Free Rescue Nights by Nina Hamilton Page A

something special.’ Kate said, slightly wistful. ‘And Ben and Lydia do such a good job bringing up those kids. After some of the shifts we do, I don’t know how he turns around and manages to show up and parent.’
    ‘Yeah three days in and already night shift is killing me. I’m almost delirious wanting some sleep. I don’t know how I used to do twenty-two hour shifts into my surgical residency.’
    Kate wasn’t as pissed off with his impatience as normal. For a start, she shared his sentiment.
    ‘I’ve got to make nice and do the rounds, but you’ve done your bit so you can make your move,’ she offered.
    Kate wasn’t sure what it said when she felt relief at his reply. ‘No, I’ve got to gee myself up for the drive home. I’ll keep you company for a while yet.’
    They made their way to collect their obligatory tea from the kindly Country Women’s Association volunteer.
    ‘Make sure you leave your uniform measurements with us before you go, Andrew,’ the Deputy Commander reminded him.
    ‘Certainly,’ he said. He waited until they were out of earshot, before he tugged on Kate’s sleeve. She felt a small thrill in her stomach at the feel of his hand on her arm.
    ‘I can’t believe that I managed to avoid all official poly cotton uniforms up until this point into my career,’ Andrew exclaimed. ‘In the past month I’ve managed to pick up two different kinds.’
    ‘You just want to go back to rocking your scrubs,’ Kate laughed.
    ‘I radiate authority in those clothes,’ Andrew returned, his amusement evident. ‘Even our rescue uniforms aren’t bad, but florescent yellow just isn’t a colour I think I could pull off.’
    Kate didn’t think it would be good for his ego if she told him that it would be hard to make him look any less of an alpha male. As he stood there, towering over most of the men in the room, with his strong mouth twisted into a smile, it was easy to forget that anyone else existed.
    As they had been talking, they’d been gradually drifting towards the back door of the hall. Stepping out, the fresh air was a welcome relief. The hall was definitely from an unfortunate period in 1950s architecture, but a low brick block wall provided an ugly if convenient place to put down their tea mugs.
    ‘Do you miss being in England?’ Kate asked, suddenly.
    What surprised her was how intently she was interested in his answer. This had quickly become no casual inquiry on her behalf.
    ‘Yeah I miss the work. Nothing against here, but there is something special at being the best at what you do,’ he replied, and the honesty in his tone was apparent.
    Kate could see his point about excellence, but she wanted to protest in favour of rescue work. However, she kept her mouth shut and with her silence encouraged him to continue.
    ‘I’m not that close to my parents, they live in the country a few hours away. But there is something about knowing that you don’t have the option of driving down for a visit to provide a little bit of nostalgia.’
    Kate could share that sentiment. ‘Yeah. That will probably pass, especially if they make a visit and drive you mental.’ They shared a rueful smile. ‘What made you decide to come here?’
    ‘I came to a personal cross-roads and I wanted a break for a period. I also didn’t get a promotion and someone suggested that diversifying my resume might make me a more valuable management candidate.’
    Kate was disappointed at the clinical evaluation of a branch of medicine that she was passionate about. However, it didn’t surprise her that his career had something to do with it. Everything about Andrew screamed a determined path of ambition.
    ‘Well six months isn’t that long until you’ll be going back to doing what you love,’ she commiserated, the hardness in her tone not belaying the odd jolt in her stomach at the idea of him leaving.
    ‘Can’t complain about it,’ said Andrew, as he sat down wedging his hips against the brick