Page 9 of Andrew’s Outback Love

Fuck, what was that I’d said about tension in my team? I could foresee a storm brewing on the horizon.

CHAPTER FOUR

The silence in the room was deafening as Cam and I both stared at Linda. It was unusual that I was lost for words, but for Cam to be speechless around a beautiful woman was fucking unheard of.

Linda took a step back and I realised our intense perusal was making her uncomfortable. It was Ruby who came to her rescue. She took Linda by the arm and led her closer to Ally.

“Hi, I’m Ruby. Don’t know my real last name because my aunt and uncle gave me theirs – Waters. They said I needed one for all the legal mumbo jumbo they had to sign when I started school and didn’t want me stuck with my useless excuse for a father’s last name. Don’t take any notice of those two rude brutes, you’ll learn to ignore them. At the moment they’re thinking with their small heads. I believe you and Ally know each other?”

I don’t know who blushed brightest - me, Cam or poor Linda.

Linda approached James who gave her a hug and kissed her cheek. A fucking hug and kiss! She then approached Ally, leaned over and hugged her. My eyes zeroed in and became riveted on her shapely arse and long legs. I felt my cock swell further at the delicious sight. I managed to rein in the moan that wanted to escape when she sat down on the bed and took Ally’s hands in hers.

“I’m so sorry to hear you had a bad scare. Finn tells me everything is okay with you and bub but you need to take it easy.”

Shit! If my dick was doing a slow rumba before, it was now doing a fucking jig. Linda was quietly spoken with a breathy quality to her voice which sent every nerve in my body into overdrive. When the four RFDS staff began talking and laughing about an incident in the pub the last time they’d been together, the caveman in me rushed out. Both Finn and James’ hands rested on her arm as they laughed and I found myself getting annoyed. I wanted them away from her. Yep, totally irrational.

“Finn, aren’t you supposed to be getting Ally down to Sydney?”

“I have a few minutes.”

Well, that was a fail.

“Aren’t you expected back at base, James?”

“Nah, I have the rest of the day free. Thought I might take Linda out for lunch.”

What? “Linda will need to be brought up to date with the clinics we have on, she won’t have time to gallivant around town with you when she’s working for me.” I know, I sounded like an arsehole.

Everyone in the room turned towards me and all had their eyebrows raised.

“She’ll have to eat, Drew, or are you going to lock her in a room and feed her only bread and water?”

Linda swung around to face me square on but remained seated and holding Ally’s hand. “Sorry, Dr. Lowman but technically I work with you, not for you. I was informed I am entitled to a thirty-minute break daily and if I choose to spend it gallivanting around town with a friend then, I shall do so. If you find this unacceptable, maybe you should speak with RFDS about assigning someone else.”

I felt my face heat. The woman spoke quietly but with a steely firmness that certainly put me in my place.

“I apologise, Miss Freemont, I didn’t intend any offense. Of course, what you do in your own time is no-one’s business but your own.”

I felt the teams’ eyes boring into me as I spoke but as soon as I finished, they turned towards Linda.

“Your apology is accepted but it’s Linda.” She turned back to James. “I’d love to have lunch with you, thank you.”

“I’ll meet you around midday. Don’t you have a clinic this afternoon which you need to get set-up for, Drew?”

I wanted to smack the smug expression off his face but I remained polite.

“We do, thanks for reminding me.” I moved towards the bed, leaned over and hugged Ally. “Have a safe trip to Sydney and let me know when you get back here. I’ll come and see you.”

“Thanks, Drew. Good luck with the gala.”

I groaned at the mention of the function which was rapidly approaching and waited while Ruby, Cam and Linda wished Ally well before we all left for the three block walk up to Barry’s offices in town.

***

IT WAS A HOT DAY AND we swatted away numerous flies as we headed up the picturesque street. I took the opportunity to have a conversation with my new nurse.

“Have you been to Bourke before, Linda?”