Wishing for a Miracle by Alison Roberts

come inside because there was something weird going on and here you guys are, standing around in the dark. What gives?’
    Mac shrugged, moving back to where he’d left his journal on the table. This was crazy, thinking they could have some kind of affair and keep it secret from their colleagues.
    â€˜I was making a coffee,’ Julia said in a surprisingly steady voice. ‘Want one?’
    Angus swung his head from Mac’s direction to stare at Julia. ‘Something’s up. Joe’s right. There’s a weird vibe. And you look…’
    â€˜Like hell, I expect. It’s been a long day.’ Juliaseemed intent on pressing the switch on the electric jug. ‘Can’t wait to get home. How ’bout you, Mac?’
    â€˜Ditto.’ Suddenly, Mac was enjoying the undercurrent between them. The totally private innuendo. Maybe this was crazy but trying to work with Julia for the next ten weeks or so and not doing anything about the way he was feeling would make him crazy.
    There was no chance of locking anything away now. The lock was gone. Melted by those tears that had shown Mac a whole new side to this astonishing woman.
    An unexpectedly vulnerable side.
    Maybe it was just a physical thing for her but she wanted him. Out of all the men on this station who would cheerfully kill to be fancied by Julia Bennett, she was picking him .
    They were both single, consenting adults so why not?
    Mac had forgotten what it was like to feel this level of attraction. What sex could be like when there was more to it than simply slaking lust.
    No. He sucked in a breath. He’d never felt like this. He remembered their last kiss only too well and just that tiny brush of contact they’d just had had been even more electric. Sex with Julia would be totally new territory.
    Dangerous, exciting, totally irresistible territory.
    And maybe they could keep it a secret. Angus knew there was something up but he was frowning. He couldn’t make sense of whatever he was picking up.
    â€˜The last job wasn’t much fun,’ Mac told him calmly. ‘Some low-life pulled a knife on Jules.’
    â€˜Hells bells! Are you OK?’
    â€˜I’m fine.’ Julia smiled at Angus. ‘It was entirely myown fault and Mac told me off. We’re sorted. I’ll have to let Joe know it’s safe to come inside.’
    â€˜If you’re sure.’ Angus seemed to have forgotten Mac. He had stepped closer to Julia and was eyeing her with concern. ‘You…um…haven’t been crying, have you?’
    â€˜As if!’ Julia snorted. ‘Try and spread that kind of rumour and you’re dead meat, Gus.’
    Angus grinned and visibly relaxed. ‘As long as you’re OK. This job throws some curly ones at us sometimes, doesn’t it?’
    â€˜Mmm.’ Julia looked up from spooning coffee to catch Mac’s gaze. ‘It sure does. Nothing we can’t cope with, though, eh, Mac?’
    â€˜No.’ Mac held her gaze and it felt like a kind of pact. They could make this work.
    It would be easy. Fun. More than fun. He was being given an opportunity he would never have again. And if he didn’t go along with the affair Julia clearly wanted, he’d be in trouble. He knew only too well how determined she could be to get what she wanted. Look at today’s job when she wasn’t going to be left behind at a safe point. Working with her would be hell if he tried to back out now so maybe he should just give in gracefully and enjoy the ride.
    A half-smile was playing around his lips and he was only half listening to the conversation behind him.
    â€˜Dale should be here any minute,’ Angus was saying. ‘You can get home a bit early if you want. Any plans for tonight?’
    â€˜Maybe.’ Julia sounded perfectly innocent. ‘I’m waiting to see if something comes up.’
    Incredulous laughter almost broke from Mac. Hemanaged to strangle it and