LITMIR.BIZ

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      The alarm sounded. Code one. Relief had her racing to Resus and the man sprawled on the floor, unconscious.

      ‘Cardiac arrest,’ Vicki said, her clasped hands pushing down regularly on the exposed chest.

      Molly grabbed the electro pads, handed them to Nathan, who was right behind her. Next she snatched up the ventilator in preparation of a good outcome before kneeling down next to him.

      ‘Fill us in on the details,’ Nathan said as he prepared to administer a shock.

      ‘Geoff Baxter, forty-eight, chest pains, readings show a minor cardiac arrest an hour ago,’ Vicki intoned. ‘He was getting stroppy and didn’t want to stay on the bed. Started getting up and collapsed on the floor.’

      ‘Clear.’

      On Nathan’s command everyone moved away from the patient. The lifeless body jerked. The line on the monitor remained flat. Vicki started back on the compressions and Molly squeezed the oxygen bottle when she reached thirty.

      ‘Clear.’ Nathan gave a second shock.

      The line blipped, rose, then fell into an erratic pattern.

      ‘That’s better,’ Molly nodded. ‘Not perfect, but we’re getting there.’ She put the ventilator aside and got up to get the scoop stretcher so they could lift the man off the floor and back onto the bed.

      Another nurse, Hank, attached an oxygen mask, then began wiping a bleeding abrasion on Geoff’s forehead. ‘He hit the floor hard.’

      Nathan leaned close to the man. ‘Geoff, can you hear me?’

      Geoff opened his eyes briefly.

      ‘You’ve had a cardiac arrest. We’re going to keep you in here for a while, then you’ll be admitted to the intensive care unit.’

      Geoff shook his head once. ‘No.’

      ‘That’ll be a yes, then.’ Nathan gave one of his megawatt smiles.

      Molly’s stomach stirred, and he hadn’t even been looking in her direction. He’d often smiled at her, particularly whenever he’d wanted something unpleasant dealt with, but not in that full-on, cramp-her-stomach way he saved for others. Not that she’d given him reason to. Unless working hard and caring deeply about their patients counted, and apparently it didn’t. That was expected of her, no reward given—or required.

      Would a man ever again look at her and think, She’s lovely? One without hard fists? Did she want a man to notice her, get to know her? This new idea had to be part of moving forward, didn’t it? It was funny how in a previous, happy-go-lucky life she’d had her pick of gorgeous men, never had a problem finding a date for the glamorous occasions that came with being her entrepreneurial mother’s daughter. Not funny, really. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw no one to frighten her. Not that she expected to, but there were still times she just had to check, even though Paul would be in jail for many years to come. She’d lost a lot, but she was free.

      Hold on to that. And, yes, think about maybe one day falling love.

      Vicki nudged her. ‘Time to knock off, day shift’s here.’

      Another night done and survived without too much drama amongst the patients. She could relax, except her muscles weren’t playing the game. The old tension tightened her stomach and neck, while her shoulder blades tried to meet in the middle of her back. Because of the past? Or did she put this down to the rare heat in her veins, stirred up by Nathan Lupton? Yeah, like that’d be a blast. It might be. As if. He’d have to get a lot friendlier first, though he had made an effort earlier. Were things looking up all round? Smiling at Vicki, she asked, ‘Which shoes are you wearing this morning?’

      ‘Those orange, thin-strapped ones you were green about last week.’ Vicki was a shoeaholic, with an incredible collection that made Molly envious—and that was only over the shoes she’d seen at work.

      Molly laughed. Twice in one morning? Go for it. ‘Clothes are my go to when the urge to have some R and R in the malls beckons. Shoes always come second. Maybe I should try the shoe shops first next time because those ones are amazing. When you’re sick of them you know which locker’s mine,’ she said. ‘Let’s go change.’ As well as her trousers and blouse, she needed to put her game face on.

      Nathan turned from the specialist taking over Geoff’s case. ‘You all right?’

      ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ There were a million reasons, but he knew none of them, and never would.

      ‘Because you look ready to bolt.’

      Make that one million minus one reasons. Except this morning that had been the last thing on her mind. Disconcerting. She’d been laughing and he’d thought that? She hated that nearly as much as she’d hate him to see the truth. ‘Actually, I’m working on how to nab Vicki’s shoes without her noticing.’

      His expression softened. ‘Good luck with that.’

      ‘I reckon.’ Unbelievable. They were having a normal conversation for once.

      ‘By the way, you were good with Geoff.’

      Surprise stole the retort off her tongue. She hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary, and yet he was saying that in front of the other nurses? She looked around at Vicki, then Hank, before locking eyes back on Nathan.

      He got the message fast. ‘So were you two.’ He nodded. ‘Right, get out of here while you can.’ This time he was talking directly to Vicki.

      Molly knew she could relax now that Nathan was no longer focused on her, but it wasn’t happening. Instead her body was winding up tighter than a ball of twine, and just as rough. Why did this man in particular make her feel a little lighter in the chest, as though hope was knocking? Hope for love one day? Sadly, never for family. That dream had been smothered as a wet sack would a flame by a fist in her belly that had stolen her baby and quite likely any chance of another.

      She looked at Nathan as he laughed with Vicki over something, and her heart dropped. If only she had the courage to let a strong, confident man close enough to trust. Until now it never occurred to her to want the things Paul had stolen. But it couldn’t be this man waking her up. They were mostly civil with each other, but it took more than civility for a relationship to succeed. Or maybe it didn’t. There hadn’t been any of that going on in her now defunct marriage.

      Flip-flop went her heart. Her stomach softened as the tension started backing off. As though her body was telling her it was ready to have fun. Had certain parts of her anatomy forgotten the pain of the past? It wasn’t wise. Or safe. But very tempting. And eye-opening. One thing this newer version of herself had in common with the last one was that it needed a man who had his own world sussed and wasn’t afraid to stand up and be counted. As long as he didn’t hurt her.

      Nathan knew he’d overreacted to Molly O’Keefe’s false smile about the barbecue, but he’d had enough of those. Two months and not once had she joined the staff for a meal, let alone anything else, despite everyone trying to persuade her. Whether she thought she was too good for them, or she believed she wasn’t good enough, the jury was still out.

      Yet she’d been quick to sign up for the barbecue. Part of him questioned whether she’d actually show up; another suggested maybe Molly didn’t back down once she’d taken a stance. Despite working alongside her, often in trying circumstances, he didn’t know her at all, which was unusual given the work they did. She didn’t fall over backwards to get on with him. That might make him egotistical, but nothing added up. He got on well with most folk, and socialised enough not to return to being the hermit he’d become after Rosie’s death.

       Molly’s a challenge.

      He stumbled, righted himself, his eyes seeking out the woman doing this to him. Did he want her

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