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CHAPTER ONE

KELLI BARNETT PULLED a face, even though her bestie at the other end of the phone couldn’t see her ‘I a with him, stand-up citizen or not’

‘Who are you going to take to Billy’s wedding, then? You’ve got to find someone pronto’ Tamara’s frustration was obvious But then her family were equally frustrated with her at the moment so the tone was overly familiar

Her brother’s wedding was turning into a nightmare ‘No one’ If only it were that easy

‘You know yourto sit Jason beside you if there’s no one else to take that place’

Oh, yeah ‘Maybe I’ll pull a sickie, say I’ve caught souests’ Maybe she could take a flying leap off the end of the jetty and swim all the way back to Auckland city fro to take place in less than a week’s ti day

‘Are you being obtuse? Like this guy’s awesome, and you don’t want to admit it’

She hated the s in ‘You’ve met Jason What do you think?’

‘He’s doing well as a lawyer, owns his house and drives a top-of-the-range car that goes too fast He’ll make the perfect husband for someone’

‘Not for me’

‘Just checking here You’re turning him down at every opportunity because?’ Persistent was Tamara’s ht Kelli should do the same

Kelli snapped, ‘He’s dull as dishwater’

‘Doesn’t light your fire, huh?’

‘A wet blanket would ignite that faster’

‘And Mac Taylor would set your whole world alight’

The phone dropped out of Kelli’s suddenly lifeless fingers ‘Dah for the words to carry to the phone now lying on the footpath outside Auckland Central Hospital Ta to pick it up, she glanced at her watch ‘Got to go,’ she told Tan et to work Bye’ She hung up before there was any more nonsense from her pal

Butand she didn’t have the heart to send the call to voice sensible to say or I’ll hang up again’

Taain ‘Ask Mac to partner you to the wedding And before you cut off our friendship for life, think about it You tere hot for each other atThe way you danced with hi to admit’

Kelli jerked to a stop in the , ‘Are you out of yourin Fiji on an exchange with Suva Hospital and if that hadn’t put Mac on the back burner then she was in trouble Especially now she’d been buht shift—Mac’s shift—all because another nurse had taken early h blood pressure

‘Only looking out for you, Kells, like you did for me’

Tears pricked her eyes

Thanks, girlfriend Appreciate it Would love so to happen Not while I’m still afraid to reach out for it

A quick slash across her face with her palm, a deep sniff, and, ‘Why is it when so for everyone else?’ People were bu later by the minute There was the m

eeting with Personnel—ht be less complicated if she headed to the local supermarket and asked for a checkout job where she’d never see Mac—before her shift in the eency department started at three Very soon It had been a full-on day, avoiding herfrom her time away

‘Because love’s so good Crazy good, wonderful The sun shines even when it’s raining Of course I want that for you’ Ta happiness

‘You think I’ll get that with Mac?’ She’d like to No, she wouldn’t This was Ta these pointless ideas to surface ‘Don’t answer that I a to ask Dr Taylor to partnerelse’

Kelli’s heart stuttered as she strode into the ED Shoulders back, hands forced to hang loose at her sides, butterflies under her ribs

Where was he? Looking around, she tried to cal on in her belly Mac would be somewhere in here He never ran late for a shift, and now that he was head of department he probably arrived extra early

She shouldn’t have co a runner while she had the chance would’ve been the better option The hospital board had sent her to Fiji to cover for a nurse coency treatone out of their way to track her down and haul her back if she’d done a bunk

Too late, Sunshine You’re back, with another contract covering the next twelve ht now

Where was he?

‘Hello, Kelli’

Bang Right on cue Slap between her ribs That low, raspy voice raised iht in Sydney after Taht, she usually felt Mac on her skin, under her skin But her radar must’ve been tee in the at herself, Kelli turned to face her heartache eye to eye ‘Hi, Mac How’s things?’

Mac was striding towards her, head up, back straight ‘Oh, you know Sah life was a bit of a bore really At least, she thought he was ai for a casual movement to underline his comfort levels around her, but thoseoff thee is at three, not fifteen minutes past’