a whirling dervish all day.

  ‘Hey, Baden, how’s it going?’ A woman grabbed his arm, breaking his reverie.

  ‘Emily.’ He hugged his ex–flight nurse, taking in her teal turban and a few strands of purple hair that had escaped. ‘Great to see you.’

  ‘I hear that Kate Lawson is a star and you’re not missing me at all.’ She raised her brows, her double meaning clear.

  The comment caught him unawares and he found himself clearing his throat. ‘If I had to lose you, Kate is a worthy replacement.’

  Emily rocked back and laughed. ‘Well, that’s one way of looking at it. Although you never looked at me the way you look at her.’

  His serious doctor voice took over. ‘Kate is a valued colleague, just like you are. You’re letting your imagination run away with you.’

  Emily’s smiling face suddenly turned serious. ‘No, I don’t think I am. I had a long wait for my dinner tonight and I watched you at the barbecue. You spent more time looking at Kate than my charred hamburger.’

  Hell, had it been that noticeable? He knew he’d lost the battle not to watch her a long time ago, but had he lost the ability to be surreptitious? He tried to deflect Emily with humour. ‘Charred! Richard must have cooked that one.’

  She put her hand on his arm, her touch and her voice full of understanding. ‘I think it’s wonderful. You’ve been alone long enough.’

  He breathed in deeply. ‘I’m not alone. I’ve got Sasha.’

  Emily put her hands on her hips. ‘You’re being deliberately obtuse. You know what I mean. Your wife died and you miss her, but you’ve grieved, you’ve started a new life and it’s normal and healthy to want to love again.’

  He waited for the usual anger to fizz inside him when people tried to match him up but for some reason it didn’t come. That in itself worried him. He changed the subject to something safer. ‘So, how’s your eldest brother? Did he manage to get the loan for the new dam?’

  But Emily wasn’t listening to him. She’d turned her head away, her attention one hundred per cent on Linton, who stood on the stage speaking into a microphone. His voice boomed over the PA system. ‘Can everyone make their way over to the drive-in area, please? The film’s going to start in fifteen minutes.’

  Baden raised his brows knowingly. ‘So how’s Linton?’

  Emily turned back with an overly casual shrug. ‘No idea. I haven’t seen him since he finished his rotation with the Flying Doctors three months ago.’

  He crossed his arms and grinned at her. ‘Really? I thought I detected more than a casual interest.’

  ‘I think you’re letting your imagination run away with you.’ She tilted her jaw in the stubborn way he remembered so well and played him at his own game of changing the subject, which spoke volumes. ‘Say hi to Sasha for me and I’ll catch up with you later.’ With a quick wave she walked over to another group of people and made her way to the drive-in paddock.

  He joined the coffee queue behind Evelyn Walton. ‘Getting a caffeine shot to keep you alert while you supervise the Guides at the movie?’

  Evelyn nodded. ‘They’ll be fine. Richard’s filled the back of the ute with foam blocks and cushions and I have enough lollies to keep the dentist in business for the next year.’

  Baden ordered the coffees. ‘Sounds like we’ll be coping with sugar highs.’

  Evelyn laughed. ‘Probably, but that’s all part of the fun.’ She moved to the side to wait for her coffee. ‘Baden, can you do me a favour?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Richard and I are on duty, along with Sandra, and Hannah’s parents, plus there are bound to be other Guide parents who sit with us. Kate’s done a huge job getting tonight off the ground and she deserves to watch the movie in a civilised way, rather than being pelted by Guides with foam blocks during the quiet bits.’

  He put his hands in his pockets. ‘Good luck convincing her not to sit with the Guides.’

  Evelyn wrinkled her nose. ‘Actually, that’s the favour. I want you to convince her.’

  A slight tremor of unease ran through him. ‘You know Kate, she’ll just do what she planned on doing.’

  Evelyn picked up her coffee and fixed him with a steely look. ‘You’re the doctor—tell her she’ll collapse from exhaustion or something. Better yet, buy her ice cream and chocolates and nail her to the picnic rug way off to the side so no one can see her to bother her. I’m sure you’ll think of something.’

  An image of Kate slammed into him. Kate lying down on a picnic rug beside him, her body snuggled against his, her head nestled into his shoulder, her hair tickling his cheek and her lips warm against his own. His breath rushed out of his lungs.

  He’d just lost his ‘safety in numbers’ buffer, the buffer he’d been depending on all day. It had become an increasing battle to keep her out of his arms.

  A germ of an idea slowly turned in his brain and the floundering tatters of his resolve to stay away from Kate vanished. He now had the perfect solution that would suit both Kate and him and protect Sasha’s feelings.

  ‘Sure, no problem, Evelyn.’ He hoped she hadn’t noticed just how husky his voice had become.

  CHAPTER TEN

  KATE’S knees knocked together so hard she was sure people at the back could hear them. She could deal with bleeding bodies and
hysterical relatives, she could pull together a huge fundraising night like tonight, but she dreaded public speaking.

  Baden leaned in close and whispered in her ear. ‘Just imagine them all naked.’

  An image of Baden’s golden body illuminated by moonlight came into her mind. Her knocking knees melted on the spot. She threw her hands out wide. ‘How is that supposed to help?’ Her voice started to rise. ‘I could never understand how that is a useful tip.’

  His eyes sparkled at her, and a grin raced across his cheeks. ‘Trust me, just try it.’ He gave her a gentle push onto the stage.

  She took in a deep breath, tossed her head and walked across the stage, which was really the flatbed of the semi-trailer. Her hand curved tightly around the microphone. ‘Ladies and gentlemen. I’m Kate Lawson and…’ She looked out onto a sea of over three hundred faces, many of them wearing teal green turbans. Her mind instantly blanked. With a hammering heart she turned her head to the left catching Baden’s gaze.

  He mouthed at her, ‘Think naked,’ and gave her a thumbs-up.

  She stared straight ahead picturing the crowd only wearing turbans. She felt a giggle start to rise out of her as her constricted throat relaxed. ‘I just want to take a few moments of your time to thank everyone who has been involved in making tonight happen. It wouldn’t have been possible without an exceptional team effort and I’m really excited to announce that together you have raised a staggering seven thousand dollars toward finding an early diagnostic test for ovarian cancer.’

  Whoops, wolf whistles and car horns sounded as everyone clapped. Somewhere in the crowd a ‘Go, Kate’ chant started.

  Kate waved and the crowd quietened. ‘Clinical trials for the test are under way and this money will be used to support these trials, bringing us ever closer to an accurate and fast way to detect this silent disease.’ She tucked her hair behind her ear against the early evening breeze. ‘But now it’s time for the two movies so sit back and enjoy. Thank you very much.’

  She almost skipped off the stage toward Baden, so delighted was she to have the speech finished. ‘Thank heavens that’s over. Now, where are the Guides parked?’

  Baden linked his arm through hers and captured her hand. ‘The Guides are under the strict supervision of the Waltons and you are off duty.’

  ‘No?’ She stared at him and his black brows rose in confirmation. A puff of longing rose up from deep inside her and swirled through her, at odds with a strange sensation of disappointment. She had thought that perhaps she would watch the family-rated movies with Sasha and Baden.

  But you’ll have Baden all to yourself.

  Another voice countered, Only because Sasha’s not around. Just like the stolen kiss in the pool, Baden would sometimes unexpectedly touch her or kiss her, but only when Sasha was otherwise occupied or absent. Without her having realised it, he’d drawn an invisible line that was only now starting to be visible to her. And yet often when the three of them were together they felt like a family. Uncertainty ran through her.

  Stop it! You’re over-analysing. She tried to shake off the melancholy that had settled over her by flirting. ‘So, do you have a date for this movie?’

  ‘I have a picnic rug, some Irish coffee and Swiss chocolates.’ His voice deepened caressingly. ‘Would you care to join me?’

  Of course you’ll join him. His words washed over her, stealing away the tiny squeak of rebellion that had stirred. She let him draw her away from the crowds to a dark and quiet area. Next to his car, in the glow of the fading light, lay a rug covered in cushions and the biggest box of chocolates she’d ever seen.

  She tilted her head enquiringly, trying to keep her face straight. ‘It’s not the best view of the screen—in fact, I doubt whether I’ll be able to even see the film.’

  His arm swung around her waist, pulling her against him, his heat surging into her. He cupped her cheek with his free hand and stroked her face tenderly with his thumb.

  His smile streaked through his five o’clock stubble, dark and deliciously dangerous. His voice, low and husky, rumbled around her. ‘Now you’re catching on.’

  Shimmers of delight raced along her veins as she gazed at him with complete freedom as she’d longed to do all day, losing herself in his smile and everything it promised.

  He lowered his mouth against hers, his tongue barely skating across her lips in the softest yet most erotic kiss she’d ever known.

  This was where she belonged. She tilted her head back, opened her mouth under his and gave herself up to him.

  With the same delicate pressure he roved over her mouth, exploring and tasting every part of it in a slow, deliberate manner, as if he was exploring and tasting every part of her.

  She gripped his shoulders for support, her fingers pressing into solid muscle as her legs lost all power to hold her upright. Languid pleasure rolled through her like the ripple of wind on water, making her ache for more, making her stand perfectly still so she didn’t miss a moment.

  Time stood still. Colours intensified, her perception of space and place altered as she lost herself in the kiss from the man she loved.

  Eventually he lifted his head as the last light faded and the moon rose. ‘I’ve wanted to do that all day.’

  Her heart sang. ‘Really?’

  ‘Really.’ He tucked her hair behind her ear. ‘Did you know you’re incredibly sexy when you’re in organising mode?’

  Laughing, she sank down onto the picnic rug and opened the chocolates, suddenly famished. ‘I doubt Linton sees me that way, especially when I told him he had to be MC. I’m pretty sure he’d say I was just plain bossy.’

  Baden sat down next to her with a growl, his hand curving around her thigh in a proprietorial way. ‘If Linton was to ever think you’re sexy, he would have to contend with me.’

  A smile opened up deep inside her, expanding into every part of her, filling her with inexplicable happiness. Baden wanted her just for himself. She hugged that knowledge tightly.

  She lay down on the cushions and stretched out, blissfully happy. ‘A duel at dawn, perhaps?’

  He lay down next to her, his fingers trailing across her almost bare shoulders, toying with the spaghetti straps of her dress. ‘Hmm, something like that.’ He kissed the hollow at the base of her neck and then gave her a light nip. ‘Or perhaps I’ll just brand you as mine.’

  She laughed and rolled into his arms where she belonged.

  He hugged her close. ‘I’m planning on us having a lot of moments like this in the future.’

  A thrill of wonder wove through her. He wanted her and they had a future together. This time she’d got it right, this time she’d fallen in love with the right man.

  A man with a daughter she adored. Suddenly she’d gone from living alone to a woman with a family. An image of the three of them living together at Sandon filled her head. It felt so very right.

  ‘It sounds perfect to me.’ She whispered the words against his mouth and gave herself up to his bone-melting kisses.

  Lost in the ministrations of his superb mouth, it took a moment for her to realise that a narrow beam of weak torch-light was suddenly splayed over them. Giggles and shrieks sounded from the bushes behind them.

  Baden immediately stilled, his lips sliding away from hers.

  ‘Isn’t that Sasha’s dad kissing Koala?’ a young girl’s voice asked in a loud whisper.

  The beam of light suddenly veered sideways, as if someone had grabbed the torch. ‘Shh, they might hear you. Come on, we have to get back before Dad misses us.’

  Kate recognised Phoebe Walton’s voice and started to chuckle. ‘I think we’ve just been sprung.’

  Baden sat up, his body rigid. ‘Hell. What if they tell Sasha?’

  Kate pushed herself up and sat beside him, taking his hand in hers. ‘If they do, it’s no big deal.’

  ‘No big deal?’ He ran his free hand across the back of his neck. ‘I didn’t want her to find out this way.’

  Kate shrugged. ‘I
agree it’s not ideal but you can tell her in the morning or, better yet, we can tell her together after the film.’

  ‘Tell her?’ His bewildered expression made her smile. He looked like a little boy who’d just got lost. ‘I wasn’t planning on telling her anything.’

  She frowned, surprised by his comment and suddenly feeling a bit bewildered herself. ‘Do you really think that’s wise, not telling her?’

  Disbelief showed on his face. ‘I don’t know about you, but I don’t expect my twelve-year-old to understand an affair. And that’s what we’re having, right? What we both want. No relationship, no ties, but some time together.’ He reached for her. ‘Just the two of us.’

  Her stomach rolled and she gagged as his words pounded her. I’m planning on us having a lot of moments like this in the future.

  Oh, God, he meant clandestine moments. Stolen times like now and in Dog Tired Hut. Times without Sasha. Times Sasha would not know about.

  He had no intention of making her part of his family. He and Sasha were the family. She was only a bit of fluff on the side.

  Her world, so perfect a few moments ago, imploded—caving in on her with suffocating reality. She pushed his hands away and found her voice. ‘You might have been talking about an affair but I certainly wasn’t.’

  The lines on his forehead deepened. ‘But you said it sounded perfect. What did you think I was talking about?’

  She tossed her head high, trying to hold on to her shredded dignity. ‘I thought you were talking about a future together. You, me and Sasha.’

  A stunned expression crossed his face. ‘But you told me you didn’t want another relationship.’

  She stood up, wringing her hands as her own words came back to bite her. ‘I know I told you that and at the time it was the truth, but things change.’

  He’d risen to his feet and now leaned against the car. ‘We can’t be together. I have to do what’s best for Sasha. Surely you understand that.’ His troubled gaze appealed to her for understanding.

  Her brain struggled to make sense of what he was saying. ‘No, I’m sorry, I really don’t understand how not moving forward with your life is better for Sasha.’