LITMIR.BIZ

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‘And you distract yourself often enough to be a liability in this department. You’ve been here, what, three months? And how many times have you taken time off to flit back to Australia? Four, five times? I should know—it’s usually me that does extra shifts to cover the gaps.’

      This distraction was working wonderfully well. Hannah was really hitting her stride.

      ‘You know your problem, Ryan? You’re shallow. You’re so intent on having a fun life you can’t even spare the time to think about someone else.’

      ‘Oh?’ Ryan was staring at Hannah and she’d never heard him use such an icy tone. ‘Shallow, am I?’

      ‘You might find it more beneficial to your career to review cases like we’ve just had. You never know. Try having a professional discussion with a colleague next time instead of telling stupid jokes. You might learn something.’

      ‘From you?’ Ryan snorted. ‘I doubt it.’

      ‘Why?’ Hannah’s tone was waspish. ‘Because I’m blonde?’

      ‘No.’ Ryan stood up, abandoning his cup of coffee. ‘Because you’re less experienced professionally and far less competent when it comes to relationships between people. You’re judgmental, Dr Jackson, and you don’t even bother finding out the facts before you make those judgments.’

      He stalked behind Hannah and she had to swivel her head to keep glaring at him as he made his parting shot. ‘And when I’m consultant, it might be nice if you made me coffee, babe. Not the other way round.’

      ‘Dream on, mate!’ What a pathetic rejoinder. Hannah could only hope Ryan would take it as she meant it—referring to the consultancy position and not the coffee-making.

      Jennifer came in a few seconds after Ryan had left. Her eyebrows had disappeared under her fringe.

      ‘What on earth’s wrong with Ryan? I’ve never seen him look so grumpy!’

      ‘He’s a grumpy man.’

      Jennifer laughed. ‘He is not and you know it. He’s a lovely man and if you weren’t trying so hard not to like him you would have realised that by now.’

      ‘I’m not trying hard,’ Hannah protested. ‘It’s easy. Besides, it was your friend in Sydney that told you what a reputation he had for breaking hearts. The man needs an emotional health warning attached.’

      Jennifer shook her head, smiling. ‘Yeah…right.’ She took another glance at Hannah. ‘You look pretty grumpy yourself.’

      ‘It’s been a bad night. I hate cases like that—especially when they shouldn’t have happened in the first place.’ She sighed again. ‘And I’m tired. Roll on 7 a.m.’

      ‘Roll on Friday more like. Isn’t that when you leave for a few days’ R & R in the sun?’

      ‘Sure is.’ Hannah’s spirits finally lifted—a lot more than Ryan’s joke had achieved. ‘You know, I’m finally really looking forward to this trip.’

      ‘I could do with some time away from this place myself. Could be just what the doctor ordered. For both of us.’

      ‘Mmm.’ Hannah’s agreement was wholehearted. But it wasn’t the place she needed the break from. A few days away from Ryan Fisher was definitely what this doctor was ordering.

      Hannah Jackson could go to hell in a hand basket.

      The glimpse of a woman with sleek blonde hair disappearing into the melee of economy class was enough of a reminder to sink Ryan Fisher’s spirits with a nasty jolt.

      He slid his cabin baggage into the overhead locker with the same ease he slid his long body into the comfortable window seat at the rear of the business class section of the plane. Seconds later, he returned the smile of a very pretty young air hostess.

      ‘Orange juice would be lovely,’ he agreed. ‘Exactly what I need.’

      The frosted glass was presented while economy-class passengers were still filing past, but Ryan killed the faintly embarrassed reaction to the envious glances. Why shouldn’t he travel in comfort? He had to do it often enough to make it a boring inconvenience and he’d decided he may as well make the travel as enjoyable as possible when the destination usually wasn’t.

      At least this time he could look forward to what lay at the other end of his journey.

      ‘Is there anything else you need, sir?’

      Ryan suppressed a wry smile along with the temptation to ask the crew member for a thousand things. How about a miraculous cure for a little girl in Brisbane that he had far more than just a bond of family with? Or perhaps freedom from the ridiculously powerful attraction he had felt for Hannah Jackson ever since he’d first laid eyes on her three months ago?

      No. He was over that. As of last Monday night when she’d told him exactly what she thought of him. She hated him. He was shallow—telling jokes when he should be taking on board the misery of others. Lazy—taking time off to flit back to Australia to have fun at regular intervals. Out to win the job she felt was rightfully hers.

      Ironic that he’d actually set out to catch Hannah’s attention by demonstrating his clinical ability. He hadn’t expected the head of department to twist his arm and put his name forward for the upcoming consultancy position but then he’d thought, Why not? The anchor of a permanent job could be just what he needed to sort out his life. And at least that way Hannah would see him as an equal.

      Would really see him.

      How idiotic would it be to waste any more time or emotional energy hankering after someone who didn’t even have any respect, let alone liking, for him?

      ‘No, thanks.’ He smiled. ‘I’m fine.’

      Ryan sipped his chilled juice, stretching his legs into the generous space in front of him and enjoying the fact that the seat beside him was empty. So were both the seats on the opposite side of the aisle. There was, in fact, only one other occupant of business class and Ryan found himself listening to the well-dressed man with an American accent telling the air hostess that all he wanted was to go to sleep and could he have one of those eye covers? Apparently he hadn’t expected a diversion to Auckland or a night in an airport hotel and he’d had more than enough of travelling for now.

      ‘It should have been a straightforward trip to Sydney and then Cairns,’ he was saying. ‘Instead, I’m bunny-hopping through the south Pacific. Inefficient, that’s what it is.’

      ‘There’s been a few disruptions due to some bad weather,’ the hostess responded. ‘Hopefully we’ll be able to bypass it on this trip.’

      Ryan didn’t care if they hit a few bumps. Despite what Hannah thought of him, he didn’t often get a smooth ride through life. OK, so maybe he didn’t wear his heart on his sleeve and go around telling everyone his problems, but it was just as well, wasn’t it? Imagine how low he’d be feeling right now if he’d made it obvious just how attracted he’d been to Hannah and had been squashed like the bug she clearly thought he was?

      Well, she wouldn’t get the opportunity now. No way. He wouldn’t have her if she threw herself at him. Wrapped up in a ribbon and nothing else.

      A soft sound like a strangled groan escaped. That short flight into fantasy wasn’t likely to help anything. He drained his glass and handed it back as part of the preparation for take-off. Then he closed his eyes as the big jet rolled towards the end of the runway. Maybe he should follow the example of the other occupant of business class and escape into a few hours of peaceful oblivion.

      The trip promised to be anything but restful. Hannah had an aisle seat, for which she was becoming increasingly grateful. It meant she could lean outwards.

      She had to lean outwards because the man beside her was one of the fattest people Hannah had ever seen. He could easily have used up two seats all by himself but somehow he had squeezed in. Apart from the parts of his body that oozed through

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