‘I was pushing him to do something he didn’t want to do.’
‘You were saving his life. You were being firm but caring.’ He was nothing like his father.
Fraser stopped rubbing his cheek, relaxed back into his seat. ‘Thanks for that.’
They made it back to Base and had time to top up glucometer sharps, defib pads and gloves from the store, but not enough to get lunch, before the next call had them scrambling.
‘I didn’t get to check out that shortbread you brought in,’ Fraser groaned.
‘Get over it.’ She grinned unsympathetically. But when she saw the details of their next call her grin faded. ‘Six-year-old girl, unconscious after hitting head on jungle gym at Fairhall School. Charlotte Stevens.’ Nikki’s stomach plummeted. ‘Ella and Mark’s little girl. Do you remember them? Ella Wood.’
‘I was talking to Mark the other night. Hard to shut him up. Heard everything about Ella and the two kids. Gawd, he’s going to be tipped sideways when he hears about this.’ Fraser sped through the traffic, the siren blaring. ‘Considerate drivers get out of the way,’ he roared as he swung wide to avoid a car that had stopped in the middle of the road. ‘Ever heard of pulling over?’ he yelled.
Thankfully they had a straight run once they left the outskirts of town. As they raced past the vineyards, Nikki filled in a PRF for the child. ‘Charlotte Stevens.’ Her heart was in her throat. ‘I hate going to kids. And this is worse because I know her. She’s such a cutie with a mop of curls and a button nose, always talking so fast I can’t understand her.’
‘Ella and Mark will be glad it’s you attending as you know her so well.’
‘Talk about pressure.’ Nikki nibbled a rough fingernail. ‘It freaks me out a bit, hoping I can help them but always wondering if my knowledge is going to be enough. They’re so small and I keep thinking about their parents and what I’d say if I couldn’t help their baby.’
‘You’ll be fine. If anyone can save a child it’s you,’ Fraser commented. ‘Seriously, if you ever want a career change, go for emergency nursing. You’d be fantastic.’
‘You’re kidding? I couldn’t do that. I get all hot and flustered whenever I go to serious emergencies.’
‘I’m not aware of that and I work with you. You’re known as Miss Cool, Calm and Awesome back at Base.’
She blinked. ‘Me? Who said that? I’ve never heard a thing.’ Cool, calm and awesome? Her chest swelled. ‘I can live with that.’
Fraser rolled his eyes as he slowed for the school entrance. ‘I bet you can.’
They grabbed everything they could possibly need and raced after the teacher, who’d been waiting anxiously for them.
‘We haven’t moved her at all,’ the woman called over her shoulder. ‘She fell about twenty minutes ago and still hasn’t opened her eyes. Her parents are on their way.’
Nikki swallowed. This didn’t sound very good. She glanced across at Fraser as they ran and caught him watching her.
‘Miss Cool, Calm and Awesome,’ he mouthed as they reached Charlotte.
Blood pooled on the ground beneath Charlotte’s head from a large gash above her left temple. Her face appeared whiter than white. Her little body had twisted as she’d fallen and thankfully no one had tried to straighten her. Who knew what damage could’ve been inflicted when she hit the concrete?
Nikki looked at Fraser. ‘You check her head. I’ll take her pulse.’ The pulse was impossible to find. Nikki’s heart sank as she kept trying to feel the tiniest beat under her fingers. Refusing to give up hope, she was about to ask Fraser if he could try to find it when she felt a ridiculously light movement under her fingertip on the carotid artery. ‘Yes,’ she muttered, and studied her watch as she began counting. ‘Dangerously low,’ she muttered a minute later. The blood-pressure reading gave her no more hope.
‘Deep compression at the back.’ Fraser spoke quietly and with no sense of urgency in his voice, yet she knew he’d be frantic to save this girl.
‘We’ll load and go. Charlotte needs urgent, expert care. We can’t afford to waste time checking her vitals out here.’ Basically they’d do all they could to keep her alive while getting her to expert care—fast.
‘Definitely. Intubate, collar, transfer to stretcher, and we’re gone.’
‘If only it was that easy.’ Nikki carefully slid the airway tube between Charlotte’s teeth and tried to slip it down her throat. Felt relief when the tube finally went into place on the third attempt. Fraser had the oxygen ready. Between them they quickly secured the collar in place. And then Charlotte was carefully shifted onto the stretcher, with as little movement as possible before being transferred to the ambulance.
‘Phone her parents, tell them to go to ED immediately,’ Nikki told the teacher as she closed the doors. Charlotte would most likely be flown to Wellington for specialist care and Ella and Mark would want to go with her.
‘Ready for me to start driving?’ asked Fraser.
‘Go.’ And don’t spare the engine, she thought, her heart thumping in trepidation for their tiny patient. The trip took for ever and yet it flew past at a breakneck rate. Seeing the doctors and nurses waiting at the ambulance bay doors was the most welcome sight of her career. Charlotte stood a much better chance now.
After handing over, she turned to Fraser and walked into his arms, laid her cheek against his chest. ‘That was scary.’
‘But we made a difference. Now it’s up to those guys.’ His hand stroked her back gently. ‘Come on. Let’s hope we get back to Base without any further calls. I don’t know about you but I could do with a very strong coffee.’
She remained a few more moments in Fraser’s arms, trying and failing to wipe out the image of Charlotte’s immobile face. She could still feel on her fingertip the child’s light pulse. And her heart held anguish for a young girl she adored. Finally, she drew back. ‘Very, very strong coffee it is.’
‘How do parents cope with something like this?’ Fraser said as they drove away. ‘When I see accidents like that one I think I’m glad I haven’t got kids. I’d be locking them up all the time.’
‘To think I wanted to have twelve. I’d have turned grey in no time at all.’ Nikki sighed. ‘Actually, I only wanted two, a boy and a girl. Funny how things turned out.’
‘Nik, you’re talking as though it’s too late for you to become a mother.’
‘It is.’ Because I can’t have them with you. We’re not getting together again. And there isn’t anyone else I’d like for the father of my kids.
Pushing into her seat, she stared out the window, not really seeing anything. She’d let her guard down with Fraser for a moment, and look where it had got her. Thinking of unattainable things. Like babies and Fraser all in the same sentence.
At the end of their shift Nikki stretched her back, rolled her shoulders. ‘Yee-haa, a day off tomorrow.’ Then two nights on. The time was flying past. It was hard to believe Fraser had been here ten days now.
Amber strolled through to the staff lounge, coffee in one hand, a sandwich in the other. ‘Are you going shopping tomorrow?’
‘As in groceries?’ It had been Amber’s turn to get those in.
‘Done. But there’s a sale on at your favourite shoe shop.’
‘You’re kidding!’ Excitement sizzled along Nikki’s veins. ‘How did I miss that?’
‘I’m asking myself the same thing.’ Amber grinned. ‘They’ve got the most amazing boots that you’re going to want. Black, extra-long to above the knee, with the cutest slender and very high heels.’
‘Nikki, you’re dribbling,’ Fraser called from the doorway. His eyes looked slightly misty. Did boots turn him on? So what if they did?
Nikki grinned despite her tummy suddenly tightening. ‘What would a guy know about these things?’
But as Fraser’s eyes turned a roasted-coffee-bean colour she decided this guy knew quite a lot, even if only how boots looked on tall, slim women. Her bubble burst. She was of average height and
definitely not slim so his fantasy, if that’s what it was, wasn’t about her.
‘Guess you’ll be up early to fit your run in before the shoe shop opens.’ Amber bumped the table with her hip, splashed coffee over her forest-green uniform jersey. ‘Great.’ As she wiped at the spill she asked, ‘Did you two have a quiet day?’
Nikki shook her head. ‘Nope. We hardly stopped.’ After Charlotte they’d been up the Awatere Valley for a broken femur and torn artery, followed by a car versus tree that had involved a family of four and required two ambulances. ‘Any news on Charlotte?’ she asked the room in general.
Gavin looked up from the newspaper. ‘The little girl flown to Wellington? Not a word so far.’
Fraser still waited at the door, his day pack slung over his shoulder, his gaze on her. ‘Can we phone anyone?’
‘I don’t want to bother Mark and Ella’s families. I’ll check with ED later to see if they’ve heard anything.’
‘Come on, let’s get out of here. We’re already an hour past sign-off time.’ Fraser jerked a thumb over his shoulder. ‘We could join Mike and the others for a beer at the pub. Wind down a bit before going home.’ His voice was soft, quiet, as though afraid of frightening her off the idea.
‘Sounds like a plan.’ Shrugging into her jacket, she saw Amber watching her with a knowing smirk on her face. ‘What?’
‘Nothing.’ Her friend grinned.
‘Good.’ Checking Fraser wasn’t within hearing, she added, ‘Drop it, Amber. We barely speak in the truck, so we’re not going to have a rave at the pub.’
‘Where’s your SUV?’ Fraser asked as he closed the outside door behind them.
‘Along Scott Street a bit, under that old oak.’
‘I’ll walk with you. Mine’s a bit farther on.’ Then he asked, ‘Why an SUV? Why not a zippy little car?’
‘My brothers.’
‘Pardon?’
‘All part of the making sure Nikki is safe programme.’ Which was all well and good at times. ‘But I didn’t argue too much as I do like my vehicle. It’s cool.’ Hurrying along the footpath, Nikki tugged the zip of her jacket higher. ‘Dang, but it’s cold out here.’
‘You’ve got a flat.’ Fraser stepped off the pavement and bent down on the far side of her four-wheel-drive vehicle. ‘I’ll change it for you.’
‘No need. I can manage.’ Not that it would be fun in the dark and the light drizzle that had just begun.
‘Nikki, I’m not walking away and leaving you to change a tyre. Got a torch?’
‘Yep.’ Waving her electronic key, she popped the locks, found the torch and opened the back door to retrieve the wheel brace and jack. ‘You’re not taking the slightest bit of notice of me, just like my brothers.’ Fraser being the forceful, caring male wasn’t the Fraser she wanted to remember. Too close to home.
He brushed past her. ‘I’ll get the spare wheel out.’ His shoulder sliding against hers should’ve been innocuous. It wasn’t. She felt as though she’d been zapped with a high-voltage electric shock.
Leaping back, she dropped the brace. As she bent to pick it up her head bumped Fraser’s thigh. Talk about turning everything into a circus. ‘Sorry,’ she muttered.
Fraser’s hand gripped her shoulder, tugged her close. In the gloom he peered into her face. ‘Hey, Nik, take it easy. We’re changing a tyre here, nothing more exciting than that.’
That was the problem. She didn’t want anything more exciting either, but after days spent driving around Blenheim with him beside her, or sitting in the common room at the station talking cases, her hormones seemed to have a different opinion from the sane side of her brain. Shocked, she stood staring at the back of his head as he wrestled with undoing the wheel nuts, willing the goose-bumps lifting her skin to lie down.
‘Hold the torch so I can see.’ Fraser handed her the nuts and hunkered down again, his big hands making easy work of removing the offending tyre.
Her tongue cleaved to the roof of her suddenly dry mouth as a vivid memory came to mind of those hands, those fingers making easy work of bringing her alive as she and Fraser had rolled around their bed in the flat. Why now, after an awful day, did she have to recall that particular picture?
Slumping against the side of the vehicle, she struggled to keep the torch pointed exactly where Fraser wanted it. The beam shook. Her head buzzed and her tummy tightened with unbelievable longing.
‘Now for that beer.’ Fraser clipped the old tyre into place in the back of Nikki’s vehicle and slammed the door shut. He turned and bumped up against Nik. Why hadn’t that peony scent warned him how close she was?
He had to touch her, hold her. Like he had earlier outside the ED. Nothing like that. That had been platonic, or as near platonic he was capable of being with Nikki. Which was diddly squat. But right now he wanted—no, needed—to wrap his arms around her and hold her tight, feel her chest rising and falling, her hands on his back, her fingers pressing firmly. He ached with the need. She stood so close he could feel her sharp, quick breaths on his chin.
An urge to kiss her gripped him, too strong to be denied. Placing his arms around her waist, he gently drew her nearer, afraid that at any moment she’d slap him away. At last his lips covered her sweet mouth. His tongue slid slowly inside, tasting her, stirring up so many wonderful, warm feelings and memories from the past.
Nikki didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned into him, a soft groan slipping over her bottom lip. One hand clasped the back of his neck. To prevent him getting away? She needn’t worry. He wasn’t going anywhere. His legs didn’t have the strength required to walk.
He deepened his kiss, sliding his tongue farther into that warm mouth, exploring her sweetness, her heat. Sending his hormones into overdrive. When his arms tightened further Nikki’s breasts pressed hard against his chest. Even through the thick layers of uniform they both wore he was aware of her shape, her heat, her body.
‘I want you.’
Fraser blinked. Had he just said that? Then why wasn’t Nikki leaping out of his arms and locking herself inside the SUV?
‘No,’ Nikki growled against his mouth. But didn’t pull away.
Nikki had heard him. The words had been real, hadn’t been in his head. He wanted, needed her. But this was Nikki, the woman who’d been avoiding him for days other than to discuss emergency procedures. She was kissing him back. The woman he should be staying well clear of—for her sake. He knew he had to step away from her. But she tasted so good, how could he let go of her? Twisting his head for better access to her mouth, his hands on her chin, thumbs rubbing lightly, the world shrank to this spot. No one, nothing else mattered.
The drizzle turned into a downpour.
They sprang apart. Nikki leapt for her SUV.
‘See you at the pub,’ Fraser yelled as he slammed her door shut and raced for his vehicle ten metres farther down the road.
Inside his home-built truck he slumped over the steering-wheel, banging his head with his fist. What an idiot he was. Nikki wouldn’t be at the pub when he got there. Not after he’d lost his cool and kissed her. She might’ve been kissing him back but he’d bet his best cricket bat she was already regretting it. She’d be berating herself for giving in so easily when she’d spent every day they’d worked together making absolutely sure that he understood there was nothing between them any more.
Reaching for the ignition, he sighed. Might as well have a beer anyway. He needed it now, even if Nikki didn’t.
‘Wakey-wakey, sleepyhead.’ Amy’s voice crawled into Nikki’s head, dragging her into the morning.
Rolling onto her back, Nikki groaned as pain slammed into her eyeballs and threatened to blow the top off her head. ‘Ahh, what happened?’ She squeezed her eyes tight.
Amber tugged the curtains wide open. ‘I’d say you drank too much at the pub last night.’
That could explain the bongo drums in her head. That probably had as much to do with her state as the three vodkas. Nothing to do with the fact she�
��d lain awake for hours dissecting that bone-crunching, mind-shattering kiss after all. ‘I didn’t eat much yesterday because we were so busy.’ Nikki partially opened one eye. ‘Shut those curtains, will you? The light’s hurting me.’
Amber sounded disgustingly cheerful. ‘So nothing to do with kissing Fraser?’
‘How do you know that?’ The drums picked up their pace. So it hadn’t been a bad dream. It had been real. And it hadn’t been bad either.
Amber plonked down on the end of the bed, tucking one foot under her bottom. ‘Gavin and I drove past on our way to a call.’
Nikki swallowed hard. ‘Do me a favour and keep that to yourself. It won’t be happening again.’ What had she done? Kissing Fraser was worse than running stark naked down Market Street on a busy Friday night.
Tugging her pillow from under her head, Nikki pulled it over her face. She couldn’t bear to think about last night. Whatever had possessed her to return Fraser’s kiss instead of pushing him away? It would be so humiliating when she next saw him. He’d think she was an easy touch. That she’d enjoyed kissing him and had wanted more was completely irrelevant. They weren’t getting back together.
‘Nikki.’ Amber leaned forward to stab her shoulder with a finger. ‘Come on. You’ve got to get up.’
‘Go away,’ she muttered into the pillow as tears began squeezing out her scrunched-shut eyes. ‘I can’t believe I did that.’
‘Want a coffee?’
Nikki eased the pillow aside and glared at her friend. ‘Leave me to sleep for the next ten years, will you?’ Hopefully by then Fraser would have left town again and she’d be able to step outside her front door.
‘Can’t do that. Your brother’s coming around any minute.’
‘Which one?’ Her stomach rolled unpleasantly.
‘Jay.’
Nikki stared at Amber, trying to see her properly through the fog in her eyes. ‘There’s a hint of red in your cheeks when you say Jay’s name.’
‘I’ve just had a hot shower.’ Amber looked away, fiddling with the bedspread.
‘You’ve got the hots for my brother.’ Nikki’s head pounded harder. She needed to warn Amber about Jay. Another time, she decided on a tender breath.
Medical Duo - Dr Chandler's Sleeping Beauty & Christmas with Dr Delicious Page 22