Second Chance with His Army Doc

God, but it was such a hateful disease.

She chased the moment away hastily. Nothing was going to cloud tonight. She had so many other things to be grateful for, not least a great career, a wonderful upbringing, and a loving family. How many times had she heard them say how proud they were of her? How lucky she’d been. This promotion wasn’t just hers—it belonged to all of her family for their unwavering love and support all her life.

And who cared about Kane-ruddy-Wheeler?

‘Just that this promotion hasn’t been announced yet, Hayd.’ She leaned against her brother to be heard as she waved her hand in a mixture of pride and embarrassment. ‘I have to get through the next three months running medical simulations thousands of miles away in the middle of the Canadian prairies first.’

‘You say it like they’re going to be just any medical simulations.’ Her brother shook his head, half grinning and half grimacing. ‘But you’re going on Operation Strikethrough, Mattie. You’ve no idea what I would give to go on a brand-new experimental brigade exercise like that. Especially after being deskbound for the past few months.’

‘You’ve got Operation Ironplate,’ she said placatingly, not surprised when he pulled a face.

‘Three months putting in infrastructure into a new African nation is hardly the same as test-driving a new brigade tactic for the entire British Army.’

‘Well, if you didn’t go cutting the cords on your parachute to save some poor kid who has passed out on his first jump, you probably wouldn’t have ended up breaking your leg.’

Then she laughed, the sheer absurdity and the sheer Hayden-ness of her brother’s actions making her chest swell.

‘I know, I’m a true hero.’ He pulled a face at her before his own grin returned. ‘But you’re going to have infantry and light armoured, you’ll be trying out completely new tactics for the entire British Army, after thirty years of fighting using post–Cold War strategies.’

‘I know. Incredible isn’t it?’ Mattie breathed, unable to help herself.

‘And you’re the doc chosen to run end-to-end simulations for them.’ He squeezed her shoulders. ‘Stressing the old medical chain until it breaks and then finding a way to rebuild it. Every major and colonel I know has been after that plum job.’

‘Yeah, well, I got lucky.’ Mattie wrinkled her nose as Hayden threw his arm around her shoulders.

‘Nope, you’ve done enough tours of duty, flown out into enough war zones, and saved enough lives on the operating table, you’re definitely the best man for the role.’

Mattie cast her brother a grateful look. She needed this. Her brother...and this camaraderie. To remind her that she had a good life. She didn’t need Kane bursting back into it and turning it upside down. She had better things to focus on.

Like her promotion.

And her brother’s respect meant a lot. As an army engineer, Hayden had been on just as many tours and been even closer to the sharp end than she had. But promotion in the Royal Army Medical Corps was different from promotion within the Royal Engineers, and she knew her brother was on track to becoming a full two-star general one day the way he was going.

‘So, congratulations, Mattie.’ One of her other friends reached behind Hayden and clapped her on the back. ‘Can’t think of any better doctor or officer to lead the medical unit.’

‘Yeah, thoroughly well deserved,’ another two echoed across the table.

‘Thanks, guys.’ Mattie nodded, emotion bubbling inside her at their warmth.

&n

bsp; Then, as the group split down to try to talk over the music, Mattie leaned to her other side to Bridget, the only one of her friends who wasn’t from the military world. Bridget was a nurse, working for an NGO.

‘You okay, Bea?’

‘Sorry?’ Bridget strained to hear.

Mattie leaned closer.

‘I asked if Hayd has been looking after you?’

‘Yes.’ Bridget nodded, her voice so low that Mattie had almost had to lip-read rather than hear her friend over the music. ‘But you didn’t really have to task your brother to babysit me.’

If Mattie hadn’t known better, she might have actually thought Bridget was blushing. But that was impossible—the young nurse didn’t do any kind of relationship.

‘I did have to.’ Mattie pulled an apologetic face. ‘We were supposed to be working together at Jukrem camp—until I got called away for this new mission. I was really hoping to be able to show you the ropes out there.’

‘It doesn’t matter. I need to learn to be bolder, anyway.’ Bridget smiled, but Mattie could tell it was forced. ‘Stronger.’