ER Doc's Forever Gift Page 5

  ‘I never promise what I don’t intend seeing through.’ Harry’s radio crackled into life. ‘Yo, how’s things looking?’

  ‘We’re coming in to get you. Ten minutes out,’ was the reply.

  Sienna sighed. Back to reality, and a challenge she’d initiated. Seemed if she was going out with a bang it was with someone sexy and good-looking and intriguing. And if she felt things were getting out of control too fast, Harry would be leaving in the not too distant future, so she wouldn’t have time to make a dreadful mistake about getting too close to him. It took months for that to happen with her. Not weeks. Or days.

  ‘You hear that?’ Harry asked, already packing the kit.

  ‘We’re going home.’ On some days hospital was as much home to her as her apartment, probably more. The only difference tonight being that she’d get to use a bed. Hopefully briefly.

  ‘You’ll be lifted up first. Do exactly what Connor says and you’ll be fine.’

  ‘That come with a guarantee?’ Now was the time to find out how scared of heights she was. For one, she’d be totally reliant on other people, and she didn’t do that very well. Hello? Bungee-jumping would be the same. She was going to be all right.

  ‘Written? Or will you take my word for it?’ Harry asked as he attached the harness that’d take her away.

  ‘Get me out of here,’ she smiled. At least she tried, but it was feeble. Now that the hill was about to be left behind she should be letting go of some of the restraints keeping her tense, but it didn’t come naturally. She hadn’t been in real danger of falling further, but she’d had no control over what happened to her. Still didn’t, but she was headed to an environment she understood more than just about anything else. Time to find out every last detail about her injuries.

  Then she was spinning in slow circles as the ground dropped away. A gasp escaped. That tree that mashed her helmet had saved her life. Beyond the pine was—nothing. A large, open space that didn’t stop for metres, and then at a rocky outcrop. A shudder tore through her, another gasp drew air into her already full lungs. Definitely learning to fly. Or getting a pet cow or...

  ‘Hello, Sienna. I’m Connor.’ Already he was swinging her inside the helicopter. The clips keeping her harness and the rope joined were undone and dropped downward again, and she was lying on a stretcher, with tiredness seeping into every muscle, in her head, her mind.

  Harry had barely clambered inside when Sienna felt the sway of the chopper as the pilot took them away from the hill.

  ‘Last stretch.’ Harry gave her a heart-warming smile. ‘Soon you’ll be back in control.’

  He got that? This man was too good to be true. Or too risky. She didn’t want anyone being able to read her so easily, or so accurately.

  Harry leaned closer. ‘I didn’t ask. How did you get out to Titirangi to go cycling?’

  See? She really wasn’t up to speed. ‘I drove out. Did we bring the bag from my bike with us?’

  Relief nudged her when Harry nodded. ‘We did.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She owed him. ‘Maybe I should be the one bringing the wine.’

  ‘Your keys in this?’ He held up the small bag that had been around her waist when she’d gone flying over the edge.

  Her turn to nod. ‘And phone.’

  ‘I’ll sort something to retrieve your vehicle tomorrow.’

  ‘You don’t have to do that.’

  ‘You’re right, I don’t. But I will.’

  She had no energy to argue. Nor any better ideas. She could ask Anna, but she’d said something about finalising a case for Monday. ‘If you take me I can drive it home. What about my bike? Is it worth trying to get that back?’ It had cost a small fortune.

  ‘And risk falling down the hill again? I don’t think so. Best talk to your insurance broker.’

  There was that. The pitch of the rotors changed. ‘We’re at the hospital already?’

  ‘Yes. Let’s get you inside to the warmth.’ Harrison began preparing to disembark her. ‘By the way, you won’t be driving your vehicle tomorrow. If nothing else you’ll be stiff and horribly sore.’

  ‘That’s for me to decide.’ But he was right. Driving was out for a day or so.

  ‘We’ll talk about it later.’

  She wouldn’t be seeing him later, not even in ten minutes’ time. Thank goodness. He had a habit of pushing her too far when he wasn’t happy with what she said. Once she’d been offloaded he’d be back in the air, heading to base and signing off his shift, which actually finished at least an hour ago by her estimate, and she could arrange things re the SUV to suit herself.

  An annoying grin came her way. ‘Lost for words? I don’t believe it.’

  ‘Get me out of here.’

  Within minutes she was being wheeled into the emergency department by one of the nurses and—Harrison. Seriously? The guy had a cheek. He’d told the crew to head back to base without him, that he’d sign off on line. He was chatting non-stop to the nurse, of the female variety, and reporting Sienna’s obs and injuries, or lack thereof.

  She’d be lucky to get any proper attention. The nurse was all but panting as she listened to every word he uttered.

  Remind me not to let my mouth hang open next time I’m thinking Harrison is hot. It’s so unbecoming. Not to mention embarrassing.

  ‘That’s it,’ Harry wrapped up and handed the star-struck woman the notes he’d filled out throughout their time on the hill. ‘Who’s on tonight?’

  ‘Amy Roberts and Josh Barrett, and there are two house surgeons. One of those two will attend Dr Burch.’

  ‘I’ll see about that,’ retorted Harry as he took over pushing her bed into a cubicle.

  A thrill of amusement made Sienna’s eyes widen.

  Don’t open your mouth.

  She wasn’t the only one Harry annoyed just by being himself. This man who alternated between irritating and distracting was going to get her the best care available. Or he was going to try. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had looked out for her in this way. Her father had used to when she was a child, and Mum, even Bernie had in the beginning, but since the demise of her engagement there’d been no one covering her back. Probably her own fault, since she’d been so intent in standing tall and in control, to save getting walked all over once more. This felt...?

  Good. Lovely.

  Oh, give over.

  It was exciting. Until she wriggled her legs to get comfortable and the throbbing that had been going on in her calves upped the tempo and the pain, reminding her there were more important issues at stake right now.

  A large hand landed lightly on her arm. ‘Take it easy. You’re not ready to go dancing yet.’

  ‘I wish.’

  Don’t take your hand away. It turns me to jelly, sure, but suddenly I’m not minding.

  And the look of disappointment on the nurse’s face was priceless. For once Sienna liked the sensation of coming first with a man, even if only for few minutes. By the time the doctors had poked and prodded her she’d be wishing to be alone with her aching body, and hopefully going to sleep. By then Harrison would be kilometres away, probably getting ready for a night on the town.

  ‘You like dancing?’

  She couldn’t remember the last time she’d let loose on a dance floor. Looking up at him, she admitted, ‘I used to.’ She’d been nimble on the floor, had an ingrained sense of timing, and always lost herself in the music. Put dancing on the list. Suddenly the reason she was in the emergency department on a bed struck her, and she turned her face sideways into the pillow. Her spine was in working order, there didn’t seem to be any serious internal pain anywhere, just around her ribs, her skull wasn’t mushed, but what if they were wrong? What if—?

  ‘Stop it.’

  Her eyes blinked open.

  ‘You’re not doing yourself any favours concocting all sorts of scenarios where you can no longer cycle, work, or dance.’

  ‘Damned know-it-all, aren’t you?’ Sienna snapped, but some of the knots growing in her belly backed off. Some of them.

  * * *

  Harry strolled into the general ward of Auckland Central Hospital at ten the next morning. Why he was going to visit Sienna was beyond comprehension. So much for thinking he knew himself well. Getting the keys to her SUV which he’d forgotten last night wasn’t the main reason for being here, more of an excuse to see her. ‘Morning, Sienna.’ Damn, but there was little colour in those soft cheeks, and the sparkle hadn’t returned to her eyes, the vivid blue now an overcast sky shade. He would not acknowledge the tightening in his chest, nor the urge to pick her up and hold her close until she smiled properly.

  ‘Harrison. What are you doing here?’ Flat-mouthed didn’t suit her, even if he was more used to seeing that than the smile which tightened him in places best not remembered at the moment.

  ‘Come to take you dancing.’ One corner of that wide mouth lifted enough to know he’d hit the mark. ‘Or we could book that jump off the Sky Tower for after lunch.’

  ‘I won’t be eating for hours before I go leaping off any building,’ came her retort. And yes, a half-smile now.

  Unbelievable how good that made him feel. How scared, too. ‘So you’ve had a gourmet breakfast care of the hospital kitchen?’

  ‘Something unrecognisable.’

  ‘Any doctors been to see you this morning?’ Highly unlikely, it being Saturday, but then everyone had fallen over backwards to attend to her last night. Seemed she was a very popular paediatrician. No serious injuries had turned up but Amy Roberts still insisted Sienna stay in overnight so they could keep an eye on her mild concussion.

  ‘Amy just left. I’m allowed to go home whenever I’m ready.’

  Phew. No ongoing problems from that knock on the head, then. ‘I came to collect the keys to your vehicle, so I can give you a lift before Connor and I go collect it if you like.’ It hadn’t taken any persuasion to get his off-sider to go with him. Someone else who thought Sienna was the bee’s knees.

  ‘You’ve got this all under control, haven’t you?’ The smile had disappeared.

  What’d he done wrong now? ‘I’m only helping you out.’

  Sienna glanced up at him. ‘I know. Thank you.’ A sigh rippled across her lips, and tightened his gut. ‘I’m not used to people stepping up for me.’ Shock registered on her face, as though she’d admitted something huge.

  ‘It’s no big deal.’ He didn’t want her thinking he might keep popping over the fence to do things for her. ‘How were you planning on getting home?’ So much for not putting his hand up to help further.

  ‘I phoned my friend and left a message, but she’ll be at the market, then going for a run, so who knows when I’ll hear from her?’ Again Sienna glanced up at him. ‘I guess that’s a yes, please. Thank you, I’d like a ride home. If it’s still on offer.’

  ‘Unless you want to stay in your hospital gown, you’re going to have to squeeze back into those tight leggings.’ Could hurt a bit, what with all the bruises she’d collected. By the time they’d got her to the ED she’d been black and blue from head to toe.

  Her chin shot forward and he’d swear her teeth were clenched tight. ‘No problem.’

  ‘Then let’s get this done.’

  ‘You can wait outside.’ More jaw-tightening going on.

  ‘You’re going to need help.’ And he was a doctor. He’d seen it all before. Yes, but he hadn’t seen Sienna, and he’d spent a lot of time fantasising about her in the early hours of that morning.

  ‘Not from you, thanks all the same.’ She swung her legs over the side of the bed, grimacing as those bruised muscles did their job. ‘You can go find me a nurse.’

  His hand lifted of its own accord, took her elbow. ‘Let’s make this as easy as possible.’

  ‘Sienna, what have you done to yourself? I couldn’t believe it when I saw your text. Why didn’t you call me last night?’ A tornado in the form of a tiny woman dressed in sports shoes, shorts and top spun into the room. ‘Are you all right?’

  Harry immediately stepped between the newcomer and Sienna to prevent those widespread arms slamming around her. ‘Careful.’

  ‘Anna, I’m fine.’

  The woman skidded to a stop, her hands dropping to her hips. ‘You look anything but fine. A cycling accident? What happened? Did an irresponsible driver cause this? Want me to talk to the police for you?’

  A genuine, full-blown smile appeared on Sienna’s face, lighting up her eyes, softening her cheeks.

  Harry’s stomach dropped to his toes. I want one of those. No, he didn’t. Or shouldn’t. They were dangerous. He’d be pulled under, have to fight his way back to the surface. Might never make it.

  Sienna was talking. ‘Take your law hat off, Anna. The accident was all my fault.’ So why did she look sideways to him for a moment? ‘I phoned to ask you to give me a lift home.’

  ‘Seriously, Si, are you okay? No broken bones or anything?’

  ‘I was very lucky.’ Again she glanced at him.

  Her visitor’s head shot up and he was being stared at. ‘I’m Anna McIntosh. Of McIntosh, McIntosh and Brown.’ She underscored her name. ‘Who are you?’ Like, don’t fool with her friend or there’d be trouble.

  ‘Anna, this is Harrison Frost, the doctor who came with the rescue helicopter.’

  He presumed that was a law firm Anna had mentioned, one that everyone should recognise, and, being new to town, he didn’t. He put his hand out. ‘Pleased to meet you, Anna. While I work for the Rescue Service, I’m also temporarily Sienna’s neighbour,’ he added for a bit of mischief, not wanting to be fobbed off as the medic and nothing else. But what else was he? Apart from a man who got tight in the groin every time he saw Sienna? And the guy who’d suggested taking a bottle of wine over to her place?

  Anna’s handshake was firm for someone so slight, her scrutiny of him just as telling. ‘Just when did you get Sienna to hospital?’

  If he could have avoided answering he would have, because this woman was putting two and two together and he didn’t like the accurate answer. But Sienna was as capable of answering as him, so he told the truth. ‘Seven forty-five last night.’ Now the questions would really start. Like why was he here this morning, did he have a wife and kids somewhere, was his job permanent? He knew them all and this woman most certainly had Sienna’s back, which had to be good. Unfortunately for him, he didn’t have a résumé covering his dating habits and status in his back pocket, because he too had Sienna’s back—he just mightn’t be as comfortable with that as her friend was.

  ‘Enough, Anna,’ warned Sienna.

  ‘To put your mind at ease, Sienna fell about sixty feet through scrub and came to a halt against a tree which saved her life. And because she wore a helmet she got mild concussion, no major brain trauma.’ Harry paused. In his haste to stop those questions he was speaking out of turn by mentioning Sienna’s injuries, but a quick look to Sienna showed she had no issue with that. In fact she gave him a nod, so he continued. ‘Apart from the concussion she has major bruising and the ligaments on one side of her ribcage are torn. That’s very painful and only taking it easy will help.’

  Anna reached over and gave her friend a gentle hug. ‘I’m so glad you didn’t do any permanent damage, Si. You don’t need any more trouble.’

  He knew it. He’d seen worry in her eyes last night as she evaluated the injuries she might have got. But he’d also felt there was lots more going on behind that frosty look she did so well and which no longer cooled him at all. The need to protect her rose higher, surprising in its intensity. He looked out for family and patients. Sienna didn’t fit either category, no longer being a patient and never going to be anything remotely like family.

  ‘Tell me about it.’ Sienna looked around the room and back to her friend. ‘My next consideration is, do I replace the bike or do I stop riding and play safe?’

  ‘Thought we’d decided over dinner the other night you’d done with playing safe,’ Anna answered.

  So Sienna was a cautious woman. With her choice of sports, or was her heart overprotected as well? And why was he even wondering?

  Sienna stared at Anna, confusion darkening her gaze briefly. ‘No, you came up with that idea. I never agreed. Not totally.’ Then she grinned. ‘But you never take any notice of anything I say, so no surprise there. Since you’re here, can you help me get dressed and then drop me off at home?’

  A thoughtful look came over Anna’s face and Harry found himself under a kind of scrutiny that had the power of a high-calibre X-ray. ‘I’ll help you get dressed, but I can’t take you home, sorry. I’ve got something to do in the city and,’ she waved a wrist encircled with a top-of-the-range watch, ‘I’m going to be late. Since Harrison’s your neighbour, he can give you a lift.’

  ‘What have you got to do?’ Sienna demanded in her annoyed voice.

  So he wasn’t the only recipient of that tone. Harry would’ve laughed if he wasn’t getting edgy over Anna leaving her friend with him. Sure, he’d said he’d drive her home, but it was the scheming gleam in the lawyer’s eyes that rattled him.

  ‘See a dog about a bone,’ Anna answered with a little smile.

  ‘You don’t have a dog,’ Sienna snapped as it dawned on her she was being set up.

  ‘Nor a bone,’ the other woman laughed. ‘Now, where are your clothes? Harry, can you leave us for a few minutes, please?’

  He found himself out in the corridor without realising he’d moved. That was one powerful lady. Anyone on the other side of the bench when she was prosecuting stood little chance. Behind the closed door Sienna’s voice had risen, only to be overridden by her friend’s calmer one. Whatever Sienna wanted—he suspected a ride home with her friend and not him—it wasn’t happening.

  Harry’s stomach sucked in, and his hands tightened. He had offered Sienna a lift, and meant it with every fibre in his body. To be told he had to do it rankled. But not as much as Sienna trying to avoid him. Now was when he should be running down to his four-wheel-drive and heading out of the city for the day.