Ben watched Ellie at the bar, being teased by men twice her age and size, chuckling at something Jack had said, her cheeks dimpling prettily and her green eyes brimming with laughter. The Mountain Rescue Team seemed to treat her as some sort of mascot, and yet he'd seen respect in their eyes. And it was well deserved. Her performance during the rescue had been amazing. She barely reached his shoulder and yet she'd walked over difficult ground in treacherous weather conditions with her usual cheerful smile.
As he drained his glass he noticed that several of the other men in the bar were watching her with interest, and it was hardly surprising. She was gorgeous and totally unaware of the impact that she had on men.
In fact, the only man he'd seen her show interest in was himself.
Which was a shame, he thought grimly as he finished his drink and put the empty glass back on die bar. Because he had no intention of pursuing her, despite the temptation.
And the temptation was strong.
He'd come close to kissing her earlier on the mountain and it had taken all his will-power to pull back.
He could still remember the slender softness of her body as she'd leaned against him for support.
Damn.
Ben straightened abruptly and gathered up his gloves and rucksack.
Aware that she was still looking at him, only a rigid self-control, well developed over the years, prevented him from losing himself in those amazing .eyes before dragging her home and doing exactly what he knew they both wanted.
But he was an incredibly self-disciplined man and he knew he couldn't afford to let that control slip. Not even for a moment. It would be cruel because he wouldn't be good for Ellie. How could he be, after everything that had happened?
And she wouldn't be good for him.
He gave a harsh laugh as he was forced to ask himself exactly who he was protecting. Ellie or himself?
He'd learned to keep part of himself detached from women but he sensed that with Ellie that rigid self-control would be severely tested.
And he wasn't going to take that risk.
CHAPTER FIVE
THE freezing weather continued and A and E was the busiest it had been for months.
'Someone should market this as a diet,' Nicky complained one morning as she rubbed her stomach: 'I've lost half a stone in the last two weeks because I never have time for coffee, lunch or tea. I'm calling it the NHS diet. We replace meals with work. It's foolproof.'
Ellie glanced up and nodded as she sorted through a pile of X-rays. 'I know what you mean.'
Everyone was the same. There were too many patients and not enough staff, and they frequently worked through without breaks. Tempers were frayed and everyone was tired.
'Maybe we could persuade the police to issue a statement, asking everyone to stay indoors,' Will suggested as they hurried to greet yet another ambulance. 'If they're indoors, they don't slip on the ice.'
'No, they fall downstairs or scald themselves,' Ellie reminded him cheerfully. 'Accidents in the home—remember? It's a lethal place to be.'
She was reminded of her words later when Ambulance Control rang to say that they were bringing in a child with severe scalds.
Ellie replaced the phone and hurried to find Ben. She found him in one of the cubicles, checking an X-ray for one of the casualty officers. 'I need you in Resus.'
He gave a brief nod to show that he'd heard, finished talking to the more junior doctor and followed her through to Resus.
Was it her imagination or did he hesitate slightly in the doorway?
'What's the story?' He paced across the room and paused by the intubation tray, picking up a laryngoscope and checking the bulb.
'We don't know much. Just that it's a small child with burns.' She watched him closely, sensing that something was wrong.
He was staring at the laryngoscope in his hand as if it might jump up and bite him. Even as she watched, beads of sweat appeared on his brow and there was a change in his breathing.
So it hadn't been her imagination.