‘Yes, unless you don’t want to.’ Why wouldn’t she? It was more relaxed and intimate than going to a café or bar. ‘What’s up?’
Anastasia straightened. ‘Nothing. I’m pleased we’re not going out in this, that’s all.’
‘Would you prefer to go to a restaurant or bar?’
Her smile returned. ‘No, not at all.’
He could relax. Flicking the umbrella open and holding it above them, he took her hand in his free one. ‘Let’s go.’
Keeping in step with him—like their dancing—she leaned close, stayed close as they splashed through puddles along the footpath. Then she hesitated. ‘That man under the shop overhang. He looks...’
‘Very unwell, like—’
‘He’s having a medical—’
‘Event. Heart attack?’
They ran, stopped in front of the man slumped against the wall, one hand gripping his upper left arm.
‘Sir? I’m Noah Kennedy, a doctor, and Stacey here’s a nurse. Are you all right?’ The guy was grey and shaking.
‘It’s my arm. Pain.’
‘He’s sweating profusely,’ Stacey noted. ‘I’ll call an ambulance.’
‘Can you get us a chair from inside as well, please?’ Then to the man, ‘We need to get you sitting down. What’s your name?’
‘Len.’
‘Any history of heart disease?’
‘No. The pain’s in my arm, not my chest.’
Heart attacks often presented first as pain in the left arm. ‘Any tightness in your chest? Difficulty breathing?’
‘It feels strange, and sometimes I can’t take a full breath. My jaw’s hurting.’
‘Here.’ Stacey was back with someone from the shop carrying a chair. ‘The ambulance is on its way.’
Noah helped Len onto the chair and knelt beside him. ‘Take it easy.’ It’d be better to be inside, but he wasn’t having the man walking anywhere when his heart was playing up. That it was a heart attack wasn’t in doubt, and all they could do was take obs and watch closely until the paramedics arrived, be prepared if Len’s heart stopped.
Stacey had her phone on timer and was counting Len’s pulse rate. ‘One twenty.’ Then she was onto the respiration rate. ‘Abnormal.’
Noah nodded. ‘Thanks.’
Her slight nod told him she was up with the diagnosis. They worked as a team, neither having to ask anything of the other. Could they work together as well in their private lives? So far they were in sync about most things, so why not? Was that what real love was about? Having each other’s backs without being asked? Understanding where each was coming from and going with it? Sounded wonderful. If it was true. And so far it seemed to be. A wailing siren reached his ears, and relief took over. ‘That was quick.’
Stacey was holding Len’s hand, her finger on his pulse again. ‘It’s your lucky day, Len.’
‘You think?’ The man gave her a wry smile. ‘Thanks for noticing me.’
‘Not a problem,’ they said in unison.
Noah laughed. How like them.
Within minutes they’d handed over to the paramedics and were on their way to his house.
‘I’m so glad we noticed Len’s distress. Most people wouldn’t have thought he was in difficulty,’ Stacey muttered.
‘True, but we’re trained to be medically observant.’ At home, he took Stacey’s sodden jacket to hang on the stand. She needed a decent leather one to keep dry and warm. ‘You’re shivering.’
She stepped up to him, warmth in her eyes at least. Winding her arms around his neck, she stretched up to kiss him. ‘Then warm me up.’
‘Cheeky.’ Noah held her tight. This was becoming normal—the excitement, the being together, the enjoyment of each other. He could go with it, was starting to see they might have a future that didn’t hold doubts and fears, that he might find the love he’d been looking for. And it had all started with a dance. ‘Come on. We’ll have some fun.’
Her eyes lit up. ‘We’re good at that.’
He couldn’t help himself, he just had to kiss her again, and again, and hold her curvy backside in his palms, and kiss a trail down her neck to that alluring cleavage, and help her shrug out of her jeans, and pull her jersey over her head. And help her push his jeans down to his thighs and then to his knees and ankles so he could step out of them. Tugging his jersey and shirt off in one swoop, he scooped her into his arms and headed upstairs where he laid her on the bed and lay down with her.
Anastasia rolled onto her side and reached for him, the desire in her face heating him further and making his heart swell with need and care for this wonderful woman. Up on his arms, he covered her gently, and tasted her from top to toe and back again. Her frantic gasps and cries drove him to the edge, and then he was filling her, taking her, giving to her, and they were one.
* * *
Stacey’s favourite dance tune cut through the blur in her head. She was dreaming. She and Noah were dancing. No, they weren’t. She could feel his naked body lying the length of her languid leg, hip, arm.
‘You going to turn that off?’ Noah grunted beside her.
It was her phone. Not music playing in the background as they’d made love. Sitting up, she stared around the room, spied her bag on the floor. As she dug the phone out the music stopped. ‘No need.’ Dropping the phone on top of her bag, she lay down again, and splayed her hand over Noah’s chest, absorbed his heat.
The music started up again. ‘Go away, whoever you are.’ Reaching for the phone to shut it down, she froze. ‘Mum?’ Her family knew she was with Noah and that today was the day to tell him about Holly so Mum wouldn’t ring unless it was urgent.
‘I have to get this.’
Noah sighed. Fair enough. This had spoiled a wonderful moment between them.
Hopefully he’d understand later. ‘Mum? What’s up?’
‘It’s Holly. She’s had an accident and is on her way to hospital in an ambulance.’
‘What? Holly’s hurt?’ Stacey shrieked. ‘No, Mum, please, don’t say that.’ Her head spun so fast she had to lean back against the headboard. Not her girl. No, anything but that. ‘What’s happened? Is she going to be all right? Tell me. Who’s with her?’
‘Dad’s with her. She ran into the road after her ball. The kids from next door brought us some eggs and left the gate open.’ Her mother hesitated.
Stacey’s fear cranked up harder. ‘Mum? Please tell me she’s all right.’
‘A boy on a skateboard knocked her over. The ambulance crew think her arm is broken.’ A deep breath and her mother raced on. ‘She hit her head when she landed and lost consciousness for a while. There’s a cut along her hairline above her forehead. Oh, darling, I’m so sorry this has happened. Those kids know to shut the gate, but I should’ve checked.’
‘It’s not your fault. I have to get to Holly. Which hospital? Noah can drive me there now. Did she regain consciousness?’ Out for a while. What did that mean? Still out? Stacey scrambled to her feet, leaned against the wall to steady her wobbly legs, and swallowed hard. Her voice was rising uncontrollably. ‘Tell me. Has she regained consciousness at any time? Is she in pain?’
‘Anastasia? What’s happened? You look terrible.’ Noah stood before her, reaching for her arm.
‘Mum?’ she pleaded, grabbing Noah’s hand, holding it tightly as she said to him, ‘There’s been an accident.’
‘I think so. It was hard to tell but I saw her eyes open briefly and she was staring at her granddad for a moment.’
Was that consciousness or a reaction to a severe head injury? ‘I’m on my way.’
‘Anastasia, what’s going on?’ Noah demanded.
Pulling her hand free of Noah’s, she started tugging on her clothes. ‘I have to go to the hospital near home. Now. Holly’s been in an accident.’ Her voice was shrill. Fear clawed throug
h her. Her baby was hurt and she wasn’t with her, wasn’t holding her, couldn’t encourage her to be all right. ‘Come on, Noah. Hurry.’
Noah shrugged into his clothes. ‘Who’s Holly?’
Not now. This wasn’t how she was supposed to tell Noah he was a father. ‘Mum, we’re coming. Where are you?’
‘Behind the ambulance. Toby’s driving us. He raced out when he saw Holly head down the drive, but he was too late to stop her being hit.’
‘He tried.’ She shoved the phone in her bag. Toby would be gutted. He adored his niece—watch out anyone who hurt her.