Free The Courage to Love Her Army Doc by Karin Baine Page A

chaperon she was just as confused. Apart from her own neuroses, he was the main stumbling block between her and her new super-identity. But she’d be lying if she said she didn’t appreciate having him as a safety net at times, knowing she could rely on him if she needed support. Plus he was great eye candy. She might have put her heart under lock and key but that didn’t mean she was made of stone. She could still appreciate the sight of a perfect male specimen. Especially one flashing his rippling torso as he lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe his brow.
    Shallow. So very shallow. She of all people should’ve resisted objectifying another human being but that flat, toned body deserved recognition. Hell, it deserved its own social media account. She fanned herself with her hand. The heat was starting to get to her and it wasn’t entirely down to the fires lining their path through the encampment.
    When she managed to drag her gaze away from his midsection and back up to meet his eyes she could see he was more amused than appalled by her visual appreciation.
    Busted.
    â€˜So, what do they do here?’ She coughed away the stirrings his naked chest had caused with a question about the other sights of interest. Okay, steaming pans and bubbling pots weren’t nearly as interesting as cheese-grater abs but were infinitely less likely to get her burned.
    â€˜This is where they boil the pandanus leaves to make them soft enough to weave. They fade from green to white once they’re left to dry in the sun before the cloth they make is painted to make colourful mats. It’s quite an art.’ Joe gave her a quick run-down of the process, displaying more local knowledge than a mere tourist should be privy to.
    He might claim to have no attachment to Yasi other than another pin tack on his wall map but it had already become a part of him. Emily wondered if its mystical healing powers would work on her too. Her brother had certainly found his peace on the island and Joe was way too involved in the way of life for someone who’d probably been strong-armed into volunteering here in the first place. If all her wishes came true too this magical isle would conjure up her own successful, independent practice and someone other than her stepbrother who loved her and accepted her for who she was.
    The second of those was never going to happen since there was no way in hell she’d forgo her camouflage and let anyone see the real her. The best she could hope for was a holiday tan and a good time. After the last year she was willing to settle for that.
    He introduced her to Sou and a few of her friends, sitting cross-legged on the floor painting the mats. They welcomed her and immediately invited her to stop clutching her medical bag as though she’d come to sell them encyclopaedias and join them.
    Furniture was overrated anyway. Along with the internet and hot running water. And abs. A girl could live without all of them. If she had to.
    She didn’t want to interrupt their working day but they were keen to start a new mat in her honour and have her be a part of it.
    â€˜What kind of paint is this?’ she asked as the ladies coloured black geometric shapes with earthy red tones.
    â€˜The black is made from ash and coal from the fire mixed with water. It can be messy.’ Sou gave her a toothy smile as she prepared the primitive materials in a bowl with her hands.
    â€˜The red is actually from clay found on the island. It’s scraped and rinsed with water to create various shades.’ Although this activity appeared to be primarily women’s work, Joe happily took up a place beside her on the floor.
    â€˜You’ve done this before?’ Was there anything left for her to explore on the island that he hadn’t already laid claim to? She wanted to be annoyed at the unintentional one-upmanship but it was impossible when he didn’t have a bad bone in his body. And