Page 64 of Someone For Everyone

Nothing could have prepared him for the sight of Alex lying prone on the floor, with Hanna kneeling over him, her hands locked together and pressing on his chest. ‘Like this…’ she said, pretending to pump. ‘…two… three… four…’

Calvin cleared his throat. ‘Sorry to interrupt, guys.’

Hanna looked up, unimpressed. ‘Yes?’

‘Is Alex okay down there?’

‘He fine,’ she said, answering for him and sitting back on her haunches. ‘I teach him CPR. Everyone should know technique.’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘You know technique?’

‘I do, yes,’ he said, fearful of being made to join in the lesson. ‘Hanna, this is Nelson, our new locum nurse.’

She got to her feet and marched over. ‘Hanna Wozniak, head nurse. You start tonight?’

Nelson shook her hand, buckling under the strength of her grip. ‘Tomorrow.’

Hanna frowned. ‘Why not tonight?’

‘Nelson needs to get accustomed to the place before being expected to start a shift,’ Calvin said, willing her to make a good impression so the bloke wouldn’t change his mind. They needed him.

‘We small team.’ She gave him the once-over, taking in his shaved head and tattooed forearms – which was ironic, seeing as how her blue-black hair and multiple piercings were hardly the stereotypical look for a care worker. ‘We dedicated to residents. Not afraid of hard work. Wecommitted.’ Her hands went to her hips. ‘You same?’

‘Me same,’ he said, with a good-natured smile. Calvin almost laughed. ‘I think loyalty’s important. I’m looking forward to working with you.’

Hanna harrumphed. ‘We see.’

Alex got up from the floor. ‘Hi, I’m Alex.’

Calvin noticed that the young man’s T-shirt was on inside out. ‘Alex is the accountant I was telling you about.’

Nelson fist-bumped Alex. ‘Good to meet you, man.’

‘You too.’ Alex ran a hand through his shorter hairstyle, sitting neatly above his collar.

Calvin gestured to the door. ‘We’ll leave you to get on with your CPR lesson.’

‘Eight sharp in morning!’ Hanna called out, as they exited. ‘No late!’

Nelson glanced back and saluted. ‘No late.’

Hanna turned and barked at Alex, ‘Back on floor.’

Poor Alex. But instead of obeying, he pinned her with a glare, and said, ‘No, Hanna,youget on the floor. It’s my turn to practise.’ He sounded uncharacteristically assertive, causing Calvin to do a double take.

Hanna drew in a sharp breath.

Oh, hell.

A heated pause followed, and Calvin waited for the fallout, but instead of exploding, Hanna rolled her eyes and said, ‘Fine,’ and dutifully laid down on the floor.

Bloody hell.Go, Alex.

‘Her bark’s worse than her bite,’ Calvin said to Nelson, when they were safely out of earshot. ‘She’s an excellent nurse. You just need to get used to her.’

Nelson grinned. ‘I’ve dealt with worse.’

‘You have?’

Nelson laughed. ‘I have four sisters.’

---