Page 36

When she reached the table, a waft of floral perfume preceded her as she slid across the seat beside him. ‘You look gorgeous, Ellie.’ Heather readjusted the neck of her top and flashed Kane a grin.

‘You do.’

She lifted her eyes to his. ‘Thanks. It’s nice to get dressed up sometimes.’

The band launched into a cover of ‘Eagle Rock’ and the barman arrived with two jugs of beer and a dozen glasses tucked precariously in a tower under his elbow. By then, more staff had squeezed onto each side of the table. Kane was jammed between Ellie and Heather.

Conversation was difficult without yelling so he sat back and sipped his beer, content to watch the group at the table. They were obviously a close-knit bunch; there was a lot of good-natured teasing and they were all comfortable with each other. It reminded him of the mess on base. People comfortable in their own skin, private but knowing their mates well enough to trust. He pushed away the memory; the last thing he wanted was another of those damned flashback, panic things – whatever the psychiatrist had called them.

Dissociative episode. That’s what the shrink had said. Substance abuse and sexual problems went hand in hand with it, he’d been told. Well, he wasn’t doing drugs and he hadn’t had sex since the –

Since it had happened. Maybe it was time to make sure everything still worked. Prove there was nothing wrong with him. To himself as much as the clinical psychologist. The way Heather was trying to catch his eye and leaning into him, he knew he’d have no trouble scoring there. But his eyes were drawn to Ellie. Kane put his glass on the table and turned half sideways to face her. She was staring at the band, but he had a feeling her thoughts were a long way away. He leaned forward and touched her arm lightly. ‘You okay?’

Ellie blinked and looked at him, and her blue eyes were full of confusion. ‘Sorry, what did you say?’

‘Are you okay?’

She nodded as the band launched into the chorus and the crowd on the makeshift dance floor cheered and sang along. The band was semi-decent and the pressure of Ellie’s leg against his was pleasant, but it was impossible to talk, and Kane itched to get out of there. He’d avoided Heather for the past five minutes; the more beer she drank, the louder and more obvious she was becoming. Every time he looked to her side, her gaze was fixed on him. But as pretty and friendly as she was, there was no answering spark from him. Finally, the band took a break, and Ellie turned to him.

‘Are you enjoying the music?’

‘They’re good but I think my eardrums are going to shatter.’ As he spoke, Terry and the two girls on the other side of Ellie stood and headed for the bar.

‘Want to make a break with me before we get jammed in again?’

‘Good thinking.’ Ellie grabbed her beer and followed Kane as he slid along the bench.

‘Be back soon. Taking a break from the noise,’ she called to Heather. Kane led her to the cleared grassy spot on the river side of the bar, his hip jarring as he strode across the concrete floor.

‘God, that’s better.’ Ellie fanned herself with her hand. ‘I’m not used to these nights.’ Her cheeks were flushed and Kane watched as she lifted her glass and drained the beer. ‘That’s enough for me. Two beers and my head spins.’

‘Want to have a dance when the band comes back on? Work it off? I’d hate to see you with the head spins. Not a good look for a pilot.’

She paused for a moment, staring over towards where Heather was holding court. Then turned back to him. ‘Why not? One dance won’t hurt. I can’t remember the last time I had a dance.’

‘What’s going on?’ He nodded over to the table. Heather was now watching them.

‘Make sure you have a dance with Heather, too.’ Guilt crossed her face and he finally understood.

‘I’ll see how the hip holds up.’

A few minutes later, the band struck up an AC/DC song. Kane grabbed Ellie’s hand and pulled her onto the dance floor.

All thoughts of Heather, his mother and flashbacks disappeared as they gyrated, twisted and turned to the thumping music. His hip held up and he ignored the occasional twinge. Kane smiled as she reached for his hand and twirled herself beneath his arm. He didn’t let it go when she twirled back around.

The music slowed and the band launched into a ballad. Kane held out his hands. ‘A real dance?’

Her lips spread in a slow grin as she pointed to her feet. ‘You’ll be sorry. I might be able to use these feet to fly a helicopter, but I’m pretty useless on the dance floor.’

‘I’m not real good either. I have a hip that occasionally gives up the ghost.’ Kane looked down at her. ‘But you look pretty good to me.’

Her cheeks flushed even pinker as she stepped in front of him and he took one of her hands in his, pulling her close, before resting his other hand above her waist. She barely reached his shoulder. Kane rested his chin gently on the top of her head and caught another whiff of that floral perfume. Her silky dress was soft and slippery, and a jolt of pleasure shafted through him.

Maybe it was time to start living again.

‘What happened to your hip?’

He shrugged. ‘Just a bit of an accident last year.’ He waited for the stress to hit, or the heavy sadness, but all he felt was the soft, pliant woman in his arms.