Page 4 of One Night with the Doctor

Noelene handed it to her meekly and Callie heard the loud snick as every single safety switch was restored to its off position and guns were holstered. She turned back to what’s-his-name, passing it over with a quirk of her eyebrow.

‘Unloaded. Fancy that.’ Tipping her chin at the police presence behind them she muttered, ‘Think you can call your boys off now?’

He smiled at her, his gaze dropping to her mouth for the briefest of seconds, before returning to her face. ‘I know you know that’s not how this works.’

That brief downward flick and the gravel in his voice slid into all those places Callie kept hidden but still ached like an old wound on a cold day – especially on this day. Her bottom lip actually started tingling as if he’d licked her mouth with his tongue instead of just blasting it with a second or two of heat.

How was it possible to be exceedingly irritated and exceedingly turned on at the same time? By some guy she’d met less than half an hour ago?

This shit just didn’t happen to her.

Sucking in a steadying breath, she gave him a cool nod. ‘Yeah, yeah. I know the drill.’

‘Good.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Bring her in.’

Callie turned, walking the few paces back to Noelene, who was now leaning on the rail, looking down at the river sparkling in the morning sunshine.

‘Dad loved this bridge,’ she said absently. ‘He helped build it, you know? He used to always bring us kids here when we were little and tell us stories.’

Callie nodded. ‘Do you think we can talk away from here, Noelene? I really don’t like heights.’

‘Oh… yeah… okay.’ She moved slowly towards Callie. ‘I just thought it would be fitting, you know, to mark his anniversary. His service weapon was his most treasured possession. I thought it’d be… the perfect tribute to throw it off the bridge. He was in Vietnam, you know?’

Callie held out her arm and slid it around Noelene’s shoulders as she moved away from the railing. ‘I know,’ she murmured. ‘You can tell me about it on the way to the police station.’

Noelene glanced up at Callie. ‘I was just looking down at the water, minding my own business.’ She frowned. ‘And this cop car pulled up, telling me not to jump… I had zero intention of jumping. But then they were yelling and coming towards me and I got scared.’

‘I know.’ Callie gave Noelene a quick squeeze. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll get it sorted. I’ll be with you.’

‘I need to be there to pick the kids up from school.’

‘Yep. It’s okay. I’ll be with you, expediting the process. You’ll be there for the kids.’

They stepped off the bridge’s pedestrian walkway and what’s-his-name held out his hand for Noelene to help her around the maze of barricades that had been set up. Callie was grudgingly impressed by his gentle smile and his unhurried demeanour as he made sure Noelene didn’t trip.

Then he turned back for her. ‘Thank you for your assistance,’ he murmured, holding out his hand.

Callie’s gaze locked with his and the world gave a giddy kind of shift – not something she welcomed, standing on a bridge.

Goddamn, the man was sexy.

That frank gaze, those lips curled into a slight smile, his height and breadth solid and reassuring, that low murmur oozing over her like warm honey.

The background noises faded, their surroundings dimmed, time and motion coalesced in one electric moment. And if they’d been in a bar she would have taken his hand and led him to the nearest dark corner.

But they weren’t.

Jesus. They were on a bridge. And not just any bridge – the bridge – surrounded by what seemed like a hundred policemen. She ignored the hand, not needing it but also not wanting to seem weak in front of their impressionable onlookers.

‘All in a day’s work,’ she quipped as she navigated the barriers solo and hoped like hell she didn’t trip and fall on her face.

‘Hey, Zack attack, how’s it going?’ Callie pressed her phone to one ear as she blindly hooked a hoop earring into her other.

‘Good thanks, Aunty Cal.’

Callie smiled at her ten-year-old nephew’s chirpy greeting. It was great to hear her little man’s voice. Since he’d gone back to live with his mother a couple of months ago she hadn’t known what to do with herself. Some of the anxiety that had knotted her stomach over the heart-wrenching decision had dissipated but, after eight years in her care, it was hard to let go entirely.

‘How’d you do in the cross-country today?’