Her confidence took a hit. Of course he was going back. He remembered nothing about his promise to do what was necessary for their relationship to work.

After a few minutes of silence, awkward for him and tense for her, she said, ‘Before the accident, you told me you went to Weipa last month. That’s one of the places I’d like to do a stint. They say it’s an amazing flight into the town.’

He blew out a breath as if to loosen the sudden tension between them.

‘Weipa …’ He paused. ‘I remember that. It was nothing like I expected. Nothing I’d done before in Sydney. Which was what I wanted after my wife died.’ He turned to look at her and she briefly met his eyes. ‘I’m guessing I told you about that?’

She nodded and eased the grip she had on the steering wheel. And his honesty, again, eased the ache in her heart for what she might lose. He too was trying.

‘Flying into Weipa is spectacular.’ He stared straight ahead with the slightest smile on his face, and she could tell he had shifted his thoughts to that flight.

She was glad. Of course the loss of his wife made him hurt and clam up, and also feel guilty that he’d had some sort of relationship with her so soon after his Roslyn had died. And getting him to talk was for her benefit, too – she loved the sound of his voice. Unfortunately, she loved a lot of things about him.

Chapter Eighteen

Zac

Zac glanced at the profile of the woman beside him. He didn’t know her, but he had to admit he was attracted. Hopefully he hadn’t slept with her. Surely he wouldn’t have – it was too soon after Roslyn’s passing.

It seemed they’d developed a friendship. A strong rapport, he could feel that. Ava looked capable – according to the other nurses, she was supposedly super skilled at emergency midwifery and nursing – and from her point of view, it must be awkward that she had a man in her car who had completely forgotten her. From his point of view, it was a little hard to believe he’d actually got close enough that she felt responsible for him. Maybe even moved on her a little. He ran his finger around his collar at the thought.

Speaking of moving … ‘Have you ever been a dancer?’ he asked, more to distract himself than her.

‘You’ve said that before.’ She smiled at the road ahead as if he’d said something amusing. Good, then. His tense shoulders relaxed a little in relief.