The Doctor's Society Sweetheart Read Online Free PDF Page A

something more serious, like a congenital heart defect. However, she had yet to figure the man out.
    Not that figuring out the inner workings of Dart’s mindwas essential to her job here—it wasn’t—but ever since she’d arrived Emmy had been intrigued by the man beside her. She couldn’t quite put her finger on just why she felt that way but it was there, simmering low and deep within her.
    She pushed it aside. She was here to focus on her job, on doing an important piece for the network on the plight of the Tarparnese people and those dedicated and brave people who offered help and support. That was all that mattered for the next week.
    ‘QaH!’ P’Ko-lat called, and Emmy recognised the Tarparniian word for ‘help’. It was a word she’d heard quite often that afternoon yet it was the urgency in the receptionist’s tone that made Dart stop what he was doing and rush to see what was happening.
    ‘Look.’ P’Ko-lat pointed to where two men were coming through the trees into the village clearing, carrying an injured man between them. Dart rushed over to look at his latest patient. He sucked in a breath, shook his head and then muttered directions in Tarparnese, pointing to the medical hut.
    ‘Get me some gauze,’ he called to her, as he quickly pressed his hand to the injured man’s abdomen which, as they drew closer, Emmy realised was covered in blood. She did as he said and handed him the gauze as he walked past. He pressed it to the wound and yet it was soaked within less than a minute.
    ‘Belhara, Tarvon,’ he called as P’Ko-lat held open the door to the medical hut. Emmy watched as the two men ran across into the medical hut, the door closing behind them. A moment later Hunklu came out, a little dazed at being evicted from where he’d been resting. P’Ko-lat helped Hunklu as Gloria came racing over.
    ‘What is it? What’s happening?’ Emmy asked, interested to find out more and annoyed she didn’t speak the language.
    ‘Emergency. Probably a gunshot wound.’ Gloria disappearedinside the hut as the two men who had been carrying their friend emerged.
    Gunshot. Emmy’s eyes widened at this news. Guns were not her favourite thing. She knew there were soldiers, she knew the country was in a state of political unrest, but why had this man been shot? She motioned to her TV crew and together the three of them headed to the hut.
    Opening the door and stepping inside, unsure of what reception she’d receive from Dart, Emmy was transfixed by the sight of Dart and Tarvon working to stabilise their patient. Gloria was cutting off the man’s camouflage and Belhara was getting his equipment set up to provide anaesthesia when the time came for Dart to operate. All of them had hastily pulled on thin protective gowns over their clothes, the tapes flapping untied behind them.
    She looked down at the patient, seeing the red area where the bullet had entered his body. Guns were bad, they could cause so much distress, and like a wave of sickness, Emmy felt a heaviness from her past settle over her. She closed her eyes and worked hard at controlling her emotions, staying in control. The past was the past and that’s exactly where it would remain.
    ‘If you’re here to help…’ Dart’s deep, resonant voice broke through her control and she instantly opened her eyes, meeting his dark brown glare. ‘Then grab me a bag of saline. If you’re here to gawk, get out.’
    Emmy looked at her crew. ‘You heard the doctor. Out.’ She knew they would already have shot some footage so they exited the hut without complaint. She returned her attention to Dart. ‘Saline? Coming right up, Doctor.’ She headed over to where she’d seen it stored earlier and passed it to him.
    ‘Thanks.’
    Taking that as a sign that her presence was acceptable, Emmy hurried to the wash basin and cleaned her hands,pulling on a gown and a pair of gloves. She was determined to be helpful whether Dart really wanted her here or not.
    As