he assumed was an attempt to gain his attention.
Matt now bitterly questioned the impulse that said he must, as a single man, go out and meet other people. He didn’t think he’d ever felt quite so old as now; surrounded by women who must be fifteen years his junior.
A soft touch to his back made him restrain a violent flinch, but the accompanying soft voice in his ear was one he recognised.
“I might accuse you of stalking me, but it’d be a hard case to make when you’re always there before me.”
Matt turned to see Brigid standing behind him. Shoulder-length, straight hair sleekly framed her face and she had encased her well-shaped legs in denim. A V-neck, black T-shirt and heavy silver chain completed the outfit.
Matt raised his hand from his beer glass in greeting. “I know you told me that Cairns was like a small town, but with the frequency we’re meeting, I’m starting to think it’s actually closer to village proportions.”
“A population of 150,000 makes it quite a large village. So I think it’s rather more likely you’re getting your social suggestions from the same people I did when I moved here. Chris and Dave,” Brigid said. “Here, let me introduce you to Jennifer.”
Matt was embarrassed to realise that he had been so focused on Brigid, he hadn’t noticed the curvy blond standing next to her.
“Nice to meet you,” said Matt, offering the shorter woman his hand.
“So, are you meeting someone here?” Brigid asked
“No, and I’m really hoping you’re going to take pity on me and ask me to join you.” Matt suddenly had an unwelcome thought. “Unless you two are here to meet someone?”
Brigid laughed and waved her hand at the young women surrounding him. “Have you found out Cairns’ dirty secret? No single man is allowed out alone.”
She lowered her voice to dramatic confiding tones. “Just be glad that you aren’t wearing your uniform, otherwise we wouldn’t have got here in time to stop the ravishment.”
Brigid pointed towards the back. “Seeing I’m in rescue it’s probably my sworn duty to let you sit at a booth with us. Go with Jennifer and I’ll get the drinks.”
Matt found himself in the unusual position of following Jennifer through the crowd, while Brigid waved a twenty at the bartender. He wasn’t used to being managed and he certainly wasn’t used to women who bought their own drinks. Jennifer smiled and Matt belatedly realised how attractive she was. Considerably smaller in stature than Brigid, Jennifer had the kind of looks that Australian travel brochures used to advertise their country; blonde, tanned, with bright blue eyes.
Dismissing these thoughts, he slid into a booth opposite his new acquaintance and asked, “Are you in medicine, too?”
“No, I’m a meteorologist,” she replied. “I know doctors are only meant to be friends with other doctors, but Brigid and I managed to beat that stereotype when we arrived here at the same time; about two years ago.”
Jennifer was pretty by anyone’s standards but Matt found his gaze turning involuntarily back to Brigid. She was confidently making her way across the room, three bottles in her hands. His wasn’t the only male gaze that followed her but no one approached. Matt guessed her height and the assured speed with which she walked kept them at bay.
He smiled his thanks as Brigid placed one the bottles in front of him and slid into place next to her friend.
Jennifer turned to her and with a laugh said, “I was just telling Matt how we acclimatised to our culture shock together when we got here.”
“Two city girls in a regional centre; it took a while!” Brigid and Jennifer shared a warm look between each other. “But we survived and look at us here, paying our dues on a Sunday night.”
Brigid addressed Matt, “So how does this compare to the Middle East?”
“Fewer uniforms,” Matt said.
Seeing the curious looks on the faces of both women made him realise he was going to have
Matt now bitterly questioned the impulse that said he must, as a single man, go out and meet other people. He didn’t think he’d ever felt quite so old as now; surrounded by women who must be fifteen years his junior.
A soft touch to his back made him restrain a violent flinch, but the accompanying soft voice in his ear was one he recognised.
“I might accuse you of stalking me, but it’d be a hard case to make when you’re always there before me.”
Matt turned to see Brigid standing behind him. Shoulder-length, straight hair sleekly framed her face and she had encased her well-shaped legs in denim. A V-neck, black T-shirt and heavy silver chain completed the outfit.
Matt raised his hand from his beer glass in greeting. “I know you told me that Cairns was like a small town, but with the frequency we’re meeting, I’m starting to think it’s actually closer to village proportions.”
“A population of 150,000 makes it quite a large village. So I think it’s rather more likely you’re getting your social suggestions from the same people I did when I moved here. Chris and Dave,” Brigid said. “Here, let me introduce you to Jennifer.”
Matt was embarrassed to realise that he had been so focused on Brigid, he hadn’t noticed the curvy blond standing next to her.
“Nice to meet you,” said Matt, offering the shorter woman his hand.
“So, are you meeting someone here?” Brigid asked
“No, and I’m really hoping you’re going to take pity on me and ask me to join you.” Matt suddenly had an unwelcome thought. “Unless you two are here to meet someone?”
Brigid laughed and waved her hand at the young women surrounding him. “Have you found out Cairns’ dirty secret? No single man is allowed out alone.”
She lowered her voice to dramatic confiding tones. “Just be glad that you aren’t wearing your uniform, otherwise we wouldn’t have got here in time to stop the ravishment.”
Brigid pointed towards the back. “Seeing I’m in rescue it’s probably my sworn duty to let you sit at a booth with us. Go with Jennifer and I’ll get the drinks.”
Matt found himself in the unusual position of following Jennifer through the crowd, while Brigid waved a twenty at the bartender. He wasn’t used to being managed and he certainly wasn’t used to women who bought their own drinks. Jennifer smiled and Matt belatedly realised how attractive she was. Considerably smaller in stature than Brigid, Jennifer had the kind of looks that Australian travel brochures used to advertise their country; blonde, tanned, with bright blue eyes.
Dismissing these thoughts, he slid into a booth opposite his new acquaintance and asked, “Are you in medicine, too?”
“No, I’m a meteorologist,” she replied. “I know doctors are only meant to be friends with other doctors, but Brigid and I managed to beat that stereotype when we arrived here at the same time; about two years ago.”
Jennifer was pretty by anyone’s standards but Matt found his gaze turning involuntarily back to Brigid. She was confidently making her way across the room, three bottles in her hands. His wasn’t the only male gaze that followed her but no one approached. Matt guessed her height and the assured speed with which she walked kept them at bay.
He smiled his thanks as Brigid placed one the bottles in front of him and slid into place next to her friend.
Jennifer turned to her and with a laugh said, “I was just telling Matt how we acclimatised to our culture shock together when we got here.”
“Two city girls in a regional centre; it took a while!” Brigid and Jennifer shared a warm look between each other. “But we survived and look at us here, paying our dues on a Sunday night.”
Brigid addressed Matt, “So how does this compare to the Middle East?”
“Fewer uniforms,” Matt said.
Seeing the curious looks on the faces of both women made him realise he was going to have
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