The Dangers of Dating Your Boss

She’d shaken her head, beating down the urge to fling herself in his arms and hold on for ever. ‘I can’t. I’ve waited all my life to meet my dad and this is the closest I’ve ever got to finding him. This is so important to me. I have to go.’ Jack had been just as important, maybe more, but she’d foolishly believed finding her parent had been paramount.

Jack’s face had been bleak, his eyes dark with sadness. ‘Until you do this you’re never going to be completely happy, are you? Not even with me?’

She hadn’t been able to answer him for the lump in her throat.

That was when the arguments had begun, almost as a defence mechanism to protect their shattering hearts. They’d agreed they had to make a clean break but the days before she’d flown out had been intense as they’d crammed as much loving as possible into the little time left.

Now Jack lifted a hand in a stop sign, worry darkening his all-seeing eyes. ‘Hey, let’s leave the past alone. After all, it isn’t called the past for nothing.’

Ouch. ‘True. This is a different job; we’re probably different people now.’ She certainly was. Forcing a smile, she asked, ‘So how’s life been treating you? You’re looking pretty good for an old guy.’

His smoky grey eyes lightened, twinkled, the crinkles at their corners bunching up. That heart-stopping smile lifted his mouth. And cramped her stomach. ‘Can’t complain. And less of the “old guy” stuff. Turning thirty was an event, not a disaster.’

So why the sudden doubt reflecting back at her? Jack had always been confident, in control. Doubt hadn’t even been in his vocabulary. These days she wasn’t in a position to ask anything personal. Not that he’d tell her anyway. Talking about the things that bothered him wasn’t in his make-up. He took everything life tossed at him and moved on with a nonchalance that hid his true feelings. He was a rock. The person everyone could, and did, rely on in all situations. He didn’t ever ask anyone to prop him up.

So she knocked on her head in fun. ‘Of course, you’ve had one of those big birthdays.’ She did a quick tap dance on the spot, checked him out. ‘I hope that means everything’s okay with you, no bits rotting and dropping off your wrinkled old frame.’

‘Heck, Red, I’ve missed your cheek. No one else is ever so damned rude to me.’ Suddenly Ruby’s feet were off the ground as Jack swung her up against his hard-muscled frame and engulfed her in a bear hug.

‘So who’s been keeping you in line, then?’ she gasped against his chest. His heart pounded under her ear. Strong and steady, like Jack. His arms were muscular and warm around her back. Just like old times. As her bones liquefied with longing, she wriggled to be set free in case she did something dumb like press in against him and hold on for ever.

Jack tightened his grip, but he didn’t answer her question. ‘You’re looking good, girl. Even with that weird spiky hair and the glaring scarlet colour you’ve dunked it in,’ he murmured against her ear, sending thrilling shivers down her spine. ‘What happened to that beautiful, sherry-coloured mane?’

It had reminded her of Jack too much. Every time she’d looked in a mirror after they’d broken up her heart had snapped in half all over again. ‘It was a nuisance whenever I put my headpiece on in the ‘copter.’

‘Fair enough.’ His disappointed sigh blew against her cheek. His arms tightened further. ‘Pity, though.’

She murmured against his jacket, ‘You would say that. You didn’t have to look after the darned stuff.’ But he had spent hours brushing the waist-length hair that had been her one vanity. She quickly added, in case he thought she was stirring up trouble, ‘It was a full-time job.’

When his fingers pressed a little harder into her waist Ruby felt a pull of the love they’d once shared. A steady love emanating from Jack’s goodness, strength and caring. Added to by her quirky sense of humour and the wonder she’d felt at someone so smart wanting her. Not even her beloved mother had made her feel as good, as safe, as Jack had. And just as she’d done with her mother’s love, she’d fought that feeling, turned it against herself, shunned Jack’s love for her own needs, thereby ruining something very special and worth holding on to at all costs. Hindsight sucked. Big time.

Would she get a second chance?

Ruby breathed Jack in. The scent of pine needles teased her and brought back recollections of long, frenetic afternoons spent making love. So he still wore the same aftershave. What else did he do the same? Was he even the same person? Not if that doubt in his eyes was an indicator.

Then, as suddenly as he’d lifted her into his arms, he plonked her back on the ground. She stumbled as she struggled to maintain her balance. A firm grip on her elbow helped, until a zing of heat spiralled up the inside of her arm, warming the sensitive skin.

‘Careful.’ His tone was suddenly abrupt.

‘Thanks.’ Tugging her arm free, she rubbed hard to dissipate the heat he’d so easily generated. Looking up, she found Jack studying her with the same disconcerting expression in those eyes that had haunted her from the moment she’d walked away from him at the airport. The expression that said you didn’t know what you had until you lost it. How true that had turned out to be.

Jack jerked his head up, looking beyond them, as though suddenly remembering where he was, who he was talking to. He would soon be in charge of the Wellington Helicopter Rescue base and she was a crew member. ‘So you’re now a paramedic on the rescue helicopters. That’s quite a sideways step from the emergency nurse you desperately wanted to be.’

‘Close enough to the same thing. Emergency department, ambulance crew.’ Her spread hand flipped left and right. ‘No different from what you’re doing by taking up this position, I’d have thought.’ She strove to avoid what he was really saying: that she never finished anything she started. How could she? She’d always been too busy moving on to stay anywhere long enough to see any project through.

But for the first time in her life she had completed something, something very important to her. A genuine certificate hung on her bedroom wall. Signed by the Chief of Ambulance Services, San Francisco.

Ruby Smith, Advanced Paramedic. Honours. Right alongside the citation for bravery during duty. And on the other side hung the nursing certificate she’d finally obtained in the States.

If only her mother could see those certificates. She’d have been pleased with her daughter for once. The only other person she’d wanted to share her success with at the time now stood in front of her and it was too late. He might know she’d finally qualified at something but he hadn’t been there to share in the sheer wonder of achievement. Because of all her stupid mistakes she’d been alone.

From the day she decided to head back here she’d known she’d eventually catch up with Jack. This was the first city she’d ever returned to. She’d come back for Jack, because of Jack. Wellington was Jack. And yet she’d been dragging her heels about calling him. Afraid to find out he’d moved on and barely remembered her.

Ruby closed her eyes briefly. This was way too hard. Be strong, be tough. She repeated the mantra that had got her through the last few years, and then diverted the conversation to safe ground. Again.

‘I didn’t think you were starting with us until next week.’ Ruby huffed out a breath and tipped her head back to stare up at him. ‘Did I read the wrong memo?’

He grinned that grin, though his eyes were a little slow in keeping up. ‘I’ve been at the aero club for a couple of hours. Since the club’s almost next door I figured I’d cruise over here and meet whoever was on duty.’

‘Aero club? Your brother still flying those little things?’ She glanced across the tarmac at the tiny planes pegged down outside the clubrooms.

‘No, Steve’s on jumbos these days. It’s me who’s flying those Tomahawks you’re staring at.’ A deep chuckle rumbled through him. Another familiar, heart-warming thing she’d missed, desperately at times when she’d been terribly lonely.

‘No way.’ She grinned as she swivelled back to gape at him. Jack had never had time for play. ‘Really? You’re learning to fly?’

‘And loving every minute I get in the air.’ Another chuckle. But it sounded brittle. Something was wrong with this picture. Was happy Jack not really so happy?

‘Can you take me up one day?’ Bad question. Mouth on the run.

Taking a backward step, Jack told her firmly, ‘Sorry, no passengers allowed until I’ve got my licence.’

He needn’t look so relieved. ‘How many hours have you flown?’

‘Twenty-seven and I need at least fifty before my flight test.’ He looked towards the helicopter. ‘Want to introduce me?’

Yikes. She’d totally forgotten Dave waiting for her to help tidy up the aircraft’s interior. She spun back to the ‘copter looming above her, talking to Jack over her shoulder, trying not to stare at his beloved face. ‘I thought you two would’ve met already since it’s his job you’re taking over.’

‘When I came out here with the director, Dave was away on a job.’

‘Then you’ll both have lots to discuss.’ She called up, ‘Dave, come out here for a moment. Please.’

Dave poked his head out. ‘So how come you didn’t kill this guy for calling you Red?’

Because Jack had always called her that. She hated anyone else using the nickname because it tainted her sweet memories of him, and played havoc with the sexy ones as well. ‘He’s going to be my boss.’

‘Didn’t stop you reading the Riot Act when I dared to call you Red.’ Dave looked across at Jack, then back at her, a hint of worry in his eyes. ‘So you two already know each other.’ Was he wondering if this would affect the job situation? If it did then Jack could swap crews.

‘We worked together once.’ In another, totally different life. Ruby gritted her teeth. ‘I was a trainee nurse, Jack was a bossy intern.’

Jack grunted. ‘Me? Bossy? I’d have given you that hat, Red.’

‘Medicine’s a small world.’ The older man smiled down at Jack. ‘Well, hi, there, anyway, welcome aboard. You’re in for some adventures for sure.’

‘There’ll definitely be some interesting days,’ Ruby seconded her partner. Like when the weather was atrocious and any flying became scary. She never admitted to those fears, just tightened her harness and pretended nothing was wrong. Now she officially introduced the two men. ‘Dave, this is Jack Forbes.’ She watched them size each other up in a man kind of way as they reached to shake hands.

They must’ve decided the other was okay because within moments Dave handed down the packs to Ruby and invited Jack on board for a cursory rundown on how things worked.

‘I’ll leave you two to it,’ Ruby said as she slung one pack over her shoulders. ‘When I’ve topped these up, I’ll put a brew on.’ And finally get to eat that pie. It’d be cold and congealed but right now it made her mouth water and her stomach expand with hope.