Paramedic Partners Page 14

  Her dilemma was about to be solved. Kane’s car was coming along the road towards her and, on seeing her standing forlornly beside her own non-starter, he stopped and got out.

  ‘What’s the problem?’ he asked briefly.

  ‘I think the battery might be flat.’

  ‘Right. You’d better let me give you that lift after all, then, hadn’t you?’

  ‘I suppose so.’

  ‘Or would you rather phone for a taxi as I’m so low in your esteem?’

  ‘No. I’ll come with you…just as long as you take note that it’s on sufferance.’

  He nodded, and as she observed his profile in the darkening night she saw that he was smiling.

  During the drive into the city Selina’s glance was on his hands, resting loosely on the steering-wheel. They’d had a discussion earlier about his feet, without any great excitement on her part, but the rest of him was a different matter and she knew just how much she longed for him to touch her.

  ‘What?’ he asked suddenly, and she hoped he hadn’t read her mind.

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Who’s short on words now?’

  ‘Ha. Ha.’

  He pulled up at the side of the dark country lane that led to the main highway, and as she eyed him questioningly he said, ‘Look, Selina, let’s not bicker all night. You should know that I of all people wish you well in your career. I was the one who told you to go for the paramedic qualifications if you remember.’

  ‘Yes, you did,’ she said flatly, ‘and you were the person I most wanted to tell when I’d passed. But the way you acted was like a slap in the face.’

  ‘I know,’ he said regretfully, ‘but there’s a simple answer to that. I hadn’t seen you in ages and suddenly you were there, your eyes like stars, delight in every line of you. My need of you just rocked me on my feet. I daren’t move or I would have picked you up and carried you off…and there would have been no turning back.’

  ‘So you really do have feelings for me,’ she breathed. ‘Yet they weren’t deep enough for you to act on them without an escape route being available. That isn’t what commitment is about, Kane. Having a loophole to scramble through if it doesn’t work out.’

  He reached across and pulled her around to face him.

  ‘What sort of a man do you think I am, Selina?’ he said grittily. ‘I don’t do things by halves. That’s one of the reasons I’m not falling into your lap as fast as you would like.’

  That did it.

  ‘How dare you insinuate that I’m out to snare you?’ she cried. ‘You have some conceit!’

  They were brawling like a pair of capricious children, she thought dismally. Had they really come to this?

  ‘Let’s go, Kane,’ she said in a quieter tone. ‘They’ll be wondering where I am, and this get-together is for me. Also, I rang one of the instructors from the course when I got in to ask him to join us. I was chatting to him today after I’d got my results and he was telling me how lonely he is since moving to the area. It didn’t occur to me at the time, but when I thought about it afterwards it seemed a good opportunity for him to meet some new people. So I want to make sure I’m there when he arrives.’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Kane agreed abruptly. Starting the car, he pulled out of the shadows and headed towards the city centre.

  She couldn’t believe it, Selina thought as high-rise buildings came into view. Kane had told her how much he wanted her…not how much he cared.

  And he’d hinted that she was out to ‘get him’, which brought to mind his comment when he’d told her about the woman who’d caused him so much embarrassment. That he preferred to do the ‘hunting’.

  Well, he could get on with it. Only he needn’t expect her to be around waiting to be caught.

  When they walked into the wine bar someone shouted, ‘Does anyone know where we can find a paramedic?’

  The rest of them roared, ‘Ye-e-s! There’s one here!’

  A glass was thrust into her hand and as she was surrounded by their good-natured chaffing, Kane walked towards the bar where Denise was standing.

  As Selina watched, the other woman began to walk towards him, hips swaying, the provocative smile on her face and hands outstretched.

  She swallowed hard. Denise had been on the fringe of their relationship before, she thought dismally, but now it looked as if she might be wanting to stake a claim. Would Kane allow it?

  As she continued to observe them, her face stretched. The russet-haired seductress had walked past him and into the arms of a fair-skinned stranger. As if Kane was aware of her scrutiny, he turned and with a sardonic smile raised his hand in brief salute as if to say, Wrong again!

  In the middle of the evening Philip Bassett appeared, and when she saw him hesitating in the doorway Selina went over to him.

  ‘Come and meet my fellow ambulance people,’ she said with a welcoming smile, and began to introduce him to those nearest.

  Kane was standing with the station officer at the other side of the room and had his back to them as she approached with the elderly training instructor. But when she said, ‘Can I introduce Philip Bassett, who until recently was working in health care down south?’ he swung round as if she’d put a gun to his back.

  ‘Kane Kavener!’ the newcomer exclaimed. ‘This is a turn-up for the book! You were the last person I was expecting to see.’

  ‘The feeling is mutual,’ Kane said in a voice as tight as a violin string, and Selina thought dismally that here was a face from his past and it wasn’t one that he wanted to see.

  The moment passed. With a haste she tried to conceal, Selina moved the elderly instructor across to another group of her colleagues and tried to look relaxed.

  She would have liked to ask Philip what the connection was between him and Kane but, having seen Kane’s expression, she couldn’t do it. It would be disloyal to the man she loved. But there was no need to concern herself. Her companion was about to satisfy her curiosity.

  ‘It was a surprise, finding someone I once knew amongst your people,’ he said. ‘Kavener and I worked on the same ambulance unit down south. However, there was a nasty scandal and he left. I knew that he’d moved up north after it, but until today didn’t know exactly where.’

  She had to defend him.

  ‘Kane and I were partners before I went on the training course,’ she told him, ‘and he’s the best.’

  He was eyeing her in mild surprise.

  ‘Yes. I’m sure he is. There was never any fault with his performance before. It was just that the man was too attractive for his own good and didn’t seem to be aware of it.’

  For the rest of the evening she circulated, chatting to everyone but Kane. She was desperate to be alone with him, couldn’t bear to see the look on his face, but it would have to wait until he drove her home.

  At last it was over and they were on their way back to the village, but now that the opportunity was there she didn’t know what to say and it seemed that Kane had no intentions of setting the ball rolling.

  Yet she couldn’t let him go without getting through to him somehow so when he stopped the car in front of her cottage she reached out and touched his arm.

  ‘Please, Kane, come in for a coffee. I can’t leave you looking like that.’ Taking the plunge, she went on, ‘In fact, I don’t want to leave you. We’ve talked to everyone but each other tonight and I’m miserable. We’re playing silly games and we should know better. I’m sorry that I was so horrible and patronising when we were on our way to the wine bar, and if you’ll let me I’ll show you just how much I regret it.

  ‘You’ve said that you need me, but you’ve never said you love me. I don’t know, but maybe it’s because you’ve had so little practice when it comes to loving people. If you’ll let me, I could help you with that—I’ve got enough for both of us. I care enough to take you on any terms because I know we’re right for each other. So, what do you say?’

  She was aware that she hadn’t mentioned the fa
ct of he and Philip Bassett knowing each other, and that she should have remarked on it before anything else. But that would have been more likely to drive Kane back to his own place instead of accepting her invitation to enter hers.

  He was switching off the engine and getting out of the car, and thankfulness swept over her. She’d got him to herself…for the whole night if he so desired.

  As she put the key in the lock he swivelled her round to face him. Speaking for the first time since they’d arrived back, he said, ‘I’ll come in for the coffee, Selina, but any other delights on offer will have to wait. I would be some prize hypocrite if I made love to you under these circumstances. I don’t know what Bassett is going to be telling folk. He was one of those who believed Eve Richards’s story and wanted to see me slung out of the service.’

  ‘But it didn’t work out like that, did it? You were cleared.’

  ‘Yes, I was cleared. But you know what they say about smoke and mud. One of them is never there without fire, and the other sticks.’

  Selina took his hand and pulled him inside, and as they stood with only inches between them in the tiny hallway she said softly, ‘He did comment that you are far too attractive for your own good, and I have to agree with that.’

  He was unwinding and he laughed low in his throat, ‘And what about your charms? I never knew I had so much will-power. When you came breezing into the station today I don’t know how I kept my distance.’

  ‘There’s no need for that now,’ she said softly.

  He groaned.

  ‘Don’t tempt me. If your guardian angels thought I’d taken advantage of you they might turn into a lynch mob.’

  His arms were around her and his mouth only a fraction away as she told him, ‘I don’t think so. Peter has given up on me, I feel. If he hasn’t, he should. Charlie Vaughan I haven’t set eyes on since he called round that night, and Gavin has no axe to grind with you. All he and Jill want is to see me happy. So, for goodness’ sake, kiss me, Kane.’

  He was smiling.

  ‘You’re not being fair. Just because I’ve been bragging about my will-power it doesn’t mean that I won’t fall by the wayside.’

  ‘I said kiss me, Kane,’ she repeated wistfully, and this time he obeyed…to such an extent that her doubts were blotted out, her senses took over and she knew without doubt that if she couldn’t have this man, she would want no other.

  At last they drew apart. Unbelievably, Kane was gently putting her away from him.

  ‘Nothing has changed, Selina,’ he said. ‘It would be the easiest thing in the world for me to make love to you, but I’m not going to. Not until all things are even…if that day ever dawns.’ And as she stood dazed with disbelief he opened the door and strode out into the night.

  * * *

  When Selina reported for duty after her eight-week absence, it felt strange. For one thing, she wasn’t working with Kane any more, which she saw as a mixed blessing, and for another she now had her own vehicle and a trainee to assist her.

  * * *

  During those first few days back on the job Selina heard no comments about him from members of staff and so concluded that Kane’s previous acquaintance with Philip Bassett hadn’t been disclosed to anyone but herself by the man in question.

  When she’d checked the work rosters on her first morning back she’d seen that they were on the same shifts and hadn’t known whether to be glad or sorry.

  In truth, she was glad. Because in spite of the frustrated ending to what could have been a night of bliss, she needed to be able to see Kane like she needed to breathe, and if their shifts coincided it was something at least.

  She wasn’t angry with him. How could she be? After offering herself on a plate, so to speak, he’d still stuck to his principles. But this state of affairs could go on for ever, she thought frequently, and did he once give a thought to how much Josh needed him?

  His greeting had been cordial enough when she’d first put in an appearance and as their eyes had met she’d wondered if he ever thought about those moments in the hallway of the cottage.

  One thing was for sure, she’d decided glumly. If he did, he wouldn’t be telling her. Just in case she got her hopes up.

  It was late September and the days were chillier and less bright. The twins had started nursery classes and Josh was in a new class at the village school. All of which made life easier for Jill, to Selina’s relief.

  The trainee working with her was a nineteen-year-old youth called Elton. He was keen, intelligent and always hungry. He’d been with St John’s Ambulance since his early teens, and once he’d been old enough had passed on to trainee status, like many others in the department had done.

  Those who’d come from St John’s Ambulance were allowed extra points during exams and because of their previous experience had a better chance of passing.

  That first morning Selina and Elton were called out to an elderly lady suffering from dehydration due to excessive vomiting and diarrhoea.

  Extreme dehydration could be very serious and she was going to have to be hopsitalised, but first, before leaving her house, they laid her down, loosened her clothing, and gave her sips of water with salt and sugar added.

  When she’d had as much as she could take they carried her out to the ambulance and positioned her with her legs raised to allow a better blood supply to vital organs. Then it was off to A and E for further treatment.

  Kane and his partner were going out on a call as they arrived back at base. He saluted them briefly as they passed and Selina thought that nothing had changed. They were like ships passing in the night as before.

  That feeling became even more pronounced when she discovered that he’d applied to be in charge of one of the fast-response vehicles. He was the ideal person for the job, tough, efficient, used to acting on his own, but the thought of it made him seem even more remote.

  She often thought that some quality time together might lead to clearer thinking on both their parts. Not cooped up in an ambulance with Kane, or as a threesome with Josh, delightful though he was.

  Selina hungered to be alone with him, just the two of them in a relaxing setting. Unable to hold out any longer, she went to sit beside him one morning in the rest room.

  ‘Hello, stranger,’ he said in a low voice. ‘To what do I owe this honour?’

  ‘You owe it to me having two tickets for the theatre and not knowing what to do with the extra one,’ she told him easily, as if everything was fine between them and she hadn’t stage-managed the moment.’

  ‘So in an obscure sort of way, you’re asking me to go with you?’

  ‘If you can spare the time.’

  ‘Maybe. When is it?’

  ‘Tonight.’

  ‘Tonight! That’s rather short notice.’

  ‘Yes. I know.’

  She wasn’t going to tell him that she’d bought the tickets on impulse the previous day and, having got the all-clear from Jill and Gavin about minding Josh, had been eager to see how Kane would react to the invitation.

  So far so good.

  ‘I suppose I can manage it,’ he said. ‘It’s fortunate that we’re working the same hours or you would have had to look elsewhere.’

  Selina nodded obediently. Kane knew very well that she wouldn’t have done that, but if he wanted to stick with the casual approach, so be it.

  ‘So, which theatre and what time?’ he was asking.

  ‘The Adelphi. The show starts at half past seven.’

  ‘I’ll call for you just before seven, then?’

  She shook her head.

  ‘No. I’ll call for you. I asked you out, so I’ll do the driving.’

  ‘Just as you like. I take it that we’re dressing up?’

  ‘Yes, why not? If spending some time together is to become a yearly event we might as well do it in style.’

  Kane was frowning and Selina wished she’d avoided the flippancy. If she didn’t watch it the man of iron would change his mind.

/>   * * *

  As he prepared for the evening ahead Kane found himself singing in the shower, and he didn’t have to look far for the reason. The fact that he and Selina would be travelling the road that could lead to heartache once more didn’t matter at that moment.

  She would be sitting next to him beneath the dim lights of the theatre. He would have her to himself. There would be no call-outs to take her away from him or family commitments, just the two of them in a magical world of their own.

  He would concern himself about tomorrow and the days after that as they came along, but tonight would be theirs. A light in the darkness of his self-punishment.

  When she stopped her car at the side of the towpath where The Joshua was moored he was ready and waiting, resplendent in a light grey suit with dark blue shirt and tie.

  He looked stunning, Selina thought as he walked towards the car. Wholesome within and without. Had Kane any idea of his own worth?

  As he settled himself into the seat beside her his glance was just as appreciative as hers had been. In a long-sleeved, low-necked, black dress that swirled around her ankles when she was upright, Selina’s hair glowed pale gold against the car’s dark upholstery.

  His senses sprang to life at the sight of her. She was beautiful to him whatever she wore, but tonight she looked incredible. He smiled. If she was out to break down his defences she might just succeed…and where would they go from there?

  ‘So, what’s the show?’ he asked, bringing his thoughts back to normality as they pulled away from the marina.

  She laughed.

  ‘I thought you were never going to ask. It’s a musical that’s come straight to our city from the London stage.’

  ‘Good. I’m glad it’s not Les Miserables or Sweeney Todd or something similar. They wouldn’t fit in with my mood.’

  ‘Why is that?’

  ‘Er…I don’t know exactly. Maybe it’s because I’m feeling light-hearted for the first time in weeks.’

  ‘And why do you think that is?’ she asked innocently.

  ‘It might be because I’m with you.’