“Well, yeah, usually. But it’s dangerous as is, and I’m early so I can take the time to go and pick some up.”
Did this kind of thing happen often? She’d never worked somewhere that the staff took care of maintenance, not even a squeaky door. If it needed fixing or replacing, you sent a request.
“Don’t worry, this isn’t the usual way of things. We have a crew who takes care of the building, I’m just helping out because I can, and I don’t want anyone else crashing into a wall.” He winked, the surprisingly sexy act made Mazey shiver and suck in a breath. “Go on through. Assuming you’re the new flight nurse, Cochran is waiting for you. I’ll be back before you’re done with the tour in here, and I’ll take you to the hanger and show you where we keep the medical supplies, plane, and choppers.”
“Is that your job?” Was he in charge of the aircraft, the whole base? She hadn’t even gotten his name, or given her own, and yet he appeared to know who she was. Sticking out her hand, she said, “Lord, I don’t even know your name. I’m Mazey Novak, but everyone calls me Maz.”
“Nice toofficiallymeet you, Maz. I’m Rylan Conners, Ry for short. I’m your pilot on this shift.”
“Oh.”
“I’m pretty sure we’ll be teamed up permanently. I’ve worked with several of the nursing staff since I got here, but I think that was to get me grounded in the job and because we’ve been short-staffed.”
“That explains why they wanted me to start as soon as possible. Do you like it? The job?”
“Yeah, I like it. It’s a nice change, flying into areas where I’m not getting shot at to pick up patients.”
“Shot at?” What the hell? “We get shot at?”
“Not here!” He shook his head. “Sorry. Previous employment. Army.”
Mazey nodded. Okay, that made sense. Sort of. She wasn’t quite sure she was following this conversation. “You said Cochran is waiting for me?”
“Yes.” He flicked his hand to indicate down the hallway behind him. “Second door on the left.”
“Thanks.” Mazey gave Rylan a smile and stepped around him. She wasn’t sure why, but she had to force herself not to look back. The first time she’d run into him, it had left her with an unsettled feeling for hours—days—and now, after their second collision, she could put a label on it.
Attraction.
She was attracted to him. And while they hadn’t really talked, he intrigued her. She’d like to get to know him, except that hum of sexual arousal made her wary.
The last time she’d gotten tangled up with someone from work, it had ended in disaster. Not that Stuart worked at Anaheim Memorial Hospital, but they’d met there. He was a visiting surgeon on a two-week stay, and she’d been assigned to him as hisbuddy. They hadn’t gotten together at the time. It was two months later that Stuart had called and asked her out.
Mazey couldn’t stop the emotions that flooded her. The echo of excitement that a man like Stuart was interested in her. The joy and contentment she thought she’d felt during their years together even though they’d lived in different cities. The betrayal and humiliation and anger—the shame—at the discovery of his deception.
It all bombarded her, almost buckling her knees.
No. She wouldn’t go through that again.
Whatever it was she thought she felt for Rylan Conners would have to be ignored.
She wouldn’t—couldn’t—put herself in that position again.
She would never make herself a fool for a man again.
Straightening her spine, she pulled in a couple of deep breaths, slow and steady, and pushed forward.
The only thing she would allow to take her attention was her new job.
She would find her feet in this new environment and be a success.
She wouldn’t accept anything less from herself—for herself.
It was what she wanted. What she deserved.
One man had already sabotaged a career she’d worked years to build. There was no way she would let that happen again.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice definitely wasn’t in her future.
