The Courage to Love Her Army Doc (18 page)

‘Thank you,' she said coldly, turning so that she could speak to Lola without having to look at Jude. ‘Hi, Lola, it's me—Claire. I'm at the airfield and the truck hasn't arrived. Have you heard anything?'

‘Not a word, hon. Give me a second and I'll see if I can get hold of the driver.'

Claire waited while Lola tried to contact Ezra, the truck driver. The heat was stifling that day and she could feel sweat trickling between her shoulder blades. The boiler suit she was wearing wasn't the most comfortable outfit in these conditions but all the women on the team made a point of covering themselves up whenever they left the hospital. Although the Mwurandans were lovely people on the whole, there had been a few unpleasant incidents recently, and it was safer to err on the side of caution.

‘I can't raise him, Claire. I'll keep trying but at the moment I can't get a reply.'

Lola came back on the line. Claire frowned when she heard what the other woman said. ‘Maybe his radio's down. Some of the sets are on their last legs, so that could be the problem.'

‘Could be. Anyway, you'll be driving back along the same route, won't you, so you should pass him on the way.'

‘I suppose so. Thanks, Lola.' Claire switched off the radio and stowed it under the seat then turned to Jude, trying not to let him see that she was concerned about what might have happened to the truck. ‘We'd better make a move. There's no point hanging around here. The driver will just have to bed down in the plane if it's too late for him to drive back to town tonight.'

She straddled the scooter and started the engine then looked round when she realised that he hadn't moved. ‘Are you coming or not?'

‘Do I have a choice?' He sighed as he swung his leg over the seat. ‘It's either a ride on this contraption or a night in the hold. Not much of a choice really, is it?'

‘What did you expect? A chauffeur-driven limousine?' Claire retorted, letting out the clutch. The motorbike bucked as the gears engaged and she heard him swear as he grabbed hold of her around the waist.

‘Do you have a licence for this thing?' he demanded, leaning forward so she could hear him above the roar of the engine.

Claire gripped the handlebars, her heart pounding as she felt the weight of his body pressing against her back. It had been a long time since she had been this close to a man and the memories it evoked weren't pleasant ones, either. It was all she could do to behave with apparent calm as they set off. ‘No, I don't have a licence as it happens. However, I've not had an accident yet, so you should be safe enough.'

She increased their speed as they left the airfield, weaving her way around the potholes that peppered the road, and felt Jude's grip on her tighten.

‘You really know how to reassure a guy, don't you?'

‘I try,' Claire retorted.

She skirted around a particularly large hole, grinning to herself when she heard his breath hiss out as the rear wheel clipped the edge. Maybe it wasn't a kind thing to do but she had to admit that it felt good to be in control. She had a feeling that Jude Slater rarely allowed other people to order him about and she may as well make the most of it while she could. Once they were back at the hospital, she was going to do as she had said and steer well clear of him. It wouldn't be a hardship. From what she had seen so far, he was more trouble than he was worth!

Copyright © 2016 by Jennifer Taylor

ISBN-13: 9781488009938

The Courage to Love Her Army Doc

Copyright © 2016 by Karin Baine

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