LITMIR.BIZ

      CHAPTER THREE

      WHEN Selina walked into the bar in the city centre she felt suddenly awkward. It was the first time she’d been in such a place without Dave and she thought sadly that it was yet another occasion to remind her that she was a woman alone.

      But surprise was wiping out her melancholy. Kane was standing by the bar and she caught her breath. It was the first time she’d seen him out of uniform and he was impressive. In a blue silk casual shirt and tailored trousers, he was the most attractive man in the place.

      He was chatting to the barman as the man was measuring out a drinks order and it was only when Charlie cried, ‘Selina! I’m glad you made it,’ that he became aware of her presence.

      He swivelled round slowly at the sound of the older man’s greeting, and as their eyes met Selina felt her colour rise.

      She’d dressed with care for this first social foray since Dave’s death. For some reason it had seemed important to do so, like flying a flag of independence. As she’d surveyed herself before leaving the house she’d known that in a long skirt of soft cotton that swirled around her ankles in a swish of bright colour and a low-cut black evening top she was looking her best.

      There was still the extreme slenderness about her that spoke of months of stress and sorrow, but she was coming out of it slowly, turning towards the light again, and as always there was Josh. A bright candle in the gloom.

      This wanting to look her best couldn’t have anything to do with Kane she assured herself. For one thing, she hadn’t expected him to be there.

      But you did know there was a possibility that he might turn up. The voice of conscience was teasing, and that made her cheeks burn even more.

      He was coming across and she felt the need to get the first word in.

      ‘This is a surprise. A pleasant one, too,’ she said with a smile. ‘It gives you the chance to get to know us all better and see something of the city besides the ambulance depot.’

      Was it nerves that were making her so effusive? she wondered. Or was it true? That it was a pleasant surprise to see him there?

      ‘And what about you, Selina?’ he asked evenly. ‘Is this sort of an evening a pleasure…or an ordeal?’

      Her eyes widened. Surely he couldn’t know what had been going through her mind.

      ‘A bit of both, I think,’ she said with a wry smile. Not wanting to elaborate on that, she strolled across to where the others were seated and Kane followed.

      The bar management had put on an excellent buffet for the ambulance personnel at Charlie’s request, and as the evening progressed Selina began to relax.

      She’d been tense in those first few moments on arriving, but with the knowledge that Josh was safe and sound at Gavin’s, and that those she was with all had in common their dedication to the ambulance service, she began to enjoy herself.

      Another time she wouldn’t feel so awkward. She’d broken down the barrier that her new and inescapable circumstances had put up and was feeling happier for it.

      Having Kane beside her for most of the evening could have had something to do with it, but she wasn’t prepared to delve deeply into that.

      It was sufficient that his casual yet watchful gaze was upon her whenever she felt the strangeness coming over her again and, although he didn’t say much, his presence was oddly comforting.

      ‘And so when are these new tactics being put into practice?’ Charlie asked at one point in the evening.

      There was silence as they all observed him in puzzlement.

      ‘Ooops! Have I let the cat out of the bag?’ He chuckled. ‘Mark Guthrie was telling me about them when I called in at the station this afternoon. No doubt he’ll be putting you all in the picture at the first opportunity but in the meantime I think I’d better keep quiet. I don’t want to steal his thunder.’

      ‘Aw, come on…tell us,’ someone said, but the elderly ex-paramedic shook his head.

      ‘No. Let the boss be the one to break the news.’

      And with that they had to be satisfied.

      It was close on midnight when the gathering broke up, and as Selina went to her car Kane was by her side.

      ‘Is it still on for tomorrow night?’ he asked as she started the car.

      ‘Yes, of course,’ she said quickly, with a sudden sinking feeling that she should have waited a while before asking him round for a meal.

      He smiled.

      ‘Right. I’ll see you then. And, Selina, if there’s time I’d love you to show me around your village.’

      She smiled up at him from inside the car’s dark interior, and as a group of rowdy revellers went by, followed by a police car with sirens blaring, she told him, ‘Living there is heaven after experiencing what goes on out here.’

      ‘Tell me about it!’ he agreed sombrely. ‘I’m not intending to stay where I am for long, that’s for sure.’

      With that he went striding off into the warm night, and Selina drove home with two thoughts uppermost in her mind. Was Kane thinking of moving to the village where she lived? And if he was, how would she feel about it?

      Josh was staying at Gavin’s for the night, and as she went slowly up the stairs in the quiet cottage for once she wasn’t dreading the emptiness of the big double bed.

      * * *

      Selina was cool, calm, and collected the next night until Kane arrived with flowers and wine, and then she became flustered.

      ‘Just to say thanks for inviting me,’ he said easily, averting his gaze from her rosy cheeks.

      Fortunately Josh was there to take their visitor’s attention off her.

      ‘You’re my paramedic friend, aren’t you?’ he said. ‘The one who brought me comics and sweets?’

      Kane smiled down at him.

      ‘Yes. That’s me. What would you like us to do while your mother sees to the food?’

      ‘Cricket. I’ve got a new bat.’

      ‘And bails? We can’t play without bails…and a corkie.’

      Josh was already out on the garden path and beckoning Kane to follow him. ‘Yes, I’ve got the lot. My dad used to play for the village team.’

      Kane raised dark brows to show that he was suitably impressed and went on to ask, ‘Was he a batter or a bowler?’

      ‘Both,’ Josh told him proudly, and Selina, listening to them through the kitchen window, felt the awkwardness that she’d experienced when he’d arrived disappear.

      If Kane was a man of few words and cold efficiency while on the job, he was certainly putting himself out to be affable now, she thought thankfully.

      But her face sobered as another thought came to mind. Was it because he was sorry for them…the bereaved? She hoped not. Pity was the last thing she would want from anyone, least of all this man.

      He had walked across to the open window and seen her change of expression.

      ‘Everything all right, Selina?’

      ‘Yes, of course. I’ll call you when I’m ready to serve.’

      When they came in from the garden Josh was jubilant. ‘I got Kane out for a duck, Mum,’ he chortled.

      ‘Yes. He did,’ Kane agreed in mock dismay. ‘Pity it wasn’t a bit earlier. We could have had it for dinner.’

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